I felt like I was going to faint. I put my head between my knees and concentrated on taking deep breaths. “Anita, are you going to be alright?” came Asher’s voice. He sounded like he was underwater, which meant I was probably going into shock. “Anita? Anita?” Then my world went black.
Eventually I opened my eyes again. The sun shone bright through parted curtains. I had enough sense to know I wasn’t at home. Logical deduction said I was still at the Circus. Daylight meant the vamps were asleep for the day, so it was up to whatever shifters were there to take care of me. I really, really hoped someone had found Micah and Nathaniel. I glanced down at myself and saw I was still dressed. It was always good to wake up unmolested. Slowly I sat and swung my legs over the side of the bed. I got up and made my way into the adjoining bathroom. My curly black hair hung around my shoulders, matching the color of my eyes. Shit. The only time my eyes did that was when there were vampire powers at work. I automatically felt my neck for bite marks. Nothing. Strange, I felt okay, refreshed even. I flipped off the light and left the room. The hallways were deathly quiet, no pun intended. Was I the only one awake?
“Anita, you’re up.” Jason stood at another doorway. He was only wearing jean cut-offs. He hadn’t cut his hair again lately and it hung almost to his shoulders. His sky blue eyes were filled with concern. “It’s almost noon. Asher said you fainted.”
I nodded. “Yeah. Did he tell you why?”
“Not really. He said you just up and passed out. What happened?”
“Let’s say things went from bad to really bad.”
He frowned at me. “What does that mean? I know you didn’t kill Edward. He’s still sleeping.” Jason’s eyes widened. “I didn’t check to make sure he was breathing though.”
“I didn’t kill him,” I sighed, exasperated. Was I going to have to tell everyone what Edward and I did? “You know Edward may be a lycanthrope now?” Jason nodded. “Well, he came to me for advice or whatever, and made a move on me. I think he’s been mind-raped by Belle Morte. Zane shot him with a tranquilizer gun, and put him in the basement. I went to check on him, the ardeur hit me…and we had sex.” I shot Jason a dirty look. “No comments from the peanut gallery; Jean-Claude knows.”
“I didn’t say anything,” said Jason innocently. “Why would this vamp chick want inside Edward’s mind? He didn’t kill you, so what’s the point?”
“Asher thinks she did it to make me vulnerable.”
“So you had sex with him. Big deal.”
I gritted my teeth. “Jason, I’m not on birth control.”
“Oh.” He was silent. “You getting pregnant would not be good,” he said slowly. “But what kind of devious plot is that? It turns out you’re pregnant, you get an abortion, problem solved.” A look of realization seemed to come over him. “You don’t believe in abortion, do you?”
“No. Christianity is against it. Plus I think it’s just morally wrong. And with all the vampire marks and shit, who knows what could happen to me.”
He shook his head. “Anita, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize how bad this was. If there’s anything I can do, let me know.”
“Thanks Jason.”
That conversation killed my day entirely. Jason wandered off to do whatever it was he did. I went to the kitchen to make more coffee. As long as I was there, I decided to have something to eat. There were bagels: I had insisted on Jean-Claude stocking food I ate in case I ever needed to stay there longer than overnight. When my stomach was satisfied with food and beverage, I decided to check on Edward. I found the bedroom he was in. I stood outside the door quietly for a moment, making sure the ardeur wasn’t going to be an issue. I felt nothing but slightly nervous. Inside the huge bedroom, Edward lay among satin sheets and fluffy pillows. He seemed small and insignificant lying there naked and unarmed. I knew better than to think him helpless, though. God knows he’d strangle me barehanded if I did anything to him. His pale blonde hair was mussed from being in a bed for so long. He was settled on him stomach, baring his injuries. The claw marks didn’t seem so bad now. How long had it been since he first came to me about his attack?
He tossed and turned in his sleep. I swear he muttered my name. I walked closer to the bed and leaned over him. Suddenly he grabbed my arm, eyes wide and focused on me. “Anita,” he said. “They’re coming for you.” Edward went still and his arm dropped to his side. I was freaked out. Who was coming for me? The Council? I took a moment to collect myself. It was daytime, I reasoned. The Council couldn’t attack me with the sun up. Right?
“Hey, Anita,” called Jason from down the hall. “There’s someone at the door. Should I answer it?”
“Is there a peephole in the door?” I called back.
“Yes.”
“Answer it, but be careful.” I waited just inside the bedroom door. The sounds of a door opening then closing were followed by soft talking. “Jason?” I called.
“It’s okay. It’s Micah and Nathaniel.”
