Savor (19 page)

“The king requests your presence,” Robin said with a small bow.

“Thank you,” Evilyn exited the room in her usual manner, floating above the ground, but not before she stopped to take one last look at me. “I am very proud of you, Claire. I see in you a spirit much like your dad’s. A phoenix that rises from the ashes of chaos. Should our world be threatened, I am grateful we have you on our side.”

My dad. It was a weird thought to process, my revealing a trait of a man that I was not born from. Nonetheless, I took the compliment gratefully and bowed my head to her before she left. I still feared that I wouldn’t be able to do the great many things everyone expected of me, but I did know that I wanted to with all my being.

When the door was solidly shut, Robin pulled her hood down and plopped down on an arm chair. Even with her gothic-like attire, her happy disposition showed through the dark garment and black streak across her face.  “Interesting attire we have to wear for this thing,” I said as I blew a strand of hair out of my face and sat on the loveseat.

“It’s traditional for vampires to wear black in this ceremony. It’s to set us apart from the Blood Mate who must wear red. Many say red was chosen to both honor and shame them, but most Blood Mates feel no shame in wearing it.”  Robin beamed at being able to give me another history lesson. “So it looks like you and the queen had a good talk. You seem happier now.” 

“I am… I think,” I replied, returning Robin’s smile. “So have you found out anything else that is going on?” I was secretly hoping the ceremony had been called off and I could run to find Dmitry as quickly as possible.

“Nicolae refused to give them Blood Mates and they aren’t happy about it, to say the least.”

“So what happens now?”

“The ceremony is going to be conducted as scheduled. I was told to make sure you were ready and to request that the queen meet with him.” I knew that’s what she was going to say.

“What am I supposed to do during this ceremony? Is it going to be like my transformation?” I didn’t want to sound like a wuss, but I wasn’t particularly looking forward to going through any more horrific pain at the moment.

“No. At least I don’t think so. From what I’ve read, and what my dad has told me, it is a fairly short ceremony. Much like a wedding rite in some respects,” I gulped loudly and Robin giggled. “Don’t worry; you won’t actually be married to the guy.”

“Good.” It sounded easy enough and my nerves settled. “How much longer ‘til it starts?”

“My mom will come in and get us when it’s time.”

Robin and I chatted for a while about everything except the ceremony.  I teased her about her dancing partner from the coronation ball, and she didn’t seem to mind talking about him at all. I liked seeing her happy and wondered if there was anything I could do to make this vampire dream boy of hers have a reason to visit us more often.

When Mara entered the room, my nerves had successfully settled and I was ready to proceed to this mysterious Blood Mate ceremony that would forever bond me to another man. It sounded a lot like marriage to me, so to keep my fears at bay, I prayed that when I walked down the aisle, it would be Dmitry waiting for me, dressed in a red cape with his devilish grin. The thought brought a smile to my face.

Robin left when Mara entered and I was then led through another hallway that brought us back to the main doorway of the temple. Seeing the doors again made me remember the story Robin told me about Nicolae. I thought about him rising from the fearful and oppressed vampires of old, and leading them to freedom and a new life. “A phoenix from the ashes,” I whispered to myself.

“What did you say, dear?” Mara asked.

“Oh nothing.”

“When you hear the bell toll, these doors will open for you.” I nodded as she lifted my hood over my hair. “Walk slowly down the aisle and keep your focus on the statue of Nyx.” I figured that would be easy to do. At the very end of the aisle stood a tall, stone statue of the goddess. Her head was cast down to look at the altar below her.

“Then what?” I asked.

“Just follow the priest’s instructions, Claire, and you will do fine. Now remember, do not enter until the…”

“Until the bell tolls. I remember.” I smiled at her and she sped off the way we had come.

I closed my eyes and tried to focus on my breathing as I waited. The world seemed deathly quiet and any miniscule sound seemed to be amplified as it was carried down the hall to me. For a brief moment, I thought I heard the clatter of pans in the kitchen… or was it Ana’s evil cackle bouncing off the palace walls? Either way, it made goose bumps prickle across my skin.

When the bell rang, it was incredibly loud and I felt like I had been standing at the top of a bell tower. My very bones rattled at the sound and if I hadn’t already been biting my lip, I might have screamed aloud.

The wooden doors parted of their own accord, silently yet heavily rolling across the marble floor. When they came to a stop, I waited, unsure of when I should begin walking. I expected everyone to turn toward me as they would during a human wedding to watch a bride walk down an aisle. But each hooded figure kept their faces pointed forward and cast slightly upward toward the face of the goddess.

