Chapter 21
Even on his birthday two days ago, he was heavily guarded. The visitors could not take his attention away from him, and it made him anxious. A part of him wanted to see Zayne for the sole purpose of acquiring knowledge but to the deepest part of his mind lurked the thought of knowing her. It didn't feel right for him. Every time he could take a glimpse of her smiling face, he couldn't help longing to be the reason for that happiness. There's a whisper in the back of his mind that kept telling him to hold her hand and do reckless things with her.
"You know, you really look an idiot now," Alic pointed out while sipping a gla.s.s of blood. She was sitting cross-legged on a golden stool.
"I'm not in the mood, okay!" he hissed as he tried looking for Zayne in the horde of vampires dancing in the center. She's serving meat in the guest; he hated that she's not serving him. Probably his father's idea.
"Can you stop peering like a giraffe over the dance floor. This is your party but you seemed not enjoying it. If you're looking for Zayne again, she's not here. Father is prohibiting her to get near us. I heard him talk to her." She wiggled her dark hair.
He pulled his jet black hair. "What? Why would he do that?" He collapsed on the chair with a resigned look.
"He probably wants to save you from your stupidity. It's very obvious that you're attracted to her. May I remind you, brother. You just turned eighteen and she might be a hundred-years-old for all you knew."
His eyes widened. "I'm not attracted to her," he denied, "I just want to know how she turned out to be a human."
Alic snapped. "That's one of the reasons, too. You remember father's threat. He would kill you if you try."
"Huh! Let him. He'd never really treated us as his child."
"You're hopeless." She shook her head with a blank look. "I don't know who among us is older. You're acting more like a child." Her eyes bored at him for a moment or two before she walked away and danced with a boy wearing a nice suit.
He breathed heavily. "I don't know what I'm feeling." Closing his eyes, he tried listening to his thoughts, clarifying what he feels, and trying to decipher what he really desires. After a while, he realized that Zayne was happily married. If he interfered in their relations.h.i.+p, he'll end up hurting her and himself. After all, she sacrificed immortality just to be with him.
After that realization, his motivation to talk to her was purely for business. Though, there's still this yearning growling inside him whenever he sees him. Fortunately, it disappears after seeing her husband clinging beside her.
"You know what, brother! I think you're not the only one attracted to her," Alic blurted out. Her hands were scratching her chin as she looked up. They were sitting on the dining hall's table, waiting for their
"You're thinking again. I think that's your gift. Having a wise mind." He laughed. "I mean an adult's mind."
She sn.i.g.g.e.red. "Fair enough. I'm relieved you're back to your old self. But, I want you to take a closer look at her."
His brows creased, but he shrugged it off. Alic narrowed her eyes as she observed a purplish tinge stain Vladimir's golden irises, and that confirmed her a.s.sumption.
She snapped. He blinked before looking back at her. "And what's the purpose of it?"
"Simple. It proved that she's gifted with an attractive beauty. Not just the normal one, but a feature that would distract anyone. It's a defense mechanism and in battle, it's very useful." She nodded three times with a satisfied smile.
"How do you know all that?" Vladimir challenged.
Alic merely smiled. "I suggest you take a look at our books. They'll sharpen your mind."
Vladimir smiled. "You really are a smart kid."
"I know." She stood. "By the way, I know you're still anxious meeting her. So, I suggest you do it at midnight. I planned everything. All you have to do is to not make any noise."
"You're really amazing!"
A sad smile curved her lips. "That's the least I could do." She diverted her gaze before walking away. That's when she noticed a deep wound at her back, just below her neck. He turned rigid. That should've healed already. Was this the effect of those liquids injected into her?
An unknown s.h.i.+ver ran down his spine; it took him a while before he could recover with his thoughts. In a blink, he followed her sister's trail. However, the king grabbed his hands. "And where do you think you're going?"
He glared at him. "What did you do to my sister?" His fist was clenched to the hem of his s.h.i.+rt, preventing himself from punching his b.a.s.t.a.r.d of a father.
"I did what a father could do to protect his child." He squinted. It felt as if he's piercing his soul, and his nerves were numbing down with his glares.
They looked at each other for a while 'till Vladimir decided to ran away from him. Even if he didn't like to admit it, the king was way stronger than him.
The king's deep, feathery voice echoed in his head. "Just remember, son! Obstructing my goals means you're going against me. You might have my blood, but I would never hesitate to strike you down. Always remember that." Every word he uttered weighed Vladimir down, making it hard for him to run with full speed.
Later that night, Vladimir tiptoed outside his room. He must be cautious. His father has more than just heightened senses, and moving recklessly would be a suicide attempt. Taking Alic's advice, he went to sort out all her questions to Zayne at night. Partly, he wanted to check out on her and she might be with them as they talk. After all, she was the one who planned this.
The maid's chamber was on the ground floor. Situated in the right-wing of the castle. He prowls to the stone staircase while looking left and right for the presence of anyone. Every now and then, Elite guards would patrol in the castle, but they seemed to be unconscious as they walk. Once, Vladimir tried letting one of them spotted him, but he did nothing. He's just staring at him with a dreamy look in his eyes. Alic might have confounded them. She's so impressive. For a child, she could do this sort of thing; she's gifted, indeed.
He arrived safely in the chamber. Thankfully, he saw Zayne at the entrance; she was tapping her heels while her hands were crossed. For a moment, he contented himself by staring at her perfect complexion. Those mesmerizing tall nose in the center of rosy cheeks and pinkish heart-shaped lips would surely distract any man. By just looking at her, he's aroused. What more if she does something wild? He might go mad.
It took Vladimir a minute to recover. Thankfully, her husband arrived. He was checking if she's okay. She smiled. "Of course I am." Her small fingers trailed to her husband's cheeks.
Vladimir has to slap herself to stop being swayed with her serene voice; it also brought an absurd thought of how her moan would sound. Maybe Alic was right. Seduction was her gift, and it proved to be the most efficient defense.
It didn't take long before her husband bade goodbye, planting a soft kiss to her forehead. Vladimir was then taken aback when her blue eyes landed on him. "You're here," she said with a small smile, making a deep dimple surfaced at the edge of her cheeks.
"I want to know how you became a human," he said directly.
Zayne chuckled. "You're in a hurry, I see. But, I want to know why you want to be a mortal." Her eyes wandered to his body, and he felt tension building in his muscles. For the first time, he felt conscious.
He swallowed. "J—just because, okay—" He moved back when she walked towards him.
"What's the matter?" Her neat brows furrowed. "I thought you want to be a mortal." The voice that was once serene became firmer. She wasn't that attractive when she's s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g her face. It's removing the mask she's wearing.
He straightened and looked at her straight in the eye. "I do." He's rooted on the spot when their body touched. She moved closer and closer 'till he could smell the minted-scent of her breath. His breathing hitched when her nose touched his. He closed his eyes with antic.i.p.ation, but Zayne's lips nibbled his ears. "Checkmate," she whispered with a husky voice. Then she moved away with a smile.
"If it's a real fight, you would've died. Just like any man, you could not resist my attraction. Your sister's right, I'm gifted with beauty. I use it to defend myself." Her serene voice was back, but so as Vladimir's consciousness. In fact, he's starting to be annoyed at her.