BOOK 2: AN UNEXPECTED DUO-Chapter 15: Myra

Being intimate with Vladimir felt right; even if we do have to take extra precautions so I don’t accidentally set off his Vampire again. I can’t believe I had put off being with my mate for this long. If just foreplay could feel this good, then I know sex with him will be out of this world.

Just as Vladimir starts to push into me, we both freeze at the sound of the door opening, we weren’t expecting anyone, Riss should be at school and Esmerelda never came home in between Riss’ school hours.

“Mya!” I hear the tiny voice of Riss calling. She sounds terrified. What the hell happened.

Vladimir flew off of me, slicing the ties that bound me down with his razor sharp nails. Then he moves faster than I thought possible, quickly getting himself dressed and hurrying out of the room.

“Riss, baby, what’s wrong?” Vladimir coos softly towards her.

I can hear Riss gulping for air as she tries to calm herself down. Panic settles into my chest. What the hell happened that has Riss this worked up. I quickly throw on a pair of panties and a bra before slipping my robe on, without the tie it leaves me exposed, but I could care less about that. Right now my main focus is to get to Riss. When I walk out of the room, Vladimir is holding her in his arms, cradling her like one would a baby. I’ve never seen Riss look so frail.

“Sweetheart,” I whisper as I walk towards her and run my hands through her hair, trying to sooth her, “What has you all worked up love? Did something happen at school?”

“Essie!” Riss sobs, big elephant tears running down her face.

I feel a sharp pang in my chest, Riss wants Essie. Essie will calm her down. I swallow down my pride and my heart feelings as I look towards Vladimir, “Vladimir, call Essie, get her here now. Riss needs her.”

“E..Essie.” Riss cries out again, her teeth chattering, “Sh..She ca..can’t co..come.” Riss finally manages to get out.

My gaze meets Vladimir’s, he has the same worried expression on his face. What’s happened to Esmerelda, why can’t she come.

“What’s wrong with Essie baby?” Vladimir ask softly, as he snuggles Riss tighter into his embrace, his vampire scent sending calming waves through the air.

“She got hurt. A bad man h..hur..hurt her.” Riss whispers, her voice barely audible.

“Who hurt her?” Vladimir asks, his voice laced with concern.

“I don’t know. He was a big man, and he had very sharp teeth. He hurt Essie and then he told me to give you this.” Riss says clearly, her breathing having finally calmed thanks to the soothing effect Vladimir has on her.

She hands Vladimir an envelop, that has a wax seal on it, with a crest I’ve never seen before. Vladimir frowns at the crest, and I can tell by his posture that the crest means something to him. Vladimir pockets the envelop with one hand, his other arm still holding Riss to his chest. I hear as his chest starts to purr as yet another perk of cuddling a vampire. Their very existence is meant to lure a prey in and make them feel comfortable around them. Their scent coaxes you in. Their beauty gives you a sense of safety, surely someone that beautiful can’t’ be dangerous. Then there’s the purr; once they have you in their embrace, their chest vibrates lulling you to sleep, and then they pounce.

At least that’s how I used to view it. But watching Vladimir with Riss, I know that the gifts bestowed on a vampire don’t only make them the perfect predator, they also make them the perfect comforter. Someone who will make you feel safe even in your darkest moments. Someone who can shield you from the nightmares that exist in this world. Someone who can calm you, when you lose all hope.

I watch entranced as Vladimir softly sings a Russian lullaby to Riss.

*“Пока-пока, пока-пока, Быстро умереть, Утром будет мороз, И ты пойдешь на кладбище. Дедушка придет И принесу гроб. Бабушка придет И принесет могильную одежду. Мама придет И споет молитвенную песню. Отец придет И отвезет тебя на кладбище"

**Bye-bye, bye-bye,
Quickly die,
On the morning will be frost,
And you’ll go to the grave-yard.
Grandfather will come
And will bring the coffin.
Grandmother will come
And will bring the grave clothes.
Mother will come
And will sing the prayer song.
Father will come
And will take you to the graveyard*

The lullaby itself is dark and morbid if you don’t understand the meaning behind it. Parents sing this lullaby to their children to keep them safe from death, because if one is not afraid of death, then death will not come knocking at ones door. The fact that Vladimir has chosen this song to sing to Riss sends shivers down my spine. Death has come knocking at our door, those who seek the blood of the fae are close by. Riss and I are in danger and the only thing that might save us is finding a way to end the curse that my ancestors placed on vampire kind.

Riss quickly falls asleep to Vladimir’s eerie song, her breathing now relaxed as she slumbers peacefully. Vladimir walks back to my room and gently places Riss on the bed, pulling the covers over her, tucking her in, placing a soft kiss on her head, before walking out the room. He grabs my hand and leads me towards the couch, taking me by surprise as he sits down and pulls me into his lap, holding me tightly against him.

“Who’s the letter from?” I ask, my voice seeming loud in the quiet room.

Vladimirs lips touch the top of my hair as he breathes in my scent. I wonder if my scent also calms him, the way his does me, or if it only makes his vampire go into a frenzy for my blood. I feel as his body tightens against me, and I know that he’s fighting against his vampire. He wants to be near me but he’s worried about hurting me. I stand up removing myself from his embrace, he gives me a pained look, but I know that it’s best for the both of us right now, if I maintain some distance between us. Vladimir stands up from the couch and opens the window to the fire escape, inhaling the crisp winter air before he takes his seat on the couch again.

“The seal comes from a kingdom that I thought no longer existed.” Vladimir begins a grave look on his face. “If this letter is from who I think it is, it means that you are in more danger than I originally thought.”

Vladimir pulls the envelop from his pocket and opens it up, pulling out a letter that has been written on parchment paper, reminding me of images of letters that I had seen in history books. I can tell from the way his eyes are darting back and forth that he is quickly reading through the letter.

“What does it say?”

Vladimir clears his throat, before he begins to read it out loud,

*Cousin,

Bring me the fae woman, she is the key to the answers we seek. She is mine by right. Esmerelda was just an example of what will happen if you keep my possessions away from me. Bring me Myra if you don’t want to see everyone you love die. I wonder how Guinevere and her family will fare at the hands of my soldiers. I wonder how dear sweet Riss will respond to my hunters sinking their fangs into her. THIS IS YOUR ONLY WARNING COUSIN. Return what rightfully belongs to me or I’ll wreck your world and then take her by force.

Your’s truly,

Raphael Medici.*

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**AUTHORS NOTE: WELCOME NEW READERS! I AM SO BLESSED TO HAVE YOU ALL HERE! IN THE COMMENTS I SEE SOME OF YOU ASKING ABOUT MY UPDATE SCHEDULE, WITH BOOK 2 IN THE UNEXPECTED SERIES I AM TRYING TO POST AT LEAST TWO CHAPTERS A WEEK, BUT I CANT GUARANTEE I WILL BE ABLE TO POST EVERY WEEK. I AM CURRENTLY TRYING TO FINISH UP TWO NOVELS THAT I STARTED BEFORE BOOK 2. ONCE I AM FINISHED WITH THOSE I WILL BE UPDATING MORE FREQUENTLY.