“I’m horny,” Colin whined as Amar tore open another carton of Jack Daniels. She was a distributor at the party that the Icelanders were having.
“And you’re telling me this because?” she asked, handing over a bottle to some wretched man. She made a mental note to bathe after this. Giveaways were not her thing.
“Well, I was hoping we could, um, go have some fun.”
Amar resisted the urge to puke.
“And why would I want to have fun with you?”
“Um, because we’re at a party, and nobody would know.”
“I’m not having sex with you, Colin, so leave.”
“If I am to leave, then you’re coming with me,” he said, grabbing her hand.
“Let me go, Colin.”
“No.”
“She said let go.”
Wilhelm.
Amar was hoping that they wouldn’t meet today. Colin turned to Wilhelm. “And you are?”
“Your worst nightmare. Now scoot.”
Colin glared at them before leaving. “This isn’t over yet, Amar!”
“Merry Christmas, Amar,” Wilhelm murmured as he handed her a bottle.
She sighed. “What do you want?”
“I just want to talk.”
“Later. I’m working.”
He spun her around, and she let out a yelp, holding onto his shoulders. His large hands palmed her round globes, her eyes widening. “Wilhelm, what are you doing?”
“Nothing much. Can we talk now?”
“Can’t it wait after work?”
“What I intend to do to you can’t wait after work, Amar,” he mumbled, his smoldering eyes meeting hers.
“What…what do you intend to do with me, prince?”
“I’m afraid my intentions will only scare you away, therefore I shall keep it to myself.”
She frowned. “I’m a big girl. I can handle it.”
“You sure?” he murmured, reaching up to caress the back of her neck. “Most girls can’t.”
“Well, it’s a good thing I’m not most girls, isn’t it?” she whispered, looking at him.
“Maybe. Are you ready to talk now?”
She nodded. “I am, but take me somewhere private. I don’t want people to see us together.”
“So you intend to keep me hidden. How cute.”
She sighed. “Wilhelm…if you have nothing else to say, please go.”
“And leave you with that lad? Never.”
And with that, he teleported them to his room. Amar pushed him away to take in her surroundings. “It’s like you live in the dark.”
“I’m not a fan of colors.”
“So what do you want to talk about?”
“It’s your sister.”
Amar turned to him. “My sister? What about her?”
Wilhelm breathed deeply. “She killed someone,” he said, and waited for her reaction. Amar laughed. “You’re joking. You just have to be joking. I know that girl since when she was conceived, and she doesn’t have the heart to kill a fly, let alone murder someone.”
“Maybe you don’t know her so well. I’m not joking, Amar. I have facts to support my claim.”
“Then please tell me, because I am finding it so hard to believe that Toreh, my baby sister can commit murder.”
“Your father was jailed for the crimes your sister committed.”
She laughed again. “My father? He’s not in jail for murder.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. I checked his records, Amar. It spelled murder. Toreh must have fooled you all.”
Amar shook her head in disbelief. “My sister might be naughty, rude, or even troublesome, but she’s not a murderer.”
Wilhelm sighed and approached her. “Wake up to reality, Amar! Your sister, your only sister killed someone! Now I’m sorry that I am the one who has to bear such bad news, but I only speak the truth! You just have to believe me.”
Her eyes filled with tears. “I…I don’t even know you.”
“Amar, if that was true, you wouldn’t have let me kiss you.”
She wiped away a stray tear. “Didn’t it occur to you that perhaps I let that happen in order to know what a vampire’s lips felt like?”
Wilhelm sighed. “I’m sorry.”
“Keep your goddamned apology. Who did she kill?”
“I’m sorry. I should have…”
“Who did she kill, Wilhelm?”
“A vampire like myself. Only that Lady Victoria was not royalty but a very important person to the royal family.”
Amar turned to him. “If she’s that important to the royal family, why didn’t your father, the Vampire King, complain about his loyal servant murdered by an ordinary slave?”
“I don’t know, okay? All I know is that Toreh will be punished for her crimes before eventually put to death.”
Tears slid down her cheeks. “Is…is there anything I can do to stop it? I mean, she’s so young and…”
Wilhelm pulled her close. “I’m afraid there’s nothing to be done. It’s only in order she’s punished.”
Amar pushed him away. “You did this. You did this!” she yelled.
“I didn’t do shit. I am not the one who asked your sister to kill a vampire important to my people!”
“Stop. Just please stop saying that! It’s killing me inside!”
“You shouldn’t fault yourself for your sister’s mistakes, Amar,” Wilhelm murmured as he neared. “She’s made her choice.”
“But I am the one who gets to live with the consequences, Wilhelm. My mother…she won’t be able to get over it,” Amar cried.
Wilhelm pulled her close, but this time she didn’t push him away. “It’ll be fine, okay? You’ll be fine.”
“Yeah, but what about Toreh?”
“I’ll try my best to save her, if she can be saved. So, stop worrying, okay? It hurts me to see you in tears,” he whispered, wiping away her tears with a gentle sweep of his thumb.
The door opened the moment their lips touched, and Hanos walked in.
“Well, well, what do we have here?”
…..
“Merry Christmas Mrs. Adams!” Toreh called out. “Merry Christmas Miss Yvonne!”
“Don’t you ever get tired of saying Merry Christmas?”
Eloive.
Toreh gasped and turned around. “What are you doing here? You’re not supposed to be here!”
“I’m a prince, and this is my kingdom. Hence, I can be where I want to be.”
She laughed. It was bitter. “What a subtle way to remind me that I’m not royalty. But seriously, why are you here?”
“I came here to see you. You’ve been avoiding me since morning, and we haven’t got a chance to talk,” Eloive replied.
“Talk? What could we possibly want to talk about?”
He sidled up closer to her. “Well, we could talk about us, and about your sister.”
She frowned. “My sister? What about her?”
Eloive frowned. “Your sister? Is that the only thing you heard?”
“Of course not, but my sister is more important. So, what about her? Is she alright?”
“I will answer all your questions, cupcake, but first you need to calm down.”
“Calm down? You come out here wanting to talk about my sister, and you’re telling me to be calm?”
“Yes, Toreh,” he gritted out. “I’m telling you to calm down, not as your friend but as the prince.”
She was shocked. Never had he exerted his position in her presence before. Perhaps she had read too much into their friendship; she had forgotten he was royalty. Quickly, she curtsied.
“I’m sorry, my prince.”
Eloive frowned. “Toreh…”
“If the prince wouldn’t like to talk to me now that I am calm, then I shall take my leave.”
“Toreh…”
“My prince, will you talk or not?”
He sighed. “My uncle has your sister.”
Toreh laughed. She was in denial. “What nonsense are you saying, prince? My sister can’t possibly be with your uncle.”
“I speak the truth, cupcake. They are together.”
Her eyes widened. “How is that possible? She was with Wilhelm a while ago. I saw them together!”
“Wilhelm was with your sister. He took her to his room, then my uncle walked in and grabbed your sister.”
“We…we have to get her back. We…we have to get her back,” Toreh mumbled.
“And we will. But first you need to be calm.”
Wilhelm.
Toreh turned to him angrily. “You.. you caused this,” she blurted, moving towards him. Eloive blocked her path.
“I know and I intend to make things right. She’s in his room. We could sneak in and keep him distracted while I save Amar.”
“That’s if he wouldn’t kill us first,” Eloive mumbled.
“How do we distract him?” Toreh asked. “He is a vampire king. Surely, he would find out.”
“That’s where you come in, Toreh,” Wilhelm answered.
She sighed. “Tell me what I need to do.”