Of Blood and Desire

Chapter Five

The next day, I awoke feeling a hundred times better. I bathed, got myself out of the dirty night garment, and then dressed myself in a pretty, pale gown that didn’t suit the cold season. Maybe I subconsciously wore it to be a bit rebellious, not to just clash with the weather but to go also against the general mood of the manor. Here, everything seemed to be dark.

I’d initially woken up today interested in checking the boundaries of my cage--the manor, excuse me--though there were no winter coats in my wardrobe, and I wouldn’t be able to stand the cold on my own. It was snowing today, even.

If I ever planned to escape, though I wasn’t sure how I’d manage it, I’d have to know the layout of the home, the stables, and actually be dressed to travel. I had a tentative plan in place to slowly accumulate enough food for a few days and then steal one of Nikolas’ humongous warhorses. I had no doubt one of them could ride all night. It was possible. I knew I could do it.

At the door to my room, I hesitated with my hand on the doorknob. I didn’t want to run into Nikolas. Without meaning to, my fingers raised to the wounds on my neck. Yes, I did not want to encounter him. Why knew how long it took for him to grow thirsty again? Hopefully I’d be riding away long before then. It was dangerous being in such a weak state.

With a short breath, I turned the knob and quickly stepped into the hall. I looked both ways. No sign of anyone. I walked carefully, trying to make my steps as quiet as possible as I ducked into open rooms, observing the numbers of windows in each. I also looked at what was below the windows, if there was anything soft to land on in case I needed to make a particularly speedy escape. Room by room, I discovered there would only be concrete meeting me below if I decided to jump. The realization was discouraging enough that I didn’t even check the third floor.

I walked to the stairs, going down one step at a time. Every so often I would pause, straining my ears to hear if anything or anyone was coming, but it was always dead silent. Finally downstairs, I scouted out these rooms with more interest. They were viable escape routes. The windows opened outwards and some had no screens at all.

As I strolled around the smell of meat eventually crossed my nose. Walking towards it, I soon encountered the sound of sizzling just outside of the kitchen door, signifying that something was being cooked. I was completely still. Yes, I was starving and really needed to keep my energy up, but what if it was Nikolas in there?

My rumbling stomach made the decision for me. With a sigh, I entered.

A curly-haired blonde stood at the stove with a flowery apron tied around her waist. She turned and smiled at my entrance. Nadia. “I was wondering when you were going to come! What were you doing walking all around?”

“You could hear me?” I said, trying to make my voice sound casual.

“Loud and clear,” she chirped. I suddenly noticed she had cute dimples.

“Great,” I said with a sigh and walked to meet her at the stove. “You’re cooking for me?”

“Yes! Are you hungry today, Princess Clara?” Nadia said. “I bought lots of recipes as soon as Nikolas informed me of your presence.” Her smile faltered for a second as she glanced at her skillet of bacon. “I wasn’t sure what you liked. I hope this is okay.”

“It’s perfect,” I reassured.

“Wonderful!” she said, expression lighting up again. “I was going to make you eggs, too!”

“That sounds lovely,” I said and walked towards the table in the kitchen. Shorter and a lot less elegant than the dining room table, it could hold maybe six people comfortably. I took a seat, turning to watch Nadia. As nice as she seemed, I couldn’t keep my back to her. “Where’s Nikolas?”

“In town,” she replied. “He has business, I believe.”

“And how far away is the furthest town?” I asked. I hoped I sounded casual.

She glanced towards me ruefully. “I’m sorry, I don’t know how far it is exactly, but it takes me five minutes when I run.”

“That’s all right. I was just wondering if I could buy more clothes. Maybe a coat?” I suggested.

“Oh, of course! What a wonderful idea!” Nadia grinned hugely and pulled out another pan, presumably for the eggs. She looked at me briefly before focusing back on her cooking. “Would you like to go with me?”

“Yes, that would be incredible!” I said, immediately lit up. Yes, Nadia was a vampire, but she seemed like a very gullible one, way too nice for her own good. She’d be easy to trick. If she got me to town… I could maybe steal someone else’s horse…

“I was planning to go shopping in a few days,” she replied just as enthusiastically and excited.

