Erik tugged me against his hip so fast, I squeaked in alarm.
“Evening, Erik,” Fabian said curtly as we approached. “How was your day of courting?”
“Better than yours apparently. Clocking off already?” Erik mocked.
Fabian blew out a breath, his dark eyes dropping onto me. “Has he been an asshole?”
“Yes, all day,” I said, a small smile gripping my mouth. Take that, Count Erik.
Erik's fingers dug into my hip. “Well you were running your hands all over me half an hour ago, so I can't have been all bad.” He threw me a wink and my brow wrinkled.
“Was she now?” Fabian drawled, throwing me a curious glance before returning his gaze to Erik. “So you're going to see the ritual through, are you? I have to say, I'm rather surprised you're finally accepting your duties.”
“I suppose I was waiting for the right girl.” Erik squeezed my arm and I fought the urge to roll my eyes. The urge grew even stronger when he leant down and placed a kiss on my temple.
Overkill, much?
I decided to get a little payback. “I guess it was rather cute when you realised your fly had been undone all through lunch,” I said with a sweet smile. My attempt to humiliate Erik made Fabian bark a laugh. Well, I was supposed to make him like me, so why miss an opportunity to throw Erik to the wolves at the same time?
Erik's hold grew painfully tight.
“How embarrassing, I do hope someone snapped a picture for the Royal Times tomorrow.” Fabian beamed, looking to me again. “Perhaps we'll read through it together over breakfast in the morning?”
“I look forward to it.” I gave him a girlish grin, keeping to my word on flirting with him.
Erik's grip on me was growing too uncomfortable to bear.
“The night is still young, brother,” Erik said to Fabian, showing no visible signs of embarrassment. “Perhaps she won't want to spend the day with you after finishing the night with me.”
I bit my lip in the way I'd seen the vampire do at the bar, glancing up through my lashes at Fabian. “I highly doubt that.”
Erik pressed his mouth to my ear and heat surged right down to my toes. I was divided on wanting to pull away and stand there forever absorbing that feeling.
“Come on, let's get you somewhere quieter where you can kiss me again.”
I bit down on my tongue as he drew me away from Fabian, half-dragging me toward the castle.
“Laugh, dearest,” Erik growled and I forced out a giggle as he pulled me inside.
My smile fell flat as we stepped through the doors and Erik immediately released me.
This was a farce of epic proportions. Neither of us smiled as we headed upstairs and Erik escorted me back to my room. At least I'd get a night to myself without having to breathe the same air as him. Or maybe he didn't breathe at all. Either way, I wanted out of his general space.
Erik opened the door for me and I was more than a little annoyed when he followed me inside.
He released a heavy sigh, dropping down into the velvet chair. “This isn't going to work if you hate me, Rebel.”
I perched on the edge of the bed, my throat growing dry. “Then why have you been working so hard all day to make me hate you?”
His lips pressed together. “That was not my intention.”
“Well it must be your personality then,” I sassed, seething all over again. How long was I going to have to live like this? Having to spend time with this bastard of a vampire who seemed to take joy in tormenting me.
Erik opened his mouth, looking ready to scold me, but I cut him off before he could.
“Oh don't start on my tone again. If you want me to hate you less at least let me speak my mind.”
His jaw ticked then eventually, he nodded. “Fine. But not in front of my family. I won't be disrespected. And I do suspect the game you played with Fabian just now worked rather well. So feel free to bad-mouth me to him all you like tomorrow.”
I shook my head, confused by him all over again. “Why, Erik? What is this all for? Why on earth do you want your brother to like me?”
“The why is not your concern,” he said, his tone softer.
“Maybe not, but it would put my mind at rest. Do you know how frustrating it is being stuck here and told absolutely nothing about anything?”
He surveyed me like I was a puzzle to be solved. Leaning forward in his chair, he rested his elbows on his knees and clasped his hands together. “I think, perhaps, I've underestimated you.”
My brows went skyward.
He continued, “You're more inquisitive than I expected. And not nearly as fearful as I'd prefer.”
“You want me to be afraid of you?” I asked, my heart rate ratcheting up. It was cruel. Why would he want such a thing?
“Only in the name of control,” he muttered. “I don't take pleasure in seeing you squirm if that's what you're thinking.”
“I don't know what to think,” I breathed. “I don't trust you one bit. I've spent my life being corralled by your kind, belittled and hurt when I spoke out against them. And now you're doing it too, only in a different way. And I can't stop fighting back, Erik, not until you show me some decency. Something that can assure me you'll keep your end of the bargain.”
His eyes roamed over my face for a few eternal seconds, bringing heat to my cheeks. “Fabian seeks to take control,” he said at last and I could hardly believe he was opening up to me. “For now, the four of us hold equal power over the New Empire. But that time is wearing thin. And Fabian has ideas that are...different to mine. Our purpose here as rulers was never to create a tyranny. It has gone too far down that road already. So I wish to undermine Fabian's plans, but I can't do that until I know what they are.”
My heart juddered in my chest as I worked out what he meant. “You want me to spy on him?”
