Chapter 8: A Kiss Like None Other

Liliana's POV

"Good evening, Ms. Farley. It is my pleasure to escort you to the home of Monsieur Sattui. Mr. Xander has already arrived, and I believe there is a dinner party in progress."

Clasping the man’s arm excitedly, Liliana exploded with bubbly joy.

"Please, what is your name? I visited Napa when I was a very young child. So, what I remember is vague. Tell me all about where we are going?”

Settling into the rear seat of the ultra-luxurious car, Liliana watched as the driver moved to the front seat. After turning on the engine and pulling away, he began.

“Well, what I know is that Vittorio Sattui had owned a villa in Tuscany. Upon arriving in Napa Valley, he decided to transport brick by brick his beloved villa from Italy. Castello di Amoroso. The property has been painstakingly rebuilt from the torture chambers to the turrets."

"Oh my gosh. Is there really a dungeon?"

Raising one eyebrow and throwing an arm over the lower portion of his face, the man joined into the simple glee of his rider.

“They say Dracula has a crypt down there. And on special nights, vampyres convene on the grounds for sacred ceremonies."

Drawing in eerily, Liliana exclaimed.

"That sounds all rather spooky. I guess witches and werewolves are also part of the story?"

“Oh no. Just vampyres. The three don’t mingle. Vampyres are a sacred order of chosen beings that mingle within the whole of humanity keeping a check on the powerful."

Liliana locked eyes with the man in the rearview mirror. Forcing a laugh, she turned and stared out the window. The jovial nature from moments ago was no longer present in the car. The startling calm with which the man had disclosed the odd information sounded like truth.

Before she could sink too long into thought, the car made a wide turn into a sweeping entrance. A meticulously laid gravel road wound up the hillside. Heavy wrought iron gas lanterns lit the stone drive. As her eye moved upward, Liliana could see the tall tower turrets rising above the olive trees snaking up the ridge before them.

Silently, the car came to a standstill and Liliana looked out the window. In an instant, Darick Xander filled the view. Another beautiful military jacket hugged his physique. This was a washed blue wool coat with gleaming shoulder epaulets. Two rows of polished silver buttons cascaded down the front.

Pulling the door open, Darick tipped his head into the car.

"Liliana, I’ve been hopeless with anticipation.”

Extending his hand, he gently pulled Liliana up from the seat. Releasing her hand, Darick wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close against his chest. Before she could utter a word, his lips descended upon hers. Ravishing and need-filled. Draining every ounce of feigned protest from her body. Pulling away slowly, he looked deeply into her eyes.

"I should have done that long before now."

Liliana blushed and moved to smooth down the form-fitting outfit she had carefully picked for this moment.

'Ahhh. I see. Another stunning outfit. One that Mr. Dior personally crafted."

Picking up her arm, he flipped back the sleeve and revealed the letters C.D. stitched with red thread and sewn into the lining.

"There are his initials. A wonderful man he was. Come. There is a special event going on at the castle tonight. I hope you are well-rested."

Liliana was still dazed by the earnestness of their kiss. His lips had been savage in their descent and devouring in their need. And Liliana had responded with equal intensity.

"What about my things? Shouldn't I take them somewhere?"

“You are just precious. No. Your bags will be taken to your suite. A housemaid will unpack and press everything. You have nothing to worry about except spending an enchanted evening with me."

Toe dancing in her high-heeled shoes across the cobbled courtyard, Liliana rushed to clasp Darick by the arm. He looked down into her upturned face and ran his fingers along her cheek.

"I'm just not used to having so many hands around to help. This girl could easily get spoiled."

"You will grow to become accustomed to this and so much more. So much more."

And with that, the two proceeded through a set of medieval-style gates heading toward the sounds of music and voices.

A party was in full swing by the time Liliana arrived. There were over a hundred people in the large room referred to as the Great Hall. Entering, Darick tucked her hand into his arm and leaned into her ear talking softly.

