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Cathreene Anjali Arrow

Whisper
1st part of the Whisper Saga

Translation: Cathreene Arrow

Publishing by Cathanjali
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Original title: Szept

Cover: Cathanjali

Graphic: Cathanjali

Translation: Cathanjali

Copyright 2009 by Cathreene Anjali Arrow

Chapter 1
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Accident after work

nother press conference. The worst part of my job. Everyone's yelling, pushing themselves, hurrying to get the best seats. But even worse's traveling. Oh yeah, I just love it! It's 5 am and I'm sitting in my car and instead of sleeping, like all normal people do, I'm crossing the Mexican border! And all of this because of Thomas Morgan. He's famous archaeologist and he's just discovered some new type of dinosaur. I don't know for who, but I've to make a report from his journey. Great, whole day messed up again. Only the recording of his statements and trip stories will take time till evening, and then mixing, correction, and if my boss wouldn't like it, I'll have to do everything all over again. Well, I heard that in the night there's less cars on the roads and you don't have to pay on the border... Actually, I don't even know why I became a journalist. OK, I admit- I thought, that when I'll be in TV I'll be famous. But I never thought it'd be so slog! I've to be at work at 7 am everyday, so I wake up at 6 or sometimes even 5.30, and I'm coming back home at 11 pm, or later. And these trips for every time when something's new came up... OK, I gotta go, I've a meeting with this Morgan in 10 minutes... OK, it's 11.30 pm- I'm going back to my house in NY. Yes, finally. And, as always, I had whole day full of recordings. Again. Boring. And tiring. Very tiring boring stuff, for sure not necessary in my life. And believe, that I's going to the vampirologic studies! Probably, I'd be learning Latina now... well, I can speak quite good already, in the end I spent on it my whole summer, but... why I even went on the journalism?! Fortunately, I'll sit calmly on my couch with the raspberry tea in my hand in an hour... I's listening to In The End by Linkin Park, when my Volvo XC90 (which I adore) was hit by something. No, I didn't drove into a tree. It's like something fell on my car. Or run right under my wheels... no, I'm not crazy. At least not yet. I stopped the car and got out to see what have just happened. My front mask's in really bad shape, but fortunately the engine works fine. Just... 5 meters far someone lied on the road... oh fuck, I hope he's still alive! I run. It's a guy, I think in my age. Well, maybe 2 or 3 years older. It's good, he's not bleeding. Am... sir? I turned him on his back, so that I can see his face. I's ready to give him my 1st aid, but he had open eyes, so he's conscious. Or at least in some way. But I didn't see much anyways, because despite it's dark, it started to rain. Are you OK? How do you feel? Tanya...- he looked at me not really clear and he fainted. Great, and what I'm supposed to do now?! I can't just live him here! And if I called the ambulance, it'd probably be here after an hour. I won't call the police either, because I don't wanna pay the fine or worse- go to jail. In my car's CD player I heard the chorus of Don't Stay. Yeah, thanks Chester. OK, this guy's gonna buy me a drink someday. I pulled him into my Volvo and turned up the heating to get us dry and worm. With every new stanza of the Linkin Park's Thousand Suns I looked at my guest to check, if he's not worse. When we finally got to my place, I lied him on the couch in the living room. I quickly changed into dry clothes and came back to him. I took off his wet jacket and started to look for any injuries after our accident. I noticed, that his body's all burned. I took off also his shirt, to get closer look. He's cold as the air
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outside. Yeah, he probably survived from some fire. He run in a shock and got right under my wheels. I sank a towel in a cold water and touch his torso with it, actually, I don't really know why. And then I smelled garlic. I bend over him and found out, that he's all in a garlic ointment. I surprised, because it stops the healing. So I washed his torso, shoulders and neck from this mixture, but I decided to finish when he wakes up. Because I won't undress him now! I left him on the couch, went to my room and locked the door. In the end, I don't know him. I just hoped, that he's not some psycho murderer or sadistic raper. At least tomorrow's Saturday... I like weekends- I'm free. After breakfast, I went to see my guest. Still unconscious. Mm, maybe he's in a coma? He's so pale... when I uncovered the window from curtains (there wasn't much light though, because it's cloudy that day), I noticed that he's really handsome, too. Luckily, he hasn't got any fever. Ex contrario, he's rather... ice cold. Dammit, pale, cold, handsome, and he hasn't got any bruises after the accident. Just these burns, like after fire. Like the almost vampirology student, I've only one answer for this puzzle. For a proof I've the garlic ointment and burns on hole body, and everyone knows, that vampires don't tolerate fire. Well, finally something's going on with my life! Maybe instead of quitting job (of what I's even wondering), I can simply just walk next to him with uncovered neck? Anyways, I don't know what else I can do for him, so I switched on my recorder to finish my material about Morgan. Great, some vampire guy's lying on my couch in my saloon and I've to mix the stories of some stupid archaeologist! That totally sucks... but hey, shit happens. About 10 minutes later I heard a growl behind me. I turned back and the vampire's already ready to jump. This is how you thank me?- I stood up slowly, looking in his hypnotic, brown-gray eyes. He hesitated- I think he didn't remember much. Oh right, when I turned him back, so that I could see his face, he fainted.- You run into my wheels yesterday, I thought I drove you. And if I haven't washed you from this garlic, you wouldn't be probably awake now. I saved you, you should at least thank me. I don't owe anything.- he growled. OK, so he's not the kindest one. Well, it's not weird, he's a vampire. He tensed muscles, but I's calm. Listen, maybe I am only human, but whether you want or not, I saved you, so you really shouldn't kill me now.- I beat him of his guard, because he wrinkled. You don't know anything about me. I know more than you think.- I raised my chin imperiously. The guy stood up tall with a smile and stood right in front of me. I think I amused him. Oh yeah? And what exactly is that?- he started to make fun of me. Oh, you'll be surprised! For example who you are. Or rather, in your case, what you are.- he stopped smiling in a moment. He clenched his teeth and stared at me with eyes, which changed a color into black.- Should I say more, vampire?- I wasn't sure about the end of this talk, but I decided to risk. Actually, no one ever said I'm normal. I think so myself. He stared at me with his scary, pissed off, black eyes, his mouth even opened from this anger and he clenched his fists. But me, instead of running the hell out of here... I smiled. I's happy that I surprised him. It's really hard for a human to surprise with anything a vampire. For me it's a thing to be proud of myself, screw the situation.- What, you don't even know what to say, because I'm not only stupid lunch?- before I noticed, he squeezed my neck with his hand and leaned my back against a wall, so that I didn't even touch the ground with my feet.- Hey!- shit, he's got really hard grip... involuntarily, I caught his wrist. He's still ice cold. What a pity that you have so high opinion about yourself.- he said and turned my face a little on the right. So I let go his wrist and parted a neckline of my blouse to my shoulder. I'll never escape from him anyways. He surprised again.- What are doing?- he stepped back with a wrinkly forehead. I'm making it easier for you. Just... try some less painful, OK? I'd appreciate it.- I turned my head, swallowed and closed my eyes. I's always wandering if it would be pain... he looked at me, as he wanted to check, if the proof of a crime's authentic, then he laughed, shook his head and let me go. Now I wrinkled, not knowing what's going on and massaging my neck after his hand. During that, I noticed that his eyes became again just brown-gray.
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 What's your name?- great, I amused him again. Cathreene Mitchell.- fuck, when he's smiling, he's even more gorgeous... You're strange, Cathreene.- he turned back and went 2 steps away, but when I crossed his path, he wrinkled. I haven't heard your name.- he smiled. Because I didn't give it to you.- he tried to walk me around, but I didn't let him. His eyes went dark again. He easily gets angry... You still have garlic on you. If you wanna heal properly, you need my help, count.- suddenly, he looked at me even more mad then a minute ago, then he looked at his signet-ring on his pointing finger in the left hand, which in the end he clenched. Don't call me that.- he growled in a hostile manner. You haven't said your name and I really don't wanna call you vampire or hominis nocturna.- I shrugged, ignoring his hostility.- And don't forget, that everyone who'd hear it, would definitely think that we're some psychos from the Psycho-land.- he clenched his teeth and looked at the floor. Mathew. Mathew Arrow.- he finally squeezed out. I nodded for hello and smiled that he finally works with me. Sit on the couch, Mathew. I'll just bring a towel and a bowl.- I turned back and walked to a threshold. Why are you helping me?- he's no longer angry, just curious. I looked at him with a smile. You're a vampire.- I shrugged. He wrinkled and looked at me surprised. He didn't understand, but there wasn't any sens in explaining to him how much I admire his kind. Well, since I remember I've some kind of crush on vampires. When I's back in my living room, he's looking at my DVD collection. My mates used to joke, that I'm a bit haunted- my films are only horrors, in which only 15 DVDs are about famous Count Dracula. I giggled- the vampire's looking at my vampire movies... I think I understand now.- he looked at me really surprised and a little uncertain and sat back on the couch. He at once lied on his belly- he probably saw, that his torso's already clean. I'm curious, if he's surprised, when he saw that he's already without a shirt... I wet the towel in a water in the bowl and kneeled down next to the couch.- You won't ask about anything?- he's looking at the floor with hands under his chin. Will you answer?- when I touched his neck with the towel material, he moaned with pain, clenching his fists, making my hand shiver. Dammit, I rather prefer when he's unconscious- at least he didn't feel anything... Go.- he didn't like the fact, that something's hurting him and I'm looking at it. I waited 2 seconds more, because I had to decide, if I really wanna know the answer for the question I've in my mind. Finally, I made a decision, that it'll be better, if I know the truth. Animorian or humonorian?- means you eat animals or humans? He looked at me really surprised that I now these names, and when I washed his blade, he moaned again, but not that loud. Yes, he definitely didn't want to show his weakness. The 2nd.- my hand shivered again. Great, so he can just throw at me any time his belly will rumble. Well, in theory. He acted like he didn't see anything, for what I's grateful, but he obviously started to avoid my look. How old are you? 26.- he answered with no wondering as some kinda autopilot. I rolled my eyes. Oh, despite of appearances. I'm asking about the initiated version.- I think he wanted to look at me, but he finally stuck on his signet-ring. As me before, he waited a second before answering. In a month I'll be 300.- the towel fell from my hand into the water. OK, I know they're immortal, but... fuck, he's 3 centuries! That's... shit, he's born in Baroque! In 1710! I swallowed loudly. When he looked at me uncertainly, I immediately took the towel from the water and pressed it out, blinking nervously, but also pretending, that nothing happened.
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 And... why did you run under my wheels? You said something like tanya or something like that...- he closed his eyes and turned the head, as if he's in pain, whether I didn't even touch him with the towel. Next.- OK, if he doesn't want, he doesn't have to talk. Good, that he still hasn't kill me yet... but... OK, that's weird, but for me he doesn't look like he can kill someone, just because he's bored. Or maybe? Whatever, he's a vampire, he's the rights. He normally eats humans, as we eat hum. He just doesn't put us on a bread... So maybe why did you go into the sunlight?- he hissed quietly, when I washed lower part of his back, then he looked at me wrinkling his forehead. You think, that I have this, because I wanted to?- right, I'm an idiot. So... who did this to you? Someone wants your fortune? No. My father...- he stopped and turned his head from me again. Please, tell me.- I looked at him for a while, but he didn't respond. When I was putting the towel in a drawer, he sat staring at the floor and took a deep breath looking at his signet. I'm not a count. I'm a prince. An archduke. Future king.- I opened my eyes widely, and then I blinked with a surprise. Cool! Despite that he's a vampire, a humonorian, and he's 300 years old, he's also a crowned head! How nice for the Saturday morning! But he said that as it's some kinda curse.- My... father is the king of our community in Mexico. He's oversensitive about the purity of our blood and... he didn't like his daughter-in-law.- he said through the clenched teeth. You're the heir to the throne and you married a citizen.- I guessed. Well, that makes sense that the king pissed off. I didn't even surprised, that he's got a wife. In the end, he's even older than my greatgrandfather! C'mon people, Baroque! And I thought, that Stefano and Damon from The Vampire Diaries, who were born in 1850s are old, but what about the 1710?! Mathew's looking through the window and smiling to his memories. Tanya was exquisite. She had eyes of the color of a little burned grass in the rising sun, her hair was shining with a most expensive gold. She moved hundred times more gently then the falls on the ocean in the windless summer evening, and when she laughed you could see the sweetest dimples, as in a balloon, when you pushed it harder... oh, her laugh was more beautiful then thousands of singing nightingales! Her skin was lighter than a full moon, and her rosy cheeks couldn't paint even Van Gogh!he closed his eyes.- Her figure... her body... greatly smooth as the best made wood and ideal adroit as the most noble deer...- wow, he likes poetry very much... he clenched his teeth, closed eyes and down his head, and on his face I saw pain. So what happened?- I asked uncertainly. When he found out about us, he formed a judgment on us.- he tensed his muscles and I blinked. A judgment? On his own son?!- He burned them, and commanded me to watch.- I swallowed, but something was wrong. Them?- when he looked at me, he even drop a tear. Tanya was pregnant. We would have a son.- he stood up and went to the window. I didn't know what to say. A father. His own father. He killed his wife and the unborn son. He burned them alive! Nice family!- He couldn't kill me, because there would be no future king- I have only sisters- so he just browned me. And so that I can't forget it fast, his solders spread the garlic on me. I escaped them, but I had no strength and I didn't know what I was doing, so... that's how I hit you.- for good 2 minutes I didn't have any idea what to say. He run under my wheels, because... he's running from death? His father killed his wife and son, and then he wanted him?! So... what you're gonna do now?- I asked, when I got back my voice. Kill the person, who killed my family.- his voice made me shiver. You'll kill your own father? And he could have killed my wife and son?! You think, that I'm considering him as my father after what he did?! If he doesn't think about me as of his son, just as the heir to the throne, then I won't be thinking of him neither as of my father or my king! He's just a murderer!- his fists started to shiver and from his angry dark red eyes I could see such a fury, that I stepped back. Calm down, I get it...- I pulled up my hands in front of me.
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 You don't understand at all! You're only human, what can you know about me?! You think, that if you've watched few films you already know, what it's like to be a vampire?! Ha! You're wrong! And besides...!- he sat back on the couch.- Oh, if only I was ordinary, casual, nothing-meters individual in our population...! Maybe then I could finally spend my life with a woman who I love... and who I choose myself, not parents! Why I can't be with a woman who I love, just with some princess?! And if I don't want that?! If I just want to be with an ordinary waitress?! What's wrong with that?!- he caught his head with his hands. I preferred not to say anything, until he's finished. Talking helps.- Oh, Mathew, don't be stupid! How it'll look like? You deserve for a king;s daughter with a pure blood, not some dog's daughter, who serves the tables. Best will be from the Corvinus coven... oh yes, we heard, that young Cornelia is ready to marriage. She's ideal for you, son.- he hid his face in his hands. I just looked at the floor. Damn, is it really so bad to be a vampire archduke?- No one ever asked me. Ever. They always just say Oh yes, she's perfect for you. She'll be the ideal queen. They never ask, if I like her, do I think she's pretty. At least that. And when I finally was happy...- he clenched his fists on his head so hard, that I thought, he'll tear out his hair. When the tears started to fell on his cheeks, he turned his head from me. He waited a while, then dried fast and walked to me.- I'm sorry that I shouted at you. Sometimes... I just have such explosions.- he smiled pale.- Thank you for your help. You're very kind, Cathreene, I will not forget it. And now excuse me, I have to go.- when he got to the hall, I stood up quickly. Mathew!- he looked questionably.- I'm going with you.- when I took my jacket, he laughed derisively and disbelievingly at the same time. You're joking. You? With me? I promise, I won't be disturbing you and I'll be the most quite I can.- he wrinkled and opened lips a little. You're not scared that I'll kill you? Listen, if you wanted to, you'd do this a long time ago. Anyways, there's nothing going on in my life, till I met you, so..- he wrinkled again, but this time from the anger. You think of my wife's death as an adventure?- he asked through the clenched teeth. Of course not. I think, that your revenge is absolutely right and I just wanna help you with it. And you really shouldn't refuse the help of someone who saved you.- I pulled my chin up, sure that I'm right. He clenched his teeth again and looked at me from toes to head. You won't survive a day. So I'll help you anyway.- I shrugged. He didn't understand.- When you drink me, you'll have more strength.- I said with a bored tone, as if I had to say something to a small kid some time again. He smiled, but I don't think he believed me. You're strange, Cathreene. You've said that before.- rolling my eyes, I went to the door, but the vampire's just looking at me.- You're going?- he looked at me one more time, laughed quietly and shook his head, and we finally went out. I closed the door and automatically went to my Volvo. Such a pity, that the mask's so dented... OK, when I'm back, I'm going to the mechanic. I'm moving on foot.- he muttered, walking into the forest next to my house. Oh...- I went after him not really sure of it, and I looked at my home for the last time. Who knows when I'll see it again? Because, who knows what it'll be with this vampire... You'll have to adapt, because I'm not going to drag in a human speed.- I could just nod, running up to go on with him, looking under my foot at the same time and being careful to not fell.- I also have no biological needs, so when you want to stop, you're telling me that. I don't have to eat, so I can just help you with the hunting. If you're tired or you want to sleep, you're also telling me that, is that clear? I really don't want to look for you, if we split.- like I'm going to believe, that you'll even bother. OK. Good. So if we're clear, let's go faster, I want to do this as fast as I can.- suddenly he started to run with such a wild speed between the trees, that instead of him, I saw just a dark streak. Hey, wait! Mathew!- but he's gone. He probably didn't even hear me, even with his supernatural hearing. I sighed and in the same moment my belly rumbled. And it started getting dark, too. Oh, right, it's 6
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pm and it's October. With some kinda a miracle, I caught some nonflying bird and burned it on made by myself bonfire, of which I's proud- that's my first this type fire ever. Well, it wasn't a hamburger, but at least I ate something. When I finished, I heard some voice between the trees. I stood up with the bird in my hand, or rather it's leftovers, staring at the bushes, when the voice's becoming louder. Cathreene! Cath! Oh, there you are... I told you not to go far away!- calmed down, I sat back on the moss. Because why should I be scared, it's just a humonorian vampire. And I told you to wait. Remember, that I'm not as fast as you. Oh... right.- he lowered his sight. It probably gave him something to think about. He looked at my fire and smiled mockingly.- Forest grill?- he sat next to me with 1 eyebrow raised. What, I was hungry.- I shrugged, having the last bite. Right.- he giggled. And you've eaten already?- it surprised me, how easy it's for me to ask about that. It'd be rather better, if I just asked him if he's already full or should I give myself on a table. He rolled his eyes with a strange smile. It would be rather hard for me to look for you and hunt in the same time.- he surprised me that I blinked. You're looking for me?- I thought he'll be treating me like an unnecessary air for him, and here... he noticed that, because he smiled lightly. When you're with me, I prefer not to lose you on the way. Hm, you're probably hungry.- not thinking a lot, I rolled up my sleeve and put my wrist right under his chin. He stepped back fast with a wrinkled forehead. What are you doing? Well... you're not hungry?- now I wrinkled. The humonorian doesn't want human's blood? He laughed. You're really strange. Wait here, I'll be right back.- he stood up and went into the forest. I thought he'll be back in 15 minutes, but after half an hour I sat bored on a moss. I's going to sleep, when I heard the steps, or rather breaking branches, so I stood up at once. Sorry, I... had to think.- I giggled, when I saw him. He's all in blood, I barely saw, where he's got lips.- What?- he looked around and wrinkled. Instead of telling him, I walked to him and sieved his lower lip. He immediately stepped back and touched the lips with his hand. When he saw what I'm talking about, his pupils got wider.- Oh...- he cleaned his face with a sleeve, so I put down my hand. I don't really know myself, why I touched him.- Forgive me, me and Tanya aren't...- he cut and lowered his sight. OK, I won't bother. It's fine. You just looked funny. I was feeding on your kind and you're saying I looked funny?- I shrugged and he wrinkled.Besides, don't touch me again.- he sat under a tree, but I just rolled my eyes.- And what exactly is wrong with you? Why aren't you afraid of me?- I shrugged. I just think you won't hurt me.- his pupils got thinner. You don't know that.- I wrinkled.- Listen, I won't be touching you and you won't be touching me, are we clear? What does it mean this you don't know that?- I ignored his question and he smiled. I'm a vampire.- he shrugged and said it with the same tone as me, when he asked why I'm helping him. I wanted to say something, but suddenly from the back I heard a noise of a burning wood. I remembered the photos of my parents, or rather their corpses which I had to recognize in a mortuary, after I's back home from a summer camp, and I screamed. He giggled.- You're afraid of wood?- he said mockingly. I didn't even got angry, but I think I probably should. No, of fire.- I said, calming my heart. A fire?- he surprised and a moment later he remembered something.- Hey, but that's not because of us, right?- I looked askance at him. No, because of my parents.- he surprised again. They hunted you with it?- he said mockingly, but I could see in his eyes, that he's kinda
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curious, too. He really started to piss me of at that moment. Mathew... What?- he shrugged. Doesn't matter, I don't wanna talk about it. I told you about Tanya.- he miffed like a child. I looked at him and sighed. They died from it.- he opened his mouth. How? How. Like your wife, they burned.- I said it just like that, because I really didn't want to talk about it. My wife was murdered.- he hissed, but like he was correcting me. I rolled my eyes, but I felt he won't let it go. I was 16. I went for a summer camp with my friends. I's already coming back in 2 days, but...I took a deep breath. I wanted him to know that it's also hard for me to tell about my family's death. He stopped moving entirely that I felt I'm talking with a statue.- My mum's baking a cake for my arriving. She took the cake out of the cooker and went to watch the news with my dad, but she didn't see that... that the cooker didn't stop working. The gas... started to evaporate, but they didn't know...- I felt I's going to cry. I never like recalling it, but if I's doing that, I just cried. Mathew lowered his sight.- Maybe it would be good, if my dad didn't smoke...- I closed my eyes, so that my tears fell a little later.- Before they knew, whole kitchen was on fire. They wanted to go out, but... the doors had just shut...- and I went to pieces.- They couldn't even go through the window, because... it's the 3rd floor... luckily, someone had already called the fire brigade, but...- I loudly dragged my nose, I had already whole face in tears. The vampire's looking at me sadly, with compassion and understanding.- They found just charred bones...- I cried even louder. It's OK now...- Mathew pulled his hand to me a little, but he hesitated, and I involuntarily snuggled up to his torso, hiding my full of tears face in his black shirt. He looked at me in a surprise, but in a minute he jumped from me right under a tree, leaning against it with one, and holding his throat with the other hand, and breathing harder. Just then I remembered that my neck's almost 2 inches from his fangs and I swallowed. Oh, sorry...- I wiped my face fast.- But I told you I don't wanna talk about it.- he looked at me angry. Never do that again! I've already told I'm sorry. It's just a reflex... Humans and your reflexes! I can kill you by just 1 finger and you're clinging to me!- he snorted and I wrinkled. Hey, I'm not clinging! You wanted...! I don't want from you anything!- he growled that I closed my mouth. Suddenly I saw that he's got dark red irises, that's when the vampire's hungry or really pissed off, so I swallowed again. When he realized that, he closed his eyes and calmed down.- Go to sleep. We'll start walking in the morning.- he sat, so I at once lied next to him. Goodnight.- when I closed my eyes, he snorted.- What again? I don't really understand why aren't you afraid of me as a vampire. And now you aren't even afraid of me as a man. You really aren't afraid that I'll do something to you while you're sleeping?- I looked at him a little embarrassed. First, from what you told me, you're already after dinner, so I'm hoping that you won't take me as a dessert. Second, you told that you're a fresh widower, so instead of thinking how to rape me, you should have mourning in your mind.- he clenched his teeth and looked at the ground. Sleep.- I surprised that he said it through the clenched teeth, but I's so tired that I fell asleep in a moment. And I had a really strange dream. Well, I'm not lying to myself that Mathew isn't handsome at all. He's obviously gorgeous, he's got a great body (what I saw, when I's watering him from the garlic), and besides, he's also a romantic type,
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because he's still thinking just about his wife. Shit, just an ideal guy... But let's go back to my dream. I dreamed about... Mathew. Yes, exactly about him. But how! I dreamed, that after our journey, when he drove me home, he suddenly comes to me and throws at me, screaming that he loves me and he can't live without me. Then we're going to bed and when I wake up, he proposes to me. Crazy, huh? Right, me and him. Great, I'm not normal! The rising sun woke me up. I looked around, but I's on the clearing alone, so I went to search for my new friend in the forest. After like 10 minutes of slaloming through the trees, I heard a quiet sobbing. I looked up- the vampire's sitting on a wide branch and from the pine's shadow he's watching at the rising sun, crying. I's really sad, that someone such ideal has such a cruel father. Crying won't raise her.- he immediately jumped to a defense position with claws in front of the face. I shivered.- Calm down, it's just me...- I pulled up my hands. He stood up straight and turned back from me. I'm not crying.- he wiped fast, as if he thought, that I won't see anything. Yeah, and I'm a vampire girl.- I murmured. He's not thinking that I'm blind, is he? He wrinkled his forehead and turned his head towards me. What do you want?- he growled. He's angry that I caught him, I just didn't know, if with me or rather with himself that he didn't look out. I saw that you weren't there.- I shrugged. Well, I am now. Go.- he started to walk fast. You miss her that much?- I asked after some time. He didn't even look at me, just closed his eyes. You won't understand. Listen, my parents died when I's a teenager. Yeah, maybe it's not the same as the wife and the unborn son's death, who you didn't even...- he suddenly stopped and leaned me against a tree holding my neck the same way, like in my house, but this time he held me a bit less tight. I don't want to talk about it, OK?- he cut with a rough tone. Well, it's better not to irritate the humonorian... As you wish.- I shrugged. He put me on the ground and after 5 minutes I decided to change the topic.- And how's your skin, aren't there any burns already?- with a sigh he upped his shirt, so that I could look at his back and perfectly shaped radiator. I turned my look fast, so that he wouldn't think, that I'm staring at him.- OK, it's healed.- when he walked away, I saw that from some time he's a wrinkly forehead.- What's with you? You have to ask about everything?- he's still angry, but I still didn't know why. Whatever, I give up. For about 2 hours nobody spoke a word.- Aren't you hungry?- he asked suddenly. I wrinkled. Why?- he shrugged. You haven't eaten any breakfast. The fact, that you don't have a wife anymore, doesn't mean that you have to take care of me.he looked with pain and he would have run away, but I put my hand on his shoulder to stop him.- OK, I'm sorry.- he at once took it off. He's really pissed off. It's so funny for you?! You saw that it hurts me, and now you want to laugh?! Of course not. It had just slipped out, sorry. It'll be the best, if you just shut up, because if I were you, I wouldn't try to piss off the vampire.- he looked at me with those angry eyes and speed-ed up. Well, actually he's right... during the next hour it's entirely quiet again.- There's a small lake over there, you can bathe in it. I'll be back in 20 minutes.- and he disappeared in the forest. I don't know... I looked for him for another 5 minutes, but in the end I slowly went in a direction, which he showed me, turning around again and again, if he's not going after me. The water, which is really strange, was warm, so I took off my shirt and jeans and went into the lake. Like usually when I'm alone, I didn't care that I'm only in the underwear at all. I even dived few times, when I decided that I've oily hear. In the end I don't know when I'll have something like that again in this forest. I's swimming on my back, when I heard Mathew.
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 The time is running.- I shivered, hiding under water and I turned around in his direction. Luckily, as the real gentle prince, he stood backwards, and not, like the other guys, staring at me rudely. Hm, I think it's good for some reason that he's a widower... Em, coming.- when I swam to the shore, he hid behind a tree. Hell, I think I'll fell for him! Such a gentleman... I came out of the water, but I hesitated. I realized, that if I just get dressed now, I'll have the whole stuff wet. The vampire must have fell that, because he snapped his fingers and on my hands appeared, with the help of his Alchemy (means the vampires' magic), a towel. Thanks.- I got dry fast, dressed up and I went towards him. He threw the towel somewhere in bushes and without a word we started to walk straight ahead.- You're still angry?- he glanced at me from an angle of his eye.- Oh, c'mon, I'm sorry! I know that you loved her, but she's dead, so... Can we just not talk about it?- he closed his eyes and clenched fists. I rolled my eyes. As you want. Why did you go with me anyways?- I shrugged. I wanted to help you. Nah, I've already said that... I can't just tell him, that after my parents' death I swore to myself, that I'll help everyone with burns, if he's a body like new for a long time now! He'd probably think, that I'm just a stupid human...- I don't get you.- he snorted. I smiled. Many people don't get me either, don't worry. How can you be so calm when you're with me, walk next to me? It's... normally people run from me, I can kill you any moment, and you... you even have the nerves to argue with me! If you wanted to, you'd do that a long time ago.- he looked strangely. Yes, you're right. I was going to do that in your house. Unfortunately, you saved my life.- I looked at him surprised, that he finally claimed that.- Yes, I shouldn't ban you helping me now. Vampires also know what the honor is, so I'm grateful.- he downed his head a little bit, so that I was shocked.- But don't think, that I will tolerate your actions like that.- I smiled a bit and downed my look, not really knowing what to say.- And besides... how is it with you? You have a family? Like I said, my parents died when I's a teenager, and I'm the only child, so you're free to bite me.- he laughed. Why are you so hurrying to the other side? I's never good at anything.- I shrugged and Mathew suddenly stopped, sniffing around. I saw, that his irises went dark red. Then he closed his eyes, put up his head and croached. Maybe it's not the best similarity in his case, but... he acted like a dog, when it founds a nice chunk.- What is it?- I didn't like his reaction much. He glanced at me and stood up. I'll be back in a moment.- he went into the trees. Great, another hunting. Well... actually, it's better, that he's eating others, not me... not having a better idea, I just sat under a tree to wait for him. He's back after 20 minutes. Besides that he's all in blood again, he even had a dead rabbit in his hand. He looked so comic, especially with this rabbit, that I burst out laughing. He wrinkled, but remembering his last hunting, he wiped at once and threw me the animal on hands. I looked at him confused. I think mammals are better than birds.- after snapping his fingers, the fire burst right next to me, because of what I jumped.- Sorry.- he murmured and warmed up my dinner. When there's already just bones, Mathew chuckled.- Now you're dirty. Oh...- I wiped fast, and then we again walked ahead. You don't have a boyfriend or husband?- something's telling me, that he's asking just to stop the silence coming. No. I had 2 boys, with 1 I was even a year, but it didn't work out.- when I saw a snake on the path, I screamed and involuntarily caught his wrist. Mathew laughed, walked to the reptile and normally took it to his hand. I'm not scary, but a snake...- with a mocking smile he threw it somewhere in the bushes. What? I can at least ask you to not hurt me much, but it- rather not.- he raised his eyebrows a little and smiled with 1 side. The question is, will I agree.- I looked at him questionably.- You think, that it would be a
