Chapter 15 #2
Then you fell for her trickery. Vampires aren’t kind or sweet; they are predators who play games to lure us in before the kill. They are designed that way. All I care about is finding a way of getting out of this place once the prince is dead.
You are correct. I cannot argue with such truths.
Good, now how about you help me figure out how the hell we’re going to get out of here once the prince is dead?
I told you that this plan is going to take time. We stay a few days, make a pla—
No. I don’t want to be here any longer than I need to be. The prince wants me to attend his stupid dinner, so I will, and then I’ll make the kill.
I smooth my fingers across the ledge of the window, but there is no opening. It’s sealed shut. If there is a way out of this place, then it’s not here.
You are rushing, and that is never a good thing.
Then help me.
It takes a beat, but I feel the moment he concedes and a smile curves my lips.
Don’t get too happy, I’m only helping because my very existence depends on you staying alive, he tells me.
Good. So, what’s the plan?
Get ready for dinner, and I will reveal all.
It doesn’t take me long to get ready. I’m more than familiar with preparing to woo a self-centered vampire.
I found a bathroom through the door at the back of my walk-in closet, but barely had a chance to take in how grand it truly was.
I enjoyed a soak in the tub before climbing out and finding the sexiest dress I could muster, and I was completely spoiled for choice.
Not to mention that Athriel pointed out the small window in there that may be our chance at a successful escape.
It will be a tight fit, and my room is quite high up, but if I can make the prince’s death look like an accident, I might be able to slip in here later and make my escape.
I look in the full-length mirror hanging on the wall of my new bedroom and admire the silky orange material that cascades down my body. Athriel suggested that the color would be a perfect match for my amber-colored eyes. Surprisingly, he was right.
Why is that such a surprise?
Boundaries, Athriel. Stop interrupting my inner thoughts.
I feel the sensation of him pulling some kind of face, and I can’t help but laugh. But as I catch myself in the mirror, my face quickly falls. I have no right to be happy when Willow is still missing and Tori is dead.
I move away from my reflection, not wanting to see the look in my eyes, and instead focus on Athriel’s plan.
It hinges entirely on my ability to seduce the prince.
Athriel seems to think this is the best way to get close to him and get him to feed again.
I have spent every moment I’ve known him insulting him, but if this is what it takes to get Willow back, then I will do it.
All I have to do is allow the prince to drink my blood and then make my escape.
Once I’m out, I will get Willow back, and we’ll flee to the human settlement.
A light tap sounds against my new bedroom door, stealing my attention.
I take one last look at my reflection, straightening a few curls that have fallen over my shoulders, before moving toward it.
I pull it open and find a human girl, around my age or perhaps a year or two younger.
Unlike Piper, her eyes hold no softness; instead, they scan me from head to toe with a gaze full of venom.
“The prince is waiting for you,” is all she says before turning and walking away. I hurry behind her, lifting the train of my dress as I go, cursing Athriel for the choice.
It is the correct choice for the task at hand.
I ignore his words, moving quickly behind the girl as she sweeps down the stairs without pausing.
“Does the prince purchase new purebloods often?” I ask.
“No.”
She doesn’t seem to like me much, but I ignore that. If I’m going to do this, then I need as much information about the prince as possible.
“Have you worked here long?”
She blows out a frustrated breath.
“Twenty-three years. My entire life.” Her words come out bitter, but also confirm that she’s similar in age to me. A year younger, but close enough.
“Were you born here?”
She halts so suddenly that I nearly collide with her back. She spins to face me, her eyes narrowing into sharp slits.
“I don’t know if you’re trying to make a new friend, but I’m not it. My only job is to deliver you to the prince.”
Without giving me a chance to answer, she spins on her heel and storms down the stairs.
Not so different from the bloodhouse then.
The purebloods are always in competition for who can gain the best positions and catch the eye of the highest nobles.
It’s how the vampires have designed it to make us each other’s enemies as they quietly pick us off and enslave us.
I want to be angry at her, but she knows no better.
I remain silent until we reach what I assume is the dining room.
Two shadow figures wait at the door, only pushing it open when I arrive.
I wonder if he can see what they see. The thought makes me shudder and wonder whether they may be the hitch in my plan tonight.
The thought is stolen as the dining room comes into focus.
A long table stretches ahead of me, filled with meats, breads, fish, and fruits that make my stomach grumble.
I’ve never seen this much food in my life.
We’ve only ever eaten what we need, but we never overindulge.
Standing at the head of the table is the cocky prince.
His cape and fight leathers are gone, replaced by loose black pants and a simple shirt.
His hair is still slightly wet as though he just washed it, and his eyes seem even darker under the glow of the balls of starlight that hover above the table.
He moves toward me, hands casually tucked into his pockets.
He exudes arrogance as he takes long strides to meet us.
His eyes pin me, moving down the length of my dress and back up again.
The low dip that reaches all the way to my belly button, leaving my chest bare, becomes the only thing I can think of.
I’m used to my skin being on display—it’s how the vampires like us: accessible, and on show.
It never bothers me, but in the presence of the prince, I feel every bit of flesh left uncovered, the cold air sending goosebumps skittering over every inch of it.
“You may leave,” he tells the servant girl as his eyes remain on me. She pauses for a moment but then obeys.
I can’t help but turn to watch her as she disappears through the doors before they slam closed, making me jump.