At the end of the aisle stood a vampire priest, his face shadowed by a hood. Unlike the rest of us, he wore a cape of shimmering white and I assumed it was to represent the moon. He beckoned me to walk toward him and I obeyed. I slowed my pace, much slower than I was sure Mara had instructed me to, but I was desperately searching for Dmitry. I couldn’t use my eyes to scan the room, since everyone was hooded. I didn’t know who was whom, so I stretched out my emotions, trying to connect with Dmitry’s familiar feel. By the time I reached the altar, however, I was still unsuccessful. Had he not come? I knew it would be hard for him to see me go through with this, but I needed him to be here for me.

I fought the urge to turn around as I looked toward the priest. He turned his back to me and raised his hands to the goddess who looked down on us. I sensed the crowd behind me mimicking his motion, so I did the same. Looking up at her, I noticed that her hands, which were down at her sides when Robin and I first saw her, were now raised to the heavens. One was holding a giant red ruby while the other bore a luminescent, glowing orb that looked much like the moon.

Everyone in the room began to pray. In unison, they chanted, “She walks in beauty through the night, upon darkened hills and starlit skies. We call upon the moon and elemental light. A child of the night births a child of the light, all shall follow your worthy might. All-seeing, all-hearing goddess, you witness this night a most solemn oath. Unfurl your wings, oh goddess of the night and bless us your children in this ceremony of new life.”

After the prayer ended, we all lowered our hands and the priest turned toward me. He extended his left hand and I followed it, focusing on every vein and hair. I needed something to focus on to keep me grounded. The room felt electric after the prayer and my head grew began to spin like I had gotten up too quickly from sitting.

A red figure approached from my right and my entire body stiffened. It was both incredibly painful and amazingly pleasant. As the figure drew nearer, he stood so closely, our capes brushed against each other. My nerves were so on end and I was suddenly so aware that even that sensation rippled through my body as if he had taken his hand and touched me himself.

“Join hands!” The priest spoke in a deep throaty voice. It commanded obedience, but was somehow soothing. I guessed he had been a priest of Nyx for a great many years.

The red-cloaked figure at my side raised his hand. It was steady and I looked at it for only a moment, hoping I would recognize something that would give away who he was. I placed my hand atop his, careful not to take too long in doing so. I felt the heat of his skin against mine. He was the first human I had touched since turning into a vampire and the warmth made something inside of me stir. It wasn’t a hunger for his blood, like I had expected, but something else. I wondered if my hand felt as cold to him, as a vampire’s touch felt to me when I first arrived.  If it did, he didn’t show it. His hand remained motionless under mine.

The priest held his hand over ours as he lowered his head in another prayer. Everyone followed his actions again, however this time, I couldn’t hear his words. I lowered my head, but kept my eyes open. I wanted to be completely aware of everything that was going on.

Two black-hooded figures approached the priest, each carrying a large wooden box. Each box was ornately carved; one had a large ruby encased on the lid, whilst the other had a crystal that appeared cloudy with a silvery sparkle to it. Apparently, vampires loved symbolism. 

The box with the ruby was opened first, and inside it, was a dagger much like the one I had seen the night of my transformation. My body immediately protested at the sight of the blade and I was beginning to tremble. I fought the urge to run, but I couldn’t keep my eyes from flashing about the room, searching for an escape route. The priest raised his eyebrows at me, clearly disapproving of my reaction.

I didn’t want to go through the transformation ceremony again and didn’t know if I could. I was quickly losing my composure and my breathing grew ragged when the red-hooded figure beside me squeezed his fingers between mine and held them gently. It was an unexpected kindness, which gave me a sense of comfort I had not anticipated, and I found myself squeezing back. 

Seemingly appeased, the priest continued. The dagger was raised to the night sky and it glittered, sending fragments of moonlight around me. He then opened the second box, which contained a beautiful crystal goblet and a small vial of a shimmering liquid. He again raised the items above him as if he were showing them to the goddess, Nyx, for her approval.

He poured a single, shimmering drop of the silvery liquid into the goblet and handed it to the man at my side, who accepted it after releasing my hand.  I was surprised to feel that I longed to hold his hand again. Not sure what I should do, I left my hand aloft as the priest then handed the dagger to me. I looked at him expectantly, but was offered only a grimace and an emotionless stare. He was clearly annoyed that I didn’t know what to do.

