“You were in love with me, you loved me!?” He asks stunned, his chest going up and down breathing heavily.
“Loved! Past tense!” I shout at him, as I stomp away from the table. ‘SHIT SHIT SHIT’, I curse at myself for revealing my inner most secret in such a cruel manor. What the hell is going on between us? It is painful to have Den insult me so; I just need to get away from him.
Heading outside to cool down, I walk slowly over to a bench enjoying the display of yellow roses surrounding it, and sit down with a sigh. Soon followed by Dallah, who sits beside me in silence, knowing that that is what I want.
Chapter Eleven
After spending hours in the gardens, feeling misery, and regret for telling Den that I was in love with him. I never wanted him to know, but I just could not keep my big mouth from spitting the words at him in anger. Nevertheless, he should know, if I could take watching him sleep his way through the entire female population, while being hopelessly in love with him and deal with it, then he should have no problem, it’s not as if he is in love with me! I am no nun, but I’m hardly a whore, I have kissed Ruk, Parrise, and Richard, but that is all it was, a kiss. I am 22 years old and been in one serious sexual relationship!
“Stop thinking about it, it’s all out in the open now, come on, let’s get ready, I don’t want to anger Richard by being late.” She tells me with a weak smile. I place the book back in the hole I made in her mattress and face her,
“I have a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach Dallah,” I tell her with a sigh.
“I have had that feeling every night for the last month; we are all together now, stop worrying.”
“Yeah, I guess. So what have we got to wear tonight?” I ask, changing the subject.
“Ah, you are going to love this,” She tells me excitedly as she walks to the wardrobe and pulls out a stunning dress. It looks like a swimsuit with a full-length skirt at the bottom, with gold beading around the waist, its strapless and looks as if it has a built in bra.
“Where do you get these amazing dresses from?”
“I have someone make them for me,” She tells me simply, while looking at the dress in her hand with pleasure.
“Make them for you! You design them?” I ask in shock.
“Yeah, it’s what I love to do, and with a body like yours, it’s very easy to think of a dress that will look amazing on you.”
“Dallah, that is amazing! These dresses are stunning, I feel privileged to wear them.” I tell her honestly, her beautiful face is beaming with pride, bless her she is so talented.
There is a knock at the door while I’m taking the dress from Dallah, and gazing at it in awe, when Parrise walks through the door.
“Little one, this is what you're wearing tonight?”
“Hey Parrise, yeah, Dallah had it made it for me, isn’t it stunning?”
“It is love; I will look forward to seeing you in it.” He tells me coming to stand at my side.
“I’m going to see Julian, I will be back in an hour,” Dallah tells us before she disappears.
“How has your day been?” He asks, now standing before me.
“Uh, ok I guess,” I tell him looking into his ocean blue eyes, while mesmerized by his male beauty, “You look amazing Parrise, are you on the pull?” I ask mischievously.
“Yes love, I am,”
He holds me in his arms and moves with great speed over to the bed, as he lays me down, my heart beats rapidly, and desire takes hold of my body.
“Why don’t you look at me like you used to love,” He asks sadly while searching my eyes.
“I look at you the same way I always have Parrise, but so much has happened since coming here,” I tell him holding his face to gaze into his stunning eyes.
“Will you kiss me now Zara, with the passion I want so badly to see, and without this on,” He asks, then sighs, letting me up, thinking I wouldn‘t want to go that far.
As he sits on the edge of the bed, I surprise him by climbing onto his lap, gripping the hem of my dress and slowly and seductively pull it up over my body and toss it on the floor. His stunned face makes me chuckle as I lean forward to take his lips with mine. His big cool hands come up and take hold of my bottom as he slowly stands, carrying me out onto the balcony. The cool air hits my almost naked body as a shiver runs through me, but not from being cold, but from being so turned on. I deepen the kiss, needing him to feel the love I have for him, as his strong hands caress my body.
