Vampires had spent far too much time hiding and slinking within the shadows, frightened of the mob mentality of humans. It was where the myth had come from that vampires couldn't walk about in the day. It was completely wrong, they could move about in the day, they had simply preferred to hunt at night when there were less people around, and those that were around were usually easier prey. But as the vampire numbers had increased, so had their compulsion to be free of the shadows. He had helped his father lead the attack, taking them all into battle and securing the world for their own means. The war had been time-consuming and brutal, but in the end they had come out the victors, and Braith had every intention of making sure it stayed that way. He was not going back to the shadows, and he was not going to let the inferior humans relegate him to such a role again. No matter how much she believed in her words.
Although, most humans had little fight left in them anymore. They were too frightened and beat down to offer much resistance to the vampire rule anymore. Except for a group of humans that hid within the woods, plotting against them, and causing more death and trouble to his kind than Braith would have liked. A group that he now knew this girl was a part of.
A kernel of anger curled through him as he studied her. She represented everything that he had been fighting against, everything that he hated so much, and yet he was holding the hands clinging so fervently to him. She seemed to realize her grasp upon him as a look of shame crossed her face moments before she released his hand completely.
"I see." She didn't speak again, but simply turned away, her head bowing down. She tried to stifle a yawn, but the dark shadows under her eyes belied her attempt to hide her exhaustion from him. "I will show you to your room now."
Her head snapped up, her eyes darted rapidly around the room. He sensed her urge to flee, but they both knew there was nowhere for her to go. "My room?" she croaked.
"Unless you would prefer to spend the night with me."
Her mouth dropped in horror, her gaze snapped back to his. He could hear the frantic beat of her heart pounding crazily in her chest as she made a small sound of alarm. "No!"
Braith found himself a little insulted by her vehement cry. He was many things, but he wasn't as hideous as she appeared to believe he was. He quirked an eyebrow at her and wondered to himself how this frail slip of a girl could cause such a strange reaction within him. She was nothing special nor was she the type of woman he preferred. His usual type was curvy, graceful, beautiful, and eager. No this girl was challenging, pointy, skinny, and anything but eager as she gazed at him in revulsion.
"I didn't think so," he murmured, studying her from under lowered lids.
He rose abruptly, ignoring her as he moved across the room and turned back at the doorway of the side apartment. She had risen, but remained unmoving by the sofa, her hands folded before her. The daylight filtering through the windows turned her hair the color of a dark flame that burned brightly within the room. The subtle light was kind to her sharp angles, making her appear gentler, prettier. He froze as he soaked in the splendor of her. She may not be beautiful, but she was the most magnificent thing he'd seen in years.
- CHAPTER 5 -
"It's a shower."
Aria jumped in surprise, spinning at the sound of the purred words. The prince was leaning casually in the doorway of the bathroom, his arms folded over his broad chest. Though his customary glasses were in place, she could feel it as his eyes rapidly scanned her body. She took a small step back, her bare heel coming into contact with the cool bottom of the contraption that he had just labeled a shower. It was different than the massive tub in his room as it was a small stall with a distorted glass door making it impossible to see through it clearly.
He strode unhurriedly toward her, his large body powerful and graceful as he moved with the eerie agility inherent to his kind. Aria tilted her head back as she gazed at him in silent awe. She hadn't seen him since last night, but she realized now that she hadn't imagined his size, his air of authority, or his rough masculine beauty. In fact, it seemed even stronger and more overbearing today than it had yesterday.
He stopped before her, placing his hand against the wall beside her head as he reached around her with the other. Despite herself, a strange tingling took hold of her body. She instinctively leaned closer to him, inhaling his masculine scent of spices, earth, and something more, something deeper and more potent. Something feral and primitive, she realized. It should have scared her away but she found herself having to fight the strange urge to move closer, to touch him, to allow that scent to cover her completely. Her traitorous fingers twitched with the sudden urge to feel him.
Aria jumped in surprise, moving away from the strange contraption as water suddenly sprayed out of the faucet, wetting the back of her bare legs. She turned, incredulity filled her, and her mouth dropped as she stared at the water shooting from the nozzle above her. The prince turned the two handles below it, gradually adjusting the flow and heat of the water.
"Amazing," she whispered.
"I suppose it is."
She jolted when she felt his hand within her hair, stroking tenderly over it. She turned toward him, unable to speak as he wrapped it leisurely around his finger. She couldn't move away from him, couldn't reach up to tug her hair back. She could only stand in silent surprise as he coiled it halfway around his finger before lifting his gaze to her again.
"You will enjoy it Arianna."
For a moment she had no idea if he meant that it was him she would enjoy, or if it was the shower. And at the moment she wasn't sure either, as all she craved was to know what that mouth felt like. Ugh, she was truly losing her mind; captivity was doing strange things to her. Enemy, she reminded herself fiercely. He is the enemy, but he didn't feel like her enemy right now.
Then, his finger unraveled from her hair and he took a small step back. "I have sent for someone to assist you again."
She was perfectly capable of taking care of herself. "That's not necessary."
"You are my guest, and as such, you will be afforded the luxuries of a guest."
