Author's note: For people who have read this story prior to the update of 29 May 2014: This is not a new chapter. For info see Prologue and Chapter 3

From the Stats I know some people read this (or at least have a look at it). I would love to know what you think of the story. What you like, what you don't like.

Chapter 9

They drove to the hotel to pick up Helen's luggage. On the way there Dante started to worry. Would the luggage of an heiress fit in his car? He'd seen heiresses before. The amount of suitcases they took for just a short weekend away could take his complete wardrobe … twice … at least.

At the hotel, Helen told him to wait in the car. She returned fairly quickly, carrying just a duffel bag and a largish handbag. He was relieved that in this too she proved to be an unusual girl. The better he got to know her, the more he liked her.

After the quick stop at the hotel, they got onto the main road out of Capulet City and on towards San Nicolas, the city where the Noble Mansion was to be found. They would need two days to get there.

Once they'd been driving for a while she started to feel sleepy. They hadn't slept much the previous night. She noticed it didn't seem to bother him though. The warmth of the sun through the window and the monotone humming of the motor only made the feeling worse. Despite the open top car she dozed off.

She woke up with a start when the car suddenly stopped.

"What happened? Where are we?"

"At a roadside diner. Don't know about you, babe, but I need a bite to eat."

They went inside and found an empty booth near the window. They had the special of the day, which turned out to be not really special, but at least decent enough. Of course he couldn't resist the strawberry sundae on the menu. It was an outsized version. While he tucked into his dessert, she had a coffee. As soon as they'd finished, they paid and were back on the road.

This time she did not fall asleep. Sitting next to him while he was concentrating on the driving, gave her a chance to study his face. Just like the day at the beach he looked older than the light-hearted Tony she'd known. Tony had been young, carefree, and happy; a man on holiday. Dante had responsibilities, difficulties even. Fighting demons for a living couldn't be that easy. She kind of understood why he'd want to be Tony for a bit, but it still hurt that he hadn't confided in her.

She thought about the moment she'd found out his true name, about her fears that he'd been toying with her, and about his reassurance that only the name was different and not what he felt for her. Was that the truth? Could this man, this gorgeous … demi-god, this heavenly lover really want her? Even love her? As a teen she'd been the girl that boys didn't want to date; the one who sat in a corner forgotten, too shy to start a conversation; the one who stayed at home, preferring a chosen solitude over the loneliness in the crowd.

She'd been staring at him all the time. Had he felt something? He turned to her and smiled, only briefly before focussing on the driving again, but in that moment he'd been Tony again. She loved him, she trusted him. She sighed, a sigh of contentment because perhaps things hadn't changed between them after all.

Dante heard the sigh, and wondered. Did she find the journey tedious? No, this was a different sigh. If she were a cat, she'd be purring now. They would have to stop for the night soon. Should he just assume she would want to share a room and bed with him, or leave her the choice? Could he assume things were unchanged between them, now that she knew his name? And what about his secret? A different name was peanuts compared to that. But what could he tell her? What should he say? By the way, about that demon that's after you, I'm half like that myself. He couldn't just blurt it out like that. What he needed was the right place, the right time … if such a thing existed.

At about eight in the evening they arrived at their destination for the day. A small hotel in a one-horse town. Nellie's was the place where everything happened. There was a hall for dancing and parties, a bar, a restaurant, even a general store around the back, and of course three rooms for passing tourists, mostly people who'd gotten lost on the way to somewhere else.

At the reception desk, Dante reserved a table in the restaurant for that evening and a room with a double bed. The room was not big but cosy and clean, homely. They freshened up a bit and went down to eat. The food was simple, traditional fare but delicious.

Afterwards they ordered his favourite strawberry sundae. He noticed she took her time over it. So much so that the last of the ice-cream was slush long before she finished it. When she asked for a tea as well, he knew she was trying to delay the moment they would return to their room.

"Helen, I understand if you don't want to share a bed with me. I'll sleep in the chair, on the floor, even outside the room if you want me to."

She looked up, and saw sadness in his ice-blue eyes.

"Why wouldn't I share the bed with you? We did last night, didn't we?" she said, blushing at the thought of their first night together.

"I know you're stalling for time, eating the dessert so slow, asking for a tea. Clearly you're avoiding going upstairs with me."

"What? No!" She sighed. "I shouldn't have had the dessert. I really wanted it but it was just too big. Perhaps I should have offered you half. Now I'm having a ginger tea. I find it settles my tummy. … Did you really think I didn't want to sleep with you anymore?"

Across the table she caressed his face; he grabbed her hand and kissed her palm. With her hand still in his she got up.

"Let's go," she whispered.

Hand in hand they went upstairs, into the room. She hung the 'Don't disturb' sign on the door and locked it. Still with his hand in hers she approached the bed, then she turned towards him, pushed the coat off his shoulders, and started unbuttoning his shirt. With a sigh he pulled her close to him and kissed her.

Their second night together was as passionate as the first one, except that they slept a bit more, always in each other's arms. In the morning they left immediately after breakfast. By midday they had reached the outskirts of San Nicolas. They decided to stop for lunch and had a sandwich. Then they continued to the centre of town, to a residential street with large luxurious townhouses.

Of course she told him to stop at the biggest, most expensive looking place. When she rang the bell the door was opened by a servant. An actual servant, in actual livery, and with an actual white wig on his head.

Dante looked at her with raised eyebrows and a half smile on his face. She shrugged.

"I told you my grandfather was an arse. And I have to sign for the inheritance before I can stop this ridiculous fancy dress."

"Let's do it then," he said and followed her inside.

The servant closed the door.

"Shall I take your luggage to your room, Miss?" he asked.

"Thank you … What's your name again? I can't tell you apart in those silly monkey suits."

"You can call me 'James', Miss. Mr Noble called us all 'James'."

"Ridiculous! You've got a name, so why shouldn't I use it? You're a human being, not a robot."

"My name is Armand, Miss."

She nodded. "Thank you, Armand. Just put the holdalls on the bed. We'll sort them out later."

Dante smiled. With that simple instruction Helen had told Armand and through Armand every servant in the house, that the guest was sharing a room with Miss Noble.

"Very well, Miss," Armand said, and disappeared with the bags.

Helen opened the first door to the right and Dante followed her into the large office that had been Arthur Noble's. She sat behind the desk, opened a drawer and took out a piece of paper.

"This is it. The moment I sign this, the demon will appear."

"Hang on. Let me get ready."

She wondered why he opened the guitar case he'd brought inside with him. Did he think music would placate the demon, get it so mellow it would agree to leave her alone? Or did he play so badly the noise would scare it away? She was about to ask when she saw the big sword and the two guns he'd taken from the case.

He smiled when he saw the confused look on her face.

"Carrying them like this avoids awkward questions and problems."

"I can see why," she said looking at him all ready for battle. "Shall I sign this now?"

"Go ahead, babe. Let's get this party going."

ooOOoo