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CHAPTER FIFTEEN

(Southern Svetyland)

•T–––M–––V–––P–––L•

“Elizabeth,” Freya said in acknowledgement, as she stepped forward to meet her.

Elizabeth smiled at her friend who was wearing her nighties. “I’ve been calling you for the past ten minutes. You truly are as silly as always,” she teased.

“I’m sorry. I was caught up with something. Did you want something?” She asked stiffly.

Elizabeth gave her one of her looks. “Do I need anything to see my best friend?” She queried.

A nervous laugh. “I was joking,” Freya mumbled.

Elizabeth playfully hit her friend on the arm. “I know. Who was that man?”

Freya shifted her gaze from her, and gave a nervous shrug. “It was nobody. Tell me why you’re here,” she said firmly.

Elizabeth stopped herself from looking towards the direction of the vampire master. Freya mustn’t know that she was going with him for whatever reason.

“Well," she said absently. "I felt you must have been worried because you didn’t see me that night. I wanted to tell you that I’m alright. Nothing has happened to me.”

Freya flicked her hair across her shoulders. “Of course. I’m sure you are.”

Elizabeth stared at friend. Freya never brushed her off. She always wanted to know what was going with her at every point in time. She always likened Freya to be her private investigator. But, now she barely cared about what happened to her.

Elizabeth shifted nervously on her feet. “Well, I will be leaving now. I’m not around though, so don’t bother coming to the house. I will be back after the summer. Don’t miss me too much,” she said fondly.

Freya tapped her hand playfully. “Never.” She said with a laugh.

In return, Elizabeth pouted sweetly. “How mean,” she whined.

They both shared a slight laugh. Freya moved towards the door like she was suddenly in a hurry to leave.

“Ok, I should be going,” Elizabeth.

“Of course. Stay out of trouble,” Freya advised.

“Sure thing.”

Elizabeth moved away from Freya, her face twisted in worry. She couldn’t understand anything. Her friend was behaving so distant with her even though they had shared a few laughs. What could have made Freya change so much?

•T–––M–––V–––P–––L•

The weather was up to a hundred degrees, and made Freya to remove her crop-top, leaving her topless. She sat down on her bed, and plugged the earpiece in her eardrums. It gave her peace.

She didn’t want to think of anything, and definitely not Elizabeth. The bass tune drowned out all the sounds of anxiety, and worry that was eating at her in spades. It was definitely what she needed.

She tapped her leg continuously on the beddings, trying to move in sync to the beat. This was exactly how to live the best life. No stress, just music as a form of company.

A knock.

It was persistent and acute, causing her to remove the earplugs from her ears. Who was that now? Some people didn’t like someone having peace. It was so annoying now, and she really would give that idiot a piece of her mind.

She wore the crop-top back, not bothering to wear a T-shirt to cover her exposed body. She was not afraid of anything or anyone. She would teach any man who wanted to get cozy with her a lesson.

The knock sounded once more.

“Do you want to break down my door? I’m coming!” She snapped.

Idiots!

She walked over to the door, and without looking through the keyhole, she swung open the door. “You…” her words paled as she looked at Ethan.

He was in all black as always. She stared at him, and the vision of him being completely rude to her stepped into her mind’s eye. The bastard! She walked back into the house, her body literally full of rage.

“I needed to see you,” he said softly.

She could feel his presence behind her. It grated on her nerves. She didn’t want him around her. She didn’t want him in her house too. He was better off away from her.

“Get out.” She whispered in a barely conceived rage.

Ethan heard it, loud and clear. “I won’t. I need to talk to you. There is a lot of things that we have to discuss, and it would do us well to table it down,” he said firmly.

Freya turned towards him immediately. “What do you want to talk about? It better be good because I don’t have time for this,” she said haughtily.

Ethan moved across the room like he owned the place. He sat down at the edge of the pink chair. He had been here previously, but hadn’t stepped into the house. It was as homey, and beautiful as she was.

