Heart of Darkness – Vampire romance book – chapter two

As promised, I’m posting the second chapter of Heart of Darkness, my new vampire romance book this week. I know it’s the middle of my Halloween event but just consider it a part of that event now.

Be sure to keep following these weekly posts in order to read the first six chapters of the book. You can find previous chapters under my Heart of Darkness label.

Felicity Heaton
A vampire prince on a four hundred year old mission to avenge his murdered sister…

Aleksandr Nemov won’t stop until the last of the vampire hunter’s progeny is wiped from the Earth. Each kill has stolen a piece of his humanity, pushing him towards the black abyss all vampires hold within their hearts. Now he is teetering on the edge, close to devolving into a beast, and time is running out as he tracks the last hunter to Prague. There he finds a beautiful woman who could be his one chance for salvation, but is it already too late for him?

A vampire guard who will do whatever it takes to protect those she loves…

Elise is dedicated to her duty. It’s the only thing she has left. All that changes when she meets Aleksandr in Prague and her master grants him permission to stay at her bloodline’s mansion. She knows all about Aleksandr but none of it prepares her for how she feels when the legendary prince’s hunt becomes one for her heart. Elise battles him with all of her strength but can she stop herself from falling for the handsome hunter? When he reveals the depth of the corruption in his soul, will she have the strength to face the pain in her past and do whatever it takes to save him?

ebook price: $3.99
genre: paranormal vampire romance
length: 130000 words
rating: sultry
released: October 2011

Available in e-book from:
Author’s website: http://www.felicityheaton.com/ebooks.php?title=Heart%20of%20Darkness
Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005WK6E58/
Amazon Kindle UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005WK6E58/
All Romance eBooks: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-heartofdarkness-620972-139.html
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/97624
Amazon Kindle Germany: http://www.amazon.de/dp/B005WK6E58/
Amazon Kindle France: http://www.amazon.fr/dp/B005WK6E58/

Elise stood with her back to the tall Grecian column, guarding the north garden exit of the ballroom. Barely two hours had passed since she had escorted their guest to his quarters and the ball was already underway, everyone in the mansion in attendance to honour Aleksandr Nemov. They packed the long room, their excited chatter competing with the small orchestra at the end opposite her near to the entrance. Her gaze slowly scanned the room, searching for any sign of trouble amongst the throng of brightly coloured dancers. Everyone was relaxed but she could sense underlying tension building in the room. They were waiting and they were growing impatient.

Aleksandr Nemov was the only person not in attendance.

Several people had discovered that she had met him, and had questioned her relentlessly until she had reminded them that she was on duty and not at liberty to talk about such matters.

Her gaze did the rounds again, checking everything. The glow of candlelight from the chandeliers warmed the normally cold cream walls and decorative white inset columns. The shutters on the tall sash windows that lined either side of the room were open. Moonlight streamed in through the windows on the courtyard side to her right, but it couldn’t contend with the candles and only threw faint shadows across the hardwood floor.

Elise’s blue eyes drifted over the heads of the dancers to the entrance directly opposite her and her mind wandered to Aleksandr Nemov. She was a fool for believing that such a powerful and noble vampire was little more than a beast. There had been nothing princely about his appearance though, and she had discovered him at a brutal kill. She had never seen anything like it. He had torn the hunter apart.

What sort of man was he?

Elise knew of him. There wasn’t a vampire in Europe who didn’t know of their rulers, the Nemov bloodline, and Aleksandr. The tales of his hunts were legendary. He was legendary. No other royal had ever renounced their title and disinherited themselves in order to hunt the vampire hunters. She wasn’t too sure of Aleksandr’s reasons but her father had told her that their true prince and heir had vowed to protect his people and had left his family to avoid tainting their name with his actions.

He had become a killer.

Aleksandr Nemov was a fool too.

Since the Nemov line had first discovered the path to achieving humanity, they had led their people. By following their rules, vampires had evolved from beasts into a peaceful society, safe from discovery by the humans and from the darkness that lived within them all. They had found humanity through limiting their kills and not hunting for the thrill of it or to feed their bloodlust. A kill a year was all most had to make for their families so they would have enough blood. At most, three or four kills were required, still within the safe amount set out by their leaders.

