Dinner with a Vampire
Page 22

With the daylight pouring in, the empty room didn’t seem so menacing and maybe I even welcomed the time alone. But then, the next minute, I would perch on the windowsill, watching the edge of the forest and half-expecting a figure to appear from their cover.
Why had my life turned upside down? I should be starting university, not stuck with creatures that shouldn’t even exist.
And Ilta. What had he said? That I should die? That he was saving me?
To top it all off, Fabian’s words from earlier refused to leave my overcrowded, frantic mind.
‘Do you really think you can just leave? Do you even want to leave?’
I should know the answer to that right away, but I didn’t, and that was what bothered me. I don’t know, I thought, as I forced my eyes closed, wanting to sleep. I really don’t know.
I was still asleep, I knew that. And yet, I was aware of my surroundings, but not truly conscious.
I could feel the cold wind tickling my skin, hear it whistling against the glass, hear the floor depressing and creaking slightly. I could feel the sound of metal scraping against metal and even in my barely awake state, it made my teeth clench. The voiles rustled, as though blowing in a gentle wind – one that might blow through an open door. The clock ticked on and I could hear dust settling on the furniture. It seemed to become darker for a moment, like curtains had been drawn around my sleeping form.
I felt and heard the mattress depress, but still I did not open my eyes. I felt cold skin brushing my own, but I didn’t move, or even think to scream.
I felt his weight held perfectly on top of me, heard his icy breath as I felt the burn of him gazing down at me. I felt every inch of carved flawlessness arch into my corpse, felt the lust and want, need, no, thirst, pumping through his veins.
When I did open my eyes, the first thing I saw was that the window furthest away, almost as tall as I was and normally securely locked, was now flung wide open, a chilly breeze passing through. Only then did it occur to me that something was not right. Then I opened my mouth to scream.
He snarled, hastily clamping a hand over my mouth. I attempted to bite at his fingers, but found myself quickly subdued.
‘Play nicely now,’ he mocked, pressing himself closer. I caught sight of the deranged, lustful glint in his blood-red eyes. My eyes widened and I was hushed to silence, terrified.
‘Come on, Girly, just a little drop of blood. I’m so hungry. You’ll enjoy it.’
I scowled, and thrashed about as he lay draped across me, pressing his crotch hard into my stomach.
‘Kaspar, get off me!’ I spat, as he removed his hand. He stared down at me, his eyes consumed by bloodlust and I could almost smell his throat as it singed, desperate to quench the thirst.
‘If you scream, I swear I’ll kill you, so I suggest you keep quiet,’ he muttered, looking me in the eye, carefully pronouncing each word.
I scowled once more. ‘But what about the Protection?’ He faltered for a moment, eyes dulling a little.
‘Give me your consent.’
I blinked. He said those words almost remorsefully.
‘What’s wrong with the donor stuff?’
It was his turn to blink. ‘It doesn’t taste as good as your blood,’ he stated slowly, as though it were obvious. His eyes were rapidly fading, leaving crimson behind, emerald fast returning. But I could still smell the stench of burning flesh. He was still thirsty.
‘Please,’ he breathed.
His voice was so pleading, so desperate, like the piteous call of a starving child; and I whispered a word I should never even have thought of:
‘Okay.’
Immediately, his eyes flared red again and I tensed beneath him. He chuckled, but it was not the cruel laugh I was used to; more one of quiet amusement. His eyes trailed over the tank top and shorts I had changed into earlier that night and he smiled slyly.
‘Let me help you enjoy this.’
Slowly, very slowly, he allowed his full weight to rest on me and I groaned, feeling my chest compressing. He chuckled once more, but eased away an inch. His hand searched for mine, finding it pinned to my side. He stroked my fingers for a moment, before trailing a finger up the length of my arm. I shuddered at his touch, goose bumps forming.
I should not be enjoying this. I was almost drained a few days ago. I should cower away from his touch, I should be scared. But I didn’t and I wasn’t. And he saved me. Now, maybe, I could save him.
His hand trailed across my collar, brushing the tops of my scars. I squirmed away then, but he had worked a hand behind my back, pulling me into him. It dug into my spine and I winced, but he ignored me; he was occupied as his hand trailed the vein on my neck, his eyes intently watching its rhythm.