The man beside me kneeled, his head downcast and the crystal goblet raised upward. That’s when it dawned on me and my mouth fell open in shock.  I had to fill the goblet with
my
blood. How the hell did they expect me to do that? By cutting myself? They had to be crazy.

I knew there was no way out of this and I couldn’t leave this man waiting next to me forever. Everyone watched me patiently, and all were waiting. I knew somewhere in the crowd, Nicolae and Evilyn as well as everyone else expected me to cut myself, they were waiting for me to complete the ceremony. There was no chickening out, I didn’t have a choice.

I turned fully to him, and with a deep breath, I dragged the edge of the blade against the flesh of my palm. Pain seared through me like a burning flame. I held in a scream as tears escaped my eyes and allowed my blood to drain into the goblet. As the first crimson drop hit the shimmering silver liquid, the glass began to sparkle and shine like the moon. When it grew full it emitted tendrils of silver that were visible unlike any ribbons of emotion I had ever felt.  As soon as they touched me, I realized they were ribbons from the goddess herself. They licked my wound, healing it instantly and wrapped around me in a loving caress. I felt like I was hugging the moon as the bright light warmed my skin and showered my face with silver. They lifted my hood and that of my red-capped mate.

As his hood fell back, he rose to stand tall before me and my eyes widened in complete shock, although his appeared to smile at me, yet his face remained emotionless. He was incredibly handsome and somehow familiar though, I had never seen him before. I watched him unblinkingly as he raised the crystal goblet to his lips and drank its contents in a single swallow.

He fell to his knees as his body heaved and retched.  His groans of pain were deep and echoed throughout the temple. I looked about, not knowing what to do, and saw no one coming to his aid. I knelt beside him and hesitantly rested my hand on his back as his body shuddered. When he finally began to breathe normally, I stood and waited for him to rise.

We then turned to the priest and looked up toward the statue, towering before us like a colossus. “In the eyes of the goddess, let these two be bonded!” the priest loudly proclaimed.

Instead of the crowd breaking into applause, the room illuminated in an orange glow of candle-light as every wick ignited a single flame. I turned and gazed up at my new Blood Mate.

“I am yours,” he said as he looked at me longingly. His eyes flooded with emotion and lingering pain. There was so much love in his eyes. I sensed the crowd was slowly exiting the temple, but I couldn’t tear my gaze away from him. He was the figure in the dark that I had searched for, he was my mysterious man, who now belonged to me. He was now my Blood Mate, my sworn protector.

The night had taken an unforeseen turn. I hadn’t figured that I might actually like whom I would be joined to, I was expecting the worse and now I didn’t know what to do.

“Hello Claire.” His voice was deep and steady, sounding exactly as it did when it traveled across the ribbon of emotion he sent to me in my room.

“You know my name?” It was a stupid question, but I didn’t know anything about him. By the look on his face, he knew much more about me than I probably would have liked him to know.

“Of course,” he said as he guided me to take a seat on a pew beside him.

I smiled politely, but scooted a little further away from him than he seemed to prefer. My conflicting emotions had created an internal battle. “Are you okay?” I wondered if his transformation was as painful as mine.

“I’ve felt worse pain.” He eyed my reaction, and when I didn’t seem impressed, he smiled, “I am well.” Show-offs never impressed me.

“Right…” His politeness was starting to annoy me, but I tried to brush it off. “Let’s um…go for a walk. It would probably be a good idea if we got to know each other a little better,” I suggested. Then, not wanting to go too easy on him, I decided to call him out, “And you can tell me why you’ve been sneaking around so much.”

He raised his eyebrows at me, clearly enjoying the playful jab and flashed a brilliant smile at me. I noticed he didn’t have fangs and I found myself staring at perfectly straight teeth. I had gotten so used to seeing fangy grins, I assumed he would have fangs as well. “Oh, I don’t have fangs, Claire. One of the many differences between a vampire and a Blood Mate,” he said. He winked at me and I both loved and hated the way it made my heart flutter.

He rose from his seat and removed his cape. The velvety crimson fabric fell onto the seat beside me, but it only stole my attention for a brief second as I quickly found myself staring at him. He wore all black, with a slightly tight-fitting, button-up black shirt, his muscles flexing with the fabric as he moved. The contrast between his dark clothes and tan skin complemented him beautifully. Yet, his eyes were the most desirable to look at, because they didn’t look like the dark limitless pools all vampires have. He couldn’t be called a soulless monster. His eyes were an amazing shade of green, and the longer I focused on them, I soon realized one of his eyes had an odd splash of brown, giving him a uniqueness that was oddly attractive.

