Vampire's Retribution

by Anna Santos

  “There is nothing to decide,” I said. “I know what I want from life. I don’t need you to tell me any more. I’m free to make my own decisions.”

  “You still need me,” he claimed, smirking. “Didn’t you miss me? Do you remember how good we were together? How much fun we had?” he asked huskily, leaning forward to try to allure me with his words and eyes.

  “I like my new life. I’m happy,” I told him so he would lose that stupid smile of his face.

  “But you’ve missed me. Free me, take these off. I know you can,” he said, showing me his handcuffs. I shook my head. “Then move closer. I want to taste you.”

  I shook my head again. “That’s not going to happen.”

  He laughed and I frowned. “I taught you well, didn’t I? You really know how to tease me and make me want to beg you to move closer.”

  “I’ve learned some things by myself these decades apart.”

  “I’m sure you did.”

  We stared at each other for some moments. It was awkward, and I was beginning to regret being there with him. He was making me feel sick. I should have killed him and gotten over that painful part of my life.

  “Why aren’t you worried? They are going to kill you.” I asked.

  “They aren’t,” he assured me. “I would be dead already if they wanted. They want me to get to my master. They used you for that. They don’t really care about you. They don’t want to save your soul. You’ve killed and used people for your own pleasure. Your soul is beyond salvation to their Goddess.”

  “I’m not looking for salvation. I know what I did,” I told him.

  “You were always strong. I admire that in you. I was the only one that could make you feel vulnerable. I liked that. I liked your adoration for me. I liked that I was your whole world. You became my whole world too. You can’t believe what they told you. You know a lot of what I’ve done in my past. But something is clear, I loved you and I still do. You were the only woman that left an impression on my heart. The rest were just…a means to an end. Why don’t you understand that we can stay together?”

  “We can’t. They won’t let you go.”

  “I’ve sold my soul to be immortal. I have no problem selling it again to get my freedom. After I tell them what they want, we could be together.”

  “And you would do that because you love me, is that it?”

  “Yes, and because I would continue to live. You see, Violet, there’s only one truth in this world: we live and die. I have no idea of what comes next. Nevertheless, I have no intention of finding out since I plan to live long enough to see my kind taking over the world and the humans worship my God.”

  “And why would you want that?”

  “Because humans are pathetic. They need to be controlled and they need to fear something. If you are so keen on saving lives, why aren’t you hunting the humans who eat chicken, pork, and beef? Why do you waste your time chasing vampires when we just eat to survive?”

  I frowned at him. Is he playing that card? I laughed out of the blue and kept laughing, holding on to my stomach.

  “What’s so funny?” A smile played on his lips as he watched me laugh.

  “You must think I’m stupid or something.”

  “I don’t. You are clever. Still gullible and looking for the perfect romance story, but smart. I wouldn’t love you if you didn’t have some perks.”

  “Hum,” I mumbled, stopping the laughter and straightening my shirt. I noticed his eyes wandering on my cleavage. “You claim to have higher purposes, yet you are just like any other guy who can’t keep it in their pants. You waste your entire life lusting for women, blood, and money. You have no higher purpose, you just obey to your yearnings.”

  “He smirked and glanced at the mirror. “I have to confess that I’m hard since I’ve seen you sit there in those provocative clothes. You’ve always liked to tease me. Do you get wet with that?”

  I looked at him sideways. “Maybe. Or maybe I just know you all too well. It must be quite frustrating for you.”

  “What?”

  “You know what,” I teased.

  “Come on, Violet. Stop playing games. Just tell me what I have to do so I can get out of here and we can be together again.”

  He was serious when he asked that and I lost my smile. “Who said that I want to go back to you?”

  “You wouldn’t be here if you didn’t. Also, you could have played hard to get, but you know as much as I do that you are dying to get back to me and keep me in bed for a week, at least.”

  I frowned again to his words. He must think he’s some kind of sex god or something. “Why does everything have to be related to sex for you?”

  “It’s not just about sex, I love you. I’ve missed you, and I want us to stay together. You should have run away with me. You should have told me the truth. I wouldn’t have gotten mad. I was extremely happy when I found out that there was no Sarah, that you were Violet, my Violet.”

  “If you truly love me, then you’ll answer my questions.”

  “Of course I will. What do they want me to tell you?”

  “It has nothing to do with the Organization or with your master. It’s something personal.”

  “Ask me whatever you want.”

  I mused for a while. It was harder to ask than I thought. I felt childish and immature for wanting to know something as petty as that. But I needed to know. “Why me?”

  “What?” He frowned, apparently not understanding my question. It was a vague question without a doubt. I had asked timidly and my voice shook. He must have noticed the vulnerability on my face and in my eyes. He looked curious.

  I evaded my eyes from his. “Of all the girls you’ve killed, why didn’t you kill me?”

  He smiled widely, extremely amused. I could notice it out of the corner of my eyes. My face went serious and my eyes darted in his direction. I wasn’t laughing, and I was extremely mad at him for finding my question entertaining.