The smell of his aftershave and the taste of wine fills my scenes as he lifts me higher against him and his fangs stroke against the sensitive flesh of my skin. He pulls ways from me, wanting my permission before he bites me.
“Do it Parrise,” I moan to him in a sexually charged tone.
That is all he needs before his fangs pierce my skin and a mind-blowing orgasm hits me so hard that my body stiffens around him, and my blood feels as though it is on fire. Parrise takes the back of my neck and pulls me down to his mouth to kiss him.
The taste of my own blood hits my pallet, but it’s not a sickening taste, like when I drank blood by accident, thinking it was red wine, this is erotic. Parrise is erotic and sensual. So much for keeping away from him! After the day I have had, the harsh words from Den, I just want to let go and enjoy myself, give in to my heart. Feel something other than hurt and fear.
He carries me back to the bed as he lays me down gently, then climbs on top of me.
“I want you to be mine, little one?”
“Parrise, it’s not that I don’t want to be, it’s just that I’m not ready for such commitment, not here,” I admit to him shyly.
“I will give you time, just don’t take too long. I want to tell every man and every woman that you are mine and I yours.” He tells me while running his cool fingers down my breasts.
“Will you wait for me to get dressed, Dallah will freak if we are late, again,” I tell him with a smile.
“Yes, I’ll be here,” He tells me with hunger in his stunning eyes.
We decide to take the elevator down to the ballroom, well I say we, but really, I mean Parrise, as he laced his strong arms around me and lifted me to meet his lips. I’m pressed into the elevator glass mirror, and Parrise’s hands work my body as our lips take one another’s in raw passion. As soon as we are back home and everyone is safe, I will go to Parrise, and be his, being with him, being held by him brings everything to reality. I have loved him from the moment I laid eyes on him, and he has never hurt me and, will never hurt me, I believe he could be the one.
The elevator opens, but we don’t stop kissing until we hear someone clear their throat.
“Dallah is waiting for you, hurry up!” Kiss-ass tells me, laced with disgust as he openly gawks at us.
Before my eyes can take in what has just happened, Parrise stands with Kiss-ass’s head in his hand, while his lifeless body flops to the floor.
“Parrise!” I screech, before my hands fly to my mouth in shock.
“Love, I can’t stand there and watch him look and speak to you in that way,” He tells me; whilst throwing Kiss-ass’s head over his shoulder, the sound of it hitting the floor makes my stomach flip.
I really didn’t like Kiss-ass, but what Parrise has done is so gruesome, I really wish he hadn’t done it, well, maybe just that I didn’t have to see it. He was a complete ass!
“Can we go before I’m sick?” I say holding my stomach.
“Yes love, come on,” He tells me with a smirk, as I lift my dress up to step over a headless kiss ass’s torso.
“Richard is going to be pissed with you,” I tell him sternly.
“Good, because I am pissed with him,” He tells me as I’m dragged by my hand to the entrance of the hall doors.
“Head up, smile on,” Parrise tells me as he pushes open the doors to hundreds of eyes.
Why the hell are they all looking at us? Do they know that Parrise just ripped Kiss-ass’s head off his shoulders? Before I can make another assumption, Richar
d walks through the crowd of people, pulling Dallah along with him by the arm. He stops before Parrise and I with a snarl on his face, and anger in his eyes.
“Well, well, Parrise, didn’t take you long to start removing heads,” He remarks with a raised brow.
“No it didn’t, was he a friend of yours?” Parrise asks heartlessly.
“No, not a friend,” Richard sneers at him.
“It looks like I’ve done you a favour then, ridding you of staff members who forgot his place!” Parrise say’s, challenging Richard hoping for a reaction.
“I wouldn’t say that Parrise, but as he was just a servant, I’m willing to let it pass, not forgetting we are allies after all,” Richard say’s plastering on a fake smile. Clearly backing down from the challenge.
As the chatter starts up again in the room, with everyone going back to drinking and dancing after they see there is not going to be a fight, I look to Dallah as she gives a little nod of her head, indicating the area where we have sat every night. I think she wants me to go back to the table and talk with her.
