“Dante is helping me,” she voiced without hesitation. She needed to be more convincing. She felt the pressure Dante set on her with his stare.
“Helping?” Caidas looked at Dante nearly with aversion. His forehead wrinkled, one of the brows raised in a question like she said something ridiculously stupid.
“I am full of surprises.” Dante forced a smile.
“Oh, I know you are,” something bitter embraced the vampire's tone. “So what is he helping you with?” His attention got back to Violette again.
“Well, my father is ill and Dante kindly offered me his help to find a cure for him,” she stated.
“A cure?”
Violette nodded.
“And what does he want in return?” Caidas eyes slightly narrowed.
“He was just being nice. Is it not enough?”
“Not for someone like him.” He nearly frowned.
“A lot of years went by. Maybe I just changed,” Dante cut in, his voice appeased. “Couldn't I? Maybe I just want to be useful, to redeem myself.”
“Oh, no. Don't try to make me believe this. Such people as you do not change. We all know you do not care about others' feelings and well-being.”
“You are saying this like other vampires are not the same,” Dante grumbled.
“Do not think I will believe you would offer someone help just because you really wanted to do so.”
Dante annoyingly clicked with his tongue.
“This is what we'll do. I want to speak with our dear human guest alone for a few minutes,” Caidas said after some thought. “Dante, could you leave us?”
Dante's jaw tightened. Violette doubted he liked this idea but he left the room without a word. And before disappearing, he sent her a look, reminding to remember everything he said about Caidas and vampires before.
“Can't vampires hear through the walls?” Violette asked as they were left alone.
“Not through these,” Caidas stated calmly, a benevolent smile took its place on his face again. “This place is enchanted. Take a seat, please.”
She glanced at the chair and sat in it, her shoulders tensed up. “Do you value privacy? How old are you? You look not much older than Dante.”
“You're a curious girl.” He bowed his head to the side.
“Well, it's not a crime.”
“Or,” he continued, “you’re trying to engage me in conversation to divert my attention.”
“To fool the oldest vampire who'd walked this world? I am not that smart.”
“I don't think so.” The corners of his mouth turned up again. He was right with his assumption, sadly her tactic was revealed too quickly.
“Violette, don't be afraid that someone will hear you,” he went on, this time he leaned slightly in. His gaze was penetrating, as if trying to inspire trust in her soul. “You can tell me the truth. Dante will not do anything bad to you. Just tell me what he wants from you.”
“I told you everything you should know,” she asserted. At least, she wasn't lying. She definitely told him onlythatpart he wasallowedto know.
“You know, I don't think about my own needs, Violette. I am worried about others, that's my duty. Vampires and people both.” Caidas pushed off from the edge of the table and began to measure the room in steps. “My vampires learned how to live with people, controlling their urges for blood. Some of them even have friends in your world. But Dante…” He gazed back at Violette. “He's not like this. He doesn't have any respect for others, doesn't matter if they are humans or vampires or any other kind of person. He doesn't stick to the rules, never followed them, never really tried.”
Violette's hands fell onto her skirt after a deep sigh, revealing that hisattempts were hopeless. “I'm sorry but I don't know what you want to hear from me, Caidas. I've already said all I had to.” Her eyes got back to his face as his figure stopped in front of her. He leaned forward, pressing his hands on the armrests of the chair on either side.
“Do you think I don't know he is trying to take his mask off?” In a moment Caidas' voice became sharper, Violette held her breath. “He knows I know it as well. I just don't understand your role in this. I know you're somehow connected to all of it. You know the way to take it off, right?”