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pleasure for me just to kill you without nothing?- he had a serious mine, but when I shivered, he smiled.OK, don't stand like that.- only after a minute I could speak again. What... what does it mean? I think everybody likes to play with their food.- with a smile he shrugged. I snorted wrinkling. Yeah, especially little kids. Well, you have to make up the norm somehow, if you don't have your own kid to teach him that.- he stopped at once and his irises went wider. I hate you!- and he run into the forest, before I understood what's going on. Through his voice I realized, that he's crying. Mathew... Great, I'm all alone in the forest again. And as always, I firstly speak and then think! Giving up, I went in the same direction where I's heading with the vampire. Or at least I hope it's the same direction, because in this forest everything looks the same. It's just a pity, that he didn't tell me about the swamps. I tried to walk as carefully, but also as fast as I can, to at least show him, that I'm really trying. Unfortunately, I can't do that. After a moment, what's really easy to tell before it happened, I landed up to my hips into the swamp. Fuck! And as if it wasn't enough, it started to pull me in! I started to shout, thanking the world that vampires have super hearing. After a moment, when the swamp's right on the high of my waist, Mathew normally leaned against a tree and as if nothing's going on, he just looked at me with his hands on his chest. Mathew, help me! And that's why? I thought you want me to kill you.- when I moved, the swamp's right under my breaths. Please, pull me out! Oh, sure, I'll rescue you right away. And what more! You fell there yourself, so now you should go out yourself. You know that I... Me? I was sure that you're the one always right. Mathew!- when the mud's at my neckline, I started to panic. See, when you're hurting someone, it's fine. But when someone's hurting you, it's not that good, right? Please... You saying please to me? Why should I bother? I've already asked you for something and what did I occur?! Mathew!- when the mud reached my chin, I curved my head back, because I's barely breathing. But something's telling me, that it won't help anyway, because Mathew's really pissed off. I told that thing to shut up and stop disturbing me now. What? I suddenly am needing, so you started to be nice to me? You know what...! Oh, no, I don't know anything. And I... I rescd y...! It's fine to me, whether if he'll help me or not, I's already under the mud. I even started to suffocate, but the vampire finally moved his ass and pulled me out on the ground. When I's coughing, he's speaking with a hardly, angry tone, standing above me. I did it just because you've saved me earlier. We're even. There's your house, you'll make it about tomorrow evening. Don't go after me, I don't want your company anymore. I thought you're different than people I knew, but you're just mean. Mean and false. Go home, I don't need you here.- he turned back on his heel and walked into the forest. I looked at him over more 10 minutes, thinking what I'd do now. I surely won't go back home, because first- I don't even know where it is, second- it'd take me some long time to do this, and finally third- something can eat me on the way. So nah, thank you. But if he finds out that I'm still following him... actually, I don't know what he'll do to me, but till now he did nothing to me, so I finally decided to still go after him. I stood up and walked into the trees.
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Damn, where's he going! I'm driving everywhere, and now not enough, that I have to walk on foot, I also have to slalom through the swamps! And I'm following the vampire, who's really pissed off on me! Yeah Mathew, I agree, I'm strange. I walked like this for about 20 minutes, when suddenly I heard a scream of that Mr. immortal. Run! I surprised, because he shouted behind me, and not as he supposed to be- in front of me. I turned back, not knowing what did he mean. And I got it. Some meter far from me there's a huge crocodile and it's going right into me. I stood paralyzed, looking at it with my wide-because-of-the-fear-opened irises. Mathew pushed me on the left, so that I hit a tree with my back, and he himself threw at the reptile, after what he pulled it back into the swamp. When he's back next to me, he wasn't even sweat. He pulled his hand, to help me stand up. I caught it unsure, and for the next moment I could just stare at him, probably with an opened mouth, blinking nervously with a disbelief. OK, but you can't speak to me like that. If you say something about Tanya or Oliver again, I promise you, I don't know what I'll do to you. Oliver? You've already named him?- he scolded me with his eyes.- Oh right, I'm sorry. But can I ask one thing?- he wrinkled.- I promise it's not about them. You didn't actually seem too surprised when you saw me behind you.- he didn't just stop being angry, he even smiled. I was sure, that you won't do as I said and you will come after me, and by the way, you're walking louder than a pack of elephants.- he chuckled quietly. Very funny.- I murmured passing him. He didn't mind, because he calmly walked behind me. Unfortunately after like 15 minutes I slipped on the mud, and I fell on the vampire with my back. Luckily, he caught me, so I didn't fell entirely, but... we're a little close. You should look under your feet.- he murmured not really happy, then he helped me with my balance and stepped back. I'm looking, but it's not helping.- because for what is looking, when it's slippery? He snorted. So at least be more quiet, we'll enter my garden in a moment. Garden? Ah!- this time I stumbled against some root and, again, I landed in his arms, but face to face this time. I swallowed when I realized, that there's only 2 inches between our lips. Humans.- with a sigh he shook his head and... took me up onto his arms.- Just be quiet. I'm not sure what can happen if someone will see you here.- he looked at me significantly and looked around, if nobody's there. Em... sure...- I carefully laid my hands on his neck, not sure how he'll react. He didn't say anything, but I saw that his irises went wider, so he blinked. A moment after we're, I mean he holding me, walking through a high hedge to a back doors of his house. When I realized, that I'll be in the vampire's house in a minute, maybe even in his room, I swallowed. I didn't even know what to expect. And he told that his a prince, so his house would be probably a... A loud, deep sigh got out of my mouth, when I saw what's behind the garden, but Mathew put me on the entering stairs and showed with a gesture, that I have to be really quiet, so I shut my mouth quickly. I change my mind. He's got no house. He's got the real castle! 5 floors, an attic, towers, wide and long balconies... and what a garden! Not enough, that it's about a dozen or so hectares, it also has 2 pools about 50 meters each in it! I thought, that I'll faint, but the vampire pulled me in by a hand. He walked me into a big chamber with a big bed, a balcony and with 4 also big paintings on a wall. Each was showing a different face, but they had something in common with each other. The paintings were in wide, golden frames, 2 in every 2 lines. The one on left in the upper line was showing an elder man, with no doubts the king, because he had a crown, and when I saw his mine I shivered. Even if Mathew haven't told me before that's his father, I would recognize him. They've the same cheek bones. Next to the king, there's a queen- a woman in the middle age with long, dark hair. Mathew's her eyesbrown, but with a weird gray polish. In the lower line there were paintings of some girls- 1 older and the 2nd younger than me. I mean... at least they look like that. These are for sure his sisters, because they're
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similar to each other. That older one, on the left, has black hair, pinned up in a bun and eyes in the same color. The younger one, on the right, has free hair in a light brown color and green eyes. OK, the whole 3 is different, but they've similar faces. But when the older sister's a mine as if she's in pain, the younger one's bursting out laughing. You've quite a big this castle.- I said it just like that. He rolled his eyes. That's my room. You mustn't move anywhere from here and must be as quiet as you can, is that clear? I'll be back in a minute.- and he left. I heard no sound- not even a doors' closing or a floor's squeaking, but I swear that this castle looks like it's at least 200 years old. Hm, so that's his room? Damn, I told that probably I will be here. Shit, it's great here... I wanted to go out on his balcony to see how the garden looks from the above, but Mathew's hiding me here, so I decided not to. I lied on his bed- honestly, I don't even know for what he has it, because vampires don't have to sleep at all, as they're already dead- and I involuntarily looked at a bedside table. There's a photo of him and Tanya. I recognized her after long, blond hair, big, green eyes and the belly. In the end, she's pregnant. It wasn't so obvious yet, but you could say, because her pretty, dark blue dress was a little tightened. Damn, she's really pretty... well, of course, she's the vampire after all... But before I put it back, Mathew snatched me the photo and hid it into his pocket. My father's not home, so we have to go to Choteau, Montana.- he wasn't happy about that. How do you know?- I quickly stood on the floor, so that he wouldn't think of anything. Nadya told me. Your sister?- he nodded at the painting of that older girl. I wrinkled my nose a little- yeah, she looks like a daddy's daughter, and that daddy we're going to kill now. Just great. And now you have to be very quiet.- he walked to open the door. I stopped right after him.Because if somebody sees us...- when he walked into the corridor, he fell on some girl. I quickly recognized his other sister, that younger one. And... for the 1st time in my life I saw a vampire who just got literally pale.- Charlote... hey, how are you?- he tried to hide me discretely behind his arm, smiling to her, but she's already noticed me a long time ago. Hi, Math. Who's she?- as in the painting, she never stops smiling. He glanced at me quickly. Well...- knowing that he got a bit confused, the girl looked at me. What's your name?- I didn't answer, because Is staring at her beautiful black dress. Dammit, I've always wanted such a gothic dress with a corset... instead of me, Mathew spoke. Cathreene.- the vampire girl looked at him again, but this time her smile went wider. A friend?- she raised her eyebrows significantly. Charlote, I... Math, you know, that I'm with you. You'd have find someone for yourself a long time ago.- I looked at Mathew questioningly. Doesn't his sister know, that he's already a widower? He ignored me. Yeah, right... um... listen, if something, you didn't see us. Sure.- we're walking next to her, when she put a hand on my arm. I shivered, and Mathew wrinkled.- He's a little closed, but you give him a kiss and it'll be fine.- when she blinked to me, I could just stand there. I glanced at Mathew nervously. Charlote... it's not like that...- he also didn't know what to say. Unfortunately, we both knew how it must look like for a person... not initiated. Yeah, a guy, a girl, alone in a long journey... well. It comes to your mind automatically. Oh, sure.- she said significantly, and when she smiled, Mathew clenched his teeth. I couldn't speak a word.- Of course, I won't tell anyone, but... No.- he stopped her with a hard tone. I didn't know, what's going on between them. The girl however ignored her brother. But you have to show me, that it's worth to hide you. I'm telling you, it's not like that. We just... Oh, stop it, Math! You never bring any girls to your room. You never even bring anyone to the house!- oh yeah, it's such a normal HOUSE.- I promise, I'll be silent till wedding.- he blinked to me again. I thought I'll faint, when the vampire sighed.
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 You promise?- he turned me right, so that I's standing face to face to him. I started to glance nervously once at him, once at his sister. What are they doing? You know me.- with a smile she shrugged. I blinked nervously again, when Mathew with a strange mine pulled me more to him, putting a hand on my back. Nah... he won't... is he gonna...?! Knowing their supernatural hearing, I somehow controlled my heart, but I swallowed, when the vampire bent over me and took my face into his hands. I looked at him with widely opened eyes, till they started to hurt me, but he's just looking at my lips. I didn't even have a chance to react, when he brushed my lips with his and laid on them a quick kiss, after what he quickly stepped back. I's barely standing. My shivering hands I clenched into fists. Oh c'mon, you can do the same with me.- murmured unhappy Charlote. I didn't have exactly anything against her, but in my opinion the princess lets herself a little too much. Mathew sent her a nervous look, swallowed, but it's rather his venom then the saliva, and he again bent over me. I just took a deep breath and closed my eyes, and the vampire's already kissing me. He peculiarly started to open my lips wider, so that his sister's happy. From the beginning I just let him kiss me, and I's just opening my mouth, but after a moment, when I felt hot, I started to pay him back. I pressed against him a little and passion-ed, I also started to kiss him, but he plunged his nails in my neck to step me back to control. I shivered and again just let him kiss me. After a moment, when he saw that I calmed down, he finally loosened his fingers. It started to circle in my head. It's like that for a long minute, before Charlote finally sighed touched, so Mathew stepped as fast as he could back from me. My heart's beating like a hammer and so fast, that I's scared if I didn't have a heart attack, and because of it's still circling in my head, I didn't open my eyes yet. My whole body's shivering, but I tried not to focus on that fact. Happy?- he asked his sister with anger. Very.- she said with a smile. I finally opened my eyes, but I still didn't feel my knees. Fuck, he kissed me... he really did it... I didn't know a lot what's happening around that time.- OK, go now. Nadya's coming to me. Bye.- Mathew pulled me energetically by a hand and in silence we fast went into the hedge. I wasn't talking at all, waiting till he starts, because I had no idea what about we can talk now.- I always walk exactly on her!- he snorted, when the castle's out of my sight.- Irritating princessa. She's acting like a child!- he turned his head just a half of inch in my direction.- Just don't think of anything! I did it just for that, so she won't tell anybody. And she can! What a blackmailer. If something isn't like she wants, she always yells at the whole Reynosa! You hear me?- I woke up fast from an after-kissing trance. I know, you don't have to say anything. But... why she told that you should have find someone long time ago? Because she thought you're my girlfriend.- with a snort he rolled his eyes. Yeah, I know, but why? Didn't you introduce her to Tanya?- when he got the point, he sighed and slowed down. You see... my father gave us some straight rules. You mustn't cope with the citizens.- I guessed, but for me it's obvious for every royal family. Yes. That's why me and Tanya were meeting in a secret. Nobody knew about us. Just once, when I was going to her, father saw me. He sent 2 guardians after me to know, where I'm leaving every night. In the morning, when I was back, and father has already knew, that every night I'm going to the some waitress' house, who's also even pregnant, he was mad as never before. For the next week, let's say, I was under a precise supervision. Of course nobody except me, Tanya and my father know about all of this. I couldn't stand this arrest and I escaped from home. I was stupid and I run to my wife at once. After less than 10 minutes he was there with our whole advance guard. Maybe I could have lie to him somehow, that it's not like he thinks, that I'm only helping her, because her husband left her alone with the child, but then he saw our wedding rings...- he glanced at his right hand. In a place where should have been that ring, it's just a bad burn, which will never heal.- I was so stupid and thoughtless, that we didn't take them off at once! I could have notify her, warn her somehow, so that she could ran without me...- he sighed heavily.- They immediately caught us. When we got on a field, everything was already prepared. And then...- when his voice failed, he turned his head from me. I realized how hard it's for him.
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 And then you rushed into me.- I finished instead of him. He glanced at me fleetingly and on a second he smiled palely. I'll never forget his face. He was smiling when...- he took a deep breath.- When... he kindled her stake.- he whispered with a great pain, and when I saw the tears in his eyes, he again turned back. I... think I dropped something.- I turned back and went few steps backwards, giving him some privacy. I plunged my sight into a leaf, not having anything else to do. He leaned his one hand against a tree, and a second he took this photo, on which I's looking at in his chamber. When the next tears fell on his cheeks, he kissed the photo and he hid it in his pocket again, then he wiped with his sleeve and walked to me. Thank you. No problem.- I smiled consolingly. He did the same. I'm acting like a broken-heart teenager, huh? No. You just loved her.- he downed his look. She was the whole universe to me.- when he closed his eyes, I involuntarily put a hand on his arm. I's gonna take it off, but he laid his hand upon mine.- I'll never forgive him.- he looked at me, and when he realized that he's holding my hand, he immediately released it, cleared his throat and started to walk slowly. So... now Montana? Choteau.- he didn't just say it. He spitted it out. It's... a little far...- he looked at me with a smile. I agree, that in this speed we won't make it very fast.- I wrinkled. Oh, forgive me, that I can't run as fast as you, your majesty.- I overtook him with an angry mine. Cath...- he caught my wrist.- I wasn't talking about you.- I looked at his face in a surprised. What?- he smiled again. Step aside. For what? Just step back.- I looked at him 1 more time and I stepped 2 steps backwards. What are you gonna do? He didn't reply. He sent me another smile, after what, with closed eyes, he lowered his head and clenched fists. After a moment his shirt teared a little on the back and I saw... wings. A bat's wings. Or rather... pterodactyls, but black. Slowly he looked at my face and waved his wings. Fuck...- I managed to speak up and with an opened mouth I fell on a moss. Cathreene?- with a wrinkled forehead he did 1 step to me. Hm, is he worrying about me? I started blinking nervously, couldn't take a deep breath on his sight. You... you... have wings...- I squeezed out. Oh... didn't I tell you? No!- I threw up. Sorry.- he caught his neck. Shit, just like human...- My whole family have them. You know, a blue bloods thing.- he laughed and pulled his hand for me. I didn't caught it, because I wasn't sure, if I could stand in this condition. What?- I glanced at his hand a little confused. Well, I have to transport you somehow, right? But... you can fly yourself if you can.- he chuckled. Transport?- I don't like it. Fly? He wants me to fly?! Is he crazy?! Oh, Cathreene...- he took me onto his arms, before I realized. What you're doing?! Put me down!- he wasn't stopping smiling. I started to panic. I felt, it's gonna end badly. In the best way, I'll just vomit on him, after what I'll faint from the shame. You'd better hold on tight.- but before I even moved, he rose into the air with me on his arms. Shouting, I entwined his neck with my hands and nestled close to his cold torso, when I felt a wind on
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my face. No, I won't vomit, I won't vomit! He wrinkled.- You're afraid of highs?- he asked with a concerned tone. I's afraid to open my mouth, so I just nodded. Because it's easy to notice, right?! I felt, that I'm starting to shiver.- You didn't tell me... Because you didn't give me a chance!- I squeezed him tighter, when I felt ill. If you like I can... No... if I won't look...- I swallowed on the same thought.- It'll be fine. Yeah, it'll be just fine... for sure... it'll be great...- whispering, I tried to assure myself. Yeah, sure! It'll be great! Before my eyes I saw dirty Mathew, but not because of blood, just... my vomiting. I suddenly felt, how he's pulling me more into his direction and catching tighter- with 1 hand under my knees and 2nd next to my hip. I controlled myself not to look at him, because I already knew, how it can end. But he fucked up everything leaning his head against mine. I couldn't stand it. I pulled out my neck and looked into his eyes. He smiled not really sure. Are you better yet? Yhm...- I nodded not sure, not turning away my look from his brown irises. I wanted to look everywhere but down, and when I've such a nice view in front of me... What are you looking at? I involuntarily blushed, because it probably seemed like I don't know what, shrugged and lowered my sight. What's easy to tell, I regretted it at once. I moaned loudly, when I saw the tops of trees right under my legs. I felt ill again, but now the view also started to circle. Stupidly, instead of immediately closing my eyes, I opened them even wider from the fear. Cathreene, look at me.- I moaned again. I's like paralyzed, I really wanted to vomit, I started to shiver and I even couldn't turned my look from the forest under us.- I'm saying look at me!- Mathew had to shook me, before I did what he asked me to.- I'm here, you hear that? I have you and I won't let you. Nothing will happen to you, don't worry.- he's speaking with a calm tone and I swallowed. My pupils started to go down.- Look at me! And now close your eyes...- I's doing everything he told. I didn't want to vomit on him, in no case I wanted that.- And nestle on me. What?- I wasn't sure if he's really saying what I'm thinking, or it's just my imagination, but I didn't have the nerves to look at him again. Do as I say. Nestle.- he cut off every discussion. I trembled and laid my face on his neck.- And don't move till I tell you, OK?- I touched him with my nose and pulled it from the upper to lower part of his neck, as if I's nodding. His scent strangely was calming me down.- Good girl. We're flying like that for some time- he's focused on the way and avoiding the higher trees, and I's focused on not letting him nor watching down. His arms' moves, or rather his wings' were helping me to imagine, that I'm not somewhere in the air, just as if I's on a boat. Water's my thing and I'm immediately calming down thanks to it. And thanks to this lightly rocking, after a moment I fell asleep entirely. Cathreene? When my hand let his neck and fell on my belly, he looked at me nervously. But when he realized, that I just fell asleep, he calmed down and landed on the edge of forest meadow. He laid me next to himself, and then he sat leaning against a Sequoya. Maybe it's weird, but I could feel his look on me. When I fell deeply asleep, not-knowingly I turned right, which gave the effect, that my face's on his torso, backwards to him. He trembled and took a breath, looking at me in a surprise, but he didn't wake me up. When the wind blew, my hair fell on my cheek. The vampire rose slowly his hand and carefully cleared my face. But when I felt his coldness on my skin, I turned on the other side, so that my nose's between his breaths. He swallowed nervously, and so that my head couldn't fell on the ground, he laid on it looking at me. I don't know what he's thinking about, but he touched my lips with his fingers. He backed his hand fast, when my mouth opened a little because of that. In the next moment I awakened. The 1st thing I saw was his gray shirt. I thought, he peculiarly laid it on the ground for me, because when I laid on him, he immediately stopped breathing, and because of vampires aren't so soft as humans, I thought, that I'm exactly laying on the forest ground. But when I looked on the left, I saw his pale hand just next to my face and also right along to his trunk, so I stood up at once. I had to hold on a branch, to not loose my balance. Mathew chuckled. Weird, I thought he'll be pissed off, that I touched him at all. I
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glanced at him, but he's just looking at me amused, still laying on the grass. You slept well?- I swallowed, staring at leaves. I didn't know what to think. How long I was asleep?- he sat and stretched out. Almost an hour. An hour?!- shit, I hope, that I wasn't laying on him that long! I shivered on the same thought. From what I know, you should sleep at least 8.- he wrinkled. And... how long... I was on you?- I asked with a shivery tone. About half an hour.- he stood up and tapped off from the leaves. Half... an hour?- I looked at him surprised.- And... you didn't drop me?- now he surprised. Why should I have done that?- still surprised I lowered my sight. He said this as if it was something obvious. I don't recognize you.- he laughed. And why's that? Because... you never... you always got pissed off, you looked as if you could throw at me in the moment, and now you're letting me...- I shook my head. Cathreene.- he walked towards me and laid his hands on my arms. I blinked anxiously.- The fact, that you're not my wife, doesn't mean, that I will wake you up every time you touch me while sleeping.- I rose my eyebrows, so he let me. - And now... I know it will probably sound idiotic, but, please, don't think about me badly, OK?- damn, I'm scared already.- What do say about... shared bath? What?!- that I wasn't expecting of him! I even stepped back a step. Because... you see, we'll be out of this forest in a moment and behind those trees there's a lake, and I thought... because if we'd go separately, it would take a long time, and I really want to get there as fast as I can, so...- he looked at me not sure, but I was just staring at him blinking nervously with eyebrows risen. He lowered his look.- Never mind, forget it. Go, I'll wait here.- he sat on a rock near me with an embarrassed mine. I woke up after good few minutes. Mathew... but... we'll be in clothes, right?- I didn't know what to think about it. Of course. You think I'm such a pig? I don't think you're a pig at all.- he smiled. It's nice to know. And... can your Alchemy dry clothes?- now he laughed. I'll see what I can do. Hm...- I scratched my neck.- So lead, because I can get lost on my own.- with a smile he stood up and pulled a hand to me. So let's go.- I opened my eyes wider, and he rolled his eyes.- Oh c'mon, you're so afraid of me?- he caught my wrist and led between trees. I'm not scared of you.- I murmured. He looked at me rising 1 eyebrow. Oh, yes, especially when I look like I'm going to throw at you at the moment, right?- I rolled my eyes not very happy that he remembers that.- Sorry that I frightened you. I'm doing it unaware. Right.- he didn't convince me. I opened my mouth when we went out of the woods and stood near the lake. This one's 2 times bigger than the previous one and it had a waterfall! All this was like from a fairly tale, because the water's shimmering in every color because of the sunset. Or rather like from a horror-fantasy novel, knowing the fact, that next to me is standing the 300 year-old vampire. Luckily for Mathew here the trees were deciduous, so there wasn't a lot of sunlight, so he could without fear go into the water, because in other way he could get burns again. We had much of luck during the fly anyway, because it's cloudy back then. He smiled, when saw my face. Go check the water.- I didn't get his point.- I don't feel any temperature.- he shrugged. Oh... right.- I walked to the bank and wet my hands.- A little cold.- I got out my hands, so that they wouldn't get used to that temperature, if I'm gonna be a tester. He croached next to me, wet hands and closed eyes. After a moment he opened his eyes and looked at me. And now?- I turned from him a little surprised and put my hands back into the water.
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 Warm.- I nodded with respect. He smiled, after what we stood up. Ladies first.- he bowed a little and pulled a hand into the lake, as if he's welcoming me to the restaurant. I laughed and shook my head. Yeah, and they say, that men are only gentlemen when it's comfortable to them... I took off my boots and jacket and went into the lake up to my waist. When I turned back Mathew's taking off his shirt. He's really handsome, especially in this dark light and his muscles would be appreciated by any strongman. I know I should have turned my look, but the fact is I just stared at him. The vampire pretended that he didn't notice anything, for what I's grateful. Watch out, the bomb's coming!- he climbed on a pine, which branches was above the water and with the high speed he jumped on the head into the water, splashing so much of it, that I's so wet as if I've already dived. And when he stuck out, he even beat his hair, giving me another shower. Freak.- he's 300 and he's totally acting like a child. I shook my head with a little mocking smile. Oh yeah?- he pulled his hand and splashed me with malice aforethought. Of course I knew, that I'll loose, but I did the same to him. We're already all wet anyway. When we finally stopped, I felt like something tricky touched my leg. Yelling, I jumped, and because of Mathew's standing next to me, he caught me involuntarily, so it's like I jumped onto his arms. You're OK?- he wrinkled, but was still holding me. There... snake...- I swallowed and with a shivering finger I showed him a light green, moving strap in a place I was standing a second ago. He rolled his eyes shaking his head and let me me with 1 hand, so that he actually hugged me, and pulled it for the reptile. When he got I tout of the water, I thought I'll vomit. That's how you should deal with it.- smiling he started circling his hand, because of what the snake bound round his wrist, after what he threw it on the other bank.- OK?- he still didn't let me and was clearly amused by my fear. Wash your hand.- I said. He laughed and waved his hand under the water, and then in front of my face. I breathed.- Thanks.- he slowly released me and stepped a step back. So, we're coming out? I guess. He did 2 more steps, passing me. When I moved too, I felt such a pain in a right foot, that I screamed. What...?- Mathew's just started to turning his head. Don't look!- I cut him, because at the same moment I noticed a red smudge on the water. Dammit, what has came up to my head, to take a bath in a forest, unknown lake with humonorian?! Luckily he listened to me and again was standing back to me. Why...?- instead of ending, he hid his nose and lips behind his hand clenching teeth. He started to shiver. Fucking great, he'll throw at me in a second. I moaned. He also.- You're... bleeding...- he gasped through the hand. I'm more than sure, that despite of red irises, he also has wider pupils because of the hunger. Sweet, huh? I felt up some shape to at least know, what had happened. Read- because of what I'll die if he won't resist. It's a bottle... it must have plunged into my foot...- I moaned again, when I tried to stand on my right foot. Suddenly Mathew lowered his hand, behind which he was hiding his nose and mouth, and started to turning to me slowly. I swallowed, thinking how can I run from him, limping, but I saw that he had hard clenched eyelids, what a little calmed me down. Give me your leg.- he pulled his hand under the water in my direction. For what?- I asked with a shivery tone. I wasn't sure of the idea, to give my bleeding limb to the vampire. Cathreene, I know, you're afraid of me now. But believe me, I don't see nor feel your blood, because I'm not breathing. I'm controlling myself, I won't hurt you. I just want to take out the glass.- I looked at him one more time, and I rose my leg a little, but I hardly could stand straight. The vampire surely felt the movement of the water.- Lean against me.- I did so, and when he caught my ankle, I shivered. Mathew stopped moving for a while.- I won't hurt you.- he said quietly catching me with the
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other hand. I know. Ouch!- I moaned, when he unwittingly moved the part of the glass in my foot. Sorry.- he started to move even slower and more carefully. I hissed, when he caught the glass in 2 fingers.- It may... hurt a little.- I squeezed his arm harder, and in the next second the vampire tugged the bottle out of me, well, maybe a little to energetically, and threw it somewhere far. I shouted.- Forgive me.- he let my leg, clenched his fists and stepped back. He still had closed eyelids and wasn't breathing.How is it?- I knew that he's not asking about the pain. Just a little. Damn, I could have some bandage or something...- I murmured to myself and Mathew suddenly took me onto his arms and laid on the bank. I wasn't saying anything, but I completely haven't any idea what's he doing. After that, with still closed eyes, he again laid his hand on my ankle and healed it with his Alchemy, after what he sat about half a meter far from me. He finally opened his eyes, but still wasn't sure, and stared at a sand. Thank you.- I said after a moment, when realized, that I haven't yet. He snorted. You're first human, who's thanking the vampire that he nearly killed him.- he obviously wasn't in the best mood. In that second I came up to the statement, that I'm really crazy. Not thinking much about what I'm doing, I bent forward and kissed him in a cheek. He jumped back like burned.- Hey! Give yourself a rest, I'm not in love with you yet!- he stood up and went a few steps in a high speed.

