Chapter Eleven
The rhythmic hum of the plane”s engines fills the cabin as we soar through the night sky, leaving the city lights below us like a glittering tapestry. I”m seated next to Drake, my excitement mingling with nervous energy. This is my first time on a plane, and the experience is both thrilling and anxiety-inducing.
The sensation of takeoff was like a gentle push into the unknown as the aircraft lifted into the air. Now, as we cruise at a steady altitude, I peer out of the small window beside me. The world below is a patchwork of lights and darkness, each cityscape blending into the next. It”s a breathtaking sight that makes me feel small in the vastness of the night.
Drake, ever the composed vampire, sits beside me with an air of quiet confidence. His piercing gaze occasionally flickers toward the window, as if he”s lost in thought. I steal a glance at him, noting the subtle play of shadows on his chiseled features, and the way his dark hair falls in a sleek curtain across his brow. He looks every bit the sophisticated gentleman, even in his casual attire.
I wonder what”s going through his mind. Is he thinking about the mission ahead of us? Or perhaps something else entirely?
The man is an enigma, and it would be a lie to say that I”m not intrigued by him. There”s so much mystery surrounding him; so many layers that remain hidden beneath the surface. And yet, somehow, I feel like I know him better than anyone else I”ve met in a long time. Like we understand each other on a deeper level.
That must be why it feels so natural when we”re in bed together. Not just the sex, which has been phenomenal, but also the intimacy and closeness we”ve shared afterward. I can”t remember the last time I felt so at ease with someone, so connected. It”s addictive in a way, this desire to learn more about him. To unlock all of his secrets and discover the truths of who he is.
The flight attendant approaches us, holding a tray of refreshments. ”May I offer you something to drink, sir?”
Drake glances up at her and flashes a polite smile. ”A glass of wine would be nice, thank you.”
”And for the lady?”
”Whiskey and Coke, if you don”t mind, please,” I reply, earning a curious look from Drake.
”All right, I”ll be back with your drinks momentarily.” The attendant retreats to the back of the plane, and I settle back against my seat as I fidget with the hem of my dress.
”You”re nervous,” Drake observes, a faint trace of amusement coloring his voice. ”Just be glad this is a private plane. Otherwise, you”d end up waiting ages for that drink. Passengers can be so impatient.”
”I”m not nervous. I”m just... jittery.”
He leans back in his seat, draping one arm across the back of the chair beside him. ”How are you finding your first flight?”
I shift in my seat, the cushioned leather squeaking with my movements. ”It”s... different. I never thought I”d be flying on a private jet, especially not with a vampire.”
“I”m glad you find it interesting. It”s a luxury I”ve grown accustomed to over the years. Makes traveling discreetly much easier.”
I nod and ask, ”So, Boston... What”s it like? I”ve never been.”
”Ah, Boston,” Drake muses. ”A city with a rich history, a blend of the old and the new. You”ll find cobblestone streets juxtaposed with modern skyscrapers, a place where the past and the present coexist.”
The image he paints in my mind sparks my curiosity. ”Have you been there often?”
”More times than I can count,” he replies, his gaze drifting toward the window again. ”Each visit holds memories, some better left in the shadows.”
I tilt my head at him, wondering what he means by that last statement. ”You”re always so cryptic with your answers,” I tease him. ”How am I supposed to understand you?”
”It”s one of the many perks of being an ancient vampire, my dear. We are mysterious creatures by nature.” He looks over at me and smirks playfully. ”I can sense you have so many questions.”
”Oh, really?” I retort. ”Such as?”
”The same ones anyone would ask when faced with a legendary vampire. You”re curious about our lives, about the powers we possess. You want to know what it”s like to be immortal.”
The flight attendant returns with our drinks, placing them on the small tray between our seats before moving away again. Drake takes a sip of his wine, closing his eyes as he savors the flavor.
”Not really,” I confess. ”You”ve already answered what I care to know about that. What about the artifact we”re after? You mentioned it can enhance vampire abilities. What exactly does it do?”
”Many consider it the ultimate weapon. A means to guarantee victory,” he explains. ”It has the ability to amplify a vampire”s strength, speed, and other inherent abilities. But its true allure lies in its ability to grant immunity to certain weaknesses.”
I lean in, captivated by the revelation. ”Immunity? Like, no more fear of sunlight or holy water?”
Drake nods. ”Exactly. It”s a blood-filled chalice. When a vampire drinks from it, it bestows upon the vampire a heightened resistance to sunlight, holy water, and other traditional weaknesses. It”s a coveted advantage that could tip the scales in our favor.”
I take a swig of my whiskey and Coke, relishing the burn as it slides down my throat. ”Sounds like quite the prize,” I remark. ”What kind of other powers does it grant?”
”Its influence is limited only by the imagination of those who wield it,” Drake replies cryptically.
”Huh,” I hum, looking into the amber liquid of my drink. ”And you want to use it to protect your clan?”
