His Hiding Place

Gawen’s POV

I chuckle to myself quietly, from behind a large brush of bushes, watching my brother search for me endlessly. He tiptoes towards a large ornate water fountain, before swiftly rushing to look behind the statue beside it, almost knocking it over completely.

*’The way we always manage to mess around when father gives us a task…’* I snicker, finding humor in mine and my older brother's childish behaviors. My soft sound attracts his attention to my direction, and he turns to examine the area around him for a moment.

I hold my breath and stay extremely still, for many minutes with no pressure. As a pureblood vampire we can stop breathing for much longer than a normal being without it becoming deadly. Our senses are extremely heightened as well, we can see, smell, and hear much farther than a regular human. In this case it may not benefit me, since my brother always wins when I hide.

“I can hear you!” Rowen calls out to me in a sing-songy voice, yet walking in the complete *wrong* direction. My, what a surprise.

“TCH… yeah right.” I laugh under my breath as soon as he is out of range, then I stand and look around the gardens. Suddenly the wind wafts a deliciously soft scent to my nostrils, as I contemplate where to hide next.

I decide to follow it as it grows stronger, wondering where it leads. Ultimately I end up walking towards an iron fence in the garden separating a large section of the castle away from the rest. *’Ah, this must be the servants' hall.’* I guessed, curiously hopping over the fence to follow the arousing smell that drove me here.

I came to a small gap beside the building, large enough to walk between the two parallel walls, allowing my senses to drive me forward.

What in the world is that *amazing* smell?

I turn the corner of the building and continue until I come upon an open window, the golden frame decorated in large weeded vines and pink flowers. It was open just a peek, allowing this precious scent out ever so slightly.

*’What surprise awaits me here today…’* I wonder in curiosity, opening the window and peeking my head through the highly placed frame. I glance about the room, a large centrally placed bed sat, decorated with gold silk sheets upon them. The scent grows much stronger as I peek in, whatever it is has to be in here.

I look over my shoulder, towards a large field of multicolored flowers, checking for any soul in sight. *’What a beautiful, and **familiar** view…’* I think to myself, confirming that I was in fact alone.

*’I must figure out what that scent is..’* I think, hoisting myself up to the entrance of the window. It took a bit of strength, since the window stood at eye level with my six foot two stature. *’Besides, this seems to be a great hiding spot.’*

As I balance my hunched figure in the opening of the window, My foot slips slightly. I leap from my position in the opening as an improvisation, yet on the way to the floor my clumsy feet knock over a table with multiple glass items set atop it. A large bowl shatters into many pieces on the tiled floor with a loud sound, yet nobody appears to observe. I must be alone here.

“Ugh, great…” I groan under my breath, bending down to pick up the items that didn’t break. I lift the small table back to its place, and begin placing the items back on top of it properly.

*’I can’t just leave this mess here either, or else someone could get hurt later.’* I kneel, beginning to pick up the shards of glass spread across the floor. *’now where do I put-?’* I begin thinking to myself, when I am interrupted by a shrill female voice.

“Are you alright? Don’t pick sharp things up with only your hands!” She steps towards me, barefoot, with a small basket in her hands. The scent that envelopes her entices me, but my shyness by her beauty takes over my actions. I grow silent, stealing glances at her from the corner of my eye.

Her eyes were rich Violet hue, and her hair the colour of pastel roses in the springtime. My eyes trailed to her beautifully rosey skin, to her full lips, and down to her beautifully soft fingertips. Every part of her looked so fragile, dainty, and yet refined.

*She was the most gorgeous woman I had ever laid my eyes upon.*

She kneels beside me, simultaneously my heart begins to gallop. *She smells heavenly… **she** has to be where that scent is coming from!*

“Ah I’m sorry, I didn’t know anyone occupied this room..” My voice escapes between my teeth at almost a squeak, but I hold my posture. She seems to observe me quietly for a minute, contemplating something softly.

“W-who are you? And why are you in my room?” She questions me, looking down at the glass on the floor in thought. My cheeks flush uncontrollably, do I answer honestly? Is it weird to tell her that I followed her *delicious* scent here? Or that I was messing around instead of doing what I am supposed to?

Technically, both are truthful. But only *one* of those scenarios doesn’t sound creepy as hell. That is- if she is a human. Most don’t understand vampire cultures.

She reaches down and begins to help pick the pieces up, placing them in the basket slowly. My anxiety rises as her soft fingers brush against the corners of the glass, nervous that she may harm herself by accident.