Chapter 2
~ *** ~

Mole
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ait a minute. Did he just said YET, or I just imagined that? So what, he's counting that he will fall for me?! You're coming?- he didn't even look at me. I'm... yeah.- I went after him fast. I was staring at him with eyes wide opened. Did he really say that? I noticed, that he's glancing at me again and again wrinkling, but my brain somehow didn't care about it. Dammit, what did he meant about this YET?! You're afraid of something again?- great, I pissed off him with that kiss... Me? No. So why are you staring at me? I... just like that...- I shrugged and stared at my shoes. He glanced at me few more times till he finally got it. He stopped walking. Cathreene... you don't think that I'm in love with you, right?- he asked with a stupid smile. I looked at him surprised. It's so easy to tell? Shit... Me? You're crazy! Of course not, I'm thinking about that at all!- I started to avoid his look, so that he couldn't recognize after my eyes, that I'm lying. Of course, it didn't help, because he burst laughing. Oh, c'mon, Cathreene! Oh my... sorry, but I should hit my head really hard first, to fell for someone like mole, I beg you! Ha, that's a good one! What? Mole? MOLE?! You...! I turned back fast and run into the woods, so that he couldn't see my tears. I don't know why, but I know it's pathetic, that usually when I'm angry with someone, the tears are falling. Yeah, probably only tomorrow Mr prince will see that I'm not around, when he finally stop laughing. Idiot! He's saying something first, and then he's laughing at me! Moron! Mole! Mole?! So what, he thinks that I'm blind, ugly and I'm only good for digging and living under ground, so the world wouldn't see me?! Thank you very much! Future king from 7 illnesses! I'm so glad, that I'm not living in Mexico! I feel sorry for every Mexican vampire, you'll have the stupidest king in the world, only to jealous you! Just the fact is, that the most handsome one... oh, the hell with you, you mole! After about 10 minutes running in the opposite direction, in which I was walking with that something like a bat mixed with a leech, I saw some not big hut. And it's really something for me, knowing the fact that there's already after sunset and it started to get dark, and I don't have any idea where am I and how to move in the forest. I knocked 2 times, but nobody was opening, so I walked indoors. I just had to push the door a little harder than usual. An interior was like I wasn't in a forest hug, just in a mountain one everything wooden. Well, the most important thing was that a bed was there. I found also some blanket, so I made the bed at once. I wasn't even searching for something to eat, because that idiot took my appetite completely away. Yeah, when I'm thinking about him, I'd rather vomit! I was just going to bed, when somebody knocked at the door. I stopped moving frightened. What will be, if it's someone from the owner? I didn't know what to do, so I just stood staring at the door. Cathreene, it's me... please, let me in.- oh no, just he was missing! Why should I? I thought you don't feel any temperature, so you won't be ill if you spend the night outside. Yes, but... can I come in?- I turned towards the door with a wrinkly forehead. What is he thinking?! And what's more! Please, I wanted... to apologize...- I couldn't resist and I opened the doors. Now's the kindness time for you! Sorry, but the fact that you're from better species, doesn't mean at all, that you can simply treat me like that! Don't forget, that if not me, you wouldn't be here entirely! Apologize! I should believe that? No, thanks, you can go where you came from!- I cracked the door in front of his face and went to the other side of the room. He entered after about a minute. Cath, I... I really didn't mean to hurt you, I just... Oh yeah, sure! Watch out I'll believe it! Didn't mean to! Like hell! But... I really... He suddenly stood like paralyzed and with frightened mine turned head to the door. When I was
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opening my mouth to ask what's going on, someone knocked. At this sound Mathew jumped and stood next to it with a lightning speed like when I open them, he won't be visible to that person. I looked surprised and the knocking repeated. Mathew looked at me sluggishly, and then, stopping breathing, lowered his sight. Coming!- I walked to the doors, and the vampire, spying my every move, swallowed and clenched his teeth. Outdoor, like I already guessed after his mine, there was... an army. An army wearing black-dark red with golden elements. Vampires. Every solder had on his right arm some kind of family crest, probably the Arrow crest. Oh great, they found us already. I decided to lie to them. I didn't know what are they gonna do to Mathew, but they won't rather need me, so they probably will simply kill me, and I really didn't want that. I wrinkled, when I think the main officer nodded at me. Cathreene Anjali Mitchell?- great, I'm wondering how did they know about this. Yes, what is it?- one hand I had along my trunk, and the 2nd I was holding a door-handle from the inside, to at least signalize Mathew that he should run. We acknowledged that you know Mathew Gracyan Arrow, whom we are looking for.- hm, he never told me that he's Gracyan on his 2nd name... it fits him. Yeah, I know him quite well.- in the corner of my eye I saw, that sought after closed his eyes. And where is he now?- the officer wanted to take a step into the hug, but I crossed his way. Next to me the prince was already putting up his leg, as if he wanted to walk out the doors. Shit, what's that cretin doing? He wants to expose himself?! Or rather us?! With a hand I showed him not to move from the place. 1 of the guards wanted to take a look inside at the same moment, but I bent in that direction hiding the interior from him. He looked suspiciously, but stepped back. I have no idea. Last time I saw him a week ago.- Mathew stopped moving immediately and looked at me in a surprise. And where was that?- the officer started to staring at me with a strong look, for sure to deconcentrate me. I told myself, that this is about my and Mathew's life, so I have to be tough. I was lying the best I could. In New York. We've met on a street, went to a cafeteria, we've talked and everyone went to his own direction.- I tried to talk, as if I was telling some film to my friends, because they say, that I'm the mistress with it. And in which direction went you friend, if I can ask?- no, you can't. And get the fuck out of here! I think... north. But I'm really not sure, I'm not good in geography.- I smiled stupidly and shrugged, because that was true. The officer finally gave up. Well then... if you meet again, please let us know.- he gave me a black visiting card. With a gold font there was a telephone number and the Arrow's castle's address, where I've met Mathew's sister, Charlote. I smiled. Of course.- yeah, wait till my call, I'll do it for sure. The officer nodded for a goodbye, and then the army disappeared in the forest. I closed the door only when I was sure, that they won't hear us anymore. Watch out, I'll call!- I snorted and teared the card into pieces, after what I looked at Mathew. He was still looking at me surprisingly.- Are you crazy? You wanted them to catch you?! Why didn't you tell them about me?- he asked quietly, as if I was something he sees for the 1 st time in his life. I looked surprised. He really didn't expect that. Mathew, the fact that we once... well, few times we argue, doesn't mean that I'll let you die or something. C'mon!- I snorted again and turned back combing my hair with some founded comb. Thank you. You saved me again.- he smiled lightly to me, but I was still angry. Yepp.- I murmured and laid in the bed. He sighed. You're angry much? Mathew, I'm tired.- I told with a tone, as if I was correcting him and turned backwards to him. How can I apologize to you? Believe me, I really didn't mean to...
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 Goodnight!- I cut irritated, putting up my head a little. Maybe lightly too aggressively. He waited few seconds. Or my tone surprised him. Goodnight.- he whispered and after a moment went outside. I put up my head after him, but I bit my lip and laid back. If he wants, he knows where am I. Yeah, decisions are better to make in the morning, when you slept with the problem. Actually, I even know why vampires consider us as moles- for them humans really have backward senses, and about the beauty, just look at the vampire girl next to the human one, and you already know, who's prettier. Or you can simply look at Mathew... In the morning, when I was coming out of the bed, I almost didn't overturn something. I looked down confused and I saw a big bunch of red roses in a decorative, glassy vase. I surprised a little and put it on a table. I saw also a letter. ~ *** ~

