Alina
“... na... Al... Alina...”
I groaned as the pounding in my head increased. Who on Earth was calling me? Couldn’t they see that I was sleeping? What was this feeling... like something wet was hitting my face?
“Ugh!” I covered my eyes with my hands even though they were closed. Why was there so much light? Where was I?
“Alright, Cinderella, get up!” someone snapped near my ears, startling me into opening my eyes. I closed them again, a groan escaping my mouth.
It took me some time to adjust my eyes to the bright light in the room. When my vision cleared, I saw that I was back in Erick’s beach house in the same blue room. This time, thankfully, I still had my own clothes on, and it was still daytime. Erick sat on the same chair next to the bed as he did the first time he brought me here two days ago.
“Hmmm... I’m thinking Faintasia.
ErickSeagulls. Those nasty little things.If I could only get my hands on one of those damn brats! Yeah, as if that would be of any help. You cut off one, and a thousand take its place. Ah, the benefits of having a beach house. I didn't need an alarm clock. These damn pests did a fine job of waking you up at three o’clock in the morning.Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I sat up groggily. I was startled into looking around the room when I couldn’t feel that familiar warmth next to me. Somehow, I ended up falling asleep next to her last night, afraid that if I left her alone, Emiel might get to her again.“Alina?” I called out. Did she leave as soon as I was out? I couldn’t blame her for that if she did. Yesterday, hell, the whole week, has been terrible for her. She needed to know that running isn’t an option, though. Besides, she was too curious to just up and leave witho
AlinaErick kept his promise. He hasn’t called or visited since the day he spilled his guts out about everything that had me confused. Even though he didn’t say it out loud, I have a pretty good idea about what exactly happened four years ago. The only question was, why?In spite of everything he said, I couldn’t help but feel restless. If he were here, I would have felt more at ease. I had no idea how and when this started, though. This feeling I get whenever I was with him was unmistakable one of safety. It was something I had missed for a long time. Even when we were young and he started feeding on me, I had this feeling deep in my heart that none of his death threats were real. I was just too scared to see past the fact that he was a vampire, a predator that could kill me in a blink of an eye.However, those things weren’t important right now because, at this instant, I was making a deci
AlinaSleep easily came that night. After that conversation with Kenna, I couldn’t say I blame her for not trusting humans. I would too if I was in her position. Most of all, I was glad I got to speak to her about Emiel. Now, I was sure that deep down, she still loved him.Until now, I had never really interacted with her so closely. When my parents were alive, I simply stood to the side and smiled politely as etiquette demanded and watched my mother do all the talking. It felt nice to get to know my mother’s friend more closely. It was like getting to know another side of her. For the first time in a long while, I felt peaceful.****It was very late at night when I heard a knock on my front door. At first, I thought I had imagined it. After all, who could be knocking on my door at two-thirty in the morning? Then I remembered the guards outside, and a sudden fear grip
Alina“What do you mean you can’t come to the wedding?”“Honey, you know I can’t. There are certain rules for survival in the mortal world, and I have no wish of becoming their dinner,” Papa joked.“And yet you’d let me take your place?” I told him incredulously, putting on a serious face, but even Papa could tell I was joking.“Honey, I doubt Erick finds me that appealing,” he said with an affectionate pat on my head.I felt my eyes burn with tears. This was all happening too soon. I just wanted everything to slow down and to give me time to breathe. Every girl dreams of their wedding day, especially the time when her father would hand her over to her husband. I was no different. I had always wanted my wedding to be the same, a big church wedding with all my friends and family with Mom gushing about my dress and makeup and Dad walking
