Meanwhile Dante leaned closer to Violette and whispered to her, “If you want to slap his face I will highly approve of it and will pretend it didn't happen.” The corners of his mouth pulled up.
Violette darted her gaze to him but it didn't make her laugh, she was irritated and wanted to leave this company as soon as possible.
“So,” Dante cleared his throat, putting his hand on her shoulder. “It wasnotnice to meet you, andnotnice to talk with you, but we must leave. We have much other business before the sunset,” he finished, taking her by the hand and pushing the vampires to the side, heading forward.
Violette glared at the red-haired vampire with malice – he shared that feeling.
“They are hideous,” she whispered, scowling.
“They are,” Dante simply confirmed.
He turned out to be right, these vampires definitely had no respect for any other kind of living beings. They were rude and overbearing. Itwas hard to accept it but that is exactly what Dante warned her about and it felt sickening. She couldn't believe someone would behave like this with her or with any other human, just like they owned her. She was nothing more than a pretty doll who was expected to do anything they wanted and she must either say what they want or just shut her mouth. Hard to believe these night demons once were humans – humanity left their souls a long time ago.
Violette started to believe the corridor seemed to be a maze. The same walls, the same candelabra and windows with maroon drapes with no view except of the blackness outside.
She felt the necessity to fill the silence formed between them. These walls were putting pressure on her, the air seemed heavy and the awkwardness she felt only grew inside her.
“They don't like you,” Violette stated clumsily.
Dante speared her with a withering look as if she said the most obvious thing.
“You don't like me either,” he responded simply.
“It's different. I have reasons.”
“Who said they don't?”
"What are the reasons then?”
“You don't stop surprising me, Little Witch.” His head turned in her direction as she did the same, meeting her baffled stare. “Thinking I will actually give you an answer,” he finished the sentence andViolette brows dropped immediately. “If you stay this naive, it can end badly for you.”
“Why do all your words sound like a threat?” Her forehead pinched.
“I am the least you have to be wary of.”
“That is exactly what the most dangerous person would say to its prey,” she pointed out, the corners of her mouth raised up and nose wrinkled.
“You see yourself as prey?” His voice filled with teasing.
“I seeyouas a predator.”
“Ohh, you'd kill me with that statement if I wasn't already dead.”
Now Violette was the one who gave him a withering look, causing him an even more satisfied smile. Actually, of all of the vampires she saw today, Dante seemed to her the most innocent. Perhaps it was a deceptive impression because, after all, he was the only vampire with a mask on his mouth. But all of them were giving Violette an inescapable feeling like she was indeed in the predator's lair.
She suspected she had to be afraid of Dante the most and she had plenty of reasons for this, however, she'd be lying saying she doesn't feel somewhat safe around him. She knew that he wouldn't harm her, after all he needed her, and there would be no use of a dead person. He posed no danger to her, at least not now. Though, other vampires wouldn't be averse to feasting on her blood. How strange it was to realize that the most dangerous vampire hadn't inspired her withthe proper fear as much as the other pawns. Maybe it was because of their sparkling teeth and the fact that they were flashing them at her. A thirst for the blood in their eyes was brightening with red, truly terrifying as if they already knew which part of the body to sink their teeth in.
Finally their eyes met the red wooden door at the end of the hallway, surrounded by a few other smaller ones. Her ears caught Dante's deep breath, her eyes darted to him just before they stopped.
“Ready?” he asked, raising his hand to the door to knock.
Violette nodded, however she had no idea what she had to be ready for. She didn't know what to expect from this meeting, though Dante convinced her Caidas will definitely ask her about the connection they have and she must be a master of lies no matter what he'll ask her. He was a vampire, she couldn't imagine how she was supposed to trick him but it didn't seem as as she had any other options.
A concise thud on a wooden surface rang down the corridor and the door opened with a strained creak.
Chapter 22
THE LORD OF DEATH
