Dante disappointedly cocked his head to the side. That was not a reaction he probably waited for or he was disappointed she did exactly this raw gesture – just run. He couldn't blame her though, she was a human, they're always running and only then thinking. It didn't even come to her head to reach for the magic wand, completely baffled and scared. All she could hear in her head wasRunas if she was prey who just realized it was in thecage all this time, playing with the predator's fingers until it would squeeze it in his hand.
She bumped right into his chest.
“You don't want to make it that dramatic, do you, Little Witch?” he said as she stepped back and in a second she was again running past him.
He let her. He didn't really try to catch her, waiting when she finally realized it and just stopped. But she didn't mean to. Instead, she was scared that if she stopped, it would make it even worse. There was nothing in her head – she immediately forgot about the deal, about why they were there, her thoughts just scattered away. A blankness in her mind. All she could hear is how loud and strong her heart was pounding. Another realization struck her – in the minutes of silence between them she'd never heard his heartbeat, not even a ghostly sound of it.
Something seized her hand, dragging her with a tremendous force until her back crashed against the wall.
“Don't touch me!” she wanted to scream but it came out so unnaturally, so dim and hoarse as he pressed her against the wall with his hands on either side of her.
“You're making it complicated,” his voice was calm and unshakable unlike her continuous panting.
She tried to catch the air but instead she caught his words as he again made an attempt to calm her down.
“Breathe,Little Witch. That's what distinguishes you from the dead.”
Violette finally was able to open her eyes and she wanted to scream at him, to punch him, to seem mad but instead she breathed with crispness in her voice.
“What are you?” The gasp left her lungs, the blood curled inside her veins.
“And what do you think?” The corners of his eyes rose.
“Just because I can wiz doesn't mean I can read minds.”
“Well, you just think about it a bit. Who else can be muzzled on the face?”
“Someone who bites…” she aired uncertainly and carefully, as if this answer did not seem funny and absurd.
“Well, now add two plus two. Night, biting and, I will give you a clue –blood,” he nearly whispered, arousing goosebumps all over her.
She swallowed, stiffness instead of shaking occupied her body as she didn't want to believe his words.
“Your words have no meaning,” she managed to say, her voice trembling.
“Why?” His gaze seemed so deep and intense, freezing the time between them.
“Because vampires do not exist,” she breathed.
“Really? Then why is one of them looking at you right now?” His eyes flashed like a hawk's.
“No…” Her chest heaved. “You just want to fool me like you always do.”
He softly laughed, lowering his head and eyes to the ground then taking his gaze back to her starry eyes focused on him.
“Why would I lie to you about this? Why do you think I have this stupid thing on my face? If you have another explanation I'd like to hear one.” The last words came out almost like a whisper, while his intense gaze stayed with her.
Violette almost hadn't blinked, she couldn't. She stared at him in disbelief, waiting for magical relieving wordsI'm just kiddingfrom his mouth but they didn't come.
“Vampires do not exist, not anymore. It is just legends…”
“Oh yes, legends – half the truth, half the fiction, right?” His words came out stolid.
“It's not possible…” Her lashes fluttered.
He pulled away but she couldn't shift her gaze to anything else. The words didn't come to her throat, she didn't even try to find them or force herself to speak. She couldn't believe that all this time she'd been working and communicating with the real vampire, a monster, a night demon being, sucking blood.
“Who locked you in the…mask?” she asked cagily, still standing where he left her.
