Chapter 53

Jason's POV

I was in full defense mode, my claws already out, my fangs all at alert. I couldn't control my hatred for vampires. Sliding the door open, my eyes still red in alert, I took a second to look back at Sapphire.

To my greatest surprise she too was on alert. I saw her claws already stretched to its full length, her fangs already out too. I felt quite relaxed seeing that, as I was worried for her safety.

Looking back at the door, I continued to move gently and quietly to open the door halfway. I stopped again, taking a look at Sapphire. She looked up at me with dilated pupils.

Taking a deep breath again, I finally opened the door, more than ready to bounce on the intruder.

"House keeping my Lord, fresh towels and linens," was what I heard. I just stood there, frozen, embarrassed.

"Oh, yeah, come in." It was an elderly she wolf. I stepped aside, letting her do her thing.

"Must have scared you, sorry about that," I said, realizing that I made too much of an act.

" Oh we get that a lot from members of Royal chambers, old and young alike. They are always at guard. " She was already in, and I couldn't fail to notice the crisp, white uniform she wore with the hotel's logo embroidered on the chest. The uniform was worn out, but still immaculately clean and pressed. Her gray hair was tied back in a neat bun.

"My lady," She greeted, referring to Sapphire. I watched as the greeting was returned with a nod.

"Why, you were at the ready too. Must be from a Royal household," the keeper said, seemingly noticing the claws on Sapphire's hand.

Smiling lightly, "absolutely ma'am. We're always ready to fight almost everything and everyone, including our very selves," Sapphire replied, resting her elbow on the beer table and adjusting her hair.

"Bad days indeed. For I recall a time when Royal members were scared of nothing, free like the wind, funny and joyous like little ones. But they got bad, really bad." She replied as she walked to the table opposite where I was standing.

Leaving the door and moving close to the window, "but we have our reasons, don't you think? We aren't scared of the wind or the rain, but of real and mean creatures, threatening our very existence and the peace of our pack," I replied, sliding open the center panel of the gigantic window with a whisper-quiet mechanism, permitting fresh air to come in from outside.

"Everyone has a right to survival, you know, and I strongly feel that those creatures you talked about probably are fighting for their very own existence and dignity, " she replied. She had already taken off the former towels and had hung them by her shoulder.

"Good point you have there ma'am," Sapphire chipped in, raising her glass cup up and dropping it on her mouth, somehow she had opened another drink and was quite ready to take it all in.

"Good it seems, but I'll tell you the truth, vampires are no good creatures, that's it," I said, looking out of the window, my hands folded behind my back.

"Good heavens, vampires were the creatures you are speaking about, and here walking I thought you are speaking about mean werewolves."

" No, ma'am. Vampires, they're mean and ruthless, I see no reason why they should be in existence." Saying this I noticed that the sun was bright, casting a warm glow over the landscape. Across the street outside was a forest that stretched beyond view.

"Good heavens, my Lord you really hate vampires this much?"

" Well, I do. I always make sure that they never step foot into my pack" I said this without much thought, making me keep mute immediately, regretting my words.

The silence which enveloped the room after I spoke made me shiver, it wasn’t totally my fault anyways Vampires have caused me more damage. I turned to face the old she wolf as she started speaking again, In a calm and soothing voice.

"You never can tell what lies beyond your view, my Lord. Vampires, the creatures you detest and wish to be eliminated might turn out to be the ones who would be required to play a crucial role in the survival of your pack and its members." I had never heard such a gentle, professional, but friendly accent from an old woman before.

I still scoffed, "There's nothing good to come out of vampires, only perhaps disaster, chaos, mutiny, death." I paused, walking back to Sapphire who was mute and listening. I took my cup and poured some more liquor on it, this time it was a Macallan 12 year old single malt scotch whiskey. Sapphire was already dozing off.

"Nothing good will come out of them, not now, not ever." She was already done with the room keeping service, and was about to leave the room.

"Perhaps you should give them a shot, you know. Just. be neutral when next you see one. I've been fortunate to meet a good number of werewolves and vampires ranging from different ages, in different packs, and all I can tell you is one thing, they all have similar traits," she paused, demonstrating expertly with her hands. "They're the good ones, ready to help at anytime, ready to go down with the sword for you, fighting through thick and thin for you." She paused again, her facial expression changing instantly to a moody one. She turned away from me and looked into thin air.

"Is anything the matter, ma'am, are you alright?" I asked, moving close to her and putting my palms on her wrinkled cheeks.

"My mate, He was such a good vampire."

" You got mated to a vampire? Never heard of such a union before." I tried very hard to disguise my surprise.

"That was in the days when wolves and vampires threaded on the same path, but not anymore."

"What initiated their hatred for each other? "I asked, curiosity taking the best of me.