Our bodies are pressed tightly together - not a single inch keeping us apart. Loud and aggressive music hits my eardrums, buzzing through my body and stopping my heart. The night exceeded my expectations and gave back the sliver of faith I need to trust Valentine. He showed me things and we created memories. It was the cliche romance that every soul yearned for.

Heat filled everything that was touching, especially the skin under his fingertips. His hands laid comfortably on my waist as mine wrapped around his neck. "Why did you bring me here? Are you trying to redeem yourself?" I ask, referring to the dark and crammed club he took us into. The interior differed from others I had been to. The walls were cold and smooth, like porcelain. The individuals around us were your ordinary vampires, hungry for blood and sex.

"I want you to experience all that my world offers. Even the unrefined and carnal indulgence of bathing in blood." His voice, husky and deep, awakens my carnal desires. I want him, just as much as he does me.

"How is that going to happen? I don't see humans dancing around us."

He lightly brushes his lips against mine and speaks close to my ear. "Count to five and you'll find out."

I follow his instruction and closed my eyes. "One," I whisper and he kisses me under my ear. His breath fans my neck seductively and I shiver.

"Two," I moan out as he licks the spot where he bit me on our first encounter.

"Three," he lightly trails the edge of his fangs over the puncture wounds. I press myself harder against him wanting to feel him. He groans in pleasure against my skin and I shudder in ecstacy.

I couldn't speak any longer. Four. He makes his way up my jaw and stops just at the corner of my lips.

"Five," this time he speaks and the strong smell of blood surrounds me. His thumb pushes my chin upward and I watch in awe as blood showers from the ceiling. It's a bloodbath. Warm liquid drips into my mouth and drenches my hair and clothes. I smile against the droplets and look up at Valentine who was staring at me like the most bizarre specimen.

He closes the space left between us by taking my mouth into his. The sudden move and flowing blood heated my core and sparked a different feeling between us. Taking us to a higher level. I could taste the delicious lifeline pass between our tongues and slowly cascade down my throat. Hands were touching and bodies grinding to the electrifying music - arousing every emotion left in my body.

I am left to whimper when he stops and pulls his face away. It was a brief but intense kiss under the crimson libation. There is something very attractive about a man covered in blood and a relationship based on aggression and reluctance. My tongue relishes in the delicious blood that runs down my body, soaking my clothes, seeping into my skin. It was an electrifying experience, one that I have waited for to awaken my soul and live again.

As the blood runs, our skin slides against each other, teasing and waiting for one of us to make the next move. Of course, the next move will determine our future, it will set a new standard for our relationship. A relationship that is now on the brink of exploding, but, am I expecting something too soon?

"Do you torture all women like this?" I rasp against his wet shoulder. He licks the blood from my neck and places a kiss on my collarbone. The thick blood coats our skin.

"No." His cool breath was a refreshing sensation on my wet skin. "Only you."

"Well, aren't I special?" I smirk.

He gives me a crooked smile. "You have no idea, sweetheart."

I could smell his delicious scent mixed with blood and it has me wanting to taste him. I graze my fangs over his neck which caused him to groan aloud. It was a satisfying sound that made me smile. I trail my tongue over his skin, tasting every bit of him, relishing each buzz the blood left on my tongue.

My hands wrap around his neck and I run my fingers through his dripping hair. The bass reverberates through our bodies, hitting every live organ, molding our bodies together. If we weren't in such a public place who knows where we'd be now.

After a minute the thick rain stops and water cascades down to wash away what is left on our bodies. Valentine's hand caresses my face and his gaze locks with mine. My eyes close as he strokes my cheek with his thumb.

"Thank you," I mutter just loud enough for him to hear. I could see the specks of silver in his eyes as they flash with mystery.

"I never thought I would hear that after what I did tonight," he points out.

"Consider yourself lucky, I don't tolerate foul play."

He looks down at me. "I must be very lucky then."

I can be forgiving too, I think silently. Not everything in this world is based off of revenge and malice. He must know that about me otherwise he would think twice with when it come to his actions.

"Let's get out of here."

I nod to answer and as soon as the last drop of blood and the smell of iron was dispelled, we leave the club and it's vicinity. It was hard not to feel self conscious with stares and sneers from scrutinizing faces. Some would plaster fake smiles, other would marvel with respect to the brink of bowing. He must have been a marvelous and great King during his reign.

Once we were in his car I took the time to speak my mind. "They think highly of you."

The car comes to life and we accelerate out of the dark town. He keeps a straight vision forward. "Very observant," he says, but I have trouble telling if it was a compliment or sarcasm. "But did you notice something else, something they hide very well?"

My eyebrows mold together at his question. I saw hints of disrespect and ignorance, but I'm not too sure that's what he meant.

He glances back at me. "Fear. They are afraid of me, of what I can do."

"What can you do that frightens them?" I curiously ask.

"I come from a very powerful line, sweetheart. There are things we can do - limitless destruction we can make with a blink of an eye. Many still remember
the day many died because of a feud between brothers. They fear it may happen again," he explains.

He is trying to blur his emotions but his regrets, I can see quite clearly. "Will you tell me what happened that day?"

"Live through this and I'll tell you."

A slow burst of heat travels from my palms and end on my toes. I lean back on my seat and watch the horizon and the stars drift as we drive.

"I will take your word for it," I remark. I've never wanted to know this much about someone before. Those I've worked with and killed remain like closed boxes - I preferred to not know because my heart is easily persuaded by who they are.

"You make it seem like I can't keep a promise," he comments with a straight face.

"It has become a challenge to put my trust in people, especially of late. I've been pushed and pulled in many places and left for dead in some. I've never belonged and those I trust the most stab me in the vilest of ways, slowly tearing my soul inside out." I feel the pain of my own words hit me like falling bricks. It stings my heart to admit that I don't even have anyone to call friend.

