"In the end, what are you doing here?"
He said with a protective rasp, "Watching you."My knees buckled at his statement, which was so seductive and possessive."Well, when I leave with you on my eighteenth birthday, you can watch me as much as you want, but for now, I want my privacy."I turned around and started running away."An easy thank you would be sufficient,"“Whatever.”I moaned under my breath and never went back, but the sound of his dress shoes cracking the dead leaves and stray tree branches with each step told me he was right on my tail.As it burned into my flesh, my birthmark started to itch."I cannot comprehend you.I am the only person who ever loves, defends, or protects you, yet you despise me.He appeared in front of me at such supersonic speed that I abruptly stopped."I hate you because you took my life," she said.He gave us a sarcastic glance around the area before shrugging casually.You can have a better life than this with me.I didn't want to give him the satisfaction of knowing he was correct.It was the fundamental issue.He made decisions for me throughout my adult life.Because he was controlling my future, I was powerless to make choices.Valerian, "Leave me alone."As I passed him, I slammed my shoulder into his.My heart shook violently as the sound waves of his sarcastic chuckle sped it up in love.It was hard to keep my teenage hormones from giving in to him because everything about him was sexy, even his voice.Anger and mistrust drove the only logical part of my brain.He grabbed my arm and spun me into his chest before I could get away from him.As the heat rushed through me at such a rapid rate that it took my breath away, my muscles tightened.But I stood firm.I only allowed my thoughts to be fueled by my hatred for him."Whether you like it or not, you are mine."I snarled through gritted teeth,"I will never be completely yours."Before releasing my arm from his grasp, I gave him a hard stare.He surrendered by taking a few steps back and softening his eyes as if defeated.Before he decided to follow me again, I ran away quickly.I dashed inside as soon as I got home.My mother was yelling at me to finish my chores because I was a little behind schedule.Balrus followed me around, begging to be my helper, while I hurriedly swept the kitchen, mopped the floors, and made dinner.Belarus was ten years old at the time, and he never hesitated to retaliate against my mother when he was caught by her for allegedly forcing him to do my work. She would scold me for this each time he was caught.He defended me while I covered my smile, saying, "I asked her if I could help."“Balrus, do not sympathize with her.”“I’m not.I just want to improve my cooking skills.She never makes me do anything for her.It is simply because I wanted to assist her.As our mother backed away and retreated into the living room, he snapped.I cooked dinner and set the table with Balrus.As I prepared a bowl of goulash and a loaf of rye that was old and dry, I served baked herring, fried potatoes, and steamed broccoli with butter to my parents and Balrus.Even though I cooked, my parents insisted that I not eat the extravagant meals.I had to be creative over the years to ensure that I would have enough food to last each week because I was given a very small weekly allowance to buy my own meals' groceries.Every night, my brother would argue about it with Sirius and Elora, but they would never change.Because I was not permitted to eat with them, I carried my food upstairs to my bedroom.Since I hadn't eaten all day, I was starving.Because I woke up late, I had to skip breakfast, I didn't have enough money to pay for lunch at school, and I gave the swans the crackers I had stolen, so I ate my pasta almost immediately.When I was done, I locked myself away in the bathroom that Balrus and I shared, took a quick shower, and then dashed off to bed.The encounter with the monster, which was Valerian rather than the bear, left me exhausted.As my thoughts got bogged down in old nightmares, I tossed and turned.My birthmark was scorching my skin as I dreamed of the day my parents sold me to that terrifying vampire.As he intently followed me as I made my way toward him, Valerian's green eyes penetrated my soul.While they tossed me away like trash just taking up space, my parents praised him like a god.I detested each one.I resented my mother for letting this happen.My father's admission that he never wanted me made me hate him.I detested Valerian most of all, however.His arrogant grin, damning eyes, and bizarre desire to have me for himself were all things I detested.I was just a young child.What was he looking for in me?What was it that made me so unique?Why didn't he just lend a helping hand to Balrus without expecting anything in return?On that day, I committed to making his life with me a living hell if he took me away on my 18th birthday.He would be sorry he ever preyed on a young girl and her parents, who were just trying to save their son out of sheer desperation.I couldn't bear to despise Balrus.Like me, he was innocent of everything.He simply obtained a better deal from the situation.He was able to recover from his near-death experience