Darkmyth University 2021

Chapter Seven

Quinten felt when Crystal fell asleep against his. Quinten was elated because Crystal was comfortable enough with him to fall asleep in his presence. Crystal did not stir when Quinten picked her up, Quinten smiled at his development, and shifted Crystal in his arms as he knocked on Crystal and Stephanie’s dorm room door softly trying not to wake Crystal. When Stephanie answered the door Quinten said softly, “I thought Crystal would be more comfortable in her bed.”

Stephanie stepped aside letting Quinten enter the dorm room, escorted him to Crystal’s room saying, “That you for bringing her home.”

“It was no problem. When Crystal wakes will you please ask her to text me? I wanted you know that Crystal will be having guards with her from now one. Crystal will mee them tomorrow. Please be sure to keep your doors and windows locked.” Quinten said earnestly.

“Is there something that you need to tell me Quinten?” Stephanie asked as she watched Quinten lay Crystal on her bed, removing her shoes, and covering her with her comforter.

“Just be on your guard Stephanie. I know that Crystal will tell you everything once she is awake and coherent. All I ask is that you keep the information to yourself and that if you have any questions or need anything that you will let me know.”

“You are going to be good for Crystal, Quinten but, if you hurt her, I will have to hurt you.”

“I do not plan on hurting Crystal but, if I do, I am sure that I will deserve whatever punishment that you see fit to give me. Crystal has accepted an invitation on your behalf to join me and my family for the Thanksgiving break.”

Stephanie nods indicating that she understood Quinten’s statement. “I look forward to meeting your family.” Stephanie said walking Quinten to the door. Quinten smiled at Stephanie as she shuts and locks the door after I walk back into the hallway.

Quinten runs back to his room and finds Michael, Brody, and Lucas sitting on the sofa in Michael and Quinten’s room. As Quinten stopped in from of the gentlemen he said, “We have a problem.”

“What sort of problem?” Lucas asked worriedly.

“My parents informed me that I have a twin brother, that, is out for vengeance. On top of that he is in all of Crystal’s classes three days a week. My parents believe that Zander, my brother, is going to try to use Crystal against us.”

“What do your parents plan on doing?” Michael asks.

“They are sending guards to protect Crystal and me but, I am not sure that it is enough.” Quinten said with a frustrated sigh, “Crystal has taken this information in stride and has already asked me if switching classes would help.”

Brody stood, went into the kitchen, grabbed some beers, returned, and said, “If Crystal were to switch classes now it would seem suspicious.”

“I concur and that is what I said to Crystal. With guards arriving tomorrow it will become harder for Zander to find an opening but, if the three of you help as well then, he will not have a single opportunity to get his hands on Crystal.

Lucas said, “Then we will do what we can to help you and Crystal.” Michael and Brody nodded in agreement. Lucas asked, “How are you feeling about all of this?”

“My feelings do not matter. I am more concerned about Crystal and Stephanie. Now, that I think about it Stephanie may be in as much danger as Crystal because Crystal is so close to her.”

“We will come up with a schedule to keep both Stephanie and Crystal under guard at all times.” Michael said pulling out a calendar. After they set a schedule, they played MAG for an hour before Brody left to guard Stephanie and Crystal. Quinten decided to go to bed since he had the last shift of guard duty.

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Stephanie sat in the living room waiting for Crystal to wake up. When Crystal finally did wake up and join Stephanie on the sofa in the living room Stephanie asked, “What in the world is going on. Quinten shows up here with you asleep in his arms. You have never fallen asleep with a stranger let alone a man.”

Crystal looked at Stephanie and said, “I must feel extremely comfortable and safe with Quinten. I am just starting to get to know him Stephanie but, you know, when I feel overwhelmed my body sometimes just shuts down. This must have been one of those times.”

“I know that is true Crystal but, tell me why you are having guards watching over you. And why did Quinten stay outside of our door until I had locked the deadbolt.”

“We should not discuss this here.” Crystal pulls out cell phone and texts Stephanie: Firstly, Quinten is Prince Quinten. Secondly, Quinten just found out that he has a twin that is out for vengeance, and he may use me against Quinten to get what he wants.

What does that mean for us?

I am not sure I am hoping to get more information when we visit Quinten’s parents over the Thanksgiving break. Quinten’s parents suggested the guards.

How much does Zander know?

There is no way for us to know what he knows and does not know.

You share three classes with Zander do you not?

Yes but, Quinten believes that if I change classes now Zander will become suspicious. Besides, it is too late for me to change classes now and I need these classes for my major. If I do not take them then I cannot take the higher-level classes.

Are you going to be able to handle all of this?

What choice do I have? I cannot just run away, and we have worked so hard to get here Stephanie I will not let Zander take the one thing that we both want away from us.

Having all the information will help both of us. “Do you want to watch a movie while you do your homework?” Stephanie asks waking over to their collection of movies.

