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"What do you mean?" I say, confused at his cryptic comments.
Vasily pops his head into the room. "The others have arrived."
Michel closes his eyes briefly. "I have to go. Please put on the black dress Luke gave you and join me."
"Why?"
"Eve, I want you there with me," he says, running his fingers through my hair.
"For what?"
"For our ascension." He goes to the door. "Hurry."
Ascension? When he opens the door, I see a group of vampires, their pale skin clear identifiers of their nature. They're a dangerous looking group, all dressed in black, like a group of warriors in leather.
When they see Michel, they all bow. Michel closes the door and I sit on the bed for a moment, a chill going through me at the show of obeisance to him. Then I comply with his request, slipping on the black velvet dress Luke gave me. I go into the bathroom and brush my hair, splashing water on my face. My shoes are outside in the closet in the foyer. I'd have to go barefoot. I take in a deep breath, and then open the door. The scene I witness when I step into the hallway stops me in my tracks, adrenaline flooding through me.
In the main living room, Michel and Julien stand with their backs to the windows, bare from the waist up, what look like huge black wings spread out behind them, the feathers shining iridescent in the light from overhead lamps. Before Michel, one vampire kneels and kisses the golden ring on his hand. He then moves to Julien.
My heart pounds and my legs wobble. I can't take my eyes off the wings and the paleness of their bare skin. All eyes turn to me as if I'm a specimen on display. Michel looks up when I enter the room, then extends his arm and offers his hand.
"Come," he says, his voice soft. "Don't be afraid."
But Iamafraid and I turn around and go back into the bedroom, closing the door behind me. I slide down the wall to the floor, my heart pounding, my vision closing in. Then the door opens and Vasily enters, closing the door behind him. He kneels down beside me and takes my hand.
"Eve, are you OK?"
“No, I’m not OK.” I shake my head. "I feel faint," I say, my voice barely audible.
He takes me over to the bed and makes me lie down to stop from fainting, and then he goes to the bathroom. He returns with a wet facecloth, pressing it against my forehead and neck.
"Rest for moment. Take deep breaths."
I do, and in a few minutes, I start to feel better.
"I saw something," I say and look up at him. "I can't believe it. I thought I saw wings...” I say and shake my head. "But it's impossible."
"If you feel better, Michel wants you with him."
I hold my hand out.
"No," I say. "I'm not going out there."
"You must. He wants you with him."
I turn over, refusing to move. Finally, he leaves the bedroom and I hug my pillow, trying to comprehend what it was that I saw. The door opens again and it's Michel and I see those black wings spread out behind him and I close my eyes, pressing my face into the pillow.
"Eve," he says, his voice soft. He sits on the bed beside me, but I refuse to look at him, keeping my eyes shut tightly.
"Go away," I say.
"I want you to come with me. I want the others to see me claim you."
I shake my head quickly. Then, he lays his hand on my head and my fear dissipates, replaced by calm. I exhale slowly and relax, my tense muscles all loose.
"Come," he says, taking my hand. I don't resist.
He pulls me gently outside the bedroom and through a path the vampires make for us.
