Dark Sonata Page 12

“Which that alone should give you motive to help me. If you help me, my father dies a painful death,” he added, his tone soft.

  She closed her eyes, trying not to lose herself to emotions, in front of Ezra of all people. Fine. She could avenge her mother, but do this not for Ezra but for her mother. She sniffed, taking a steady breath. “So my father was human and my mother Liorian?”

  “No, your father is a mystery. I can sense that you are a full-blood Liorian, Victoria, and something else that I am unsure of. We have no inkling of which Liorian could be your father. Your mother was a very secretive woman.” He brushed his hand on her cheek making her tense. “Your mother hid secrets even the famed Michael the Archangel couldn’t discover.”

  Michael the Archangel? She could not believe her ears. “So how did I get to be in the hands of the Duke? In England of all places?”

  Ezra forced a grin. “Your mother was very beautiful. It would not be hard to have an affair with a human and lie to him about the pregnancy. He would have believed anything she said. Why England? I do not know.”

  “No …” she denied.

  “The Duke must have threatened his wife at the time to say it was hers,” he continued, “the perfect cover-up.” He paused, staring at her intently. “Though from what I heard everyone already suspected that you were a lie, a bastard anyway. And, there’s the fact that you’re beautiful, having looks a mere human could not achieve. The White Witch.”

  Her? Beautiful? Victoria stared at him, wondering what game he was playing. Didn’t they all just get through telling her how ugly she was? How un-Liorian she appeared?

  “I see, and thank you for reminding of my shame of a life in England. And please, do not refer to me as beautiful, it’s insulting.”

  He exhaled, his pale eyes serious. “I say you’re beautiful because you are, not to insult you.”

  Victoria looked away, shaking her head. “Well, you’re the only one who thinks that then. Maybe you are the delusional one.”

  He laughed, surprising her. “I am not delusional and I don’t make mistakes.”

  “There’s a first for everything.”

  “I can prove it to you,” he whispered.

  “No,” she hissed back not even knowing what he planned to do. She can’t fall again—she can't keep falling for him like this! Why was he still doing this to her when he had beautiful women everywhere?! When he had Cateria for heaven’s sake. She turned around squeezing her eyes shut. This was not fair.

  Victoria felt him move behind her and his hot breath fanned the bare skin at her neck making her shiver even though she tried to stop it. She took a shaky breath, trying to find her inner strength; the wild smell of him was driving her crazy. His hot mouth was on her skin suddenly and it shot a bolt of lightning through her body. How many women would kill for this to happen to them and she now wanted nothing to do with it.

  She had to save her heart from total destruction later. And her heart was pounding, wanting to break out of her chest. Victoria felt his hands come around her waist pressing her backside into his groin. His mouth moved over her pulse and down her neck inflaming her senses to dangerous heights. Tell him to stop before you can’t anymore. His hands smoothed their way up to the undersides of her breasts and cupped the weight of them. Ezra hissed in her ear, molding his palms to her mounds in a rhythmic motion.

  “I want to taste you,” he rasped in her ear, his breath scorching her.

  No.

  She had to stop this. He was the king of manipulation, the price of lies. “Ezra! Stop!”

  He paused immediately. After a couple of seconds he whipped her around, out of breath. “Stop?” Ezra’s silver eyes were hooded with desire and anger. “You want me just as bad as I want you,” he hissed. “Let me touch you.”

  He only wanted her because he hadn’t had her yet. It was known fact that women knew everywhere. And once he had, he would never look at her again in that same way. Victoria couldn’t bear it. “I don’t want you to touch me … ever.”

  She couldn’t believe she just said that.

  Oh dear.

  His gaze turned dark, his jaw clenching. “You’re mad about Cateria, let me explain …”

  “No!” Her anger exploded into something monstrous; just the mention of that whore’s name made her want to vomit. Victoria slowly raised her eyes to his, her breathing escalating, her jaw flexing. Ezra wants to lie to her and tell her that he felt nothing for the whore?

  Bastard.

  She saw the way he looked at her barely clothed body. She was not daft or naïve.