I'm really sorry. I'll understand, if you offend and not speak to me again. Forgive me, I really shouldn't have said those things, it was very rude from my side. And please know, that I regret it. Please, take this bunch. It's a worthless apologizing, yes, I know, but at least something to start with. I'm waiting on the porch. Math
~ *** ~ I'll say- I was stunned. And not just because he gave me flowers- he's got such a beautiful writing, that on a second I huddled, thinking of my own scrawling. Damn, he really showed class... I like the way he signed himself. Math. Hm, sounds nice. Wait, didn't Charlote call him like that? Well, I'm curious how he'll react, when I stop calling him Mathew. By the way, I didn't have the nerves to check, if he's really standing on the porch. Shit, he's so threatened by just one of my whim? I like it! OK, so I'll show class, too. I found a fridge and I was already going to think what he would like for the breakfast, when I realized, that it's just me who will eat, so I simply made sandwiches, scrambled eggs and coffee for myself. OK, good, but what for him? When I scratched my forehead, I glanced at my wrist in front of my eyes, and it's enlightened me. In the end I myself was a meal. From a drawer I took a glass for wine and put it under my hand, then I took a knife and lightly cut my vein. Again- lightly, not to kill myself. When it was about of my blood in the glass, I found a bandage in a bathroom and bound it on my wrist. Unfortunately, when I was putting it back, I accidentally overturned a pack of new spoons, which made a big noise. Nothing happened, everything's under control! I screamed, so he wouldn't come in and check. As I know him, he probably snorted and shook his head grumbling Humans..., as like I was stumbling before his garden. OK, I made a table, put there my breakfast (covered for now, so that it won't get cold) next to my place, and his glass on the other side of the table, opposite to me, and I went to open him the door. Hey.- he said uncertainly, when he saw me smiling. Hi. Thanks for the flowers.- he rolled his eyes. Don't thank me that I'm trying to apologize. You shouldn't.- I blinked. Well, it makes sense... Oh... so keep trying then. Exempli gratia... inside?- I stepped back, so that he could come in. he looked at me strangely. Exempli gratia?- when he rose his eyebrows, I shrugged. What, I was learning Latina on my own.- he smiled, shook his head and slowly entered the hut, still a little surprised. I closed the doors. I can see you're in a good mood.- he said with an uncertain smile.
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 It's good for a human to sleep with the problem.- I shrugged again.- Hope you're hungry.- I led him to the table. Yeah, I know how it sounded, but now I had blood in the glass. He wrinkled and a little surprised. You haven't eaten yet? I don't like eating alone. When we're sitting, I noticed Mathew's wrinkling on what I prepared for him. I pretended, that I saw nothing and normally uncovered my breakfast. Good, still warm... What happened to your hand?- he was still wrinkling. I glanced at my wrist. I caught a knife in a bad way.- I shrugged, and he glanced at me again, then pushed away his glass. I won't drink it.- now I wrinkled. The vampire doesn't want human blood? Why? Are you vampire or not? Cathreene... you cut a vein for me, I won't drink it! I can't! You're trying to apologize, right?- he looked surprised.- So don't piss me off more.- he lower his sight, looked at the glass and slowly brought it nearer him. Fine, but don't do it again. I don't want you in a hospital. Listen, on the blood giving we can give even a liter. Don't worry, I'll be fine. Cheers. I rose my cup with a coffee to stop him resisting. He shook his head and with an unhappy face chipped his glass to my cup, after what, looking at the contents, he brought it nearer his lips. When he smelled the scent of my blood, closed his eyes and started to slowly tilt to him his glass. I drank 1 swallow of my coffee, and that was it for my breakfast. I stared at him a little frightened, because I just realized, that I gave the vampire my own blood, because of what he can throw at me in a second for more, if it'd taste him. After the first swallow he clenched his hands tight- 1st on a chair, and 2nd on the glass' neck- and clenched his eyelids even harder. His nose started pulsing. I swallowed, looking at him like hypnotized. When he was already in the middle, he also started shivering and breathing hard. I only hoped, when he finishes he won't want to have an adding. Finally he put the glass back on the table with a boom, clenching it in his hand and bending above the table with still closed eyes. He was shivering and breathing hard. He was clenching the glass so tight, that it smashed into little pieces, which scattered on the table and a floor. When I jumped on my chair, he finally opened his eyes and he had less shivers. His irises were of course dark red. Sorry. He had a low, husky voice. He unclenched the left fist and snapped his fingers, and the glass was just like new, then he pushed it nearer to me with clenched again fists. I stood up and walked to him, because I wanted to wash the dishes (despite the fact, that I ate nothing), but when I pulled out my hand next to him, he growled and with clenched eyelids turned away his head. He was clenching his teeth so hard, that he could probably bit through metal. I stopped moving. Can you... go away and... don't move?- he said through the clenched teeth, not breathing. Without a word I went to a tabletop and stared at the vampire. After a long minute he at least stopped shivering. What's wrong?- my voice trembled, as if I really didn't know the answer. It's blood. It's always like that... with a new taste.- good, his voice is coming back to normal too. Does it have some connection that it's my blood? Mathew suddenly rose from a chair, but in a moment he sat back, clenching fists on the seat. It was like his body wanted to go somewhere, but his mind was still holding him on that seat. I almost didn't jumped on the tabletop. Don't remind me... whose the blood was, OK?- he hardly said again through the clenched teeth.- I want to kill you more.- he whispered, and I shivered. I swallowed loudly and shut up, till he finally calmed down. So he wanted the adding in the end... when he entirely calmed down, walked towards me looking deeply into my eyes and slowly took my hands into his. I haven't gone from the shock yet, so I didn't react at that.
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 Never do that again, you hear it?- I just nodded. He lowered his sight and let me._ how much did I frighten you? Not a bit.- I said it with such tone, that even I myself never would believe it.- Well, maybe a little...- he smiled palely.- But it's tasty for you. Cathreene...- he looked at me wolfy. OK, OK. But... you really wanted to kill me?- he lower his look again with a sigh and stepped back 2 steps. You gave me your blood, knowing that I'm humonorian. And you even was right next to me. From what I know, you have some knowledge about my kind, so you should be able to presume how I felt, drinking your blood with your wrist under my nose.- I swallowed. He's right- I was able to do that even more how he felt, but I thought about that just now.- But let's stop this. I haven't finished apologizing to you yet.- I didn't want to tell, that I already forgot that I'm angry with him. So the flowers were only the beginning?- he smiled. Stand up straight.- I wrinkled, but he put his finger on my lips.- Don't ask about anything. Still wrinkling I stepped back and stood up as he wanted. He looked, then walked towards me, rose my hands as if I was a dummy and stepped back again. I had no idea what's he doing, till he snapped his fingers, because of what I was dressed in a creamy knee-length dress with a deep neckline and uncovered shoulders. I wider my eyes and was glancing at the vampire and at the dress again and again. Is it good?- he asked not sure. You're giving me a dress for the apologies?- I was blinking nervously not able to believe that. Em... not really. In a place where I'm taking you, it's good to have such clothing.- he snapped again and now he was dressed in elegant jeans and a light, baggy shirt. We're going to some ball or something?- because of he was a prince, I was even scared of visiting the queen. But, what I'm talking about, she's his mother. I think he got that, because he chuckled quietly. No worries.- he pulled his hand, so that I could caught him under his elbow. I hesitated. From when he wants me to touch him that much?- You're so scared of me?- rolling his eyes he himself caught my hand and led outside the hut. I stood paralyzed. On the grass there was a dark blue Mustang L30, cabriolet version. I was scared, that it's the owner's, but Mathew calmed me down in a second.- What, not your model?- I looked at him, thinking I'll fall. You stole it?- I asked blinking nervously with rose eyebrows. If you want to tell that to the police, I can always bite you.- he threaded and with a smile opened the doors to the passenger seat. You're changing into a human or something?- I got into the car stunned, and before I even blinked, the vampire was already turning on the engine. What, you think that vampires have no manners? Sorry, but as the future king I have to know how to act in front of a woman. I don't recognize you.- I shook my head. What now?- he moaned. Today you're so... free with me. And smiled. Like never. Don't know why.- he smiled. Tanya's always saying that it's the happiest day in our lives. I agree with her, so I'm smiling. And with that free acting... No, no, you don't have to change anything.- I cut him fast. He laughed.- But if it's so happy day... can I know what is the occasion?- he looked at me with a smile. Today's the 1st of November, our w...- he suddenly stopped, lowered his look and stopped smiling.- My wedding anniversary.- he ended quietly. My lips opened. Oh...- I could spoke just this. He sighed. This is my 1st anniversary, so I don't know exactly what I should do, but I figured that I'll do what I did last year. You see, our wedding was a big secret and nobody could knew about it, so right after a fratus (someone like a vampire priest, for those who don't know Latina very much) we went to the nearest bar, instead of having big, noisy party.
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 Wait... you're taking me to the dance in your anniversary of the wedding with Tanya?- I was so surprised with this idea, that before I asked him that, a minute passed. If something's not OK with you, tell me. In the end, I'm apologizing, so it should be in your way. And you're saying that I'm strange.- I murmured. He chuckled. You are. But you're more. Why's that? I won't sit alone, because Tanya's not here anymore, and if you're with me now, and you're obviously a woman, so I think I can ask you to the dance, right? It's not very strange for me. I mean, that at the beginning you're so... so haughty. And now you're acting like...- I glanced at him, but I decided it'd be better if I tell him what I'm thinking.- Like I'm your good friend.- I looked at him not sure, if I'm not counting for too much. He smiled lightly. And you are.- that's good I'm sitting, because I'd probably fall.- I'm really grateful that you've gone with me. I don't know, if I could cope with the fact that...- he stared at a steering wheel.- That she's dead.- he whispered closing his eyes. I laid a hand on his shoulder, because of what he looked at it, then he laid on it his and looked at me with a light smile.- Thank you.- I blinked. For what?- he glanced at our hands. You always keep me up. Thank you.- he kissed my hand, and when he smiled I, blushed, lowered my look. Dammit, what's happening to him? Mathew was still looking at our hands.- Hm... I didn't even know that I'm so pale. We both smiled, after what the vampire laid his hand back on the steering wheel and stopped the car. I realized we're already at the place, so I looked out of the window. It... it wasn't an ordinary bar. It didn't look like one. It was... I don't even know how to explain it. Not that I can't, just... it can't be explained. It has to be seen. It's here?- I asked stunned. Something's wrong?- he wrinkled. Wrong?! Mathew, it... it doesn't look like a bar just like your castle! That's... good or bad?- he asked uncertain. I looked at him in disbelief. I wasn't in a better one in my whole life.- he smiled widely. Wait here.- he got out of the car, and before I moved, he's already opening my doors. It's obvious you're the prince.- I was probably red, but what the hell... he rolled his eyes.- If you always apologize to me like that, from today we're fighting everyday. He laughed and we entered the building. There was a small scene, where some local band was already playing some slowly rock songs, a big bar with alcohol and fast-food, tables, and of course a dance floor. I wanted to go to the bar, but Mathew didn't even stop and was just walking to the dark, mahogany door in the darker part of the room. Where we're going?- I asked anxious. To...- he turned to me surprised and was talking with a tone, as it's something obvious, but when he saw me, he suddenly changed his mind.- Oh, sorry. Habit.- he smiled with apologies. He turned back and went to a bar. I glanced at this dark door, but I gave up.- What do you want? Em...- I looked on a menu hanging on a wall.- I'll take... Red Dragon.- that's a vodka with a cherry juice. He nodded and with a wallet in his hand he turned to the barman. 2 Dragons.- I wrinkled, but I spoke when the barman went to the beer automate. I won't drink 2.- he smiled. With whom you got here?- I had to blink. With you. So with whom you'll drink?- my eyes got wider. Shut up!- he even chuckled at my reaction. Still smiling he turned back to the barman, when he gave us our drinks. How much? 18, 50.- Mathew opened his wallet, because of what I saw a big pile of money. The barman
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glanced at him suspiciously, but I obviously won't tell him, that he's not some drug dealer, just the future vampire king. Mathew didn't even know about it. The guy without a word gave him the change, but leaving he glanced at him again. Choose a table. Em... maybe this one.- I was still looking at him speechless, when he was holding our drinks. In a moment he put them on the table and pushed away a chair for me. I blushed again.- Damn...- he snorted, rolling his eyes.- Oh, and I don't know if you realize, but you really shouldn't walk with that cash in your wallet.- he wrinkled. Why?- I rolled my eyes. That barman's probably thinking you're some thief or a drug dealer, and is considering calling the cops now.- he chuckled and glanced above me for a second. Well, I think you're right. It's weird for you.- I looked at him wolfy, knowing that he meant all humans.- Cheers.- he chipped his glass with mine, and when he was rising it to his lips I even swallowed. He laughed.- I'm begging you, don't look at me like that! We're in the human section, and I assume you like alcohol, so I'm drinking too.- he shrugged. What?- when it enlightened me, I glanced surprised at the mahogany door, to which Mathew was leading.- That's why you wanted to go there? Is here... vampire section?- I whispered, blinking nervously. See... this place actually belongs to my cousin, who's now in Phoenix with some business.oh, so I get it why that bar looks rather like his castle. So why we're still sitting here?- I was excited by the idea of seeing bar for vampires, but when I wanted to stand up, Mathew stopped me. Rather don't. Why?- he hesitated. You're human. And...? Oh... right, I'm a snack.- I murmured and he burst laughing. Well... you can say so... Mathew?- I asked, when he stopped laughing. I think I'd never cut his laugh, because in that moment he looks... stunningly. Of course, he was always handsome, but when he's laughing... aww... and I won't even remind, it's a rare view. He looked questionably.- How do you exactly recognize humans?he thought about it a moment. Well... heartbeat. Yes, that's the loudest signal. And the heat of your body. And, don't offend, but humans are rather ADHD. You still have to do something- you're gesturing, scratching, fidgeting, blinking... sometimes it looks funny.- he chuckled again. Wait, you mean you don't have to blink?- he looked deeply into my eyes, bending above the table. Try me.- I did the same, trying to not blink as long as I can. Unfortunately, after about a minute I had to finally blink, because my eyes were full of tears, because of what the vampire giggled again.- Told you. And how long can you like that?- I asked still ricing my eyes, and he smiled. Corpses don't have to blink at all.- he blinked.- Nor breathe. That I know, but... wait, but in your castle your sister was blinking. Well... we have to get as most similar to the crowd as we can, if we wan to eat something, and it turns to our habit in the end. Now I still have to remember to blink every half a minute and still fidgeting.- he laughed when he pretended to changing the position, because he's not comfortable. I laughed too, and then I looked at the dance floor. Dammit, I've always wanted to dance such rumba or passo-doble...suddenly Mathew stood up and walked towards me pulling a hand to me.- You want to dance?- he asked smiling warmly. But Mathew... these are social dances... And what about that? I don't know if I can...- oh, of course I can't!
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 Oh, it's important that I can. In the end I'm the one leading.- he rose his eyebrows with an encouraging smile. I shook my head and let him lead me to the dance floor. First we danced cha cha, then salsa, after what the music got slow, so I turned to sit. Maybe he could have danced with me, but this was a slow dance, and it's obviously something different. Mathew caught my hand when I did the 1st step to the table.- You're tired? No, c'mon. After 2 dances?- I laughed. Oh yeah, I did dance them. I'm really proud of myself. Something was wrong for him. Why you want to sit then? Because... it's a slow dance... And what, I'm not the right part to dance it with?- he brought me nearer him before I reacted and laid his hands on my back. I shivered.- Don't worry, I won't do anything to you.- he rolled his eyes with a sour face. I'm not scared of you, just... you're surprising me.- he laughed. OK, head on my shoulder.- he bended his head a little back. What?!- my eyes grew bigger at him. That what you hear. C'mon, I won't bite you.- he snorted. I'm really not recognizing you.- I glanced at his shoulder and slowly leaned my face against it. After a short moment he leaned his head against mine, but I didn't look at him, because we started to sway in the rhythm of the music. After a while he slowly started sliding down his hand to my hip. I shivered. Maybe I'm also not recognizing myself anymore.- he whispered next to my ear. I couldn't resist and I finally put up my head to look at him. He was looking deeply in my eyes and then looked at my lips and slowly started bending. My heart started to beat crazy. I was going to ask him why is he looking like that, but when I felt one his hand on my hip and the other on my cheek, I immediately forgot my tongue. When he was about an inch from me, I closed my eyes knowing that he won't back now. I thought I'll faint when I felt his lips. He started to open my mouth, and when he felt my tongue he even livened up. I'd never thought that he'll kiss me just because he wanted, and even in that way in my life. When I woke up from this shock, I pressed against him a little. He caught my hip harder and even more brought my face nearer him, and our tongues were touching again and again. It circled in my head, but I didn't want this to end. When the music stopped, to which we're swaying a moment ago, he stepped back with a little opened mouth and eyes. When he realized what he just did, he jumped back like he was burned, and his mine was rather frightened. I... I...- he stammered looking at me like a small, very scared kid, then turned back and went to the car fast, wrinkling. I stood like that for a minute longer, so that my heart could be back to normal, and also in the end got into the Mustang. Math was clenching his fists on the steering wheel and stubbornly was staring at it.- Cathreene, I... somebody pushed me.- I even smiled at his tone. Oh, right. Really, I... somebody pushed me and I leaned against you and... and it went like that...- he was trying to explain it almost desperately. No worries, you don't have to apologize for kisses. It wasn't a kiss! I didn't kiss you! Somebody pushed me and I incidentally leaned against you. Just like that! It wasn't a kiss!- seeing his frightened and confused face, I decided to stop arguing with him. As you say.- I shrugged and turned to a window. The vampire opened his mouth, but he closed them a second after starting the engine. And suddenly I memorized, that till now we're walking, and now we're sitting in the car.- We're driving somewhere? We're still in Santa Fe and we have to get to Choteau, you forgot? No, you just said that you prefer moving on foot.- he smiled palely. Well, let's say I decided to treat better your human needs.- I looked at him surprised, probably
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with big eyes. He glanced at my knees from the corner of his eyes.- And don't look at me like that, you know I don't like it.- he murmured, a little scary. I rolled my eyes, but I remembered something. Hey... why in the bar you said that you also not recognizing yourself?- he clenched his teeth and turned head from me, and his mine was so obvious, that I already knew what he's gonna say. I haven't said anything like that.- and how could I know this? Math, I can pretend that you didn't kiss me, but stop fulling me that I hear voices in my head! It wasn't a kiss!- he hissed closing his eyes. We both know it was. And by the way, I'm not asking why did you do that, just why did you say that.- he looked at me for a moment, but he finally gave up. When I'm with you... at the beginning I didn't know what to do, I thought everything was over. Until then Tanya was my whole world, which suddenly disappeared. And now... I learned how to live with it. That she will never come back. You taught me that. When I'm with you I'm suddenly forgetting about her.- he ended quietly lowering his look. Don't worry, a kiss isn't a betrayal yet.- I smiled lightly, considering if it's really true. I think no, but I'll maybe miss that part... But I don't feel like I betrayed Tanya at all. That's why I'm not recognizing myself.- I looked at him surprised. Did he just agreed with me? He sighed, closing his eyes.- Fine, I did kiss you. Just don't ask me why, because I'm not sure myself yet. And let's not come back to it, please.- I sighed. As he wants. I know one version, he knows the other, what a difference. We're driving in silence, till he didn't start to wrinkle his nose. I wrinkled, because as always I didn't know, what's going on, but he suddenly hid his mouth and the nose with a hand. When he was turning into some clearing, I also noticed that his irises got dark red. He pulled in, still hiding behind his hand. Mathew?- I asked confused and a little scared at that moment. He opened the doors widely and bended out of the car, as if he wanted to vomit, and then he loudly took a deep breath. Before you move, please, look at your legs.- OK, I admit, that through my mind went a thought that he's crazy. Because if I was hurt (what was rather not possible, because we're coming back from the bar), he'd immediately felt it right after I got into the car. But I looked. I did a sound which combined something from a moan of pain and spasmodic shout, bending over my knees to hide myself with my elbows, and also burn from a shame. I got PMS! Dammit! Fuck! I'll go to a shop.- and he got out of the car fast, closing the doors behind himself. Why the fuck exactly now?! What a...! OK, my belly was hurting a little, but... oh, couldn't it was later?! When I would be already alone home? In the evening best! Or at least when he was far! But not in the car! Oh, dammit, I have the luck! Yeah, great, now he got out, but at least a minute ago he couldn't! Fucking good, and I, what, have to just sit here?! I can't just get out! I haven't got anything to change into! From my house I only took my jacket I went as I was standing! After all Mathew's the one who's giving me necessary things, he has for that his Alchemy... oh, fuck, fuck, fuck! In such moments I wanna yell at myself with the worst curses I know. Great! Beautiful! Fuuuuuuuuuucking great! And what I'm gonna do now?! If Mathew returns, he won't be able to sit in this car- probably everything was already in the scent of my blood, which I, of course, couldn't tell. Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, I really wanna smash something! Best myself! Into pieces! To do such...! I'm not gonna make it! I'll never look at him again! I'll burn from a shame! I promise, when I'm back home, I close myself and I will go nowhere anymore! Especially with boys! I swear! No more! And with that vampire I won't walk, drive and for sure fly anywhere! The end, I'll close myself in my room, and that's it! I won't ever go out. What a massacre, what I'm gonna do now... shit! I heard about a rotten luck, but if your own body is so mean to you, it's really over human rights! Yeah, human! Dammit, the blood is running out from me, and I'm sitting in one car with the humonorian! Suddenly somebody knocked at the window. Oh no, I'm not upping my head to see who's that! Let he'll go! I'm not here! I'm not here at all! Cathreene, I think you really should go to the bathroom.- I heard quietly. And what's more! Not enough, that he's the vampire, who doesn't need bathroom at all, he's also a man, who entirely