“That’s perfect.” I let out a breath, a small smile forming on my face. Nikolas, I couldn’t imagine getting the best of him. Nothing got past him, and he’d warned me several times not to try. With him out of the picture, my odds greatly increased.

Nadia hummed as she worked on my food, chatting lightly about boutiques we could perhaps go to. The more she talked, the happier she became, until she was practically vibrating with elation. I felt almost bad for wanting to trick her, but what had happened with Nikolas, that couldn’t happen again. Ever.

Loud voices and boisterous laughter suddenly sounded from the other end of the house. I couldn’t make out words, but from the tones used it sounded like they were teasing one another. The voices were deep and male. I grew stiff. Vampires?

“Oh, don’t worry!” Nadia said, pulling my attention back over to her. “It’s just Nikolas and Henry.”

Just Nikolas? I nearly scoffed at the thought before a new one overtook it. “Wait, Henry? Who’s that?” I asked.

She hesitated for a moment, turning the stove off as she presumably finished up. “Well, he’s Nikolas’ best friend,” Nadia said as she reached for a plate.

I perked a brow. “He has friends?”

She laughed. “Yes, of course, Princess Clara.”

I only had a few more seconds to think on that before the kitchen door swung open and Nikolas and a stranger strode through. The sight of the newcomer made me instantly freeze. If I’d thought Nikolas was terrifying, this man was a complete nightmare.

Nikolas was tall, but the man, Henry, was massive. He almost towered over Nikolas as he followed him in with an easy-growing grin. He had to have at least two feet on Nadia. With informal, revealing clothing, I saw his massive, muscled arms and hands that looked capable of crushing skulls. I saw scars on them, too, making me think that maybe he had crushed skulls before; some were deep gashes, others bite marks. Proof of battle.

Henry’s eyes were red, though darker than Nikolas’ and Nadia’s. Dark brows rested just above them, matching his short-cropped brown hair. He was handsome but not beautiful, not a work of art like Nikolas. Instead, he was more… harsh. The mere sight of him had me thinking of the word abrasive.

“Oh, Nad, he’s got you cooking food now?” Henry said, shaking his head. He turned to give Nikolas a disapproving stare. “That’s just sick.”

“It doesn’t smell that bad,” Nadia said, setting the plate she’d made in front of me before turning with a small smile. “Hi, Henry. It’s been a while.”

He looked her over, up and down. “It has.”

She walked over with grace and a small bounce, tucking herself into his side in a quick hug. His big arms instantly wrapped around her, pulling her close and serving only to further enunciate their size difference. The top of her head barely managed its way to the middle of his stomach. When Nadia pulled back, I couldn’t help but notice the downward twitch of Henry’s lips, as though he’d wanted the embrace to last longer.

“You have to visit more,” she said as she took a step back.

“Busy,” Henry said simply, still drinking her in.

“You know you’re free to travel, Nadia,” Nikolas spoke for the first time, stepping out from behind Henry. He sent me a look that I quickly avoided, glancing at my food.

“Yes, of course, Nikolas,” she said with a slight bow of her head, “but I like being here. And there’s a lot to do now, of course, with our new guest.”

“The guest!” Henry said with a booming laugh, drawing my wide eyes that only got bigger when I saw him staring at me. He had a massive grin as he took me in, looking at me very differently than he had at Nadia. That sight, he cherished. This was like looking at a new toy.

“We were just having breakfast!” Nadia announced, coming to sit next to me at the table.

“‘We?’” said Henry, shooting Nikolas a quick look. “Are you making Nadia eat that stuff, too?”

Nikolas shook his head and was about to respond, but my curiosity was overwhelming. “Is human food… bad?” I asked.

“We can’t eat it,” Nadia told me softly, almost apologetically, “and it doesn’t have the greatest smell.”

“Smells like a lycan!” Henry said, just as loudly as before. The ground almost seemed to shake as he strode across the room to take a seat at the table.

“Don’t discourage her eating,” Nikolas said. He, too, made his way to the table, and, yes, I was thanking my lucky stars he didn’t sit next to me but rather Henry.

“I eat,” I said in a clipped tone. “I was just… tired yesterday.”

Henry laughed. “You’ve already taken a good bite, haven’t you, Nik?”

Nikolas’ answering smile was positively wicked. “Yes, I have.”