“I understand you anger, and I apologise for what I did the previous day. It’s not in my nature to behave that uncouth. I don’t know what came over me, Freya. But, that would never happen again. You can trust me,” he said softly.

Freya tipped her head sideways as she looked at him. “You’re good,” she said sarcastically.

A cold smirk outlined Ethan’s lips, as he got to his feet. “I’m not trying to be good, Freya. I’m trying to apologise. I know this is probably the wrong time to say this, but I can’t help it. I can’t stop thinking about you. I care about you a whole lot, and I need you in my life,” he said tersely.

Freya stared at him. “You’re professing your love to me? Do you think it’s going to change anything between us?” She asked in disgust.

He turned his back on her, and walked towards the door. His hand was slightly on its handle, but he made no move to open the door. “You can decide whether it changes things or not.”

Freya swallowed as she looked at him. She had a feeling that when he walked out of that door, he would never come back. She couldn’t afford to let that happen. No matter what.

“Stop!” She shot out. He did as she said, but didn’t turn back. “I want a change. I’m ready to be yours.”

At that moment, he turned to her. His face was hard, and a smirk played on his lips. Freya believed it was a face full of love, and she ran as fast as she could, and stood right in front of him.

They looked at each other for two minutes, and then, Freya stood on tip toe, and pecked him right on his lips. Then, pulled backwards. Without a pause, he leaned back into her, and kissed with an intense fervour, grabbing her by her butt.

•T–––M–––V–––P–––L•

Ten vampires sat the table drinking blood, with Elizabeth seated in their midst. The room was infested with laughter, and the awful scent of blood, human blood of course.

Elizabeth stared glumly at her green beans, and chicken wings. She had no desire to eat. She couldn’t even comprehend how she had gotten here. It was as if she was suffocated from the inside out. Watching them merry so openly and audaciously turned her stomach.

A side look at Master Elbert, showed him happily gulping down the blood drink. Elizabeth tried not to gag at the display. She wondered if one day, she would also be a blood supply for the men here.

“Elizabeth…”

The voice was like a lull as she turned towards it. A handsomely man called Darius was watching her with beaded eyes. She swallowed hard in panic.

“Yes,” she answered as politely as she could.

The vampire smiled at her as he took a sip of his drink. “Don’t be so polite. I see you haven’t taken a good chunk of your dish. Don’t you like the meal?” He queried softly.

‘I don’t like it here.’ Elizabeth said inwardly.

She tried not to show her her anxiety as she grabbed a fork to take some of the green beans into her mouth. As she chewed, the meal seemed to expand in her mouth, but she forced herself to swallow it down.

She plastered a fake smile on her lips. “No, I really love the dish. It’s delicious,” she lied through her teeth.

Darius nodded. “I’m glad you like the dish. Now, relax and eat. The process of food for you humans is to chew and swallow. Don’t forget.” He said fondly.

Once again, Elizabeth nodded. She tried to take more of the food, but suddenly she felt like throwing up. She grabbed the glass at the side, and washed the nausea down.

She tried not to look at Darius penetrating gaze. She wondered if it would be rude to return to the succour of her room. She hared to be here, in the midst of them all.

•T–––M–––V–––P–––L•

Elizabeth placed her head in her hands. She was so glad the dinner was finally over, and she could escape those people. She didn’t know the right adjectives to qualify them., but there was one thing for sure. They were not as good as the novels she read made them to be.

She couldn’t get away from the image of Ethan drinking human blood. It was so raw, and terrifying all at once. He had always shown that he was a ruthless vampire, but it had not been as glaring as this very night.

“Miss, the master would like to have a word with you in his private chambers,” a voice sounded from outside her bedroom door.

Elizabeth sighed. She wished she could be alone for a few minutes, but that was obviously not possible here. She was never going to get that privilege or desire met. Never!

She quickly stood up, and then, made her way to the master’s chambers. She had been here for three days, and she liked to think that she knew her way to his chambers. It was as easy as pie.

