Love at Stake Deleted Scenes Read online

He pinned her with a sharp, blue gaze. “Ye willna be taping us. Do ye understand?”

  A blanket of cold air pressed against her forehead, and she shivered. “Yes,” she whispered, then wondered why she had so readily agreed.

  “I understand,” Jack said, his face blank.

  Connor set the camcorder down. He and Gregori sauntered toward the bar.

  Jack visibly shuddered. “Who are those men?”

  Darcy glanced at the camcorder on the table. She wanted to tell Jack to pick it up and get Gregori and Connor on tape. But the words wouldn’t come out. Fine, then she’d tape them herself. She reached for the camcorder, but her hand stopped an inch away as if it had hit an invisible wall.

  Ye willna be taping us. Connor’s words echoed in her mind. She glanced back at the Scotsman, who was now at the bar with Gregori. He turned toward her, saluted her with a full glass of blood, then chugged down the entire glass.

  Darcy’s stomach twinged. How gross. She’d thought Connor and Gregori were nice guys, but they were just as screwed up as these poor kids. She put on her jacket, then swung her purse onto her shoulder. “Let’s get outta here.”

  “Fine by me.” Jack picked up his video cam.

  Darcy spotted the glowing exit sign for the back door. “Maybe we can catch some poor kid in the alley, heaving. That would be a fitting end to this wretched story.”

  Jack followed her out the back. The heavy metal door shut with an ominous bang. She shuddered as an uneasy feeling enveloped her. There was something wrong here.

  Something evil.

  VAMPS AND THE CITY

  DELETED SCENES

  HAREM STORIES

  PRINCESS JOANNA

  Kerrelyn Sparks

  On page 141 of Vamps and the City, Darcy interviews each of the five harem ladies. The interviews were later edited into the reality show. Princess Joanna’s interview was scheduled to appear in the first show when the five harem women were introduced (page 142).

  Darcy: Princess Joanna, we would be honored if you would tell us about yourself.

  Princess Joanna: As you wish. I was born Joanna Catherine Montclef in Warwickshire, England, in the year of our Lord 1246. At the age of fifteen, I was married to Lord William Fortescue, a baron in the service of King Henry III. It was an arranged marriage, of course, but we seemed well-suited.

  After a few years, William grew concerned with my failure to produce any children. This was a serious offense, for a barren woman has no value. She can even be considered an abomination for she defies the holy purpose for which a woman is designed by God. I tried desperately to conceive. William sired a few bastards in order to prove that no fault lay with him. I, however, found fault with his infidelity, and our relationship became strained.

  In 1270, my husband prepared to go on the Eighth Crusade with Henry’s son, Edward Longshanks. I decided to join them in the hopes that a pilgrimage to the Holy Land would persuade the Lord to be merciful and bless me with a child. We traveled with Edward’s entourage into France, where we were joined by King Louis IX. From there, we went to Venice to complete the journey by ship.

  We were invited to a banquet in an old palazzo in Venice. There was a guest there, a most interesting and handsome man. Baldassare di Fiore. He watched me all evening. I was flattered since my own husband no longer held me high regard. I asked the other guests about him, and they whispered strange things. He was a man of darkness, a man of mystery. He could work powerful magic. I was appalled...and intrigued. Toward the end of the banquet, he approached me and whispered, "Come to me. I will make your dreams come true."

  In the dark hours before dawn, I donned a hooded cloak and went to him. I thought perhaps he would know a spell or possess a potion that could help me conceive. Of course, now, I realize he was controlling my mind and directing my actions, for I went straight to his palazzo without even knowing where he lived.

  He said the words I most needed to hear. That I was more valuable than all the precious jewels of the Orient. That there was no woman on earth who was more beautiful of face or more gentle of heart. I...succumbed to him.

  In the morning, I ran back to my husband. I did not dare tell him what I had done. I prayed all day for guidance. That evening, Baldassare came to our room in the pensione. He told my husband that I would be staying with him. I was astounded when my husband accepted it calmly and left on the ship without me. Now, I realize that Baldassare controlled him. I learned later that William died in Tunis from pestilence.

