Raven didn’t see William again until Saturday evening. He’d been busy day and night trying to locate the hunters.
It was a plausible explanation.
But Raven couldn’t help the doubt that crept into the back of her mind. She wondered if he’d seen the red-haired vampyre while he was hunting. She wondered who he was feeding from, since he wasn’t feeding from her.
She cursed herself for being jealous of his food sources.
On Saturday evening, at William’s request, she put on a little black dress that dipped very low in the back, exposing a great deal of skin. The dress would have looked better with stilettos, but now that her leg was back to its previous form, she couldn’t wear high heels without excruciating pain.
She took time brushing and styling her long black hair, curling the ends. And she made up her face with a light hand, accentuating the natural color of her lips and highlighting her green eyes.
William had said he was taking her out for the evening, but that she was to be ready before sunset.
A knock sounded at the door and she looked through the peephole.
It was Marco.
She opened the door to let him in and retrieved her purse. “Where’s his lordship?”
“In the car.” Marco moved past her, searching the apartment. When he seemed satisfied with what he saw (or didn’t see), he accompanied her to the landing, keeping careful watch on the stairwell as she locked the door.
When she entered the Mercedes, she found William in the backseat.
“Good evening.” He greeted her with a passionate kiss.
She kissed him back earnestly, for she’d missed him.
“I like this.” His fingers descended to where the dress began at her backside.
“You requested it.”
“I may have requested it, but only you could wear it.” He grasped her wrist, moving her bracelet aside so his lips could meet her skin. “You’re stunning.”
Marco pulled away from the curb and they began driving.
“You won’t need this tonight.” William undid the scarf that covered her neck.
Slowly and sensuously, he slid the silk across her skin, allowing the end to trail across her breast.
Raven stopped breathing for a moment.
“Why not?”
“We won’t be in public this evening.” He touched her neck with a single finger. “But I need you to close your eyes.”
“Why?” Raven looked out the window in alarm. “Are you taking me back underground?”
“No. Trust me.”
Raven didn’t trust him. Not completely.
But she swallowed her doubts and closed her eyes.
She could hear the sound of other cars and Vespas as they passed. She could feel the movement of the car, the acceleration and deceleration. There were several stops and several turns.
She had no idea where they were going.
All this time, William’s thumb stroked the back of her hand.
Suddenly the car came to a stop.
“We’re here.”
Raven opened her eyes and saw they were in an alley. She didn’t recognize the buildings on either side.
Marco opened her door and helped her out, reaching inside to pick up her cane.
“Thank you.” She took it from him and walked around the back of the car to where William was waiting.
“That will be all, Marco. I’ll ring you when it’s time to return.”
Marco nodded and returned to the driver’s seat.
William stood in front of a rusty metal door. He pressed a stone in the wall to its left and a security panel emerged. He entered a long series of numbers and Raven heard a loud click.
William opened the door, allowing her to step inside.
“What’s this?” she asked, her eyes peering into the dark space.
“This is Teatro.”