  He furrowed his brows.

  She wanted him dead in that very moment, not sure where this dangerous amount of anger was coming from. But one thing she did know was that she was sick of being lied to, especially by him.

  Ezra tilted his head at her as if he were intrigued by her sudden shift in emotions. “Love, be careful,” he warned with a dark look. “Your eyes are glowing.”

  She grinned at him and grabbed a pointed hair pin from off the vanity, being quick in her movements, never taking her eyes from him. She shook her head to clear her hair from her face. “I think you need to leave before I scar that pretty face of yours. Or worse, maybe I will put you out of your misery and stick this through your black heart,” she spat.

  Victoria inwardly cringed, not being able to control herself.

  His eyes widened at her bold threat, taking a moment to study her. “That wasn’t very nice,” he whispered softly but his voice was as sharp as a titanium blade. Maybe she went too far. Hell, she had never displayed this kind of retaliation. He took one step in her direction and she held her ground, refusing to let him scare her.

  He wouldn’t hurt her, would he?

  She swallowed, rapidly thinking of a way she could beat him, or flee, whichever came first. Victoria had to repeat to herself that she was not a woman to cross or she would perhaps loose this new found courage. Courage, not jealous wrath. “This, pretty boy, is your last chance to leave. You touch me and you’re dead, or forever scarred. Whichever one you prefer. I’m open to anything.”

  Madness, she didn’t even recognize herself. This man was driving her to do things she had never done before.

  He chuckled at that and gave her a heavy lidded look that made her toes tingle. “You plan to scar me? With a pin?!” He shook his head as he watched her, inching towards her. Out of thin air he produced a skinny knife, with a long thin blade and waved the thing in the air.

  Victoria gasped.

  “Here,” he tossed her the blade, making her drop the worthless hair pin. Ezra waited till she had a firm grip on the weapon. “There, now you don’t look so ridiculous.”

  “Go to Hell,” she hissed.

  He raised a brow then bellowed a deep laugh, the sound filling up the small room.

  Victoria bit her lip, knowing he had probably already been there. Victoria tried to ignore how he was regarding her, with that sexual intensity. A magnetism that would leave any woman breathless. It seemed that Ezra probably had no idea what his effect was on the female race. Or maybe he did, making him even more unlikeable. Bastard.

  Which is why she needed to kill him, for if she didn’t God only knew what would become of her. Bat crazy. Victoria raised her chin and flicked the knife at him. “Your arrogance will one day get you killed.”

  In one second a long blade appeared in his hand and he moved too fast. She didn’t even have time to react to his assault. The swipe of his arm was so swift that it made a piercing whistling sound as it sliced through the air towards her.

  Time stood still.

  Her beating heart echoed loudly.

  Victoria looked down, heat pounding through her chest, waiting to see blood. She took a breath when she felt no pain and glanced up, giving Ezra a confused look. “You missed?”

  “Did I?” he murmured then tilted his head as his eyes lowered to her body then back up to her.

  She was about to say something when half of her dress fell to the f
loor in a heap. Victoria gasped, now standing in cut under garments, legs exposed. Victoria looked up at him in disbelief, pulse accelerating. Too many emotions were dancing through her mind in too short of time. A thrill raced through her body, the air around them sparked to life. Victoria narrowed her eyes at him, careful not to let him see her excitement.

  Think of Cateria.

  He moved again and she screamed, feeling swipes of air around her.

  She was naked save for half a corset that still covered her breasts and cut fabric hanging over her front and backside. Damn him to Hell. If he expected her to fall to the ground and cry … then he wouldn’t expect this.

  Victoria took a breath and threw the tiny knife at him with surprising speed. He dodged it easy enough, just not the knee to the stomach. That, he was not expecting. She had always been a bit of a tomboy growing up, play-fighting with the servants.

  Ezra expelled a breath but before she could hit him again she felt strong arms circled around her that brought them both to the ground with a loud thud. She landed on top of him, feeling every ripple of muscle there. Mercy. His body was so hard and warm she almost forgot her anger. His pale gaze seemed to be alive with fire as he stared up at her, daring her to hit him.