  I was very happy with Baldassare, but a little curious that I never saw him during the day. In the evening, I would eat my meal alone while he went out. Then, when he returned, we would make love. One evening at dusk, I took a candle and ventured down into the cellar. There, I discovered a marble crypt. Inside was a casket. My hand was shaking, and the candlelight wavered so wildly, that I thought I must be imagining it when the casket started to open.

  Baldassare sat up and looked at me. I screamed and dropped the candle. He grabbed me in the dark and told me it was time. We would be lovers forever. He transformed me that night.

  We spent the evenings hunting along the dark alleys and misty canals. Then we would return to his palazzo to make love.

  Years later, I grew sad because I missed England. It was difficult for vampires to travel back then, but Baldassare could never refuse me. We went to London. I...I should have never begged him to take me there. It was during the time of the Regency, and we attended some of the balls. A young vampire became enamored with me and challenged Baldassare to a duel. He...he killed my beautiful Baldassare. Of course, I would have nothing to do with that murderous fiend. But I didn’t know where to go or what to do.

  When the coven master of England asked me to join his harem, I agreed. I was given the honorary title of princess, for I was the oldest vampiress in England, and they considered me royalty. Eventually, I learned to enjoy mental pleasure as vampires do, but I never wanted physical love again after losing my most precious Baldassare.

  In 1950, a new coven master was selected for England. Angus MacKay, a Scotsman! Everyone knows the Scots are barbarians. I couldn’t bear it. Mr. MacKay made arrangements with Roman Draganesti to transfer me to the harem in America.

  Of course, you will have heard of the recent unpleasantness. Who would ever believe that a powerful coven master like Roman Draganesti could fall for a mortal woman? I could not abide such an insult, so I decided to leave. From now on, I will be choosing my own master.

  VAMPS AND THE CITY

  DELETED SCENES

  HAREM STORIES

  SENORA MARIA CONSUELA MONTEMAYOR

  Kerrelyn Sparks

  On page 141 of Vamps and the City, Darcy interviews each of the five harem ladies. The interviews were later edited into the reality show. Maria Consuela’s interview was scheduled to appear in the fifth show when she judged the men on their strength (page 321).

  Darcy: Maria Consuela, would you please tell us about yourself?

  Maria Consuela: If you insist. I will be brief for talking about oneself for too long does not display the proper amount of humility.

  Darcy: Don’t worry about that. You’re a very humble person.

  Maria Consuela: Pray, do not flatter me. Pride is evil.

  I was born in Castile in 1455, the daughter of a humble merchant. Times became difficult, and my father was in danger of losing his olive oil business and our home. He agreed to take on a young partner from Leon who was willing to invest a goodly amount in our business so it could flourish.

  My mother was opposed to this new arrangement. She had heard strange things whispered about the young man in the marketplace. It was rumored he hid a dark, evil secret. Many suspected his conversion to Christianity five years earlier was false, and that he secretly persisted in following Judaism. My father wanted to dispel my mother’s fear, so he invited the young man to our house so she could meet him.

  The minute I saw Alfonso Montemayor, my heart belonged to him. It was clear t
o see that he was an honest and humble gentleman. He was very handsome, intelligent, and wealthy, but never boastful of it. And to my surprise, he seemed equally enamored with me. My father was delighted, for he believed having Alfonso for a son-in-law would be the answer to all our problems. My mother still feared Alfonso, for she claimed he was too good to be true. Anything so perfect had to be a tool of the devil.

  My mother’s obsession led to our downfall. She told the Spanish Inquisition of her suspicions. They were already watching Alfonso and attempted to arrest him during the day. When they could not find him, they brought my father in for questioning. Where was Alfonso hiding, they asked. My father did not know. He had never seen Alfonso during the day. This only made the Inquisitor suspicious of my father. They decided he was hiding a dark secret about Alfonso, and they began to torture my father.

  My mother was so overcome with remorse, she ran off to a nunnery and refused to leave until my father was safely released. Alas, I never saw her again. My father slipped into unconsciousness without revealing anything. The torturers sought a new victim. Alfonso’s betrothed—me.