Thank goodness. I walked out to meet them. Micah actually opened his arms to hug me. I let him. His face was solemn as he eyed me carefully. “Are you alright, Anita? Cherry said that there’s been some trouble. Where’s Edward?”
“No, I’m not alright, but I’ll get to that later. Edward is in the bedroom sleeping. As of right now, I only have a partial idea of what’s going on.”
“How bad are things?” Nathaniel asked.
“I don’t know. But I’m pretty sure the Council is behind it. I think Belle Morte had Edward under mind control.”
“Had?” Micah made it a question.
“Jean-Claude broke her hold over Edward. Hopefully,” I added. “But I’ll have to wait until nightfall to be sure.”
The men exchanged glances. “Anita,” began Micah. “I hate to ask this, but what exactly went on with you and Edward?”
I crinkled my forehead. “What do you mean?”
He sighed. “You smell like sex, Anita.”
Damn him and his superhuman senses. “Okay. Yes, we had sex, but it’s not either of our faults. I was under the influence of the ardeur and Edward’s mind was being manipulated by a very powerful vamp. That’s all there is to it and I don’t want to talk about this anymore!”
Micah held his hands palm out and backed up a step. “I’m concerned about your well-being, Anita. I’m not getting on your case about anything. Nathaniel and I will have someone else fill us in on what we’ve missed.”
I sighed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you.”
“It’s okay,” Nathaniel said softly. He reached out and rubbed my shoulder. “Do you want to be alone for a while?”
“Not really. All I want to do is curl up in bed and wake up with everything normal.”
“Can I join you if you’re really going to take a nap?” he asked. Now that he mentioned it, I was exhausted. Micah left with Jason to get up to date with the situation. There was a good four hours until nightfall. Nathaniel and I could nap until then. We used Jason’s room. In the small bathroom attached to the main bedroom, I changed into an oversized shirt. The wereleopard stripped down to boxers. If it had been the werewolf, I’d have made him wear more clothing. I trusted Nathaniel to behave himself. Normally I wasn’t too much into cuddling while I tried to sleep, but the day’s events left me uneasy. I spooned against Nathaniel’s back, holding him like I was afraid to let go. He hugged my arms to his chest. The scent of his hair comforted me greatly. I must have fallen asleep; the next time I opened my eyes the room was dark.
“Anita,” called a voice from the darkness. Jean-Claude. “How are you feeling, ma petite?”
I sat up slowly. Nathaniel stirred but stayed sleeping. “I’ll live. Are we having a group meeting now?”
“That would be best.”
Great. “Do you want me to wake him up?”
“Please.”
“Where are we meeting?”
“In the main room.” Silently the vampire left.
“Nathaniel,” I spoke softly. He sighed and rolled over, cuddling against my front. I shook his shoulder none too gently. “Nathaniel!”
“Hmm?” came the sleepy reply.
“Time to get up. Everybody’s in the other room for a discussion. You need to come too.”
He yawned and stretched from fingertips to toes like a giant kitty cat. I got up to dress. I could hear Nathaniel pulling on clothes behind me. We made our way down the hall. I fought the urge to grasp his hand as we walked into the big room. Jean-Claude was there along with Asher, Jason, Cherry, Zane, Micah, Richard, and…
“Edward.” I came to a halt. Nathaniel kept going and settled on the floor at Asher’s feet. “You’re up.”
He gave a slow nod. “I’m up. And according to Jean-Claude, I’m myself again.”
Something in my chest loosened, and I was able to take a deep breath. “Good. How do you feel?”
“Like shit. You?”
“The same. Did you get filled in on everything?”
Jean-Claude frowned at me. “Ma petite, sit, please. Try to be comfortable.”
I snorted but sat in a chair across from Edward. “Comfortable? Yeah right. You have no idea what the hell I’ve been through these last few days.”
“That is why we are all here. To get an understanding of the past days’ events.” Trust Jean-Claude to be so diplomatic.
“Okay. You want the truth and nothing but? Here it is.” I crossed my arms over my chest. Antisocial, me? “Edward calls me, says he needs to talk to me. Turns out he may have to join the pard. He threatens to kill me if I don’t help him. I tell the leopards and they don’t like it. I made out with Cherry. Edward made the moves on me and I threatened to kill him. Then I made out with Edward. Zane shot him with tranquilizers and threw him in the basement. I had sex with Edward. I called you, Jean-Claude. Asher came to take Edward and I here. Edward went nuts. You went nuts. Asher realized the diabolical scheme. I might be pregnant. Which brings us to the now.” I glared at everyone. “Any questions?”