Savor

by Duncan, Megan

  I knew I had to do something to stop this before it got any worse. It was more than enough to handle Luka and Ana biting at my heels, I didn’t need my only friends to be at war as well.

  Doing the only thing that I was certain would break the battle of psyches between them, I jumped to Dmitry’s side and wrapped my fingers in his and squeezed. His jaw instantly relaxed and he broke his stare with Robin and looked at me. I saw the muscles in his face relax and felt the warmth of his anger dissipate from around us as another feeling tickled my flesh and hugged our bodies as we stared into each other eyes.

  It was an incredible feeling to lock eyes with a vampire in such a way. It was a strong feeling of intimacy that coursed through my body, like warm electricity that set every nerve and sensation afire with desire and the only part of us that was touching was our hands. I had never been with a guy before, but if it were anything like this then waiting until I was married was going to be a greater struggle than I had ever imagined.

  The sound of Robin groaning with annoyance broke the spell between Dmitry and myself. Our hands released, but the spark of connection between us still lingered as it slowly drifted away like the fleeting fragrance of beautiful bouquet.

  “I should get going. There are a lot of things that still need to be done,” Dmitry looked at me again, but the connection was no longer there. I gave him a weak smile and then he retreated from the room in a flourish.

  From the corner of my eye I saw Robin open her mouth. I was certain she was going to either continue her tirade about Ana and Luka or make some comment about Dmitry and I, but I didn’t want to hear it. As much as I liked Robin, I had had my fill of drama for the night. “Whatever you’re going to say Robin, please don’t. I’m not sure what more I can take tonight and I am starving.”

  “I’ll ring the servants to bring us something,” Robin said as she walked woodenly to a nearby phone. I watched her as she spoke on the phone, her body was stiff and she was wrapping the phone cord around her finger so tight her finger was turning white.

  I’d never seen her so worked up about something before, and perhaps she does have a point, but what could be done? The coronation ball was tomorrow and I wasn’t even prepared. All I had was a dress picked out and a vague idea of what I should be doing.

  “They will bring us something up very soon,” Robin said as she walked across the room to look out the window of my small balcony.

  I hesitated for a moment, wondering if I should follow her when an idea started to whisper in my thoughts. As I pushed apart the sheer fabrics that separated my sitting room from the sparkling night sky, I found Robin looking sullen on the railing of the stone balcony. Her knees were pulled up to her chest and she was resting her chin on them as she stared blankly into the empty countryside.

  “Would it make you feel better if I promise to talk to Nicolae after the coronation ball?” I asked as I took a seat on the railing across from her and rested my back against a pillar that was shaped like a lion’s head.

  “It’s not about making me feel better, Claire. It’s about your safety.” Robin didn’t look at me as she spoke, but kept her eyes fixed on an invisible point of interest in the distance.

  I closed my eyes and let my newly developed senses take in the magic of the night. The cold night breeze wrapped around my arms and danced with my hair. I took a deep breath and smelled faint hints that reminded me of the palace’s garden and I longed to go back there.

  “Why are you so concerned for my safety? You’re acting as if you know something bad is going to happen.” I was surprised when the words left my lips as I didn’t remember thinking them. Was this my newly developed intuition or connection with emotions? I tried to tether my psyche to Robin as I did Dmitry, but it didn’t seem to work.

  “Our world is just in a very delicate state right now Claire. Everyone thinks I’m crazy, but my parents and I have read the histories of our world and we know the path that things can take. The world may be different than what it used to be, but the actions that people take always have the same outcomes.”

  We both sat in silence for a while and I considered what she had said. I realized how much I liked that Robin didn’t always have to talk and that she was comfortable to sit in silence with me at times and just enjoy the peace and quiet. It made me think of Liz and my feelings of homesickness returned.

  As I sat wondering what Liz was doing, what my real mom was doing, a servant came with two small silver goblets of blood. I took the glass from the small silver platter and stared into the cup. I took another deep breath as I realized that I may not be able to keep the promise that I made to Liz. I was discovering more and more that my new life could not coexist with my old one and it was a sad realization.

  “I’ll see you dark and early tomorrow night, okay?” Robin asked as she left her perch on the railing. I saw the hint of a smile on her face. Her usual chipper personality was slowly returning and it was a pleasant sight. Her friendliness was one of the things that had made my choice of accepting the King’s proposal that much easier.

  “You got it.” I mustered a confident smile for her before she retreated.

  Left alone on the balcony, I finished the rest of the contents in my goblet and stared into the night sky. Without even realizing it I sensed that I was searching for the connection I found the night of my transformation. Searching for the goddess that Mara had told me of. I longed for Nyx and the comfort she gave me during my greatest time of misery. Maybe she could help ease my worries and guide me to the right decision I needed to make.

  A shiver rolled up my spine like a drop of water crawling across the skin. I thought for a fleeting moment that I had found the connection I was searching for, but quickly realized it was something else, someone else. My eyes frantically sought the familiar yet mysterious figure that I knew was somewhere watching me and I found him in the same place as I had before. He was standing in the distance.