"You can trust me, Saphira," he reassures.

"Says the vampire who let me fall from the sky," I mock, half-jokingly.

He smirks and looks my way, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "It sounds like you're beginning to like it."

"I think you've mistaken that word with another that starts with the same letter, darling."

His smirk grows wider. "Sorry, did you mean 'love'? I had no idea you liked it that much."

A small laugh escapes my mouth and for a second I am shocked. It's been years since I had a good laugh and I miss it terribly. Maybe this time with Valentine will bring out what I have buried deep inside me.

A mobile phone rings and fills the air with a twinkling tone. Valentine picks it up and to take the call. "Sebastian," he says. There was silence for a few seconds and the anticipation builds.

"Is everything alright?" More silence.

"Okay, we'll be there soon."

He puts down the phone and I wait for him to share his conversation with the King. As soon as I was about to question, the car accelerates and we drive in a speed that could qualify us to compete in a race to the finish.

"We're needed at the castle," he quickly responds.

I look to him with a serious expression. "Did something happen?"

"Yes," was all he said. His tone was brief and sharp like the edge of a knife. I don't press for more, I figure to know when we get there. There really is no use trying to find out what he barely knows himself. I keep quiet until the royal home comes to view. My curiosity and concern, though, can use a lesson on patience.

We arrive at the castle in a knick of time. It is the heart if the vampire kingdom, one would be blind to not see the massive marble edifice. As soon as the car stops, Valentine was swiftly walking up the steps with me following quietly behind him.

Guards litter the castle, patrolling and reporting. Just what happened while we were gone? The ambiance of the castle is different, it is similar to that of war and conflict, it felt cold.

I walk in the direction of the royal chambers but was halted by a slim figure that emerges from a corner. He cautiously walks towards me and stops at a comfortable distance.

"Vladimir," I gasp. His grey eyes fall on me and his brows crunch together.

"Saphira, I almost didn't recognize you," he says, blinking multiple times for the assurance of this distorted reality.

"That's a first, everyone seemed to know it's me even before I saw my own reflection," I snicker.

He comes closer and gives me a gentle embrace, I relish the friendly gesture and smile. Vladimir looks down at me. "So the rumors are true, the long lost Princess has come to the dark side."

"Oh, please, Vladimir, we both know that you were probably the one who started that rumor."

"Yes, darling, I know everything there is to know around here. After all I am the Royal Keeper of Records." He gives me a devilish smile and he flashes me the ancient key that hangs securely around his neck.

At half a century years old, he is young at heart - a fun and interesting fellow with the knowledge of the whole world at his fingertips. It is quite fascinating when speaking to him, he has the best of both worlds as a dhampir.

"More like a royal pain. What are you doing here, anyway?"

Vladimir directs me in the direction I was initially heading. "There's been an unfortunate event. I've been summoned to pull out some old laws and records in behalf of the King and Queen. Your mother has been racking up quite a debt on bodies lately, especially royals," he breathes out. "His majesty has asked me pull out any written accounts on Datura."

"Can you show me? Believe it or not, I have actually become friends with the enemy," I volunteer with high hopes of finding more about my creator.

"That doesn't surprise me, you always did make the worst of friends. I will show you," I see his iris poking out of the side his eye. "But only if you keep it a secret, you can't trust anyone around here."

I acknowledge his conditional statement and contemplate on his words. I can trust him, can't I? He's like a brother to me.

We approach the half-open suite doors and both the temperature and the ambiance drop to a distressed tone. Goosebumps riddle my skin and bursts of heat erupts on multiple parts under my skin.

Sebastian approaches us as we enter the doors to their suite. He looked to be distraught, like his life has been stolen from him. His hair is disheveled and his clothes wrinkled, something not very suitable for a king. My face contorts into worry.

"Your Majesty," we say in unison and accompany it with a bow.

Vladimir comes close to the King and my eyes fall on the large bed that held a sleeping body. I blink my eyes to make sure I am not witnessing something else. I tune both vampires out and move towards the bed.

Vampires are the living dead. Their hearts don't beat and their blood runs dark and lifeless. Their skin, white like snow, is just as cold. But they are called the living dead for a reason, they still live and breathe like humans. They can walk on the earth so long as we help sustain their bodies with fresh, untainted blood. The vampire I was looking at does not look alive - she looks like a corpse. I don't know her well, but when it concerns Valentine and everything around him, a different feeling rises from beneath the surface, feelings of concern and worry. My remorse for the vampire Queen was interrupted by the close presence of her husband and brother.

"Is she dead?" I bluntly ask.

"No, but she's barely living," Valentine answers, his voice quiet and solemn.

My eyes dart to Sebastian. "What happened?"

Sebastian's tired and blood red eyes dart to mine. "She's been poisoned."

"Datura?" I ask, skeptically.

"We figure as much. She's been trying to kill off the royal family for centuries," Vladimir, this time, says. He and Valentine exchange a knowing glance which quickly catches my attention.

"She's never going to stop," I conclude and stare down at Cassandra.

"No, and she never has," says Valentine.

I stand and focus my eyes on Vladimir who seemed the perfect fit to ask a question. "There must be a reason why she's doing this. I was told that she was once in love with a vampire. Who was responsible for breaking her heart?"

I could see Vladimir's adam's apple bob as he swallows and his heart beat accelerate. His eyes flick over to Valentine whose jaw was as tight as a rock. Both pairs of eyes then concentrate on me and I feel the air around me buzz with electricity.

I narrow my eyes at Valentine. "It was you, wasn't it?"

**

What do you think?

Do you think her accusation is plausible?

Was it Valentine who broke Datura's heart?