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doesn't know anything about this stuff, and he'll be telling me if and when I should go to the bathroom! Great! I'm going to move anywhere!- yeah, so that he could see on that pathetic, breathing thing, which has the nerves to call itself a woman! Cathreene, if you don't come out, I won't be able to nor get into this car nor get anywhere closer to you. And it'll be rather hard, if we want to continue this trip.- I moaned irritated, but I knew he's right. In the end it's him who's giving me transport, food... and, after all, safety... not stretching out I opened my doors, next to which he's standing. In a moment I felt cold air on my face. Mathew did a really weird voice, turning away fast and hiding behind his hand. As I thought. In the other hand, more pulled to me, he's holding a bag from some close shop. Oh, right, it's behind us... wait, did he just like that went shopping? Before I asked him about that, he at once took off his jacket and gave me it with the bag, carefully bending as far as he could away from me.- The toilets are on the left.- he said clenching his teeth, and I rose my head to (I know, I swore something else) look at him and deny somehow, but he had already pressed the things into my hands and went around the car, opening all the doors in our stolen Mustang.- Go now!- he repeated, and jumping away from the inside of the car at the same moment. When I started to stood up very slowly, he turned back. Yes, I know, he's a gentleman, but now I had in my head a simple plan- first I tied myself up with his jacket- what a luck, that it's too big, it's covering my front and back side- then I quickly went to the toilet, not even looking at him. Just when I was already in a cabin, I let myself for a deep breath. And I finally saw what's Mathew bought. I thought I'd fall into the closet, when saw a familiar pack of the company, which name is the opposite of Never. I got even more red, but I really don't know, how it's possible. I guess I was so red from the shame for the 1st time in my whole life. When I finished, I started even considering staying in this toilet as long as the vampire pisses off and drives alone, leaving me here, but I somehow gave up fast, when I just thought, how I would have come back to New York. So still tied up with his jacket, I went out of the toilet. I acknowledged, that Mathew is already sitting in the car, because when I closed the bathroom's doors (I was about 30 meters far from our Mustang), the vampire pulled his hand out of the vehicle and snapped his fingers, because of what I had new jeans. I started to thinking for a second how's he doing it, that he always has my size, when I haven't ever told him that, but I stopped. I threw the shopping bag on the back seat, not speaking a word, and gave back to him his jacket, not even looking at him. I didn't even open my mouth. He neither spoke, just circled the key in the ignition. I noticed that he somehow changed an upholstery from a cream to a black leather-ed one. Well, I don't have to guess why. I surprised also because that he'd aired so fast, but with Alchemy everything's possible. After an hour and a half the silence was cut by my wretched stomach. I jumped a little on my seat, because it surprised me a bit and I didn't even get the nerves to look at the vampire. I blushed so much, that it made me hot. And what will be next?! Maybe I'll start changing into a frog?! Mathew with a slight smile looked around and drove into some forest path. I spoke no word, but when he pulled in near the next bar, I wrinkled and the curiosity took over. What you're doing?- I asked uncertain. You're hungry.- he smiled, shrugging. But...- he didn't gave a chance to end, because he got out. Oh, quiet.- he pulled me out of the car, and after that hug me on the line of my waist with his hand, because of what I shivered.- Pretend that we're dating. What?!- my eyes grew bigger on him. Great, on every next bar it goes further! I'm already scared what he'll decide for the next one...! Shh... Next to the door I saw a boy with a cigarette, probably from the service, about 18 year-old. When he had just seen us, he got pale a bit, and from his lips I've read a word prince, after what he threw away his smoke. Then I realized that he's a young vampire. It surprised me that vampire's smoking, but well, he at least doesn't have to care about his health. He went towards us and bowed immediately. Just then I felt, that I'm hugging by the real future vampire king. Just why had Mathew wanted to pretend that we're
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a couple?! Your Majesty... it's a great honor to see the prince's face here.- dammit... Math smiled and nodded at him. Thank you, Michael. Will you find us one free table? Of course, Your Highness. Please, come in.- he opened the door for us, so Mathew let me go first.- Please forgive my daring, Prince... is that the future queen?- he glanced at me suspiciously, that I turned back, but Mathew just smiled. For now just my girlfriend.- he's lying so perfect, that almost I myself believed him. Something's telling me, that the boy felt a relief. Forgive me, Your Majesty.- he bowed again. It's all right, Michael. And now I'm asking for the best table for 2. you see, Cathreene is very hungry.- I almost fainted, when he hugged me from my back. It's good that he warned me earlier, that we're pseudo-dating, because I at least didn't let anyone noticed, that I was barely standing. I swallowed then smiled stupidly.\ Oh yes, please forgive me, Your Highness. Here's your table.- the boy pushed the chair away for me, but first Mathew kissed my hand, because of what I blushed and I had to close my eyes to calm down. In the corner of my eye I saw, that the young vampire's wrinkling his nose. Oh right, so now we all know, what do vampires think about such human-vampire relationship. But when Mathew looked at him, he immediately smiled.- I'm already bringing your menu cards.- he left quickly, but I noticed after all, that he's shivering from an excitement. In the end the crowned head came to him... OK, and now Mathew's gonna explain me something. So, why I should be your girlfriend? So that you're treated like one.- he said smiling. I was already opening my mouth, but he was first.- Yes, I know, you're not recognizing me.- he murmured, rolling his eyes. I shook my head with a smile, and then Michael returned with our menus. I'm for Your Highness' and his companion's disposition.- he of course bowed. I swallowed. Thank you, Michael, you can leave us now.- Mathew nodded, so the boy went to the counter. I noticed, that he at once started talking with colleagues. Yeah, probably they're talking about us. They always treat you like that? Hm?- he upped his head from his card.- Ah, yes, it's normal. Maybe for you.- I snorted and he rolled his eyes. So what do you choose? Oh, let it be spaghetti al dente.- I've already closed my menu, but the vampire had other plans, because he wrinkled his nose. You're joking, right? You come here with the heir to the throne, and you even can't make me to pay a higher price. How it'll look like? At least take something more elegant. So you choose, Mr archduke.- I murmured, rolling my eyes. He chuckled. Hm...- he looked into his menu.- You like sea food? Yuck.- I wrinkled my nose. He sighed. Horse meat? No way. I prefer to ride on them.- he rolled his eyes. And caviare? Don't they have there anything normal?- I moaned. Oh, so maybe the chef's lasagne? At least it's expensive...- he said with a bored and a bit embarrassed tone, but when I nodded, he immediately cheered up and called for Michael. Yes, Your Majesty?- I already ignored the fact, that he's still bowing to us. Or rather to Mathew, because I think, that he's avoiding my look. We'd like chef's lasagne and... 2 lamps of white dry wine. Of course, I'll bring it in a moment.- and he left. Oh, so I'm your girlfriend and you want to make me drunk for the dastardly goals, yeah?- he smiled.
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 Not necessarily, but thanks for the idea.- I shook my head. You remember, when some time ago I said, that instead of raping me you should have the mourning in your head?- he looked anxious.- Should I start worrying it's not like that?- he burst out laughing. Calmly, I don't want to rape you. But if, I'll ask you first.- I didn't have a chance to react, because Michael came with my food and 2 glasses of wine. Hope it'll taste you.- he said with a wish-it-stuck-in-your-throat tone, first time without bowing. Yeah, why he has to bow to his future king's girlfriend? Thank you.- I said quietly, because I didn't recovered from a post-prince's-sentence shock yet and Mathew was still chuckling because of mine. When I brought a glass nearer me and my lasagne, he took his glass and started drinking, looking at me eating, but not rudely. I was eating in silence, but still glancing at the vampire, thinking, what he meant. And I didn't even care about what will he think about me looking at him like that. Damn, how but if, I'll ask you first? What's with that if?! Well, maybe if I ask him, he'll again say something about the mole, but it doesn't matter. When we're getting into the Mustang, I was still glancing at him. I knew quite well, that he sees it, but I didn't much care about that. Fuck, what did he mean?! Really, you can go crazy with him. After another minutes he in the end couldn't stand it. I beg you, Cath, why you're looking at me that way again?- he moaned. I'm thinking. But about what?- he got a little irritated. About you, what else.- I rather should have tell who else, but it's just a detail. So... what did I say this time?- he wrinkled. Wow, at least he knows, that he said something, it's really something. But if, I'll ask you.- I quoted him with a snort. E...- he didn't understand. You said, the you don't want to rape me, but if, you'll ask me first. What did you exactly mean about this if, if I may know?- now I got irritated. He smiled with a strange flash in his eyes. Well... you- woman, me- man... alone... in 1 car...- when he lowered his look with this unknown smile, my eyes grew bigger. Wait a minute, you're saying... wait, so you think that... you and me...?- I couldn't believe that. He? With me?! That... we're like a couple? Official, legally?! He even laughed. No, rather not, but nothing's impossible. Different things can happen during such journeys.- I blinked nervously and even caught my head, shaking it at the same time, and when I was hot, I started waving my hand in front of me like a fan. I just wanted to say something, but the vampire suddenly clenched his fists on the steering wheel, and with wider eyes he stared stubbornly at a roadway, as if he didn't want to look anywhere else. Mathew?- what, I'm leaking again? I looked at myself in panic, but everything was OK. When I bent a bit to better see his face, he closed his eyes and turned his head from me fast.- What it is?- he growled, pulling muscles, when, I think, he smelled my breath. Terrified, I leaned against a window, and when I understood what's happening to him, I swallowed.- You're hungry...- I whispered with a shivery tone and involuntarily caught my neck. Mathew moaned and shivered. Oh, right, when I'm moving, he's sensing my human scent even more. And by the way, when did he drink blood lately? I think yet in that hut! I slowly lowered my hand on my wrist, when I remembered, that I still have a bandage. The vampire's nose pulsed, and a moment after he stopped breathing.- Stop the car.- I said with already more certain tone. He swallowed, but it's rather his wretched venom, and slowly looked at me with this dark red irises, wrinkling, as if he's afraid, that I want him to pull in, because I want to jump out of the car and run the hell out of him, screaming.- You really shouldn't drive at your condition.- he lowered his sight, still not breathing. I noticed, that when he doesn't smell my scent, he's somehow coping with me near him. What for me is much better. After a moment he drove down on a forest parking. I just realized, that he's barely stopping himself to not to throw at me and bite into my neck, especially, when I'm less than a half meter away, but when he already wanted to go out, I stopped him.- Wait.- he turned his head 2
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inches towards me with an anxious and confused mine, and I rolled up my sleeve till the elbow and I put away my bandage. Non...- he growled in Latina with his husky bass through the clenched teeth, making his pupils wider at the sight of my not yet healed scarf on my wrist. The same voice makes human shiver, and what about the fact it's very hungry humonorian. Listen, I'm human, right? And I think it's better to give you my blood now from my own will, rather then you would throw at my neck later. At...- he was still hissing in Latina, as if he forgot English. For the ones confused- he wanted to deny me, saying but, but I cut him. Quiet, bite.- bringing the hand nearer to his face, I closed eyes. From his throat some animal growl came out, and his eyes were already devouring my hand alive, but Mathew didn't move.- Math, you won't beat your instinct...- he glanced at me fast, and then clenched his fists harder on the steering wheel, as if he wanted to prove, that he exactly intends to do that, but his eyes stacked on my neck. Right, in the end it's the vampire hungry for blood, not just a house pet, which will calmly and politely drink from a bowl, put for him on a floor. I myself don't know, what I was thinking, giving him my hand.- You prefer from the artery?- when I already caught my neckline, he clenched his eyelids fast and shook his head so energetically, that the car shook.- So bite.- I again upped my hand, and this time I put it almost on his mouth. He moaned and caught it tight. Just like I said- the predator's instinct. He was holding my hand right in front of his lips, as I felt the coldness of his breath, when he's whispering. I don't want...- he looked at me sluggishly, but his eyes were saying, that it's entirely different. I smiled to support him. I can see that. C'mon, I'll be fine.- he lowered his look, and then he closed his eyes and kissed me right next to the crook of my hand. My heart beat faster, what, unfortunately, he probably heard even in his condition. Forgive me.- he whispered with the closed eyes and before I reacted, he widened his jaws , because of what his fangs lightened to me, and when I was swallowing, he fast bit into my wrist. I muffled a scream, but I clenched my fist, just like him, but he almost broke my hand, he was clenching his fingers that much tight on it. After all, I was feeling a pain just because he pierced my skin with his teeth, but more I felt his coldness- his tongue, when it's brushing my skin, drinking my blood, and his venom, entering my veins through his fangs. He literally was sucking my life out of me and giving the poison instead. After few minutes he slowly opened his eyes, taking another big swallow. I don't know, how I've looked, but he glanced at my wrist with a wrinkly forehead and after a moment he stepped aside from me. But it wasn't rather very easy for him. He leaned his head against a head-rest with opened mouth a little, still red because of my blood, then he licked himself with a rather satisfied face, but it's hard to tell, and wiped the rest with his sleeve. When I was looking at him like that, I realized, that it suddenly became very hot in here. I also noticed, that from my wound there's no blood bleeding- probably Mathew drank so much of it, that there's nothing to bleed there, because in that moment I felt also, that bitten hand is completely numbed. Have to go out.- I said with a weak voice and opened my doors, but when I just put my legs on the ground, I fainted. I would fell, if not the vampire, who in the same second materialized right next to me and caught me. Cathreene, are you OK?- he asked nervously, holding me in his arms. I smiled and with the bitten hand I touched his cheek. Unfortunately, just when I've done this, I got shivers. Oh yes, I have his vampire venom in my blood. Mathew got scared at the beginning, but he realized what's happening and laid me on the ground. I started to loose a contact with reality because of the pain. Everything, like every everything started to hurt me so much, so that I was feeling like a steel, which a blacksmith is putting into a fire to melt. At the beginning the vampire was just observing me with a wrinkly forehead, but when I started shouting and throwing because of the extending fangs, he laid on me, immobilizing me. After that I felt better, but as I noticed, it's because of his hand on my bitten wrist- thanks to his ability to healing, he eliminated his vampire virus in me. But it really was not a good feeling. Better?- he was really worrying about me, which really surprised me. Of course positively.
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But then I saw, entirely awakened, that he's lying on me and I swallowed with a shiver. Mhm...- he wrinkled, because probably I wasn't speaking much clearly.- Nice experience.- I added louder. Stop it.- he snorted and sat next to me with an angry mine, leaning against the Mustang's side.- You're acting crazy with me. Do you know how dangerous it was for you?- I rolled my eyes. Sure. See? I've already got longer fangs.- I smiled widely, so that he could see them.- They're just a little shorter than yours.- he snorted again, but I knew it wasn't like a moment ago. He was angry. With me. You're happy?- he wasn't delighted with that fact, so I decided to explain the case to him. I've always wanted to be a vampire.- I shrugged. Mathew shook his head, wrinkling, and got into the car really fast. I didn't like his reaction.- Math?- when I stood up, it circled in my head and I swayed, and it was also booming in my ears. I had to lean against the car's mask.- Mathew?- I looked into the Mustang through the opened doors. He was sitting, staring in the front window with a pissed off face and clenched fists on the steering wheel. Get in.- he growled. Surprised, I sat on my seat without a word and a moment after the vampire was starting the engine. I glanced at him 1 more time and wrinkling, turned to the window, weaving my hands on the chest. I have no idea why's he acting like that, but I won't be forcing him to talking. If he doesn't want, me neither. After about 10 minutes he glanced ta me and his faced calmed down.- Please, forgive my behavior, but... it's just that I... I would give everything just to not be a vampire, and you're dreaming about it. I don't get it.- now I'm the one not getting. What? You don't wanna be immortal, fast, nimble? Yes, but... And what's with the knowing of languages?- as it's known, vampires know all the official languages (without dialects), so that they can easy go with the crowd, doesn't matter where they are, plus also Latina, their... species' language? I kill people! But you're at least a god of beauty, and me? There's obviously something to dream about...with a longing I looked at my breaths, forgetting, that I'm sitting next to a man. I remembered, when girls from my major had a size D, I had almost C. suddenly the vampire smiled a bit, put a finger under my chin and looked me in the eyes. Cath, you're marvelous, pretty and innocent. And me... I'm a murderer, demon! You're the miracle of nature, the highest level of evolution! Rather a killing machine.- he snorted, turning his look. Dammit, I agree... Well... OK, that's true.- he rolled his eyes.- But the rest is up to you.- he looked at me anxious.- You were in love, you've known the feeling. Only few vampires have such luck, specially for the returned one.- he smiled again. Maybe still I am.- when I looked at him with raised eyebrows, he lowered his look and speeded up. Same again.- I murmured to myself, turning to the window. What?- he wrinkled. I have completely no idea what you're talking about again.- he smiled. Good.- he snapped his fingers and on his hand appeared his driving license, and on mine 2 passports, 1's mine. I didn't even want to ask, where did he get it. And that's for what? They're always checking you on the states borders.- he rolled his eyes. I looked anxious on his driving license. Can I?- with a smile he gave it to me. On the photo I didn't look, because he's always gorgeous anyway, but my attention was brought by the birth date.- Tomorrow you'll be 26, huh?- I raised 1 eyebrow. You prefer I wrote 300? No, it's OK, but... tomorrow's really your birthday?- he nodded, smiling.
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 I'm an old guy, huh? Yeah.- I agreed and he rolled his eyes.- But don't worry, there's no sign of it.- we both laughed.- So, what would Your Highness like to get from me?- when I bowed a little, he laughed. Oh, c'mon.- he waved his hand, and just a minute after we're crossing the Colorado-Wyoming border. We could drive, after Mathew showed to the guard all documents, plus snapped just a minute before the ID of the stolen Mustang. What, you don't wanna get a b-day present? I don't want anything from you.- he made me angry with this sentence. Oh, right, forgive me. In the end, I'm just a stupid dinner, what do I have to talk about.- with a pissed off face I turned to the window and weaved my hands on the chest. Cathreene...- he sighed, shaking his head.- You're my friend and from friends I never require anything.- he explained calmly, laying his hand on my shoulder and smiling a little.- And don't say things like that. I will never hurt you, silly.- he touched my nose with his finger. When I blinked nervously, it just came to me. So... you really like me?- he rolled his eyes. Of course, and what did you think? That you're saying it just like that, so that I'd let in peace.- he shook his head and then, entirely letting the steering wheel, laid his both hands on my shoulders. I was conscious about the fact, that the car is driven by the vampire with super powers, but the sight of the wheel without any control scared me anyway, and I have to add, that we're driving 160 km/h. Mathew was looking deeply into my eyes and was speaking slowly, as if he's afraid that I wouldn't understand. I really love you, Cathreene.- in that moment I got hot, my heart beat faster and I blushed, but after a minute I corrected him. Rather like me.- I myself rather prefer that 1st version, but it's not really possible. Because a vampire with a human? Ba, future king?! With me, human journalist with the obsession with his kind? Please. He wrinkled, but still was holding me instead of the wheel. It's good, that there's no curves here! And what have I just said?- he asked not sure, still wrinkling. That... that you love me.- I had to lower my look. His pupils got wider and he interfered. Oh... He backed to the steering wheel fast, but surprisingly didn't speak anything more. Weird, I thought that he'll immediately deny... can he feel the same as me? No, it's impossible... well, but I at least am not lying to myself, that I don't feel anything for him. The true is, that I rather even love him, just I know that it won't work out anyway. In the end, Mathew is faithful to Tanya, so before he again fell for someone, and it'll be for sure the vampire girl, not such mammal like me, it will be probably after about a century or more, when he'll be back to his psycho balance. The vampire didn't want to continue, so I backed to his b-day. So what do you finally wanna get? Cath...- he looked at me wolfy. I'm giving you something anyway.- I raised hardly my head, so he sighed. You think about it, I'll be glad with anything.- I nodded, but then I bit my lower lip. Hm...- I looked out of the window, searching for ideas, what I can give to the future vampire king on his 300 birthday, but I didn't have any creative invention. But you know it's tomorrow, so don't rush like that.- I smiled. You don't like getting older, huh? I think nobody likes it.- he shrugged. Yeah, but at least it can't be seen on you.- now he smiled. Oh, your 50 also can't be seen yet.- I hit his shoulder, but he just laughed.- OK, I'm sorry. But seriously, how old are you? 18?- I looked at him wolfy. Very funny.- he shrugged. What, you've never told me before.- hm, that's true... 23.- I rolled my eyes.
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 So, it's not that bad, just 277 years of difference. Yeah, what is it? Almost 3 centuries. Just like a stone throw.- I waved my hand and Mathew laughed. I adore you.- I looked at him with a smile. What, because I give you my blood for free?- he looked at me wolfy. You know that I don't like it.- I ignored that. So why? Because I'm not scared of you? And because you're here. Joking with me. Only few people can do that. Because only few vampires can stand such moles for so long.- he smiled a bit. I really shouldn't have said that. Now I'm canceling it.- I wanted to wave my hand, but something wasn't right. What do you mean canceling?- he sat towards me, but still was holding the wheel with 1 hand. I said, that I have to hit my head hard first to fell in love with you. But it's not true.- I blinked, when he looked deeply into my pupils, and a moment after he laid his hand on my cheek.- Anyone can fell for you.- when he started bending, I swallowed, and the fact that he again let the steering wheel, I somehow missed completely.- Me also.- he whispered, and to not faint I had to turn my sight, because I already started to drown in these hot brown and a little bit gray irises. When Mathew was about half an inch from my lips I screamed, because we're driving right into a tree. Watch out! Mathew immediately threw at the steering wheel and tried to stop, but we had too high speed. And I told him to hold the wheel! But he of course wanted to kiss me! Then everything was moving so fast, that I remember only the buzz of breaking glass, hitches of bending metal and the vampire's shouting. When with some miracle we finally stopped on this wretched tree, I saw that he's holding me in the tight hug, and the head he was cowering on my chest. He raised it fast. Are you OK? Something's hurting you? He's looking at me carefully with a wrinkly forehead, and in his eyes the big fear was hiding. When I took a breath to answer him, that actually I feel nothing, I suddenly felt such a sharp pain between my ribs. I lowered my head- the branch plunged in my stomach. I moaned, when I saw how fast my blood is pouring outside. I's barely breathing and suddenly I realized, that I have no strength. No!- he screamed, when I fell on the seat. When he looked at my stomach, he growled, and then got shivers, his eyes got wide open, and they're already turning into dark red. I closed mine, sure, that he won't resist and throw at me in any second.- No...- he whispered, hardly clenching his eyelids and stopping breathing.- It won't be like that. I'll save you.- I shouted and entwined his neck tight, when he pulled the branch out of me and plunged himself in the chest, because there was no space in the car. He laid his hand between my breaths, but I already had no strength to even look at him.- I will...! I felt the warmth of his Alchemy and after a moment my wound disappeared. I looked at him at once- he was just pulling my branch out of him, but his stomach was already pierced by the other. I noticed, that he's completely not looking at me, or rather forcing himself to not do this. Then it enlightened me, that I'm all covered in blood, my own blood, so to help him with it at least a bit, I decided to not move, so that the smell of my blood will get to his nose as slow as it's possible. With a growl he pulled the 2nd branch out of his stomach and immediately laid hands on these holes his hands to heal himself. But suddenly he started to shiver and breathe hard. Math?- I wrinkled. He had never act like this before during the healing of me, so why is he reacting like that at himself? He started rasping after a few seconds, after what without strength he was just falling on the hand inhibition, but I stopped him on my knees. He had closed eyes, but his eyelids were still shivering. About a human I would probably said that he fainted, but vampires don't faint! Mathew! I shook him a bit, because of what his lips opened. It frightened me, because suddenly from his mouth started to pour out some dark grease, remembering a chocolate jelly-like dessert, named khanna.
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I've read, that it's very rare phenomenon, and if it's happening, it means that the vampire is so tired, that he's barely functioning. I raised my hand and carefully wiped his lips. He parted his eyelids and started to lead his confused look through the car. Or maybe its wrack, because the vehicle is now looking more like a scrap metal. Cath...?- he whispered so quiet, that I barely heard him. Shh.- he finally found me with his eyes. Smiling lightly I laid a finger on his lips, so that he won't talk.- Rest.

