“What?” said Daemon, grabbing ahold of her arm and jerking her to a halt.
“He poisoned me, I thought Bruno would have told you.” she said, shocked by his reaction.
“No. Mariska, did that monster, did he bite you?” asked Daemon.
Mariska could see the fear in his eyes. She knew that if she said yes, he would cast her aside, and she would be free from him forever. She didn't like that he would do that so willingly.
“I don't think that's any of your business.” she responded.
He let go of her arm. Like she was suddenly dirty, he didn't want to touch her. It broke her heart. She knew at that moment that any man that she was going to give herself too certainly wouldn't be turned away from her because of something that she couldn't control.
Defiantly, she looked at him as she spoke. “No, your majesty. He did not bite me. He did not claim me as his own, just as you will never do. Anyone who cares more about if I am tainted than who I am as a person isn't worth my time.”
She started to walk away from him, infuriated. He grabbed her arm and said her name, but she was too angry to hear what he had to say. Without thinking about it, she grabbed his arm between both of her hands and kicked her leg high up into the air. The sound of his bones breaking made her feel better. She knew he would heal from the wound faster than he would recover from the humiliation of having his arm broken by a human in front of his subjects.
He let out an involuntary shriek of pain as she ran into the castle and away from him, tears running down her face.
Chapter Six
Mariska ran to her room, the tears already running down her face. She did something that she didn't often do and let her emotions and empath abilities guide her to her new chambers. As she burst through the door, she ran right into the arms of the waiting taltos.
“He's such an asshole!” she blurted out.
The woman let out a charming and robust laugh. It was a sound that made Mariska feel better almost instantly. The taltos people, if you could call them that, had an ability to calm any being at all.
“Now child, it's been my experience over the years that all men are not very smart when it comes to the ways of a woman's heart,” she said.
“I am so sorry, I did not even request your name, if you wouldn't mind me using it?” said Mariska.
Taltos were often very easily offended. They didn't give out their names willingly either.
Smiling, she said, “My name is Elso. It has been a long time since I have shared that name, but I know you can be trusted.”
“Thank you for that trust, you will not regret it. I believe, if I may be so forward, that you had information you would share regarding my parents?” said Mariska.
“Ah, yes child. They are safe; they are here on the islands,” she said.
“Then why are they not at the castle? Or had the princes hospitality only reached to those he would bed?” said Mariska vehemently.
The taltos laughed, “my girl you know that is not true. I cannot give you more details at this time. They wanted you to know that they are safe; mayhaps you should try the village below tomorrow?”
“Thank you, I believe I need sleep now,” said Mariska.
“Of course, I would like to share one more bit of information though if you don't mind.” said Elso.
“Please.” said Mariska.
“You have heard of the keepers yes?” she asked
Mariska nodded her head but did not speak.
“And the guardian?” she asked again.
“Yes,” said Mariska suspiciously.
“Perhaps, you should put more faith in legends and do some further digging about the keepers and this fabled Guardian,” said Elso
It was all very mysterious, but Mariska trusted the taltos enough to know that she would follow her advice. When Elso left, and Mariska had some time to herself, she fell onto the luxurious bed. She had no intention of falling asleep, but the past few days had taken their toll on her, and she was asleep almost before her head hit the silk pillow.
***
When she awoke, it was dark outside, but the room was warm, courtesy of a fire that had been lit in the fireplace near the bed. She sat up from the bed and was startled to see Daemon seated in the chair across from her. He was awake but in a bit of a daze. He hadn't seen her wake up yet. She thought about what to do, part of her wanted to angrily throw a pillow at his head. Part of her just wanted to run away. Most of her though wished that he was in the bed next to her.
“Daemon?” she said in a whisper.
He looked up immediately. As with all things forming between them, little words needed to be spoken. He arose and came to her in her bed.
“Mariska,” he started.
She didn't wait for him to finish. Instead, she closed the distance between them on the bed. Her lips met his with fever. She was tired of waiting for him. His hands covered her body passionately. First they sought out the buttons on her blouse, but when they proved too complicated, he ripped the thin fabric from her body. She climbed onto his lap and sought out his neck while removing his shirt. Her nails found the hard flesh of his back while her lips trailed his chest. The moans escaping from his mouth told her that he approved of her actions.
She felt his hands gliding up her flat stomach and into the space between her breasts. When his hand found her soft mounds, she sucked in a sharp breath. When his thumbs rubbed her nipples into firm peaks, Mariska felt like she was going to explode. She wanted to feel his body against her own. As he read her mind, in the blink of an eye, he flipped her around onto the bed and took charge of the moment. As he removed the rest of her clothing, she took the moment to enjoy the masterpiece that was his body. She blushed when she looked up from her own bare frame and realized he was looking at her the same way.
Mariska could hardly breathe, she needed him to be inside of her. She reached down and stroked his massive organ until his breath was haggard. She couldn't wait for him any longer, though. Once again, his intuition led him to what she wanted. Daemon buried himself deep inside of her. As they came together in passion, their climaxes met with equal power. Like the blending of spirits, no coupling could match the one that they had together. They stayed together until the morning sun began to rise. Exhausted and spent, together they fell asleep as light breached the castle walls.