AlinaBy the time Jordan dropped me off in front of my apartment, it was almost eleven-thirty in the evening. I had never been out till this late. The traffic was awful tonight, but the ride had been good. Jordan was a very funny guy, and I laughed the entire night away at his ridiculous jokes. He even gave me an inside scoop on Erick’s childhood and about his hidden phobias. My thoughts did occasionally wander off to the conversation I had with Papa and how I could persuade Erick into confessing the whole truth, but other than that, I had a wonderful evening. Now, I was starving for some spaghetti that I made before leaving for the hospital.However, as soon as Jordan drove away, my mind drifted into darker topics. Did I even want to know the whole truth? I couldn’t also ignore the fact that I didn’t really remember much about that night four years ago. I remembered Erick coming into my old house drunk
Alina“Kendrick, it’s not stopping! There’s too much blood!” I screamed, pressing down harder on the wound to check the blood flow. “Tell me what to do, Kendrick!”“Alina, you have to stay calm. He’s a vampire. The healing will kick in soon.” Kendrick reassured me, driving as fast as he could without having the traffic police at our tail because only one of us could use compulsion, and he wasn’t conscious right now. Thankfully, he was not dead.I looked down at Erick again. He was lying on the back seat with his head on my lap and my hands on his chest, trying desperately to stop the blood flow. He wasn’t conscious yet and hasn’t been since I found him, except for when he called my name once Kendrick had wrenched the stake out of his chest. Well, that was another myth proved wrong about vampires.I could still remember how I found him ly
ErickEvery breath stung.Even a tiny movement felt like I was in that hell hole once again trying to get Alina to safety… and struggling to keep Emiel from killing me.“Ugh.” I opened my eyes with much difficulty. The light in the room felt blinding. I closed them again, groaning. God, why do I feel so weak?“Erick?” Was that Alina? She was here? She sounded worried. I might not be in enemy hands after all.“I—” My throat felt like someone had scrubbed it raw with sandpaper.“Hang on. I’ll get some water.” I felt the bed rise as she got up. She had been right next to me.“Here.” She didn’t touch me, but I felt the glass near my face. I opened my mouth a tiny bit and was rewarded with the cool flow of the liquid down my throat. I gulped it down greedily.A sigh left my mouth as my throat felt norm
AlinaErick wasn’t done yet.“Tell me why you care, Alina?” He sounded dead serious, prepared to peel away every layer of my defence. “You’ve kept in so much for so long. Let it out. Tell me why you care. Tell me why you’re ready to forgive me so easily after everything I did to you? Tell me, damn it!”It was like a floodgate being opened.“I don’t want to feel anything towards you, not even hate. Because what you did to me? No amount of punishment can ever give me back what I lost, and I’m not talking about my virginity.” His face paled at every word I spoke. “You took away from me my choice, my free will, and at one point, even my will to live—”“Don’t—” he interjected, but I didn’t stop. I wasn’t done yet. He wanted the truth, so I’ll give it to him“I kept on l
For The Last ChristmasA The Vampire’s Bride Christmas BonusZaira sat crouched in front of the high walls that surrounded the old manor. According to some very reliable sources, this particular vampire had chosen the most obvious of clichés and decided to reside in an old castle that scared the crap out of even the most badass hunters.Zaira contemplated going in guns blazing since her spies had informed her that only a single vampire inhabited the manor, but then she looked up at the darkening sky and knew that she was at a disadvantage. Even though it was only around one in the afternoon, dark clouds had gathered in the sky out of nowhere, and it kept getting darker by the minute. Soon, there wouldn’t be any difference between day and night.It’s gonna be a white Christmas this year, Zaira thought to herself as she looked away from the sky and took out a gun from her thigh holster. Sing
Secret SantaErickAlina stood in the middle of the Grand Hall, her dress a stunning gold with intricate flowers embroidered from one shoulder to the other. That same embroidery was present on the skirt of her gown, thin at first, but they flared out at the end. Her hair was in loose curls down her back and her green eyes sparkled with fake joy that only people closer to her would understand. She looked like a glorious golden goddess who would rather be anywhere other than the Royal Christmas Party.
