Masked Longing Read online

  He had called her, of course. They’d had a fun time; got along. She was amusing and witty, with an ass he couldn’t take his eyes off of. Neither of them were into anything serious, so it was ideal. He figured they’d see each other once in a while and that would be it. A diversion for both of them.

  Then Franz Iverson and his merry band of jerkwads decided to stage an insurrection that had consumed his life and any possibility of more casual fun times with Estelle.

  Then Estelle had shown up at Eric’s house on behalf of the vampire queen Wavena. Oh, on official business because Estelle was also one of the top-ranking vamps in this hemisphere. She hadn’t mentioned that before and had sworn both Eric and Stephan to secrecy. Not even Caro had known.

  That had been his downfall. Working with her constantly and seeing how that extraordinary mind worked had turned his previous desire into utter dog-eyed admiration. He’d always been a sucker for a smart woman.

  When he knew who she really was and the depth of her capabilities, he wondered why she’d spent the last few years working as a receptionist for JDPR, which she now ran with Caro. Or ran when not busy saving the world from the Dawning. Estelle didn’t talk about it and was so smooth about redirecting questions that he sometimes didn’t notice he hadn’t received an answer until much later.

  Estelle’s computer rang a complicated tune and her eyes scanned the message. “It’s Wavena. I’m putting it on speaker.”

  Before he could answer, she’d connected the line and turned the screen to face both of them. “My queen.”

  Every time Stephan saw Wavena, he had trouble associating the physical woman with the ruthless vampire leader he knew she was. Wavena was a short, plump, cheerful Greek woman with red cheeks and dyed-red hair tied back in a simple bun.

  Today she wore a bright pink lipstick that matched her shirt. “Acting Seneschal. Stephan Daker, as handsome as ever. I’m glad you’re here. I want both of you in Florida tomorrow. Plan to stay a week.”

  Estelle’s smile disappeared. “What’s the problem, Wavena?” After the initial show of respect, the two vampires settled into a familiar tone. “Should I be worried?”

  “Not at all. This is apart from the Dawning, although of course I want my new masquerada liaison to meet with our team here.”

  That made sense. They both nodded.

  The queen paused. “Your parents will be pleased to see you, Estelle.”

  “I will be pleased to see them,” Estelle said flatly.

  Wavena sighed. “Tomorrow, then.”

  They signed off and Stephan turned to Estelle. “Your parents?”

  She wrinkled her nose. “That means my brother Felix as well, I assume.”

  “Quite the family reunion.” His tone was a little nastier than he intended and Estelle’s face turned pinched.

  “Indeed,” she said. “I’ll get Wavena’s assistant to book the flights. See you at the airport.”

  “Dress code?” he asked.

  “How about rude, selfish asshole?” she said pleasantly.

  “What?”

  Her smile didn’t reach her eyes. “That way you don’t have to change.”

  Chapter 4

  Estelle tossed her blood pills—disgusting capsules of nutrient-enriched dried blood that vampires used as emergency supplements—into her travel bag. She tugged on the zipper and hooked on the useless bronze travel lock.

  “You know those things don’t work.” Caro stood in the door, dark hair pulled up in a messy bun and coffee cup in hand.

  “Girl, if they want to steal my socks, they’re welcome to them. Where’s my coffee? Tell me you brought two.”

  Caro presented the second cup from behind her back like a magician and spilled half of it on the floor. Estelle sighed and tossed over a small towel that Caro swished around with her bare foot before she shut the door and walked over to the window where Estelle joined her. Eric had bought the two houses on each side years ago and had gradually renovated them through underground tunnels to create an even larger space better suited to a masquerada headquarters. To obey the Law, work had gone slow to avoid the attention of the humans in the neighborhood, who thought Eric was a tech CEO. The November day was bright but the dirty slush covering the ground gave the street a dingy feel.

  “Stephan came by to report,” said Caro.

  “Okay. What?”

  “What do you mean, what?” Caro’s big eyes became impossibly larger.

  “Did he also mention that I offered to ‘help’ him?” Estelle made finger quotes with her hand and spilled more coffee. The room was going to smell like a Starbucks soon.

  Caro looked wary. “Maybe.”

  “It was a suggestion. That’s it. He didn’t have to take me up on it and he didn’t.” She paused. “Is he mad?”

  “A bit.”

  “Would you be mad if I made you the same offer?”

  “I’m not sure.” Caro pursed her lips as she considered the idea. “I don’t think so, but I’m different from Stephan, and what he’s lived through.”

  “Everyone comes to it with a different experience, I suppose.”

  “Not like him.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Caro sipped her coffee and turned her gaze back to the window. “Nothing. I’m sorry he got upset with you. I know you were trying to help.”

  Estelle tried to shrug it off. “Not like that’s new. He’s always angry these days.”

  “I know.” Caro paused and made a face. “I want to say something.”

  “I’m not going to like this.”

  “Probably not. Do you remember when we went for drinks? The very first time, on the patio?”

  “We drank mimosas.” That had been a good day.

  “We were talking about something and you were trying to influence me. Do you remember that?”

  She did. “That’s hardly the same thing.”

