“No, no, no and no. I do not agree with this. Any of this!” Eloive yelled as he popped a grape into his mouth.
“Eloive, it’s the only way,” Toreh cooed.
“No, it’s not. This is only going to get you killed, Toreh.”
“Eloive, I won’t die. Your uncle is only going to drink my blood for a while to buy Wilhelm time to save Amar.”
“And then what?” Eloive asked.
“You pull me away from your uncle. See? It’s that simple. We save Amar and….”
“You become a blood bag.”
“Eloive, we have only today to rescue my sister please. Just do this for me, please.”
Eloive looked at her. “If this doesn’t well, I…”
“It would end well Eloive. We’ll be fine. I promise.”
Wilhelm walked back in. “I assume we are ready.”
Eloive turned to Wilhelm. “If anything happens to Toreh or her sister, I’d kill you.”
Wilhelm chuckled. “I thought you said you didn’t care about her?”
“That’s beside the point,” Eloive muttered. Toreh turned to him. “Is it true? Did you say that?”
“Look, we’re running out of time. Are we doing this or not?”
….
Hanos room held the same feel as Wilhelm’s. Dark and utterly alone. Toreh felt scared but she had to be brave for her sister. The lights came on and Toreh adjusted her eyes to the sudden brightness. Her sister was nowhere in sight, just the Vampire King. If he had noticed her, she didn’t know, for he was too busy admiring his watch.
“Where is my sister?”
Hanos turned to her, grinning. “Don’t you think it’s foolish of you, coming in here unarmed to look for what no longer lives?”
Toreh’s stomach churned. “You’re lying. You have to be.”
“And if I’m not, what do you want to do about it?”
Charged with rage, Toreh grabbed the lampstand and ran toward the Vampire King with the intent of hitting him with it. Chuckling, Hanos stepped out of the way and that’s when Toreh saw her.
Amar was lying half naked on the ground, covered in a pool of blood. Her wrists were cut open and Toreh discarded the lampstand, rushing toward her sister.
“Amar…Amar…” she gushed, grabbing her older sister.
“She’s not dead,” Hanos said. “But she would be in a few hours if you don’t give me your blood.”
“Why didn’t you take hers? Why do you want mine?”
He laughed. “I already had hers. And I didn’t like it. Moreso, you were the reason I got humiliated before all those furry idiots.”
“Well, it’s not my fault you couldn’t beat a woman at an easy race.”
Hanos glared. “Hush slave.”
“Or what? You’re all bark and no bite,” Toreh spat.
Within the blink of an eye, Hanos held an unconscious Amar in his arms. “Ridicule me again and I’ll turn her into a creature of the night. And she’ll spend all eternity hating you and everything about you.”
Toreh swallowed.
“Good.”
“I just want my sister.”
Hanos dropped her body. Toreh cringed as Amar fell to the ground.
“And I just want to take your blood without my son and nephew attacking me the minute I tap a vein.”
Toreh’s eyes widened. “How…how did you know?”
“I’m a thousand years old and I’ve once been in love. Do you really think that I wouldn’t be able to perceive your foolishness? I knew from the moment you walked in that you weren’t alone. And who better than to accompany you other than my daunting son and annoying nephew?”
Toreh remained quiet.
“Come in, Wilhelm and Eloive.”
The two males stepped inside and Eloive hurried over to Toreh, holding her close.
“Father, the female is not worth it. Let her go.”
“Not worth it? Wilhelm, you showed up here with the intention to harm me and you’re saying that she isn’t worth it? She’s definitely worth it. I have no use for the female, but the slave? I want her.”
“Take me. Just leave my sister alone.”
“So sweet, this sisterly love you share. Alright then. Wilhelm, take the girl out.”
Wilhelm didn’t waste a second, taking Amar out. Now it remained Eloive and Toreh.
“Uncle, you can’t kill her.”
“I can, actually but I don’t want to,” Hanos said.
Toreh was surprised. “You…you don’t want to kill me?”
“You heard that right. You’re more useful to me alive than dead.”
“What do you mean?” Eloive asked. “What do you want with her?”
“Not with, but from. I want what everyone would want from a Tamac,” Hanos replied, as he looked at Toreh.
It took a minute for the Vampire King’s words to settle in.
“I will never be your breeder!” Toreh spat.
Eloive was confused. “Breeder? Toreh, what is he talking about?”
Hanos laughed. “You truly don’t know what Tamacs are do you?” Eloive simply stared. “Hmmm. Your father must have truly left you in the dark. You see, my dear, Tamacs are a special kind of people who have been blessed with the ability to give birth to supernatural beings without struggle. It’s been said that he who births the most children, is the strongest. Now you Toreh, I am going to need your services six years from now.”
“She will never be your breeder!” Eloive spat. “I won’t allow it.”
