“Not really good people,” he said mysteriously, raising the corners of his mouth, as if their conversation was something amusing and not a revelation of a terrible truth.
“And you…want to take it off?” She trembled.
“Would you like to have a mask on your face forever?”
She let these words past her ears.
“If you will do it…You– If I will help you then I'll free a–” She abruptly fell silent.
“Please, don't be shy.” He knew exactly what word she wanted to say, and he wasn't surprised or offended. But she still changed it, she couldn't possibly say it. To call him a…monster.
“Then you will be able to drink blood again,” she said instead.
“Don't be fret, Little Witch, I won't touch you. It would be too rude and ungrateful after all your help.”
“I don't worry about myself,” her voice suddenly became rougher. “You're trapped in this thing for a reason. This changes the meaning of our deal radically. I didn't sign up to help the vampire start the hunt again!” she burst.
“You can't start a hunt if it has never ended,” Dante said. “Do you think I am the only one?” His brows drew together while Violette's eyes glistened with tears. “Vampires live around for hundreds of years, they suck blood and use people all the time. If you don't notice it – doesn't mean it doesn't happen.”
A sickening taste came to her throat, voice still unstable.
“And when were you going to tell me? Were you thinking of hiding it until we are done with the deal?”
“I didn't try to hide it, Little Witch. I was just interested when you'll guess. It took you more time than I expected.” He leaned at the wall.
“Yes! Because it's all legends!” she snapped.
“Now you know sometimes what legends say is true. That's why it's called this way.” His eyes flashed with mirth.
“If you think it's funny then you have a perverse sense of humor.” She glowered.
He shrugged. “Nobody is perfect.”
“If nobody is perfect then you are just completely faulty,” she greeted her teeth, finally taming her trembling.
“Oh,the attitude.” He shot her a proud smile. “Glad I wasn't wrong about you.”
The line appeared between her brows. “Can't say the same about you. What else are you hiding? Your brother is a mummy and you have a friend who howls at the moon?”
“I know one vampire who did this to scare some residents of one village.” Playfulness hadn't left his voice, still taunting her and it couldn't not be annoying. She started to think that his serious side wasn't that bad after all, she kind of started to miss it.
Her fingers brushed a strand of hair behind her ear when she lowered her eyes. She had nothing to say, moreover, she would need time to digestwhat she had learned in the last couple of minutes.
“Either way, you have no choice. We made a deal, there's no way to back out,” he reminded.
“I know what we did,” her words fell like a stone. “I just need to think. I need some time,” she said honestly. And surprisingly, he showed understanding as he didn't say a word and was quiet all the way back to the inn.
Unbelievable. Horrendous. Just dreadful. How could she get into this? How could she possibly be that unlucky to meet a vampire and even make a deal with him? Stupid girl! She shouldn't have done it, she knew it's a stupid decision to trust a stranger but she couldn't imagine, even in the wildest dreams, that it would turn out like this. Decision after decision, the blindness of hope led her to this moment of truth and regret.
Every step, every stair was just a new shameful thought until Violette buried herself in bed. She turned her head right into the pillow, thinking how unfortunate and miserable she was right now. Why was she punished just for trying to save a dear person to her heart, her beloved father? And it didn't matter how much she would reproach herself for her mistakes, it would not change one thing that was now clear as the sky that night – she had no choice but to help a vampire. Little did she know how fateful the innocent decision to make a deal in that cave will be. She can't just run away right now, they were tied with the vow.
She rolled on her back, her gaze fixated on the ceiling.
Stupid girl. Dante should have called you Stupid Witch, her inner voice scolded.
And with that thought his look appeared in her mind. She covered her face with her hands. She didn't want to think about him, especially not now. She didn't want to even imagine talking with him tomorrow. He lied to her even if he said he didn't. He still didn't tell her the truth and now she was trapped. Such a jerk!
After a long time rethinking her life and decisions and calling herself all possible offensive words, she closed her eyes, trying at all cost, to not think about the vampire on the opposite side of the wall.