My face grew red, and I started cutting my food to give my eyes something to focus on, my hands something to do. Truth was, I could look away as much as I wanted, but I hadn’t missed the desire that flashed through Nikolas’ eyes. Carnal need that reminded me of the feeling of his fangs in me…

“And was she worth it?” Henry asked. I almost glanced at him, just because his tone had turned serious.

“Worth every bit of trouble,” Nikolas replied without thought.

“Still…” Here, Henry hesitated. “A Princess? Your father--”

“Henry,” Nikolas snapped. Unable to help myself, I studied the pair, confused by the tension radiating off of both men. They were both staring at one another intensely.

“Perhaps in private…?” Nadia suddenly suggested nervously.

Henry looked at her, Nikolas, then shrugged, leaning back in his chair. The carved wood groaned slightly at his weight but refused to give out. “Sure,” he said easily.

A tense silence stretched over our small group for a few seconds. Once again, I worked on my food. I didn’t feel exactly safe and was struggling to keep myself from falling out of my seat.

“Clara and I were thinking of going to town,” Nadia offered. I found it curious that she dropped my title and thought it might have something to do with what Henry said.

“Oh, is that so?” Nikolas asked.

I still didn’t look up. “Yes,” I said. I brought eggs to my mouth and chewed.

“She wants a coat,” Nadia went on, the mood lightening with each excited word that tumbled out of her mouth, “and I want to show her the boutiques in town, and she can help me pick out her favorite foods and ingredients at the store!”

“Already adding to the wardrobe,” Henry commented. I looked up and spotted his eyes flashing, as though he knew exactly what I was up to. He glanced quickly at Nadia and back at me, and I understood. If I was responsible for causing Nadia even the smallest of disappointments, for making just a slight amount of happiness disappear from her voice, he would kill me.

“Yes!” Nadia gushed. She tugged on my sleeve jubilantly. “You’ll like it here so much, you’ll see!”

“Why don’t Henry and I accompany the two of you?” Nikolas asked. “He’s going to be staying for a few days.”

I glanced at Nikolas. He knew exactly what I was up to, too. “A lady should only shop for a lady,” I offered weakly.

“A lady should always be escorted,” replied Nikolas.

“Hear, hear,” said Henry. “There is no greater exhilaration than accompanying two beautiful women.”

I took a bite of my eggs and said nothing. All of this talk about ladies, and I was thinking of a curse that was quite unladylike.

“You’re too kind!” Nadia said with a smile in her voice. Was she ever not smiling?

The three of them changed to a different topic as I continued to eat. With my mouth occupied, unaware of most of what they were discussing, I was not an active participant. Still, I listened. Knowledge was power, especially the knowledge of an enemy. I memorized the names and locations they spoke of, keeping track of the conversation.

Even with my plate cleared, they still kept talking. I’d never seen Nikolas so animated. That genuine smile, the one I’d caught one or two times, seemed ever-resting on his normally either stoic or mocking face. It seemed like they really hadn’t seen each other for a while now. I remembered Nikolas saying something about enjoying living out here without many others and took that to mean he didn’t have others in his life he cared about.

With the emergence of Henry, I was beginning to wonder. Especially about Nikolas’ father. Why hadn’t he wanted to talk about it in front of me? Why would his father care if I was a princess? And if it did matter, why had no one intervened?

Who was Nikolas, besides my kidnapper, besides the vampire behind the Collection?

Nadia cleared and began to wash my plate but stayed active in the conversation. I wondered about her, too. Nikolas said that she wasn’t a maid, but she served me and didn’t leave the manor. Henry said that Nikolas had her doing things for him. Was Nikolas not her employer? And what was going on between her and Henry? He stared at her even when she wasn’t speaking and tore his eyes away with great reluctance. She did so as well, though she was more covert and did it less frequently. If he wasn’t so frightening and she wasn’t such a joy, I might have thought they were lovers.

“Shall we go to the cellar for a drink?” Nikolas asked when Nadia finished her task and rejoined us at the table.

I stiffened, and Nadia was immediately comforting me. “Oh, no, Miss Clara,” she said kindly. “It’s much too soon to drink from you again. We have blood reserves, you see.”

From the Collection. Of course.

“Right,” I said. I looked over to see Henry watching me, amusement dancing in his eyes. Turning to Nikolas, his smirk was back.