  “After everything I’ve told you, you still don’t feel special enough,” he declared. I fisted my hands. “Don’t get mad, darling. I was a prick to you when you were human. Well, not really a prick because I gave you a good education and I raised you well. However, just like Anastasia, you were set on taking me to bed. Nevertheless, I didn’t take advantage of you, and I didn’t indulge your romantic thoughts about me and you.”

  “Yes, you did,” I refuted his claiming. “You indulged my feelings for you.”

  “Okay, I did. Because I liked the attention. It was rather flattering. But I had no intention of making you, my lover. You were my new toy. Do you want to know why I chose you?” I nodded “Because you were brave enough not to be scared of me when you were younger Because you were extremely beautiful, and I knew that you would be even prettier when you got older. Because I knew that you would win me a lot of money. Because I could.”

  I had my mouth slightly opened, still absorbing his words. He was staring at me, mocking smile on his lips and shining, arrogant eyes.

  “So…I was just lucky. You had all the intentions of killing me like the others.”

  He snorted. “Killing you? You had a far worse destiny than death. The reason why I would take girls wasn’t to kill them. It wasn’t because they were girls and therefore more powerful sorcerers than men. It wasn’t because they were the ones that would give birth to the new generation of mages. I took girls because they would be entertainment and whores for my master’s men.”

  My heart jumped with his words. Everything he was saying was horrible. Though, his face didn’t show any type of regret or remorse. He was smirking like a devil.

  “So…they weren’t killed, they were taken to be sex slaves.”

  He nodded and stared at the wall. “Well, some were killed. When they tried to escape or when one of the vampires drank them dry or beat them to death. I saved you from a terrible destiny. I took really good care of you.”

  “And why did you do that?”

  “It wasn
’t because you were special. You were just another stupid little girl mesmerized by a man. Yet, I was tired of the same old whores. I wanted a lady to charm the high society men. I made you who you are. I tutored you to be a perfect mistress, the perfect wife. And you were perfect. You were beautiful and captivating. You were so perfect that even I fell for you.”

  I got up from my chair, feeling disorientated.

  “Where are you going?” he asked, raising his head with wide eyes. “Violet…” he called.

  “I’m going back home,” I said to him. “I’m…wasting my time here. It was a bad idea. I should have let you rot in your cell and forgotten all about you.”

  “Violet, this isn’t funny anymore,” he said, clearly annoyed as he put his hands on the table and forced the cuffs. “Stop playing. Just tell me what they want me to tell you. I’ll tell them my demands and we can get back together.”

  “I don’t know what they want from you. Whatever it is, I don’t want to have any part on it. I’m tired. I’m so tired of all this.” I turned and looked at the mirror.

  “Violet! Stop playing games with me!” he yelled, shaking the handcuffs and hardening his eyes.

  I ignored him, speaking to the mirror. “I want to go home and forget all about him. I want…to…” Tears were beginning to taint my eyes. I didn’t want to cry in front of Ewan. I wanted to get away from there and run to Galvin’s arms. I wanted to feel safe inside his embrace, and I wanted him to know that I wouldn’t go back to Ewan. I was tired of playing games and of being stuck in the past. I wanted to start living. I wanted to be happy, truly happy, as I was with Galvin. “I’m sorry.”

  “Who are you talking to?” Ewan asked, but I was far away from there. My body was reacting strangely. I was feeling dizzy and my heart was beating erratically.

  The door opened and before I could understand, I was fainting in Galvin’s arms, and I felt warm and safe.

  When I opened my eyes, I was inside a bathroom. Galvin was putting a cold, wet cloth over my forehead, and I was on his lap. My mouth was dry and my body was extremely weak. Still, his face and his concerned eyes were all I wanted to see.

  “What happened?” I asked, barely able to speak.

  “You fainted. I’ve brought you here, but I’m just waiting for the doctor to come.”

  “I don’t understand. I fed this morning.”

  “I think you…reacted physically to the emotions that were taking over you.”

  “You were right. I shouldn’t have talked to him. It was a waste of my time.”

  “He’s ready to make a deal. It wasn’t a waste of your time.”

  “I would rather have them kill him than strike a deal with that monster.”

  “I would rather have him dead, too. It’s up to them to decide.”

  Softening my gaze and touching his face, I whispered, “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s okay.”

  Tears erupted from my eyes and I held tightly to him, feeling his cuddles on my face and head.

  “You have nothing to feel sorry about. You wanted to know and now you do. I’m glad that you don’t want to go back to him,” he said, talking next to my ear while rocking me to calm me down.

  “I feel dirty,” I shared.

  “Why?”

  “I don’t know…well, I kind of do, but, at the same time, I don’t. I wish I could erase my life with him.”

  “Everything we live is important for the development of our personality. You were lucky. I was too.”

  “Why?” I asked, staring at his face and swallowing the tears. I wanted to calm down, but I was glad he was sensible enough to let me cry and open my heart to him.

  “You could have been taken as a sex slave. He could have damaged you for life. He could have taken advantage of you. We could have never met.”

  “I was lucky. I know.” I nodded and held him tighter. “I shouldn’t be crying.”

