"A deal?"

"Yes." I nod. "I will help you end Datura's rage and life and you..." I pause. It was hard to say out loud than think it. "Will help me end mine."

The words escape my mouth like smoke. Slowly, staying in place then quickly evaporating in air. There was a silence between us. Valentine's expression was unreadable and his stare was blank.

"End your life?" His words were not louder than a whisper. He releases me and we rise from the ground. My heart was pounding widly in my chest and I became keenly aware that he could hear it.

I straighten myself and gulp. "Yes, I have no reason to live anymore. My life ended decades ago. I am living a life that is no longer mine and you can help me."

"Saphira, do you realize what you're asking me to do?"

I clamp my mouth shut to remain silent. A drop of water falls from the sky and lands on my cheek, running down my face. I open my palms to feel the rainclouds release millions of droplets onto my skin.

"I know what I am asking. If you want me to help you, I just ask for that one thing in return."

Valentine's jaw clenches and his eyes turn pitch black. I furrow my eyebrows at this.

"Why are you like this? A week ago you wanted to kill me and held me hostage. Now you hesitate to do so," I ask with a stronger force than intended. I step closer to him.

His eyes flash red with anger and I was lifted off of the ground with an invisible force. "Don't tempt me."

I laugh, "you can do better than that."

I rise higher until my face was level with his. His perfectly chiseled face held a deep secret that he has yet to tell me. Still, not a single word came out of his darkened lips.

"Do you intend to keep me forever, Val?"

"I was thinking a few decades but that works just as well." His face had an indeniable hint of cockiness and a huge smirk.

"For what?" I spit.

"We'll save that conversation for a different day." He blinks and I float closer until our faces were only inches apart. "I accept, but with one condition. I kill you myself."

His words hit me hard and enveloped my heart in a tight embrace. Why am I feeling a sudden hesitation towards my decision?

"Then it's a deal."

"Don't you know never to make a deal with a vampire?"

I shrug. "I'll take my chances." A bleak smile curves on my lips. "You have no idea how much this means to me."

He exhales and his sweet breath hits my cool, damp skin. He inches closer as if to kiss me but just as our lips brush I drop from his hold and fall into his awaiting arms.

"Despite contrary belief, sweetheart, I do know how much this means to you. It just means more to me that you don't die."

My hand was dangerously close to his bare skin and I recoil, realizing the damage I could do with a single touch. I can't do that to him, not anymore. Valentine shows a little bit of his true self the more I am kinder to him.

"So, are you going to put me down now?" I could feel all of the muscles on his torso flex as he thought about it.

He prepares himself to lower me. "I don't know. Do you promise not to run again?"

"Have you not learned?"

He sets me down anyway. By this time, we were drenched from the heavy rain. My dress was clinging to my body and Valentine's shirt outlined his perfectly toned chest. I couldn't deny that I was physically attracted to him. It takes decades to meet a man with so many appealing qualities.

"It was worth a shot."

After our heated discussion and banter in the alleyway, we headed back to the castle. Before heading in, I breathed in the fresh smell of the rain on grass and stone. I find myself walking to the castle gardens, admiring the beauty of the flowers glistening with dew drops under the glow of the moon. The chill in the air was tolerable, even with my clothes soaking wet and cold.

I trail my hands over the red roses that caught my attention. They were beautiful and smelled divine. Roses have always been my favorite flower. Layers and layers of velvet.

Just beyond the garden was the path that led to the most extravagant mausoleum I had laid my eyes on. Tombstones littered the grass and statues stood impressively to guard the royal bodies that rested peacefully beneath the earth.

A soft breeze filled with their whispering floated to me and I felt sorrow in my heart.

The sound of footsteps advancing toward me diverted my attention from the deep beauty of life and death.

"Hello," a feeble voice spoke. "Valentine has asked me to inform you that the King and Queen are expecting your presence for dinner in an hour."

I acknowledge her and head back to my room to prepare myself for a dinner with their Majesties. Thankfully, the wardrobe was a bit more modern than Astors but since it's with the King and Queen I dress semi-formally with a simple navy dress.

I enter the elegant dining room not a minute too late. The heady aroma of food rolls into the room and envelopes my senses but not enough to miss Valentines predatory eyes on me. I place myself on a setting across from him and sit down, our eyes never breaking our gaze.

