Free The Key (Sanguinem Emere) by Carmen Taxer Page A

about-” I start to stammer pointedly, but Delilah gives just one turn of her head in negation.
    Dimitri seems to wait expectantly and I smile, burying my confusion, for now, “Of course, I can.”
    Delilah has turned an odd, angry nectarine colour. She glances at me, her lips pursed and her eyes slightly larger than I am used to. It’s a trap. It must be. And she realises it. There is no way on earth I can do what he is asking me to. And what of the piece he promised me? Are we going to work it into this particular article? That must be the case.
    “Excellent.” His eyes pass over me again and I could swear he just mouthed a “hey” to me. It warms me, sifts away some of the fear that he isn’t the same anymore.
    I lift my arm to my face briefly and the bracelet glints magnificently in the low light. Melinda’s face turns whiter as she glares at me, staring at the charms. Her hand automatically rubs over her own wrist.
    She catches my eye and looks away, but I could swear there was a tear there.
    Dimitri starts for the door, but stops as Levi holds it open for him, his head bowed.
    “One more thing, Eva. I am aware you heard the conversation between Levi and I of a few moments ago,” I frown as Dimitri’s eyes fall on my face again and seem to travel up and down my body, inspecting unnoticeable shame.
    “What would you have me do with him?”
    The question seems unfairly edged. If I admit to wanting him punished, Dimitri will inevitably assume I am making demands, won’t he? And that I require others to do my dirty work for me. But if I do nothing, he will feel I approved of the odd, clinical advances made by the serpentine man and my status will be tarnished in his eyes. I look to Levi and I cannot allow the temptation slandered across me earlier to stand without punishment. But then again, Dimitri’s gaze has not wavered from my eyes and the thought of allowing any chance to offend him to slither through makes me cold to my core.
    And besides, I’m sure I saw a kindness in Levi’s slumberous eyes earlier.
    My voice respectfully obeys me after a few moments, “While I do feel that the man ought not to have touched me so inappropriately,” Levi flinches his eyes, the rest of his form perfectly still and tranquil, “I also cannot deny the fact that if I am to live up to your expectations,” I cringe as the strange words twist my lips, but this seems to be what’s expected. Why fight it, if it’ll get me what I came for? “I must be capable in both deed and action.”
    Melinda glances cruelly at me and Delilah’s face has miraged from worried to entirely uncertain.
    Cecily still sits with her hand curled through the chair’s arm, but on her face there is a small, wry smile, and I could swear she just winked at me as well. My face glows a little at the feeling of approval in the room.
    Dimitri winks from the doorway before he leaves, and I think I was the only one who caught it, he is looking directly at me, after all. “Very well. You have bargained for a respite this evening, Levi. I believe our new girl will make a marvellous addition to my household.”
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    TUESDAY 18 November 2008… 01:00
    I can’t sleep.

Every time I close my eyes, Dimitri’s face barges into my subconscious and a yearning so intense I feel like my hands are burning from being unable to touch him entices me to tears.
    I open my eyes again and stare at the ceiling, trying not to sniff back the confusion too audibly, unable to wipe the tears from my face for fear of waking my sister.
    Last night, after we were dismissed, Cecily and Delilah took me to the kitchen again (it seems to be the general point of comfort in the house); an invitation was extended to the esteemed Miss Von Hagt as well, but she refused, her pallor still somewhat wasted after the uncertain incident of Dimitri’s disapproval. Of course she