Dark Sonata Read online

  They stopped at a beautiful door with a goddess carved into the gold, wearing nothing but her long black tresses to cover herself.

  “Enjoying the art work?” he asked softly, his eyes hooded.

  She looked back at him, another blush rising to her cheeks. “I have never seen anything like it …” That was painfully obvious.

  He tilted his head at her, a piece of black hair falling to the side. “Well, you better get used to it,” he said as he opened the next door.

  Victoria stepped through to what seemed like the most beautiful place on Earth. The room they entered was massive, easily ten stories high. Ivory pillars lined the soaring golden walls giving it a Greek Temple appearance. Victoria’s heart was thundering as she took in this foreign place. The music she heard was exotic, intoxicating and seductive. She could not see the source of the music but it sounded as if someone should be right next to her playing. Sparkling fabrics of all shades were hung and draped everywhere making her feel as though she were in some enchanted harem.

  She glanced over to Ezra who was being greeted by men who were acting like he was their long lost king. Well, he was the Prince she supposed. Victoria was just surprised that they were not kissing his feet. Wait, never mind. There were slave-like women now kissing his feet, grabbing onto his legs to gain attention. Victoria gritted her jaw and looked away, forcing her attention elsewhere.

  Victoria now stood on a large balcony looking down a grand staircase leading to a lower level. Shimmering silver fabric was draped down the center of the staircase like the pearl marble wasn’t brilliant enough. Her eyes focused on a massive fountain in the middle of the grand room, the crystal water gleaming into the circular pool that surrounded it. This place was fit for gods and goddesses, for what she was witnessing didn’t seem real. She had seen pictures, studied other countries and different cultures … but this was beyond her imagination.

  The most shocking thing was its inhabitants. “Oh dear …” she murmured as her eyes took in the women and men. Large silk pillows were adorned everywhere as the scantily clad women laid on them in gowns, eating, drinking, and laughing. The outfits were something she had never seen before. They exposed the belly and the tops left little to the imagination. Jewels of all colors draped their bodies as if they too were considered clothes. But as shocking as it all was, the gowns were breathtaking. Victoria had never seen such fabric that glimmered with every movement; she couldn’t stop staring. Some skirts had slits clear up to the thigh, making the sinuous fabrics flow around them like they were made of air. Others had their dresses sucked tightly to their bodies resembling a second skin. Victoria always loved pretty things, and the thought of wearing something like that in front of Ezra got her pulse jumping.

  Oh for heaven’s sake.

  Her priorities need to be reworked.

  Victoria’s eyes widened. One woman was topless save for her long golden hair and jewels that failed to cover her bare breasts. If that was her idea of modesty, then the woman had to be delusional. Right? Or, maybe she simply didn’t care. Victoria drew in a breath: two women were kissing on a violet silk pillow. She felt like pointing and making a scene but her common sense silenced her, reminding her that this must be normal. Completely normal. Their eyes were as black as the night, emptiness reflecting back as if nothing lived inside.

  Alright, this was quite shocking. This was definitely was not Heaven, but a place disguised as such. Her face heated as she looked away, completely mortified.

  “Everything is normal, completely normal,” she whispered and forced a smile. “The people here just love each other—a lot—everyone loves everyone,” she muttered, trying to remain rational. “Very sweet, actually.”

  “Victoria?”

  “Hmm?” she asked sweetly. Victoria almost forgot she was standing next to Ezra and the other men. She looked up at him, eyes wide. “A couple of candles you say?” she asked, referring to him teasing her earlier about how there might be a candle or two here. This place … she didn’t have words for. “I believe there are more than a few candles in here.” She paused. “And the people seem so … friendly.”

  Ezra’s eyes sparkled and he raised a black brow. He leaned down close to her ear, “You think so? I’m not so certain.”

  “Oh, I am certain,” she said, trying to keep a straight face. Victoria nodded towards the two women with their mouths locked. “I believe she is checking for cavities. Now, that is something special indeed.”

