The She-wolf and The Prince

A reciprocal love.

CHAPTER 08

May 1811

A few minutes after the prince left, Alia decided to go to her room to change. She looked at Ryan who was standing in the corner of the room, avoiding the sunlight. The window may have been small, but the panes of glass that made it up diffused light throughout most of the room.

- Don't you want to stay in my room, until the sun is more tolerant? she proposed to him, thinking about the boy's situation.

- No. I don't think that's a good idea. I don't think it's a good idea. If I'm seen downstairs, I might get into trouble, something I want to avoid at all costs. You can go. Don't worry about me. I've lived like this for all these years, so this isn't a day that's going to finish me off.

Alia wanted to retort, but knocks at the back door stopped her in her tracks. Instead of getting angry as usual, she went to open the door. At the threshold, a black man barely older than Ryan in white pants and shirt stood. He bowed his head in greeting and handed her a wooden box.

- My master asked me to give this to you. He says it's for the gentleman," he informed her. It's his gift.

Hesitant at first, she finally took it.

- Thank you.

- He also said that he is walking outside and that you can join him if you wish.

- I will. Thank you.

- I'll leave you to it," he said.

Then he left without looking back.

- What is it?

- A kind of paste.

- Could I have it please?

- Yes, please. Of course.

She handed him the box. He scanned the contents for a moment, then ran his finger over it.

- It's a cream, he noticed.

- A cream against the sun?

- I suppose so.

Alia and Ryan looked at each other, puzzled. They both wondered inside what could be going on in Alois Harrington's head.

By reflex, Alia went to scan the landscape. She then distinguished the man with half a ponytail in his neat suit. Suddenly, she saw him raise his head and, having surely seen her, raise my hand in his direction. Caught in the act, she quickly moved away from the window, having noticed that Alois Harrington had seen her. The rest of this man had intrigued her. She didn't know if she should be suspicious or trust him.

- Do you think he can be trusted?

- I have no idea. Of the three, he's the one I know the least. I can't tell if he's a good or bad person. I find him rather enigmatic.

- You mean he's never behaved badly to you?

- To tell you the truth, he began thoughtfully, he's never been mean to me, but he doesn't show me any signs of affection either. The only things he does for me have been to send a slave to furnish this room and another to teach me the basics of reading who brings me books from time to time.

- It's an emotional gesture. It probably means he likes you.

- That's what I thought at first. But you know what? Once, when Hiden and Anemone were bullying me, he was there and turned his back on me when I begged for help. After that day, he left the castle and moved to London, leaving me a small vial of blood. For me he is a rather enigmatic man. But what do you think of him? What was your first impression?

Alia came and sat on the bed and breathed. She remembered the first time she had met Alois. He was dressed all in black and standing by one of the trees inside the estate like a ghost; he was like a menacing shadow. Then she saw him approaching her until his face seemed distinct. Despite the situation, he had not inspired her with fear or dread. Their visual exchange had not lasted long because she had run away at full speed.

- I think he is different from the others. He doesn't have that evil aura that Hiden and Anemone have. However, I can't tell you that he can be trusted because he doesn't really inspire me.

- I see that your wolf instinct is still working.

- That's normal. I'm in the middle of a forest or in a room made of bricks, I'm still a wolf. And maybe one day I'll be able to awaken my vampire instincts.

- I prefer that you remain a she-wolf rather than a half vampire, he admitted.

- And why is that? If I become a full hybrid, I can protect you. I'd be strong enough for both of us.

- You have no idea what it's like to be a vampire and be hungry. Would you kill people to see their blood?

- Well... I'll only drink a small amount of their blood.

- You won't. Vampirism awakens the darker sides of those who have been turned. Feelings like comparison, sadness, love, empathy in general evaporate for some and are repressed in others. It takes time and determination for the repressed emotions to come to the surface.

- How do you know all this?

- I read books on the subject. In fact, the first book I managed to read on my own was about it. Now you understand why I don't want to drink human blood and why I don't want you to?

- But still, you often drink my blood but you never hurt me.

- That's because you are a lycanthrope. Is your blood special or is it because of your vampire blood?

He opened the wooden box and put the cream on his face and hands.

- What are you doing?

- I'm trying to see what happens.

He went to join Alia who was under the light. The cream worked.

- Alia, I love you and I care about you more than my own life. I love everything about you and if you were to change, I would die.

He looked so worried as he pleaded with her that she felt guilty.

- Then I'll stay a wolf, so I can keep the love I have for you. It would be a shame not to be able to love you anymore.

They exchanged a smile and she stroked his cheek and he stroked her hair.

- I've always loved your hair.

- It's mutual.

They both laughed.

- I think it's time for me to go.

- Okay. I'm going to miss you, even if it's only for a few minutes. Take care of yourself.

- I will.

She gave him a kiss and left...