and continue living his life as a normal child with parents who adored him without reservation.Balrus had my envy.But I loved him just as much as my parents did, if not more, despite my jealousy.I had become increasingly close to Balrus.I read bedtime stories to him when he would wake up in the middle of the night from nightmares.I would occasionally read from the books on his bookshelf.I would occasionally invent my own story.As I wrapped my arm around him and brushed his hair with my fingertips, he would curl into my side.His eyes would droop and his breath would become shallow as I read, as if he were finally safe and free from his nightmare.He would whisper, "You are special, Catelyn," before falling asleep.I don't know why your parents are so cruel to you.He showed me what true unconditional love was, and he was the only person in the world who made me feel important.In return, my only desire was to safeguard Balrus.Before I allowed him to be hurt, I would die.Despite the fact that making that declaration helped me cope with the fact that I was sold for my brother's health, I was still angry and felt selfish for it.I wanted to have a normal life, get a degree, make friends, go to college, and date boys at school.Rather, despite the fact that technically I didn't belong to him until I was 18 years old, I was forced to remain pure and unaffected by humans because I was afraid that showing affection to another person might irritate Valerian.I just wanted to be a normal teenager, but Valerian and my parents took away that time in my life.I had no say over what was going to happen in my future.It disgusted me that I was just a slave doing what my master told me to.I desired freedom.Without Valerian.Without my parents.free of the school bullies who made fun of me.Why was everyone so afraid of me?I was thought to be demon by Sirius.His beliefs were echoed in my mother.Because of my bright red hair, the kids at school thought I was a Satanic child.My school torture was still orchestrated by Selina Bryan.They would say they were trying to purify my soul as they would sprinkle salt on my shirt.They would spread the rumor that I was possessed if anyone got too close to me, and that I performed devilish rituals in my bedroom.So, to be safe, no one spoke to me.They poured thick red corn syrup all over me, imitating the scene from Carrie, when I had to give a speech on my English Literature project about folklore my sophomore year.I had no idea what it was like to be surrounded by girls who were interested in me.I had no idea what friendship was or how it felt to me.Because it was all Selina Bryan's fault, I detested her.They would occasionally receive what they deserved.Although I mostly thought of it as karma, I knew deep down that it was more than that.The darkness within me would spin and pull each time my bullies were chased away, as if it were calling for help, and the way they were punished was never natural.There were no reasons given.For instance, one day after school, while I was waiting for my mother, who was, as usual, extremely late (she probably forgot to pick me up again), Selina and her clique began joking about how I had been abandoned.My head was pulled back by one of the girls, and she slammed me into the concrete.I quickly shielded my face when she was about to punch me, but to my surprise, the punch never came.The girl's scream flew through the air like she had been thrown, and that was all I could hear.As I heard them run, Selina and the other girls wept.I was completely alone when I uneasy opened my eyes.I never saw the girl who slammed me to the ground again.Her parents moved her to a nearby school district because she was so scared.I desperately desired to be accepted by my classmates, despite the fact that they laughed at me.I simply desired to fit in.That would never occur, thanks to Selina's efforts.I began to drift off into a vivid dream as I fell deep asleep.Valerian was firmly encircling my father's neck while he was holding him against the wall in my dream.As he struggled for air and clawed at Valerian's grasp, Sirius' eyes were bulging out of their sockets.As she begged Valerian to release her husband, my mother collapsed on her knees and pulled at his ankles.From over his shoulder, those horrible eyes that were a bloodthirsty red stared at me, waiting for me to either be kind and let him go or give him permission to cut my father's throat.I felt that unidentified darkness twitching within me.A portion of me desired for him to kill my father.I couldn't harm Balrus in the same way that he had killed my freedom, so I couldn't kill him.He would experience such sorrow in the future if his loving father were to leave him.The entirety of Valerian's fangs were exposed, and I could feel them poised to strike.As oxygen couldn't get