His head sunk lower and I stiffened, expecting pain to erupt. But it didn’t. Instead, soft lips began kissing my neck.
‘W-what are you doing?’ I faltered.
‘Just relax and enjoy,’ he murmured into my neck. It sent tingles dancing along my skin and I suppressed an intake of breath.
You wouldn’t deny Kaspar, would you?
Instead, I sighed, quietly, almost inwardly, and gradually relaxed. He leisurely trailed tender kisses down my throat, along my collarbone, until he reached my silvery scars, where he paused, breathing onto my skin before his tongue began to trace the indents. I jolted a little, as it tickled. He laughed and brought his lips back to my jaw line. His dark hair brushed my lips and I blew it gently away.
His head abruptly returned to my neck and I went rigid, sure he would bite this time. But again he began kissing my neck, his teeth grazing my flesh. But these kisses were deeper, more urgent and I shuddered under him.
‘I know you want to moan, Girly,’ he purred into my neck, and I could tell from his arrogant tone and full lips that he was smirking. ‘Go on …’
I will get to you, Violet Lee …
His hands began rubbing my side. I pursed my lips, as his own delved frantically at my neck. I whimpered beneath him, fighting and flailing.
‘Give in,’ he whispered as his mouth brushed my ear. And I did. A small moan escaped my lips and I compulsively found myself arching into him, forcing every inch of flesh to meet his. He pressed me further into the bed and yet another moan slipped through my lips. He was smirking into my neck again as his hand slipped up my side.
Suddenly, he picked me up and pressed me hard against the wall; hard enough that the panelling dug into my spine, like it had done that first morning. ‘You’ll bleed less if you are standing,’ he explained. ‘Just relax,’ he whispered, but I had gone rigid again, scared at just the sight of his fangs. He sighed, exasperatedly. ‘It will hurt less if you relax.’
One hand wrapped itself around my waist, palm pressed firmly into the hollow of my back, pulling me to him. The other hand swept the hair from my shoulders, exposing my bare flesh.
He tilted my head out of the way, moving closer the whole time, head lowering towards the pulsating vein of my neck. I tried to pull away from him as his lips parted slightly, revealing his fangs.
His mouth met my neck and I heard him inhale my scent. His tongue darted out, licking the spot where he intended to bite, hovering over my vein. His lips parted a little more and he softly kissed my skin. A shudder of pleasure ignited me, sending my mind into spasm, my body falling into his waiting arms, as my resolve evaporated.
The instant he felt me wilt he sank his fangs deep into my flesh, blood surging from the wounds, trickling across and smearing my skin.
I opened my mouth to scream, but all that came out was a muffled cry. A hand was clamped over my mouth, forcing my jaws together, stifling the sound. I felt him drink, taking short shallow breaths, panting, eyes gleaming red, a trickle of blood running down his chin. I backed further into the wall, but he pulled me back quickly.
‘Don’t scream,’ he ordered, lowering his head once more. I cowered away.
‘It hurts,’ I whimpered through his fingers, shaking. To my surprise his eyes softened, but he didn’t ease up as his fangs sunk into my neck once more. As he continued to suck, my jaw tightened and tightened, attempting to ignore the horrifying drawing sensation. It was like a blood test gone very, very wrong.
The thought of what was actually happening made my vision waver, and, sure enough, seconds later I blacked out, falling forward onto his shoulder. He withdrew at once and my eyes flickered open as he caught me.
‘Whoa there,’ he breathed, steadying me. I felt myself straightening up, sandwiched between the wall and his cold body.
‘You okay?’ he asked, genuine concern in his voice. I nodded shakily in reply. ‘I think I’m full.’ He laughed, attempting to lighten the atmosphere. Again I nodded, taking a few raspy deep breaths. The tunnel vision was disappearing, the pounding in my head subsiding. There was a strange tingling on my neck, exactly where the wounds were and I reached up to touch them.
What should be two mangled puncture wounds were now small incisions, stitching themselves together.
‘H-how is that p-possible?’ I began, but he leaned forward to whisper in my ear.
‘Vampires are fantasy, Girly. Anything is possible.’
