Chapter 194
“If a vampire makes a promise, they have to keep it. If a vampire attempts or breaks their promise their skin starts to boil. They will burn forever until they kill themselves,” Prince Mano said, looking at the fire.
“What promise can I make for us to test if I am some sort of vampire?” Gina wondered.
“I think it is clear that you are not a vampire. Perhaps the only reason why you cannot get past the spell wall is that you drank my blood,” Prince Mano said.
“I promise I am not an enchantress,” Gina said, holding her arms out in front of her.
“You are so funny,” Prince Mano said with a chuckle.
“I promise to obey your next order! Please don’t tell me to jump into the fire,” Gina said, laughing.
“Stand up,” Prince Mano said.
Gina tried to ignore the order but then she felt it, “I am a vampire!” she jumped up to make the burning stop.
Prince Mano jumped up and took her hands, “Are you ok?”
“It stops as soon as I kept my promise,” Gina said, near tears.
“How bizarre. I wonder if the higher council will know what you are and if they have ever heard of a vampire-like you,” Prince Mano said as they sit down again.
After a while of sitting in silence, staring at the fire, Prince Mano stood up, let me go get some blankets for us to sleep on.”
“You really don’t have to. I will be fine,” Gina said.
“What if there are wild animals or unknown supernatural in the woods?” Prince Mano said, walking into the shed and returning with a few blankets and pillows.
“Thank you,” Gina said, standing up and helping him to arrange the blankets and pillows.
Even though they did not start the evening sleeping next to each other they did wake up next to each other. During the night Gina woke up and lay next to prince Mano because the fire died out and she was feeling cold.
Prince Mano was first to wake up and was surprised to hear her breathing deeply. ‘A vampire that sleeps?’ he thought how strange it was, ‘A beautiful, sleeping vampire,’ he thought to himself, stroking her cheek.
Gina did not wake up when prince Mano stood up and got the fire up and going again. After boiling some water on the fire for coffee he watched as some sun rays fell on Gina’s face, almost expecting her to jump up in pain, but she didn't.
Gina stretched her body with a yawn, catching prince Mano’s eyes on her. Gina smiled at him, “Good morning.”
“Good morning. Coffee?” Prince Mano offered, holding a cup out to her.
“Thank you,” Gina said, sitting up, and taking the cup from him. “Mmm, this is good,” Gina said after taking a sip.
“Let me guess; first time having coffee?” Prince Mano asked with a smile.
“I had coffee before; nuns are allowed to have coffee, not that I was actually a nun. My father left me at the convent at a few months old with no further instructions. I always planned to leave on my eighteenth birthday,” Gina said.
“Oh, so you are not a runaway?” Prince Mano asked.
“Well, um, I left the day before my birthday and found you two weeks after,” Gina said.
“So, you just turned eighteen? Guess they are not bothered to look for you?” Prince Mano asked.
“I guess,” Gina said, wondering why word has not traveled of her sins down the river.
‘He must have not gone back to the convent since that day we met before I turned into this monster,’ Gina thought, biting her lip, deep in thought.
''Well, if you disappear, a day sooner than you told me you will, I promise to come looking for you,” Prince Mano said, stirring the pot that is on the fire.
“Are lycans also bound by their promises?” Gina asked, wondering what was the pot.
“No, we are not, unless a hybrid,” Prince Mano chuckled.
“Tell me about hybrids,” Gina said, as the contents of the pot hit her nose, oats.
“Hybrids are any were-animal, like a lycan; that turned vampire by drinking a vampire to death. They still have a heart though and like you, they can exist day or night, eat food and choose to sleep or not. However, they cannot use their vampirism in daylight, or it will burn their flesh,” Prince Mano explained, standing up, and dishing up some oats.
“Thank you,” Gina said, taking the oats from him. After breakfast, Gina sped off to the river and brought back some water as the shed was not connected to a water system. Prince Mano cleaned up inside but watched Gina through the made-shift window of the shed, while she cleaned herself over a pot of warm water.
“Sorry I don’t have any clean clothes for you but perhaps this shirt will do,” Prince Mano passed her a clean shirt.
“It will do, thank you,” Gina said, turning her back to prince Mano to change shirts.