I snapped conscious and overreacted, my eyes looked for him in every one of the edges of my room.I didn't need a mirror to see how I looked because my nightgown was wet from sweat.I heard a low, still breeze right outside my window and felt my heart beating quickly, my wild red hair likely shooting in all directions, and my eyes were glassy with fear.My window is open.I lowered my head slightly to the right and narrowed my eyes.Had he been in there, listening from the shadows while I slept, or had I gone to sleep with that window open?I considered reaching for the light switch, but I decided it would probably be best to catch him off guard if he was still gazing at me with that amused twinkle in his green eyes.Allow him to sample his own medicine.After making my decision, I tried to remain calm as I slowly slipped my right hand under the covers and reached for my phone under the pillow.After wrapping my fingers around it, I turned on the torch light and pointed it at the wall opposite
He finally said, still staring out my window, "So that’s what has been eating you alive these past few days."Hmmm.It was very interesting, he had murmured.You know far too much for a young girl, but I wouldn't have it any other way.He then turned around and leaned lightly against the wall to face me.He had stated, "I am not the news animal."I don't like chaos, and I feed very neatly.“Catelyn, ripping my meal apart and leaving its torn limbs and carcass out there for any passers-by to see is really too uncivilized for my taste,” he said with a slight scrunch of his nose.I never was and never will be a part of that messy business.He had spoken with an emotionless, flat voice.It almost seemed as though he was making a comment about the weather because his face had appeared so serene and peaceful."I will try to explain as simply as I can because your other concern is a little more complicated than the matter of human corpses."He then pushed away from the wall and started walking toward me
What"Isn't it just gorgeous?"Although at the time I desired his company and had secretly missed him, I surprised myself by actually starting a conversation with him.His voice was deep and raspy, and I could make out from my peripheral vision that he wasn't looking up at the sky. "Gorgeous..."The arches in my face were the focus of his fixed gaze as he observed me.I'm not sure what possessed me.I attempted to attribute my foolish actions to my intoxication while flying.As my nervous pinky intertwined with his, I slowed my approach and let the side of my hand rub against his.Strangely, his skin was warm.I was honestly shocked.He did not have the ice-cold skin that the vampires always had in stories and movies.I was infected with a fever of lust due to his natural energy of calefaction, which was inviting and warm.For the first time, my mind was on board with the idea, and my heart begged for more of his touch.As he crept up on top of me and cupped one hand on my neck and the other on
Valerian replied, "Yes, it is," which was a little creepy considering that I hadn't asked the question out loud.He had previously informed me that the lapis lazuli was worn by his people as a symbol of eternal love.I was certain that just this box would bring me a lot of money at the pawn shop.Then, to see what was inside, I opened its latch.A necklace was on a small pillow inside.Not any ordinary necklace.The front half of the necklace was adorned with sixteen diamonds cut in the emerald shape, and the other side was adorned with emeralds.The colorless diamond that was worn as a pendant was probably one of the rarest and most valuable types.Additionally, it came with flawless earrings that perfectly complemented the necklace's main stones.The most stunning thing I had ever seen, it was stunning.It's a real shame because I had already planned to sell it for cash.That was his sixth present to me thus far:Since either my sale to him or our "engagement," there was one for each birthday.E
I was salivating."Happy Birthday, my love," I said.My hot-pink pyjama shorts' exposed thighs caught his attention as his gaze followed me down my body.The previous year had seen numerous changes in my body.The tank top I was wearing was revealing just the right amount of cleavage, and my breasts had grown into shape.My hips had widened, giving me the curves I wanted.His hungry eyes showed that he wanted me more than ever.As I anxiously picked at my cuticles, I said, "Happy anniversary," trying to be polite.Before my inquisitiveness broke the ice, we sat in disdainful silence.Please describe your residence to me."You will see in due time.The following year, we will move into my house.I let out a defeated sigh.I was eager to learn more about his vampire life, which I enjoyed learning about.Gently twirling his cufflinks, he acknowledged my disappointment.It's a lot bigger and nicer than where you currently live.In our castle, you will live like a princess.I must always be close to t
With a sigh, I bowed my head and allowed my forehead to touch the mirror.I had given a lot of thought to the idea of showing Valerian who he really was in the first few months after our engagement.I had attempted to make plans despite not having a cellphone at the time.As a 13-year-old girl, I had even ventured out after school to the subway train station in the hope that I would be taken seriously.A portion of the money I had saved by selling off Valerian's birthday present to me was held in my right palm.I thought as I walked that my parents might have been content to act like nothing was wrong.I wouldn't if they hadn't sold me off.My brilliant plan had been to make a movie-like 911 call from the subway payphone.I was going to tell the police what had happened that first night, give them my location, and wait for them to come get me when a police officer answered the phone.That day, I hadn't come very far.Selina had caught up to me once I was sufficiently far from school, standing si
