Forgiveness:

Philipides Mansion, Athens. Six years later.

Eleni:
It seemed strange to me to return to the mansion without my grandparents being there. Our Mégas had sent them to work elsewhere. Queen Kira didn´t tolerate having human servants, she tried to drink them all, it was very difficult for her to control herself.

The worst thing about this situation is the true implications of who I am now. I can't be around humans for another four years, by which time I'll be a mature vampire and therefore able to control my instincts. My grandparents will already be too old by then, I fear that perhaps they will die before the deadline is met.

The experience gained during my months of work at the Hotel Dracùl Haus has served me well. The queen consort, Kira, hired me as an event planner ever since I stood before our Mégas six years ago.

Olenka came to pick me up on the island of Brac and brought me here. I haven't seen her or Vlad since.
Tonight, we celebrate the tenth anniversary of the accession to the throne of our current Mégas, Patrick Amíntoros, to whom I am distantly related. All members of the council are present at the event. Also, today is the end of the sentence on the vampire Cleopatra, after tonight she will be able to regain her seat on the council if she so wishes.

Vlad:
—Does she have a known partner?
Olenka rolls her eyes at me, noticeably annoyed.
—Don't start. I saved her for you, wrapped her up for you as a gift, and what did you do? You turned her down. To do what? To spend these six years regretting it.
—I didn't turn her down.- I protest.
—Vlad, I will never understand your masochism. If you love her, convince her, if you love her, kidnapped. I don´t know! But do something, okay? Stop pretending you have a heart of ice and do something. I don't think I'll be able to take another three hundred and sixty days of your constant whining.
—I do not whin.- I correct.
She growls.
—It would be better if you did. No, you do not whin, you just wander around the hotel like a sleepwalker. Even the staff misses your yelling and insults. You seem dead in life.
The limo stops, we have arrived.
—Take advantage of the fact that she'll be here, and talk to her. Or I will present you with my resignation. Your melancholy is producing all of us you created intense suicidal ideas and you know, that it is impossible for us to do such a thing. Stop being stupid, please, for our peace of mind, fix it. - begs my second in command , getting out of the car.
Eleni:
Prince Abel Fayeed smiles at me. He is a very educated and undoubtedly handsome man. He came to tonight's celebration from the United Arab Emirates.
He belongs to Gandhi's coven, he was transformed thirty years ago, when he got lost in a sand storm and was rescued by Mahatma himself, who was making a pilgrimage to that area.
Since he arrived in Greece a week ago, Abel has openly professed his admiration for me, Kira says I'm a very unusual vampire. I'm supposed to be a lustful and insatiable creature, crazed for blood and sex, however, I ingest the former only to survive and have lived in a kind of celibacy since...
A cold chill runs through me, all my skin has covered in goosebumps. I rub my arms with the palms of my hands, trying to combat the coldness that has taken over me.
—You're cold, Helen.- Abel comments worried. – Maybe I can help you.
Before I can protest, my date walks over to me, entering my personal space and finally wrapping me in a hug. I remain rigid in his arms, partly because I've been caught off guard by Abel's action, and partly because I'm convinced this shivering fit is because He's here. Somewhere, probably watching me right now. Vlad.
—Better? - murmurs the Arab.
—Yes. - I reply in a muffled squeak, because I see Olenka approaching us with long strides.
I detach myself a little from Abel, and the vampiress reaches us.
—What do we have here? - Her tone appears to be cheerful, but I easily catch the reproach in her words. -You have talent, redhead. You attract devilishly sexy men.

I smile.

—Prince Abel, this is Olenka, she is second in command of the Slavic coven.

—A pleasure. - Abel replays, smiling broadly at her.
—Pleasure is ALL mine, baby. Where have you been all my life, hmm? If I wasn't engaged, you wouldn't be able to scape from me.
Now I do it, I laugh.
—How have you been, Olenka?-I ask.
—Wonderful.- she growls.-you abandoned us and the hotel is still upside down and our boss seems to be in zombie mode, the only perfect thing about all this is my Jerry. There is very little time left for us to marry.