Drake”s expression grows more serious. ”Yes. In this world, power is currency, and possessing the artifact would ensure the safety of my clan. It would deter other clans from challenging us, knowing that we hold such a formidable advantage.”
I ponder the weight of his words, realizing the intricate dance of politics and power within the vampire world. ”But what if someone else gets hold of it? What if it falls into the wrong hands?”
”The artifact”s power is a double-edged sword. It could bring about prosperity or chaos, depending on who wields it. Our mission is not only to secure it for ourselves but also to prevent it from being used for nefarious purposes.”
”So you”ve said,” I mumble. While I believe Drake is genuine in his desire to protect his clan, there are those within his circle that I don”t trust. It”s one thing to stake a claim on such an item. It”s another to have the integrity to make sure it isn”t abused, and if he”s sharing residence with men like Adrian, I”m not convinced it will be safe with him. ”Still sounds risky to me. It might be better off to leave it where it is. So it can”t fall into the wrong hands.”
”Perhaps,” Drake sighs. ”But remember, Lola, if I found you, then someone else could, too. They may not be so friendly when they do.”
I press my lips together and stare at him. He”s right. What”s to stop someone else from finding me and forcing me to do something terrible? The gravity of our mission settles in my chest like a heavy stone. There will be consequences no matter who ends up with this magical blood chalice, whether it be the good guys or the bad ones. It”s only a matter of what kind of chaos will ensue.
I lift the glass to my lips and finish off my drink before I unbuckle my seatbelt and announce, ”I need to use the restroom.”
”Certainly.” Drake rises from his seat and gestures down the aisle. ”Follow me.”
We walk to the back of the plane where the two lavatories are located. Drake motions to the door on the left, and I step inside. It”s small but not cramped, at least not compared to the lavatories I see on airplanes on television. Just before I close the door, I catch sight of a male flight attendant over Drake”s shoulder, who doesn”t seem to be doing anything other than staring in my direction.
”Um, Drake?” I whisper. ”What”s with that guy? The flight attendant. Does he have to pee or something?”
Drake turns around and looks down the aisle. The attendant is walking down the aisle of the plane, carrying an armload of blankets and pillows. His gaze briefly meets Drake”s, and he”s quick to look away. Much too quick.
”I”ll wait for you by the door,” he remarks. ”Take your time.”
I close the door and try to get comfortable enough to go, but something feels off. I”m uneasy. I have a nagging feeling in the pit of my stomach, a sense of foreboding that makes me hesitant to relax. Finally, I finish up and flush before washing my hands. I open the door, and Drake”s waiting for me outside with a blanket and pillow.
”Here,” he says, handing me the items. ”You should try to rest. I”ll keep watch on our friend.”
I eye him curiously. ”How do you plan to do that without letting him know you”re watching him?”
”Lola, I genuinely do not care if he knows I”m watching him. In fact, I hope he does know.”
I smirk at that and take the blanket and pillow. Drake leads me back to my seat, and I buckle myself in and cover up with the blanket. At first, I can”t sleep. I”m too wide awake from the trip and from my nerves. My mind races with possibilities of what will happen when we land. This is all so surreal—my life has suddenly become a whirlwind of crazy since Drake burst into it and changed everything.
All of a sudden, I”m in a world of vampires, monsters, magic, and danger. A world where anything is possible, where even the simplest things can turn deadly. Less than a week ago, I was just a bartender, living my mundane life day after day, without any idea of what lay ahead of me. Now, I know I”m descended from witches and may or may not have incredible abilities at my fingertips. It”s a lot to wrap my mind around.
I”m living a life that makes me suspicious of flight attendants and having a vampire hovering over me like my own personal bodyguard. To say I”m out of my element is an understatement. I shift in my seat, trying to get comfortable, but nothing is working. My eyes grow heavy, and I try to think soothing thoughts. It”s no use. All I can see behind my closed eyes is an endless stretch of night sky and the flight attendant watching me as we fly into the darkness.
Drake seems to sense my unease because he moves in close and whispers in my ear. ”Close your eyes,” he commands, his voice low and soft. ”Relax, Lola. I won”t let anything happen to you.”
”I”m not used to this,” I mumble, not bothering to open my eyes.
”To what?” he asks, amusement lacing his words.
”Any of this. The plane, the flight attendant... you.” I don”t elaborate further because I”m not sure how to express my emotions in a way that makes sense to me, let alone him. What I mean to say is that I”m not used to someone taking care of me or watching out for me. That someone wants to keep me safe and has made me a priority in his life. It”s strange to be at the center of someone”s focus, but I think it”s even stranger that I”m not bothered by it. In fact, I kind of like it.
He brushes my hair away from my face and caresses my cheek with his hand. ”Rest, Lola. I won”t let anything happen to you.”
His words calm me, but it isn”t until he begins stroking my hair that I finally begin to relax. His touch is soothing, and the low timbre of his voice is like a lullaby. Soon, I feel myself drifting off into a peaceful slumber.