Some had gone against the rules.

Aleksandr Nemov was one of them.

There was only one outcome from killing for the sake of it, in cold blood or without need for sustenance from a victim, taking pleasure from the violence and bloodshed.

Corruption.

It led only to darkness and to the threat of becoming a demon again, their humanity destroyed by their blackened soul and the blood that soaked it.

Was Aleksandr walking that path?

Everyone moved, bowing in a wave that swept back towards Elise and revealed the doorway opposite her.

Elise stared.

Gone was the matted long dark hair, replaced by a neat short style. Gone was the beard, exposing the strong line of his jaw and a sensual mouth. Gone were the tattered clothes, replaced by a smart black military-style jacket and trousers similar to what she wore. Before her stood a handsome man. A man completely different to the one she had left in the guest wing. He no longer looked like a beast. He looked noble and as princely as his blood.

Every female in the room had her eyes on him.

And his were on her.
She had to be imagining it. He had no reason to look at her the way he was, with the focus of a predator. He moved through the crowded room and her eyes remained glued to him, her attention so thoroughly captivated that she didn’t realise that she was the only one who hadn’t bowed until he stood toe-to-toe with her, staring down into her eyes with grey ones that made her insides flutter.

Elise bowed quickly, lowering her head to cover the shame that burned her cheeks. How could she have failed to respond correctly to his entrance? The moment his gaze had met hers across the room, she had forgotten the world existed. She hadn’t failed to notice the ugly black bruise on the left side of his face though. Her shame deepened. She hadn’t only forgotten to bow to royalty; she had fought and injured him too. How was she to have known that he was Aleksandr Nemov?

“My apologies for the events of this evening, your highness.” Elise stared at her feet, too afraid to straighten up and see how everyone in the room was staring at her. How he was staring at her. His eyes bore into her. He was waiting for her to emerge. Why?

“I will forgive you if you dance with me.” There was a slight Russian lilt to his English. The sound of his voice so softly spoken sent a shiver through her and she closed her eyes at the strange new feeling.

Elise straightened, her gaze catching on his broad chest and her cheeks flushing again when she remembered sitting on it. She had sat on royalty and held a knife to his throat. That was definitely worthy of punishment. She forced her eyes up to his face.

“My apologies again, your highness, but I am on duty tonight and not here to socialise.”

A flicker of darkness crossed his handsome face and his grey eyes turned stormy. “You disappoint me.”

“It is not my intention.” Elise tugged the hem of her short black uniform jacket. She had disappointed royalty. There was probably a punishment for that too, but she couldn’t do as he asked. “I don’t have leave to dance. Besides, there are many other partners who would dance with you, I’m sure.”

She gestured towards the horde of beautifully dressed women behind him. He didn’t even look. His eyes remained fixed on her face, the disappointment he spoke of showing in their depths.

“All very pretty and simpering, I am also sure, but not the partner I desire, Elise.”

She jumped at the use of her name. She hadn’t given it to him and she couldn’t fathom why he would’ve gone to any length to get it from someone, just as she couldn’t understand why he wanted to dance with her when so many women were crowding for his attention.

Elise held his gaze and smiled politely. “My apologies again, but it isn’t possible. I must remain here and guard the garden entrance to protect the party and your highness.”

“I have not been a prince in many years.” His low voice held a razor-sharp edge. He stepped closer to her, stared into her eyes for a few seconds with pure darkness in his, and then smiled. It sent another tremor through her that she chose to ignore. “It is not a prince asking you to dance, but a man. Will you not dance with me then?”

He was certainly persistent. When coupled with the seductive tone his voice had taken on and the wicked glint in his eyes, his persistence was nothing short of irritating. She had said no. Under different circumstances, she might have said yes to such a handsome man, or felt some sort of obligation to dance with him as an apology, but she was on duty.

Elise shook her head. “I have no leave to.”

He gave a short growl of frustration and frowned. “I will have your orders changed then.”

