Chapter 13

Mihai led me down the stairs and into what appeared to be a lounge, three chairs and a sofa surrounding one another, a coffee table in the centre. The sofa was black leather, the same as the chairs, the table a deep cherry coloured wood. There were bookshelves along the back wall, and a lone tall lamp in the corner, but nothing else, no tv, and nothing that will keep my mind occupied.
“Is this where we are eating?” i ask, nervously smoothing down the red dress I'd been forced into wearing.
The Nati vampire chuckles a little, shaking his head, “No, this is where we will have a small drink whilst we wait for dinner to be served.”
Ok, I'm not stupid, just nervous, I've never had to sit and have a meal with vampires before. Normally i just help my family destroy them. There is never time for talk, my father prefers to kill and ask questions later.
Mihai presses a button on the wall behind him, causing my eyes to widen a little, i didn’t even see it when we walked in. I must be losing my edge, i would have noticed something like that instantly before i was brought here.
“Take a seat on the sofa.” He says, but i know it isn’t a request, it’s an order.
I hide my bare feet under the gown as i sit awkwardly on the very edge of the sofa, unable to help the slight tremble in my hands. I'm afraid, i have no idea what to expect. I don’t know how i am going to make it through dinner with my head still attached to my shoulders.
I need to be careful, really fucking careful, and i need to keep my smart mouth sealed shut.
Voices echo down the corridor, the tremble in my hands getting more violent. I look at the Nati vampire, but he isn’t paying attention to me, his eyes are on the door, and all emotion has been wiped from his face.
I don’t think I'll ever admit it allowed, but the black tailored suit he wore looked amazing on him, i could see every muscle in his chest and arms, and his ass was to die for. His hair was combed back, and his eyes were dark and cold, if it weren’t for the fact he could snap my spine in less than a second, i may even find myself attracted to him.
The first vampire to enter the lounge was a blonde-haired god, his skin a pale brown, and his eyes the same shade as the sky in summer. He wore a buttoned white shirt and pale blue pants, the top three buttons of his shirt left undone.
“Soryn.” Mihai says, shaking the man’s hand.
“My lord Mihai.” He says, slapping his shoulder, “It is good to see you.”
The Nati vampire nods, a smile forming in the corners of his mouth, “please take a seat.”
Soryn smiles back, nodding his head and he moves away from the door and further into the room, his eyes locking with mine, and once they do, he inhales, his eyes turning pitch black.
“And who is this lovely thing you have brought?” He asks, turning back to Mihai, “Is she a snack before dinner?”
My entire body tenses, ready to fight for my life, my heart hammering in my chest.
“No.” Mihai says, his eyes also black, “She is mine.” he turns to me, “show him your hand.”
He means the brand; he wants me to show him that i have been branded by him. I hold up my hand that holds the single letter M burnt into my skin with a vine wrapping around it, a small bat also burnt into my skin. I had refused to even look at it, but truly, it was unique.
Soryn nods, slowly lowing himself into the chair closest to me, “It looks new.” he says, looking at me, but talking to Mihai.
“It is.” He says, his eyes never leaving mine, “I only acquired her a week ago.”
There are so many things that i want to say, and i badly want to say them, but i know that i can’t. I cannot embarrass Mihai in front of the others, i imagine the punishment for that would be worse than what i have already faced at his hands.
The second and third vampire to enter were watching the entire conversation, the one of the left had black hair and eyes to match, his suit a deep crimson red. He had a scar across half of his face, and it was gruesome. Whoever did it came close to taking his head off, I'm sure of it.
The one on the right had light brown hair and hazel eyes, though i knew they’d turn black the moment he saw blood, they all do. It is an easy way to tell the Nati apart from turned vampires, their eyes turn red with bloodlust, not black.
“Lonut.” Mihai says to the one on the right, “I’m glad you could make it.”
Lonut nods, “This is my brother, Vasil, you have yet to meet him, my lord.”
Vasil steps forward, clasping Mihai’s hand, “It’s an honour to be invited here.”
An honour. He thinks it is an honour to be here when all i want to do is flee from this room and run as fast and as far away as possible.
Fuck honour, i want my life back.