  “You have every right to cry.”

  “Anastasia was just a child. I failed to see what was going on.”

  “She was evil. He wasn’t the one forcing himself on her. She was the one looking for him. She wanted to be you. Her jealousy didn’t let you love her or love you back. You shouldn’t feel sorry for her. She had a lot of time to think about her actions. Some people are just malevolent and don’t change.”

  “She was a child. I should have… I don’t know what I should have done. I’m confused. I’m tired. I’m so much more than what he wanted me to be. I’m not a…whore. I’m not.”

  “Of course you aren’t.”

  “So…you love me for what I am?” My voice shook when I asked him that.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I didn’t seduce you, did I? Like I had to do to the other men. I didn’t do it on purpose if I… I didn’t realize that I use people. I still use men.”

  “Not anymore. We are together now. And you were just scared of falling in love. You don’t use men like Ewan uses women. It’s extremely different. And you didn’t use me nor did you try to seduce me as you did to others. You didn’t see me like that. I didn’t see you like that either. You just…won me over and made me fall for you. It’s different since I know everything about you. I know all your flaws and perfections. Violet, my love for you didn’t happen because you are pretty and sexy. It isn’t because we are extremely good in bed, either. I love you for everything you have in you and you were able to become. You are strong. You are a strong and amazing woman. You are hot, you are extremely beautiful, but you are also beautiful inside. You are much more than what Ewan wanted you to be. You are not a doll to shape to his will, you are a human being, an enticing and amazing woman. My woman,” he said close to my lips. “And I love you with every beat of my heart. I do.”

  I felt like crying again, but this time it wasn’t from grief. “I love you too. I don’t want to go back to him. You need to understand that.”

  “I do,” he assured. His eyes shone with unshed tears. I felt my heart melting and hurting inside my chest. He was sweet, and he made me happy. “Are you feeling better?” I nodded, feeling my cheeks burn because I was realizing I was silly for crying. “Let’s get you to the clinic then. The doctor is taking too long to arrive.”

  “Can we just go home and cuddle in bed? We can watch a movie and eat popcorn. I feel like eating popcorn and cuddling under the covers with you.”

  He smiled again and kissed my lips. “I think we can do that. Let me just warn the others that I’m leaving. Then, we’ll buy popcorn and watch one of those romantic movies you are so passionate about.”

  “Can we also buy ice-cream? With chocolate pieces, so we can put it on the top of the popcorns.”

  Galvin frowned. “Popcorns and ice cream, isn’t that an odd combination?”

  “I don’t know, is it?”

  “Probably,” he said, amused. “I’ve almost forgotten to tell you. Sebastien and the girl were released and taken to their homes. We erased their memory of staying here, and they are living their normal lives.”

  “Good. I can go visit Francesca tomorrow and tell her that I’m moving back to the States. I like her. I want us to remain friends.”

  He stroked my hair and then placed a strand behind my ear. “Yes, you can do that tomorrow. We have to get the rest of your things from the flat anyway.”

  “And I need to organize my things inside our new closet,” I said, excited about it. “Did I tell you how much I love your home?”

  “No. And it’s our home now, not just mine.”

  “I love our home.”

  “I’m glad. Did I tell you how much I love to have you waking up with me in my bed?”

  “Yes.” I giggled with his kisses on my face. “I also love it.”

  “Let’s go home then,” he said, putting me down and straightening up.

  I stretched and then I squealed when he held me for a kiss and we teleported away from there.

  EPILOGUE

  EWAN WASN’T SENTENCED to death nor was Anastasia
. Apparently, they had worthy and valid information that prevented their deaths. Though, it didn’t prevent Cyan from being an idiot and being bitten by Anastasia when she was giving him a blowjob. Don’t ask me how that happened, but it served him well. Some males were such assholes!

  Nevertheless, I had a lot on my mind to find that event both gross and hilarious at the same time. That morning, the doctor had called me to the clinic because my blood test had finally arrived. There was an unexpected surprise that left me speechless.

  I had tracked down Galvin to talk to him and found him in his office, signing papers. I entered and closed the door behind me.

  Raising his head, Galvin watched me move to the chair and sitting down in front of him. “Don’t I get a good morning kiss?”

  He had left early and we had barely had time to talk. He was going to use that day to speed some work so we could take a few days off. We wanted to spend time together.

  “I have something important to tell you,” I said, barely able to conceal my joy. “I’m so happy!”

  He arched an eyebrow and rested his fists on the desk. “Really? I thought you would be sad because Ewan and Anastasia won’t be put to death.”

  “I don’t care about them,” I stated, waving in dismissal. Then I lost my smile and leaned forward as I rested my hands on my lap. “However…” I mused about something that came to my mind. “I guess that since Ewan isn’t dead and isn’t going to die for a while, your wedding proposal is off.”

  He widened his eyes at my words. “What do you mean?”

  After puckering my lips, I reminded him, “You said that we would get married after his death.”

  “I remember, but he doesn’t need to be dead. In fact, I can even let him be one of the guests in our wedding if you are seriously thinking about accepting.”