Bitter Fruits

By Sarah Daltry

For fans of dark urban fantasy comes a novel that questions why forbidden fruit is always the most tempting...

A vampire–themed masquerade party isn't really her scene, but Nora is sick of frat parties and bars. When she meets Alec, the appeal suddenly becomes clear. It's obvious that they've been struck by the same intense mutual attraction, but Alec keeps his distance. Intrigued despite herself, Nora pushes a little deeper – and discovers Alec's unimaginable secret...

Nora is not afraid of following Alec into the darkness, but the choice is soon taken from her. Someone is hunting her – someone tied to the secret and desperate to see it play out. But when Nora finally meets her aggressor, she finds herself hopelessly drawn to him. She needs to make a choice between the two men, but can she save them both, knowing one is destined to die?

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Australia
• Release date: Dec 1, 2013
• ISBN: 9780857991089

Sarah Daltry

Sarah Daltry writes about the regular people who populate our lives. She's written works in various genres - romance, erotica, fantasy, horror. Genre isn't as important as telling a story about people and how their lives unfold. Sarah tends to focus on YA/NA characters but she's been known to shake it up. Most of her stories are about relationships - romantic, familial, friendly - because love and empathy are the foundation of life. It doesn't matter if the story is set in contemporary NY, historical Britain, or a fantasy world in the future - human beings are most interesting in the ways they interact with others. This is the principle behind all of Sarah's stories. Sarah has spent most of her life in school, from her BA and MA in English and writing to teaching both at the high school and college level. She also loves studying art history and really anything because learning is fun. When Sarah isn't writing, she tends to waste a lot of time checking Facebook for pictures of cats, shooting virtual zombies, and simply staring out the window.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Present Day

A small university in New England, America

It is a perfect night to dance with demons. The campus is empty and the fading street lamps illuminate nothing but blowing leaves. The air’s chilly when I go to the window and it only takes one small gust of wind to convince me to close it. It’s already taken me hours to dress for this party; stupid wind isn’t going to mess up my hair now. The window closed, I apply lipstick and take one last look in the mirror. The red velvet gown shows off my curves and the word voluptuous comes to mind. It’s not one I would generally associate with myself, but it gives me confidence. Cleavage rises from the top of the dress, my white breasts teased by black lace. This new version of me wouldn’t need to hide behind the phony sarcasm my friends know and tolerate.

‘I am in love with this corset,’ I tell my roommate.

‘Yeah. Who knew you had tits?’ Scarlet teases.

My dark hair cascades around my face in loose curls and my eyes are lined with thick black kohl; the dark makeup makes me look like the kind of girl with a lot of secrets. Definitely the right look for tonight.

‘You did well,’ I compliment her.

‘I told you that you had it in you. You just needed a push.’

She joins me in front of the mirror. Everyone knows how gorgeous Scarlet is but, for once, I don’t fade in the background when she stands next to me. It’s tough being her roommate, although she is a decent person under all that beauty. It’s a shame; I wanted to hate her when we met. I still think it’s unfair she got looks and personality, but there isn’t much I can do about it. Well, other than stew in envy, of course.

Her auburn hair is piled up on her head and her ruby red lips are pouty, but there’s a smile waiting to be teased from them. Her silky gown is a deep shade of blue. I helped lace her corset earlier and it wasn’t easy to contain the curves.

Scarlet reaches around my face with both hands, placing a stunning jewelled mask over my eyes. It’s one of those classic masks that look like something from the Renaissance.

‘Damn. I am simply smouldering,’ I say.

‘Shut up, bitch,’ Scarlet laughs and puts on her own mask, blue and silver, in the same fashion as mine.

When we’re both done, she licks her lips, revealing sharp fangs. I consider letting her bite me and then smile to myself. I’m getting carried away by the illusion. Time to rationalise. We’re not courtesans in a 19th century brothel; we’re merely dressed that way.

‘Those are sexy,’ I tell Scarlet, referring to her fangs. She’d been hunting everywhere for a decent pair, even though I hadn’t realized there were levels of fang quality. I got mine at Wal-Mart for two dollars before I learned this important factoid.

‘I know. They weren’t cheap either. But one does not mess around for something this big. Oh, and just wait until you see the guys,’ she gushes.