  “I know it’s not. My question is, why did you even bother? I know vampires have rules about the big stuff, like the mind-messing you did with Ivy.”

  Estelle had manipulated the young human woman’s mind to erase the memories of a masquerada attack. She ignored the reference to her advanced abilities as ‘mind-messing’ to hone in on what Caro was really saying. “You think I take advantage of my compulsion abilities.”

  “I don’t know if you do or not.”

  “All vampires do this,” Estelle pointed out. She wasn’t being defensive, but surely that was common knowledge.

  “You’re not all vampires and Stephan is not all men. He’s a specific man with a real issue with any compulsion. Have you tried to force him to do anything against his will?”

  There had been one time…Estelle hadn’t even noticed what she’d been doing, but Stephan had called her out on trying to influence him. He’d been furious. “It’s not technically against his will.” Not if he didn’t know it was happening.

  Caro crossed the room to the door. “Think about it. You haven’t used it since you’ve come to know us but you did when we were new to each other.”

  “I’ve been doing my best to lay off when I’m around you.”

  “You’re doing great and we appreciate it.”

  Estelle sighed and went back to the stand where her bag was and reopened it. She’d been staying with Eric while her apartment was being sublet. “I think I know why Wavena summoned me.”

  “Invocation?”

  “Makes sense.” She took out a shirt from the dresser, folded and tucked it into her bag. “The timing is right for Wavena to make my role official.”

  “You know you can do it. You were trained for it.”

  “Training isn’t the real thing.” Estelle shut the bag again. “I thought Cressida would always be there.”

  “You learned from her, but there comes a time when we all need to try
for ourselves.”

  “There’s too much at stake here for me to just try. They think I’m too young, too irresponsible. That I should have stayed with Cressida instead of going to work at JDPR.”

  “You were only away for a few years,” Caro pointed out. “Maybe they’re being a bit unreasonable, whoever they are.”

  “Maman told me.”

  Caro muttered a curse under her breath, then came and gave Estelle a hug. “Remember what you tell me. You’re fabulous, bitch. Wavena wouldn’t make you seneschal unless she thought you could do it.”

  I wish.

  When Caro left, Estelle stood for a few minutes swirling the cup in her hand and staring at the pattern of circling grounds. She hoped Caro was right, but at the same time, Caro was her friend and was thus obliged to be supportive.

  Too bad she hadn’t been as understanding of vampire culture. Compulsion training began as a game between children, trying to make another child’s finger move or some such thing. As one grew older it became embedded in their mind-set and was the basis for how they wiped human memories of feeding and stayed safe.

  That the masquerada didn’t like it wasn’t surprising. Not many did. She put it aside. Right now, that was the least of her worries.

  * * * *

  Stephan stepped off the plane and gave deep thanks it wasn’t summer. Even in the fall, the Orlando humidity was so heavy dampness beaded in his lungs. He put his bag down and assessed the signs. “How are we getting there? Disney’s Magical Express?”

  “That’s my B plan.” Estelle scanned the arrivals area.

  “Estelle.” A bearded vampire came up beside them and took off his sunglasses as part of a courtly bow. “Madame Wavena asked me to escort you.”

  Estelle smiled. “Luckily, my A plan’s come through. Hola, Cesare.”

  “Hola, Estelle. As gorgeous as always.” Cesare winked at her as he picked up her bag, then hesitated and gave Stephan a questioning look.

  “I’ll take mine,” Stephan said.

  He followed Estelle, who watched the tourists with a bemused grin. “What do you think the per capita mouse ears quota is?” she said.

  He laughed. “At least three. One needs to be glitter.”

  A small child ran by screaming with a gigantic cup of neon liquid sugar clutched in her hand, a frazzled mother chasing after. Stephan was glad to get out of the terminal and away from the frantic expectations of the holiday-goers. Cesare led them to a long black car with shaded windows and Estelle collapsed into the back seat with a sigh of relief. “Air conditioning. It’s not normally this hot in November.”

  Stephan copied her. “I didn’t want to ask on the plane, but why does Wavena have her compound here? I’d expect this place to be the antithesis of vampiric life.”

  “She really likes princesses.”

  “Yeah?” Stephan tried to imagine the practical vampire queen dressed in a poufy dress with a wand. “I pictured her as more of a Haunted Mansion fan.”

  “That is in fact her favorite ride.” Stephan looked over to see if she was joking, but Estelle raised three fingers in the air. “Scout’s honor. Cesare, back me up here.”

  Cesare met Stephan’s eyes in the rearview mirror. “She goes at least twice a year. Usually more.”

  “Do you go with her?” Stephan asked, fascinated at this behind-the-scenes look at the vampire queen.

  Cesare sneered. “Once was enough.”

  “It’s no Space Mountain,” said Estelle slyly.

  “Correct.” Cesare took the next few minutes to describe what he called the ‘seminality’ of the ride and its influence on other amusement park rides globally.

  Stephan waited until Cesare wound down. “Vampires take this seriously.”

  Cesare didn’t reply, but rubbed his fingers together in an ‘it’s about the money, stupid’ gesture.

  They drove down the parkway and took a right down a road marked Employees Only. “Seriously, though. Why here? Money only?”