The dark gloomy hallway invited into its darkness. Elizabeth swallowed the fear that clambered its way up her throat. This place always unnerved her, no matter how mentally prepared she was.

She finally found her way to the study, as she wondered how someone would love staying in total darkness. Since, he had called her here, there least he could do was switch on the lights, right? What was the need of doing all these?

“Elizabeth, don’t stand there. Come in,” the master called from inside.

It booted her up, and she walked into the study room. The room was illuminated by his red eyes. It was taunting at best, and slightly magnetic. Elizabeth bunched her clothes on her thighs, as she worried for her own safety.

“What’s the matter?” Elbert queried as he breathed into her ear.

She gasped slightly, thrown off-balance by how close he was to her. It would have been nice if he respected the fact that she was human, and stopped trying these absurd things on her.

Elizabeth shook her head in a bead to answer the question he had asked her.

“Nothing,” she denied roughly.

His rough bearded chin roughly grazed her smooth skin. It was slightly electrifying, and for a strange second she wished he would call her Camille. She must be crazy to wish for that.

“But, you’re shaking Elizabeth.” He stated.

She realised she was. She pulled away from the hold he had on her without touching her, and turned her eyes on him. Her gaze was slightly cold as she looked at him.

“I’m not,” she denied, crossing her hands across her middle.

The master didn’t push it. He hadn’t called her here to argue with her, but to help her get her footings back. He had to make sure she was safe, and that mark was truly gone for good. Just doing some magic on her, was evidently not enough to protect her from the cold truth.

“That’s alright, Elizabeth. We need to talk about the danger that surrounds you.” He said easily.

A shiver washed over Elizabeth’s spine. “Of course,” she said weakly.

His perfectly manicured fingers pointed at her. “You have caramel skin, and I equally made your mark invincible, but I’m afraid that it’s not enough to protect you from the terrors that lies out there,” he informed her sadly.

Elizabeth had great difficulty looking away from his red eyes, but she did. She looked at the dark bookcases instead, trying to figure out what she may do.

“You don’t need to think of anything. That’s my job. I’ve been doing a great deal of that all through the dinner, and we all retired to our rooms,” he informed her.

She turned back to him. “Did you figure out how to help me?”

He was quiet for a while. She almost thought he was asleep, which would be odd since he was literally looking at her. Suddenly, he glided towards her, but he didn’t touch her.

“Yes, I have.”

“What is it?”

He closed his eyes, and opened it so sensuously, that even in the dark, it made her core burn.

“I would mark you as mine…”

“What?” She snapped in horror.

She was about to go, but he pulled her back. The electricity that shot through her arms was electrifying, almost bring her down to her knees.

“Let go of me,” she demanded.

He actually did. She couldn’t breathe or talk as she looked at him. He wasn’t breathing either, and for the first time, she realised he wasn’t capable of breathing.

“Please, hear me out,” he pleaded. She huffed in response. “I would mark you, and you would become my puppet. I’m a great master, and that’s the reason I’ve earned my place as one of the oldest vampires. Think about it with a clear mind.”

She shook her head voraciously. “There is nothing to think about.” She said fervently. “I will never let you mark me, Master Vampire,” she said with conviction, as she ran out of the study. Elbert made no move to stop her this time.

•T–––M–––V–––P–––L•

The room was dark, but the soul who lay on the bed without sleeping was burning up with fire in his lions.

Darius was trying to quench the flame that the Luna’s daughter had ignited in him. She had been so beautiful, and heavenly. He shouldn’t think about her because she was a werewolf, and the problems they had were still there. But, still, he couldn’t help himself. He wanted to see her, touch her and love her.

He turned to the other-side of the bed. His hands bunched in his middle, as he tried in vain to make his manhood lax and not hard. He shouldn’t be thinking about her at all. She was a beautiful mistake.

No!

He shot out of the bed, and looked into the dark of the night. No, she wasn’t a mistake. He would see her once, and understand why he felt this way. What was the amazing thing about her, that left him intoxicated while awake?

And, he must see her tonight.