  He raised his pale gaze to where she nodded and grinned a breathy laugh. “Something special is one way to put it, love.” He gave her a look then nodded to his left, “I want you to meet someone. This is Drake. He keeps this place under control and safe from the Liorians and other enemies.” Ezra’s grin widened. “He keeps this place very friendly, as you so interestingly put it.”

  Victoria’s skin tingled at the look he gave her. Ignore it. So she rolled her eyes and looked to the man Ezra referred to. A man with thick dark hair and expressive eyes gazed back at her, unnerving her. Drake’s black gaze was glassy, seeming to hold dark secrets, she was sure. He held out his hand to her with an assessing expression. “Welcome to Sydonia,” his accent sounded similar to Ezra’s.

  She took a deep breath, wondering if she could trust those bottomless eyes. “T-thank you, it is nice to meet you.” She curtsied awkwardly, cursing her nerves. What a fool she must look like! Did they even curtsy in this place? Maybe she should have kissed his feet.

  Drake raised a brow as he assessed her then turned to Ezra. “Are sure this is a good idea? I don’t want to create havoc here. What bloody hellhole did you find her in? For fuck’s sake Ezra, she doesn’t even look Liorian,” he hissed.

  “England, she’s lived there for twenty something years. I had no other choice, we both do not want Moray to have her so this is our only option,” Ezra glared and instructed forcefully.

  Oh dear.

  Victoria wanted to die; she’d never felt so ugly in her life. What hellhole did you find her in?! She should slap him. But she wouldn’t.

  Drake nodded and looked back at her, like he was measuring her up. Drake regarded her with such intensity that it made her very uncomfortable, she could feel her cheeks heating in embarrassment. She vaguely looked him over like he was doing to her. He was wearing snug breeches and a gold and silver overcoat fit for an Arabian king. His shirt underneath was black silk and unbuttoned to the middle of his chest. Golden rings were on each finger as well as his ears as if he really was king in his own right. The man was handsome in an eerie way, but there was something about him she didn’t like. Maybe it was his cold, cold eyes. She gazed intently at him. Yes, it was.

  She glanced over at Ezra to see him scowling at her. Victoria frowned back at him, wondering what he was thinking. What was his problem? Did he just notice how unsightly she was too? This place was filled with such beauty that it made her even more feel like a toad. He was most likely not attracted to her anymore, which hurt. The comment Drake made bothered her more than she cared to admit, because he said it to Ezra. She doesn’t even look Liorian!

  Drake faced Ezra. “You need to have her blend in here, you don’t want the others catching wind of what she really is. You need to clean her up. My people will be offended by her lowly state of dress Ezra.”

  Ezra tore his eyes from hers then nodded, glancing at her wool cloak and ratty gown. Victoria shifted uncomfortably under their appraisal that seemed so disapproving. She wanted to scratch her eyes out to get the vision of their disgust out of her mind. Tears threatened to come but she was made from sterner stuff than that. She needed to keep it together. Looking down she saw her trashy whore’s gown and a drunken man’s cloak … in a place that was fit for gods.

  “Ezra!”

  Victoria’s head jerked to the sultry feminine voice. The hairs on the back of her neck shot up as a woman came running up the stairs. It was almost as if time slowed itself to preserve the beauty of the woman as she ran. She possessed hair the
color of fire that hung to her waist, and her dress …

  Her dress matched her flaming tresses to perfection. Her tight glittering skirt hung low on her hips exposing her trim belly that was adorned with rubies. Her breasts were pushed up in a scandalizing top that barely covered her. Jewels were woven through her hair and hung around her neck, wrists, and ears artfully. Her face was exquisite with shining jade eyes and perfect ivory skin. Jade eyes? Not black? She must be a half-breed then, which didn’t sit well with her. Victoria acknowledged the beauty, but felt sick.

  And the way she was gazing at Ezra made her tummy twist in knots, bile rising in her throat. She had never been a violent person but right now she wanted to throw acid on the woman’s perfect face. Morbid. Yes. Was she ashamed? Definitely not.

  “Ezra!”