“You haven’t got any power Eloive, other than the one the gods blessed you with. Your father being the Crown Prince might have given you some leverage against people like her, but once your father has a legitimate heir, you will lose everything, including her. She’s a rare breed and I’ll be damned to let her ability go to waste.”
“Haven’t you got enough children already?” Toreh asked. “Enough vampires at your disposal?”
Hanos laughed. “I do have plenty of children, since my wife is just like you. But you see, it takes a while for vampires to procreate, and I am not a patient man. Therefore, I will be needing you to speed up the process. Plus, a vampire conceived is a hell lot stronger than the one created. Moreso, do not tell anyone about the gift you possess because if you do, they will come for you. And it won’t be pretty.”
…..
‘Toreh, I know you’re anxious, worried and scared but you have to relax. Your sister would be fine.”
“It’s not my sister I am worried about Eloive. It’s me. I’m worried about what would happen once I’m old enough to mother kids.”
“We’d find a way around it, cupcake. Now relax and eat.”
“I won’t be able to keep it down, not when I’m anxious.”
Eloive held on to her shoulders. “I won’t let him turn you into a baby making machine. I promise you.”
“I don’t care about your promises. I want to go home. I need to… My mum…she needs to know. She needs to…” She babbled, heading for the door.
Eloive pulled her back. “Cupcake, calm down. We’ll see your mum tomorrow and tell her everything. We’ll also see Amar, but first you need to calm down and eat.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“How about some wine? Surely, there must be a spot for a bottle of wine somewhere in that stomach of yours.”
She laughed. “I’m underage, Eloive.”
“So am I. Look cupcake, it’s just us in this lavish bedroom of mine. No rules. This might be the one time we get to be just us. Surely you do not want to let this opportunity pass you by?”
“Fine.”
He smiled and settled down on the rug, Toreh opposite him. He uncorked the bottle and took the first gulp before handing it over to Toreh who drank swiftly.
“Do you know we are indirectly kissing? I mean, I put my mouth on the bottle and you put yours, our saliva meeting just like it does when we kiss.”
When she had finally understood his words, the prince’s mouth was slated over hers, the burning liquid of the wine, flowing into her mouth from his. The wine wasn’t the only thing in her mouth. His tongue was as well, doing unimaginable things.
Her fingers found his hair and gently she pulled, as his arms went around her back, preventing her from falling. She shivered and Eloive pulled away slightly, breathing heavily.
“If you’re cold, we can warm up under the covers.”
“I…we shouldn’t be doing this Eloive.”
“Why not? We’re young and in love…”
She pushed him away. “We’re not in love. I’m not in love with you and I never have been. I do not love you. I don’t think I will ever love you. So, I’m sorry if you have fallen for me, because I can and will not fall in love with you.”
It was not supposed to hurt, but it did. His heart beat painfully in his chest.
“We should get to sleep. I’ll take the couch. The bed is all yours.”
“You’re the prince. You can’t take the couch. Allow me.”
“And as your prince, I am ordering you to get under the covers and go to sleep.”
“What made you fall for me?”
His face hardened. “I refuse to answer. Go to sleep Toreh.”
“I want to know. I demand to know. What made you love me?”
“You were different and I guessed I liked differently more than I should have.”
She smiled sadly. “Eloive…”
“Go to bed, Toreh. Tomorrow is going to be a long day.”
“Why are you behaving like this? Yes, I hurt your feelings but I didn’t ask you to fall in love with me. It’s not my fault that I do not love you!”
Gosh! He didn’t want to hear it again. Angrily, he grabbed her and kissed her fiercely. His teeth grazed her lip. She pressed her hands to his chest, pushing me away.
“Eloive…”
“Let me. I do not ask that you love me back, Toreh. Just let me love you,” he begged, reaching for her again.
She slapped his hands away.
“Eloive, if you want to love me, truly, you will let me go.”
“Let you go? So that you can become a breeder? I will never let you go Toreh, no matter what. You are mine and I intend to keep it that way.”
“Then mark me.”
Eloive froze. “What?”
“If I’m truly yours, like you said, mark me.”
“Toreh…”
“It doesn’t have to be on the neck,” she said, taking off her top. Eloive swore softly as he averted his eyes. She was not even wearing a bra despite the fact that she did have something to hold.
“Toreh, you don’t understand. Marking you would create a bond between us. You’ll be forever tied down to me.”
“Don’t you think that’s what I want?”
He groaned softly. “Toreh.”
“Please.”
He faced her, swallowing hard. Gingerly, he touched her breast, giving it a soft squeeze. Toreh let out a soft moan. He held her shoulders, lowering his head to take a nipple in his mouth. He sucked gently and Toreh threw her head back, moaning softly.
His teeth grazed her skin, fangs elongating and then he looked up at her.
“Are you sure…?”
“Do it Eloive.”
Throwing caution to the wind, he leaned in and sunk his fangs into her breast, staking his claim.