“Yes,” he confirmed, nodding. “A human is the most perfect spy I could hope for. No vampire would ever suspect you, Fabian included. We are all too caught up in our superiority to pay attention to what you might be capable of.”
It was a twisted sort of compliment. I was glad he was embracing the fact that humans weren't just a food source without a brain though.
He went on before I could say anything. “Once I know what Fabian’s plans are, I will be able to strike out against him. I wish to unseat him from power. Miles and Clarice will easily bow to my whim, but not Fabian. And when he is dealt with I will take full control of the New Empire and focus on what is truly important to our kind.”
“Which is?”
His throat bobbed as he considered whether to answer. “That is not relevant. I have been as candid as I can for now. And that will have to be enough.”
My heart drummed faster, but I decided to let it go as an idea struck me. “So if you take control, you could make any law you wanted? Even one that benefited humans?”
Erik snorted, shaking his head. “What are you suggesting, that I offer something to your species if you help me?”
I jutted up my chin, realising this was so much bigger than my father.
“Yes,” I replied and he started laughing.
“Rebel, you really are a piece of work,” he commented when his mirth had subsided.
I folded my arms, not backing down. “You want my help, don't you? So offer me something worth helping you for.”
“I've already agreed to free your father and pardon your sister when she is found,” he said, his eyes flashing.
“Yes, but now I know your plan so you have to do as I ask.” A smile grew on my face as he gave me a confused look.
“Oh do I? And why is that?”
“Because I'll tell Fabian what you've told me and your plan will go to hell-”
“Then your father will never be freed,” he cut across me sharply.
My gut writhed but I had to play this hand as well as I could. “Or perhaps Fabian will be so grateful to me that he'll free him for me.”
Erik pressed his tongue into his c
heek then rose to his feet. He lifted a finger, pointing it in my face. “You are in dangerous territory, Rebel. Do you have any idea what would happen to you if I declared you to my family as a spy?”
“And what would you tell them exactly? That I was going to reveal your plans to screw over your brother? I imagine they'd keep me alive long enough to hear that nugget of truth.”
“Unbelievable,” Erik exclaimed. “You're given food, fine clothes, a bed in my family's castle and you're threatening to betray me!”
“No, I'm trying to negotiate.”
“You're trying to blackmail me,” he retaliated. “A human goading a Count of the New Empire, it's ridiculous!” He started pacing before me, working himself up into a rage, his body primed like an animal's.
“You're trying to make me do what you want and offer me as little as possible for it. I'm only asking to be heard. For humans to be given some semblance of decency!”
“Decency? What are you talking about?” He glowered at me for several long seconds, then a decision flared in his steely eyes. “Get changed. We're going out. Wear something warm.” With that, he marched from the room and slammed the door.
My mouth parted as I gazed at the door. Heat flooded my veins, making me want to rip the whole room apart. How could he be so stubborn? Didn't he care that humans were being treated like dirt under his very nose?
And probably by his command.
I sighed, realising I was fighting a pointless war. Erik didn't care, that was the problem. I'd never get through to someone who could barely even acknowledge that I was a living, feeling being.
As I pulled off my dress and tugged on some jeans and a warm sweater, I spotted an object on the chair. With a jolt, I realised it was Erik's phone.
I darted toward it, snatching it up and pressing my thumb down on the screen. A bunch of numbers lit up and despite tapping several of them, I only caused the thing to vibrate angrily. Words lit up at the top of the device.
Passcode invalid.
I was about to give up, when it buzzed again and a message flashed up from Valentina.
I think you should cut her loose, like we discussed. She's more trouble than she's worth. Find a new human to work with.
Time seemed to slow as I reread the message, making sure I'd understood it right. Erik had discussed his plan with Valentina. So she knew this was all a pretense and I was just a pawn at the heart of their game. And not only that, she was trying to screw me over.
I clenched the phone in my hand as fear trickled through me. What if Erik did as she said and got rid of me? I'd never save my dad if that happened. And what if they caught Callie..?
Without thinking, I threw the phone at the wall as hard as I could. It bounced back, slamming into the floor at my feet.
A jagged crack glared up at me from the now-blank screen. My breathing slowed as I gazed at it. Erik might be angry, but at least this would stop him from reading that message.
Picking it up, I placed it back in the velvet seat where I'd found it, chewing on my lower lip.
Shit, Montana, what now?
Should I hide it?
Pretend I never saw it?
Erik stepped back into the room and I had no time to do anything about the cellphone. My jittery body immediately gave away that I was anxious. Erik's eyes slid to the seat and his jaw hardened.
I recomposed myself as he whipped it from the chair, turning to me and holding it out to show me the screen.
“What is this?” he snarled.
I cleared my throat, figuring it was best to keep up my taunting. “A phone?”
“Stop playing games. Tell me what that is.” He pointed at the enormous crack and I gave him an innocent shrug.
“A crack?”
“And how did it get there, Rebel?”
I tapped my chin, continuing with my game. He'd toyed with me all day so I was going to toy with him right back. “Well I'm not sure, your highness. Perhaps you sat on it with your royal ass.”
His mouth twitched and I was almost certain he was about to smile. Instead, he pocketed the phone and gave me a sweeping glance. “Funny, I didn't realise my royal ass could be so destructive.”
