What I Would Give to See You Again
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What I Would Give to See You Again
Copyright © 2016 by Jewel Quinlan
Edited by Jewel Quinlan
Cover art by Dar Albert, Wicked Smart Designs
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work, in whole or in part, in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.
Published by Jewel Quinlan http://jewelquinlan.com
Also by Jewel Quinlan
Title and Publication Date
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Surrender Sweet Succubus – April 11, 2014
Extreme Heat – April 3, 2014
Man Candy, The Cougar Journals Book 1 – January 9, 2015
Boy Toy, The Cougar Journals Book 2 – May 20, 2015
Eternal Oath – September 29, 2015
She’s Got It All – October 24, 2015
DEDICATION
For all those dreams and desires beckoning me further forward every day.
What I Would Give to See You Again
A Reverie Resort Vacation
By
Jewel Quinlan
Table of Contents
Also by Jewel Quinlan
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Chapter One
Itembe entered from the far side of the terrace overlooking the ocean and seated himself next to Chin-Sun on the white cushions of the plantation-style couch. “It took some time to narrow down on the exact moment in his past but the portal is set.”
She noticed her associate was dressed with his usual flair. His black dress shirt and pants were topped with a red sport coat whose fabric was patterned to look like the skin of a crocodile. On anyone else it would have been flamboyant, but not on him. With his tall frame and dark African features, he looked like a model. She glanced away from him to the pages of the black leather folio in her lap. “Just in time.”
“Why would anyone want to relive the moment they committed murder?” he asked.
“This client isn’t just anyone. He’s a vampire. A one hundred and fifty-three year old vampire. What’s even more intriguing is that he wishes to relive an experience he had with a human woman over a century ago. That by itself tells you it is quite the memory.”
She closed the folio, laid it on the table in front of her, then leaned back on the couch. She smoothed her hands down her thighs over the skirt of the quietly fashionable gray dress she wore. Unlike Itembe, she preferred to present herself as innocuously professional as possible. The client had paid good money to have this experience and she would see to it that everything was just right, as she always did. The island resort had a reputation for over delivering on what they promised. Their satisfaction rate exceeded one hundred percent. Although customers initially grumbled about the high price they charged, it was considered money well spent by the time they left.
“Is that him?” Itembe jerked his chin toward the steps that led to the lobby where the receptionist was leading a man in.
“Yes. His name is Ahram Bahar.”
The man had the kind of skin that was golden brown from years of drinking in the sun. It made his light-green eyes glow from a face with exotic, angular features framed by wavy chin-length black hair.
Chin-Sun rose. “Mr. Bahar, it’s a pleasure to meet you in person.” She extended her hand to him and he took it.
Aside from the cool feel of his skin, most humans would never be able to detect that he was a vampire. He didn’t have the red eyes described in legends, and he walked about in sunlight with ease. But Chin-Sun could always spot his kind. They had a certain tell-tale look in their eyes. Even though vampires remained physically frozen in young, healthy bodies, the experiences they had over the years were a burden all their own. It was as if the accumulation of them reflected off of their ancient souls and radiated out through their gazes.
Chin-Sun knew many things about this one. Aside from the fact that this vampire was one hundred and fifty-three years old, she also knew he was of Egyptian descent, and that in his mortal life he had never married. In his years as a vampire he’d never taken a mate either. Interesting that such a long-lived creature would not seek a companion to share it with.
“Have a seat.” She gestured to the cushioned lounge chairs across from her and Itembe.
Mr. Bahar shook hands with Itembe then seated himself with the fluid grace of his species and crossed his legs. “It’s quite the journey to get here,” Ahram said. “What’s the story with that plane of yours, by the way? From what I’m seeing of this resort, and what I paid for this vacation, you make plenty of money. How is it that the plane looks and runs like an antique?”
Chin-Sun’s lips quirked and she exchanged and amused gaze with Itembe. “Yes, others have remarked on it, too. We are looking for a replacement, but for now that one does the job well enough.”
The vampire grunted. “Where exactly are we? With all the turbulence and the changes in direction your pilot made, I lost track pretty quickly after we took off from Morocco.”
She gave a flippant wave of her hand. “Let’s just say we are in remote, international waters. Itembe and I searched diligently for just the right slice of paradise to share with our guests.”
Ahram flicked his gaze to Itembe than back to her, the straight set of his lips and eyes revealing his skepticism.
Chin-Sun smiled, recognizing a no-nonsense attitude when she saw it. “Why don’t we get down to business? We like to meet with our guests as soon as they arrive to make sure there are no last-minute adjustments desired to their vacation. You must understand that once everything is set in motion no further changes can be made.”
Ahram shook his head. “I still find it hard to believe that you can reconstruct an incident from my past.”