Interview for The Vampire’s BrideFor AlinaYour relationship with Erick didn’t start out so well. Is it hard to fall in love with a man you thought caused your miseries?Alina: Falling in love with Erick had never been the hard part. The hard part had been to accept the fact that I had. We’d
Erick and Alina’s Great EscapeAlina“I am so done with this!” I slammed the humongous book shut and would’ve thrown it across the room if I had the strength to lift the damn thing.Emiel pushed his spectacles down his nose to witness my tantrum before burying his nose back into another book. He didn’t really need the spectacles, vampires being unable to have any diseases unless they were magically induced, but Emiel apparently likes to look nerdy.“Is something the matter, highness?” A maid poked her head from another isle. By now, it seems everyone was accustomed to my tantrums.“Where on Earth is Erick?” I snapped at her, needing an outlet for my frustration.“His Highness is having a meeting with the Nobles.” The maid answered, head bowed.“Argh!” I grunted and stomped out of the library and headed straight for o
EpilogueAlinaSix months laterThe Royal Castle was abuzz.Flowers were being brought in, curtains were being changed, fancy dresses and glittering diamond jewellery were donned by pretty maidens, and elaborate attires were worn by the gentlemen. It was a day of celebration and a day to rejoice. After all, Erick and I were being crowned today.We had to go through another one of those cleansing rituals and then ushered into different rooms to get dressed. Come to think of it, Erick and I had been too busy for the last six months that we barely had a proper conversation with each other; me with lessons after lessons on vampire culture, dancing, and etiquette, and Erick with learning statecraft from the nobles.It was in these six months that I had come to learn exactly how attached I have become to Erick. It was like he was so near, yet still far enough that I couldn’t reach him.
Alina“How are you feeling?”“Like I’ve spent enough time in this damned place and am ready to finally move out.”“But you know that’s not possi—”“Of course, it is, Alina!” Papa sat up straight, taking my hands in his wrinkled, trembling ones. He looked far too old for his age, yet he looked happy. “Darling, I’ve already spent a long time here, and it’s enough. The doctors have done all they could. They tried everything in their power, but they can’t do any more than they already have. It’s time I live my remaining days reminiscing about the life I’ve had. I want to relive every memory I’ve cherished, and I can’t do that if I’m here. It’s time you let me go.”I understood what he was trying to tell me, but I just couldn’t imagine a life without him. I’ve been
Alina“What’s going on? What is she chanting?” Erick yelled at Kendrick, the howling winds making it near impossible to listen to anything.“It’s the transfusion spell!” There was urgency in Kendrick’s voice as he turned to face me. “Alina, your transformation isn’t complete yet. Do you know about anything that connects you to Tuhin? Something that Tuhin or Aaron had given you?”“The necklace!” Erick and I said in unison.“Aaron said only Tuhin can remove it from me. I tried to, but it electrocuted my hand,” I yelled at Erick as the chanting got nearer and nearer.“I think I can get it off,” Erick replied then unsheathed a huge sword with a blade completely made of ice. “Hold up the strings.”I did as he told but removed my hand as soon as sparks began to dance on the surface of the penda
Erick“Erick!” Both Kendrick and my mother were by my side as I teleported back to the throne room of the castle.“Oh God, Erick! You’re freezing!” Mother knelt down next to my slouched form on the floor.“We don’t have time, Kendrick. We must leave right now,” I told him while gathering my strength to get up again. “Emiel, you’re coming too.”“Me?” Emiel asked, eyes wide in surprise.“Yes.” I made that conscious decision moments ago. “You’ve been their bitch for long enough. You just might come in handy.”“But Erick, we still don’t know the location of Aaron’s hideout,” Kendrick pointed out.“I might be able to help with that.”“Erick, take the guards—”“We can’t, Father. If we take the guards, we&rsqu
Erick“Arctic Blade?”Mother sounded just as surprised as Father. “I haven’t heard of any such blade, son. I’ve already asked the elder historian, but he doesn’t have any idea what it could be.”Both my parents had no clue about the existence of the Arctic Blade, and neither did Emiel. This led me to the only option I had left: the Dark Council that was out of my reach as of now. Which was appropriate since the Ancient itself was a mage of unparalleled power.“No,” Ken answered, “I don’t know of any such blade, but the Chrone might.”“Ken, Merida hates me,” I said, referring to Ken’s grandmother, the elder of his coven of mages. “She’s always been against you becoming a part of the Vampire Royal Guard.” Ken, however, was no longer a guard. He commanded the Royal Guard itself, but Merida Blackbur