Alina
“We’re here!” Kendrick announced just as we entered the driveway.
Erick, the chevalier, got off first and came around to my side to help me out in vampire speed.
“What’re you doing? There are people in plain sight!” I grumbled under my breath so that any vampires in the crowd won’t hear us.
“Contrary to what you think, I’m not an idiot.” He gave me a smirk while lacing my hand through his. “They’re all vampires.”
“I thought we’re here for the press conference?” I asked as I watched several vampires, mostly in couples, stroll around the huge garden in front of the four-storied mansion that was the blood bank.
“Press conferences are for dedicated, responsible people,” he said as if they were the worst possible qualities a person can have. “It’s the after party where all th
Alina“... na... Al... Alina...”I groaned as the pounding in my head increased. Who on Earth was calling me? Couldn’t they see that I was sleeping? What was this feeling... like something wet was hitting my face?“Ugh!” I covered my eyes with my hands even though they were closed. Why was there so much light? Where was I?“Alright, Cinderella, get up!” someone snapped near my ears, startling me into opening my eyes. I closed them again, a groan escaping my mouth.It took me some time to adjust my eyes to the bright light in the room. When my vision cleared, I saw that I was back in Erick’s beach house in the same blue room. This time, thankfully, I still had my own clothes on, and it was still daytime. Erick sat on the same chair next to the bed as he did the first time he brought me here two days ago.“Hmmm... I’m thinking Faintasia.
ErickSeagulls. Those nasty little things.If I could only get my hands on one of those damn brats! Yeah, as if that would be of any help. You cut off one, and a thousand take its place. Ah, the benefits of having a beach house. I didn't need an alarm clock. These damn pests did a fine job of waking you up at three o’clock in the morning.Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I sat up groggily. I was startled into looking around the room when I couldn’t feel that familiar warmth next to me. Somehow, I ended up falling asleep next to her last night, afraid that if I left her alone, Emiel might get to her again.“Alina?” I called out. Did she leave as soon as I was out? I couldn’t blame her for that if she did. Yesterday, hell, the whole week, has been terrible for her. She needed to know that running isn’t an option, though. Besides, she was too curious to just up and leave witho
AlinaErick kept his promise. He hasn’t called or visited since the day he spilled his guts out about everything that had me confused. Even though he didn’t say it out loud, I have a pretty good idea about what exactly happened four years ago. The only question was, why?In spite of everything he said, I couldn’t help but feel restless. If he were here, I would have felt more at ease. I had no idea how and when this started, though. This feeling I get whenever I was with him was unmistakable one of safety. It was something I had missed for a long time. Even when we were young and he started feeding on me, I had this feeling deep in my heart that none of his death threats were real. I was just too scared to see past the fact that he was a vampire, a predator that could kill me in a blink of an eye.However, those things weren’t important right now because, at this instant, I was making a deci
AlinaSleep easily came that night. After that conversation with Kenna, I couldn’t say I blame her for not trusting humans. I would too if I was in her position. Most of all, I was glad I got to speak to her about Emiel. Now, I was sure that deep down, she still loved him.Until now, I had never really interacted with her so closely. When my parents were alive, I simply stood to the side and smiled politely as etiquette demanded and watched my mother do all the talking. It felt nice to get to know my mother’s friend more closely. It was like getting to know another side of her. For the first time in a long while, I felt peaceful.****It was very late at night when I heard a knock on my front door. At first, I thought I had imagined it. After all, who could be knocking on my door at two-thirty in the morning? Then I remembered the guards outside, and a sudden fear grip
Alina“What do you mean you can’t come to the wedding?”“Honey, you know I can’t. There are certain rules for survival in the mortal world, and I have no wish of becoming their dinner,” Papa joked.“And yet you’d let me take your place?” I told him incredulously, putting on a serious face, but even Papa could tell I was joking.“Honey, I doubt Erick finds me that appealing,” he said with an affectionate pat on my head.I felt my eyes burn with tears. This was all happening too soon. I just wanted everything to slow down and to give me time to breathe. Every girl dreams of their wedding day, especially the time when her father would hand her over to her husband. I was no different. I had always wanted my wedding to be the same, a big church wedding with all my friends and family with Mom gushing about my dress and makeup and Dad walking
AlinaBy the time Jordan dropped me off in front of my apartment, it was almost eleven-thirty in the evening. I had never been out till this late. The traffic was awful tonight, but the ride had been good. Jordan was a very funny guy, and I laughed the entire night away at his ridiculous jokes. He even gave me an inside scoop on Erick’s childhood and about his hidden phobias. My thoughts did occasionally wander off to the conversation I had with Papa and how I could persuade Erick into confessing the whole truth, but other than that, I had a wonderful evening. Now, I was starving for some spaghetti that I made before leaving for the hospital.However, as soon as Jordan drove away, my mind drifted into darker topics. Did I even want to know the whole truth? I couldn’t also ignore the fact that I didn’t really remember much about that night four years ago. I remembered Erick coming into my old house drunk
Alina“Kendrick, it’s not stopping! There’s too much blood!” I screamed, pressing down harder on the wound to check the blood flow. “Tell me what to do, Kendrick!”“Alina, you have to stay calm. He’s a vampire. The healing will kick in soon.” Kendrick reassured me, driving as fast as he could without having the traffic police at our tail because only one of us could use compulsion, and he wasn’t conscious right now. Thankfully, he was not dead.I looked down at Erick again. He was lying on the back seat with his head on my lap and my hands on his chest, trying desperately to stop the blood flow. He wasn’t conscious yet and hasn’t been since I found him, except for when he called my name once Kendrick had wrenched the stake out of his chest. Well, that was another myth proved wrong about vampires.I could still remember how I found him ly
ErickEvery breath stung.Even a tiny movement felt like I was in that hell hole once again trying to get Alina to safety… and struggling to keep Emiel from killing me.“Ugh.” I opened my eyes with much difficulty. The light in the room felt blinding. I closed them again, groaning. God, why do I feel so weak?“Erick?” Was that Alina? She was here? She sounded worried. I might not be in enemy hands after all.“I—” My throat felt like someone had scrubbed it raw with sandpaper.“Hang on. I’ll get some water.” I felt the bed rise as she got up. She had been right next to me.“Here.” She didn’t touch me, but I felt the glass near my face. I opened my mouth a tiny bit and was rewarded with the cool flow of the liquid down my throat. I gulped it down greedily.A sigh left my mouth as my throat felt norm