I take one last look at myself in the mirror. Maybe tonight will be fun after all. When Scarlet invited me to the ball, I thought she was kidding. Turns out there’s quite the vampire fantasy group on campus. I’m not sure why I’m surprised, since there’s a group for everything on campus. If twenty young adults can get together every Thursday to discuss classic versus new Dr Who, why wouldn’t another twenty decide to throw a vampire masquerade? Plus, it’s almost Halloween. It seems like a silly way to spend an evening, I suppose, but frat parties are growing redundant and the city’s bars are all the same. Besides, there’s something inherent in every girl that makes putting on a gown and dressing up swoon worthy. I’m no different. My jeans and t-shirts are forgotten as I reach up a hand to brush the ribbons holding my mask over my eyes. Slipping my fangs into place, I follow Scarlet out into the night.

** *

The party is held off campus in an old church. A local diocese still owns the building, although no one uses it. It is minimally maintained — creepy and abandoned enough to serve our purposes here tonight without being a death trap of rotten wood and sinkholes.

A chill brushes against me and I pull the black velvet cloak I borrowed from Scarlet tight against my body. It’s a strange sight, the massive stone edifice looming over us. Something seems sacrilegious about it all, not that I’m a practising anything.

Sounds of laughter reach the overgrown grounds through stained glass windows and Scarlet runs to the stone steps. I move forward, tentatively, suddenly afraid that this was a bad idea. An unidentified animal howls in the nearby woods and I trip up the steps, choosing the false danger of a party over the very real danger of being mauled by something. It isn’t a graceful entrance, but fortunately, no one seems to notice.

Inside the church, candles are burning and the heady smell of incense mingles with their scent. I recognize the incense from all those Catholic services I was forced to attend as a kid, when my parents went through a phase of trying to give me structure by forcing me to go to church, but I can’t place the other smell from the candles. Sandalwood and citrus, perhaps.

I scan the room. It’s as if I have been transported into a wonderland out of a novel. Everyone is dressed in beautiful gowns and luxurious evening wear; men spin women through the room in a waltz. I keep an eye out for Mr Darcy, but alas, he seems to be absent tonight. There are a few pews still in place and couples explore one another on the velvet seats. Organ music drowns out words and other sounds, but there is an energy to the party, a feeling of hedonism.

Someone put a lot of work into making this realistic and I can’t help but admire the effort. In the far corner is a buffet table, draped in gold and purple silks and covered in silver plates of food: fruits and meat mostly. There’s also a line of goblets full of a thick red wine. The logical part of my brain tries to jump in, wondering how any church allowed us to have this party here. Fantasy outweighs reason, though, and I move into the party, already on sensory overload. Scarlet has disappeared and I am lost in a new world.

‘You are stunning,’ a deep voice says over my shoulder.

I don’t know how he managed to get behind me without my hearing him. When I spin around, his face is inches from mine, emerald eyes peering through a mask more wolf than human. I draw in a breath. Even with the mask, I am attracted to him. My body reacts to his closeness in a way I’ve never experienced; usually, the guys who approach me do not look like this and I definitely don’t respond the same way. There’s something else as well, something beyond the physical. I immediately feel as if I am meant to know him.

‘Do you always sneak up on unsuspecting girls?’ I ask.

He grins, revealing perfect fangs, even better than Scarlet’s. Light stubble trims his face and his hair frames the dark mask. I can’t help but let my eyes travel over his loose white shirt, revealing a bit of his pale yet toned chest. My eyes continue down to his tight black pants. He watches me check him out and laughs softly.

‘Do you like what you see?’

I blush, surprised I was bold enough to stare clearly at his crotch. His pants leave little to the imagination and my eyes peek again at the outline of him. Impressive, I think.

‘You know I would be happy to oblige you,’ he purrs and pulls me against him. ‘There are plenty of quiet nooks in an old church like this.’

His hands move along my back, slowly unlacing the ribbons that line the back of my gown. I gasp and pull away, half out of surprise, half out of fear. I’m not sure if it’s fear of him or of what I am thinking of doing. Either way, I back up.

I don’t know what to say to him. His eyes are teasing, but he simply runs his tongue along his fangs and leads me by the hand to the food and wine. He hands me a dark silver goblet and I drink, afraid to speak or motion in any way that he will take as further invitation. The sweet, thick liquid spills down my throat. I can’t place the taste, but it’s familiar and intoxicating. I drain the goblet, the last drop still fresh on my lips when he speaks again.

‘Stag’s blood,’ he says.

