3. A Father’s Request

Demetrius

The hot liquid burns my throat slightly making its way down, but I welcome the pain. I quickly leave the area now feeling the need to get as far away from her as possible. Last night, my interactions with her were all I could think about, something I scolded myself for. I have never been so intrigued by someone before, not vampire or human. Especially not human. The thought alone disgusts me. I despise humans typically, but for whatever reason, not her. Did I pity her that much? It was possible the connection I felt was because I was seeing her experience a heartbreak firsthand, and I knew how that felt. That may be all well and true, but it does nothing to explain the physical attraction. Sure, I found some human women attractive enough to take them to bed, but nothing more. No. This was different. I had shown her kindness and grace, something I had only done to one other, something I had promised myself I would never do again.

I shake my head at the thought. I don’t like where my mind is going. I would just simply stay away from her. That’s what I should have done just now. Common sense told me her living so close to the coffee shop there was a good possibility of her being a patron there, but I have never seen her there before. I do typically go before the sun rises, so maybe it was just a matter of timing. Since it’s one of our own, a business owned and ran by my coven, it’s one of the safer places for me to frequent. We have multiple locally owned business throughout the area that are fronts to fund our organization, but also a way to show face allowing us to blend in amongst the humans and to keep the authorities out of our business.

It was odd that I was drawn there at that time of the day, the exact time she had been there. I sensed her before I went inside and I should have just walked past or waited until she left, but something seemed to force me inside. I just had to see her again. So, I did. I knew exactly where she was. Her intoxicating scent invaded my space instantly, but I fought myself from looking her way even though I felt her gaze on me. I knew she was attracted to me, and I could have her so easily if I put forth any effort, but I didn’t want her, right? I couldn’t. It was just the thought of something forbidden that was intriguing, not really her. That had to be it. Because for a vampire, being with a human for more than just sex or a blood bag was unacceptable. It just simply did not happen. Not in the open anyways. I was aware vampires did not always follow the rules. But it would never be a thing. So, unless you wanted to be excommunicated from your coven, or live amongst the humans, it was not something you do.

As I turned to walk away planning to ignore her, once again something tugged at me. I couldn’t walk away without seeing her. So when our eyes met, that magnetic force pulled me straight to her.

Walking toward her, I felt her heart rate pick up. That satisfied me. It seems my mere presence has an affect on her. I think she was with some of her female friends, but I paid them no mind as my eyes were only focused on her. My eyes trailed over every part I could see. So appealing even in her natural state. I tensed just thinking about it, appreciating the interruption from Stephanie. She's a human I've known for a while, trusted enough to work in one of our businesses. One of the few I could actually stand. There were some that served a purpose.

Offering to pick up her tab was a poor decision on my part, and I scolded myself for doing it once I walked away. I just felt the need to do something for her. Why? After this, no more. I won’t see her again. I will make a point of it. I know where she lives and where she gets her coffee, so I would just stay away. Maybe I should learn more about her to ensure I steer clear of other places she frequented.

What? No. I’m no stalker. That sounds crazy. I’m obsessing. What was this woman doing to my head? Xenia. Such a unique name. So very fitting.

I’m doing it again. I need to get myself together. This was so unlike me to fixate on one person like this. If I don’t get control over myself, I will have to resort to more severe methods and get rid of her. The thought makes me frown, but desperate times call for desperate measures. I will have no weaknesses. I will never allow anyone the pleasure of seeing that side of me again.

I make it home quickly showering and changing my clothes. I had gone on a run before heading to the coffee shop and my clothes were now drenched. Forcing thoughts of her away during the shower, I walk to the fridge with a towel wrapped around my waist to grab some blood. I pour a small glass and drink it quickly, feeling the rejuvenating effects immediately. I exhale deeply as the liquid coats my throat doing things to my body that only it can do.

My phone rings and I ignore the call, nowhere near in the mood to deal with him. Father. We’ve been in a bit of a dispute lately since I decided to leave the coven about a month ago. Although I am still a member, I no longer live with the others. I was feeling suffocated, and the miserable assholes only added to my despair. Other than a select few, I could barely stand them, and we had nothing in common, aside from the fact we were blood-sucking monsters. I just didn’t feel like I belonged. Even with the hundreds and hundreds of others, I felt so… alone. It was odd. How can you feel alone when you are surrounded by others constantly? But the fact of the matter was internally I’m suffering. I’m in a constant struggle. No one understands. No one cares. Father only wants me there to carry on the name. As a high member of the coven, his heir will be expected to take his place. So me leaving has caused a bit of a ripple in those plans, but I don’t care. I do not live for others.

