The Vampire king And His Angel.

11. Tell Me About The Boss

She shot me a playful look before breaking into a soft chuckle. “Of course, Crystal, we’re all vampires here,” she said with a grin, bouncing slightly on her toes. “And I’m super thrilled you’re here!”

Her excitement made me blink in confusion. “Wait, really?” I asked, not quite sure how to respond.

“Absolutely,” she replied with a warm smile. “It’s been ages since I’ve had a human friend. I miss talking about normal, everyday things.” Her eagerness was almost contagious.

“I’d love to be your friend,” I said, smiling back. Before I could say anything else, she pulled me into an enthusiastic hug, promising I wouldn’t regret it.

I couldn’t help but imagine how lonely she must have felt.

“Francesca, give the poor girl a break! She’s probably exhausted,” Monica scolded her daughter gently, then turned her attention to me. “Crystal, come sit down and eat something,” she said, gesturing toward a chair where a beautiful plate of food was waiting.

Thank God—I was starving.

I slid into the chair and couldn’t hide my delight at the sight of seafood pasta. “Oh my God, this looks amazing!”

“Do you like it?” Monica asked, watching me with a smile.

“Absolutely. This looks incredible,” I said, barely able to keep my excitement in check.

“You’re welcome, Crystal,” Monica replied, clearly pleased.

This meal was such a treat. I’d only had seafood pasta twice before… once on graduation day with Derek, and once at a restaurant staff event. I didn’t wait another second, diving into the dish and savoring every bite. The rich flavors danced on my tongue, leaving me in absolute bliss.

“This is delicious!” I exclaimed, feeling like I’d died and gone to heaven. “Thank you so much, both of you,” I said sincerely.

“Don’t mention it,” they chimed together, letting me enjoy the meal in peace.

After finishing, I helped clean up the kitchen, then joined Francesca on a chair nearby. Glancing around, I realized how quiet it was. “Where is everyone?” I asked.

“They’re in a meeting,” Francesca said with a sly grin. “It’s been going on for about an hour now.”

Her expression caught my attention. “What’s with the grin? Is something up?” I asked, curious.

She leaned closer, clearly enjoying the moment. “You must have a ton of questions, don’t you? Ask away…I can tell you’re dying to know more.”

She wasn’t wrong. My curiosity was killing me. “Well... are you okay with me being here? Does it make you uncomfortable?”

Francesca laughed, her lips curling into a mischievous smile. “Are you scared we’ll drain your blood and leave you for dead? Or maybe even eat you?”

Her teasing made me laugh. “Honestly? The thought crossed my mind,” I joked.

She laughed even harder. “Don’t worry, your scent is tempting, but we’re not interested in eating you.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Tempting? What does that even mean?”

“It just means your scent is unique. But don’t worry—we don’t break the clan’s rules. No killing humans or feeding off them recklessly.”

That was a relief. At least I wasn’t in immediate danger of being eaten alive.

“So, how did you become a vampire?” I asked, steering the conversation in a different direction.

Her playful demeanor shifted, and she sat up straighter. “It happened over a century ago in Italy,” she began, her tone serious. “My mom and I were walking home from a café when two vampires attacked us.”

Her voice softened as she continued. “They ignored my mom and went straight for me, biting and draining me until there was nothing left. I... I died that night.”

I winced at the thought. “But you’re here. How?”

“The boss showed up just in time to save my mom from being killed. He took care of the vampires and, at my mom’s pleading, agreed to turn me. She couldn’t bear to lose me, even though he warned her about what it meant.”

“And your mom? Did she become a vampire too?” I asked gently.

“She couldn’t stand the thought of being without me,” Francesca said with a bittersweet smile. “She begged him to turn her too, and after a lot of hesitation, he finally agreed. We turned on my 21st birthday.”

“That must’ve been hard for both of you,” I said, genuinely feeling for her.

“It was,” Francesca admitted. “But we’ve adapted. And the boss isn’t as bad as he seems. He takes care of us, makes sure we’re safe and well-fed.”

“Wait... by ‘well-fed,’ do you mean human blood?” I asked, dreading the answer.

She laughed lightly. “Mostly animal blood. Sometimes we get blood bags from hospitals. And we only take blood from humans in emergencies…and we make them forget it ever happened.”

That made me feel a little better, though the idea still turned my stomach. “Thanks for explaining,” I said, trying to keep my reaction in check.

“No problem. I’d probably feel the same if I were you,” she said with a knowing smile.

After a moment of silence, I decided to cut to the chase. “So, tell me about the boss. What’s his deal?”