I drop the goblet and almost vomit. Gross. He laughs. ‘It’s the name of the drink. Not from real stags, of course. Red wine, cherry juice, and Chambord.’

As he picks up the goblet, I feel foolish. As if they would serve blood! This entire experience is so surreal that I almost forgot it was a fantasy party. For a moment, especially when staring at this handsome stranger, I believed I was a princess in a land inundated with vampires and monsters.

The man returns the goblet to the table and pushes a loose strand of my hair behind my ear. I shudder involuntarily as his fingers graze my face. He is more beautiful than any man I have ever met — and he is talking to me. I don’t know how that happened, but I am not complaining.

‘It is known to have aphrodisiac properties. Hence the stag allusion,’ he says.

‘Are you trying to get me drunk?’ I try to lighten up, to feel more human, more real, more present. I’m overwhelmed; my dress is tight and I feel dazed from the alcohol, incense, music, and the closeness of this man.

‘I’m trying to get you to do a lot of things. Is it working?’

‘I don’t even know your name,’ I protest. ‘Yet you expect me to sneak off to a hidden nook and allow you to remove my gown.’ Playing along is fun; I like the idea of pretending, of forgetting my own life and leaving myself behind. I also like the idea of spending the evening like this, despite not knowing a thing about him.

‘Well, yes. When I see a woman like you, pure and yet emanating sex, I am naturally drawn to doing nasty things with her, in hidden nooks or in public.’

I laugh. ‘Pure?’

He smiles. ‘In some sense, yes.’

‘Do you have a name?’

‘Alec, my dear. Pleased to make your acquaintance.’ He bows, completely in tune to the moment and the evening. It’s ridiculous, yet in the here and now, it is exactly what I need to lose myself.

‘I’m Nora. Yours as well.’ I make a small curtsy and allow Alec to lead me to the dance floor. He holds me close to him and I feel him harden through the fabric of my gown. Definitely impressed, I think to myself and imagine all of the ways this night could end. The swells of the waltz take over the moment and we move perfectly together.

‘You’re a skilled dancer,’ I compliment him.

‘I have a great deal of experience.’ I try not to let jealousy ruin this. There may have been other girls, but he stopped to talk to me. That alone makes this entire night worthwhile. When we get to the end of the dance, he dips me low and I want to let him take me there on the dance floor. He creates a craving in me that is unfamiliar and yet welcome. His hands are strong and he holds me as I fall backward. I want those hands all over my body. Instead, his lips brush against my neck before he pulls me back upright.

I take his hand. ‘Maybe there is a nook after all,’ I tease. What is wrong with you? But the voice is silenced as we walk.

We cross the room and move toward where the altar would have been when another man stops us. His mask is more subtle, a simple silver covering of his eyes. The silver accents the deep blue that peers through and I want to reach up and run my fingers through his dark hair. That stag’s blood must have had more in it than wine, juice, and a little liquor. I can’t believe the things I am thinking tonight.

This stranger is taller than Alec, but dressed in a similar fashion. His shirt is black and his pants are a deep red. Of course, my eyes move right to his crotch; he could challenge Alec in that area. Where have these guys been hiding on campus?

‘Brother, I see that you have found yourself some…entertainment. It did not take long,’ he growls at Alec.

‘I am merely attempting to enjoy myself. Why is that such a problem? Are you angry you couldn’t ruin tonight as well?’

They stare at one another, tension mounting, and I try to excuse myself. This fight doesn’t concern me and it makes me uncomfortable. I am also sexually drawn to each of them and I worry that I’ll get myself involved in something too heavy for a boring English major. I haven’t had a history of complicated relationships and this? This just screams complicated. I make an effort to leave, but Alec clutches my arm. ‘Don’t go,’ he says through gritted teeth.

The man in the silver mask smiles at me; it is the smile of an animal eying its prey. ‘I’m Caleb,’ he says. ‘My brother seems to feel manners are overrated.’

‘This is Nora,’ Alec says. ‘And we are going.’

‘We’re not here for entertainment; we need to — ’

‘She isn’t here. You may as well try to have a little fun. Tomorrow will come regardless of tonight.’

‘Go on then,’ Caleb interrupts. ‘Have your fun.’ He stalks off.

Alec loosens his grip on me and his face brightens, his fangs glinting in the candlelight. ‘All apologies, madam. Now, you were leading me somewhere?’

