Page 14 of A Vampire's Pain
I looked at her surprised. I had not expected her to tell me this. I had only really focused on her, and how much I admired her to fight against traditions and people much more powerful than her. I had not really thought about the help she might have gotten. A part of me probably believed she had managed to do it all herself, but I should have realized, there was more to her story.
“That’s beautiful,” I said.
She smiled at me.
“They are all very good people,” she said. “I was really the coward, to begin with.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
“No, as I said, I wanted everyone to leave me alone and I tried to escape them, but I realized as I actually escaped, that I didn’t want to go. I liked to be around them. I liked the home they had created, and I loved how they welcomed me into it. I was afraid, but I changed, and I learned not to let fear play such a big role.”
This was what I had wanted to hear. This was what I had been looking for. Hearing her tell me how she fought that fear. I wanted to know. Ineededto know.
“How did you—”
“Valeri?”
I looked over my shoulder, and I knew then time was up. I should have been more careful. I should have kept my eyes on Damon and not been so focused on Lara’s story, but I had simply forgotten all about him.
“Damon …” I whispered.
He stared at me shocked.
“I didn’t believe it when I saw you from afar, but … What are you doing here?!” he said, his voice turning harsher.
“I was just …”
He walked over to me clearly not ready to listen to me. He placed my glass down on the table beside me and then grabbed my arm.
“Let’s go.”
“Wait, Damon,” I said.
“Damon, hold on—”
Lara tried to interfere, but he just narrowed his eyes and looked at her with a warning in his eyes.
“Lara, don’t,” he said. “You don’t understand what is going on here.”
Lara looked stunned but didn’t say anything else.
“Come on. We are leaving,” my brother said, and started to drag me with him.
I looked over my shoulder, seeing Lara standing there shocked, and when I turned my head a little, I saw Gabriel was being held back by the king, who was whispering something in his ear. I didn’t understand what was going on between them, but Gabriel almost looked broken, as he watched me leave. It was a rather strong reaction, and it confused me, but I gave him a little thankful smile, because even though Gabriel had not been able to hide me from my brother, he had still given me a chance to meet the queen, and I wouldn’t forget the favor he did for me tonight.
“What the hell, Val?!” Damon mumbled angrily.
He dragged me to the entrance of the mansion, and then outside.
“I didn’t mean to—”
“Mean to what? Come here tonight without telling me? Leaving the house without telling me?!” he asked angrily as he stopped and looked at me.
“You wouldn’t have let me come!” I said.
“You’re right about that. These parties aren’t for you,” he said.
“I’m not a child anymore!” I yelled, ripping my arm to me.