Aleksandr turned on his heel and left, the group of women that had gathered parting to let him through and then swallowing him.

“What was that all about?”

Elise looked over at Andrej, her captain, where he stood near the pillar on the other side of the door and shrugged. “I honestly don’t know.”

Andrej stared in the direction that Aleksandr had gone. Her eyes remained on Andrej. He had a noble profile and had grown into a fine figure of a man, especially in his uniform. The only thing that wasn’t neat about him was his fair hair, cropped short at the sides but messy on top, and his long sideburns.

Some of the women of the guard lingered nearby, their attention dancing between their friends and Andrej. Several of them had admitted to Elise that the slight show of wildness in Andrej’s hair only made him more handsome. Many of the female guards adored him.

Andrej’s gaze remained fixed ahead.

He didn’t acknowledge the women close to him, and hadn’t all night. His focus was on his duty. She and Andrej were alike in that respect, placing duty before affairs of the heart. Or at least that’s what she thought. Sometimes she wondered if she was wrong about him and he did love someone.

He looked at her, his blue eyes darkened by his wide pupils, and smiled the smile he only seemed to give to her.

“I think you are safe now,” he said in Czech, the smile reaching his voice and bringing hers out.

He spoke of Aleksandr as though he was a predator.

Elise looked across the room at the gathering of women that marked the spot where Aleksandr would be. They were all beautiful, wearing fine corseted dresses that scooped low to reveal ample bosom and their throats. They were females bred for this sort of occasion, from families who had a rank or sought to attain one. Her family weren’t of that ilk. She didn’t belong in the group, or amongst the dancers. She belonged here at the door, protecting her bloodline just as her father had done.

The crowd parted again and she spotted Aleksandr. He did look handsome now that he had cleaned up and she could understand why all of the women wanted his attention. He turned and looked at her, stepping aside at the same time. Elise’s eyes widened when she saw the commander of the guard with him, a dark-haired man of six hundred. Aleksandr looked older than him and she tried to remember how old he was. At least eight hundred. His appearance was more that of a man in his mid-thirties. Vampires aged slowly compared with humans.

He leaned towards her commander and said something, pointing in her direction. Commander Piotr’s expression was a picture of horror, of amusement, and then warning. Elise frowned. What were they saying about her? Aleksandr smiled and shook his head. Her commander shrugged.

Was he warning Aleksandr to stay away from her?

Why?

To protect her from Aleksandr or Aleksandr from her?

Her frown increased along with her irritation.

Commander Piotr nodded. Aleksandr walked away.

Directly towards her.

He cut across the dancers, interrupting their flow, his pace brisk and gaze fixed on her. She swallowed and glanced at Andrej, searching for a possible means of escaping what she knew was about to happen. He was watching Aleksandr’s approach with a glare.

“You have new orders.” Aleksandr smiled, both charming and victorious. “You are to dance with me.”

“I really—” Refusal seemed redundant when he had already taken her hand and was leading her towards the dance floor.

It loomed ahead.

Elise pulled back and Aleksandr stopped, his hand still tightly holding hers. He had a strong grip, and warm hands, and she wasn’t about to let that affect her. She refused.

The dancers slowed. Everyone stared. Panic closed her throat. She didn’t want to dance and have everyone watching her. She’d never been good at such things. Aleksandr paused, his expression softening and grip loosening the slightest amount.

“We can dance here, if you would prefer that.” Concern laced those low spoken words.

It was as though he had sensed her feelings. She stared at their joined hands and hoped that he was only guessing. A strong enough connection to another vampire, one that allowed the sensing of emotions, was rare, and often led to a mating or exclusivity pledged between them. She couldn’t sense his feelings, so he must have felt her fear. Vampires could easily detect that in one another.

Elise shook her head and allowed him to lead her onto the dance floor. It was better to be lost in a crowd than put on display. No one would see how atrocious her dancing was then.

No one except Aleksandr anyway.

They entered the dancers and Aleksandr turned to face her. The firmness of his hand on her waist made her jump and she swallowed when he drew her close to him, his smile all sin and seduction. What exactly was he after from her? A dance or something more? She couldn’t understand why he wanted either.

