Chapter 5: Marriage Proposal

"What are you talking about?" I asked Landon, my voice low but firm.

I was about to turn and face him when he went in front of me himself. He towered over me, his eyes were dark and vicious looking straight into mine as if he wanted to look into my soul through them. I don't mind if he could. I don't care about anything else now. All I want is vengeance and I'm willing to do whatever it takes just to have that.

"You heard me right, Eve. You have had vampire blood in you ever since you were born."

"How is that possible? My parents, I was sure they were humans and they haven't mentioned anything unnatural… and I never felt strange before."

"You are not a pure-blooded vampire, only a fraction of your blood contains vampire blood. That's why you managed to live for all those years like a normal human being. But the truth is, it was only suppressed and waiting to be activated. And it happened when Vienna's subordinate bit you. It was the vampire's venom that awakened the vampire blood in you. It was the reason why the transition took faster than usual because you were not a pure human in the first place."

I couldn't bring myself to believe it. Are all of these really true? First, I turned into a vampire after I was bitten by Vienna's accomplice. Second, Dad, Mom, and Jaxon are dead. And third, this? That I was born with vampire blood? How was that even possible?

"You seemed to know so much about me. How sure are you that it's the reason why the venom spread so quickly in my body?"

"Because I know Elizabeth. There is no doubt you are her descendant. You look just like her."

Elizabeth.

There was only one person who has that name in our bloodline.

"How did you know my great-grandmother?"

"Elizabeth was a half vampire who married a man. Through her ability, she was able to suppress the vampire blood in her descendants and also in you. The moment I laid my eyes on you, I recognized your face right away but my assumption was confirmed by the necklace you were wearing." His eyes went down to my neck.

My hand flew to the necklace. Dad said it was from my grandmother and wanted me to wear it always.

"It is not an ordinary necklace for it contains a powerful spell. I'm sure you have been wondering why Carter Rellis can read everyone else's mind but he can't read yours. Am I correct?"

I stayed silent. He nodded with my silence, taking it as an affirmation.

"It's because of that necklace. It can block vampires' mental abilities. If you didn't know, Vienna tried to poison your mind that day in the woods, but she wasn't able to do it. "

Realization then hit me. Carter couldn't read my mind anymore since that day I wore the necklace. It does make sense.

"Elizabeth probably hid it on purpose. Maybe she wanted her family to live away from the complexity of vampire life."

"Sounds sensible enough. But why did you know all of that? You seemed to have conducted a thorough investigation of me. What do you really want from me? You won't go this far if you just simply wanted to help."

"You are right. I don't intend to just help you. I need you to do something for me."

"If I would do it, would you help me avenge my loved ones? I want to kill that vampire woman who killed my friend and my parents."

There was a ghost of wickedness on his curved lips. "The question is, what can you offer?"

"I can offer you anything I can give," I said quickly, without any doubt or hesitation. Dignity doesn't matter now. I don't care if I need to sell my soul to the devil just to have the vengeance I want.

"Say, I want to use you as my weapon? Would you still go for it?"

"If you would promise to help me, I will do everything you want."

"Then, are you willing to be my wife?"

His wife? Did I hear him right? What is he planning exactly?

"What do you mean? You don't look like you ran out of women you can use in that aspect of your life."

He smirked. "I suppose you are saying it's impossible that I would run out of women because I have good looks?"

I just looked at him and didn't say anything. His brow twitched, and his eyes turned darker.

"I don't need a woman in that aspect of my life. In fact, I've never needed a woman. Like I told you, I want you to be my weapon, and you will only become my weapon if you become my wife. It sounds complicated, but if you are desperate enough, this is the best opportunity you can grab."

I've never dreamed of marrying anyone else since I had met Carter. He was my heart, the core of my life, my everything. But when he left, I realized he wasn't all to me. I still have my parents and Jaxon—the people behind my back who were always there to support me. But where did loving Carter bring me? Even if the information I got from Landon was vague, it was very clear that Vienna did that because of the relationship I had with Carter. Loving him was the root of everything. I loved him so much but it was a big mistake. I regretted it. I regretted loving someone not meant for me. And it was the love that didn't only ruin my heart. It also ruined my life and everything I had.

Now that I've got a chance to avenge all the pain I had gone through, why would I say no? After all, nothing else matters now but my anger and thirst for vengeance.

"I will be your wife, then," I said with all the grit I have.