He stepped forward, holding out his hand in an unconscious plea for understanding.
"Jocelyn."
"No," she abruptly cried, backing from him in instinctive fear. "I do not want to hear."
Lucien's heart broke as he regarded Jocelyn's shattered expression.
He had known this moment would be difficult. He had steeled himself for her anger and disbelief. Even her fear. But now that it had arrived, he realized that it was not difficult. It was bloody impossible.
Great Nefri. She had never appeared more vulnerable. Her eyes were darkened with fractured pain and her features pale with the strain. Worse, there was an air of wounded betrayal shrouded about her taut form.
She did not want to believe he was a monster from her worst nightmare. Not when she had opened her home to him. And her heart.
Lucien longed to tug her into his arms and assure her that all would be well. He wanted to soothe her fears and return the enchanting smile to her face.
Unfortunately he realized that he was the last soul in the world who could offer her comfort.
Until he could somehow reach past the fear that currently filled her heart, he was the enemy.
Instead, he could only watch in pained frustration as she struggled to accept the unacceptable.
"I attempted to tell you earlier," he said gently. "Before we were interrupted by Mr. Ryan."
She gave a shake of her head. "Dear heavens, you cannot believe that you are a vampire?"
He swallowed a rueful laugh. "This is not a delusion of an unstable mind, Jocelyn. I am avampire."
"This is insanity," she whispered.
Lucien stepped forward, uncertain how to convince her of the truth without sending her fleeing in terror. He attempted to take heart from the fact that she had not bolted already. Surely he could reach her if only she would give him the opportunity.
"Please, if you would just listen to me—"
"No." She raised a hasty hand, her eyes wide with fright. "Just stay away."
His heart twisted in agony. "I will not harm you. I would never harm you. I was sent here to protect you."
"Protect me? From what?"
Lucien paused, his hands lifting to run through his thick hair. How was he possibly to tell this maiden that she was not only harboring a vampire beneath her roof, but that another was ruthlessly stalking her? And that she currently carried a powerful amulet that could very well decide the fate of all vampires.
She would think him craved.
Or, worse, blame him for the danger that now haunted her.
"This is very difficult," he muttered. "Will you at least have a seat?"
"No, I—"
"Jocelyn," he interrupted in commanding tones, his gaze catching and holding her own. "At least hear me out."
Amazingly her face paled an even more shocking shade of white, but she managed to move to a nearby chair and sat stiffly upon the edge of the cushion.
"If you insist."
Lucien briefly closed his eyes and attempted to clear his rattled thoughts. It was utterly imperative that he find the words to warn her of her impending danger without further thrusting her away. A fine balance that he was not at all certain he could discover.
At last he reluctantly opened his eyes and met her dark, accusing gaze.
"Jocelyn, I realize that this is difficult to accept, but vampires are not a myth. We have been here for longer than you could ever imagine. And, in truth, we were once unfortunately the monsters we were portrayed. A vampire that is consumed with blood lust will kill without mercy or thought for his victim. But in taking a human life we not only are gifted with many powers, we are also cursed with sunbane that prevents us from leaving our lairs except at night."
Her hand slowly crept instinctively to cover her neck. "But you do not fear the sun."
"Since my return I have not indulged my blood lust. I have not taken a mortal life."
She shuddered in horror. "Dear heavens."
Eager to assure her that vampires were more than just monsters who fed upon humans and stalked the streets at night, Lucien moved toward the chair and bent down beside her. He grimaced as he could feel the fear that raced through her slender form.
Was it possible that less than an hour before, this maiden had been filled with the glorious, dazzling warmth of love? He would give everything he possessed, his very soul, to feel that warmth once again.
"Vampires no longer walk among humans. Two hundred years ago the greatest of all vampires, Great Nefri, used a powerful Medallion to create the Veil."
Her brow pleated in understandable confusion. "The Veil?"
"It is a place of peace for the vampires," he said, a surprisingly reminiscent smile touching his lips. Odd, considering how he had always chafed at the thought of being so firmly imprisoned.
And the fact that he was far from certain that he wished to return. "We are no longer bound by mortal forms or weaknesses. Instead, we devote ourselves to study and the ancient philosophies.
It is a world quite separate from your own."
Her frown deepened at his soothing words. Obviously she was not about to be easily reassured no matter how peaceful and scholarly he claimed vampires to be.
"Then, what are you doing here?" she demanded.
He reached out to grasp the arm of the chair, careful not to touch her but close enough to halt any hasty urge to retreat.
"Unfortunately not all vampires were willing to give up the power of blood lust. There are those who feel that they possess a superior dominance over humans. They resented being forced behind the Veil."
"What do they want?"
"To return vampires to the world of mortals," he said simply.
She brooded upon his words, swiftly capable of realizing the dire consequences. Her hands clutched together in her lap.
"How?"
"They seek the Medallion that Nefri used to create the Veil. With such a powerful artifact they could not only destroy the Veil, but it would give them dominion over the other vampires."
She allowed her gaze to meet his own, perhaps seeking the truth deep in his eyes.
"What does this have to do with me?"
Lucien drew in a deep breath. He did not want to deepen her terror. This was all overwhelming enough as it was. But he knew that he could not hold back the truth. Not only because he needed to earn back her trust, but also because he had to warn her of Amadeus.
Soon the vampire would become desperate enough to attempt a more direct means to gain command of the Medallion. She must be prepared to resist his dangerous plots.
"When Nefri discovered that there were traitors plotting to steal the Medallion, she very wisely divided it into three amulets." His hands gripped the arm of the chair. "Then she bound the amulets to human maidens."
Perhaps unconsciously, her fingers reached up to touch the necklace that lay against her skin.
"Amulets?"
"Your amulet, Jocelyn."
She gave a frantic shake of her head, then abruptly leapt from the chair. Lucien was swiftly upon his feet, but she did not flee as he had briefly feared. Instead, she turned around to regard him with a glittering gaze.
"No . .. you are wrong. This amulet was given to me by an old gypsy woman."
"The woman was Nefri. She came to you in disguise."
"The vampire?"
"Yes."
Her expression crumpled, her hands rising to press against her temples. Lucien could only watch in helpless concern as she battled to accept his words. Blast, Nefri. Whatever her belief that Jocelyn was strong enough of spirit to bear this burden, he desperately wished Nefri had chosen any other maiden.
She was so alone. And so very vulnerable.
"This is absurd," she at last muttered in harsh tones. "Why would she give such a thing to me?"
Lucien cautiously edged forward, his face filled with sympathy. "Because she was able to bind the Medallion to you as a human, which means that it cannot be taken by force, or even death. It can only be given freely."
Her brows pulled together. "That was why she told me never to remove it or give it to another."
"Yes."
"But..." She held the amulet in her hand. "It is not bound to me. I can easily remove it."
"The Medallion itself allows for free will," he explained in soft tones. "If you choose to give it away, then it will not halt you."
"Oh."
He dared another step forward, warily watching her pale features. "A more important reason she chose you was that she understood the strength and purity of your heart. She knew she could find no better guardian."
"Guardian." She uttered a short, near-hysterical laugh. "How can I be a guardian when I did not even realize what I possessed? I might have given away the necklace on a dozen occasions."
"It was a risk, but Nefri had few options."
A sudden anger flared to life in the beautiful blue eyes. "She could have told me the truth."
He grimaced. It was an argument he had used himself. Only now did he fully comprehend Nefri's dilemma. What maiden with any sense at all would willingly place herself in the path of a murderous vampire? Even supposing Nefri could have convinced them that vampires existed at all.