“Please, answer me.” She continues picking up the pieces directly in front of her. My face flushes once more, embarrassed for not responding due to lost thoughts.

“My name is Gawen, I was…” I trail off thinking of my brother, and how he may still be looking for me. “Well my brother and I were playing around in the gardens.. trying to avoid our *responsibilities.* I thought this would be a good place to hide, so I slipped in through the window…” I sigh, realizing how silly it truly sounded out loud.

She raises a brow, thinking to herself. Likely thinking I was childish, and strange. Most women see me mostly as an overgrown kid, or what they call a ‘man-child’ due to my expressions and sensitivity.

“I really didn’t know this room was occupied though, please.. *do not get the wrong idea!*” I wave my hands back and forth, flustered while my face burns up heavily.

“It’s okay- '' She begins to smile at me softly, making my heart skip a beat, then her face distorts strangely. I look down realizing she had attempted to pluck the last piece of glass up off the tile, failing in the effort and cutting herself good in the process. “*agh…*”

I look down and see a small cut, with a small bit of blood coming from the injured area. I look up at her, while she looks directly t me in unison.

“Are you… alright?” I ask her as the scent of her blood smacks me right in the face, bringing out a strange feeling in my core. My whole body begins to feel sortof… *hot*.

She pauses, watching me and my reactions cautiously.

*’kiss her…’* An unfamiliar, foreign sense came over me. The warmth in my stomach grew and my mouth gaped uncontrollably at her beauty.

Her violet irises sparkled, trailing down my face to my lips, as she licked her own gently. I watched her actions curiously, wanting to grab her and take her here and now.

Something made me so *drawn* to her, attracted to her energy.

She cupped my cheeks gently, looking down to my lips then back up to my eyes once or twice. I froze, my heart pounding, my pants becoming slightly tight. Why in the world did I have to be a virgin at this point in time, at a time when I needed the experience the most. I don’t even know what to do next!

My hands moved naturally, making their way to the back of her neck, and pulling her towards me into a deeply desired kiss. I wonder if I will even be able to contain my desire for this magnificent stranger right now. This wasn’t like me, *at all.* my fingers tangled their way into her pink rosey curls, her *soft and arousing* curls.

My breath grew hotter, and faster, taking her lips under mine over and over. The strange feeling in my core is threatening to take over me, peeking at my member down below. Her body simultaneously moved over top of mine, sitting in my lap. The pressure and fabrics between us driving me insane. As my hands found her hips, I realized that all she was wearing was an extremely *thin nightgown.*

I could feel *everything*.

I stop, sucking in a very rough deep breath, pulling my lips away from hers slowly. My face cooking itself to a furiously red shade, “W-wait.. I’m.. I’ve never…” I trail off again, only adding to my own frustration.

“*Ahem*, you know.” I cover my face embarrassed at the fact of my own virginity, “Tell me your name first- at least.”

“A-ah.. I’m sorry!” She stumbles up as a flush rushes to her cheeks, as if she only just realized our situation. She rushes off to what looks like a washroom, running her hands through her now messily tangled curls. “I’m so embarrassed! We don’t even know each other- I can’t even believe myself right now.”

I chuckles softly, watching her interesting outburst. *’Such a beautiful creature…’* I think, watching her cheeks basically break a sweat as she furrows a brow in my direction.

“You think this is funny?” she questions me, obviously frustrated with my antics.

“N-no.” I laugh nervously, rubbing the back of my neck and nervously standing from the floor. “but I thought it was funny, I genuinely feel the same way.”

“Oh..” She sighs exasperated, realizing her misunderstanding of my intent. “Im sorry.”

We both stand there, awkwardly looking in opposite directions. Only seconds ago I wanted nothing more than to make love to her, and now I stand here disappointed by my own actions. What would father say if I made love to some random commoner, after the Vestal had been found?

Not like it mattered, I am the youngest son. It’s very unlikely for me to have the throne. Besides, my luck with women is terrible, and I wish to marry one I *Love*.

She looks back at me over her shoulder as I ask her again, “So? Your name?” She pauses, and I see the small goosebumps peek out of her skin, the hair on her arms rise softly.

“Ah… I am Princess Illyria Cassion.” She bows, introducing herself with poise. Where have I heard that name?

Wait, *Princess?*

Then it dawns on me, who I am standing in front of admiring. My face falls heavily pale, and I feel like choking on a bone.

This woman, is the **Vestal**.






-*A/N- Hello Readers! Early update today! I am so excited for the coming chapters that I decided to release a day early this time. You’re welcome ;)

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