He offered his hand, but I ignored it, against my almost overpowering internal urge to hold it again. I removed my cape as well, dropping it atop his. As I turned to face him, his expression made me suddenly feel very aware of my exposed flesh. I decided I was better off keeping the cape on, for the time being, at least. Arrick smiled at me, but didn’t say anything as I slid the cape back on, leaving the hood off. I knew I would be too warm as we walked outside, but I wasn’t prepared to catch his eyes wandering anywhere they shouldn’t be. I couldn’t trust that I wouldn’t slap him or start kissing him madly.

Part of me was simply upset about the feelings I instantly had for Arrick. There was a mountain of guilt beginning to grow that weighed heavily on my heart and my feelings for Dmitry. Things were turning out exactly as he feared they would.

We toured our way silently through the palace. It was as quiet as it had been earlier in the night, aside from the occasional servant or passerby. I kept my eyes peeled for Dmitry, but I didn’t see him or sense his presence. I knew it was unlikely, especially with Arrick walking beside me, but a girl could still hope. I needed to see him, to speak with him and reaffirm that he was still in my heart. I desperately tried to convince myself that my feelings were just the residual effects of the ceremony, but deep down, I knew that was a lie.

As we reached the palace gardens and began to walk amongst the moonlit foliage, I skipped the pleasantries and got right down to the dozen questions I was going to demand he answer. “So, Arrick, why have you been…” I didn’t want to call him a stalker, so I avoided the word altogether, “whatever it was you were doing?”

“Nicolae asked that I not interfere with your daily life until after the ceremony. He told me he had already asked much of you and didn’t want to overburden you more than necessary. And I agreed with him.”

I nodded, although I only slightly understood his answer. “So, you just watched me?”

He laughed a deep laugh that rumbled pleasantly in his chest. “When you say it like that, it does sound a little stalker-ish.”

I giggled slightly and was relieved to see he had a sense of humor, “Hey, you said it, not me.” I raised my hands up in embarrassment.

“Claire, I have known that I would be bonded with you for quite some time. My feelings for you are very different from what you feel for me, I’m sure; but in time, I hope that you can at least grow fond of me.”

I avoided his gaze, not allowing my face to contradict him. I feared that my feelings were growing beyond my restraint. He sounded so formal and proper, I couldn’t help but blush. In an awkward attempt to hide it, I quickly turned to smell one of the roses that lined the walkway, while Arrick waited patiently nearby, his hands clasped behind his back.

When I was certain my cheeks had cooled down to normal, I turned back to the pathway to continue our walk. “So…stalker,” I smiled at him. He returned my smile with his sparkly grin that made something inside me flutter. “Why did you want to be my Blood Mate?”

“Where I come from, being a Blood Mate is a great honor, especially for a royal family member. And you are very important to me.”

“Where you come from? You’re not from this region?” I was shocked. I had never met anyone from another region before. I knew I probably should have asked why I was so important, but meeting someone from another region, who openly admitted it, was almost like meeting an alien.

“Yes.”

I waited, but he didn’t say more. “You want to elaborate on that?”

“Not particularly, no.”

“Well, why not?” I hated having the truth withheld and it was becoming the habit of too many people I knew lately. I didn’t want Arrick to become another one of them, so I pressed him, unconcerned if I appeared too pushy.

When I opened my mouth to ask him again, he interrupted me, “Could you explain to me the tension that exists between you and one of the other vampires in the palace - Ana?”

He could avoid my question all he wanted, but in the end, I wouldn’t let him get away with it. “I would call it more than tension. I would say she hates my guts.”

“She has been of great concern to me, and the night of your coronation ball confirmed it.” I watched him as he walked, and even though his hands were clasped behind his back, I distinctly saw the muscles in his jaw flexing. He looked steadily about as he surveyed our surroundings. I was starting to get the feeling he wasn’t as poised and proper as he was letting on. He was extremely vigilant. If the breeze had caused a branch to sway too near to me, I was certain he might attack it.

“I guessed as much. She’s pretty much had it out for me since day one.  Robin said that Ana assumed her family would take the throne and she would become the princess or something like that. Honestly, I don’t care what she wanted.” I ripped a leaf from a nearby tree and twirled it in my fingers as we continued our stroll.

