DANGER OR THRILL?

CHAPTER FOUR

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but In having new eyes”

MARCEL PROUST

GUINEVERE

Throughout the next day the only thing that rang in my heart was that the duke was a vampire and a drinker of blood. I wanted to call my papa a liar and ask him to tell me the truth this instant but deep in my heart I knew that he was not lying, my mind went back to when I had met the duke and now and how much he hasn't aged a day. I had heard about vampires and that they were ruthless and cold blooded, drank blood and killed without mercy.

Does he also have fangs? I asked myself as I walked about the manor hardly seeing. Is that why he had always paid attention to me, so he could drink my blood? I asked no one in particular.

My papa and mama had a huge fight the night the duke came to see my papa and I began hating him for causing my family pain, hating him for being so handsome that I did not care if he was a vampire, I would still marry him.

My mama came to my room to talk to me blowing her nose, I could see that she had been crying and I felt sorry about everything and hated the duke even more.

"I can't believe your papa would do this." My mama had said

"It is for the good of our family mama, I understand him." I told her

"He is selling you to a vampire who is just going to use you as a blood bank and eventually kill you." She muttered

"Everything will be alright mama, it will keep everyone safe from the cosa nostra." I said, patting her hand

"You have always been an understanding child since I had you Guinevere."

I hugged my mother who was trying so hard not to cry, she told me that it had been decided that I was going to follow the duke home immediately after the war with the cosa nostra the next day and the wedding will be held in his house after a week of me being with him.

I could hardly believe this was happening to me and even my sister who I hardly spoke to felt sad on my behalf, I packed some things I would need for myself in his house and waited for the day to break. Papa kept to his study, neither eating nor sleeping, it was the first time I had seen him so sullen and it broke my heart. I could hardly sleep that night as I tried to prepare myself for the death I knew was going to come to me

The duke was ushered in the next morning by mother, he had come empty handed and alone and I wondered what it was he wanted to use to fight the whole of the cosa nostra that were on their way to our manor. My mama asked that I come greet him but I could hardly take a step because I was greatly afraid of him, I bowed timidly and greeted him before I dashed up the stairs and straight to my room. I could feel his stare follow me all the way up, my skin crawled.

THE DUKE

There was something off with her, I could just tell when she did not look at me with that adoring eyes but instead bowed and all but ran away from my presence. I could smell her fear and immediately knew that her papa must have told her what I was.

"You told her" I stated matter of fact

"She needed to know." Her papa replied

I could also feel the satisfaction radiating from him in waves, he knew what he had done and I could not wait to be done with any deal I had with the man. Humans were cunning and absolutely self-absorbed.

I refused to say anything as we waited for the mob even when her papa asked why I had come alone. He knew I was a vampire but still asked… again, humans!

I began hearing footsteps and beckoned silently on the man to climb the stairs, I was going to face them alone and did not need any distractions. I cracked my knuckles, it has been so long I had engaged in a physical fight with anyone and I could feel the bloodlust rolling through me in waves. I wanted this… hell, I craved it.

The first man that came into the manor lost his head with a quick swipe of my claws and before the day was over all of the mob that was sent to kill the Pedros were lying dead at my feet. I turned around and saw Guinevere staring at me with her mouth agape, fear boldly written on her face. I sighed, it was better she feared me

GUINEVERE

This was definitely not the duke I had fallen for, the man that was slashing and killing even without lifting a finger was a monster. I watched him grab a man and removed his head, it was too ghastly to watch but watch I did anyways. I could not remove my eyes from the carnage, silly of me to ask myself why he had come alone. I could see now that he needed no help in anything, when he turned and looked at me I could see that his eyes which before was the brownest brown like warm honey was red and glowing and his fangs dripped blood no doubt from the necks of those he had killed. I could not help the shivers racking my body as he stared at me, daring me to say a word. I looked down at my feet just in time to see his claws retract into his hands.

My papa thanked him profusely for the help and after the bodies were disposed, our house looked like nothing happened. It looked like people had not just been butchered right before my eyes. I was sick to my stomach and did not even say a word of protest when my papa asked me to gather my things and follow the duke, I merely nodded not even looking in his direction. I grabbed my bag and advanced to the carriage he had waiting for us.

My mama was prevented from bidding me goodbye and my sister only waved from where she sat. The duke followed closely behind me, watching me no doubt because I felt his stare pierce my back and my body goosebump "ing" in waves.

When I got to the carriage the duke tried to touch me, I flinched until I realized he was trying to take my bag. I laughed nervously and watched his hand retreat, I could still see some specks of blood on them although he had washed.

"Give the bags to Arthur here." He said to me

I handed the bag to the man named Arthur and climbed into the carriage, he climbed in beside me and I shifted slowly away from him. He must have sensed my discomfort because he closed his eyes and smirked

I glanced at his face and marveled even through my fear at how beautiful he was.

"Your parents did not teach you that staring at a person is bad" his voice disrupted my thoughts

"You are not a person." I answered bravely

He opened his eyes and looked at me with red eyes glowing

"All the more reason you shouldn't, Guinevere"