Vampiress

The Deal

I nervously enter the room and choose the chair that is the furthest away from everyone.

"NOT there, Cylena!" My dad said through gritted teeth clearly already annoyed at me. He motions to a chair beside him and I walk towards it and pull it out and sit down. As the Count starts talking I'm still trying to pull my chair in closer to the table but the wheels of the chair are stuck in the rug. The Count stops talking and is watching me with a humorous frown on his face. Through the corner of my eye I see my father with his face in his hands. I'm trying to make it seem like the Count has my full attention while I'm also trying to break free from the rug. One of the bodyguards starts giggling and the Count actually let's a small smile play at the corners of his mouth. Like he is trying not to laugh.

"Cylena!" My father shouts. "Leave the chair and sit still!"

Thats when everyone erupted into laughter. EVEN. THE. COUNT.

I could feel my face getting red but looking at the look on my fathers face was priceless. I burst out laughing at his expense.

The Count took a handkerchief out of his blazer pocket and wiped away a single tear out of his right eye still laughing.

My dad turned to look at me and said, "this was supposed to be a business deal, Cylena, you were supposed to save this family by marrying one of the Counts sons!" My laugh stopped instantly. I must do what now?

Still wiping away tears the Count said between sniffles, "Hush, Roland. This girl will make a fine addition to the family." He looked at me and smiled.

"You must choose one of my sons, Dear. You need to marry one of them."

"But why must I marry them?"

"Because the safety of others is a Royal responsibility."

"But what if neither of them are my lock in?"

"Darling," the Count said with a smile. "I am the Count. I make the rules." And with that he stood up and left. I got up quickly too, ignoring my father who wanted a word with me and I ran back up to my room bumping into Darius and Jesse. Both of them looked pleased to see me but the smiles faded as they saw my face. Tears swelling up in my eyes promising to fall any second, I pushed past them and went into my room and shut the door. A sat on my bed with my knees against my chest. Holding myself.

My door creaked open and Jesse stuck his head in. Looking back he said, "okay, she's not naked. We can go in."

I looked at both of them. Not understanding why neither of them told me.

"Father finally told you?" Darius said.

I nodded my head looking down.

"Thats it?" Jesse asked looking confused. "I thought someone died!"

Both Darius and I looked at Jesse as he said that.

"Why are you so upset?" Jesse asked. "Are we not good enough choices?"

"I have you," I pointed at Jesse, "who is unable to keep his d**k out of anything with a pulse. You have the maturity and emotional level of a pole." With my words Darius started laughing.

"And you!" I pointed at him and the laughing stopped abruptly. "I thought you were such a bad ass when I first saw you at the boutique. But getting to know you, you're a little b***h!" I got off my bed and started pacing up and down.

"When we met in the boutique you were so different. Assertive and sexy," I carried on talking to Darius before he interrupted me.

"The boutique? What are you on about, Cylena?" He asked me looking puzzled.

"The... Boutique?" I said.

"I never met you before last night." He said slightly frowning.

"If you never met me then why were you trying to protect me?" I asked crossing my arms.

I had him now!

"Because Father said we need to protect you?" He answered slowly almost asking me why I'm going crazy.

"No. I met you!" I shouted.

Jesse and Darius glanced at each other and Jesse smiled.

"You met Darian." Jesse said. "Darius's twin."

They must think that I'm someone to play around with.

"Oh sure. Darius has a twin brother. Where is he then?"

"He was in town but he left yesterday to sort out Council business. He will be back on the day of the Ceremony Hunt."

"Oh how convenient." I said dryly.

If there even was a twin brother. I have to wait to meet him. Why was this family so weird?

"He has been dreaming about you." Darius said.

I turned and looked at him. And realization set in.

Darian and I have been dreaming about each other.