Chapter 3
~ *** ~

Unlucky shower
e closed back his eyes, but it rather looked like he just didn't have more strength for anything. I was just thinking how can I help him, and in the same second an enlightenment came to me. It's so good to cut your vein sometime... I slowly rolled up my sleeve, again, carefully, so that Mathew won't fall from my knees. At least I already took off the bandage before, so I don't have to do it now. I clenched my hand into a fist, and the other one I opened my wound , which I made by a knife, then I improved it more with a branch. I was extending my skin like this till the blood was pouring out again and I put the wrist just above the opened lips of the unconscious vampire. I moved my hand for a moment, and when the 1st tears finally fell on his mouth, he instinctively started to drink. He didn't even open his eyes nor moved. He should have been really exhausted. After a longer moment he caught my hand and then, when brought it nearer to his lips, he bit into it. I moaned, tensing my muscles, but I told myself, that I have to be tough, if I wanna help him. Unfortunately, after few minutes I decided, that he already drank too much, because I's barely not falling from my seat. Math... please... that's enough...- I even surprised when I realized, how weak my voice is. Mathew suddenly opened widely his eyes. He was staring at the roof not really seeing, still not stopping biting me and drinking from me with big swallows. He was rather like a robot on some fucking autopilot than the half-living creature.- Mathew... don't...! Stop!- I said louder, when I felt my whole arm started to stiffen The vampire blinked, after what he looked at me fast. I saw in his eyes fear, probably because I started getting pale, and in the end he looked at what he's biting and moaned. He again looked at me, and his face was literally screaming I won't make it!
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 You will... you already... did once... remember?- I smiled slightly and surprised again, when I realized I'm having black spots in front of my eyes. I blinked, but it even got worse, because it started to get dark, as if it's the sunset or something. Moaning again he closed his eyes and slowly backed my hand from him, clearly fighting with himself, but he didn't let it. He got after-blood shivers, in the same time clenching his fingers so tight, that I was scared, that he'll break some of my bones in a moment. A, it hurts!- he didn't react. I acknowledged, that he won't wake up till this shock is over, but then I heard a quiet crunch. I wasn't sure what's that, till I heard my own shout. Great, he broke my arm! Dammit, how it hurts... thanks, Math! My scream finally woke him up, because he immediately jumped and sat down. Fucking great, now! I let him, because until now I must have been holding him, so that he won't fall, and still moaning, I caught his hand, which was still crushing my wrist. He realized what's he doing and let me immediately with such a frightened face, that probably normally I would laugh, and then he curled his hand up to his chin. What... what I've... done to you?- yes, he was frighteningly frightened. I think... you broke me something...- I moaned, wincing. He swallowed and slowly pushed to me the same hand, because it's from my side. Can I?- I looked at him uncertain, if he's better yet.- Or better not...- he whispered, as if he wasn't sure of it either. I held my hand a little longer and finally pulled it to him. When I let it, it fell inactively on his knee, from what I moaned again and held it up one more time. He didn't even look at me nor speak, and his face was as if he was a human who wants to cry. He obviously feared to touch me entirely, because from his fist he straightened just his pointing finger and carefully started to push different places on my hand. I acknowledged, that I don't have the feeling in the whole hand, and when I told him that, he wrinkled. He kept on, till the wrist, and then I moaned. Ouch, here I have! His hand shivered from my scream, and then with closed eyes he laid his hand on my wrist so gently and carefully, that I thought kind of a feather fell on it. After a moment he healed me with his Alchemy, so I had a feeling and knitted bones. Math at once curled up near the relics of his doors. Thanks.- I said quietly and started rolling my wrist to set it in motion a bit. He clenched his fists on the seat and stared in his knees, but when I was just going to ask what's going on, he left the car. He leaned against it and grabbed his neck, after what he turned his head an inch to my direction. Will you ever forgive me that?- he asked quietly. I rolled up my eyes. Math... No, Cathreene! I told you so many times to not give me your blood!- he looked at me with pain.- Can't you understand? I can kill you!- he stopped for a moment, lowered his look and again turned back.- Now I'm scared to even look at you to not hurt you. But I... How could you? How can you be risking your life for me?!- he had tears in his eyes. I don't get him. And what, I should have let you die?! Math, khanna started to pour out of you!- he looked questioningly, but still nervous.- I should have ignored that? And... just like that let you...- I shook my head. I was frightened by the thought, that he could die just a moment ago on my knees. Or rather fell into a coma, but for me it's the same. You shouldn't have done that anyways.- he said quietly. Oh, c'mon! I'm going to die someday anyway.- he was just opening his mouth with a wrinkly forehead.- Stop it, Math! Let's end this topic. You know, that we've got different points of views and I don't really wanna argue all the time. I saved you and you've remorses, cause you've unwillingly broken my arm. And that's it! Nothing happened. But... Nothing happened.
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 Cath...- he looked at me wolfy. Saying nothing happened! Stop it right now.- not having any better idea he sat on his seat. How are you feeling?- he spoke after a moment of silence and stared into his knees. I rolled my eyes. For sure better than you are.- through his face it went a short smile, but than he wrinkled and snapped his fingers. He gave me a brown shirt with a deep necklace. I looked anxiously. Your blood.- he murmured and got out again, now for looking at the car.- We rather won't go any farther.- I got out after him. Yeah, the whole front mask was devastated, it's even smoking. It's good, that at least the vehicle wasn't in flames. I'm just curious, where were the hell the airbags?- Well, I'll look for the new one later. Now you probably want to sleep, huh? You're for sure tired. I hope that 3 stars are enough for you, because only that one is near here, but if not, just tell. I can always snap you something. You know, a bed or something. I know that it's not the same as a hotel, but you can always ask me for anything. Or maybe you want to eat something? Or no, you'll eat there... I mean... if you want, because... I'm not really good at it...- I think he got the talking course, but he lost the point. Something was telling me he didn't want to remember why we hit the tree. But... what's going on?- I asked a little confused. Oh, I'm taking you to the hotel, because you won't sleep here in this forest of course. Well, unless you'll sleep on me again.- when I looked at him surprised, he shrugged with a smile. You took me into your arms yourself, I didn't ask about that! You don't even know, how much I had to stop myself from vomiting on you. But... Or, maybe you know. For now after every kiss you wanna kill me. I didn't kiss you! But you wanted. Not true! Mathew, don't make a fool of me! We both know, that if I didn't scream, you'd kiss me and right after then the tree would kill me!- he was just opening his mouth.- And don't even try to deny! I don't know, if you're doing this because you love me or you just wanna deal with your wife's death. I don't really care! You can even take me to bed, but then at least don't say, that you didn't do anything! I'm not stupid, remember that. And now, if you care this much, let's go to that hotel, because I'm not going to stand here like that.- I turned back and even started to walk. Cath, I... Math, better just don't say anything. I don't wanna fight again. Go first.- he opened his mouth, but then closed it and went ahead on the hard houlder. We weren't talking even when we entered the hotel hall. Without a word Mathew got to a counter to book a room. I wanted to enter the elevator, but I decided to listen, what kinda room the vampire'll pick. Behind the counter there's a pretty brunette smiling. Welcome to the Ross Hotel, how can I help you? Good evening. I would like to book 2 apartments. Calmed, that he took 2 separated, I leaned against the elevator's doors, not letting them close and leave the floor. I saw, that Mathew's still talking with the receptionist, but I wasn't listening to them since then. The girl had the face as if he's flirting with her, and I really didn't wanna hear it, so I started to hum Bring me to life, to cut them. Oh, I'm sorry, unfortunately we have only 1 double room. Hmm...- he glanced at me with a little wrinkly forehead, but I ignored it.- Well, I'll take it then. Here you are.- she gave him the keys.- How long would you like to stay? Oh, just 1 night, we have to go in the morning. Very well... and may I ask your name? Morgan. Thomas Morgan. Oh, you're that archeologist? How finally did you call that dinosaur, sir?
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 Well, I haven't think about it yet. How much for the room?- he got his wallet to his hand, but he somehow didn't pay. I surprised, but I forced myself to show no curiosity. He probably ensnared the poor girl, because he doesn't wanna pay for me. Are you joking, sir? For that star it's on our account!- he smiled. Oh, it's so nice from you side. And now please don't disturb us, OK? Of course, sir. The room number 212, 2nd floor. Thank you, good night.- when he finally went away from the counter, I got into the elevator and waited till he enters. With no word he pushed the 2nd-floor button, avoiding my look. What number?- I asked when we're both in the elevator. 212.- hm, it's probably mine. When we got to the corridor, I turned towards him. My keys?- I rose up a hand. He glanced at me not sure. We have mutual. How's that?- I wrinkled. They have the same lockers, or what? They had only 1 room free. But don't worry, I'll leave in a moment and I won't be back till morning. If you want, you can have it just for yourself and you won't see me until sunrise.- when he let me in first, he himself stood at the doorway and stared at a floor, because of what I felt really stupid. No, come in. How it'll look like...- he surprised, when I closed the door after him and then gestured him to sit. But... we for sure won't stay in the same room...- he sat on the couch not certain. Damn, he's afraid of me or something? Mathew, you didn't kill me, though you already drank my blood twice.- he opened his mouth, but I didn't let him.- You even kissed me twice.- he looked at me wolfy.- And if I'm still living after the bath in the forest lake with you, with a bleeding leg, I think I can also live through one night in a hotel with you. But... I mean, I hope so, because if you don't know what you're doing yourself... I know! Oh yeah? So why you're denying everything?- he suddenly stood up quickly. Or what, I should tell I love you?!- stunned I saw, that he had tears in eyes.- You know what I am! You know what a danger I am for you! I don't have any rights for you, I can't love you! Remember that finally, I can't love you and I'll probably never...!- he cut, closing his eyes and clenching fists. I's sitting, staring at him as if I was sick. He sighed and went to the door.- Stay in. I'm going to look for a new car for us.- he left, before I opened my mouth. Weird, he's saying, as if he's convincing himself... I's barely sitting after his exposition. Of course, as always I didn't have any idea, what he meant. He said, that he can't love me, but in the end he didn't say that he doesn't love me at all. So he apparently said something, but didn't exactly deny... or maybe it's just my freaky imagination? With a sigh I shook my head and decided to take a bath, and at the same time decided that's it's no sense to worry about it. Yeah, just he said exactly the same things what I think of him. Because yes, I love him in some way, but 1st: he's a vampire and it's speaking through itself, and 2nd: he's the heir to the throne, so it's even worse. So why is he saying, that he's no rights for me, when it's just the opposite? As always I don't understand a word... ~ *** ~ Mathew stole a new BMW S500 from the city parking near the Nebraska Street, a mile from the Ross Hotel. When he came back to the hotel, he turned off the engine, but didn't go out of the car. He started to think.

