Page 5 of Paying The Vampire

She paused before she answered and I knew then that I had her. I just had to be patient enough to reel her in.

“You could do that?”

“I’m sure I could find a way. There are always answers to mysteries and problems, it’s only a matter of looking in the right place.” I glanced at the forest around us. “I’m not sure that this is such a place. If your fellow wolves can’t help you and the moon is not listening to your prayers then why not try something different? The wealth of artifacts and spell books I possess is vast. I am sure with some study you could discover a solution.”

Her eyes flashed with desire, but she was not ready to commit just yet.

“And if I change my mind would I be allowed to leave? Where do you even come from anyway?” she asked.

I pointed towards the tree upon which I had perched. There was a shimmering portal that looked as though the world had been made from a curtain and just needed to be drawn back. She squinted and then her eyes widened as she realized what it was. I did not wish to rush her, but I knew that time was of the essence. The wolves would be returning soon. I could hear their howls in the distance. She pricked her ears, hearing them too. There was a thoughtful look on her face as her gaze darted back and forth, and all I could do was be patient.

Chapter Four

Willow

The offer he made me seemed too good to be true. I was wary of him because of everything I had been taught. His tongue was charming, his voice melodic, and the way he moved was graceful and purposeful, as though everything he did was by design. There was no wasted energy, no movement that was ever performed without thinking. And now he was offering me a way to search for the truth within myself, to find the wolf within. Was it even possible? Should I do it?

He had been honest about what he offered. Whether I should believe him or not was another matter entirely. Vampires were known to lie, but when he spoke about his loneliness I did indeed get the sense that he knew exactly what he was speaking about. He was right in that we did have it in common and I could not entirely deny this kinship. And I have to admit that the idea of learning from him did appeal to me. I had always been a curious person and the knowledge the wolves possessed did not reach as far as I would have liked. Cassius wasn’t lying when he said that the ambition of the wolves was somewhat limited. Most of their rules were made based on tradition and superstition. They accepted the world as it was given to them without questioning why, and I had often found this attitude frustrating. As much as it seemed frightening to go into a vampire’s lair, the wealth of information promised was alluring. They were known for cataloguing knowledge and if I was going to leave anyway I might as well go to a place where I could learn all that I wanted to learn.

And then he told me about awakening the dormant part of me, the thing that even the moon could not do. Was this too good to be true? Could anyone guarantee this? Did I have a responsibility to try even if it seemed fantastical? The apprehensive, rational part of me kept pulling me back, telling me to be cautious, while the adventurous side urged me to continue.

I had done everything the wolves had ever told me to do. I had prayed to the moon. I had confessed my sins to her. I had tried all the different remedies that they had brewed for me, and none of them had worked. It came time for me to leave. The world was open to me, and why not go with a vampire? It went against everything I had been taught, but obeying tradition had not worked out for me so it seemed obvious that I should try this. I did not want to admit it at the time, but there was another factor that came into consideration as well; he was oddly handsome.

He was strong and tall, but not in a brutish way like Brandon. His skin was not rich and lush with color, but there was something enticing about him, something even perhaps a touch forbidden. Then, in the distance, I heard the wolves howling. Brandon had rallied them and they were storming towards us, ready to drive this vampire from their territory. This might be the only chance I had to grasp this opportunity, and I did not wish to shirk it. I nodded at him and he grinned.

“Come with me Willow,” he said, holding out his hand. I paced towards him and I was surprised at the cool touch of his hand. He drew me into his cloak and I became lost in the dark, billowing folds. Somewhere within these shadows was his hard body. I was certain that I would find it eventually, but then I felt the air grow hotter. There was a smell of ash and brimstone and suddenly we were flying into the air, soaring to the portal. His body was smaller, but his wings were wide and leathery, and he seemed to have no difficulty in carrying me up to the portal. I knew I should have been terrified. I should have been eager to cut this vampire down and thrust a stake through his heart, but perhaps that just proved that I was not meant to be a wolf.

I was meant to be something different, and leaving with Cassius was the only way I was going to learn what that was. We moved towards the portal just as the wolves came into view. I twisted my head behind me to see them, standing there like an army with rows of gleaming eyes and hungry teeth, helpless to stop us as we disappeared through this veil of the world. As we traveled through it I felt a swirling, nauseous sensation. My body felt as though it was being stretched and there was an odd knot twisting in the pit of my stomach. Everything seemed upside down and wherever I looked everything seemed out of place. I kept searching for something to reorient myself, but it all twirled and twisted and tumbled, leaving me feeling as though I was floating. My stomach lurched and all I knew was to hold onto Cassius. I feared that if I let go I would float into the ether and be lost forever.

Then we broke through another veil, this one watery and cold. We spilled out gasping and sputtering into a dark room. I was surrounded by stone. I crashed to the ground, my palms and knees stinging as they bore the brunt of the impact. The smell was stale and musty. I groaned as I looked up, but then it all became too much for me and everything went black. My eyes rolled into the back of my head and I slumped to the floor, the trip having taken everything out of me.

*

I had no idea how much time had passed when I awoke. I gasped sharply, my hands running over my body to make sure that everything was intact. I was still wearing the same clothes as I had when coming here, and from what I could tell there were no wounds. My head still spun though, and it took me a few deep breaths to calm myself. I moved slowly, rising tentatively in the hope of moving past this dizzying feeling. I managed to get to a sitting position before groaning, still feeling groggy.