Crystal nods in agreement, gets up, goes to her room, and grabs her book bag. Crystal comes back to the sofa laying her books out and pulling out her assignments. Stephanie put in their favorite movie Pretty Woman. Crystal finished her assignments, drank a glass of O+, showered, put on a tank top and pajama shorts, and went to bed.

Zander ran to Crystal’s room thinking that it would be unguarded at least until morning. Zander found Michael watching the windows of Crystal and Stephanie’s windows. Zander stood in front of Michael and used his compulsion powers on him. Zander was able to get into Stephanie’s window. Stephanie was sitting up in her bed waiting on Zander to enter. When Zander’s eyes connected with Stephanie’s Zander’s entire world was turned upside down. Could this really be happening? Stephanie was Zander’s soulmate, and it was not the most opportune time for this to happen.

Stephanie’s eyes widened in shock and then a slow seductive smile crept onto her face. Zander looked exactly like Quinten except that Zander had steal grey eyes. Zander found himself being drawn to Stephanie and could not stop himself from moving closer to her. Zander pushed Stephanie back down into her bed softly saying, ‘I would like to kiss you now.” Stephanie nodded in agreement before Zander kissed her softly. Stephanie gasped as she felt the instant connection between herself and Zander. The closeness that Zander now felt to Stephanie was so foreign to him but, in a way the most intimate he had ever felt as well.

Suddenly Stephanie pulls away from Zander and said, “You were here for Crystal were you not?”

Zander cursed himself for now that the bond was there the bond could not be broken. Zander looked down at Stephanie whose eyes had become dilated because of the passion that had been rising between them. Zander blinked slowly and then said without blinking, “You will forget me. When you see me again you will feel nothing...” It, broke Zander’s heart to do this to Stephanie now that they had started the mating process but, for him to accomplish his goals he needed Stephanie out of the picture. Zander watched as Stephanie’s eyes closed slowly and not open again. Zander kissed Stephanie once more on the forehead before leaving the room and making his way into Crystal’s room. Zander investigated Crystal’s dreams and found them full of her future with Quinten. This may be harder than Zander thought it would be. As Zander approached Crystal his vision went completely dark and the emotions, he was feeling stopped processing through his mind.

Crystal sat up, looked at Zander with wide eyes, covertly getting her phone from under her pillow, and dialed Quinten. Crystal stuck her phone in between the small of her back and her pajama short being sure that the whatever was said would be heard clearly on the other end of the phone call. Crystal asked, “What are you doing here Zander?”

“Changing my future...” Zander said with an evil grin. Though Zander could not see Crystal, he could hear her and still look towards her while he spoke. Zander stepped closer to Crystal while trying to maintain eye contact as he said, “You will recognize me as your mate. You will accept me as your mate, you will forget about Quinten, and you will not recognize him the next time you see him.”

Crystal stood up on the opposite side of the bed and asked, “Is that you power? Compulsion?”

Zander frowned and said, “That is one of the many powers I have but, what I do not understand is why it did not work on you.” Crystal tried to make a run for the bedroom door releasing whatever hold she had on Zander’s sight though she did not know that she had blinded him. Zander stepped in front of Crystal and said threateningly, “I suggest that you stay right where you are before I have to hurt you or maybe I will hurt Stephanie instead.”

“Don’t you dare lay a finger on Stephanie you monster.”

“Then do exactly as I say, and I will not hurt Stephanie.” Zander watches Crystal stiffen but, stops moving toward the door. Zander continues, “Good. Now I am going to leave, and you are going to stay right where you are. Have I made myself clear?” Crystal nods her acknowledging Zander’s statement. Zander goes back into Stephanie’s room, picks her up wedding stye, and runs away with Stephanie in his arms. Zander hears Crystal run into Stephanie’s room as soon as the door to their dorm room closes.

Quinten picks up his phone on the first ring knowing that it was Crystal. Quinten listened quietly taking in the entire conversation between Crystal and Zander. Crystal was able to get Zander to admit what one of his powers were. That would help them all in the future. But Zander did pose a good question, why was Crystal not affected by his power. Quinten growls softly as Zander threatens to harm both Crystal and Stephanie. While listening to the conversation Quinten grabs the white board that sits on the fridge, wakes Brody and Lucas who are asleep on the sofa, writes on the white board Find Michael. Zander @ Crystal’s place. Brody and Lucas nod and leave the dorm room. As soon as Quinten hears the door to Crystal’s dorm room shut, he left his dorm room as well heading towards Lilith Hall and Crystal’s room.

Crystal growls in frustration before picking up the phone and asks, “Quinten are you there?”

“Angel, are you all, right?”

“Of course, I am not all right. Zander has taken Stephanie.”

“I will be there momentarily my angel.” Quinten hung up and ran to Crystal’s room. Quinten knocked, Crystal opened the door and flung herself into Quinten’s arms crying. “Angel, I will get Stephanie back I promise.”

Crystal asked through her sobs, “How are you going to do that?”

