BOUND BY FANG AND CURSE

CHAPTER 2

Ishtar

Time. It was all I had now, trapped in the beauty of my castle and its once immaculately manicured grounds. Every day was the same. The halls were empty. The air grew stale, as if no one lived in the castle, and yet, inside the hall, the party continued. My guests were stuck in an endless loop, not even realizing they had been there for so long. Time meant nothing to them, and yet, when I entered the hall needing company, it was as if I had never left. Their dresses and suits were still immaculate. Their smiles were still intact. Their hair, pulled back in an elegant updo, held its shape even after so much time dancing at the same party.

I didn't know what was more infuriating. Wandering the halls and gardens, trying to find a way out, or dancing nonstop in the ballroom and almost forgetting the problem. Silas had screwed me. When I caught up with him... how I imagined, in so many vivid and detailed ways, that I would kill him, but death would be too quick. Too easy for someone so evil.

My bedroom was now a dangerous prison instead of the opulent suite it had been. The dresses hung in the wooden armoire, gathering dust along with all the castle belongings, allowing me to see how long Silas had cursed me in this castle. At least I wasn't suffering from hunger as an incorporeal vampire; otherwise, I would have eaten the human guests by now. I didn't bother asking anyone in the ballroom if there was food, as they always seemed content. Better to leave them that way than have them panic about being trapped in the castle.

Damn.

As far as curses go, Silas had done a good job. I hadn't expected him to be so skilled, but then he turned to dark magic, which probably increased his power.

I wandered through the halls. Every now and then, I stopped and tried to touch something, but my hand slipped right through. Nothing ever changed, except the dust that accumulated in the castle. The castle walls creaked as if in agreement. Since the curse, the castle itself had been a living presence. Objects were moved daily. One day, the paintings on the third floor were all on the first. Another day, the dining room dishes were stacked in the library. Humans believed ghosts were the ones who moved objects, but perhaps a warlock or witch cursed their houses too. I would never understand why I was trapped here.

Forever.

I strode out. At least I had some freedom compared to the vampires and humans in the living room, but they didn't understand that Silas had cursed them. It was different not knowing you were trapped. They always smiled. They always greeted me cheerfully. I shuddered to think what it would be like if they realized they couldn't escape that room.

The night air was pleasant, as always. The stars shone in a clear sky. The full moon bathed the gardens in a silvery glow. I wandered through the herb garden, pulling weeds as I went. It was strange to be able to touch the plants in the garden but not the objects in the castle, but I welcomed any contact. You didn't miss something until you lost it. Touching and being touched was one of those things. I bent down and brushed my hand against the basil, inhaling the scent that came with it.

Vampires didn't eat, but that didn't mean we didn't enjoy the scent of food. Any food a person ate flavored their blood. It also made hunting more interesting. We sought out a specific flavor. Some vampires even staked out restaurants when they found tasty blood. When I was corporeal, I frequented a fruit stand in a small town in France. Those who ate there had some of the sweetest blood I'd ever tasted. My mouth watered as I remembered the sensation of eating. Something I hadn't done in a long time. My fangs lengthened and descended to my lower lip. Blood spurted to the surface, and I licked it clean before my advanced healing speed sealed the wound.

I was so desperate. I wanted to drink my blood. Just because I wasn't hungry didn't mean I didn't crave the euphoria of drinking blood. The feel of my fangs sinking into soft flesh. The swish of blood as it spurted into my mouth and filled my tongue.

I plucked a mint leaf and held it to my nose to stop the smell of blood and my insatiable need for it. Though I wasn't hungry or in need of blood's sustenance in this disembodied form, I still craved to feed. The urge was rooted in my vampiric DNA.

The herb garden path led to the greenhouse. Inside, the irrigation system was running, misting the orchids and lilies. Vibrant orchid blooms rose from the plants' thick green leaves. Their faces smiled at me. The lilies were a softer color, their orange stamens protruding from the spiky petals. Fine droplets of water fell on my skin and splashed on my eyelashes. I blinked them away as I crossed the greenhouse and exited through the other door. My nightly shower. I laughed to myself, since no one was around to hear me. I could go into the ballroom and laugh with the others, but keeping the curse to myself was wearing me down.

How much longer would I bear this burden? I put these vampires and the people in this situation by saying no to Silas. Would they understand? Or would they have wanted me to accept a blood oath?

I didn't want to risk them turning on me. Because I believed I'd find a cure. Someday. Somehow, I'd find it.