  A warm ribbon of air wrapped around as it had when I touched Dmitry and I felt my heart longing for this mysterious man. I wanted to leap from the balcony just to be near him and my breath caught in my throat as he walked closer to the palace. He was almost close enough for his face to be revealed by the glow of the palace, but he stopped short.

  “Who are you?” I had meant to shout it aloud, but it came out as a whisper, sneaking from my lips like a secret. My words whipped around me and I sensed that they would be carried on the ribbon that invisibly connected us.

  I clenched the edge of the stone railing and felt my palms growing sweaty as my stomach lurched and knotted. I felt like a school girl waiting for her crush to reply to a love note, and I both hated and loved it.

  Suddenly, a tantalizing sensation whirled around me and tickled the sensitive skin around my neck as it carried one word to my ears with the most enticing voice I had ever heard.

  His voice was deep and soulful, full of emotion and certainty. He had answered my question and as soon as the word reached me he was gone.

  “Yours.”

  I don’t know how long I stood on the balcony after that, staring at the empty place where he had stood. A dozen questions danced in my thoughts and I was both intrigued and vexed by my mystery man’s answer. I cursed myself for not asking his name, so I could question Robin about who he was. I wondered if he would be at my coronation ball. If I would ever really get to see him and what exactly he meant by saying he was mine.

  Chapter 10

  After the mix of emotions of the night I decided to take a cold shower and then walk around the garden. The shower helped as did spending some time with the only reliable man in my life, Louie. He laid lazily at my feet while I tried to find something comfortable to wear. When a blue cotton summer dress caught my eye, I quickly slipped it on along with a pair of flip-flops and my gold necklace which contained one of my most prized possessions, the locket that Robin had given me. The pictures of Liz and my mom were comforting and I looked at them often pretending that they were there w
ith me. I even imagined what Liz would advise me to do if she knew the predicament that I was in.

  In fact I knew exactly what she would say, “Claire don’t be a sissy, kick the girl’s ass and get it over with so we can go shopping.”

  For such a pretty girl, Liz definitely wasn’t afraid to break a few nails while she ripped out her rival’s cheap extensions. I giggled at the memory of Liz getting in a fight with her arch-nemesis, Stacey Hart, because Liz caught Stacey eyeing Liz’s current guy of the month.

  As I let myself get lost in my thoughts as I loved to do, but rarely got the opportunity to enjoy, I found that I had navigated myself through the palace with complete ease and was descending the stone steps that led into the palace gardens.

  I took my time walking back to the bench that I had found on my last visit to the garden and secretly hoped that my mystery man would find me again, but I was sadly disappointed.

  The bench was empty as were the rest of the gardens. I didn’t see, hear or feel anyone around me except plant-life and various animals. Everyone was most certainly getting ready for the big night ahead. I sat atop the bench and grabbed a handful of pebbles as I slowly tossed them into the pond in no particular manner.

  The sounds of the night grew quieter the longer I was out by the edge of the pond. Perhaps I was losing myself in my thoughts more deeply or perhaps the creatures of the night were preparing to rest for a long days rest.

  When I sensed another presence, I was both excited and disappointed in the same fleeting moment. Nicolae appeared at my side coming to such a graceful stop that it almost appeared he had materialized out of thin air. His dark hair didn’t appear to be in the slightest bit out of place and his expression was so calm and understanding.

  I hadn’t seen much of my new vampire Dad since I first visited the palace and I was a little happy to see him. It was still new and slightly awkward, but I had never had a Dad before and the man I had envisioned growing up was so very much like Nicolae that it was hard not to be in awe of him.

  We stood silently in the night, breathing in the smells and feeling the sensations of our surroundings. I watched as Nicolae unbuttoned his jacket and bent down to pick up a handful of small pebbles as he joined me.

  “I don’t have to read your emotions to know something is vexing you child,” he said as he tossed his last pebble and dusted off his hands. “Come sit with me.”

  I joined Nicolae on the bench as I battled my inner-self as to what I should tell him. I appreciated how patiently he waited and noticed how he studied my face as everyone had when they first saw me after the change. His face softened and I could feel my heart swell with pride as I sensed his approval in my new appearance.

  “I am very proud of you, Claire,” Nicolae said.

  He was proud of me. The words almost brought tears to my eyes, but I fought them back because I wanted to maintain a strong image in front of my new Dad. An indescribable urge to make him proud coursed through me. Was it really me who wanted this or was it his blood inside of me? “Thank you Nic… Dad.” I’m still getting used to Nicolae and calling him Dad just didn’t seem to come naturally and he noticed it as well.

  “You may call me Nicolae if you feel more comfortable,” he said as he smiled. “Although, hearing you call me Dad does make me quite happy.”

  I returned his smile revealing my new fangs and started to feel more at ease around him. “My, my Claire, you’re fangs are nearly full grown. I suppose I owe Evilyn an apology, I accused her of exaggerating.” Nicolae’s eyes sparkled with amusement and I appreciated that he was trying to ease the tension.

  “The palace is alive tonight with preparations for tomorrow,” he commented as he turned toward the palace letting the warm yellow lights dance on his face.

