Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
APRIL
Standing at the entrance of the indoor pool area, I watch Marcus prowl inside and literally throw himself on one of the lounge chairs littered around the large body of water that’s casting a greenish glow.
The sound of the air is different here. Coiled up like a spring, I stand unmoving, trying to see everything at once while keeping an eye on the monster that is trying to screw with my head.
Soft lights cast a relaxing glow around the decorated area.
Mosaic tiles surround the pool. Blue and white columns are placed around it close to the glass panels, protecting those that are lounging from splashing water when the pool is being used.
Just like the rest of the hotel, history pulls you in, the tasteful decorations giving you a sense of peace and calm.
A feeling that can get me killed if the monster decides he has had enough toying with me.
“Sit down, little one.” Marcus waves his hand slowly, hoping to convince me to enter the place. I know how fast he is and that I have no chance of escaping him, or I would’ve bolted out of here as soon as he turned his back. “You can barely stand on your feet.”
I came around too fast for my wellbeing after I passed out in the hallways leading us here.
I still feel like I’ll topple over with the lightest breeze, but I’m grateful Marcus keeps his hands to himself, allowing me to walk on my own here.
Giving him a sideways glance, I creep up on the opposite side of him, lowering myself onto the edge of the chair closest to the door.
When he doesn’t move or pounce on me, I hug my knees to my chest, still watching him warily.
“I will not harm you. I give you my word.” He keeps talking, his deep voice pissing me off because I like hearing it. He must’ve seen something on my face because his eyes soften. “I know you don’t trust my words…yet. You will with time, I promise.”
This is the moment when I decide that monsters can also be mentally challenged, just like humans.
Marcus looks so sincere and hopeful at the moment that I smile despite myself.
The answering tilt of his full lips freezes the breath in my throat when two fangs the size of my pinky make their appearance.
What the hell is the matter with you April.
Relaxing and smiling with a monster, you idiot!
My brain chooses the perfect timing, after the fact as always, to remind me of important things.
Looking away from him, I stare at the pool.
I still have him in my sight, and from the corner of my eye, I can tell he is confused by my reaction.
To him, fangs may be an everyday thing. To me, it’s something I’ve been running away from my entire life.
Marcus can go suck on lemons if my reaction hurt him.
Do monsters even have feelings that you can hurt?
I’ve never actually considered anything about them apart from they are deadly.
Glaring at the water that sparkles happily in front of me, reflecting the soft glow of the lights, I push those thoughts away.
I really am crazy if I’m trying to give monsters human emotions.
To his credit, Marcus lets me be, stopping his attempts to coax me into chatting with him.
In the quiet around me, my mind is slowly shutting down, and my lids start droopping.
They feel more cumbersome with each attempt to open them back up, and in no time at all, I drift into a light sleep.
A blast of air slapping my face jerks me out of the half-sleep state I was in.
My head swivels, expecting to see Marcus attacking me, going for my throat.
When my wild eyes settle on a man dressed in an immaculate business suit, my brain short-circuits for a long moment.
Did I imagine being dragged to a hotel by an asshole and a monster keeping me company?
When my gaze lifts up and a lump lodges in my throat, I know that I didn’t imagine any of it.
I thought Marcus and Andrei had angelic features.
I was way off the mark if the face staring down at me is anything to go by.
Neatly combed dark hair, so dark brown it looks black, makes my fingers twitch, wanting to touch it and see if it’s as soft as it appears to be.
A perfectly symmetrical face with sharply cut eyebrows above dark eyes with specks of light in them watches my reaction.
A straight nose completes his face, sitting above thick cushioned lips, forming a perfect bow at the top one.
His square jaw with a five-o’clock shadow brings it all together like a slap to my face.
He does look like an angel, but one of those fallen, sinful ones that everyone warns you about.
Broad shoulders stretch his suit jacket, the black color contrasting perfectly with his white shirt, his thin black tie, and his olive skin.
His pants wrap around powerful thighs where his fists are clenched, making me scramble back up the chair.
He looks pissed, and I want to be as far away from him as possible.
Where the hell is Marcus now? I have no idea why I think one monster can save me from another, but the energy coming from this one in pulsing waves tells me Marcus is the lesser of two evils.
“You are scaring her, Sire.” Andrei pops his head out from behind the death that is staring at me, unblinking.
“I most certainly am not.” Goosebumps cover me from head to toe when the baritone of his voice drums into my chest. Even if I die now, I am sure I’ll be hearing it in the afterlife.
“Umm, I think Andrei is right, Sire. She looks paler than when she passed out earlier.” The deep voice of Marcus makes me lean to the side and look behind the one they call Sire.
Marcus sees me and nods encouragingly with a tight smile, as if telling me everything is okay.
What the hell can be okay when this Sire guy looks like he wants to rip me apart?
Andrei tries to move around him to come closer to me, and in my attempt to keep distance between us, I topple off the chair and slam my hip and my shoulder on the unforgiving tiles.
With a grunt, I scramble up and stay crouching.
If they try to get closer again, I’ll bolt around the pool.
I know they’ll catch me, but anything is better than sitting here.
“If she hurts herself, I will rip your head off,” the Sire tells Andrei with a murderous glare.
“My voice used to calm her earlier. I was only trying to help.” When Andrei lifts his hands in surrender, the Sire guy raises an eyebrow at him. He’s calling him an idiot louder than if he said the words.
Returning his focus on me, the Sire takes a slight step closer.
“Stand up so I can see you.” Unclenching his fists, he lifts one hand slightly towards me before dropping it down to hang next to his side.
I am watching his movements so intently that I almost miss the trembling of his hands.
Why are his hands shaking? Why do I even care?
Not wanting him to come closer, I slowly lift myself up from my crouching.
Standing up, his height is less scary. While I was almost plastered on the tiles, he looked like a giant looming over me.
But that tremble of his hands gives me enough courage to lift my chin stubbornly and stare up at his face.
Everything that has happened since last night makes me act crazy.
One moment I’m terrified, wishing for them to kill me and be done with it.
The next, I want to fight them every chance I get.
Insanity sounds more realistic with each breath I take.
When he sniffs slightly and his face twists in disgust, I lose my shit all together.
Screaming like a banshee, I jump at him, pounding my fists on his chest with all the strength of a mosquito hitting an elephant.
That pisses me off even more. I continue punching, kicking, and screaming like a nut job while he stands as still as a statue, taking it all.
He doesn’t stop me or hit back. His arms hang down his sides, and he accepts all my anger like a punching bag.
I don’t know how long I keep at it, but eventually, all the adrenaline drains from my body and my legs give out from under me.
Before I hit the floor, two strong arms wrap around me, cradling me to a firm chest. My head plops limply on his shoulder, and the scent of some expensive cologne fills my nostrils, emphasizing my stench even more.
A sob is all I have the strength to utter before he starts walking.
His movements are so smooth he doesn’t even jostle me.
“Is she going to be okay?” Marcus’s voice is soft from somewhere behind the broad shoulders.
“I think I might’ve been right. She is mute,” Andrei adds softly.
“The two of you are idiots!” The man holding me cradled to his chest snaps angrily. “And the Council will pay greatly for bringing her to this state.”