Silver Bells:

Kira:

We have come to my house. In less than an hour my luggage was packed. It's late. I have prepared a pre-cooked meal and gobbled it down as if I hadn't tasted food in a month.

I try to seduce my boyfriend so we can grope or something, but he refuses, saying that I'm still in shock and that under no circumstances is he going to lay a hand on me. Arrrggg!
I was right. The girls don't openly hate me, but some think I'm jumping the gun, according to Jess I'm leaving my home, family, jobs and friends behind for a man.
Mila is radiant. She told us that she spent the night having the most wonderful sex of her life and that this morning she filed for divorce against her husband. Sometime during the early morning she packed up all her things and went to live with her neighbor. I'm happy for her.

000

We're on the jet, Patrick sits next to me, rubbing my knuckles. Last night I slept in his arms and I must say that it was a bit uncomfortable. I'll have to get used to it. A doubt assails me.
—Where did they take Luca, Patrick?- I ask.
—You remember his name, I'm surprised.- he says.

—He pulled a gun on me. That instantly made him a person of my interest.
—He was taken to the Philipides mansion in Athens. To face his trial, along with the other two.

Ahh. That's why Cleo said..."I miss my boys too."

—A trial...? What crimes did they commit?
—Well… Luca's is obvious, of course, attempted murder against you.
— He didn't attempt… he never pulled the trigger, he just...

—He threatened you with a gun!- he yells angrily and stands up. Walking to and fro like a caged beast.
—Patrick...

He runs the palm of his hand over his forehead in frustration. He snorts and frowns at me.
—What?

—The other two? What crimes did they commit?

He purses his lips and sits back down next to me.

— João appeared at a train station in Athens, wearing a bomb vest and threatening to blow up all the people there and himself. And Sebastién...well, he threatened to throw himself off the twentieth floor of the building where the Philipides Consortium is located.

—What did they demand in exchange for not carrying out their threats?

He growls.
—All three demanded the exact same thing. Cleo had to show up at the crime scenes and calm them down.

I ponder the situation for a moment.

—Patrick... it’s her, isn’t she ? Cleo is the woman you were with. She is in love with you, that’s why she’s abandoned her lovers. That's why all this has happened, the poor guys are desperate. I don't know João and Sebastién, but Luca is crazy about her. If the girls and I hadn't left the room we would have seen them... well, doing it.- I blush.

—That doesn’t justify that they tried to harm others and themselves in their eagerness to see her and no. - He draws me towards him and hides his face between my neck and my loose hair.- Cleo is not the woman I was with and she has absolutely no feelings for me. I think that in her own way, in a very twisted way... it's those three guys whom she loves.

For Aphrodite's thongs! I thought I was a very liberal woman and sometimes it scares me how much I enjoy certain perversions, but I’m definitely a babe compared to Cleo.

—This may hurt you, but I don't want any misunderstandings between us. -He sits down next to me again.

I listen in silence and frankly disgusted as Patrick tells me the whole truth about what happened between Alexandros, Yolie and him.

000

We have reached the mansion in Athens, it is big, but not as big as the Villa in Spiros. I've taken a bath and I've put on a white dress, I've let my hair down and I'm barefoot.
Now I understand why Yolie hesitated to give me an answer, apparently the girl had great doubts regarding Patrick and Alexandros’ relationship. I don't fully understand it myself. Although I try to understand the reasons that prompted Alexandros to seek Yolie and use her, I also can’t. He's lucky to be dead because if he wasn't I'd kill him myself. Patrick claims that he loved her in the end, that he ended up madly in love with her, but I'm not so sure.
There's a knock on my door, it's Patrick. He dresses entirely in black and wears a cape, he’s combed his hair, brushing it back. He's pretty handsome. Oh for Aphrodite! Tonight I fuck him or I’ll change my name.

—You are ready. - He comments looking at me from bottom to top very slowly.

—Yes, sir. - I answer.

He has explained to me that he must claim me in public, to prevent other vampires or their subordinates from disrespecting me, and I must also be present at the trial and must testify against Luca. He materializes sitting on my bed and pats the mattress besides him.

—Come. There is something I want to give you.- He whispers in that low and seductive tone that makes my insides tremble.

I obey and sit next to him. He takes a bracelet out of one of his pockets, it is made of silver, the charms are small figures separated by tiny rings from which five tiny bells hang.

I caress the charms with my fingers as I examine them while he holds the bracelet in his hand.

— A dagger?- I ask.

—I felt it plunged into my heart when I saw Jeanne holding one against your neck.

Thank god I don't remember any of that.

— A bottle?

— Yes, the next time you pour wine on your exquisite breasts I want to be present.

I nudge him.

-Hey! - I scold him.- A musical note?
—You sing horrible.-he mocks.

—Do you have to keep reminding me of that damn night?- I frown at him.

— It's part of our history, kitty. I think we've both learned from our mistakes. Hmmm?

He’s right. I examine the next charm.

—A heel. I think I know what this one refers to.

He smiles mischievously.

—A disco ball. Hmm, yeah...this one definitely deserves to be here.

The last charm is an arrowed heart. It formes a lump in my throat. I look at him excited. Tears have began filling my eyes.

—You’ve got it, tigress. You have my heart in your hands.- purrs in my ear.

You have mine in yours too, Patrick. Take good care of it, don't break it, I beg you.

—Its beautiful. - I sigh and extending my wrist for him to put the bracelet on. He looks at me awry.
—Oh no, kitty. This doesn’t go on your wrist but on your ankle.

—On my ankle?- I ask in surprise.

—Yes. It's my... property sign. It means you are mine. You should never take it off. Understood?

—Am I...like some kind of sex slave?- I ask breathlessly. Oh Theos, I think I just came.

—Mhhh. That idea hadn't occurred to me.- he whispers in my ear.

—Not really. You're more like my...exclusive human. To put it in some way.

I pout and Patrick laughs.

He kneels down and grabs my right foot. He kisses my toes and licks my instep, then strokes the bottom of my foot with the tips of his fingers, tickling me. He wraps the silver anklet around my ankle and kisses the skin just above it. My toes get stiff, I can't help it. I moan and arch my back,moving my ankle making the tiny bells jingle.
—You definitely have a fetish with women's feet.- I comment.

He throws himself on me and kisses me. He kisses me like he's thirsty and I'm the only container of water for miles.

—I have already told you. My fetish is you, kitty. - growls in my ear. He sneaks between my legs, quickly getting rid of my underwear. He takes hold of the nape of my neck with one hand, caressing the skinthere and threading his fingers through my hair..

—We have to attend the trial, my lord.-I sob as he penetrates me, I look into his eyes and my jaw drops with pleasure.

—For my claim to be valid, you must arrive carrying my scent.- He moves slowly inside me. -Besides, I promised that I would take care of satisfying your needs...
He growls. —Hmm, we have plenty of time.