Chapter Seven
Mariska awoke in a better mood than she had found herself in, in a very long time. She stretched out her arms but was instantly disappointed when she realized Daemon was no longer laying next to her. She thought about the whirlwind that their relationship had been so far and wondered if she had moved too fast. What if he was just using her as he had surely done to woman in the past, she asked herself.
“I don't think you need to worry about that Mariska.” said a voice.
Mariska all but jumped out of the bed and did her best to cover herself with the thin blankets.
“I am sorry to disturb you like this, but this is the only room I could find that was peaceful. The castle is in rather a state this morning. I assure you, though, my desire for the flesh left me long ago.” said Elso with a light chuckle.
Mariska eyes the woman with suspicion. She wasn't accustomed to having strangers in her room. Of course, that was probably a good thing.
“It is a good thing dear, your body is a gift that very few should ever receive,” said the taltos without looking up from her book.
Mariska rolled her eyes, so much for enjoying the thought of last night. If the old taltos no longer enjoyed flesh, last night would revive her desire.
The taltos chuckled again softly.
“Oh for the love of God.” muttered Mariska.
She wrapped the sheet around herself and retreated to the large attached bathroom. She took her time taking a bath, grateful for the silence and for the time to clear her mind. If she were going to spend time here, she would need to refresh her meditation skills a lot. A soft knocking at the door stirred her long before
she was ready.
With a dramatic sigh, she said, “yes?”
“Mariska, I do believe we need to talk when you are done.” said Elso.
Taltos were not known for their patients of all things.
Begrudgingly, Mariska climbed out of the bath and donned a clean set of clothes that was waiting for her near the sink.
Opening the door, Mariska glared at the taltos, “Alright, what can I do for you?”
“Do you remember I asked you about the keepers?” she said.
“Yes, what about them?” she replied.
“Let's take a walk,” said Elso, not waiting for Mariska to respond she opened the door to the main hall and started to walk.
Mariska had to rush to keep up with the woman who had an unusually fast pace. She followed her through the winding hallway and down to the main floor. They did not stop there, from the main floor, they cut through the kitchen and into a door that was as well hidden at her own secret door in her room at her home. The passageway was narrow and damp. It reminded Mariska of the dungeon at Yelda’s home. Mariska thought she saw the taltos stumble at the mention of Yelda’s name in her head, but she said nothing. Instead, she watched her footing and cleared her mind.
They walked for what felt like hours, deeper and deeper into the ground. Mariska felt a chill coming from the ground. They had to be into the hard frozen layers of the cold northern land by now. No doubt it took many years to build a cellar such as this. Finally, the hall widened, and they were on a landing that had three large, heavy wooden doors. Elso stopped and looked to Mariska with a look like one might see in a child. A look of pure joy at getting to share whatever secret lurked behind the doors.
Elso reached up and ran her long, six fingered hand along the frame of the door and cooed in Hungarian. Mariska couldn't be sure, but it looked like she was lifting a spell of some sorts. The door lurched and popped open. Elso pushed it the remainder of the way open and Mariska looked on in wonder at what laid behind the doors.
When the door opened, and Mariska stepped in, she felt like she was walking into a movie. The room in front of her was wall to wall books and scrolls. It reminded her of a dusty old version of the castle room that the beast gave beauty in her favorite childhood movie. It smelled like a library, but the air was fresh and clean, not what she expected in such an old and deeply buried room.
“Oh my god, it's amazing,” whispered Mariska.
“Yes, yes it is. You are the first human to see this room in a thousand years, child,” said Elso.
“What is this place?” said Mariska.
“This is the keepers library.” said Elso, her voice full of reverence.
Mariska looked at her in awe. The keepers library? That meant that the keepers were real! Where were they though? Was she allowed to read the books? Why was she being shown this room? Where was Daemon?
Elso let out a loud laugh, listening to Mariska's thoughts.
“Be patient Mariska, all will be explained to you in time, I promise you that.” said Elso.
She herded Mariska from the room and closed the door, much to Mariska's disappointment. She never wanted to leave the room; it was the room that dreams were made of. Mariska watched as the taltos sealed the door with her magic once again. Mariska turned to leave but to her surprise, Elso had moved to another door and was starting the process all over again. Mariska felt like a small child waiting for Christmas morning. The spell took effect, and the door popped open. Elso stepped aside with another large grin and Mariska didn't wait for an invitation to look into the second room.
What she saw blew her mind away. It was more magical than the first room. With the same layout but almost twice as big and covered with more scrolls and books, the giant room was stunning. Mariska looked down from the balcony and saw maybe fifteen men and woman moving around. Reading, writing and talking quietly to each other. Mariska felt a twinge of disappointment; she had hoped that she would be one of a select few to know about the library. Once again, Elso laughed while listening to Mariska's thought.
“Oh child, look closer at those you envy.” said Elso.