She quirked an eyebrow as she studied him. "I'm a guest now, am I?"
"You are whatever I choose for you to be," he growled back. Despite the fact that the heat of the water was rapidly warming the room, Aria felt a chill race down her spine. Every warm feeling she had been experiencing washed out of her as she was slapped in the face with the cold reality of her life. No matter how good he smelled she shouldn't have forgotten that, not even for a minute. She was an idiot. "For however long I choose for you to be."
The thin gown they had placed out for her to sleep in last night was beginning to cling to her body from the steam that was rapidly filling the room. Her heel connected with the bottom of the shower again as he leaned closer to her. He was near enough that she could see the dark bristles of hair lining his firm jaw. Close enough that she could see the sharp tip of his canines as his lips skinned back in a tight lipped smile. Canines she knew could pierce her skin and drain her in the blink of an eye.
"Being a guest isn't really such a bad thing Arianna, now is it?" he murmured.
She was finally able to breathe again as he took a small step back. He was playing with her like a cat with a mouse. She knew it, but to her utter disgrace she was ashamed to realize that she couldn't help but feel some strange, horrific, form of attraction toward the deadly, vile creature.
She shook her head, trying to rid herself of the tangled coil of emotions wrapping around her, but she found that she could only stare wordlessly up at him as he continued to lean over her, his hand resting just centimeters from her head. The thick muscles of his biceps flexed, and though she couldn't see his eyes, she was certain his gaze was focused upon her mouth.
The tentative clearing of a throat brought both of their gazes to Maggie. She was standing in the doorway, her large brown eyes questioning as she glanced rapidly between the two of them. In her arms she clutched a couple of towels, a few bottles of some
thing that Aria didn't recognize, and what appeared to be fresh clothes. Though she was glad that it was Maggie and not Lauren or Julia, she didn't like the idea of someone seeing her naked, or helping her dress again.
The prince stared silently at Maggie for a moment before stepping away. He strode forward, pausing briefly at Maggie's side to gaze upon the things gathered within her arms. "No heels," he commanded gruffly. "And no perfume or anything floral scented."
Maggie started, her gaze darted to the things within her arms before returning to the prince. Her forehead furrowed, her dark eyebrows tilted together. Aria watched in surprise as Maggie stared quizzically at the prince, her gaze rapidly searching his face as she shook her head. Aria didn't understand the woman's strange reaction to the prince's words. Perhaps Aria was the only one that didn't wear the awful monstrosities that passed as shoes around here. But even as she thought that, she knew she was wrong. Maggie was wearing simple, comfortable looking shoes, so why did the woman look so confused by his words?
Maggie shook her head as if to clear it, her forehead relaxed. The prince was gone by the time Maggie picked the heels up from the pile and dropped them on the floor. She turned her attention to Aria, who was too tired and confused to offer any protest as she was once again scrubbed, cleaned, and dressed in another article of clothing that she never even would have considered wearing before. The silky green dress, that floated about her ankles as she moved, seemed completely impractical to her. Her feet remained blessedly bare.
She walked silently behind Maggie as they slipped through the luxurious room she had spent last night in, then the small sitting room before it, and finally back into the main room. The prince was standing before one of the bay windows, looking down at the gardens. His hands were folded behind his back as he rocked leisurely on his heels. He didn't look at them, but simply gestured toward the door. Maggie bowed her head, nodded to Aria, and slipped away.
"I had some food brought up for you."
Aria had already noticed the heaping mounds of food piled upon the tray in the middle of the room. Her mouth watered as her stomach rumbled eagerly, and loudly. She'd never seen so many fantastic looking things in her life. She remained frozen for a moment, uncertain of what to do as she gazed upon the cheese, fruits, breads, and meats piled upon the tray. It was enough to feed the people within the caves for a day, as they had all learned how to eat scarcely, and survive on very little. In fact, Aria couldn't remember a day when she hadn't gone to sleep at least a little hungry.
This might very well be her first.
"Arianna?" She turned toward the prince, blinking rapidly as her stomach continued to rumble loudly. So loudly in fact, that she was embarrassingly certain he could hear it. He stared at her for a prolonged moment, his eyebrow quirked over the dark lenses of his glasses. "You are hungry Arianna, you must eat."
She nodded mutely, but she couldn't bring herself to step up to that heaping tray, not when so many others would be going hungry today. Not when her family would be going hungry today. It didn't seem right, it didn't seem fair. For the first time she allowed her thoughts to turn to her family. It had hurt too much to think about them before, and exhaustion had blessedly dragged her rapidly under last night before she'd had the chance to dwell on their loss.
Her family would be worried sick about her, half crazed with their loss, and their torment over her new situation. Poor William was probably devastated. Her father and Daniel would continue to stoically move onward, burying their misery, which would only eat them alive inside, just as it always did. They would immerse themselves in plans, future attacks, and their resentment and hatred for the vampires would fester until it consumed them, as it had consumed so many others.
Aria shuddered; she wrapped her arms around herself as she fought against the tears of despair that threatened to spill. She was staring at the prince, but she couldn't see him through the waves of homesickness that swamped her. And then there was Max. Poor Maxwell, trapped somewhere within this town, with some creature that Aria highly doubted was being as kind to him as the prince was being to her.
