She rolled her eyes. “I wasn’t asking for your name. I don’t care who you are. Just come back tomorrow night at eight, and bring more money.”
“Yes, mistress.”
She held his gaze and said, “You will not remember anything about me or where you’ve been. You won’t even remember my asking you to come back. You’ll simply find yourself here for no explainable reason, and you will wait outside until I let you in.”
“Yes, mistress.”
“All right. You can go now.”
With that, Ruxandra swiveled him toward Charles Street and gave him a shove. He caught himself before he fell and glanced at the ground, as if wondering which cobblestone he had tripped over. Meanwhile, Ruxandra strode off in the opposite direction.
Kurt groaned inwardly. She had a thrall. That explained a few things. Where she got blood, for one thing. And it sounded like she’d found someone of means to support her too.
Now where is she off to?
Kurt followed at a distance until she rounded a corner and he lost sight of her. Jogging to keep up, he was about twenty feet behind her when she stopped. Without turning around, she asked, “Why are you following me, Kurt?”
He slowed his pace and she pivoted, waiting until he came face to face with her.
She folded her arms. “So? Why are you following me?”
Kurt tried to charm her with his smile. “Ruxandra! I thought that might be you. Lucky for me I was able to catch up.”
“Oh? Why is that lucky?”
“I had hoped you’d consider a proposition.”
She raised one eyebrow. “Why, Kurt Morgan. You know I don’t do that anymore.”
He chuckled. “I didn’t mean it that way…” Then he raised a brow right back at her. “Unless you wanted me to.”
She spat out a sound of disgust and strode off in the direction she had been heading.
“I was kidding,” he called after her. She didn’t stop, so he trotted until he caught up with her and they were striding side by side. “I need your help with something.”
She didn’t look at him or even slow down. “You need help, all right, but I’m not qualified to give it to you. Look in the phone book under psychologists.”
“Oh, you kidder,” he said, trying to maintain his sense of humor. This is harder than I thought.
When she arrived at the corner of Beacon Street, she stopped momentarily before crossing the busy road.
“So, where are you going?” he asked.
“What’s it to you?”
He shrugged. “Just curious how a beautiful woman spends her time.”
She stuck her hands on her hips and gazed at the oncoming cars, waiting for a break in traffic that didn’t come. At last she let out a frustrated breath. She whirled on him and stared right into his eyes. “You will step out into the street and raise your hand to stop traffic. You will stay there until I cross, and then you will go back where you came from.”
He took a step back. “Why would I do that? I might get mowed down.”
Her jaw dropped.
“Were you trying to mesmerize me?”
At that moment, the light changed and traffic came to a stop. Without answering him, Ruxandra scampered across the street toward the Public Garden.
He caught up to her again. “Wait.
She broke into a run and crossed Arlington Street.
“Ruxandra. Wait up,” he called. She was fast and easily outran him.
She kept running until she turned the corner onto Newbury Street. Ah, she’s probably planning to spend that guy’s money at the designer boutiques. By the time he reached the corner, she was gone. He’d lost her to some store, café, or salon.
Kurt stuffed his hands in his pockets and slowed to a leisurely stroll. He kept his eyes open for her, but doubted he’d find her again. If she applied her vampiric speed, she could have already reached the Prudential Center.
The fact that she’d tried to mesmerize him and it hadn’t worked really sparked his curiosity. Anthony had had the same trouble with Claudia. What’s going on? Are vamps losing their powers one by one?
He decided to ask Anthony about it and turned around. At least he knew where to find him. He was at Claudia’s a few minutes ago, and by now he’d probably returned to the tea room. A nice, hot cup of tea and company that wouldn’t run away from him sounded good. Maybe they could puzzle it out over a pot of Bombay chai and a plate of cookies.
Anthony sat at his desk across from Mother Nature. He steepled his fingers and waited for her to speak.
She took a sip of her tea and set it down on his desk. “Mmm. Not bad.”
Anthony didn’t acknowledge the compliment, hoping she’d just get to the point and leave. “So, what’s your proposition?”
“I have no business proposition for you. Not really. I just came to deliver a warning.”
He sat back and hoped he wasn’t in some kind of serious trouble.
“Or maybe it is a business deal. Do what I say and I’ll let you stay in business. How’s that for a proposition?”
“I don’t understand.”
“The human girlfriend. Get rid of her.”
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me.”
“What does my love life have to do with you?”
She laughed. “What does love have to do with nature? I’m not going to honor that idiotic question with an answer.”
He leaned forward. “All right. Let me put it a different way. What’s your objection to my relationship with Claudia?”
“You’re a vampire. She’s a human. Even a simpleton should be able to see the problems inherent in that.”
Anthony hung his head. “I know. It isn’t ideal.”
Gaia laughed. “Not ideal? Now there’s an understatement.” She rose and paced. “How and when were you planning to tell her?”
He sighed. “I don’t know.”
She rolled her eyes. “Let’s pretend for a minute that you get up the nerve to tell her everything. What’s to prevent her from laughing in your face and telling all her girlfriends about it?”
“Claudia’s not like that.”
“Oh, yeah? Is she going to believe you and accept you just the way you are? Is she as delusional as you are?”
“She’ll ask questions, but she’ll listen open-mindedly. She’s very intelligent. Not to mention loyal, caring, resourceful—”
Mother Nature raised her hand. “Fine. You think she’s the greatest. For now. What about later when you see the faults I’ve given her?”
“I already know them, and I don’t care.”
Gaia threw her hands in the air. “You have an answer for everything, don’t you? Oh, wait. You have an answer for everything except how to tell her you’re a vampire.”
Anthony slumped. “When the time comes, I imagine we’ll have an honest, adult conversation.”
“Dream on. She won’t believe you. Were you planning to give her a demonstration?”
“No.”
Gaia stopped and whirled on him. “You’ve really thought this out, haven’t you? I have a suggestion. Break up with her before you have to explain yourself.”
“Apparently, even vampires can’t choose who they fall in love with. If you’re worried about her, just know that I would never harm or drink from Claudia.” Unless she wants me to.
“So, you’re telling me you’d go against your own nature to be with this human?”
“Yes.”
She folded her arms. “I don’t believe you.”
Anthony rose. “Why not? I’m telling you the truth.”
She smashed her fist on his desk. “Because I know the power of nature. Here. Let me give you a demonstration.”