What is she thinking? I am the vampire... I cannot love her! She is human! And I... no, it cannot be this. It is nothing, that I would do anything for her. It is nothing, that when she is going to die, my throat is thronging from a fear. It is nothing, that when she is
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laughing the whole world is circling in my head. Or at least it can be explained like that. It is nothing, that when she is touching me, I have hot shivers. Yet it means nothing. She is my ritra. It is all because of her scent. And I just like her. Like, nothing more! It is Tanya I love and Cath... Cathreene is my friend. Closest. And I like her very much. Since some time maybe even too much... but it is Tanya I love! Cath is...- he smiled to himself.- She is wonderful. She is amazing, mad, sometimes she cannot bite her tongue, but she is with it so... cute. She is kind, courageous, intelligent, witty and... beautiful. Maybe even as much as Tanya... yes, it is true- I adore her. Yes, I am crazy about her. Yes, when I see her, everything starts to circle. Yes, when she is laughing, I am at once better and also want to laugh. Yes, when she is touching me, I am feeling hot. Yes, when she is near me, I forget about the whole world. Even about Tanya... and yes, I am happy with her. When she is with me, I am starting to feel like human, I am starting... to feel that I have a heart, which will explode in a minute from this euphoria... oh, even with Tanya I did not feel like this!- he sighed, closing his eyes.- Cathreene is right, there is no sense to pretend. We both know, that something changed. That I changed.- he glanced at our window.- And that I do not like her anymore. I... I love her.- he lowered his look and then closed his eyes again.
I love her.- he whispered and got out of the car. ~ *** ~ Damn, how much I love showers like that... I don't know why, but I love to take a shower with no light. It has specific climate then. I left the door opened, so that Mathew can just enter. Maybe it's weird, but somehow I's sure, that no one else can come inside. I also thought, that I'd at least hear, when he'd enter the room, but I missed it. I haven't heard him at all, but somehow he haven't heard me either. He quietly came inside the room, closing the door and looked around, wrinkling a little. He decided, that I went out somewhere and he took off his shirt- it's probably more comfortable for him. I didn't even know, that's he's already inside. When I started to wipe with the hotel's towel, he suddenly came into the bathroom with the snapped-a-minute-ago cosmetics for me, turning on the lights. We screamed both, but I immediately hid behind the towel, and he threw everything on the floor with a loud boom and shivering, he quickly turned back. I... I...- he must have been in a shock, because he started to stutter. When I swallowed, I realized, that my hand are shivering so much, that I'm barely holding the towel. The vampire opened his mouth, but instead of speaking, he just walked out of the bathroom. When my heart calmed down a bit, I finished the wiping, wrapped around with the towel and went to Mathew.- Cath, I... I didn't know, I thought, that you went out... if I knew, I would never...- he's looking desperately and a little frightened at a floor. You didn't see anything, right?- I's feeling sick on the same thought, that he might have seen me. He swallowed. I swear I didn't see anything. Just... shoulders, legs and a towel, nothing more. Like now, I swear. I'm really sorry, I... I haven't heard you at all, I thought you went out... forgive me, I should have knocked first, but you had the lights turned off and I thought... I'm always turning the lights off when I'm taking a shower.
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 I didn't know! I... believe me, if I knew... I wouldn't enter, if I knew, that you're naked!- the shiver went through me. Hey, you said you haven't seen anything! Because... because I...- he lowered his head. Great! Well yeah, it's obvious with his sight...! Math, say it. You obviously have much better sight and the whole second passed before I covered myself.- he moaned, closing his eyes. I started to panic. I had a strong intention to broke something with a shout and go under the ground from the shame at the same time.- You saw me, didn't you?- I whispered with closed eyes, begging for the negative answer. Cathreene... I...- when he looked at me sluggishly, I boiled. How could you?! Crying, I escaped to the bathroom I huddled under a sink. I was sobbing like that for a while till I heard Mathew's opening the corridor doors. He finally figured it! How nice, he's going out! Now he can! As always when I'm in panic, I started talking to myself. How could he?! Yeah, he didn't hear, sure! The vampire didn't hear the human in the bathroom, I can see that! The craziness came to him! And he's such a good husband! Doesn't have a wife, so he has to find another play toy! Men! I'll never look into his eyes ever again! You could have told me at the beginning, that you wanted to look, and not making a cripple out of yourself! Like with those kisses! First he kisses me, then he's denying and even saying it's all my fault, that I'm imagining things! It's crazy! If you wanna score me, then just do it, and don't peep! Yeah, and even before he almost said he loves me! Idiot! Watch out I'll believe it's true! Sure, he's probably just picking girls on that Tanya, that he's so apparently good and loving! None of them would stand him for a year! What exactly I'm doing here? What I'm waiting for, till he rapes me?! Just try! But... if he's saying the truth? Is he really just wanna avenge his wife? I don't know, but if it's true, then don't try to seduce me! Yeah, when he comes back, I'll have to talk to him. Seriously.- I stood up and still just in the towel got out of the bathroom for my clothes. I almost fell, when I saw Mathew, standing next to the couch with a lowered head, staring at the carpet. Dammit, he heard everything... fucking great!- You... didn't go out?- I asked like an idiot. He slowly upped his head towards me, but didn't look at me. Despite that, I saw that his mine's covering strong emotions. Well, I'm not surprised... Now I'm leaving.- he said quietly with a husky voice and opened the door, but stopped on the doorway and looked at my feet.- I really didn't hear you.- he whispered and left, not looking at me again. I opened my mouth, but I didn't know what to say. Well, I've already told too much. Dammit, why I couldn't bite my tongue?! With anger I threw a night lamp from a bedside table on a floor, and then made the bed quickly and I threw on it, begging all this would turned just into a crazy nightmare. ~ *** ~

How can I explain it to her?- Mathew's sitting in the BMW near our hotel and was thinking about what happened.- How can I tell her, that I really didn't hear her, because I was thinking how to confess her love? Even if I would tell her that now, she thinks that I care only about sex... beautiful, first I am entering the bathroom when she is taking a shower, and then I suddenly want to tell her I love her! Idiot! Cretin! It is nothing strange that she thinks I want to rape her. She doesn't even believe I had a wife! Oh, Cathreene! How can I tell you that I am no rapist, just I love you? How can I explain that yes, I want you and your body, but because I love you, not that I want to feel good thanks to you? Oh, Cath... if only you knew how much I love you... and if only I could say it out loud...
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~ *** ~ Mathew came back to the room, when I's already sleeping. When he saw me just in a shirt and my underwear, he parted his lips, and because I's only covered till my waist, he walked towards me and covered me up to my chin. When he touched my cheek with his hand, sleeping, I said his name. First he stopped moving, but then even dropped a tear. He backed and sat on a windowsill, looking at me. He's staring like this for a while, and I again uncovered unknowingly, when I felt too hot. He didn't cover me this time. He's walking with his eyes upon not only my face, but also my body. When he imagined something, automatically downed his hand into his pants. In the same time I turned on the second side, when I felt uncomfortable. He ignored it, because he thought, that I'm sleeping deeply. He glanced at my breaths under my shirt's neckline and started to masturbate. He closed his eyes, moaning quietly. A moment after, I's awakened by some weird sighs. I recognized the sound of Mathew's voice, but when I opened my eyes, I regretted it immediately. Mathew's sitting on a windowsill, had closed eyes, opened mouth and his hand's in... in his pants! I screamed, turning head so fast, that I caught a cramp. Mathew! He must have got scared, because he even fell from the windowsill on a floor, after what he at once stood quickly back to me, leaning hands against the windowsill. His jeans with an unzipped fly were barely hanging on his hips. His face's frightened. I knew, because I glanced at him. Whatever, it's not weird. His hands were even trembling. You're n... not sleeping?- his voice shivered, but I didn't even care. You woke me.- I swallowed on the thought with what sounds he did it. O... oh...- he also wasn't delighted about that. He even made a face. You know... I don't wanna say anything, but... can you... do that somewhere else? He opened his mouth and then, not looking at me, quickly entered the bathroom, holding his belt and loudly closing the door after himself. It reminded me my escape, when he saw me taking the shower, because of what I smiled. Great, the vampire's hiding from me in the bathroom, because I saw how... I swallowed just on the thought... how he's making himself good. Maybe it's strange, but I wanted to talk with him about something, just didn't have any idea about what. Mathew? Hmm?- he murmured with a second delay. What's the time?- why the fuck I'm still talking?! He cleared his throat. Em... I don't know. You have a clock on the wall.- I surprised, because his voice was... stressed. I don't even know, if you can have such voice, but I don't have other name for it. Oh... right, thanks.- I glanced on the wall. Wow, it's only 2 AM! Great, thanks vampire! I suddenly heard the sound of the breaking glass.- Math, you're OK?- I stood up, ready to even walk into that bathroom. Yeah, it's nothing.- I wrinkled. Fucking great, he's again pretending, that he didn't do anything and I just see and hear things... You're sure? I heard something broke...- I asked meaningfully. That's... sorry.- a quiet snap. You've broken the mirror?- I said surprised, but he didn't reply. Well, the silence always confirms.- What for? Doesn't matter, go to sleep.- he's irritated. He's probably pissing off on himself, for what happened. Don't worry, you didn't do anything wrong. In the end it's a normal thing... I mean for you... I mean guys, because how's it with vamp... Can we not talk about it?- he moaned. I opened my mouth, but in the answer I just shrugged. Then I realized, that he doesn't see me, but it's him who spoke instead of me.- I... I'm really sorry. I don't know what came over me... I... I can't explain it, forgive me. I acted idiotically and rebukingly , I beg for forgiveness.- he's talking with the tone, as he's afraid, that I'll punish him in a second. I smiled.
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 Math, it's nothing... No, Cath, it was hideous. I'm sorry. It's... I really don't know what came over me. OK, stop it. I'm gonna sleep, goodnight. Goo... goodnight.- I'm not sure, but I think he's relieved that I said it. And don't sit like that in the bathroom like a kid. I obviously won't do anything to you, you don't have to hide from me.- I laid back in the bed, and heard a quiet moan. I sighed. Or he's really afraid that I'll do something to him, or he's so ashamed.- OK, never mind. Till tom... till morning.- I corrected myself. Mhm. I fell asleep after an hour, but obviously haven't slept long. I's awakened by the rising sun. I stretched out and riced my eyes. I think I's sleeping uncovered, I don't know, because the blanket's just up to my knees. I looked around the room. When I saw, that Math's sitting on the armchair in a darker corner, opposite to my bed, and glancing at me every moment, I immediately covered myself, remembering, that I'm just in a shirt and my underwear, because I won't sleep in all my stuff, and I haven't even taken my nightdress from NY. Don't be scared, I'm leaving now.- he stood up staring at the floor, but when he's passing me, I caught his hand. He stopped, closing his eyes, but he's still back to me. No, wait, I... I wanna apologize.- he surprised. Rather I have to... Now I'm talking.- I cut, because now I had a little different topic in my mind then that one, because of what he woke me up last night. He glanced at me and closed his mouth.- I wanna apologize for what I said yesterday. Sorry, when I'm pissed off I'm saying things, I don't really think.- he smiled a bit, when he realized what I'm talking about. You don't have to apologize for anything. It's my fault, I should have knocked.- I stood up and caught his hands. He's looking at me carefully. No, Mathew, I really shouldn't have said these things. You couldn't just do that peculiarly... And I didn't. I know, I... I want you to know, that I really don't think of you that way. Sorry, I just panicked, and it's just an accident, right? Or rather I'm guilty myself, because who with a straight mind's taking a shower with the lights turned off, knowing, that she's sharing the room with a guy? Of course only I'm that stupid and... Hey, calm down, you're not stupid, don't even think like that. Listen, it was just an unfortunate accident and I am very sorry for that. You don't have to already.- I smiled a little, and he looked at me with a wrinkly forehead.- You made up last night.- I chuckled and he moaned, turning his head with a grimace.- Just admit, it's an unusual sight, seeing the vampire masturbating on the windowsill at 2am...- I couldn't stop laughing. Mathew clenched his fists, snatched his hands from mines and he wanted to leave, but finally I calmed down.- OK, I'm sorry. I apologized for the evening, you apologized for the night, and we're even.- I again sent him a smile, but he didn't turn to me. So I laid my hand on his cheek and led his head. He looked at me sluggishly.- Clear?- he sighed. Mhm.- he nodded. Good.- I smiled. So maybe I'll go bring breakfast.- he turned backwards from me. Mathew?- he looked questioningly.- Happy birthday.- I kissed him fast on his cheek. He rose his eyebrows, parted his lips, touched the cheek with his hand and then smiled. Downed his look and left without a word. I blushed he reacted this way, then made the bed and dressed. He got back after a moment with a tray, on which there were 2 casseroles, a cup of cacao and a bowl of grapes. I chuckled on his sight. Dammit, what's going on, that the future vampire king brings me breakfast on the tray, when I've just woken up... Don't laugh or you get nothing.- he laid the tray on a table and backed a chair for me. With a smile I sat opposite to him.
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 Yeah, and you'll take the whole portion.- I brought breakfast nearer to me and ate 1 grape. I don't know how he knew, that they're 1 of my favorites fruits, despite apples. When I swallowed, Mathew took the fruit too, made a face, but swallowed in the end. I blinked a bit shocked. I still can't used to the fact, that he... is normally eating. I don't know how you can eat something like that. It's just like gum! With a wrinkly nose he pulled a hand for the second one. To not tiring him, I bowed above the table, got his wrist and by fingers I put the grape into my mouth. He's looking at me speechless with parted lips, but he didn't back his hand till I swallowed. He's looking like that for a while, then took another grape and pulled it up to my lips. I surprised, but didn't say anything. When he felt my lips on his fingers, he smiled a little. When I swallowed, he touched the whole line of my lips with his fingers. I looked at him surprised again, my heart started beating like a hammer, but I didn't escape from his touch. Mos basium suus...- I'm not sure, but I think he whispered something like that. And I'm not sure, because he barely opened his mouth. And, if he did say exactly that, well, that means in Latin I'll kiss her in a moment, so I wanna be sure. You said something? Can I kiss you?- he whispered looking into my eyes. Oh my... What?- I wasn't sure if I didn't get crazy and my imagination isn't tricking me. He took his hand from my lips and clenched it a bit. Can I... may I kiss you? I's so shocked, that for a moment my jaw just fell. But I controlled myself fast and shrugged. Still looking at me, he stood up and walked to me, going round the table. When I felt his hand on my cheek, I closed my eyes, and when he entirely got my face in his hands, I swallowed. It's so good that I'm sitting, so at least I won't fall down. As usual it circled in my head from his coolly lips. What's weirdest, he's parting mines surely and wide, as never before, and his tongue's touching mine all over again. He even didn't do anything when I pressed against him! I thought I'll get a heart attack, when he started lowering his hand onto my neck. His cold skin's cooling my nerves, and stimulating them at the same time. I really liked, that he's kissing me exactly this way, and that he's touching me like that, but when I felt his coldness on my neckline, I backed energetically, glancing, if he isn't pulling his hand lower. Well, I get a kiss, but this at once? Or that during the night... what's happening to him? From the beginning he surprised, but then he glanced where I did, and hid his hand fast in his pocket. Forgive me.- he murmured and sat on the couch. I looked at him with a bit wrinkly forehead.Finish your breakfast before it gets cold.- he's obviously avoiding my look. Without a word I bit my casserole and he turned on the TV and pushed 666 on the pilot. Oh, sure, and what's more? Maybe on the screen will appear a buck's head in a pentagram? What you're doing? I'm watching television, or what?- surprised I shrugged. He snorted, shaking his head. What?- on the screen appeared a black announcement with a weird empty space. You don't think only humans have television?- he walked to the screen and on that empty space laid his pointing finger. When he's sitting down, a program turned on, which I had never seen before, but they're speaking Latin there, so it's probably some vampire channel. Anyways, I got only the wanted, pleased and contact words. I looked at Mathew with the raised eyebrows.- Condenar.- he cursed and I looked at the screen. By the way, I acknowledged, that when he gets angry he speaks Latin or Spanish, but I don't really pay attention to that. And on the TV I saw... myself. With Mathew, when we're dancing cha cha in that bar in Cheyenne, when a moment after he kissed me. What's going on?- I sat next to him with a sandwich in my hand, looking at the screen. My father is looking for me. He found out you're with me, so they're also hunting you. Hunting?- that's just great. I'm dead. The vampire's king's hunting me! Fuck yeah. Mathew looked at me sadly. I'm so sorry, that I pulled you into this. I should now drove you back to New York, but.. my father's probably just waiting for it... Math, you know, that I went with you on my free will.
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 And you know, that if not me you wouldn't be in danger now!- he got irritated and stood. In the TV they're showing our pencil portraits, because of what I shivered.- It's all because of me. Instead of dealing with you I should have be more careful... but now it doesn't matter, they already know we're together. Well, at most you'll have to struggle through the forests with me and...- he cut to hear the announcement. He wrinkled, then turned off the TV. I glanced at him, not knowing what's wrong.- Since now you're my unknown and distant friend from the past. What?- I asked surprised. Listen, my father wants to kill you, because he thinks we're in love. Maybe if he became convinced, that it's not like that, maybe he'll stop hunting you... Is it not like that?- I whispered, remembering how he's been acting lately. How many times he already kissed me of his own accord! A second ago was the 2nd! Well, actually I think I can count 2 and a half, with that scene before that tree... he opened his mouth. Cath... I... Whatever, don't explain.- he sighed. It's all my fault.- he caught his head.- You shouldn't be here with me, you should lay comfortable on your couch with a cup of tea in hand. So what, I'm on the endangered species' list now?- I asked with a smile to cheer him up the Bella's quote, but he just got angry. Right, he didn't read it... It's not funny, Cathreene! They can kill you because of me! First Tanya, now you... I can't stand it anymore!- I even blushed. Why you're talking like this? Tanya was your wife, your... love. I shouldn't be next to her.- he looked at me and calmed down in a moment. She was also my friend, like you. Of course you should be next to her. It's just my father will do anything so that no woman would stand next to me. Rather just Pure Blooded princesses.- I murmured. He made a sour face. Yes, you're right. But I want to meet and talk with anyone I want, so I have to finally do something with that.- he clapped 2 times and on the wall appeared a whole arsenal of weapons. I opened my eyes widely with a surprise and the vampire just took a gun. I thought vampires can't be shot.- I said with a weak voice. He smiled, taking the magazine out on his hand. Everything can be done.- he tipped out the bullets.- You just have to have a suitable manner.he blew on them and after a moment they started to glitter silvery. Silver filings?- I asked surprised. He smiled again, after what suddenly pointed at me. I stood straight and every second I glanced from the barrel to his enigmatic mine. He finally shot in the wall right next to my ear. I shouted, and he just walked to the hole calmly and pointed at it with his finger. I looked at him wrinkling, with 1 hand on my heart, which almost jumped out of me from the fear, and 2 rubbing my ear, because I thought I just got deaf. You see?- the silver started to flew out from the wall, what was impossible to not see.- When this gets to our veins, we at once start to rot from the inside.- I swallowed. I saw something like this in Underworld, but there vampires were using it on lycans.- he glanced at me surprised. Oh, right, it's the Latin name and he probably thought that I don't know a single word in this language...- Oh, on werewolves.- I rolled my eyes. Hm... well, obviously the director is human.- he did the same with another revolver and threw it to me. I looked at him questioningly.- Just in case. I will be protecting you, but if I don't make it, you can always shoot. Yeah, but... I can't.- I glanced confused at the gun in my hands. No?- he surprised, but I think I amused him. I only saw the shootings in movies.- I shrugged and he rolled and walked towards me. He settled the pistol down in my hands and stood behind me, holding my hands, so it's like he's hugging me from my back. He had his face right next to my cheek, because of what I swallowed and my heart started beating 2 times faster. He chuckled and I stared at the floor with the whole face red.
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 OK, don't focus on me, just on this.- I rolled my eyes, but he ignored me.- Look, first you have to unblock the blockade...- he pulled backwards a back part with my fingers. His skin was really perfectly smooth. And his coldness even made me pleasantly shiver...- And then just pull the trigger.- he pushed my pointing finger, because of what I shot into the wall. I shivered, suddenly orientating where am I and he chuckled again, stepping backwards.- Now just you.- I looked at him uncertainly.- Oh c'mon, I'm here, nothing will happen to you.- he smiled. I stared at him and incidentally shot the window. It broke into a million peaces, which were going right into me. The vampire at once threw at me to cover me from the glass with his own body. I haven't got out of the shock yet, when the window's pieces got out of his back, just like that, on the floor with the help of his regeneration ability, after what with the help of Alchemy he put the new window in. I blinked.- Oh right, end of exercises or you'll shoot yourself.- he murmured hiding the gun into my pocket, after what we got out of the room, both of us with the pistol in trousers. I couldn't stop myself from not glancing at him.- What?- he looked questioningly. I sill can't get accustomed, that you're taking care of me.- smiling he walked towards the reception. Does he have any intention to explain to me ever these stupid smiles?! Behind the counter the same girl as yesterday was sitting, so I stood right next to the vampire, to hear just in case what they're talking about. He didn't surprised at all, and even embraced my waist. I swallowed, but in a moment came to my senses. Yeah, probably he again said something that I'm his girlfriend or something. Fortunately, he at least didn't chuckled on my heart. Thank you.- Math laid the keys on the counter. The girl smiled widely. How was your night? Good, but... a little wet.- I stumbled, in my mind, hard onto his foot. Rather loud.- I corrected. If he's talking about my shower, I'll talk about his windowsill's action. He looked at me with a strange smile, which probably had to communicate me something and he stroked my hip, going with his hand under my blouse, because of what I swallowed, immediately shutting my mouth. Of course the girl didn't know what's going on, but she didn't hollowed out. And... can I ask how did you name that dinosaur?- dinosaur? I looked at him wrinkling, but before I even opened my mouth, he hugged me form behind me, because of what I forgot my tongue. I think Dinotopus Cathreeneus.- he kissed the top of my head, so that I's close to fainting. I envy you.- I heard Mathew's quietly snapping his fingers.- Such man is a treasure.- tell me about it... I opened my mouth, but Math spoke. Rather such fiancee is a treasure.- he's looking at me with such a strong feeling, that I got circles in my head. Oh, you got engaged?- exactly?! With a smile he laid my left hand on the counter. Both the girl and me surprised, when we looked at it. On my ring finger's a big golden engagement ring with a huge ruby stone, heart shaped and I think with diamonds around. I stopped a shout of surprise. Because, in the end, if he proposed to me, I shouldn't scream, that I have on my finger his ring, right? Yeah, but he could have at least hint, that he's going to propose! It's a very beautiful hotel.- he said smiling, explaining, that he chose the room just to ask me to marry him. Is it real?- the girl caught my hand with a widely opened eyes. I swallowed, thinking about his answer. 32 carats.- he said proudly, kissing me in the cheek. But even without that kiss I leaned against his torso, when I couldn't take a breath. 32 carats?! I have on my finger 32-carat-diamonds?! Did he went completely insane?! He hugged me a bit harder with his arm, so that I wouldn't entirely fell on the marble floor. Wow...- her eyes went really huge. Well, mines too, but not like that. Mathew took my hand from her, kissed me in it and let it behind the counter. I looked at him speechless, but he didn't even react. He didn't have to act so good... And now we have to go. Of course, Mr Morgan, I'm sorry. Have a nice trip!- we went away, and I's stopping my curiosity really hard, till we got out of that hotel. When we're getting into a new, stolen by the vampire car, I haven't even looked at the mark.
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 Mr Morgan?- I's looking at him wrinkling. The fact, that he said he's someone else is understandable, many vampires function like that, but how can he even know that archeologist? It's me who's doing the material about him! Oh, exactly, I haven't even finished it, because he jumped under my wheels... damn, how will I show myself to my boss now?! During nights I didn't have many things to do.- shrugging, he took out my recorder from his pocket.- It's done.- he gave it to me and I blinked. What?- I immediately turn it on. Hm... well, the sound's good, all most important pieces are...Great, you saved me plenty of time! Thanks, Math!- not thinking, I kissed him in the cheek and hid my recorder into the pocket. When I realized what I did, I wanted to apologize, but I changed my mind when I saw his face. His eyes were widely opened, his lips were parted and he's almost smiling. He blinked fast, when he saw I'm looking at him. I'm happy that you like it. Really, you're great.- I said dreaming, that his mine's saying, that he'll glad I kissed him. He rolled his eyes. When I lowered my look, I saw that I still have his ring. I wanted to took it off, but he laid his hand on mine. Take it.