  She wailed again, her voice sounding too emotional, too overcome with longing. Nauseating. Was the woman going to cry or do something equally as embarrassing? When she finally made it to the top of the stairs she locked eyes with him, her heavy breathing obvious. Her breasts rising up and down making Victoria want to punch her. It seemed like an act to her. A fisherman hooking the helpless fish. She was deliberate, taking her time to sway her hips in a manner where one couldn’t help but look at the curves of her body. She had a hand at the nape of her neck that she let fall, sliding down her body, over her breasts and down to the top of her skirt. She grinned then, as if she was sending a secret message to Ezra, not minding who saw this display of repulsion.

  Victoria felt another wave of bile rise in her throat.

  Oh dear.

  Ezra, seeming to take the bait, smiled wide at her, exposing his perfect teeth. His silver gaze zoned in on the woman, and her alone. Victoria bit her lip as she watched; his smile appeared so seductive that she wanted to slap him! The amount of fury she was feeling could raise the dead! He couldn’t smile at a woman like that and not make her crazy with lust. It wasn’t just a normal smile, heavens no. His eyes were heavy-lidded and intense. His mouth didn’t form a full smile but hung slightly open and pulled to one side like he wanted to lick his lips. The effect was knee buckling. Ezra stood there in all of his glory, his raven hair wild and his powerful thighs braced like he was commanding a battleship. His shirt was ripped and dirty and it didn’t take anything away from the sheer beauty of him. It made her furious that she was not the only woman to notice. The woman’s eyes were blazing and Victoria was surprised that the girl didn’t out right faint.

  Something tore inside of her, something that was very unfamiliar and ugly. Her heart was pounding with anger that was so intense she wanted to cry from it. Victoria was insanely jealous and she knew she had no right to be.

  Ezra was not hers, for heaven’s sake.

  Stop acting like a child.

  The two embraced, making Victoria advert her gaze, unable to watch. She didn’t want to see the woman’s barely clothed body pressed tightly to Ezra’s. Why was she acting this way? She had no right to be jealous! In her mind she wanted to laugh for how silly she was behaving. Victoria looked down at her dumpy wool dress and then to the stunning woman. How could she compete with that? The only reason Ezra was being sweet on her earlier was probably because he couldn’t help it. He was such at ease with women, knowing exactly what to say and at the right time. He could take any women and make her melt with just one suggestive look.

  “Her name is Cateria.”

  Victoria jumped and glanced up at a man she’d seen before with Ezra in Dublin. He had dark crimson hair with shining emerald eyes. Very handsome, he eluded an undeniable power like Ezra. As she studied him, she realized he almost looked similar to the redhead whore hugging Ezra.

  “We have not properly met. My name is Elm. I am Ezra’s cousin,” he said softly and smiled down at her.

  That smile. It wasn’t quite like Ezra’s but she could see the resemblance. She forced a smile back and shrugged, acting as best she could. “Oh? I am assuming they are g-good friends,” she barely got out the last part. “I mean, that was quite the display.”

  Elm raised an eyebrow. “She has known Ezra since she was little. Cateria is my stepsister. She is very, very close to Ezra. They were inseparable when they were younger,” he murmured back to her and then eyed her intelligently.

  Was he baiting her?

  A knife stabbed through her again when she heard Ezra laugh. Victoria just nodded, unable to find her voice through the tornado of hurt. She unwillingly glanced back at the two and held her head high; they looked like perfection. Cateria was faultless as was Ezra. Cateria glared at her over Ezra’s shoulder and a slow smile spread across her ruby lips, as if she was enjoying making her hurt. Did the woman know she had feelings for Ezra? How? Victoria bit her lip as she watched the horrid woman run her filthy hands down Ezra’s broad chest, caressing the bare skin exposed at his neck. Cateria continued to run her hand down his neck, over his flat stomach then slid a daring pathway downwards, ending at the top of his pants.

  She looked away and heard the woman’s taunting giggle.

  At this point she loathed Ezra.

  She hated him because he had made her feel as though she was the only one, and now she could see that it wasn’t so. So gullible she was, so naïve. Ezra turned towards her, like remembering ugly Victoria was here. His eyes held no emotion as he gazed at her, his hand on Cateria’s lower back, sliding lower.