‘But—’
‘It happens every time we take blood. Otherwise you would bleed to death. Haven’t you noticed it before?’
I shook my head. ‘But then when he bit me, how did I lose all that blood?’
‘He drank it all,’ Kaspar replied bluntly, averting his gaze. I lowered mine to the floor.
The blood was drying, caking itself to my skin and leaving bloody streaks all across my chest and neck. I went to wipe it away, but Kaspar caught my hand.
‘Allow me.’ His head lowered to the top of my breast and his tongue traced the line of my top. He gradually worked his way up towards my neck, lapping at the blood; and by the feel of his leisurely pace, he was savouring every last drop. His hand had begun to caress my side again.
‘Damn, you’re good,’ I breathed, not intending for him to hear.
‘I know.’ He chuckled, his lips gradually moving further and further down, until he was pulling my top aside, revealing my bra. I froze.
‘Kaspar.’ He ignored me. ‘Kaspar!’ I pushed him away using the hand that wasn’t strapped into a brace, all the while holding back tears. He looked up at me, frowning.
‘What?’
‘Just don’t do that,’ I stammered, still holding back the tears.
‘Why?’
His ignorance triggered something and the tears began flowing. I pointed at my scars, torn between anger and hurt, fear overshadowing everything. ‘I was almost raped less than a week ago. Why do you think?’ I screeched.
‘You were all right before?’ he said, frowning.
I shook my head, disbelievingly. ‘I almost died! And I know it was all my stupid fault and I should have listened to you, and I was an idiot, but everything, it’s just too much! And now Fabian’s freaking out and I’m so bloody scared. I’m scared for me, for my family, for humanity, for you! Your family! I don’t want my father to hurt anybody. I don’t want a war!’ I broke down in sobs, unable to continue. He just stood there, dumbfounded, staring at me as though I was a dangerous creature that should be treated with extreme caution.
‘And you can’t even say anything,’ I continued between sobs. ‘You stupid, arrogant, stuck-up, heartless vampire Prince!’ I pummelled his chest, trying to hurt him but failing miserably. I tried to push him away, but he just pulled me nearer into a bone-crushing hug.
‘I’m so sorry,’ he murmured. ‘So sorry.’ He wrapped an arm firmly around my back, the other hand gently stroking my hair as I cried uncontrollably into his chest.
After what seemed like an age, I drew away; tears drying up, sobs receding.
‘Sorry,’ I mumbled to the floor, embarrassed. Breaking down in front of Kaspar was becoming a habit and it wasn’t one I wanted to maintain. He shrugged his shoulders in reply, as though he had girls sobbing in his arms every night.
‘Ashton will get Ilta, don’t worry, and then you won’t have to fear him ever again. The rest you’ll have to figure out on your own.’
‘Thanks for the help,’ I mumbled, sarcastically.
He chuckled, shifting closer. ‘But you have to admit, you were turned on back there.’ He leaned his forehead against mine, characteristic smirk adorning that far too perfect face of his.
‘No, I was not,’ I replied defensively, punching him in the stomach. He didn’t flinch.
Liar, my voice breathed and I detected an almost sinister tone, as though I was lying.
Kaspar suddenly drew back, his cool forehead leaving mine. His lips curled into their half-smirk, half-smile, revealing the tips of his glittering fangs. ‘I’ll seduce you one day yet, Violet Lee,’ he breathed, letting out a faint sigh.
I closed my eyes, chuckling. ‘In your dreams, Princey.’
‘Fantasy is dreaming.’
I opened my eyes slowly to find him staring back, his lips just inches from mine. He was pressed into me, chests rising and falling in time, hands on the wall either side of my head.
Suddenly he snatched away from me, head jerking in the direction of the door. ‘Someone’s coming.’
He turned back to look at me, my heart palpitating. His face was a mixture of alarm and disappointment. It was a fleeting look – it couldn’t have lasted more than a second, but it was there long enough for me to see it.
His hands wrapped themselves around my waist and flung me towards the bed; I landed surprisingly unsprawled on the soft sheets. He paused – his hands still wrapped around me – and shot me another look. I knew him well enough to know what such a look meant: never tell anyone.
I blinked and he was gone.