“Can we sit down now?” I ask annoyed.
“Yes dear Zara, go ahead,” Richard tells me with a wicked grin.
This I do not like, what is he up to? Whatever it is, it will include me getting hurt, I know what Richard is like now. He has multiple personalities and this one, is the one I fear the most. Too much of a coward to spar with Parrise for taking out his right hand man, but I am a far easier target to slake his revenge on.
“Don’t fear, nothing will happen to you,” Parrise whispers into my ear as he takes me firmly by the waist, leading us over to the Brothers’, Angus, Theo and a few of Richards friends, who are just as vile natured as he.
“Who did you kill this time?” Angus asks with ghost of a smile as we approach the table.
“I do not know his name, Angus. Please sit love,” He tells me while he stands talking to Angus in a hushed tone, too quiet for me to overhear.
I spot Ruk walking up to us and as our eyes lock, I quickly look away. I cannot look him in the eye; I do not want Parrise or Ruk to hear my heart beating wildly.
“Zara, you look as stunning as ever,” He tells me smiling.
Damn he looks good tonight, with his hair slicked back, highlighting the touches of gold. His suit he makes him look even bigger than his 6 foot 4 frame, and looks wonderful against his olive toned skin. WHAT AM I DOING? Still crushing on him, I need to get a grip on my wayward emotions if Parrise and I can have any sort of relationship.
“You ok?” He asks, frowning as he can see me trying to work something out in my head.
“Yeah I’m fine thanks, and you?” I ask whilst breaking eye contact to pour myself a large glass of wine from the bottle on the table, hoping it will help relax me.
“I’m good. We think Richard is planning something, so stay close to me tonight Zara, ok?” He asks nodding his head to me. I nod back in agreement.
I catch Den staring at me as he stands a across the room, with all three of Dallah’s cousins hanging from him. As our eyes meet, instead of turning away, he stares me down as if trying to intimidate me. Standing up angrily to remove myself from his line of sight, Parrise takes my arm in his hand,
“Where are you going?” He asks with concern.
“Nowhere, I just don’t want to be sitting down. I will be back in 5 minutes, I want to find Dallah.”
“Yes love, stay close to us though.”
“I will,” I reply smiling, and kiss his cheek.
Walking around the outside of the dance floor, I see the back of Dallah’s dress as she walks out the doors that lead to the gardens. I wonder why she is on her own. She knows that we should all be together, maybe Richards upset her again. Walking faster to catch her up, I call out to her just as I lose sight of her amongst the crowds of people.
“Dallah,” I raise my voice as I get outside hoping for her to hear me. Not able to find her, so I walk along the trail, heading towards the bench that she likes so much, maybe she has come to clear her head.
“Hello little Zara, what are doing out here alone?” Richard asks appearing from nowhere, talking in that knowing voice of his, that I hate.
“I’m looking for Dallah. What do you want Richard?” I question him, thinking ‘oh crap’, my heart pounding rapidly, already knowing that I have just walked into one of his traps.
“Glad I’ve found you as I want to show you reality as we know it,” He tells me with a sneer.
“You mean your reality! Tell me, why you are so twisted Richard? Who hurt you so badly for you to be so cold and heartless?”
“That’s enough, let’s get on with this shall we,” He says holding out his hand to me, which I laugh at, but I’m soon cut short when he viciously grabs me and transports us to the dungeon like room, before I can blink.
“What’s going on?” I ask him coolly, but inside I am frightened. Very quickly, I cut my connection off from Dallah and Angus. The last thing I want is her coming to find me, and getting hurt. Angus and the Brothers’ are strong, but not as strong as Richard is. I will not risk their lives, not for the punishment this sick bastard is so keen on giving me.
“You see Zara, you think these men love you, want to take care of you, but everyman has his weakness. Sallack with his women, Den with his ego, and Parrise...well Parrise is a Vampire.”