It turns out, unfortunately, that every nook is full of people who seem to have had the same idea. Alec and I glance around, hoping for an alternative. The sensuality of the party, the smell of sex, and the sounds of pleasure are nothing like the awkward, groping frat parties where I usually spend my evenings. Thank you, Scarlet, I think. Since there is nowhere in here to go, the only choice seems to be the grounds. The night is chilly, but I have my cloak and I expect Alec will keep me warm.

‘Want to take this outside?’ I suggest.

He grins, mischievous and sexy; I feel my nerves sparkle as he takes my hand and leads me out the door to a field next to the church. The ground is rocky and cold, but he lays down my cloak and moves me to the ground with such grace that I feel my body giving in to him without a thought. He straddles me and runs his hands along my arms. The hairs on my arms prickle; I know instantly that I will give myself to him. I reach for his pants and brush my fingers along the outline of his cock as it strains against the fabric. He’s hard and I want him desperately. I’ve never been this forward; my sexual experiences have been more of the sort that involved a lot of fumbling and asking, ‘Was that it?’ There is something about Alec, though. I let the magic of the evening wash over me and forget about tomorrow.

His bends closer and his mouth bears down on mine. His tongue spreads my lips, teasing my bottom one ever so slightly. I take out my fangs, although he doesn’t do the same. Clutching at his back and running my hands down into the edge of his pants, I feel the soft flesh below the fabric. I realize there is nothing between his pants and the fullness of him; the arrogance and sexiness of such a decision is thrilling.

Alec lets out a low growl as his lips move to my neck. His tongue circles along my collarbone and he bites me lightly as he makes his way upward. My neck is slightly raw from the tease of his fangs. They are pretty damn realistic.

‘Mmmm,’ I moan as he reaches down and slips his hand between us and under my dress. He caresses my thigh and I move to push myself closer to him, hoping to feel his fingers brush me where I am now dripping wet. I need him, all of him, right here on the ground next to the church.

‘Nora, you are beautiful,’ he whispers. No one has ever called me beautiful before and the agony in the way he says it is even sexier. He makes it sound like looking at me is painful, yet it is the most tantalising agony possible. I understand, because when I turn to meet his eyes, sharp heat sears through me. His eyes do to me what I want his hands and his body to do.

I melt beneath him as his lips come back down. Something between us explodes in the kiss and he gasps, pulling away.

‘I want you,’ he says. ‘I want all of you.’

‘So take me,’ I tell him.

‘I can’t. You are too good, too beautiful, too pure. I cannot —’ His voice catches in his throat and his hand moves out of my dress. His face is torn between desire and fear; I don’t know which emotion to address, but I’m not ready for the night to be over yet.

‘What? Why?’

‘Oh, Nora, you deserve more than a fuck in the dirt. You deserve someone to love you. If only — ’

It is romantic of him to say so, but I really wouldn’t mind the fuck in the dirt. My body is on fire and wants to be close to his and I don’t care if he promises nothing past tonight.

‘Take me,’ I whisper. ‘I’ll be yours here and later if you want, but take me now, I beg of you.’

There is a weighty pause; his eyes are luminous and his hands reach out for me, but he stops short of touching. Instead, he rises and brushes himself off. I look up and see that his body is fighting his retreat, but he overpowers his lust. He reaches down, helping me to my feet.

‘It’s too dangerous. This step — well, you did not ask for all that comes with it. I don’t have the right to demand forever from you. This is too much of a commitment when we just met.’

Great, I think. He’s a religious freak. I don’t care about his policy on premarital sex or whatever the issue is, but the wine is wearing off and now I’m just frustrated. The reality of the night breaks any lingering hope when a girl runs from the party screaming.

‘He’s a monster,’ she cries. Blood spills down her neck and onto her pale pink dress. She barely gets beyond the steps before collapsing face first into the dirt. A crowd forms at the entrance to the church and I see Scarlet, wrapped in the embrace of a masked man I don’t recognize. I turn around to ask Alec what’s happening, but he is gone. The only evidence he existed at all is my cloak in the dirt and the stinging bite on my neck.

The girl’s name is Chloe; I think she’s a freshman. Her friends rush to her aid, carrying her from the party while she continues to scream about monsters. I don’t know if she’s okay, or why she was bleeding, or if anyone else knows. No one seems to worry, besides her few friends, though, and everyone moves back inside. The party