WHAT IS THAT?
I wanted to believe him, reach out and grab his hand, and let go of all the anguish and uncertainty for a time. But before I could say anything, a frigid voice sliced over the evening.
Well, isn't this just beautiful?
My pulse lurching in my chest, I turned abruptly. At the brink of the garden, Veresstina stood with her icy blue eyes sparkling in the candlelight. Her smile was all harsh edges, and her presence quickly disturbed the calm setting Damien had produced.
Veresstina, what are you doing here? Damien's voice sounded strained; his hands tightened into fists on the table.
Veresstina walked over here, her eyes flitting between us with hardly hidden contempt. She said, "Oh, I just couldn't resist," with a mocking tone. "A romantic meal just the two of you? How pleasant. But I worry your little act won't endure very long.”
Rising, my hands closed at my sides. " What do you want, Veresstina?"
She grabbed inside the folds of her cloak, a nasty, twisted monster. She grinned. She replied, "I brought a gift," drawing out a silver chalice whose surface shimmered in the candlelight. "A little token of thanks from the vampire elders."
Damien's eyes darkened with mistrust. "What is that?"
The smile of Veresstina got bigger. "A basic chalice," she replied, her voice subtly pleasant. "But the wine inside well, let's just say it's meant for our dear Freda."
As I gazed at the chalice, my heart thumping in my chest made me quite uncomfortable, something like my skin crawling.
"What is in it?" My voice shaking despite my best attempts to remain cool, I asked.
The smile of Veresstina never wavered. Of course, "a poison." But not any poison, a unique mix from the elders meant to bond you to Damien always. Otherwise, kill you, should you object. Isn't that lovely?
I backed off, my head whirling. There cannot be this happening. Damien had agreed to guard me, to keep me safe. Now Veresstina was standing here, presenting me with a poisoned chalice as though it were some strange wedding present.
"Damien," I said, my voice quivering. "Is this indeed true?"
He didn't answer straight away, staring at the chalice Veresstina was holding. His visage revealed the dilemma, as his jaw tightened in search of direction on what to do.
At last, he turned to face me, his eyes a mix of terror and will. His voice firm, "I won't let her hurt you, Freda," he continued. I swear.
He rushed out suddenly, snatching the chalice from Veresstina's hands. She gasped, shock widening in her eyes as Damien raised the chalice sky above his head.
"No!" She started to cry and lunged ahead. "You cannot—"
Nevertheless, it was too late. Damien carried the chalice down onto the stone floor, breaking it into a thousand pieces. Hissing as the dark liquid within spilled and touched the ground, a plume of acrid smoke shot up.
Veresstina screams violently, her eyes flaming with wrath. She hissed, "You fool!" "Do you know what you just did?"
Turning to face her, Damien had a harsh, uncompromising look. His voice steely, he said, "I know exactly what I've done."
"I have decided on Freda. And they will have to go through me if the seniors choose to pursue her.”
Veresstina was momentarily too astonished to talk. Her hands clenched at her sides as she gazed at Damien, her chest pounding with wrath.
She spat, her voice shaking with fury, "This isn't over." Do you believe you can challenge the authorities? Do you believe you might shield her from what is approaching? You are a stupid man, Damien. A lovesick, blind fool.
She then turned on her heel and bolted from the garden, leaving a path of boiling resentment behind.
My heart thumping in my chest, I watched Damien as the hush descended over us once more. "What would this imply?" My voice just above a whisper, I asked.
Turning to me, his countenance softened. "It means I will do whatever it takes to keep you safe," he added softly. "I already have strategies in place to guard you from the elderly. But Freda, this is only the beginning. More is at risk here than you could ever realize.
A cold shot down my spine before I could ask him what he meant, and I sensed an odd, sinister presence behind me. Turning slowly, my breath caught in my throat as I watched a shadowy figure flashing in and out of focus from the darkness of the garden.