“Why do you want to hurt me?” I ask confused.
“It’s what I do, it’s who I am,” He tells me simply.
“That is enough! No more Richard” I tell him in disgust whilst taking a step back from him. I will transport myself away from the situation I have stupidly put myself in.
“You will stay here and take what punishment is given. If you choose to leave, I will replace you with one of the wolves...or precious little Dallah, how does that sound? Shall we make a trade?”
“You bastard!” I tell him through gritted teeth.
“You are strong Zara, you will get through this, it’s more a test for Parrise... though, how dare he come to my Palace and think he can get away with killing one of my best men, the ignorant bloodsucker. I will enjoy seeing his face when he sees you broken.” He spits out with menace.
I take his face in my hands, and look deeply into his eyes.
“Why are you doing this, I’ve done nothing to you?” I ask him gently.
His eyes soften slightly, while he takes a deep breath.
“What, are, you?” He asks almost in worry for my answer.
“What happened to you Richard?” I ask him so gently, that it almost comes out in a sweet song. I want to know what has happened to him to make him this way, why he gave up on himself and took in the darkness.
He steps away from me abruptly, and walks across the room to lean against the wall.
“Don’t do that Zara!” He shouts at me full of anger and confusion.
I start to get a bad feeling, more than fear of the beating ahead of me, something far worse…
A man walks through the doorway and into the dimly lit room. He is wearing an expensive suit much like Richard’s, but he wears it well. There is an air of power and respect around him, but with that, there is fear. My heart pounds against my chest, and my breath hitches when I see his face.
“This is her?” He speaks calmly and in what I think is an Italian accent.
“She is the one yes,” Richard replies straightening his stance.
The man walks over to me in a slow motion and pulls me by my arm to stand before him and look him in the eye.
His hands are cool to the touch, and his eyes are a brilliant shade of red, Vampire! I sense old, very powerful and the blackest heart of all.
He has long brown hair that is tied back; he is breathtakingly handsome, but terrifying at the same time. His chin is strong and his nose straight, he is perfection, a Warrior. Looking at him is hypnotizing, I cannot work out if he is just a Vampire or the Devil himself.
“Richard here, does not like you Bella Donna,” He says, running
his finger down my chest.
I want to move away from him, but my body is paralyzed to the spot by his presence alone, the power that seeps through him is mighty.
“The feelings mutual,” I tell him boldly, trying to show no fear.
“Strength and such beauty, what a loss, you would have made a wonderful pet,” He tells me in a sexually charged voice, “What is your age child?” He questions.
“What’s going on?” I ask disregarding his question with my own.
“I would be careful around her, she is different,” Richard tells him, annoyed that he speaks to me so gently.
“I was not speaking with you! Bring Parrise here now!” He shouts at Richard in irritation.
Richard leaves us alone while he goes to find Parrise. Being alone in this ancient Vampires presence as he slowly studies me showing no emotion, I feel he wants me dead. The realization hits me; I am never going to see Dallah, Ruk, Den, Brothers’, or my lovely Angus again. I won’t be there to save Dallah at her bonding. My chest hurts with the pain. I may be immortal, but no one is truly immortal.
Parrise enters the room with Richard, looking fearful for me.
“Leave Parrise, it’s me he wants to hurt,” I tell him, pleading.
“You do not care for your own life?” He asks longing out every word, and with every word he speaks, my heart skips a beat.
Before I can answer him, Parrise is at my side and has his arms wrapped around me protectively in a heartbeat.
“What is going on Demitri?” Parrise asks in a panicked tone, the first time I have ever heard, or seen Parrise show fear.
Demitri, he cannot mean his sire! What is he doing here? Has Richard bought him here to torture me in front of Parrise?
“How have you been Parrise? Where is my child Angus?” Demitri asks.
“He is here with me Demitri. Why are you here, are you and Richard allies now?” Parrise asks him, while his grip tightens on me to the point where it is painful.
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