He required me more than ever before.He had recently maintained that he was fighting invisible monsters.I thought it was a metaphor.Like he was battling with an interior issue, and he didn't have the foggiest idea by what other means to make sense of it, however the manner in which he depicted these animals concerned me.His explanations went into such great detail.They had angelic wings adorned with a thousand black feathers, and their skin was as black as coal, as if it had been scorched by the sun, according to him.Their eyes were completely black, with no traces of pupils or color in their irises, and their entire set of teeth were razor-sharp.Their ferocious growls could be heard echoing outside the window of his bedroom, and he could also hear their sharp claws scratching against the walls.How could a child of eleven come up with something like that?It was time to wake Balrus up for school and begin my usual morning routine before I knew it.I served the family their delicious sau
[APPRECIATION]Dear Readers, I aspired to be a writer for a significant portion of my life.It began when I was a young child. When I first started writing, I began to realize the power of words. I can recall those early days. From sonnets to brief tales, I started to string words together, making my craft gradually Even then, I realized how deeply words could connect with other people's experiences and how validating that could be.I began to write more as I got older. I wrote poetry and short stories in journal after journal. I spent every spare moment jotting down my thoughts on napkins and torn notebook pages. I was courageous in offering my work to other people, and it seemed like I could write constantly.The shift started in college. I had little time for anything other than studying and working full-time as a college student. My writing ceased gradually. I switched from undergraduate to graduate school and increased my work responsibilities.I wed someone. I had a family. Beca
“Guys, we can hear you from the reception room,” they said.We both jumped and then we burst out in laughter. Valerian lowered me to my feet, grinned like a little boy, and kissed my birthday. He danced as he dressed in his tux and he blew me a kiss before he left.“I’ll see you downstairs, Mire. Hurry down, we’ve got some unfinished business.”I sat naked for a few more minutes and thought of the turn my life had taken. Dragos was gone, I was about to marry the man I loved, and we already had a baby on the way. I giggled in delight, hopped off the bed, and started to get dressed.I walked down the stairs ten minutes later and was delighted to find the staircase decorated with flowers. Rafael was going to give me away, and he smiled when he saw me coming down. I held my flowers with my left hand and extended my right to him.“Are you ready to become our new Vampire Queen?” he asked.I smiled as I hooked my arm around his. “I have never felt more alive. Or more ready, Rafael.”Rafael g
[Epilogue]2 MONTHS LATERMy wedding dress was draped over the armchair next to the window. The curtains were drawn slightly and Valerian’s tux had been folded away neatly into the top drawer in our room. There were representatives of the twelve most powerful vampire covens downstairs, and the witches took quiet tours of our home as they waited for the ceremony to begin.I lay naked on the bed, wearing only my diamond ring and bridal garter. Valerian’s head was buried in between my legs. My head fell back on the pillow and I cupped my left breast, rolling the nipple around with perfectly manicured fingers. Valerian was stark naked and his tongue pushed in deeper with each moan that escaped my lips.I looked down my belly and I met his eyes. They glinted wickedly as Valerian thrust his tongue in deeper. I fell back to the bed, grabbed the bedsheets with both hands and arched my back. Valerian pushed me to the edge, brought me back, and pushed me right back. My hair stuck to the sweat o
The thought was a balm for my grief. For a long while, I just rested in Ivan’s arms, tears soaking what was left of his torn and bloody clothes. I felt him crying too.“There feels like something is missing from me,” Ivan confessed.“Me too,” I said. “I feel like I will never again be whole, despite this power that flows through me.”I turned around. “Thank you for everything you suffered for me. I know you went through a lot. How are your hands?” He raised them to show her that the wounds he received from the spear were still not healed.“I can help you with that,” I said, and took his hands in mine. I closed my eyes and once again accessed the power that felt like an inferno in my body. I rubbed the wounds, and they slowly closed under my touch.I then focused on his other wounds. I sent waves of my healing power flowing through his whole body. I saw other cuts and scrapes close. His cheeks also regained their colour.“Thank you,” Ivan said. “One rogue stabbed me in my side. I thoug