She didn't like to think about what that monster was doing to strong, caring Max. Yet now that she had opened that can of worms, she couldn't get it to close again. She wasn't the most experienced person in the world, but she had lived on the far edges of society long enough to know the cruelty that could be committed by vampires, and by broken, corrupt people. Her family had always tried to keep her sheltered, but there were some things that they could never protect her from. Max would be experiencing many of those things over his time with that woman.
The faint touch upon her arm caused her to jump slightly. Her hands fisted as she instinctively sought to fight off her offender, but she managed to catch herself before she launched a punch at him. She expected his kindness would vanish if such a thing happened and though she'd never expected to live long, she most certainly didn't have a death wish. She blinked the prince into focus, struggling not to let him see just how lost and alone she felt right now.
"I was not thinking last night Arianna; I am not used to having humans around for more than an hour or two. You have to eat, I know you are hungry." Her traitorous stomach rumbled again in eager response to his words. She almost refused the food, but refusing something that might aid her in the end was simply foolish. His frown deepened; his concern became apparent. "Come."
He led her to one of the sofas and settled her upon it before turning to the tray. Aria watched in awe as he heaped a plate high with food. She was certain that he had never done this for anyone; she couldn't understand why he was doing it for her, or why he had even rescued her from the ugly little vampire of yesterday. She speculated if he'd ever reveal his reason for claiming her, she doubted it though. He turned back to her and handed her the overflowing plate. There were foods on it that she didn't even recognize.
She stared at it for a moment before he handed her a napkin and a fork. She twisted the fork in her hand as she inspected it. She'd seen them before, had even used them a few times, but she wasn't well versed in the art of using a utensil. She much preferred her fingers, but she had a feeling that the use of her fingers wouldn't be overly accepted here.
He placed a smaller tray over her lap, and then lightly placed the plate on top of it. Aria's hands were trembling as she moved the fork awkwardly in her grasp. She stabbed at some of the fruit before successfully spearing it with the strange utensil. She itched to dive into the heaping plate of goodies, but forced herself to at least try to appear civilized in this grand place.
The prince placed a glass of some orange colored liquid beside her. "What is that?" she inquired, heat coloring her face as she realized she had forgotten to swallow her food before she spoke.
He didn't acknowledge her breech in manners though, but instead sat on the sofa beside her. "Orange juice, I have heard that it is rather tasty. Humans seem to like it anyway. We grow the trees within the gardens and greenhouses." Aria lifted it, sniffed suspiciously at it, and then cautiously took a sip. The liquid was cool, sweet, and refreshing. She downed the rest of the glass in one swallow. "You approve?"
She smiled tremulously at him in thanks as he leaned over to refill her glass. She studied him questioningly; she was unable to understand why he was doing this for her, why he was being so kind to a rebel human. She didn't dare ask him though; she didn't think he would appreciate her mentioning it. Instead, she decided to simply enjoy the delicious meal she had been handed.
She dug in with renewed gusto, somewhere along the way she even forgot that he was watching her as she repeatedly helped herself to more of the delicious concoctions upon the large tray. Her stomach was bloated, but delightfully full for the first time ever, when she finally pushed her plate aside, wiped her mouth on her napkin, and sighed contentedly.
"Are you full now?" His voice was tinged with amusement; a half smile curled his upper lip as he watched her.
Aria ducked her head; heat flooded her face as s
he realized exactly what she must have looked like in front of him, eating almost half of the copious amounts of food upon the tray. She'd just consumed more than she normally would have in three days. "Yes."
"Good. I must go out for a bit, but if there is anything you require Maggie has been instructed to get it for you. You have to only ring for her. There is also a guard stationed outside your door, do not consider escape."
Aria recoiled; she struggled to keep her face impassive, and her outrage hidden as she was starkly reminded of the fact that she was a prisoner in this place. That she would never be free again, unless she did something to try and change her awful circumstances. He had been kind to her so far, but how long could she truly expect that to last? Aria swallowed nervously, her hands folded rigidly in her lap. Though she tried to keep her terror hidden from him, she knew that he could sense it.
"I will not be gone long."
Aria managed a small nod. It was all she could do to make that gesture; she didn't trust herself to speak right now. The prince rose slowly, he straightened the dark shirt he wore and reached for the cane propped against the couch. She saw that the head of the cane was a silver wolf, seconds before his large hand closed around it. She didn't know why he used the thing, he didn't limp or struggle with moving, but perhaps he thought it made him appear more dignified, or it was a weapon of some sort.
He was dressed more sharply than he had been yesterday, and sporting the ring that marked him as the prince of the house of Valdhai. That marked him as a member of the family that had been ruling the vampires, and the world, for the past hundred years. He hadn't been wearing it yesterday. Whatever he had to do today it appeared that it was relatively important, and official.
The wolf rose beside him, its green eyes were bright as it stared at Aria for a full minute before turning its attention back to its master. He whistled for the wolf, who padded eagerly over to him before they both slipped out the door.