Benedetta PoV.
“Why here, Theo?” I asked, my voice betraying my discomfort.
I didn’t want to meet him in a place like this-dimly lit, the air thick with a strange blend of turpentine and citrus. The walls were lined with red velvet, a deep blood-red that reminded me of a victim in a vampire’s embrace.
Was he a vampire?
I flipped the business card I had been holding for too long. The name “Virgil Vissarion” gleamed in gold, no title, just “investor.” His tenor voice from our phone calls still echoed in my mind, sending chills down my spine.
A vampire or not, I didn’t care. As long as he paid.
The sound of footsteps approaching pulled my heart into a faster rhythm. My curiosity spiked as I turned to see a man, pale and six feet tall. His presence screamed wealth.
“Apologies for keeping you waiting, Miss Darin.”
I extended my hand. He grasped it, pulling it to his lips and kissing it. His old-world courtesy startled me-a gentleman from another time.
I forced a smile and said, “Only five minutes, and I’m already admiring your estate, Mr. Vissarion.”
“Thank you. Please, have a seat.”
I moved to a plush sofa with intricate wood carvings along the edges. Theo settled next to me, taking my handbag, while I positioned myself with as much grace as I could muster, projecting professionalism.
“Before we begin, I’d like to offer you something. I hope you’ll accept it.”
My eyes followed his hands as he pulled a bottle of bourbon from a polished wooden box. A glossy red ribbon adorned its neck, catching the light. I was instantly drawn to it.
“Wow-1943. I’m sure I’ll love it. Thank you,” I said, inspecting the label.
“I keep a few in my cellar. It would be unfair not to share after all your help.”
“I think I like you, Mr. Vissarion. We’ve been working together, and it seems we’re on the same page,” I added, handing the bottle to Theo.
“I’ve sent the rest. I hope we can work together again in the future.”
“You can count on me, Mr. Vissarion. I’m always happy to assist.”
After thirty minutes, we bid farewell. Everything had gone as planned. I felt a wave of relief as I left the building. Virgil was handsome enough, had he been a bit more charming. But his smell…
Vampires. Always masking the stench of blood with something strange.
I had little hope for peace after this. Castor would soon come looking for me, but leaving town was my best option. Burze wouldn’t be safe for the next year, not with Castor intent on killing me.
Pollux came to my mind. Castor’s foolish younger brother-weak, yet always shielding him. If I hadn’t fallen for Castor, I wouldn’t have entangled myself with Pollux, though he was obsessed, even claiming me as his chosen mate.
The thought of the two brothers clouded my mind, making me forget to check my reflection. I pulled out a mirror from my bag and glimpsed Theo’s face in it.
“Has he really paid up, Theo?” I asked.
“Yes, 120 million Vora has been deposited into your account,” he replied, showing me the confirmation on his tablet.
“Are you sure you want to cancel that brand deal, Denna?”
“Yeah, I need to protect myself. Melucci’s too powerful in Burze.”
“What’s your plan now?”
“Plastic surgery and sunburns in the south. I can already feel the sunlight warming my skin,” I said, running my fingers over my exposed arm.
“That’s all?”
“Of course. A year away from Burze, and I’ll travel the world. Doesn’t that sound wonderful?”
Theo nodded like a loyal dog, ever since I’d saved him from that perverted producer. After surviving the abuse, he swore to stay by my side. He had been useful ever since then.
His fingers massaged my sore shoulders, still aching from last night’s shoot that had dragged on until 3 a. m. I never let anyone, especially a human, touch me-except Theo. His gentle hands relaxed me as we drove toward the airport.
A notification pinged on my phone. I glanced at it-it was from Gardner, my lawyer, about the sale of my two apartments. I asked Theo to check my account balance, and he smiled at me.
“I almost forgot-Aaron texted me after you blocked him. Are you two fighting?” Theo asked, raising an eyebrow as he handed me his phone.
“No. I just don’t need him anymore; that drug made him impotent.”
“Oh my God, I shouldn’t have asked.”
I laughed as Theo’s face flushed with embarrassment. As a man who ‘liked other men’, Theo had always been a little too fond of Aaron, often staring at him without blinking.
The van jolted violently. My body was flung forward, but the seatbelt saved me from hitting the window. My eyes widened, panic setting in. Something was wrong.
“What’s happening?” I shouted at the driver.
“Someone’s blocking our way, Miss.”
“Who would dare…”
Before I could finish, the door was ripped open. Pollux stood there, grinning, his eyes locked on me with a dangerous intensity. In one swift motion, he yanked me out of the van.
My breath came in sharp gasps, my heart thudding in my chest. I’d never seen Pollux look at me like this before. His gaze was icy, filled with something dark that froze me in place.
He slammed me onto the road, and I heard the sickening crack of bones breaking. The rain began to fall harder, its cold drops stinging my face. Pollux’s shadow loomed closer, his low growl sending chills down my spine as I tried to crawl away.
“Where do you think you’re going, babe?”
“Pollux, what are you going to do?” My voice trembled, fear choking me.
“I want to see your body… torn apart.”
Before I could shift, Pollux’s hand clamped around my throat, lifting me effortlessly off the ground. I thrashed and kicked, but his grip was like iron.
Pain shot through my chest, and I struggled to breathe, gasping for air that wouldn’t come. My vision began to blur, darkness creeping in at the edges.
I clawed at his hand, desperate for escape, but it was useless. His claws sank into my skin, and I screamed in agony. My legs flailed, searching for solid ground, but there was none.
“You should have stayed away. Not even death will erase my hatred for you, Denna.”
I shook my head, trying to deny his words, but I could see the truth in his eyes.
Through the rain, I heard Theo calling my name, his voice faint. I groaned as Pollux’s claws dug deeper into my chest, the pain unbearable. I had never imagined he could do this to me.
There was nothing left. I couldn’t fight anymore. Regret washed over me like the rain, but it was too late. Death was closing in. By the Moon Goddess, I prayed for forgiveness.
The last thing I saw was the flash of a wolf’s yellow eyes. The smell of iron flooded my senses. When his fangs sank into my neck, the world went black.