I glared at Dragos and he gave me a cocky smile. I gave him the same smile right back. I was going to defeat this Vampire King, one way or another.I let all the anger and hate I felt for Dragos flow through my body and into the Emerald Tablet. I felt my bond with Valerian fading away, and the fear of losing him threatening to split my soul in two. I tried to steady my nerves as I locked my eyes on Dragos’.His smirk was gone now, his arms suspended directly above his armour where it hung, as if he couldn’t decide between letting it hang there or picking it up to wear it again. He looked worried and concerned as he looked around him. He might have sensed that I was connecting to the Emerald Tablets, but I didn’t think he knew that I was harnessing the One Power. I was stealing his dream from right in front of him, and the thought warmed me.I felt the energy I had directed to the Emerald Tablet flood back into my body. It started in my fingertips and didn’t stop until it had spread to
I looked around to see if anyone around me could help. I saw Ivan out of the corner of my eye, fighting some invisible force, as was Rafael. They appeared pinned where they stood, with Ivan having a sword in hand poised to pierce someone, but he wasn’t moving. Rafael looked like he was running towards me, but his feet seemed glued to the floor. Both were totally unable to help Vale and I. Still the witches’ chanting continued, and I knew they were responsible for holding my two friends in place.Was there a way I could stop the witches? I looked around for anything to help. There were no weapons nearby, except for the sword piercing Valerian’s heart. I was too afraid of pulling it out. I figured that would only make his blood loss increase, causing him to die quicker.I looked back towards Ivan and Rafael. Rafael met my eyes, and I could sense that he still cared for and loved me. He had tried his hardest to defend me, but that plot also failed. I felt hopeless and leaned back over Va
I focused on the faces of Valerian’s soldiers who I had grown to love. I focused on the clashing of their swords and the flood of relief I had felt when Rafael barged into the room with those familiar faces behind him. I focused on Ivan and Balrus, but most of all I let my love for Valerian well up in my mind. Like a cool stream of water, I felt it pool up and gently flow through my head, seizing my mind power back from the spells being cast by the witches. I couldn’t reach out to Valerian through our bond. Something or someone seemed to be blocking our connection, but I wasn’t worried. I knew that whatever spell that was, it could only last for so long. “Once I end Dragos’ life,” I thought, “this sandstorm will clear and everything else will return to normal.”I regained control of my thoughts and I instantly began to feel better. My senses opened up once more, and I was able to fully sense the movement all around me. Someone ran past me, knocking their shoulders into mine, and I was
Dragos looked down at his armour angrily. He had likely paid a pretty penny for that armour or, more likely, he had stolen it. It might be ornate, but it did its job. I could not get any successful body shots in. Neither I, nor Valerian and Ivan, had armour on, so we were much more vulnerable to his attacks, and Dragos knew it.I assessed the room. Valerian was finally rising from the ground and was readying himself to begin attacking his sire again. Ivan was leaning heavily on the marble platform I had been laying on. Too much blood loss. I am not sure how I did it, but I sent a wave of energy to both Valerian and Ivan and watched them perk up in seconds. Both stood straighter and their eyes glistened with uncontrolled rage.Valerian began approaching Dragos at a run, but Dragos merely raised his hand and said, “Stop, Valerian.” And, against his will, he was once again under mind control. But I could feel he was defeating it through our mind link. He was focusing on me in his mind. I
The vampire fell, clutching at his chest as he struggled to breathe.“Thank you,” I said, my voice overwhelmed with gratitude. “you just saved my life.”Ivan flashed me his signature smile and shrugged. “That was nothing, you would do the same thing for me.”We stood back to back and watched the vampire guards box us in a circle. Somewhere in the background, I heard Valerian and Dragos grunting and hitting each other brutally. I didn’t turn around to see, there were about sixteen vampires surrounding Ivan and I, so I couldn’t afford the distraction.One of them suddenly ran towards Ivan. The guy went to step around him, his arm stretched out, trying to grab me. “Let him go!” I screamed.I shot out flames in the shapes of little daggers and I aimed it right. I hit him in the temple, causing him to bounce off the wall and drop like a puppet with its strings cut.Ivan turned to the vampire nearest to the fallen guy. “This is your final chance. Pick up your trash and leave. Or don’t, and