Page 3 of A Vampire's Pain
My brother didn’t want me to be here. I knew that. I was not stupid, but I was tired of always being locked up, and when I saw that invitation from the king and queen, I just knew I needed to go. For the first time, a half-blood had been named queen. I could not miss that! This was history being made, and I had heard she was so sweet. I just had to meet her, but it was hard getting close to her and the king without my brother noticing me. He was close to the king after all, and always nearby.
Soon I gave up and needed some air to clear my head and make a plan, but I got lost in the big garden, and I didn’t know where to go. I had been walking around for quite some time when I heard someone else out there. I followed the sound, but it turned quiet all of a sudden. When I turned a corner though, there he was. One of the last three hybrids left in the world, and he was staring at me like he couldn’t believe I was here or something. It made me a little nervous, but I didn’t let it scare me. Instead, I asked if he could tell me how to find my way back to the party. He didn’t answer me though, and it confused me.
“Well?” I asked.
“Well, what?” he asked.
Oh, his voice was deep and almost like a caress moving over my skin. It made me shiver, but I tried my best to ignore it. I had heard of this one. Gabriel, I believed. He was the only blond one of them. I had never personally met them, but I had seen pictures.
“The party. How do we get back?” I asked.
His dark eyes seemed to run all over me, and it confused me. It was like he was looking for something or inspecting me, but I wasn’t sure why. I didn’t mind it though. I had never before been shown such attention before. After what happened to me, my brother kept me pretty much locked up in our house. Safe and secure from the rest of the world. I wasn’t even allowed to go to all the parties he went to. For many years I didn’t mind. My mind was kind of shattered and … I wasn’t myself, but slowly I came back to reality, and I realized I didn’t want to be secluded from the rest of the world, but he wouldn’t listen to me.
The hybrid in front of me took on a relaxed stance, and it confused me. Why was he not showing me back to the party? It was clear I was lost, and it unnerved me a bit. As I said, I had heard of this one and all his many conquests.
“What’s your name?” he asked.
My name? He wanted to know my name?
“Why?” I asked, and a smile spread on his lips, that I couldn’t help but get affected by.
“Just so I know what to call out later tonight.”
I looked at him surprised, but then quickly masked it, so he wouldn’t see the effect he had on me.
“Oh, you mean when you are alone, and only have your hand as company?” I asked.
This time I seemed to shock him, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Wow, you are a little mean, aren’t you?” he asked.
I shrugged, acting a little innocent. I wasn’t sure what came over me, but I liked it. I had never been brave. Ever. In my entire life. And I was almost three hundred years old, but suddenly I felt it. Bravery. At least a little of it.
“Now can you show me back to the party?” I asked.
“Name first.”
“Are you blackmailing me?” I asked and crossed my arms.
“We can start with my name. It might be better. You’re going to scream it later.”
“Sounds rather scary,” I said, acting like I didn’t catch his double meaning.
He chuckled, shaking his head, knowing I did it on purpose.
“We can mate somewhere scary,” he suggested.
“Like on a balcony?” I asked, just playing along because he brought something out in me that I didn’t even know I had.
He looked at me surprised though, and it made me feel powerful. I was surprised though when he used the wordmate. It was often only something werewolves used, but of course, he was a hybrid. Maybe that was why he liked using it. It was often only said when they wanted to complete the marking ritual, but why not use it in a different way?
“I see you do like it dangerous,” he said.
I shook my head, smiling a little.
“No, but I would love to find my way back. My brother has told me never to trust strangers,” I said.
He smiled too, loving my little joke.