My phone lights up not long after the call revealing a message from Kenton, Father’s second in command, aka, his little bitch. He angers me like no other. Truly he is like his pet. Father commands and he does. Maybe he should have been his heir, because if that’s what is expected of me, it will never happen. I am a free spirit of sorts. Sometimes I wonder if the gods have made a mistake making me a vampire. I do not belong with them. I do not belong with anyone.

“Where are you? We have a meeting.” The message reads. Even in a message, his tone irritates me.

“I’m well aware. I will be there when I get there.” If that doesn’t tell them how little I care, I’m not sure what will. I have no interest in this meeting of theirs, but I promised Father I would be in attendance so I will be. If nothing else, I keep my word.

I make haste to get dressed and head out the door where my driver awaits me. “Demetrius, sir.” He nods and I acknowledge him back as he opens the door allowing me entrance.

I run my fingers through my hair and straighten my suit jacket when we pull up. The driver hops out and opens my door quickly, I nod to him once again, but my mind is elsewhere. This meeting, now I’m remembering how much I don’t want to be here before I even get to that point. There are other things that are occupying my mind, things that shouldn’t be, I know, but still…

“There he is!” My father says excitedly greeting me with a kiss to the cheek. I hate the need for him to constantly put on a show. I eye Kenton who stands beside him as if he’s glued to his hip and he returns my look. There’s a mutual understanding between the two of us that we do not like each other. He wishes to have my place, and if I could give it to him, I would just to get him off my back.

Plans of growing businesses and cleaning funds are discussed. Our coven is quite wealthy, and money has never been an issue. All the high rankings get a hefty stipend, more than is needed, and the lower ranks get commission, but they must also work, which they do either in the businesses we own or by others means. Some of them perform contract duties, like murders or frame jobs for the nonvampire wealth, but most of them know not of our existence only that they are contract killers. Most humans do not know about us, but there are a trusted few.

I sit there stiffly barely listening and even less interested. According to the vampire that’s speaking, our boundaries remain unbreeched and so far no other species seem to be a threat. How uneventful. For some reason now the ins and outs of this repetitive system just bore me so. I feel restless more times than not. I want to feel excitement, thrill. I want to care about life or something. Otherwise, why am I here?

“Demetrius, what troubles you?” My father asks once the meeting is over and the crowd has cleared. I dart my eyes at Kenton signaling for him to leave. I won’t be speaking about any personal matters with him around.

“Nothing is wrong. I just tire of this.” I gesture with my hands, and he frowns.

“This is who you are. Eventually you will take my place. You can’t just tire of it. You need to get a grasp on whatever it is that ails you.” See, the problem is I don’t know what ails me, so how am I to overcome it? I don’t say that to him, though, instead I simply nod in agreeance.

“Come back to the coven. We miss you.” I turn my head away.

“Who is ‘we’ exactly?”

“Me, your family of course, your stepmother.”

I scoff. She is no mother of mine. She dislikes me and I feel the same way about her. The way she maneuvered her way into Father’s life not long after Mother died, brings me anger like it just happened. I still hold some resentment for his part in that as well. If she was not my sister’s mother, I would have probably killed her.

“Avalon has been upset since you left,” he continues.

Yes. I assumed as much. I would make it a point to see her. The one person who I feel genuinely cares for me, my younger sister. If only I could have taken her with me. Father would never have that. And since she is a young woman, he will have final say in her affairs until she settles down, and then she will lose that right to her husband when the time comes. Just one of many laws I hated about our race. As powerful as a female vampire could be, she will never be seen as equal to her male counterpart. Even in the human realm women are treated better. Sure, there is work to be done in that regard, but at least strides are being taken. It seems vampires have no intention of changing anything. I frown thinking about it all and feel his gaze on me.

“No one else can take my place. The king wants you.” I could hear the worry in his tone, the fear that even though he produced an able heir, he may be unable to satisfy the king and thus breaking his promise to provide a suitable replacement. That would mean the end of our line in the high ranks. The pressure and weight on my shoulders are heavy. I did not ask for this. Was I truly being selfish for not wanting this life? “Please, tell me you will at least think about reconsidering, Demetrius.”

I meet his eyes with a guilt in my chest and I nod. “I will come visit Avalon. And I will think about it.”