I bite my cheek. I haven´t asked but she has already answered what I most wanted to know. I know he's somewhere around here. My whole body is tense with anticipation, I can feel his gaze on me.
—Where is he?- I whisper.
Olenka narrows her eyes.
—Conversing with our hosts, but he doesn't take his eyes off you.- Olenka sighs. – I asked him to talk to you but the man is more stubborn than...
A waiter passed by, carrying several glasses filled with O positive, Olenka gesticulated uncontrollably and her hand knocked one of the glasses onto my dress.
I grunted and scowled at her.
—God! Forgive me Eleni, it wasn´t my intention. - She whispers placing a hand to her mouth.
—It's becoming a habit. – I protest. - Having drinks thrown at me or being covered in blood is nothing new. Don´t fret.
I ask to be excused and go out in the direction of the servants' quarters, with the intention of changing my clothes.
I am walking slowly, going through the dark corridors of the mansion, so much time has passed and yet everything in this place remains exactly as when Alexandros was our Mégas.
I'm deep in thought, but suddenly I feel him, he's so close… I stop. My whole body burns at his proximity, I can smell his characteristic sandalwood scent. I turn slowly and he's standing right there, a few feet from me. Dressed entirely in black, his green eyes sparkling like emeralds. My mouth is watering and my crotch is wet.
My libido, which seemed extinct, has been resurrected with brutal force. I smile flirty.

—Good evening, Mr. Tepes. - I murmur. – Are you looking for something?
He narrows her eyes, looking at me suspiciously, through his long lashes.
—How have you been, dove? - He asks.
I roll my eyes.
—How do you expect me to be?-My voice breaks and my chin trembles.
He grimaces slightly.
—If… you have been half as miserable as me, your existence has been hell.-he whispers.
—Have you had enough of your experiment? - I murmur, inertially approaching him. I can't help it, I don't want to help it. My whole body aches from the desire to have him close. He receives me in his arms and I sob with happiness.
—Have you understood ithat you're happier with me than without me?-I insist.

He caresses my face with his fingers, I close my eyes and sigh. He takes my chin in his hand and lifts my face until his lips meet mine. God, with a kiss I have gone to heaven! He kisses me so slowly, as if he wanted to enjoy every inch of my mouth, he kisses me as if he had missed me.
—Do you think we could be friends? - He whispers against my chin, after breaking the kiss, caressing the skin of my neck with his lips.
—Friends? - I ask. -Yes, we could be friends. - I answer, my voice is an almost incoherent gasp, while I raise a leg and place it around his hip.
—The kind that fall into bed together from just being in the same room.
His breathing is ragged, he looks me in the eyes and his pupils are dilated. His hands tighten around my waist, he wants me and I'm dying for him. He takes a couple of licks at the blood that has dried on my neck and growls.
—I had to try.-he whispers. - I had to set you free.
—The only thing you accomplished was making us both miserable!.- I sob, claiming his mouth, pressing him against me, entangling my fingers in his black hair.
—Let´s go. - He says, pulling me through the corridors at supersonic speed until we leave the mansion.
****
—I knew it would work out. - Olenka smiles mischievously. - They just needed a little push.
Kira smiles widely, while Patrick shakes his head in denial.
—I couldn't allow Vlad to continue wasting time like an imbecile, he ran the risk of losing her.- the Russian defended.
—Oh, I don't think so.- Kira replays amused. – Eleni has spent these six years like a lost soul. I think that no matter how much they have made each other suffer, they are soul mates, they just can't stand being apart for too long. - whispers the Queen consort, looking at her husband out of the corner of her eye.
—Oh. But seriously, did Vlad turn red when he saw the Arab hug her?
—Yes. For a moment I feared he would make a scene in front of all the guests.
Kira sighs happily, and Olenka grins from ear to ear.
—Soon, it will be your turn to take a mate. Have you already selected a godmother or godfather of death?
—Yes. My Jerry wants Eleni to be his godmother, and if those two's rush to get out of here is any evidence...there's a good chance the court will be missing the event planner very soon, Your Majesties.
Both vampires laugh out loud.