“I am the prince of all vampires, my angel. My family employees the best trackers that will be able to find Stephanie.” Quinten said stroking Crystal’s hair. Quinten closes the door softly, locking it deftly, picks Crystal up wedding style carries Crystal to her room, and sits with Crystal in his lap while he situated himself against the headboard of Crystal’s bed.

As Crystal’s sobs subsided, Crystal looks up at Quinten and asks, “Why did Zander’s powers not work on me?”

Quinten wipes Crystal’s tears away from her beautiful face and asks softly, “Is there anything that you can remember while talking with Zander?”

Crystal stayed quiet for a moment and said, “Zander’s eyes were black, and I remember that he had to wait until I spoke in order to be able to pinpoint my location for some of the conversation.”

“Zander must have to be able to look into the person’s eyes that he is trying to compel for it work properly. But there is no concrete proof that this was the reason that his power did not work on you. I am sorry that this has happened my angel. We should have been better prepared.”

“This is not your fault my prince. We may not get the answers that we are looking for until we meet with your parents.” Crystal was glad that Quinten was here. Crystal needed Quinten to be with her right now. Crystal looked up at Quinten again and asked, “Could you tell me how aging works?”

Quinten looks down at Crystal curiously and asks, “Why do you want to know/”

“I want to be able to help find Stephanie. Besides, it may not work the way that you think it does.”

Crystal was glad to have Quinten next two her right now. With Stephanie being gone Crystal would not have trusted anyone else being near her at a time like this. Quinten looked down at Crystal who was looking back at him waiting for an answer. Quinten took a deep breath and said, “You can age when you sleep but, you must be thinking of the age you want to be and normally you wake up being that age. You also must sleep eight hours plus the number of years you are adding to your current age. Let us use me as an example, I would need to sleep for 9 hours straight to reach the age of 25 years old.”

“I would like to try and age my prince. Will you stay with me?”

“I will not leave your side my angel. I promise.”

Crystal smiles at Quinten and says softly hoping that Quinten would not hear, “I think I am falling in love with you, my prince.”

Quinten looked down at Crystal with shock written across his face and a wide smile across his face. Quinten could not believe that Crystal had just admitted that she was falling in love with him. Quinten desperately wanted to hear Crystal say that sentence again but, he would wait an eternity if he needed to. Quinten kissed Crystal’s soft unmoving lips and said, “I am falling in love with you too my angel.” Quinten thought, what if he said it to Crystal first. Quinten believed that Crystal would like to know how he felt before she said how she felt again. Quinten would make it special and romantic but, first Quinten needed to be sure that Crystal was aging properly. One of the many things that royals could do was see into people’s minds and subconscious if they had enough time to do so. Quinten closed his eyes and easily entered Crystal’s mind. Crystal was concentrating on aging to twenty-five years old but, I could since that she wanted to dream about our future together. Trying not to be invasive Quinten pushed the dreams that were creeping in on Crystal’s concentration. Once Quinten was satisfied that the dreams would not creep in again, he closed his own eyes and fell asleep.

One of the things that Quinten did not tell Crystal was that he could age in half of the time that was normally required. Quinten slept for four and half hours concentrating on the age of twenty-five. When Quinten woke, he could feel his full abilities coursing through his system like they had always been there but, there was a mild headache present. Quinten quickly entered Crystal’s mind to be sure that she was still concentrating on the age of twenty-five which, she was. Quinten quickly checked his cellphone to see if Brody and Lucas had found Michael which, they had in the tree that he had been stationed in but, his mind was completely wiped of any sighting of Zander or how he was able to get into Stephanie’s room. Zander texted Lucas and Brody, I will fix him when Crystal and I come to meet the guards. Quinten placed Crystal gently on her pillow, covered her up with her comforter, and made his way into the bathroom. found a spare toothbrush, brushed his teeth, and looked at himself. Quinten noticed that his eyes were now greener than golden, and his muscles were now larger and more defined.

Quinten looked at his watch and gasped when he saw that Crystal would be up in an hour and half. Quinten quickly made his way into the kitchen, made a quiche then placed it in the oven, and went back to lying next to Crystal. Quinten watched Crystal silently; when she began to stir Quinten pulled her closer to him and watched as her eyes slowly opened. When Crystal had regained her equilibrium and recognized Quinten, she smiled warmly up at him. Crystal’s features were softer, and her curves were much more pronounced. As Quinten ran his hand from Crystal’s arm down to her hip the shocks that passed between them were much stronger than before as well. Quinten felt himself grow hard and tried desperately for Crystal to not notice it. Quinten said continuing to hold Crystal’s hip, “Good morning angel. Why don’t you go shower and get ready for the day then meet me in the kitchen?”

“That sounds lovely my prince.” Crystal said with a smile. Quinten watched Crystal walk slowly to the bathroom. Quinten heard Crystal gasp at her reflection as he made his way back into the kitchen, pulled the quiche out of the oven, set the table before running to get flowers and returned to wait at the table for Crystal.