CHAPTER THIRTEEN #2
He let me go. His sudden absence was more jarring than it should have been.
He glanced off into the dark, seeming to be deep in thought.
I wondered if I could just walk backwards out of the stables, but his hawk-eyes landed on me once again.
He stared. And all I could do was stare back.
The longer he stared, the heavier it got, piling atop me, but I couldn't look away. It was as if he was punishing me, and for some reason I needed to take it. I couldn’t back away from his scrutiny, from his wrath that was steadily brewing within him.
“Alaric,” I spoke softly. He stilled at his name. “Please, tell me why you called me here?”
He came back to the surface as the faintest jolt ran through him.
“Ah, yes.” He closed the distance between us once more, taking my last breath with it.
He cupped the side of my face with his hand, sending a chill down my back.
Each time his thumb moved to caress me, more blood drained from my face.
The knot in my stomach tightened. He looked down at me as I gaped up at him.
His eyes grew sleepy. And my nerves seemed to dissolve.
I took in a breath. Our chests pressed together once more.
My breath synced with his. He leaned forward to the side of my face opposite his hand that tightened ever so slightly.
His lips grazed the shell of my ear. I shivered.
He spoke softly into my ear, his cool breath slinking down my neck.
My head became lighter, my knees weaker.
“This is your final warning to stop your sleuthing. Things will only get perpetually worse from here. And I always make good on my promises. Do behave, darling.”
* * *
Olivia’s door was closed. I opened it slowly, peeking in just enough to see her bed and her sleeping form through the dark, where she had been the entire time.
Her wardrobe was closed, everything neatly stowed away.
Her riding boots to the side, perfectly placed.
I sighed in relief, though perturbed at the illusion and the heavy reality that I truly did not stand a chance against him.
As I rounded the corner to my room, I nearly collided with Elsie. We both gasped and silently shushed ourselves.
“Oh, Charlotte,” she whispered, placing her hand over her chest to calm her racing heart. “What are you doing up so late?”
“I just needed a snack.” It was partially true.
She frowned slightly, eyeing me. “It’s a bit later than usual.” She was well aware of my late-night snacking habits. I shrunk under her suspicion, and she saw right through me. “Charlotte.” Her tone grew firmer. “Are you alright?”
“Yes.” The weight of the lie nearly flattened me.
I had visited a witch and allowed her to cast a spell on me.
I had let a vampire feed from me. I had another vampire’s blood mingling about with my own.
All would faint to know my truth. I was well and truly over my head.
The reality that was always known to me was fracturing.
And Alaric was a ticking time bomb, prepped to detonate the moment I defied him. No, I most certainly was not alright.
“Are you sure you can handle this all on your own?”
No. “I have to.”
She tilted her head, her eyes welling with a sympathy so heavy it was crushing. “What makes you think that?”
“I wouldn’t even know where to begin.”
She grabbed me by the elbow and led me into a nearby sitting room, closing the door behind us. She lit a sconce and sat us down on a settee.
“It doesn’t have to be the right place; it just has to be somewhere.”
I smiled. She always found a way to unravel what I hid from and air it out in the morning light. “You don’t believe in demons, right?”
“Of course not.”
“So that means you don’t believe the vampires are demons?
” Though the belief was a part of my foundation, there was a reason I despised the violence.
It didn’t feel right. My body knew something was wrong, something I couldn’t quite place.
And maybe this was it. Maybe Sebastian was telling the truth. And somehow we had gotten it all wrong.
“No, no. Though they may seek the blood of humans, it is only their nature. A mountain lion would love to eat you too. I suppose they are demons as well?” She tilted her head, raising her brow sky high. I snickered.
She paused, thinking on her next words. “I know you believe in the Raven God, as most people here do. I have never had such a connection. Just doesn’t fit.” She held my eyes. “Those who follow his word follow it to the end. Beware of those looking to speak through him.”
My eyes widened. She smiled warmly, squeezing my shoulder.
“So, you think it’s a lie? The vampires are not demons?”
“Doesn’t matter what I think. What do you think?”
I think I’m going to be sick.
I stared blankly past her.
“You don’t have to think it all at once.” She gave my shoulder another squeeze.
I wanted so badly to tell her everything.
No matter what I said, she would never turn away from me.
But I was in a place now where no one was safe.
I did not know exactly what Alaric was capable of, but given how many newborns there were, he had killed many.
I didn’t want to risk anyone getting near what was sure to implode at any moment.
“Is there something else?” she asked.
Yes. “No, that was all. I’ve just begun to have ... mixed feelings.” That was putting it lightly.
By the look on her face, she could see the weight on my shoulders, and she knew I was holding back, but she didn’t pry. “Alright, girl. Sleep will clear your head.”
As we parted, and I headed back to my bedroom, a world of confusion and clarity opened before me.
It mushed together into a formless mess.
But I knew one thing was certain: I needed answers.
No matter what Alaric threatened, I couldn’t stop.
I had to move forward. And I had to prepare myself for his retribution.