  He looked at Cateria. “This is Victoria,” he said then glanced back. “Victoria this is Cateria, my very close friend.”

  Victoria blanched.

  Cateria almost purred as her green gaze locked with Victoria’s. “Oh Ezra.” She eyed Victoria from head to toe; hatred sparkled deep in their depths. “Poor thing. So this is her? Are you sure? Oh Ezra, she doesn’t even look Liorian.” She covered her mouth as if to stifle a laugh. “What on Earth is she wearing?”

  Ezra’s gaze flickered briefly to hers and then back to Cateria. “Will you find a half-breed to assist her?”

  Cateria almost looked as though she’d refuse but then wrapped her arms around Ezra’s neck, smoothing her hands down his neck. “Anything for you darling.”

  Victoria turned wanting to leave immediately, her anger knew no bounds.

  Ezra spoke from behind her, ”I will escort Victoria to her room and Cateria if you can, find someone to send quickly.”

  Elm leaned down and whispered in her ear. “Ignore Cateria and keep your head held high.”

  Ezra grabbed her arm, pulling her with him. When they were out of sight of the others she yanked her arm out of his hand. “Don’t touch me you leech. Where are we going?” They didn’t descend the stairs but kept going around the balcony.

  “Leech? To your room of course. You’ll find it very much to your liking, knowing that your every need will be taken care of,” he murmured beside her, his brows furrowed.

  Victoria wanted to laugh at that. “So kind of you,” she said under her breath.

  “Victoria,” he said sternly.

  “What?” she hissed and looked at him. If looks could kill he’d be slaughtered, brutally. She wanted to get away from him—fast, before she started hitting him.

  His jaw clenched. He grabbed her arm and jerked her through three more doors then finally they made it to what she assumed was her room.

  It was breathtaking like everything else, but her mood refused to let her enjoy it. The room consisted of pink and golden fabrics with a sparkling pool in the middle of the space. She turned around and glared at him, “Thank you Lord Ezra. Just let me know what I need to do and until then I will mind my own business.” She held the hurt from her voice.

  Ezra looked furious, his silver eyes narrowed on her. “What are you trying to pull Victoria? Don’t take anything a demon woman says to heart. They’re evil-natured.”

  She could have slapped him … she could. He definitely wasn’t complaining when he held Cateria close. He looked as though he was just having a grand ol’ time. Victoria waved her arm, not wanting to talk about C
ateria. “Never mind her. You need to answer me some questions, remember?”

  “I only have time for a few, I’m sorry but I am needed elsewhere. The Liorians are too curious; we only have a day or two to put my plan into place,” he said carefully.

  “You promised,” she accused and backed up.

  He walked up to her and yanked off her ugly cloak. “I will have that burned.”

  “Oh yes, you’d better. It’s been made very clear to me how much I repulse everyone here. Including your precious and lovely Cateria.”

  His eyes shot up to hers and he softly laughed making her face heat in irritation. “Love, you have no idea what you’re talking about and I guess that’s my fault.” His eyes softened on her. “I guess that you’ve gathered by now that you are Liorian and not human?”

  She swallowed. “Except I don’t look like it. I resemble a toad.”

  His jaw clenched again. “I pray for my soul that you never look like it,” he whispered then looked away.

  “What?” she shot.

  “Nothing,” he continued. “Your mother was Liorian royalty, her name was Assiel. Liorian royalty means that she was a Master, a Master of extreme power. There are Masters and Guardians in the Liorian army, much like the guardian angels humans talk about. The Masters being the elite—like an archangel.”

  “Assiel?” Her heart lurched. “My mother’s name … she’s dead isn’t she?”

  He looked up at her and exhaled. “Yes. My father killed her.”

  Victoria took a moment to take in the blunt confession. His father killed my mother?! In the smallest part of her mind she secretly prayed that her mother would still be alive even though her gut told her otherwise. She had never had a mother, being jaded long ago, but that didn’t stop her now from wanting to fall to her knees in misery, denial. She blinked rapidly to rid her eyes of the now-forming tears that threatened to stream down her cheeks.