* * *
Darcy had unpacked her bags, cleaned the kitchen, paced her room and was settling her plants in the beautiful solarium as she absently listened to Levet's chatter when she heard the sound of footsteps in the hallway.
It shouldn't have caught her attention considering the house was literally filled with people. She had counted at least a half dozen different guards in the short time she had been held captive.
But they were vampires.
If she had learned nothing else, it was that there could be a hundred of them lurking in the shadows and never make so much as a squeak. Not the most comforting of thoughts.
Leaving Levet to finish watering the wilted plants, Darcy cautiously entered the hallway and moved toward an open door that had been disguised by the dark walnut paneling.
She peered into the darkness, not surprised to discover a narrow staircase that led deep into the ground. It seemed only natural that creatures who feared the sun would have a love for places that it couldn't reach.
There was another soft scuffle coming from below and, sucking in a deep breath, she was moving down the steps before she could consider the thousands of reasons it was a bad idea.
The scent of rich, black earth surrounded her as she reached the wide tunnel. It was a soothing scent despite the heavy darkness, and she paused to get her bearings.
Several smaller tunnels ran from the main passageway. She assumed that they led to hidden lairs, or perhaps they were for quick escapes.
Escape.
Something to keep in mind, she silently acknowledged.
But not tonight.
Not with the cloaked guard watching her as he stood before the entrance to what seemed to be a small room. And not before she discovered what had happened to create the unmistakable tension filling the air.
Crossing the short distance, she came to a halt directly before the motionless vampire.
"What is it?" she demanded. "What has happened?"
With a motion too swift for a mere mortal to follow, the guard had pushed back his cowl, and Darcy took a swift step backward. The dark eyes held a strange glow and there was no mistaking the fangs that were fully extended.
Oh yeah, something was wrong.
"The master has been injured," he said, his voice harsh.
"Injured?" A sharp pain clutched at her heart, and the urge that had plagued her for the past two hours to see Styx became a fierce necessity. "Is it bad?"
She moved to brush past the vampire only to come to a jolting halt as his arm reached out to block her path.
"You cannot go in."
She pushed against the arm. Stupid, of course. She'd have better luck trying to move a brick wall.
Stepping back, she planted her hands on her hips, not nearly as frightened by the looming fangs as she should be.
"Then get used to my face because I'm not leaving until I have seen him," she warned.
The guard didn't bother to react to her ridiculous threat. And why should he? He could kill her on the spot if he wearied of looking at her face.
To both their surprise, however, a low voice spoke from inside the room.
"Allow her to pass."
The guard stiffened but grudgingly dropped his arm. Darcy didn't hesitate as she darted past his large form. He didn't look a bit happy and she didn't want any unfortunate accidents on the way past.
Once in the unexpectedly large room she was met by a tall, silver-haired vampire who was beautiful enough to steal her breath.