"Saphira, glad you could join us," Cassandra pipes up.

I smile and turn my head to her and Sebastian. "It's my pleasure. I must thank you for allowing us to stay, it's been an interesting turn of events."

We start to dine. "Indeed. I do hope you have made yourself at home here," Cassandra answers.

"I have," I say and my eyes flick to Valentine. "It's a shame we don't come here often enough."

He gives me a disapproving look. I challenge him with my eyes focusing only on his facial articulations.

"I completely agree, Saphira."

Valentine uses this time to enter the conversation. "Yes, thank you, sister. How is the search? Do you have any traces of where Datura is hiding?"

She sets down her fork and swallows her food before speaking. The anticipation was agonizing for how few second she remained silent.

"Our trackers have searched through most of the Kingdom. I have spoken with our allies and they have agreed to be on the lookout. So far we have no traces, scent or clues." Sebastian answered instead. I listen intently. "It's only a matter of time until we hit a dead end."

"Where have you looked?" I speak up.

"Our kingdom and those surrounding us. The lycans refuse for us to be roaming in their vicinity, so, they have agreed to send out a few of their own search parties. We have preparations to go into Acacia, although it has been burned down, there is still evil that lurks beneath the surface. We need to be ready if we plan on setting food in her territory."

I grip my fork, "and when do you think they'll be ready?"

Sebastian and Valentine both look at me. I guess my mouth released the words with more agression than I thought.

"Once we're done with all other operations. We need all the help we can get," Sebastian answers. His expression was hard to read but I couldn't help but be a little suspiscious.

"If I may, Sebastian, I propose that Saphira lead out the quest through Acacia. She's the key to all of this, without her we may not reach Datura in time," Valentine volunteers as he looks right at me, holding a hard stare.

Suddenly I felt the burden of thousands of lives on my shoulders. Human or not their lives were in danger. What was I afraid of? I have done this for more than half of my life.

Sebastian nods and Cassandra grins at me. "Of course. I will let our commander know as soon as I am able."

I look down at my uneaten food. As much as I wanted to eat, I was not hungry. Setting down my silverware, I turn to the royals sitting at the head of the table. "I do apologize, but, may I be excused? I've no appetite."

"Of course, Saphira. No need to be so formal," Cassandra laughs and waves me off with her thin fingers.

With my own agenda, I stand and scurry off to find my own answers and start my own search. The faster we find Datura the less the detriment on the kingdom of the underworld. She is running loose and I'm afraid I'm the only one that can find her at this time, or the other way around.

I've always worked on my own and I am more comfortable that way.

My trek back to the room was hastened. I walk into the closet to find something less feminine to wear. I pull a fitted, black long sleeved shirt and black jeans with heeled boots. It was as if Cassandra prepared for me to be here.

I look through every drawer and cabinet for a weapon. I was out of luck and decide to venture somewhere else to find a decent replacement for my dagger.

"Looking for this?" Valentines deep voice penetrates the silence in the air.

He leans against the door frame and in one hand he twists my glistening dagger and examines it.

"As a matter of fact." I saunter to him to collect what is mine.

I swipe my hand to grab it but he pulls it away just in time. "It's quite a beautiful artifact, however did you acquire it?"

"From a good friend. I have to go, this is obviously getting us nowhere fast," I spit as I shove past him and brush my shoulders against his.

Valentine follows my aimless charade through the castle. "Even though I'm particularly fond of you running around with your head chopped of, at least I'll send you in the right direction."

I graze my teeth and fangs with the tip of my tongue. "Oh, yeah? Pray tell, where do I start?"

He takes this time to lead me to a garage full of vehicles and motorbikes. "We start by visiting an old friend."

"We?" I ask increduly.

"Don't pretend you don't like my company, Saphira," he smirks.

"I don't."

He throws my dagger in the air and catches it in his hand. I narrow my eyes at his and he raises a brow.

He throws the dagger again but this time at me. My hand curls around it just as it whizzes past my head just barely grazing my hair. It felt good to have my hands around it again.

We opt for a sleek black Audi and I climb in. It was a strange atmosphere to have less of a hostile attitude with each other. It was completely different. I am beginning to wonder if I like this or aggression better.

Valentine maneuvers through streets and landmarks with ease and skill. The moon still brightly lit the sky, but we only had a a couple of hours before dawn. We need to move quick.