“She’s jealous.” The prince moves to the table, popping a grape inside his wicked mouth as he leans against its wooden edge.
I’m ashamed to admit that I watch the scene far longer than I should.
When my gaze meets his again, a knowing glint flickers in his eyes.
I straighten, folding my arms across my chest.
“She has nothing to be jealous of. I hate you.”
This makes him smile.
“She has been trained to be my personal donor her entire life.” Another grape finds its way into his mouth, and I force myself to keep looking into his eyes.
“And?”
He pushes off the table, moving toward me with the grace of a feline.
“And…you just took her place.”
My face twists in confusion, and his becomes alight with amusement.
“Then you should probably tell her that it’s only because you want to upset Lord Blackwood. Once you’re done with me, I’m sure you’ll be happy to reassign her.”
“Who said I plan to be done with you?”
I scoff.
“I don’t know what this little game is,” I point between the two of us, “but can you just ask whatever questions you so desire and bite me so I can get back to my new room. I quite like it there.”
He laughs at this as he continues to watch me.
This is not what I had in mind when I said seduce him.
Sorry, but he irritates me. I can’t even pretend to like him.
“So desperate to be bitten again?” He takes a step forward, overwhelming my senses with a rush of citrus and leather. “Were you not satisfied the first time?”
My throat bobs, and my stomach coils with a feeling that I fight to push away.
“There is nothing satisfying about having a leech drain your vein,” I spit.
He dips his mouth to my ear. “Do all leeches make you moan?”
His words render me silent. He tilts back to look at me before a gust of wind assaults me, and he appears across the other side of the room. He points to the chair next to his own.
“Sit.”
Anger grips my chest as I stare at him.
Who exactly is seducing whom?
Shut up, Athriel.
I march toward the seat as I keep my eyes firmly fixed on him.
I don’t know what game he’s playing, but tonight, I intend to win.
I notice the mass of dark shadows that dance around his wrist, slowly spilling to the floor and becoming one of the same figures that keep popping up everywhere.
The figure wraps its shadowy fingers around the top of the chair before pulling it out for me.
I move to sit down and find it tucking in as well. My eyes look up at the faceless mass, not even a hole for its eyes or mouth present, just eternal darkness.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
“You’re welcome,” the prince answers, leaning back in his chair and watching me with an amused expression.
“I wasn’t thanking you,” I snap. “I was thanking it.”
I gesture toward the figure whose head is cocked to the side as though it is still watching me.
“Same thing, I’m afraid. It is nothing without my command.”
I find myself watching the shadow figure in fascination and hate that anything about this monstrous creature interests me. Then the darkness dissipates as if a gust of wind assaulted it before sinking back beneath the prince’s flesh. I turn to face him and find him waggling his fingers in the air.
“See. Puppet.”
“Then I take my thank you back.” He laughs at this. “Why am I here?”
He seems to think about the question for a minute.
“At this dinner or at the palace?”
“This.” I gesture to the table with my hand. “What exactly is the point of it all?”
“Does there need to be one?”
He leans across the table to fill his plate with an array of meat and bread.
“Eat.” He says dismissively. “Last thing I need is for you to pass out after I have my fill.”
His words seem to have a hidden meaning that I force myself to ignore.
“My blood is extremely potent. You won’t need much.”
“I don’t know if anyone has ever told you this, but I am the most powerful vampire in this entire court. I require far more blood than your average noble.”
“The most arrogant, too,” I mutter.
His eyes glint as he takes me in.
“Eat,” he repeats.
He’s a stubborn ass.
Takes one to know one.
I’m not speaking to you right now. It’s your stupid plan that has him playing these silly games.
No, it’s my plan that has kept you alive. If he had been bored with you, you would have been as dead as the others by now.
I hate that there is even a sliver of truth to his words.
I lean across the table, quickly filling my plate with the various dishes, and the aromas overwhelm me, prompting an embarrassing rumble from my stomach. I glance at the prince, who wears a small smile, but I ignore it.
We may have been fed at the bloodhouse, but a spread like this was only ever reserved for the vampires, and purebloods were never permitted to dine alongside them.
“Why are you letting me eat this?” I ask.
He finishes chewing whatever is in his mouth as he takes in my question.
“I need to feed from you, so it is sensible that you too are well fed, is it not?”
I shrug. “Perhaps.”
“This was not the case at the bloodhouse?” He cocks his head as though genuinely interested in my answer.
“We were fed, but not like this.”
I expect him to say something, but instead, he turns his attention back to his plate, lifting a helping of potato to his mouth.
I pick up the fork beside my plate and shovel meat into my mouth.
The smoky flavors dance across my tongue, igniting my taste buds and drawing a satisfied groan from me.
My head shoots up, embarrassment heating my cheeks, but where I expect to find the prince staring at me in judgment, I find something else. Something I can’t quite read.
“You didn’t mark me,” I let slip after too many minutes of silence have passed by. I’m not sure why I say it, but it’s been playing on my mind. He stripped me of my ownership, of my only bit of protection in this world, but didn’t replace it.
“No, I did not.”
I grit my teeth in frustration. Always riddles and never a straight answer. I just want out of here. I need to find Willow.
I let the meal pass in silence, enjoying the food whilst ignoring the tension that surrounds us. And when the prince finally requests that he wishes to partake in my blood, I ready myself for the kill.