  They came for me in the evening. As they tied me to the rack, I cried out to the Lord to deliver me from this evil. Then, an amazing thing happened. Alfonso suddenly appeared in the chamber. He tossed the guards against the stone wall and bit the torturer on the neck. That was when I realized that Alfonso did indeed have a dark secret. But I never blamed him for it, for I knew deep inside he was a good man. We have all fallen short of the grace of God.

  Alfonso rescued me and my father and whisked us off to a safe place. He found a doctor for my father. I was so grateful that I agreed to share his curse with him. The next night we were wed and Alfonso transformed me.

  We were very happy. Alfonso became coven master of Spain for the period from 1550 to 1650. He supported the harem, but would have nothing to do with them since he was faithful to me. My poor Alfonso died in the Great Vampire War of 1710. I have been in mourning for him ever since. As the widow of a war hero, I was given a honorary post in the harem of the French coven master. After the Second Great Mortal War, I was sickened by the constant violence and asked to be moved to a harem in America. Although I require a master who can take care of me, I could never become involved with one. I will never betray the memory of my dear Alfonso

  VAMPS AND THE CITY

  DELETED SCENES

  HAREM STORIES

  LADY PAMELA

  Kerrelyn Sparks

  On page 141 of Vamps and the City, Darcy interviews each of the five harem ladies. The interviews were later edited into the reality show. Lady Pamela’s interview was scheduled to appear in the second show when she judged the men on their manners in the greenhouse (page 183).

  Darcy: Pamela, could you please tell us about yourself?

  Pamela: That’s Lady Pamela to you. Lady Pamela Smythe-Worthing. I was born in 1796 in Dorset. My mother died of fever when I was quite young. My father, Baron Ruxton, was a wonderful man. He doted on me, naturally. When I was eighteen, he spent a fortune on my first season. I was giddy with excitement. I absolutely adored all the balls and plays and beautiful gowns. I wanted it to never end.

  After only a few weeks, I caught the eye of a very handsome viscount. Maxmillian Smythe-Worthing. He was quite the catch. The other girls were so envious. The rumor mill had it that he’d been looking for a wife for years. I didn’t believe such nonsense, for he looked rather young to me. As for the other rumor--that he had a dark, mysterious secret life--posh! It was nothing but the wagging tongues of jealous women.

  Maxmillian insisted on a short engagement, so soon we were wed. He was quite...wonderful in every way. We went to all the events, making merry from dusk to dawn. I was deliriously happy. Then, Max asked me if I would like to stay young and beautiful forever. Would I like to spend an eternity wearing beautiful gowns and going to lovely parties? I said yes, of course. I didn’t quite understand what he meant until after he...transformed me. I was a bit peeved by it all, but as long as Max was by my side, I was content.

  My father had heard the rumors about Max and began to suspect. He wanted to hire an artist to do my portrait, and of course, I agreed. I had a lovely new gown I wanted to show off. When the portrait was done, my father held a small soirée in my honor. My portrait was in the parlor, covered by a velvet cloth. My father asked Max and I to stand in front of it for the unveiling. He whisked off the velvet, and the portrait wasn’t there. It was a large mirror.

  Everyone gasped, for Max and I were not reflected. Father shouted at the men, and they lunged forward to seize my husband. Max grabbed me, and we vanished from the room as vampires do.

  The next few years were very trying. We had to go into hiding. There were no parties, no dancing, no one to see my beautiful new gowns. Then one evening, when I awoke in that dreadful cellar in Cornwall where we were hiding, I discovered my beloved Max had been murdered during the day. The horrid stake was still there amongst his ashes. And my father’s ring was there, so I would know it was he who had killed Max.

  I was most dreadfully overset. I appealed to the coven master of England, and he took me into his harem. Max had been a dear friend, so the master vowed to avenge my husband’s murder. As angry as I was with my father, I couldn’t bear to lose him, too. So, I visited him one night and begged him to flee to America. He did, and I never saw him again.

