Cathedral (Cradle of Darkness 1)

I found no such thing upon arrival.

My apartment waited, devoid of life when the door snapped shut at my back. Ethan was gone, his blonde was gone.

Blaring sports didn’t come from the den, the smell the astringent greasy lingering of takeout stink didn’t add to the room’s flavor.

The house was dead.

My heart beat three times, slowing, slowing… slowing… until I was dead too.

And then that godforsaken thing beat again.

No messages waited for me on my phone. No notes taped to the door.

Ethan had not even sent a text, because he was holed up with his blonde bunny. And I could see it. I could fucking see his warm palm circling her belly while he cooed nonsense to a fetus he’d abandon with the first dirty diaper.

This was loneliness. That horrible, worming feeling right there. The hole in my heart that ate me alive and turned my mouth to ashes.

Sniffing, I glanced around the elegant foyer, and found I didn’t want to go deeper into what had once been my sanctuary. Not when I’d have to see with my own eyes how hollow it was.

But I didn’t have a choice.

With Ethan or without Ethan by my side, I had obligations to fulfil. Charity events to attend. Important men and women to sup with and manipulate.

Yet hours passed while I stood like a corpse in my foyer, staring forward, unblinking. And in all that time, still no messages, not a single apology from my lover.

It wasn’t until it began to grow dark that I moved, walking through the tomb-like house to find my bedsheets still rumpled, Ethan’s clothes haphazardly thrown around our room.

He’d taken nothing with him.

Not that I’d really offered him the chance.

And even that had not earned me a spiteful text demanding I let him gather his things. Nothing. I’d earned nothing.

Fine. Let him sulk a day or two, but he would come back. His collection of fine watches was here, his heirloom cufflinks, his future wife. His uncle or his father would make him come to me. And then there would be no more blondes.

Unless they came with a dick.

Perhaps I should even ensconce a lover under the roof, so Ethan might understand just how fucking lenient I had been. A lover whom I’d allow to wear Ethan’s clothing, wear his watches, and claim my affection while Ethan was out fucking old women for the glory of his family.

“He’s not worth crying over, Jade. He’s only a human.”

“Goddamnit, Malcom!” The sun wasn’t even full down, yet my babysitter dared stand in the room’s darkest corner. A quick wipe of my cheek with the back of my hand removed embarrassing evidence before he might see more. “Why can’t you leave me a moment’s peace?”

As my back was to the man so I might repair any smeared mascara, I heard him take a step toward me. Instinctually, I countered, stepping more into the light. But the light was fading, even then I could see only the last sliver of sun sinking away from the skyline… and this male… this male braved the sun in reckless and dangerous ways.

“There are going to be changes, Jade. Alterations to the status quo.” His voice was even nearer than it should have been, so close I knew his skin must be burning to a crisp. “It would be best if you chose not to resist, and instead put faith in my ability to know what’s best.”

A scoff, a tired, worn, and unhappy laugh.

“You were raised by a human nursemaid. After she was killed, you were left to your own devices, sent to human schools, and rarely mixing with your own kind.

He could not be more wrong. “I don’t have a kind. I’m the only known living daywalker.”

“You lack the basic fundamentals of being vampire. You fail to feed until you’re weak physically and mentally. And when you do feed, you devour without restraint, and leave a mess. More importantly, you enjoy your infamy within the flock. You enjoy that they fear you since they have been forbidden to love you.”

I didn’t need this right now. Not while I was stung. Not while the sun continued to disappear and stretching shadows brought my tormentor closer. “You get such sick joy out of this, don’t you?”

“It has been discussed, moving you permanently into the Cathedral while reassignment is organized.”

The blood drained from my face, Malcom earning my full attention. “What? No!”

I was going to marry Ethan and secure that family to my father’s bidding. If all went well, I’d have at least ten years enjoying the role of being his wife. Ten years with a partner who made me happy. For Christ’s sake, I had spent fifteen with the last husband and he was awful in every imaginable way. Ten years was not asking much. And at the end of it, I’d bribe one of my father’s flock to change him, to make him as much like me as they could. We could have eternity.