Her eyes fell on a new name on the parchment she'd never seen before –Lost Kingdom.She stopped, and wracked her mind about what was there before. And it struck her –Desensisfort. The kingdom from Dante’s past.Hiskingdom.
She peered at the sleeping vampire over the map. Her eyes ran to the parchment again and trailed the way to their destination. If she was right their path lies through…Oh. That's why Dante wasn't satisfied with the map's answer. It really spat the bad news in his face – soon they'll pass by the remains of the kingdom he once called home. Painful memories – if trusting his words. He probably never wanted to come back even to see this fragment of the past, what was left of his – once – life. Hishumanlife.Interesting. How much time had passed since the last time he was here?Was this the reason why he rarely looked out the window on the way? Violette was hit once again with a feeling she was trying to overcome – compassion.
She looked up at Dante again, her eyes raked over his dark hair to his calm sleeping face. Her heart sank. In this state she would never have said that in front of her was a murderer and a monster. He looked so harmless, so sweet…And that is exactly why Violette was avoiding feeling sympathy for him. In this light she would easily believe he is an innocent soul. It was so easy to doubt everything she heard about him right now, about the vampire who gutted the whole kingdom. She couldn't let it fool her.
Remember it, Violette.Do not believe anything, especially what you see,sounded in the back of her mind.
Vampires were so easy to trust with their charm. They were the masters of allurement and lying, able to make their prey believe they were just unfortunate souls who were enclosed in the bodies of bloodsuckers. But…Dante had never tried to paint himself as a saint. She remembered Lamia's words and they had been rooting in her head since then.
‘At least, he doesn't pretend to be someone he is not.’
And yet, Dante himself said she can't trust anyone, even him. Was he really just a victim of circumstances or was he just trying to make her believe he is better than he is? He looked so shattered and regretful about what he did…or was heplaying? If so then it was cruel. Something in Violette's heart wanted to believe him, part of her soul wanted to give in, to hope all he said was true and he isn’t the monster as everyone paints him…But she couldn't. If she would do it, she would be foolish. Dante was exactly what he was and she should sink this thought in.
A few hours passed until the coach stopped. Violette couldn't make herself sleep, she might have dozed off for a while, but it didn't last long – the seats were too hard and uncomfortable. She opened her eyes right before the carriage stopped. Dante was already awake.
Her head popped up out the window. They arrived in a town, quite big and crowded. This place lived and flourished; people hurriedly were crossing the roads, the air was brimming with loud conversations, shouting of vendors spread through the streets.
“We'll stay in the inn for a rest and then take another carriage to the final destination,” Dante said and opened the door.
They appeared to be on the main street with a market on the other side. The noise was following them all the way to the place they decided to stay in, until the door closed behind their backs.
While Dante decided to check the availability of the carriage, Violette chose to take a nap, even if it was a short one – a few hours of sleep is better than nothing.
Her muscles ached with a deep soreness, mind clouded with a hazy fog. As soon as she stepped on the threshold of the room, she surrendered to the warmth of the bed.
But soon enough something flew into her face, snatching her from the clutches of the dreams. Her eyes burst open.
“Wake up, Little Witch. Plans have changed.”
“What?” She roughly rubbed her eyes, a slumber still obscuring the clarity of her mind. She blinked continuously until her vision became clear again, finding Dante peering out the window through a gap in the curtains.
“I noticed two vampires in the town. I don't know if they're here for our souls or just to have fun, but we need to get out urgently.” He drew the curtain closed and streaked through the room. “We won't go by carriage, we need to leave unnoticed.”
“If not by carriage, how will we get to the grotto?” she finally spoke, still veiled with the drowsiness, as she almost wore a left boot on her right leg. She picked up the cloak that Dante had thrown at her a minute earlier when she heard his next words.
“On foot.”
“On foot?” Surprise filled her voice.
“Yes. We'll go through the forest,” Dante stated.
“Isn't forest a more dangerous place to hide in?” Her brows pulled together in confusion. It sounded like a terrible idea.
“In any other time, yes. That's why they'll be looking for us in the towns. It's filled with too many scents but that's exactly what would make them think we'd rather be here than in the woods,” he explained.
“I hope you're right because if I die, I will find the way back just to annoy your whole existence to the end of your days,” she snorted.
“I am immortal.”
“Exactly,” she blew.
Dante hurried. “We need to cover up your smell.”
“My smell? Do I stink?” Violette's face contorted in an offended way.
“I'm talking about yourhumanscent,” he evaluated. “Some of the vampires met you before, they can recognize it. Do you have something that you haven't worn yet and that hasn't taken on your scent?”
“I think I have another dress in the bag,” she murmured as her hand reached for another pair of clothes.