  Gladly.

  Thinking fast she slapped him hard across the face and came down firm with her elbow to his ribs.

  Ezra grunted then in one swift movement he had her on her back pinned. He leaned down, seemingly out of breath. “I have never been more turned-on in my life,” he breathed into her neck, his words sending a shock through her. She felt his hands slide up her legs, gripping her buttocks almost painfully.

  Ignore the stimulating weight of him on you, you silly goose. She forced her mind away from his hands sliding up and down her legs and smiled ever so slightly up at him, letting him touch her. “Oh? Does this turn you on then?” She didn’t know what possessed her but she spread her legs a bit. “Oops,” she said in a pouty voice that was out of character for her.

  He gave her a heavy-lidded look and grinned, hands coming dangerously close to her womanhood. Victoria head-butted him hard for she saw stars, then kneed him in the groin as hard as she could.

  He lifted up and cursed, hand on his front.

  She rolled hard to her left, trying to escape him. But to her surprise his curses morphed into laughter, his hand grabbing onto her ankle before she could dart away. With one easy jerk she was under him again with him sitting on top of her, pinned once again. His powerful thighs were holding her in place making it impossible to move. Ezra’s expression was dark and seductive, his gaze seemed to sear right through her as if it were fire.

  His hand brushed the underside of her breast and down her smooth stomach. “Can’t have pain without pleasure,” he said and lowered his lids to scan her body.

  She closed her eyes, willing herself not to like this. Her pulse was pounding against her neck as she felt like her body was humming in tune with his.

  “Look at me.”

  “No.” If she did she would beg him to take her and that would ultimately ruin her. He did not love her, but only wanted to satisfy his lust then move on to the next.

  She felt his large hand grip her bare hip, applying pressure that made her want to moan. He whispered, “You’re lying. You can’t lie to me, I can tell you’re on fire.”

  Victoria shook her head and forced herself to look at him, leaving her pounding heart out of this. “Please do not touch me,” she barely said and hated herself for it. “All I want is to help you with your plan and nothing more, I do not want this.”

  His eyes were cold and unforgiving, his breathing escalated. “Fine. I won’t touch you again. Your loss. There are plenty of other beautiful women who haven’t lost their minds.” He got up and stormed out of the room and yelled back, “I will have Elm deliver information to you in the future.” And then slammed the door shaking the walls around her.

  He was gone.

  She rolled over, curling up, tears spilling out of her eyes like running water. What a mess this was. Ezra was so confusing to her. Why was he behaving like he needed her? It was beyond her comprehension. Victoria sat on the pearl floor for what seemed like forever wallowing in her own misery. She only knew that he didn’t love her, for what demon possessed that ability?

  It felt like her heart had split in two.

  * * * * *

  After regaining some composure, she went and grabbed a robe that was hanging by the pool. She glanced around her room, never seeing anything like it. The blush-colored bed had a golden silk canopy hanging above it like it was fit for a queen. The pool was what got her, the water seemed enchanted almost, like the blue of the water was more vibrant than normal. A sizeable vanity made of gold was built into the wall and a grand mirror stood tall beside it.

  Victoria rose to her feet and walked over to the looking glass, needing to catch a glimpse of herself. She had not seen her reflection since she was with Sonya, preparing for the ball. Her eyes locked onto the image that was in front of her and barely held in a gasp.

  Falling to her knees she crawled to the mirror, touching her dirty face, unbelieving. She looked horrible, in every way. Victoria placed her trembling hand over her mouth, barely holding back tears. Her hair was in knots, her face looked tattered, her eyes were a dim blue. She didn’t even recognize herself! What had happened to her? Why in the bloody hell was Ezra attracted to this?!

  Was he trying to make her out to be a fool?!

  Victoria stared at her reflection, realizing what a toll this experience had taken on her. She looked about ten years older, worn out. No wonder everyone was mortified by her presence. This was a living nightmare; no this was worse than a nightmare, for nightmares you could wake up from.