The moment the music began, she trod on his foot. His jaw tensed and he removed his boot from under hers, and then led the way in the slow waltz.

Elise stared down at her feet, barely able to see them through the small gap between their bodies. He was so close to her. She lost focus and trod on his foot again, grimaced, and pressed her tongue against the back of her teeth in concentration. His grip on her waist tightened and she bumped into him, her body brushing his. Her hand trembled against his arm. He drew her closer still, until there wasn’t a gap between them and she could no longer see her feet. Not good. In fact, it was terrible. Her dancing went from awful to abysmal and she cursed herself for being such a poor partner.

She hadn’t had the luxury of the training ladies received. No one bothered to teach soldiers to dance or etiquette or any of the skills needed to converse politely with royalty. Aleksandr would have been better off with any number of the women present, or possibly all of them.

“I have not met a female guard before.” His voice was a bare whisper, sensual and teasing. This man could talk about the weather and make it sound seductive. It was probably vast experience showing. His reputation said he had plenty of practice at seducing women, at least prior to renouncing his title. After that, only his battles with hunters had made vampire society’s papers.

Elise glanced up into his eyes, stumbled, saw the irritation cross his face, and looked away again. She focused on her feet and mumbled a response, unable to focus on both dancing and speaking.

“Your city is beautiful. I visited here many years ago with my family.”

She liked the Russian edge to his words, how hard but soft they sounded.

“Thank you.” Was that the correct response? Should she have been more formal or denied Prague’s beauty, or perhaps been flattered by his family’s visit that had likely happened before she had been born?

Aleksandr was quiet for a moment, turning with her in endless circles, and she focused hard on her footwork, determined not to tread on his feet again.

“I have not been here in winter.”

Elise looked up at him, right into his clear grey eyes.

They sparkled at her.

Her foot knocked his. She grimaced and went to lower her head but his hand left her waist and caught her chin.

“You have barely spoken a word.” Disappointment marred his tone and expression again.

“There might have been another reason for my refusal.” She closed her eyes and cursed when she trod on his foot, as if she needed to emphasise her point. Cracking an eye open, she peeked up at him. He didn’t look angry. In fact, there was warmth in his eyes now and a look she couldn’t quite decipher. She didn’t like it. It wasn’t anything she had seen before in them. It looked like hunger but not for blood. It matched his seductive tone.

The music mercifully ended and she was out of his arms in an instant and curtseying. Her heart pounded against her ribs at almost one beat per second, too fast for her liking. She preferred the usual slow patter of one beat per minute.

He didn’t say anything.

She looked up at him. He stared at her, the disappointment etched back on his face, and then walked away.

Elise straightened and watched him go. Perhaps his lack of satisfaction over her dancing and her inability to make conversation would keep him away. She certainly didn’t want his attention.

She looked at the floor and then over to him where he had joined Ladislav’s group.

The music began again and she left the dance floor, returning to her post beside Andrej, who greeted her with the same dark expression that he had been wearing since Aleksandr had led her onto the dance floor.

“What was that all about?” he asked again.

Elise still didn’t have the answer to that question. She tried not to look at Aleksandr but her gaze found its way back to him. She didn’t know why he wanted to dance with her, or why she felt so empty inside now that he had. He was attractive but she had heard enough of his exploits over the past few centuries to know that he would be gone soon enough, chasing after the hunters. It would never work and she didn’t want it to. She didn’t want his attention.

His disappointed expression flashed across her mind.

So why was she feeling disappointed herself by the cold way he had left her?

Available in e-book from:
Author’s website: http://www.felicityheaton.com/ebooks.php?title=Heart%20of%20Darkness
Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005WK6E58/
Amazon Kindle UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005WK6E58/
All Romance eBooks: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-heartofdarkness-620972-139.html
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/97624
Amazon Kindle Germany: http://www.amazon.de/dp/B005WK6E58/
Amazon Kindle France: http://www.amazon.fr/dp/B005WK6E58/