Bliss stood there motionlessly as she watched Luka disappear in a blur towards the maple trees. Although her rational mind told her to heed his unspoken warning, she found myself riveted on the spot wondering what was happening not far away.
Much to her dismay for some unknown reason she was worried about Luka. She sprinted towards the greenhouse to alert his brother. When she arrived without thinking she burst into the greenhouse. Luka's brother was trimming a white orchid and glared at her. Why is the little human back? I saw Luka whisk her away.
Bliss held her chest while breathlessly spit out, "Lu..Luka..I think he is..he is in danger."
Luka's brother was in front of Bliss in a flash with his fangs bared and his eyes ablaze with red and golden flames. He gripped her arm tightly, "What?"
"Go. By the maple trees."
"Stay here."
Bliss bent over holding her knees trying to catch her breath. A part of her was angry at Luka but she was ill at ease thinking he might be in trouble. After seeing the concerned look on Luka's brother's face she knew her instinct was right. I did the right thing coming to get his brother.
After she caught her breath she decided to throw caution to the wind and venture out to see what was happening. The sun had just sunk into the horizon and the sky was darkening. She slowly moved through the garden while ducking behind bushes until she heard the sound of fighting.
She bent down, peeking out she witnessed a horrifying sight. Luka and his brother were surrounded by over a dozen figures and there were numerous mutilated bodies on the ground.
Bliss' eyes widened, she could see a Vampire's fingers with long razor sharp claws as he lunged at Luka. His voice was filled with hate "You aren't our King! You should have died last night!"
She gulped and recalled Princess Nutcase said Luka was with his mother last night. Would his own mother have something to do with this assassination attempt?
Bliss' heart was racing as she witnessed Luka swivel around to dodge only to be attacked on the left. His brother quickly slashed the other assailant's neck and it popped off spraying blood everywhere. Luka and his brother silently moved through the black clothed assassins until the ground was littered with headless vampires.
The stench of blood permeated the air, Bliss gagged and fought back the urge to vomit when a severed head rolled towards the bush she was hiding behind. I imagined I would see fight but nothing like the terrifying scene in front of me.
The reality hit Bliss that she could be discovered at anytime and she decided that she should leave. She was hunched over while dipping behind bushes when she met a man's long legs. Bliss gazed up to see the Vampire who saved her at the party.
He had a gentle smile but his words were sharp, "Spying on the Lenovich brothers could get you killed."
Bliss was suddenly hugged into his arms with her face buried in his chest. She could feel the wind as the Vampire carried her away, when they landed they were in the gazebo.
He set Bliss down, "Little one, this is the second time I rescued you."
Gazing at his handsome face I was in a trance, how could he possess a completely different vibe than Luka and his brother? His features were much more delicate and his eyes did not have the inherent fierceness.
I feel warmed by his presence...safe. If I didn't know he is a Vampire I would think with his flawless face and melodic voice he is a member of a boy's group.
Rafael raised his lips into a beautiful smile and reassured Bliss, "You don't need to be afraid."
Bliss stammered, "I...I am not afraid I am curious. I know you are a Vampire but you don't seem like the others."
He laughed, "I am. I just don't care anymore. I don't want to be involved in the never ending power struggles. I lost someone very precious to me because of my greed and desires."
The Vampire sat on the cushioned bench and stared at the lake, "I don't want you to make the same mistake she made, thinking you can change a Vampire, live together in harmony. She paid the ultimate price... her life."
Bliss was mesmerized by the sadness dripping from his words and his pained expression. She wanted to say a few comforting words but her mind was blank. She sat on the bench next to him and looked at the lake thinking how she thought she could change that arrogant man two years ago...live happily...simply...
She sighed, "Do you believe in fate? It might have been her fate to meet an unchanging Vampire and yours to meet someone who loved you enough to want to change your destiny. Want you to see happiness isn't in having power and gold but in loving someone. She did change you... but unfortunately because of her fate is no longer here to witness your transformation. I think she would be happy."
He gazed at me with an unreadable expression, "Miss Quinn, you are very interesting."
She flicked a fallen leaf off the table and smiled, " Haha...I am not that interesting." But... I can somewhat relate to the way she felt from my own experience.
Bliss shivered from the chill in the air, he took off his coat and put it around her. She could smell a faint herbal scent as the coat enveloped her small frame. "Thank you."
The Vampire took out a beautiful necklace from his pocket, on a thin gold chain was a small crystal blue pear shaped gem. "I told you that you remind me of her and now I feel that more than ever. Please accept this necklace and wear it always."
The sparkling gem was so beautiful and as he was about to put it around Bliss' neck she held his hand. "I don't know what kind of gem this is but it looks too expensive, I can't."
He lifted her hair, "It is true the Dragon Tear is rare, one hasn't been found in over a thousand years but I want you to have it."
Bliss gulped down her saliva and touched the pendant with an incredulous expression, "Dragon Tear? A real Dragon Tear?"
The Vampire had an amused expression, "Yes... a crystallized Dragon tear. As long as you wear this necklace no Vampire can compel you or...drink your blood. You mustn't take it off not even for a moment."
I want to give the necklace back but... I can be rid of Luka... the crazy Princess..the little Vampiress Kendra. Bliss was a little suspicious though, there is no free lunch in this world, "Why give this to me?"
"I told you why."
"You don't have a human you want to protect? You don't know me..."
He crossed his long legs and answered, "No. I gave up on love when I lost my wife and child. I live a rather solitary life now."
"Vampires can have children?"
"Purebred Vampires. Yes. Which is why Nadia Lenovich and Princess Francesca won't let you live peacefully as long as you are with Luka. Nadia doesn't want their pure bloodline tainted and the Princess wants Luka to father her children. Right now they don't dare kill you but that doesn't mean they will let you be with him."
"I don't know where this misunderstanding arose but I am not 'with' Luka Lenovich. As soon as this program is over I hope to never see him again."
"Miss Quinn, I guess you aren't aware of your feelings. If you didn't care about Luka Lenovich why did you run to his brother when you thought he was in danger?"
"I would do that for anyone."
"Well, I hope you are being truthful with yourself. Luka Lenovich is charismatic and charming, you wouldn't be the first human girl to fall under his spell."
For some reason, Luka's popularity with the ladies hit a nerve. "I won't and now that I possess this amazing necklace I feel confident I can resist him. But, if you should meet a girl you like please tell me and I will give the necklace back."
We were chatting as though we were old friends when suddenly Luka appeared in the gazebo he yanked me off the bench and ripped the coat from around my shoulders. After throwing it onto the floor he possessively pulled me into his arms and snarled revealing his razor sharp fangs, "King Rafael, why are you here?"
The Vampire grinned, " I am no longer a King, does that mean I am not welcome to visit my godson?"
My eyes darted between them, this Vampire is a King too..was a King..? Godson? He actually looks younger than Luka.
Luka growled, "Leave. I already sent your followers to hell."
The Vampire's thin lips curled up, "Dear Luka, I came alone to warn this adorable little human to stay far away from you. I had nothing to do with the assassins although I'm sure they had my markings on their chest."
Luka encircled Bliss' thin waist with his arm, "Don't interfere in my life or there will be consequences."
King Rafael stared at Luka's hand around my waist and warned in a concerned tone, "Luka, learn from my mistakes. I was arrogant and selfish, causing me to lose what was most precious to me."
After he disappeared into the darkness, Luka's ink black eyes narrowed as he stared into my eyes, "What did that bastard say to you?"
"None of your business."
He roughly gripped my shoulders and in a commanding tone warned,"Tell me or you will force me to compel you."