“You should care. What that monster is up to should be at the forefront of your mind, Claire,” Arrick said, taking on too much of a bossy tone for my liking.

“Isn’t that why I have you now?” I thought the whole point of having a Blood Mate was so he would watch my back.

Arrick huffed angrily and slashed his hand against a plant, sending a flurry of leaves onto the stone pathway. “I suppose I can thank your human upbringing for that way of thinking.”

“Hey! What the hell is that supposed to mean?” It sounded like he was degrading my human mom and me and I certainly wouldn’t stand for that!  I yanked on his arm and spun him toward me. Even angry, his face was incredibly handsome, but I refused to let that sway me.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. You are just so very special and I hate to see you being so cavalier about your safety.” His eyes pleaded with me as they grew glassier, like tears were forming, but they never fell.

“Why do I get the feeling that there is something you aren’t telling me?”  Sensing the emotions of a Blood Mate was different than other vampires. I could feel inside me what he was feeling and I sensed his hesitation. I followed my instincts, knowing I was right. He was hiding something from me. 

Something big.

Arrick raised his hand to touch my face. He stopped just short, but my skin could still feel the warmth of his, so close to me. I tried to express in my eyes that I wouldn’t push his hand away, but he withdrew it and slid his hand through his brown hair instead. “There is much I want to tell you, but for now, you must know that I have one goal and that is my sworn duty to protect you.” He said the words so sternly and with such finality that I knew he had spoken them before, in an oath long before he became my Blood Mate.

I found myself mesmerized by the way his lips moved when he talked and tried frantically to think of another question to ask, just so he would speak. My heart was racing as it yearned for Arrick; yet my mind protested, saying it was too much desire, too soon. My body ached for him like a lost lover I had known for centuries, but it was a feeling I didn’t recognize and my mind couldn’t understand.

It felt like hours had passed, but the moments of my heart’s battle lasted only seconds and immediately halted when Arrick locked his eyes on mine. His knowing smile told me he knew very well what I was feeling and confirmed a future victory for him that I would soon be his. This connection could prove very troublesome for me, considering I was already so terrible at hiding my emotions.

We had taken the long way around the pond, but finally made it to my favorite bench. I wanted to avoid it, not certain if I was ready to take Arrick there, when a loud explosion rattled the night. A flash of golden light illuminated the front of the palace and I covered my mouth in shock.

Arrick grabbed my arm with incredible speed and a growl rumbled in his chest.  His grip grew tighter, but was nothing compared to one of Robin’s bear-hugs, and a squeak of pain escaped me. Were Blood Mates physically stronger than vampires?  “Sorry.” Arrick rubbed my arm and pulled me close to him protectively, but it didn’t cause the same feelings as it did the last time I touched him.

“Someone has attacked the front gate,” he said. I stood up on my toes, but couldn’t see past the foliage of the gardens. Arrick’s tall, six-foot-four frame more than towered over everything, especially me.

“Who has?” I was surprised at how calm I was, but the animal inside me was revving up and I found myself enjoying the thought of a battle.

“We must go.” He grabbed my hand and we rushed back to the palace. After a few stumbling steps, I managed to rip a slit in my dress, which made my sprint much swifter. I barely needed to take a second breath before we were at the base of the stairs at the palace. Arrick ascended them as stealthily as a cat and kept an arm held out in front of me.

“Go to your room and lock the door!” he shouted over his shoulder at me before moving closer to the front of the palace.

“No!” I put my foot down, “I’m not going to let someone attack my home. Whoever or whatever they are, they’ll be sorry they did! After I’m done, they will never think to attack the palace or get anywhere near it again.” A fire was alight inside me and I thoroughly enjoyed it. When I was human, I was not known for ever showing aggression or even sticking up for myself; but as soon as I had my first taste of it while defending Robin against Ana, I rather enjoyed it.

Arrick ran to me, his green eyes burning with anger and fear. His grip was firm, but not so much that it hurt and I squirmed in his grasp. I knew I could break free if I really wanted to, but it would only cause trouble between us, and now wasn’t the time. “Please, Claire. I can handle this. Fox and his guards are already at task.”

The mention of Fox quickly squelched my desire to be a part of the fray. There was something about him that I really didn’t like, but could never quite put my finger on. “Tell me who is attacking the palace and then
I
will decide whether or not I will go to my room.” He might have been my Blood Mate, but I was still in charge and I was damn well going to make sure he knew that, no matter how I felt about him.