“Don’t worry,” Nikolas purred, leaning forward on the table, placing his hand in his open palm. “I’ll be able to stomach it after having fed from the divine. Knowing what awaits me in a few days, once you’re healthy again…” His smirk widened, eyes lighting at the thought.

Before I could respond, Henry barked out a laugh. “The divine, huh?” he said. “Maybe I should have a taste.”

Nikolas whirled around with a snarl. “You will never touch her!”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Nadia stiffen.

“Of course,” said Henry in obvious surprise and raised his hands in surrender. “Just a jest, my friend.”

Nikolas took in the words, breathing heavily for a few moments. I wasn’t sure if he even needed to breathe, but the act seemed to calm him down. Soon, he was back to normal. “To the cellar, then,” he said with a half-smile, standing and pushing his chair back.

Henry immediately followed him, announcing loudly, “I’m parched!”

The two walked out of the kitchen, but Nadia hesitated to follow. “Will you be all right?” she asked me quietly. “I know you must be lonely and a little scared. When you thought Nikolas was going to drink from you, you were terrified.”

Terrified, yes, but I’d also been excited, and that was what really horrified me. I smiled, tight-lipped. “I’m fine,” I said.

“What will you do today?” she pressed.

I considered the question. With the three of them distracted, I could possibly make a break for it. At the thought, I instantly knew it would be too soon. I needed to scout outside first. “Do you have a coat I could borrow?” I asked.

“Of course!” she said. “I’ll go get it for you.”

She left right at that, a bounce back in her step. I stared after her for a moment before glancing around. I didn’t know how long she’d be gone, but maybe there was something in here I could use, something I could grab outside of the watchful eyes of the vampires.

My eyes soon landed on a knife organizer on the counter parallel to the stove, and my lips parted, heart racing. A knife couldn’t kill a vampire, but it would wound one. Possibly give me enough time to get away.

I glanced around, making sure I was alone, before quickly darting and pulling out a knife that was both compact and sharp. I slid it up my sleeve before I could convince myself otherwise and hurried back to my seat at the table. Only three or four seconds passed before Nadia walked back in with a tawny coat in her thin arms.

“Here you are!” she said, immediately offering it to me. Though she was as bubbly as ever, there was a little animated anxiousness around the edges of her eyes.

“Are you okay?” I surprised myself by saying.

Nadia seemed surprised as well. She blinked and let out a little embarrassed laugh. “Oh, yes, I’m just looking forward to talking with the others.”

“You mean Henry?” I asked. I tugged on the coat, enjoying the feel of it. Nadia was a little taller than me, but it fit wonderfully.

She bit her lip. “Yes, I haven’t seen him in a while. It’s nice to catch up.”

I couldn’t help the smile that crossed my lips. “Go catch up then.”

Nadia nodded and gave me a slight curtsy. “Have a wonderful day, Princess Clara,” she said, back with my title.

“Thank you, Nadia.”

I watched her walk out, curls bouncing with each step. When I was sure she was gone, I let out a sigh of relief. I couldn’t relax completely, knowing the three of them were just downstairs in the cellar, but they weren’t right in front of me, and that was something. It gave me a little privacy.

I fished the knife out of my sleeve. Before I went out, I knew I had to get rid of it. The only suitable location that I could come up with was in my room somewhere. Anywhere else, and the weapon lost its purpose. Even if I didn’t know how to wield it that well, it would offer me some solace of protection in this place. After toughening my resolution, I tucked it away once again.

With an exhalation, I left the kitchen and meandered my way back to the bedroom. Following the path I had taken earlier, I managed to find my way without difficulty and even felt proud of myself because of it.

The bedroom was the same as it had been earlier, sheets unmade and everything untouched, which gave me a weird sense of security knowing that no one had been in my haven while I was away.

It didn’t take long for me to find a spot to put the knife in. There was only one place that was close to me and also concealed the weapon: underneath my pillow. Once hidden, its presence made me feel at ease.

If Nikolas tried something again, maybe I could stun him by stabbing him and have the chance to run away. He would learn that I wasn’t his plaything, that way.

I pressed down on the plush pillow a couple of times, but I wasn’t able to feel the knife. Good. A small smile appeared on my face and I stood up, dusting nonexistent dust off of my clothing.

