Violette’s gaze locked with his intensity and that's where she could say the purest truth. “No, I don't.”
The vampire fell silent for a moment. He made a deep sigh, before continuing more blandly, “Do you understand why he is imprisoned in that mask? Did you see any other vampire with something like this here?”
“No, but I didn't see a lot of them. Good for me, I guess,” she said, holding his gaze like it was a game of who will give up first and she definitely didn't plan to lose.
“Wonder why?” His voice dropped. “Dear Violette, you should understand that Dante is not like any other vampire here.” His back straightened, getting away from her – Violette's chest rose, feeling the relief.
“He is not a rebel. He is ananchorite. He had never actually sought control in his bloodlust. He doesn't care how much to take.” Caidas waved his hand and turned his back to her. His tone changed, “I tried to teach him, to help him, but it was useless. You can't really help a person who doesn't seek salvation.”
Violette drew a glance at him before quickly looking away. It was tiring – to sit here, to lie and try to prove she is just a clueless girl, especially when her opponent was an old vampire who definitely wasn't born yesterday. The air wrapping her was even more suffocating than his attempts to get the truth from her mouth.
“Caidas…” she breathed, “I understand you but I can't help you. Dante promised me something and it's very important.”
She still wasn't about to lay all the cards on the table, however she wanted to share some truth. Maybe it would make it believable after all.
“Don't be scared of him. I will take care of it, of you and your situation. Whatever he offered you, I can do it as well and even more. You have no reason to be afraid of Dante if you'll trust me.”
Afraid? She wasn't afraid of Dante. She disliked his view on a lot of things, he annoyed her – sometimes even too much – he was shameless and at the same time secretive, cold and aloof. But not scary and Gods know why.
“You don't understand.” Another brief moment of truth. She kept reminding herself to not overshare. Good thing he couldn't get into her mind, perhaps Dante wasn't much weaker than him: his protection was working just fine. “We made a vow. My hands are tied. Literally.”
Caidas fetched anothersigh. He was probably fed up with this conversation as well as she.
Violette had felt something else – Caidas didn't just dislike Dante, he truly despised him. She couldn't get whatever was going on between them, between Dante and vampires, but this time she was confident that it's none of her business. Not here. Not now.
“Then tell me his plan, maybe I can–”
“No,” she said firmly, her shoulders straightened. “I will not risk it. I understand what you're doing, and your duties. Though, I wouldn't trust you either, not you, not Dante, not any other vampire. Maybe it's the only good advice he gave me. I'm sorry, but if you want to stop him – do it without my help. I'll do my part and then I'll go back home to my life, leaving all this behind.”
“Dante is a monster, Violette. Once you unleash him – you will not be able to control it.” Caidas took one last chance to convince her, “All he is driven by is thirst and hunger. While other vampires have limits, he does not.”
“And yet it doesn't change anything,” she swallowed. She understood Caidas' worries, she truly did, but all she could really concentrate on was her father. He needed that cure,sheneeded it.
Caidas pressed, “I can help you to get rid of him. To get rid of the deal, you will be free without making your part. And I will accomplish his part, how about that?”
“What do you mean?” She recoiled with caution, a drop of mistrust, her hands tensed around the armrests.
He walked around the wooden desk and pulled one of the shelves towards him. An oblong box of a cobalt color appeared in his hands. His fingers stroked along the velvet surface embossed with an intricate black tracery, opening the case.
Violette's gaze followed his every move as he pulled a familiar dagger out of the box. Her eyes narrowed. She'd already seen this shape of the blade, and this handle strewn with rubies was familiar to her…The Vampire Slayer.
Her back straightened, a tingling sensation went down her spine.
“Where…How?” Her tongue twisted, her mind couldn't comprehend how it could be in Caidas' hands if it was in her bag.
“I see you know what it is, right?” His index finger ran along the steel blade of the dagger.
“Dante has the same,” she remarked.
“Right, he really does,” Caidas confirmed and then came closer, leaning back to the edge of the table. “Exceptthisis a real one.”
“What do you mean?” She pulled her head back, a lack of trust pulsating in her temples.
“Dante has a copy, one that can't really kill a vampire.”
She frowned. “Does he know?”
“Of course he knows. He is not stupid to carry a dagger with himself that can kill him.”