  I studied his features for a moment with my new eyes and noticed his strong jawline and took note that it was relaxed. Without trying to invade his privacy too much I pushed out with my senses and hoping to gage his true feelings, only to be blocked by a strong wall. It felt quite jarring and much like the instant you slam on the breaks and avoid hitting a car in a near accident.

  “You’re quite strong Claire, but I am much older than you are young one,” he smiled and patted at hand on my knee.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “There is no need to apologize. I encourage you to practice your skills. I want you to be the best that you can be.”

  I nodded at him and gazed at the towering palace that laid beyond the gardens. “What will tomorrow night really be like?”

  “Tomorrow will be a night that many vampires have not witnessed in a very long time. Not in our region at least. There is great anticipation to see you and I am happy to know that they will not be disappointed.”

  I thought about dancing around the subject, but changed my mind. I was a vampire Princess now and I wasn’t going to let anyone keep the truth from me anymore. I took a deep breath and steadied my gaze on Nicolae, “Is there anyone who won’t be happy about tomorrow night?”

  Nicolae looked away from me then and nodded his head slowly. I got the feeling that my question didn’t surprise him, but I somehow sensed that he was hoping I wasn’t going to ask. “Claire, if I can give you any advice about the new life that has been laid out before you it will be this. Much rarer will it be that a vampire or human will agree with a decision you have to make, but the decision must be made nonetheless. You must do what has to be done, no matter what the consequences. If it is for the good of your kind and for your region, there is no sacrifice too great. Do you understand?”

  I nodded my head as stray strands of my dark auburn hair fell and tickled my face, “I understand.”

  “It was a monumental responsibility we have burdened you with Claire, but you are a symbol of hope and strength,” he spoke the words with such conviction that I was starting to feel inspired until I realized he hadn’t answered my question.

  I furrowed my brow at him, hopefully looking very much like a frightful vampire and Nicolae read my expression instantly. “Ah, there is the power I speak of. You see…” he said as he waged a finger at me, “you will be a wonderful Princess and an even better Queen someday.”

  His face drew into a solemn expression and he heaved a deep sigh as he looked at me, as a father would his daughter when she was leaving home to attend college. A tiny ribbon of emotion escaped him as it wrapped around my body and pricked at my senses, giving me fleeting sensations of how he was feeling.

  “I wanted to wait until you had time to acclimate… till you had more time to learn our ways and grow to love us…” his words hung in the air and I grew worried that he would suck them back in and not tell me the truth I had desired so greatly since Fox had come to my home. Why had I been chosen?

  “I need to know,” I looked at him urgently trying to convey my feelings without words.

  “There is a storm brewing on the horizon, Claire. One like the world has not seen in many ages. The human people grow restless, as if they have completely forgotten the old ways. The other regions see our way of life as a weakness and they grow greedy for our land and our people,” he expelled the words in a tidal wave of emotion and relief. I could sense the anguish that had been building in him and realized this pain would one day be mine.

  My heart thumped in my chest and a sense of purpose filled me. One of my greatest dreams in life was being fulfilled and an empty hole inside me began to fill. I had a Dad now, I could feel the bond in our blood, and he needed me. “We will not let them,” I said with unwavering determination.

  Nicolae is a good King and he alone had created the world I was born in, that I had been happy in and that my friends and family still enjoyed. I wasn’t going to let anyone take that away from us, no matter what.

  “Thank you child. It saddens me to know I had taken your human life, that you have been thrust into this role, but the future and safety of our region was at stake,” he said with his deep yet sorrowful voice as he rested his hand on my cheek. I looked u
p at him and his eyes were full of pain, but not a single tear feel from them. “It will be dawn soon. Let us go inside, and get a drink?”

  “That sounds nice.”

  We walked side by side through the garden and back into the palace. A great many things had changed while I sat in the garden for the short time. Servants and vampires were busily finishing the preparations for the event. As we walked past the ballroom I peered in to see quite a magical sight. My jaw dropped at the spectacle and my breath caught.

  At the sound of my gasp, Dmitry, who was ordering the placement of tables, directed his attention toward me. In a flash of movement he was at the open double doors closing them in my face with the most beautiful fanged grin I had ever seen.

  “You’re going to ruin the surprise!” he said as he poked his head out between the doors.

  “I am not. I was just enjoying the sensation of surprise until you interrupted it, so if you could just let me continue?” I said in my most flirty tone, not caring that Nicolae was standing nearby watching him.

  Dmitry simply winked at me and closed the doors, but not before looking toward Nicolae and nodding respectfully. I sighed softly as Nicolae and I continued our walk and I noticed the amused expression on his face as we entered his office.

  “What?” I asked.

  “He likes you very much, Claire. You must be careful of starting such a bond so early in your vampire years.” He stated as he picked up the phone on his desk and made a call to have blood delivered for the both of us.

  “Do you not approve of Dmitry?”

  “You need not ask my approval on such a matter. Affection is not a decision one can make like whether or not to buy red flowers or white,” he said as he pulled two roses from a large crystal vase from a nearby table. “Do they not both smell as sweet?”

  He handed me the roses and I smelled them both. Each of their fragrances were soft and gently filled my nose with their delicate scent. “They both smell very nice.”