  “It’s the number of people,” she said. “Holiday places are transient and always hectic. Inhibitions are down and alcohol intake is up.”

  He nodded. “Feeding.” This made sense. A host of vampires could easily get into trouble if they didn’t have a large base to feed from.

  “Dead blood hasn’t been a real hit,” she said wryly.

  “You drink it.”

  She shuddered and made a face. “I don’t like it. None of us do. It’s like drinking Styrofoam.”

  He had never seen her drinking blood. He had the impression it was gauche to ask about it. Fuck it, now he was curious. “How often do you need to drink?”

  She looked out the window. “Depends on your age and health. The younger and weaker need quite a bit and they need it frequently.”

  “You?”

  “Half a liter every four or five days. Less if it’s live blood.”

  “From a human?”

  Now she looked at him. “Or arcana. That’s always the preferred. It has a better taste, like champagne.” Her eyes slid down to his throat and for a crazy second, Stephan wanted nothing more than her fangs buried in his skin.

  “Are you using your shit on me?” he demanded.

  Her eyes flew back up. “My what?”

  “Compulsion. Don’t do that.” The thought of her forcing him to act against his will made him sick. He’d had enough of that to last a hundred lifetimes. A thousand.

  “I wasn’t.”

  “You telling me it’s all in my head?” This was crazy. Vampires.

  Her eyebrows inched up her forehead. “Why are you blaming me if you want to be bitten? Many want to try it. Humans never remember, naturally, since we wipe their memories. But we have many arcana who come to us so we can feed. They like it.”

  “That’s sick.” Jesus. Who would volunteer for that kind of submission? A vampire could bleed you dry in minutes and you’d be helpless.

  “To you.” She cocked her head to the side and assessed him. “People have strange desires. If I get offered live blood from a willing arcana, I don’t say no.”

  “Willing,” he scoffed. “You probably plant the idea in their heads.”

  “The same way that masquerada impersonate people to screw around with their lives?”

  He glared at her. “Not the same thing.”

  “We’re clearly not getting anywhere with this conversation,” she said coldly. “Maybe one day you’ll see for yourself.”

  Like that would ever happen. As if there could be any true will near a vampire. He said nothing but stared out the window. Estelle pointed to what looked like a log floating in a pond as they passed.

  “If you go for a walk, watch for alligators,” she said. “There’ll be a safety brochure in your room.”

  “Oh, good.”

  “Rule of thumb is the ones less than four feet long aren’t really considered a nuisance. Don’t touch them, though.”

  Stephan tried to picture a scenario where a face-to-face meeting with an alligator—regardless of size—would result in anything other than him running like hell. “Not a problem.”

  They sat in a slightly more companionable silence for the rest of the drive through winding roads and hidden checkpoints to reach the compound. It resembled an office building more than a home, and Stephan leaned in to read the signs as they passed.

  “Visitor Experience, Inc.?” he asked. That had to be the most banal business name he’d ever heard.

  “We’re set up as a consultant to the parks so we have a reason to be here. Get actual projects, too.”

  “That’s the money,” said Cesare smugly.

  The humidity rolled into the car as soon as the doors opened, and sweat beaded up on Stephan’s face before he even swung out his legs. Once inside the adobe-painted building, it looked the same as any corporate office s
pace, complete with a small fountain, industry magazines on the coffee tables and a cheerful receptionist who squealed when she caught sight of Estelle.

  “Finally!” The woman ran over and gave Estelle a hug before turning to smile at Stephan. “You must be the masquerada liaison. Welcome.”

  Before Stephan could answer, the receptionist turned back to Estelle, her huge gold hoop earrings bouncing. “Your usual quarters. Wavena wants to see you right away. Mr. Daker will have the other room in your wing.”

  Estelle nodded. “My family?” Her voice was tense. What was the problem with the family? He’d asked her on the plane and she’d replied by asking if he wanted to share an egg and cheese croissantwich.

  “Will see you at dinner tonight. Mr. LaMarche called to invite you both.”

  The receptionist handed them each a blank white security pass on a black lanyard that looked like every company ID in the country. Once they passed through a locked door to the left, it was as if they’d entered a separate reality. The plain walls gave way to a gardener’s fantasy, where a soft mist fell from the ceiling to form bright droplets on the twisting vines covering the walls and muted sunlight gleamed down from the skylights to illuminate the entire hall.

  There were even birds chirping.

  Estelle strode down the corridor as if there was nothing unusual about it, but Stephan stopped to admire the expertise involved in its creation. The vampires were known as world-class architects and artisans, but he’d never been in the heart of one of their strongholds. On the walls were allegorical mosaics that showed scenes from vampire milestones—the signing of the Law, Wavena’s coronation. He’d come back and make a more detailed study while Estelle was occupied with business.

  “Is this common for vampires?” He indicated the foliage.

  “For Wavena, yes. She loves birds. The eastern queens have their own obsessions.” Estelle led him into another corridor. Sublime art covered the walls with representation from humans and arcane groups. He paused in front of a mosaic entitled Quietude. “That’s a Bernoff,” he said.

  Estelle backtracked. “He was a friend of Wavena’s.”