“Down to the last detail,” Itembe said in a low rumbling voice.
Ahram cut his eyes back to him. “But I hardly told you anything about it.”
“It’s not necessary,” Chin-Sun said. “We find that using our own sources to gather information is more accurate. Don’t worry, you won’t be disappointed. Everything will be exactly as you remember.”
Ahram shifted in his seat and placed an elbow on the arm of the chair. The ocean breeze ruffled his hair but his eyes never wavered from her face.
Chin-Sun could tell from the small furrow of his dark brows that his honed predatory instincts warred with his desire to have this vacation. She folded her hands in her lap and waited for him to come to the obvious conclusion. He’d come this far, there was no reason for him not to continue.
“I suppose I will have to have faith in your reputation,” he finally said, the word faith spoken with distaste. “
So, when does it begin?”
Chin-Sun’s lips spread in a slow smile. The cynical customers always ended up the most satisfied. “Whenever you wish.”
“Most people wish to relax for a bit after their long journey here. Normally, we start them in the morning,” Itembe suggested.
Restlessness glittered in Ahram’s eyes. “I’m a vampire. I have no need of rest, and I’m curious to see if you can deliver on what your ad promised.”
“Well then, we’ll escort you there right now.” Chin-Sun stood and gestured toward the stairs.
The three of them walked up and into the grand lobby with its marble floor and magnificent tropical flower arrangements, crossing to the sleek bank of gold elevators. The letters RR were engraved across each set of doors in cursive font.
The ride up to the fifty-third floor was a silent one. Chin-Sun observed Ahram’s expression, reflected on the polished elevator doors, during the short ride. He had a determined set to his mouth, that of a man whose will had set him on a course devoid of deviations.
When the elevator stopped and the doors opened, she said, “Please, this way,” then led the way left down the hallway. They passed several windows on the way; outside, the day was perfect. It was almost impossible to tell where the endless blue sky met the infinite ocean. Waves crashed on the bank of cool sand far below and palm trees swayed in a sinuous dance. It was too bad their client didn’t want to enjoy any of it before beginning his quest. She flicked her gaze back at him. He looked as if hadn’t really enjoyed anything in a very long while.
Ahram’s expression was puzzled but he followed her and Itembe down the hallway. However, when she stopped in front of a door marked 5313, he said, “I told you I didn’t need any rest.”
Itembe rested a hand on his shoulder. “We know.” The contact was no casual gesture. Through his palm, Itembe would be making final note of the client’s energy signature.
Ahram glared at him then at Chin-Sun.
“This is where we leave you Mr. Bahar,” she said. “Once you pass through this door your vacation will begin.” Chin-Sun nodded at her associate. “Itembe, if you will?”
The tall African man strode forward and laid his fingers on the wooden door. A faint hum emanated from it and a soft golden light emitted through the slim gaps between it and the frame. When he stepped back glowing symbols arced above it on the wall.
Ahram’s lips parted and his eyes widened. He stared at the symbols as though trying to decipher them.
They were from an ancient nonhuman language that both warned and instructed, but Chin-Sun didn’t tell him what they meant. When he hesitated at the threshold, she spoke again, “It’s simple, Mr. Bahar. All you have to do is step through this door you will be transported back in time to the memory you described to us. We hope you enjoy your time there.”
Finally he moved, stepping forward with a disbelieving look on his face, and grasped the door’s plain round knob. When he pulled it open a confusion of colors and lights blared out, but he didn’t hesitate further. In one smooth motion, he stepped through and closed the door behind him. When it clicked shut the lights and symbols faded away leaving the door as innocent looking as when they’d arrived.
“What do you think he hopes to gain?” asked Itembe. “Some kind of closure?”
“Yes, he does seek closure, but not just with this memory.” Chin-Sun met Itembe’s dark gaze. “This single incident has haunted him ever since it happened. It is the one and only time he ever killed someone, and murder goes against everything he believes in. Mr. Bahar is here because he doesn’t wish to live any longer, and he wants to see her again before he dies.”
Chapter Two
Stepping through the doorway was like being dropped into a tornado. Even with his vampire sight and hearing, Ahram couldn’t make any sense of the sounds and shapes that enfolded him. After a few minutes of total chaos they settled slowly back down into form, like a crumpled piece of Saran Wrap being stretched taut again.
He first became aware of the cold and the white specks drifting down to land on his face. Snowflakes. Rather than melt, as they would have on the skin of a human, they rested there on the cool surface of his cheeks so close to his eyes he could even make out their delicate unique patterns with his vampire vision.