Prince Mano could not help the desire that stirred in him, looking at her naked back.
“I am ready when you are,” Gina said, turning around, and tucking the oversized shirt in.
“This way,” Prince Mano said as he started to walk in the direction of the higher council.
“What if they don’t know what I am and end up locking me up?” Gina hesitated.
“What if I am some criminal? I must have definitely been a rogue as only rogues are free game to be sold as slaves or even be killed on sight,” Prince Mano stated, also scared of the truth.
“Perhaps the truth can wait a little bit longer?” Gina suggested.
“I couldn’t agree more!” Prince Mano said relieved.
“So, what are we going to do today?” Gina asked since their plans have changed.
“Build a shack?” Prince Mano suggested.
“Why don’t I rather go up the riverbank to that fancy suburban area and see if there is not maybe a family in need of extra help around the house and yard?” Gina suggested.
“Ha, who would want to house two poorly dressed people like us?” Prince Mano asked.
“I can compel a suitable family, one without children; perhaps an elderly couple,” Gina suggested.
“Just be safe; and if you see anyone wearing anything like this, then don’t even attempt to compel them,” Prince Mano said, showing his shaman neckless.
“See you soon,” Gina said with a smile before speeding off. An hour later she returned, “We had several options, but I settled on an elderly couple that had no family, only son died in the war. I compelled them to believe that we are their distant cousins that will be staying with them to take care of them.”
“Are you sure about this?” Prince Mano asked, kind of getting used to being wild.
“I am. The best part, is they stay near the woods, on the edge of the suburbs,” Gina puts his mind at ease.
“You thought of it all,” Prince Mano said, with a smile.
“There is just one thing,” Gina said, smiling.
“What is that?” Prince Mano asked.
“We are married,” Gina said with a chuckle.
“So we will be sharing a room,” Prince Mano said, scratching his head.
“Even so, they only have one other room available,” Gina said smiling.
“Ok then. Are we walking or,” Prince Mano started but Gina picked him up before he could finish his sentence and put him down again, an easy walking distance from the suburbs.
The elderly couple was delighted to have them regardless of being compelled to take them in. Mr. and Mrs. Green.
“I think this should fit you just fine,” Mr. Green took a few items out of the wardrobe that once was his son’s.
“Did you compel them to be so kind,” Prince Mano whispered.
“I promise I did not,” Gina said, glad for the natural kindness.
“I have a few clothing pieces for you but I am afraid you might find them outdated,” Mrs. Green said, taking Gina by her hand and walking her to her room where she has a bed-end ottoman where she kept her dresses from her younger days.
“Anything will be better than this,” Gina said, tucking at her clothes.
“You can say that again,” Mrs. Green said, laughing with her.
Over the next few weeks, Prince Mano and Gina kept the house clean and maintained the garden. The Greens were financially well off and shared their money freely with prince Mano and Gina.
One morning while walking with Mrs. Green to the park, like they did most days they were joined by a few other ladies, like usual but, today Gina’s perfect little world took a slight turn when the conversation was about the convent and the horrible things that happened there.
Gina tried her best to steer the conversation away but failed. “It appears a storm is on its way, we should get back to the house,” Gina said, relieved by the change of weather.
That evening around the dinner table Mrs. Green could not stop talking about the horrible things she heard today.
‘I should have compelled her not to talk about it,’ Gina thought, picking at her food, and looking at prince Mano’s worried face.
“There is something I want to tell you,” they both say at the same time while cleaning up after dinner.
“You first,” Gina said, smiling.
“Ladies first,” Prince Mano said.
“I insist, you go first,” Gina encouraged him, packing away the last of the dishes.
“Let’s go to our room,” Prince Mano said.
‘I wonder what he wants to talk about,’ Gina thought, following him.
“Ok, here we are, out with it,” Gina said, once inside their room.
Prince Mano turned to face her and then dropped to one knee, “Will you do me the honor of being my wife?”
“I am already your wife, silly,” Gina wiggled her hand with the fake wedding band on it.
“I mean for real,” Prince Mano opened the small velvet ring box, a beautiful Art Deco Sapphire and Diamond Pallidum Ring.