My earlier mission had not been forgotten, so I left my room once again. This time, knowing that they could hear me walking around, I decided to be less purposeful and make it seem like I was wandering about. I had the feeling that if Nikolas knew I was looking for escape routes, he wouldn’t be too pleased.

But I had no intention of giving up on getting out of here.

Unlike what Nikolas believed, there was not going to be another opportunity for him to drink my blood.

I decided that, for now, I wouldn’t bother with the third floor. I wouldn’t be able to jump down from there without breaking my legs, and the first floor seemed more promising in that aspect.

I made my way back downstairs and went in the opposite direction of the kitchen’s location. Unlike the second floor, which had plenty of rooms, the downstairs area was mostly long hallways with areas leading upstairs. I couldn’t help but think of the mansion’s strange layout as some type of labyrinth built to keep me here. There were so many twists and turns, and I was finding it harder to remember where I was.

How did anyone navigate this forsaken place?

Some way or another, I managed to find the door leading out to the gardens in the back. Once outside, my teeth clattered from the cold air that blasted against me. There was hardly any snow, but I felt like I was in the middle of some type of storm.

I refused to admit defeat and go back indoors. Instead, I clutched Nadia’s coat close to my body and began to explore the gardens. Since it was the winter months, it was rather sparse and depressing, but the space was large.

Just how much land did Nikolas have?

I would have to prepare more if I wanted to be able to escape and survive. So, I ventured out even further, ignoring the shivering of my body.

There were a couple of points of interests: the stables where those terrifying horses resided, and a warehouse. I didn’t know what was inside of it, but more than likely, it contained supplies.

Mentally, I made a note in my mind to find the keys or ask Nadia about it. I had the feeling Nikolas would see right through me if I asked him about the warehouse outside, so she was the safer choice. More than likely, if I sweet-talked her enough, she’d even go get me the keys herself.

I grew more confident about my escape plans. Even if his horses looked like demons from the underworld, I was sure that I could manage to take one and ride off before anyone took notice.

Then, with the provisions I took from the warehouse, I would have enough food and whatnot to last until I got to a safe place. Once I returned to my family, I wouldn’t have to worry about anything else.

Nikolas’ reaction was an unknown variable, but there would be no need for him to waste manpower on me, right? He had lost. Anyone with proper manners would accept that. Comforting myself with these thoughts, I gradually made my way back inside.

After my excursion, I was in need of a change of clothes. My hair needed a desperate brushing, as well, after braving the winter winds. Around sunset, I retreated back to my room to change into a plum gown and braid my hair simply but elegantly. Only then was I ready for supper.

Dinner was strange with Henry attending. Even Nadia joined us for a bit but disappeared now and again to refill wine and bring out more food. I wasn’t hungry, really, but she took that to mean I just wasn’t hungry for the things currently on the table. By the end of the night, nearly every cuisine known to man was on the table. I merely poked at it, while Nadia looked on worriedly.

Henry and Nikolas had their own conversation all the while. It was apparently one I wasn’t meant to hear, because they switched to a language I’d never heard or read before to have it. As a Princess, I was quite educated and could identify the languages of not just the neighboring human kingdoms but those of non-humans as well. This, however, was something archaic.

Instead of eating, I obsessed over what they might be discussing. They both looked serious while they spoke, Nikolas more so. The casual banter from this morning was long gone. Nadia didn’t seem bothered with it, more concerned with me.

When I excused myself thirty minutes or so into all of this, Nikolas hardly spared me a glance as he nodded his permission. Not that I was sure I needed it. I quickly walked to my chambers and readied myself for bed, changing into a simple nightgown and letting my hair down. I considered bathing, but I was too tired, probably since I hadn’t eaten since breakfast. I wasn’t exactly sure why that was. Maybe Henry’s presence had scared the hunger away.

It was around ten in the evening that I finally went to bed. My ears were strained as they tried to pick up on any noises from the hall, any indication that someone might be coming. But no. No laughter, no footsteps. It was completely, unnervingly silent.

I twisted in bed to stare at the sole entry door to my room, my hand unconsciously slithering under my pillow to clutch the handle of the knife. If any creature came to take my blood tonight, it would not be without a fight.