  This was her reality.

  She jumped when the door opened and a beautiful woman walked in carrying lush fabrics. The woman’s dark blond hair was plaited with silver and gems, and her eyes were the color of ripe plums. She wore a shimmering lilac dress pulled tightly to her body.

  “Hello? And you are?” Victoria meekly asked, standing.

  The woman regarded her through cold eyes. “You may call me Perri,” she continued as she walked to the bed, putting the fabric there. “I have come to help you; orders from Cateria.”

  “Please, there is no need. I am not leaving this room so your kind services will be of no use,” Victoria said softly and looked the other way. After what happened between her and Ezra, and the fact that she looked and felt horrible, she didn’t want to be seen.

  Perri’s cold eyes flickered. “The bastard hurt you, I can see it plain,” she said levelly.

  Victoria frowned back at her. “Pardon?”

  Perri laughed and sat on the lush bed. “I had seen that you arrived with that worthless devil. He has every female here all hot and bothered and I can’t handle it. And if I know him any better, he has you completely enamored with him also. Trust me, you’re not the first woman he’s tossed and then forgotten about. I hate him with a passion I didn’t know I possessed.”

  Victoria sat next to Perri and shook her head. “No, I did not let him touch me in that way. We had shared kisses but nothing beyond that.” She blushed, remembering every delicious incident. Maybe a little touching …

  Perri shot up, staring down at Victoria in open shock. “Lies! You mean to tell me that you have been in the presence of that heartless man and you refused him?! And he let you refuse him?!”

  Victoria studied her and suddenly knew that Perri was one of Ezra’s victims, scarred by his cruelty. “Yes, just earlier I had told him never to touch me again. I have seen the way he is with other women and I do not want to get hurt,” she whispered and looked down at her dirty hands. What a mess she was.

  “You care deeply for the man, that is obvious. But what I do not get is that Ezra let you refuse him. He would never have touched you if he did not want you,” Perri mused, to herself.

  “You mean he is capable of rape?” Victoria asked
, mortified.

  Perri smiled coldly at her. “It’s not rape if one enjoys it. If Ezra forced himself on a woman, he’d do it in such a manner that the unwilling became the willing. Desperate for his touch,” she spat and walked over to the window, raising the silk curtains. Victoria didn’t even realize there was a window, for it looked out into the main hall. From her viewpoint one could see everything that happened in the giant foyer. Victoria scanned the people and instantly spotted Ezra.

  He wore different clothes from what she could see, all black. The dark clothing made him appear more mysterious, more alluring in every way. It was unfair, not having the right defenses. Just the thought of his hands on her made her pulse quicken, her stomach clenching in erotic thought. Her heated gaze then focused on the woman next to him and her heart twisted, like frigid water was just dumped over her. Cateria. Victoria jerked away from the window, her mood darkening again.

  “Stay away from her. Cateria is one bad deed away from losing her soul; I’m surprised that she hasn’t lost it yet. And, if there were one thing that Cateria would kill over, it would be Ezra. The woman guards him like a beast after a kill,” Perri said, still standing at the window.

  Victoria sat on the bed and laughed. “Oh, please. She would not be jealous of someone like me.” Her eyes drifted to the mirror in front of her and quickly looked away, wondering why she was so important. Ezra has not told her anything yet.

  Perri whipped around and grinned slyly. “If I help you, will you promise me that you will not give yourself to him? I want that bastard to pay tenfold.”

  Victoria’s eyes narrowed. “Help me?”

  “Yes, you are slowly dying Victoria. I will reverse it easily and dress you like a goddess.” Perri continued, her eyes shining brightly. “How long were you living on Earth and eating its food?”

  “All of my life.”

  Perri’s eyes widened and she took a moment, like she was registering what was said. “You should be shriveled up like a walking corpse!” she pointed at nothing. “I knew it. I bloody knew it! Ezra has an eye for beauty, he always has. He knows what potential you have, that sneaky bastard. So, he didn’t tell you why you look like you’re dying?”