Chapter 4
~***~

Marcus
looked at him surprised. What?- he looked at it with a sad smile. I gave it to Tanya. Please, take it. Mathew...- I wasn't sure, what exactly he meant. Please. When I look at it...- he lowered his look.- It suits you. You'll make me happy by that. But... I can't...- suddenly he smiled. I didn't lie about those carats.- I swallowed loudly. Lowering my sight. I know.- he uncovered my hair from my shoulder, so I stopped breathing. Nor about fiancee.- he said quietly. I slightly smiled. You miss her much, huh?- he wrinkled. Who? Well, Tanya.- he opened his mouth, but then smiled. Cath, I told, that a fiancee like you is a treasure, not exactly about Tanya.- I wrinkled. But I don't have a fiance.- he looked at me sadly. But you will have.- he smiled palely.- I already envy your chosen one.- I's blinking nervously for a while and in the end I shook my head.- What are you thinking about? Sometimes you act like... you fancied me.- he lowered his look and confusion he hid under a smile.
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 Oh, you're fancied by anyone who meets you.- I snorted and then I looked at the ring. You're sure you wanna give it to me?- I changed it into a middle finger, so that my imagination wouldn't give me any crazy connotations. He smiled. Let's say it's a present for risking your life for me.- and suddenly I remembered something. Oh! I owe you a birthday present!- he moaned rolling his eyes. Cathreene, we've already discussed that... Exactly, pull in.- he sighed, but he parked on the hard houlder. But I really don't want anything from you.- I wanted to say something, but I remembered last night, and then how he tried to touch me. If he thinks, that I'm so blind, he's wrong. I smiled secretly. Close your eyes. Cathreene...- he looked at me wolfy. Just close them. What, you're scared of me?- he rolled his eyes and with a sigh he lowered his eyelids.- Just don't sneak!- I said taking off my shirt as quiet as only I could. Yet I'm not.- he murmured a little embarrassed. I caught his left hand, because of what he shivered, and then I kissed his royal signet ring with the crest of his family. Before he moved, I covered his eyes with my hand. You said you won't sneak!- he clenched his teeth and wrinkled. What are you up to? You'll see. I caught his hand harder, after what a bit more certain I laid it on my heart. He widened his eyes and blurted out right next to the doors, but fortunately didn't go out. He glanced at me one more time and covered his face fast from my side with his hand, and his mine was frightened. You... don't have a shirt...- I smiled a bit. I know. That's exactly what I wanted.- he opened his mouth, but then he shut them and swallowed wrinkling. I don't understand. Because I thought, that when in the morning you wanted... Then you thought wrong, dress yourself!- I surprised because of his irritation. I opened my mouth, but after a moment I again dressed my short. He glanced at me uncertainly through his fingers, as if he wanted to check me, then he lowered his hand and turned on the engine.- What was that supposed to mean?- he growled not looking at me. Because when in the morning you wanted to touch me, I thought... So you at once wanted to present me your body? Just like that, because you thought, that I want it so badly, yes? You really value yourself so low? You think, that when I become friends with a girl, I care only about her body and just how to rape her, then leave her somewhere in the forest? Or maybe I should drink you all?! Or maybe first rape you, then drink a little and finally left you somewhere barely alive? You thought like that, yes?! Great, thanks! It is really a birthday present!- he's so angry, that he's clenching his fists on the steering wheel, almost bending it. I decided not to talk anymore, because I decided, that I won't understand him anyway. It's just a normal guy would at once throw at me! Oh, right, normal one. And since when vampires are normal, I murmured to myself in my mind. After half-and-anhour silence later I finally couldn't make it, and he's at least a little more calmed down. Can I ask one thing?- I glanced at him uncertain. He looked at me with such a look, that I even shivered. He took a deeper breath to calm down himself. Ask. Just don't get any angrier, OK?- he wrinkled.- What you're thinking about, when yesterday... you know... on the windowsill...?- when his pupils got wider, he turned his head from me fast. I won't answer.- he drawled. But why?- I moaned. Well, maybe I am crazy, but somehow I've always wandered what guys are thinking about in such moments. I won't answer.- he repeated with a worse voice, closing eyes and clenching fists on the steering wheel. I rolled my eyes. Damn, why he's like that?
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 So maybe why you tried to touch me today?- he didn't react, just closed his eyes.- Just don't say again, that you did nothing like that. I'm not saying anything.- he obviously didn't want to start this topic, but at least he admitted it. I almost smiled. Then why? I don't know.- he answered in the moment, when I's saying the last syllable. Mathew...- I looked at him wolfy. Sure, he doesn't know, why he wanted to touch my breasts. And I'm supposed to believe that? He glanced at my knees. Why do you want to know? Well... I probably have the right?- he glanced at me with a wrinkly forehead.- First you're kissing me so passionately like never before.- in what I can barely believe, but yet he did it. He closed his eyes and turned his head away.- And then you're touching my neckline. Don't you think, that I have the right to know some information?- he opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something, but didn't know what.- So?- he stared at the road.- I don't know, you just wanted to feel what you've seen?- yeah, unfortunately, there's no sense in lying, that maybe by some miracle he got blind for that second, in which he entered that stupid bathroom... No, it's not like that... So how?- he swallowed closing his eyes. I...- took a deep breath and sat towards me with one hand on the steering wheel.- I l...- started with closed eyes, and then he looked deep into my eyes. I had no idea, what's he thinking about, but his eyes somehow got lighter.- L...o...- he's opening his mouth, as if he had something in his throat and his mine changed into the face, which the man has, when he sees a ghost. He lowered his look fast, turned back, then turned off the engine and got out. I got out after him, curious what happened. Mathew?- he's leaning against the BMW's mask with a lowered head and wrinkly forehead. I still can't forget her.- he said quietly staring at the ground. Oh... Tanya.- and everything's clear. He's going after me, but thinking about his wife. Just great. I think I'm starting to feel like Jacob in New Moon. Listen, I... the thing back then was... Doesn't matter, forget it. Come, when you'll cry out. I went into the woods, not wanting to listen a widower's spasms. The girl's dead since a month and he's still pitying! Dammit, if only humans also love like that... after a moment I felt his cold hand on my arm, so I turned a bit confused, that it's so fast. You know I haven't been crying since 2 weeks. But you're still thinking about her and it's the same.- he wrinkled. So what, I should forget her? No, I just don't get it, why in that case you're running after me. I'm not! Oh, right, I forgot. You just want to have fun from the lower species, making a disabled cretin out of me. Irritated, I got back into the car. He won't be, dammit, playing me around. I can see something's wrong with him- I'm not blind yet! He stood like that few more seconds, then got in after me glancing at me uncertainly. I didn't even look at him, just stared at the window with my hands on the chest. He turned the ignition, but the engine worked only a moment. I glanced at him, because I thought that our next car had just broken, but before I reacted, Mathew's already kissing me. Well, maybe that man will finally decide something. After a while he got even aggressive, pushing more and more. I got so hot, that I sat astride on his knees. He went with his hands to my back, after what he caught my hips and brought me nearer to him. But when I pushed him harder entwining his neck with my hands, he suddenly pushed me away onto the steering wheel. Stop!- no way, I'll get crazy in a minute! You started!- with a snort I sat back on my seat.- I don't get it. First you're throwing at me and then you've claims! What's wrong with you?- he swallowed closing his eyes.- You should finally
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choose.- he looked questioningly.- You're still thinking about Tanya, but you want to have sex with me. You have to finally choose, because us both you'll never have. She or me.- for a while it's just a deep shock on his face, but then he suddenly burst out laughing. Which really frightened me, because he had a rather disdainful mine... You think I'll be choosing between you and her? Ha! Stupid, there's no choice!- OK, now I's in a deep shock.- You thought, that I would choose between my gorgeous vampire wife and some poor human? And what, maybe I should chose you?- I's looking at his mocking smile like stupid, not knowing what's happening.- How could you even think, that I'm taking you into attention at all? You, such poor form of life, trying to breathe a little more moments before death? I don't believe it! You've guessed me at the beginning, and despite that you still counted, that I love you? Balthazar! I knew, that humans are stupid, but that much? Really... listen you stupid, naive being. I love only my wife Tanya, you were just for my amusement! If you think, that everyone who kisses you immediately loves you, you're a bit wrong. You thought well, only your body mattered to me. But for your poor luck I still love my wife and I don't want you anymore. How could you even dream, that I, the future king of vampires, the Nobly Born from the royal family, I would fall in love with some casual, human girl? I can at once see, humans are idiots. No way! I would forgive my father first then infatuate in you! His words were so hurting me, that since couple moments I's drowning in tears. Finally I couldn't stand it anymore, I jumped out of the car and run into the woods. I didn't even notice when the storm started. After a longer moment I heard vampire's driving away with the wheels' screech. I thought, that I'll tear into pieces. I fell down on my knees and started to spasm. How stupid I was! How could I believe...?! I can't believe, that I's so naive! But after a second I realized, that I'm thinking right now exact same things Mathew's thinking, so I howled even louder. When it's finally ended, I stood up and bravely struggling through the rain stopped at the hard houlder, waiting for an auto-stop. Because I obviously have to go back to New York, especially counting the fact, that I'm on some road somewhere in Wyoming. After about 10 minutes finally some black Audi stopped with already a lowered window. Please get in.- with the voice I acknowledged, it's an elder man, but I couldn't see his face, because it's dark and the strangest I thought it was, that when I's getting in, no lamp's lightened. Thank you. Maybe you're going to New York? Oh, no, I'm not going so far. But I can drove you in that direction.- he'd some foreign accent. Like... Greek or Spanish. For another quarter no one's spoken. I noticed also, that on the 2nd side of the road the not small traffic's forming.- Why are you crying?- I realized, that I'm still sobbing. Oh, it's nothing...- just the guy, who I love, and who did presented me, that he also loves me, wanted just to rape me. I wiped fast. Sometimes the conversation helps.- I glanced questionably at the driver. I can swear, that I've already seen him somewhere, but I couldn't remember where. Well, coming back from work I run into some guy, who escaped the fire, where his wife died.because obviously I won't tell the man, that actually he escaped from his father, who wanted to murder him. The driver glanced at me without any mine.- He stated, that it wasn't an accident, so I went with him to look for the perpetrator. Oh, I understand. And in a way you infatuated in each other?- yeah, that man's like 60 years old. Infatuated? Sorry, but now we don't speak like that... well, only maybe you're someone, about whom I'm talking right now. Right, but he's 300, dammit! Sort of... ah, I's naive, that I believed him, but he'd done such things, that I really thought...!- I snorted at myself. Yeah, human's wise after harm.- I was stupid. No, child. You weren't stupid. You are stupid.- I looked at him with a wrinkly forehead. Right at that moment the cars in the traffic jam were lighting his face. I saw, that he's not even looking on the road, just smiling to me and he's really pale. And suddenly it enlightened me. I know, where I've met him. In Mathew's chamber, on the wall... in the golden frame... Marcus...- I whispered shocked, when I remembered his name. Suddenly I realized, that it's him, who cold blooded (what an adjective for a vampire, really) burned alive his own daughter-in-law and the unborn grandson, and tried to kill his own son. And now I'm sitting with him in one car! I wanted
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to immediately find a door-handle and jumped out, but I couldn't move because of the fear. For you His Majesty Marcus III, you poor example of the evolution's mistake. ~***~ Mathew's just preparing his arsenal with still shaking hands, when his cell phone rung. He surprised, because actually he'd the phone, just because humans have them. He pulled it out of his pocket and when he looked at the screen, he wrinkled. What do you want?- he growled into the receiver. Sonny, you should be a bit kinder for the king. What do you want?- he repeated with a bit lighter tone. I heard you're looking for me.- damn, he's calling him... I's barely conscious because of the pain, so I heard only every 2 words, but I could figure out, with whom that rotten and false king's talking right now. Because for what I'm here, as if not for luring his own son? Well, yeah, but I'm nothing for Mathew... ouch, my head started hurting even more from this thinking. Well, guess because of what!- Mathew hissed. So you do still remember her? Lucifer, Cathreene was right... You don't interfere her in this!- he growled. Oh, from what I know, you already had interfere her into this. Sweetheart? Make the voice.when he nodded, his servant hit me again with his whip. I shouted barely alive. Cath...- when Mathew heard me in the receiver, he even fell on the armchair with a frightened face. Oh, look, you recognize! You heard? Your lover recognized you by the voice! If you do something to her...! She's still alive, don't worry. But if she matters to you...- I screamed again, when I got hidings. Mathew rushed off onto the strait legs, but his father didn't let him say a word.- Then come home already, because your mother is nervous and I'm starting to miss you.- the king disconnected, not waiting for any answer. Math, with a shout, threw the mobile on the wall with all his strength, because of what it sprayed into pieces, after what with tears in his eyes fell onto his knees. Why?! Why you're doing this to me?! What have I done to you?! What did she do?! Why you're torturing her, if you want me?! Ah, Cathreene... forgive me! Forgive me, that I love you so much! I'm begging you, just don't die! You hear me? Hold on, I'm going for you!- full of arms he jumped out onto the garden and rose into the air with full speed. ~***~ I have no idea why my son fell in love with such a pathetic creature.- Marcus croached next to me and grabbed my hair behind me, so that I would look at him, but I already haven't got the strength for even listening to him.- I don't know what he sees in you. First that waitress, now some stray... but that one he at least bit, and you?- he snorted.- I feel sorry for you. Really. And for him even more. Because of these contacts with your kind, my son started backing more and more to your low level. But I have to admit, that you're sometimes useful... He licked my cheek from my blood, because of what I made a face from the disgust, and when he went away, I again got hidings, but now I couldn't even make a single sound. I could only dream and have a slight hope, that however Mathew will come for me someday. If only that someday would be before my death... for the next 2 hours they tortured me so much, that I's going to beg, so they would kill me, but suddenly next to me Marcus appeared. Ah, you poor, pathetic species... what, you're tired? Well, maybe my sonny finally got cleverer... yes, I think you've waited too long for the longed death.- he stroked my cheek. Take off your dirty paws of her!- Math stood at the dungeon stairs and in his hand he got a gun aimed right at his father. I forced myself to up my eyelids and look at him, but I saw only washed contours.
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 Oh, hi, sonny. But if I were you, I'd rather give this toy to Miles.- he again licked my cheek, so I moaned. Don't touch her!- he squeezed out through the clenched teeth lowering his hand and the servant's already pulled his hand to him. Math glanced at it, but he didn't move. Sorry, but she has such a beautiful voice...- he bent over me and stroked my back, tearing off my skin. I shouted so much, that even my chest hurt. Mathew shivered with a pain on his face. Marcus laid his hand on my back again, but now already cold-blooded teared off the piece of my skin. I howled worse then the actresses in horrors playing their death. Mathew had a mine, as he wanted to fall down on his knees and just cry, but instead he gave away his gun.- Good boy. So, now we'll talk about your wedding.- finally, the moron walked away from me. I've already had a wife!- Mathew took a step forward, because of what 2 guards caught him. Oh, don't worry, you can always have another one. Better one. And if I won't agree?- he tried to escape the guards for nothing. The king smiled and with his own hands paralyzed me with the electricity, thanks to his Alchemy. Damn, I thought I'm already dead... I screamed again.- Cath!- Math moaned painfully, wanted to blurt out, but he again didn't make it. If you won't agree, the girl will join your waitress and the bastard.- Mathew clenched his teeth, his eyes went bloody red, when he's looking pissed off at his father, but in the same time stopped tugging.- That's better. So, going on, tomorrow you will officially engage with Cornelia Berllini, as we told you earlier. I won't marry anyone but Cathreene Anjali Mitchell!- probably normally I would've scream or fall down, but now I had the strength just to look at him in surprise. The king's eyes went black with a bloody red borders. Which is, for the not initiated ones- he just really pissed off. We'll see then, if you'd like a corpse.- he turned from him and kneeled next to me, and before I oriented, I've already had a sword on my throat. NO! Mathew shouted and finally miraculously beat the guards down, even trembling from anger, after what in the same second he got 2 knives from his pocket and threw them right into his father. Marcus threw me away onto the wall, and when he turned around, Math shot to him with his gun. The king swayed, but still was walking towards him fast, so Mathew shoot him couple times more. You... The silver started to swim out from his mouth, till he finally fall on the floor lifeless. Me, still lying next to the wall, I's just listening, because I's so in pain, that I had no strenght to even look. Mathew run to me fast and leaned my face against his shoulder. Cathreene, I beg you, forgive me, if you can...- he in the end leaned his head against mine and I think he started crying. I opened my eyes with pain. M...ath...- I whispered, but he put his finger on my lips. Shhh, I'm now taking you back home. In 5 minutes you'll be in your warm, comfortable bed, but now, please, just rest. I obedientally closed my eyes, and when he took me onto his arms I moaned quietly. He tried to not touch my back, but it still hurted. When I felt the cold air, I fainted. ~***~ Math laid me carefully on my bed and healed my all wounds. He snapped and I had clean clothes, then he stood quietly and kissed my forehead. I love you.- he whispered backing a little, and his tears started to fall on his cheeks so fast, as if the rain was falling at him.- But it would be better, if you forget me.- he kissed my cheek.- I know I hurted you. That's why I don't even dream you will ever forgive me. Just...- he turned his head.- Forget about me.- when he's turning back, he felt something in his pocket. He pulled out the photo of him and Tanya and smiled through tears.- Thank you. If not you, I wouldn't ever meet her.- he kissed his wife's picture, and after that he teared it with closed eyes and flew away through my balcony.
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~***~ A strange sound awakened me, but when I looked around, nobody's near me. Lowering my sight, I noticed something's laying on the floor. I took pieces of paper in my hands and I realized it's a photo. Mathew and Tanya's! Great, I just needed this! Why the hell he left me that?! And... why he teared it? I have no idea, but I laid the pieces on a table. I surprised that nothing's hurting me, and then I caught up onto an idea, that it all's just a dream. Yeah, the driver's just a normal human, I somehow got home and at once fell at my bed, then I had this crazy dream. Because Mathew couldn't have said, that he wants to marry me, and me myself would never ever live through the vampires' tortures, it's impossible! I told myself, that he teared the photo by accident and left me to stick it back together, but I don't know why, because for what he's got his Alchemy. I was just going to throw it away, because obviously I meant nothing to him, but I couldn't. I sticked it with a Scotch tape, framed it with a wooden frame and put it on my desk. Next to the photo my recorder was laying. Dammit, I wasn't in my job for a month! I's just going to call my boss and explain it somehow, but under the recorder there's a sick leave for me. Nice, because Mathew gave me 1 day free extra. Wow, at least he thought! Right, just I had nothing to do anyways. The guy who I loved was just fooling me around, and then just like that drove away. I got crazy so much, that I dreamt how he's father's killing me!

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