Confused, Mariska looked down at the people below and sucked in a sharp breath. They were all breathtakingly beautiful, just like Elso.
“They are all taltos?” asked Mariska.
Elso just nodded, waiting for Mariska to find the answers herself.
“But I thought that taltos were almost extinct? No one has seen more than two or three of your kind together since the legends of the keepers started,” said Mariska.
Suddenly, all the pieces were coming together.
“Oh. Oh! Oh, my god! The taltos! The taltos are the keepers! The keepers are real! And taltos, your kind lives for over one hundred years, you only pass on when you've completed all you were meant to achieve in our world. Oh my word, this is absolutely incredible. Does Daemon know about this?” Mariska was absolutely blown away.
The taltos below had now noticed their presence; they smiled warmly at Elso and Mariska. Mariska wanted to go below and talk with them, more than she had wanted to spend her time in the room before. Elso though nodded to the taltos and ushered Mariska once more into the hallway. Now she felt like an impatient child.
“Ugh, did you bring me down here just to tease me? I don't really think this is fair,” said Mariska.
Smiling, Elso replied. “Don't worry young one, you will be able to visit all the rooms as much as you would like. The third room, though, it is the most important of them all for you.
Mariska was almost jumping for joy as the taltos moved to seal the second door and unseal the third. This time, though when the door opened, Mariska felt Elso push her in but she did not follow. Instead, she stepped back out and sealed Mariska into the room. A brief moment of fear passed over Mariska.
There was something very ‘doom and gloom’ about being magically sealed in the basement of a castle built hundreds of years ago. This room was smaller than the other two but just as grand with the number of books. She saw a faint light coming from an adjoining room. She slowly walked to the light. She could hear voices coming from the room as she rounded the corner and saw a taltos bent down over a large antique desk talking to a man on the other side that she could not see.
When she was at the doorframe, the taltos froze.
“Sir, we can continue this later, I believe our guest of honor has finally arrived.” said the taltos.
Stepping aside, he looked at Mariska and smiled a warm welcome before retreating through a second door at the back of the room that Mariska now noticed.
Looking at her from behind the desk was Daemon. Mariska smiled when she saw him. When he saw her, his entire face lit up with a smile that could charm the devil himself. He moved around the desk to Mariska and pulled her into his arms in a warm embrace.
Chapter Eight
“Oh, Daemon! This place is beautiful!” she said as she looked into his eyes.
He smiled at her and kissed her passionately. She couldn't resist him; she returned his kissed and wrapped her fingers around his hair. She felt his manhood growing hard between them. When she broke the kiss, he shook his head to gather his thoughts.
Laughing, Daemon said, “I’m so happy that you like it, Mariska. This place is my home, and I want you to be a part of it forever.”
Suddenly, the entire morning made sense. Daemon had let Elso lead Mariska down here to him to try and get her to stay permanently.
“Daemon, I care for you, and I am so happy that you have shared this with me, but forever's a long time. I need to find my parents and now with the Naqi acting out, I don't know that I can stay here with you,” she said, pulling out of his embrace.
Daemon looked wounded. “I understand, I think that it would be best for both of us if we found your parents and discussed the matter with them,” he said.
Mariska looked at him cautiously. “I plan on finding my parents. I also plan on doing what my heart tells me to do, no matter what you or they say, though. I
am not going to be controlled.”
He eyed her passionately. “Please, let's get some breakfast, and then we can discuss finding your parents? Nothing more right now? Is that fair?”
She smiled, he was trying to make her happy, and she was so grateful to him for that. “Absolutely,” she said.
Daemon let her to the back of the room, to the same door that the male taltos had gone through before. She was surprised to find them back in the kitchen in a matter of minutes. It must have been under a strong spell because one second they were walking through the tunnels and the next she was standing in the kitchen with no knowledge of how she got there. She looked at Daemon, and he smiled at her knowingly.
“It takes a while to get use to the feeling; I know,” he said.
They followed a servant to a small dining room with a small round table in the middle. It had an incredible feast already laid out for them. She relished the smell of the strong coffee and sipped it gingerly and waited for him to speak. After several minutes, when it was obvious that he wasn't going to start the conversation, she began.
“I am going to go down to the village today to see if anyone has seen my parents.” she said.
His gaze shot up from the plate he had been eating, “What? No. It's too dangerous. I will send a guard to look through the area.”
“Excuse me?” she shot back.
“I said no,” He said.
“I wasn't asking permission.” she said, rising from her seat.
“Sit down, I will not have you risking your life out there. I will send the guard,” he said.
Mariska glared at him but complied.
His gaze softened as he spoke. “Mariska, please. I can't lose you, let me send the guard, I promise you, if they are on the island, we will find them.”
She knew he was right; she had been in danger ever since she had left school.
“Alright.” she murmured.
Daemon smiled at her. They ate in silence for several minutes before she excused herself, she was feeling sick, that much was the truth.
VAMPIRE:Vampire Guardian Series: Paranormal Mystery Vampire Alpha Male Romance (New Adult Contemporary Paranormal Royalty Fantasy Romance Collection)) Page 4