"The tapestries in this room are from the end of the Middle Ages. The Albizzi family in 1435 commissioned their creation. Artisans from all over Italy and Europe competed for a chance to weave them. You are living to see the end result."

Looking around the room, Liliana counted over fifteen tapestries. Each was over ten feet in height and five feet in width. The images depicted were strange. Some were common events like a presentation of gifts to a king. Then there were strange scenes. One showed a man stepping into a tomb with angels standing by with a cover.

"How were these scenes chosen? Does Mr. Sattui know the details?"

"Oddly, he does. There were detailed parchments passed down from the time period. Here, let us go into the library to look at them."

Turning from the colorful crowd in the large room, Darick grabbed Liliana’s arm and pulled her along another stone corridor. Oddly, the building was incredibly comfortable, and lit gas lanterns chased away dark shadows. Pausing before the entrance of the library, Liliana inhaled sharply.

"This is incredible. This room must be seven or eight stories tall. And all these books. Darick, what an incredible collection."

"I knew the library would impress you. Come this way. There is a room which contains only the scrolls."

Turning round in amazement, Liliana stumbled across priceless oriental rugs covering the stone floors. On each floor a forged walkway wide enough for one person allowed a person to reach row upon row of books. Moving in stunned silence, she followed after Darick.

Not paying attention to her footing, her shoe caught, and she felt herself falling. In an instant, Darick was under her, lifting her body against his. The strength of his arms held her as tenderly as a newborn child. A moment later, his lips descended again on hers. Drawing her into a circle of sensuality that made her dizzy.

Liliana brought her hands up to his shoulders and wrapped them around to the hair on the nape of his neck. Darick's hands gripped tighter, pulling in closer with an unquestioning sense of desire.

Drawing away, Liliana looked at the man through lowered lashes. His face was cool marble and his eyes had turned to polished stones of obsidian. A small red droplet formed in the corner of his lips. Reaching up she touched the sport

"You've cut your lip."

A growl from deep inside his chest stirred. In a blink, he had clasped Liliana's wrist and turned them, placing his lips against the pulse point on her wrist.

"If only I were to take you. Your purity sets me on fire. I thought I would be able to resist you... to remain a gentleman. However, Liliana, you have captivated me.”

Gripping her hands behind his head, Liliana drew closer. She was terrified and thrilled in the same moment of the thought of giving herself to this man.

"It is I that is unable to resist you."

A moment later, she was back standing and Darick Xander was behaving as if nothing had happened. He had pulled a starched linen square from his pocket and slowly wiped the corner of his mouth.

"Come this way. I believe you will find this interesting."

Inside the smaller reading room, Darick searched for a scroll among the sass fronted cases lining the room.

"Ah-ha. Here it is. Details of the Great Room tapestries."

Liliana sat down at the table positioned in the center of the room and unrolled the thick sheets. Four heavy brass weights were put on each corner, and a lense was moved around on the surface assisting in reading the heavily inked sheet.

Liliana immediately got lost in the words. She barely felt Darick bend and whisper in her ear that he needed to go talk to their host.

"I'll return shortly. Don't leave this room or I may not find you before sunrise."

Liliana raised her head and smiled at the man.

"Are you sure? It's not like I get to see much less read something like this every day. And it's tapestries."

The room was tomb-like after Darick left. The thick stone walls allowed for no sound to enter from beyond the visible enclosure.

***

Hours later, Liliana felt someone shaking her shoulder gently.

“Missus. Mr. Xander has sent me to escort you back to your room. He’s sorry for the inconvenience. He is locked in meetings all day and mice return this evening."

Groggily standing, Liliana looked down at the papers still scattered about on the table. The further she had read last night the more frightened she had become.

The stories contained in the pages talked of blood sacrifices. There were even references to the wars aged against one specific clan. If what she was reading was accurate, then the tapestries had been made as a warning sign to all involved with the House of Strigois.

***

Adjusting the smooth cotton sheets, Liliana felt her mind clear. Why had Darick never returned to the library? And why was his name written repeatedly in those ancient documents?