"Who is this friend you speak of?"

Valentines muscles flex as he grips the steering wheel. "She's a witch, but not just any other witch. She was the one who broke the enchantments around the dark forrest all those years ago."

I squint my eyes. Could she be the friend that Valentine referred to when he bit me?

"How will she be of help?"

"She can give us more information on Datura that we cannot. get from anyone else."

Within half an hour we were in front of a black iron gate that looked to be centuries old. Dark vines and tendrils climbed in and around it, weaving itself through holes and crevices. It was perfectly fitting for a witch.

Just as I was to get out of the car, the gate opens, revealing something quite different from the darkness that surrounded it. The estate was a few miles from the edge of the dark forrest. From the high gate and walls around it, I knew, quickly, that she was your typical dark and powerful witch. But what I saw proved my assumptions wrong.

The sky was a completely different color. The blinding light pierced my eyes and caused me to blink multiple times. An illusion of the sun peaked over a large mansion. It was a beautiful contrast against the dark.

"What is this place?" I wanted to smile. I have not been in open light like this in years. The space had also mutiplied, it seemed like the grass could go on forver.

Valentine doesn't answer me. The car rolls up to the front of the mansion where a woman with stark white hair and a red, skintight dress stood in front of large doors. She gives a friendly smile and it widens as Valentine descends from the car and walks up to meet her.

She extends a hug to him and exclaims, "Valentine, darling! I've been expecting you."

"As always," he says. I open the door and present myself to her but remain a reserved stature. "I like what you did with the place."

She waves it off and her hair glistens as she moves. She was tall, slender woman with an eccentric personality. "I figured a change of scenery would brighten us all up. I do love the sun. Plus, my visitors are mostly vampires so I decided to conjure a little treat for them."

The magical aura of the entire place held a pure light. The sun was bright but did nothing to my skin. There were even birds flying and music playing in the distance. In all of my years I had not seen anything so peaceful and happy as this, it was a sight for sore eyes.

She turns to me and gives me a wam smile. "You must be Saphira," she acknowledges and sticks her hand out for me to shake. I stare at it hesistantly before Valentine speaks up.

"Saphira, this is Amaryllis. She's a good friend of mine, you can trust her."

"Please, call me Ari. My blasted mother gave me such a mouthfull of a name."

I take her hand and she grips it firmly. Suddenly, her eyes close and they start moving behind her lids, as if she's dreaming. I try to pry my hands away but it was no use. Her magic was keeping me in place, I couldn't do anything about it but wait, patiently.

"Valentine, what's happening?" I say in a low voice.

"She's having a vision," he replies cooly.

"A vision. Did you know she was going to do this?"

Valentine nods and Ari lets out a breath of air. She releases me and looks straight into my eyes. Hey eyes were a shade of violet and looked very familiar, like we've met before.

"Interesting," she whispers.

"What did you see?" I ask curiosuly and rather impatiently.

"It's a bit much," she purses her lips. "We'll talk inside."

Quite gracefully, she invites us into her home and once again I am overwhelmed with light and whiteness. It was an open space with little furniture and fixtures. It was quite a surprise, I was expecting lavish and extravagant objects to occupy the vass space. Did she live here? Where are her belongings?

She walks us to an area surrounded by windows. As soon as I step on the plush rug, furniture start populating and filling the place. It was no longer an empty space but a victorian style parlor. I watch as everything comes into place and start arranging themselves.

"I love magic! It's good for me, I'm so darn indecisive," she says, as she sits on a plush, white sofa.

"What kind of witch are you, exactly?"

Ari smiles and her eyes and hair glitters just before she winks. "I'm the good one."

"And the wicked one being?" I urge for her to continue.

"My sister," she bluntly says. "She always had a affinity for darkness. You see, she and I are opposites."

I nod to acknowlege. There must be opposition in all things, I think in my mind.

"What did you see, when you touched my hand?"

Her eyes flash to Valentine who held an uneasy composition and she inhales before speaking. "When I first laid my eyes on your, dear, it was evident. You are destined for something bigger than what you already are. You have potential - for a greater power. All you have to do is choose."

"What did you see?" I whisper through my teeth.

She blinks. "I saw you as Queen."

***

Hey, lovely readers, friends and fellow vamps. Thanks for reading!