“Oh I suspect royal asses can be quite destructive when they want to be. Arrogant too.”
He laughed, and the sound wasn't cruel or mocking for once. It was rumbling and soft and sent a quiver through me. “Very funny, Rebel, now put a coat on or you'll freeze out there.”
“We wouldn't want that,” I remarked, heading to the closet, hardly able to believe I'd gotten away with destroying his property. I fished out a fur-lined jacket and tugged it on. When I'd zipped it up, I moved to Erik's side, eyeing his less-imposing expression.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“You'll see,” he replied, taking my arm and guiding me from the room.
When we stepped outside and the milky moonlight flowed over us, I expected to find another carriage waiting, but this time a shiny black car was parked on the road.
He opened the back door for me and I slid across the smooth leather seats to make room for him. The driver politely welcomed Erik then set off down the road, knowing exactly where we were going. Unlike me.
We drove for nearly an hour and Erik refused to tell me where we were headed. I was confused when we pulled onto the huge bridge that led out of the city and my heart stumbled with trepidation.
We soon passed through a ruined part of what I assumed was still New York. I gazed out at the hulking shadows of broken buildings and decimated houses, spotting a raccoon digging through some of the rubble.
Lights called to us in the distance and my curiosity piqued as we closed in on a set of huge metal fences. A floodlight shone down on us and I caught sight of a sign hanging beneath a wooden tower. Atop it was a vampire holding a large gun. I rarely saw weapons like that; the vampires usually carried blades, but I'd seen the odd pistol in my time. This was something else. A huge thing strapped to the vampire's body, aimed directly down at us.
Erik exited the car and was immediately greeted by an Elite in dark robes, his face startling beautiful. I couldn't hear their conversation, but a moment later a metal gate opened ahead of us and Erik jumped back into the car.
“Where are we?” I whispered, the strange place making my senses tingle with fear.
“Realm A,” Erik announced and my heart tripled its pace.
What the hell were we doing here?
“I had a more fun-filled evening planned, but since you insist on talking politics, I decided a change of plans was in order.”
“Why?” I gasped, not wanting to be paraded in front of the weak people of a Realm. To see their hollow faces and haunted eyes. Would they despise me for being seen with a vampire?
As we passed through the gate and headed onto a street as smooth as the one we'd left, I was hit with complete shock. This wasn't like the Realm I knew. The houses were newly built with gleaming windows and stately porches.
Humans wandered along the sidewalk, talking and laughing. Children were out playing in manicured gardens with toys. Actual toys. Wooden spinning tops and plastic balls. One even had a tiny car he seemed to be controlling with a remote.
“Erik...” I whispered. “What the hell is this?”
“I just told you,” he murmured and his hand slid onto mine, encompassing it in his palm. “I'm not going to hear another vague complaint from you about the humans' conditions. So I want you to point out what’s so terrible about the way we run these places and I’ll decide if it needs to be addressed.”
I shook my head, unable to find the words to answer as we turned down another street and a beautiful old building came into view with a grand clock embedded in the wall. From my dad's stories, I wondered if this might be a town hall. As our car drew closer, a crowd of people poured out of the arching doorway dressed in warm clothes.
Erik rolled down the window as we approached the group and when they spotted him, some cried out while others covered the
ir mouths in alarm.
“It's Count Erik!” a woman called.
“Erik we love you!” another shouted and I gazed at her like she'd gone mad.
“Good lord, is he going to get out?” a man muttered, backing up a little.
My world crumpled in on itself. I rested a hand against my heart as Erik stepped out of the car and started chatting with the people like he wasn't a complete monster. Some of them held back and fear rippled in their eyes, but respect too.
Erik glanced over his shoulder when he noticed I hadn't followed, but I couldn't do anything except sit there, frozen in place as realisation pounded through me. This was a lie. I didn't know who had concocted it, but someone definitely had. This wasn't like my Realm, and from the gaunt look of the men and women who'd travelled to the royal castle with me, I didn't think it was like any of theirs either. It was a sham. A sweet falsehood for the vampires to swallow so they didn't need to feel any discomfort about their treatment of us.
Erik had insisted I was ungrateful about my conditions because he didn't know about them. He couldn't. This was the only truth he saw. That humans were kept in towns as lavish as their own. And despite the fences, they looked happy. Maybe I would have been happy too growing up somewhere like this. Maybe I wouldn't have fought back so hard. Maybe I would never have questioned the vampires' rule...
Erik ducked his head back into the car. “Are you getting out?”
I shook my head, unable to form the word no.
He frowned, then dropped back into his seat. “So? What exactly would you like me to improve?”
I ground my teeth together, unable to voice the truth. He'd never believe me anyway. “I just want to go back to the castle,” I said, not looking at him.
The air crackled with tension. “Rebel, this is not something I offer on a daily basis.”
I shook my head, too choked up to answer.
“What's wrong, what have I done now?” he asked, sounding completely baffled.
I blew out a breath, ducking my head so my hair swept forward and created a curtain between us. “Nothing, Erik. I just want to go back.”
Eternal Reign (Age of Vampires Book 1) Page 20