At first I wondered if this had all been a dream, if Cassius was just a figment of my imagination and I had actually slipped under the surface of the water and almost drowned. However, one glance at my surroundings made it clear that I was not at home any longer. I was in a cold room. The bed was beside the wall. It was wide and long, and I disappeared into it. Scarlet blankets were draped across the bed, although I had made them messy. Along the opposite wall was a desk, upon which sat two candles burning. The flickering flames fought through the darkness in the room. I looked towards the window, wondering if it was night, but there seemed to be a perpetual fog stretching across the land. I leaned out and saw a sheer drop below me. The castle was carved into the mountain, with a winding path leading down. A dark forest lay at the base, which stretched out as far as the eye could see, although much of it was obscured by this fog. It was hard to tell where the land ended and the sky began because this mist stretched across the firmament too, and the only way I could tell it apart was to see the pale, winking sun faintly glowing behind the mist. It was a far cry from the world I had been used to, and I began to regret my decision. It was no wonder Cassius had left this world, but I had not yet understood why he returned.

I turned my attention back to the desk. There was something resting on the chair. I picked up the package. It was addressed to me. There was a small card with my name on it, and a wax rose stamped into the card. It was an invitation to dinner. I opened the package and my mouth dropped as I was greeted with the most impressive, extravagant dress I had ever seen. I pulled it out and let it lay over my arms. The fabric was soft and silken. The main body of the dress was a deep scarlet, while there was black lace running around the hem, and this would be used to fasten the dress together. The outfit also contained a lace choker, black again, as well as red elbow length gloves. I had never seen anything like this before, and felt quite honored that he had given me this gift.

I lay it on the bed as I undressed, and then slipped the dress on. It fit me perfectly, if a little snug. I tied up the lace tightly and looked down at my cleavage, which was bursting out of the dress. Had Cassius planned this, or was it just a happy coincidence for him? I would have to watch him as he had promised this was not going to be something physical. I was here to learn, that was all.

I then placed the choker around my neck and slipped on the gloves. After this I noticed that a pair of shoes had been left for me under the desk as well, so I put these on. Cassius seemed to have judged everything perfectly, and it did make me feel special. I had never attended a dinner like this before. I looked for a mirror, but did not see one, so I had to guess at my appearance as I attempted to fix my hair. I twisted my hips around to make sure that my dress was fitting well at the back, although I had to largely make my best guess here as I couldn’t see properly.

My heart fluttered with nerves as I was in this new place with this stranger, and given the way we had come into this world I wasn’t sure how easy it was going to be for me to leave. The outside environment did not seem welcoming either, so for the most part I was stuck here. If it was a mistake then I had no doubt I would find out soon. If the rest of the pack knew that I had gone away with a vampire willingly then I’m sure they would think I had lost my mind. I wondered what Brandon would have told them, before realizing that it did not matter any longer. They were no longer of concern to me. I might never seem them again.

I had just been about to leave the room when this thought occurred to me, and it made me pause. I placed my hand against the frame of the door and furrowed my brow. I had been thinking of leaving for a long time, but for it to have actually happened was astonishing. I had taken a huge step towards independence and it had happened so quickly it was difficult to come to terms with. My life had changed dramatically and now I had no idea where the future was going to lead.

But now was not the time to rue the choice I had made. I was a free person and did not have to be shackled to my pack or to the expectations others had placed upon me. This was the path of freedom and it was one that I would walk along with my head held high, no matter what happened. If it was a mistake to trust this vampire then at least it was a mistake I was allowed to make. I would rather that than remain within the pack, always yearning to break free, yet never having the courage to do so.

The door led to a wide corridor. The wind whispered through it as though there was a constant companion around. There were places where torches could be held, but none of them were lit. The darkness was stifling and seemed to swirl around every corner, hiding something that remained elusive. A shiver passed down my spine, but I tried to remind myself that nothing here could hurt me. Cassius had promised I would be safe.

I descended some stairs and as I walked along another corridor I noticed the paintings hanging on the walls, portraits of people I assumed to be Cassius’ ancestors. Their eyes seemed to gaze at me. The color of the paint had faded somewhat, giving the portraits a ghostly look. It was quite an apt description I thought, because this entire place seemed eerie, as though it had been devoid of life for far too long. I could not fathom how Cassius could have lived here by himself for many years and not lost his mind. No wonder he was lonely, and it was clear that any mistakes he made when conversing must have been due to the fact he had not had any company for so long. There was still one thing that confused me though; how I was the one woman in all the worlds who had commanded his attention. Had there been other companions aside from me, or was I truly this special? If so, how? I certainly did not feel it.

It wasn’t a question I was going to get an answer to by myself though. I walked through the labyrinthine hallways, getting turned and twisted around, wondering how I was ever going to learn the layout of this castle. I came through the corridor with the portraits again and this time I took a different route, breathing with relief when I came to a wide staircase and an open chamber. A chandelier, unlit, hung from the ceiling. A wide table stretched out in the middle of the room. A lavish feast lay on the table, while candles flickered in the middle of the table. There was roasted meat, colorful vegetables, glasses of wine, soup, figs, apples… far too much for just two people. It looked enough to feed an entire village. And there, at the other end of the table, sat my host, Count Cassius von Aachen, a deadly creature who had not made any threats towards me.

He rose slowly and walked towards me, his boots clapping against the stone floor. He extended a hand as I stepped down from the final stair, and he pressed his lips against my glove. I had never been greeted in this manner before, never treated with such prestige and grace. I blushed and allowed him to lead me to my seat, which he pushed in underneath me. Now it was time to see what kind of man this vampire truly was.

Chapter Five

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