Further in the distance was the rugged mountain landscape of the Austrian Alps. He glanced behind him and yes, there they were, the craggy twin tops of the jagged pass he’d emerged from as though they’d been pulled directly from his memory. He’d escaped from the pass just as an avalanche had fallen in, trapping the ones who’d been hunting him. This was the exact moment that he’d finished descending to the tree line of the vast forest and caught sight of a house. Her house. He ignored the knee-deep snow he stood in and looked in the direction he knew it would be.
Cheery yellow light shone from the windows of the modest two-story Austrian chalet. The first story had been painted white and the second story was coated with wooden timbers. The windows had brown wooden shutters, and the peaked roof was laden with snow. Smoke drifted upward in lazy wisps from the chimney.
The winter winds scraped his cheeks as he stared at it in disbelief, but then that washed away as the scent and feel of the familiar scene impacted him. He slogged forward in the snow, as he went he bent down and grasped handfuls of it to feel the rough coolness on his fingers. He sniffed at the wind and inhaled the scents of nature. They had done it! As doubtful as he had been of Chin-Sun and Itembe, they had actually done it! He was in the exact moment of his history where he’d had his unexpected reunion with Angelica.
Prior to this moment he’d gotten separated from his friend, Serapis, the vampire who’d passed eternal life on to him. They’d unfortunately tried to feed in an area that was already claimed. The resident vampires had chased them out, attacking with such ferocity that they’d been forced to split up. Ahram had gotten lost in the wilderness and, as he fled for his life, ended up crossing the mountains.
He drew closer to the front door of the house, appreciating the charm of its construction once again. But not just its construction, the magic of his actually being here standing before it. Just as Itembe had said, everything was exactly as he remembered down to the finest detail. It was amazing. The family name, Meitner, was painted in cursive over the top of the door and a stack of logs was piled against the left side of the house. His lips curved up in a rusty smile, the unfamiliar motion reminding him how long it had been since he’d felt truly happy.
Just as he had so long ago, he lifted a fist as though in a daze and knocked on the door.
He had no idea what he had expected. Not the real Angelica, certainly, some kind of actress perhaps. But emotion overwhelmed him when the door opened, there she stood, flesh and blood, wearing a brown woolen dress and a green shawl wrapped around her shoulders. Her scent reached his nostrils. From its unique richness he conclude that this was no imitation. By some miracle, it really was her. The backs of his eyes prickled and he knew that, if vampires could cry, tears of joy would be streaming down his cheeks.
He stared in disbelief and wonder at the woman who’d captured his heart years ago. By the standards of the modern world she would not be considered a great beauty. She was full-figured, and her brown hair was more frizzy than it was curly. But he preferred her lush curves to the stick slimness that had become fashionable over time. She had a gentleness about her and it was her warm energy that had always drawn him in. The kindness in her eyes and the friendliness about her lips immediately welcomed people in. Even now, faced with a stranger at the door, they were curved into an easy smile. He resisted the urge to sweep her up in a tight hug, to feel her in his arms and know she wasn’t an illusion.
“Kann ich Sie helfen?” she asked.
He shook his head. “English?”
She was wiping her hands on a rag, and that’s when he remembered that he’d interrupted her in the middle of cooking. “Oh. Can I help you?” The clipped English she spoke was more charming t
o his ears than anything he’d ever heard in French or Spanish. “What are you doing out here?” She looked past him to see if anyone else was with him and then scanned his form.
He glanced down at himself as well. His clothing was stiff and wet from trudging through the snow. His pant legs were coated with it as if he had been dipped into a vat of white chocolate. The clumps of his hair that he could see were tangled with chunks of ice.
“Oh my God, the avalanches. Did you get caught in one of them?”
He nodded. “Yes.”
“Come in, come in.” She placed a hand on his shoulder and steered him through the doorway. “My name is Angelica. Please, warm yourself by the fire. I’ll get you something to drink.”
He followed her to the living room and took a seat in one of the cushioned chairs next to the fireplace. He wasn’t actually cold, but played the role of freezing human, rubbing his hands together and shivering a bit. Vampires could withstand much more severe temperatures than humans. Most would say they were impervious to cold, but they were not completely immune when it came to extreme cold. As strong and resilient as his immortal human body was, it could still be frozen solid. Just as fire could kill vampires, so could cold. If he had gotten trapped beneath the avalanche and been unable to dig himself out in time he would have become a vampire Popsicle. His dead corpse would have rotted in the woods just like any human carcass.
Angelica moved around in the kitchen. “My father and brother went to help in the rescue efforts,” she called through the open doorway. “I’ve been praying for my neighbors for the past few hours. It’s hard to tell from here, but I worry the avalanches may have trapped some of them.”
She walked over with a cup of steaming something in her hands and handed it to him. “There, drink that. You’ll be warm in no time.”