  The years went by. In the 1940’s, during the Second Great Mortal War, bombs were falling on London. We took shelter underground, but we feared the bombs would destroy our lair or expose it to the sun. Then, the mortals began hiding underground, too. We feared they would discover us and kill us while we slept. So, a great number of us moved to America. I joined the harem of the coven master of the East Coast Vampires.

  I believe I am finally becoming something of an American. It seems fitting that I should have the right to choose my own master. And that’s what I plan to do from now on.

  VAMPS AND THE CITY

  DELETED SCENES

  HAREM STORIES

  MISS CORA LEE PRIMROSE

  Kerrelyn Sparks

  On page 141 of Vamps and the City, Darcy interviews each of the five harem ladies. The interviews were later edited into the reality show. Cora Lee’s interview was scheduled to appear in the third show when she judged the men on their dancing ability on the rooftop (page 208).

  Darcy: Cora Lee, we would love to hear your story.

  Cora Lee: Why, thank you kindly.

  I was born in Sumter County, Alabama, in 1842. My daddy owned a lovely plantation along the Tombigbee River. Oh, the parties we used to have! Still, the heat would get unbearable in the summer, so whenever my daddy had business to attend to in Mobile, I would beg to accompany him, so I could enjoy the cooler breezes that came in from the Gulf. Mamma never came with us. She was always feeling a bit under the weather and took comfort with Dr. Hadley’s Tonic for Female Ailments. The tonic seemed especially beneficial when followed it with a mint julep.

  One summer in 1860, before all that unpleasantness began between the States, I was in Mobile with my daddy and my brother. They went to business meetings all day while I went shopping with my maid, Hattie. We were supposed to meet them that evening at our hotel room close to the port. I put on a very lovely gown so we could go out to dinner. I remember it was sky blue silk, the same color as my eyes, with yards of white lace that came from Paris. I grew impatient waiting for my daddy and brother to return, so I decided I would take a walk and show off my pretty new dress. Poor Hattie was so tired from lugging around my purchases all day that I couldn’t persuade her to come with me. I still remember her words to this day, "Please, Miss Cora Lee, please don’t go out there alone. The port is a dangerous place where wicked men will snatch you up and do terrible things to you!"

  Unfortunately, that just made me want to go even more. I was strolling along the pier, enjoying the admiring glances cast my way, when I saw the most delightful riverboat. I commented on its perfect l
ines and graceful design to the colored man by the gangplank. He introduced himself as André and invited me to come aboard. I laughed and said I had no money for gambling, and my daddy certainly wouldn’t approve of such activity. André just smiled, flashing the whitest teeth, and said he would be honored to take me on a quick tour.

  I suppose I should have said no. But then, I wouldn’t be here today. André escorted me onto the riverboat and into the most gorgeous ballroom. Glittering chandeliers, hand-painted, gilded wallpaper, and people wearing the most beautiful clothes. I thought I was in heaven. I remember standing in the middle of the room, pivoting in a circle, taking it all in.

  And then I saw him. The most handsome man I’ve ever seen. He walked toward me, bowed, and introduced himself--Beauregard Duprée from New Orleans. I said I was taking a small tour of the riverboat, but when I looked around, André had disappeared. Beauregard said he would be happy to give me the tour himself, and when I asked if he was familiar with the boat, he smiled and said he was the owner.

  Of course I didn’t realize at the time that André was one of Beauregard’s mortal slaves, and his job was to bring Beauregard pretty mortal women. At the time, I was simply flattered by all the attention. And I must say, Beauregard was the most charming man. Even though he used mind control on me, I doubt it would have been entirely necessary. I fell for him the minute I laid eyes on him.

  Oh dear, how shall I put this? Let’s just say I never left the boat that evening. And I never saw my daddy or brother again. Beauregard set sail for New Orleans. I was mildly aware, even in my enthralled state, that I had bite marks on my neck and I felt rather weary. I never saw Beauregard during the day, but André took good care of me. I was told Beauregard was conducting business below deck. He came to me every evening, and he was the most kind and romantic lover. Whenever we stopped in port, he would take me shopping. I realize now that those who came on board to gamble lost a heap of money since they fell under vampire mind control. It made Beauregard a very wealthy man.