“Ana came to see Luka late last night. She was already pretty worked up about something to begin with. When she heard us talking about you, she got really pissed and they got in a screaming match about it. Don’t worry about it though. If not over you, they would just be fighting about something else.”
“Well, what were you saying about me?” After asking, I wasn’t sure if I really wanted to know the answer, but it was too late.
Dmitry’s expression softened a bit. “Don’t worry; we weren’t saying anything bad about you. You’re new here, it kind of comes with the territory. Besides, I did more of the talking than Luka.”
I raised my eyebrows at his comment and wondered what he could possibly have to say about me. I hadn’t been at the palace for very long and it seemed I was the source of disquiet.
“Humans just fascinate me,” Dmitry admitted. “Other than the servants, we don’t have much direct contact with humans, so whenever I meet one, I think it is very exciting.”
Robin giggled out loud before slapping a hand over her mouth. “You’re like his hobby!” Laughter escaped her again before she quickly retreated into the palace with Dmitry and I following after her.
“I wouldn’t put it in such crude terms, but yes. Humans look at the world in such a different way than vampires see it. Every moment to them is so precious.”
Dmitry opened a door for me as we followed Robin into a spacious room that appeared to be some sort of lounge or recreational room. Two large leather sofas were overflowing with plush pillows and cozy throw blankets. A giant, flat screen television was tuned to the local news, reporting more protests at blood banks throughout the region. I worried for a moment about my mom, but remembered that protests only fueled her determination. It meant more people for her to reach out to, more people for her to guide in the direction of supporting and sustaining the vampires.
“You, for instance,” Dmitry said as he plopped down on the sofa and smiled at me. His fangs gleamed at me from within a row of pristinely white teeth. I looked at them just long enough to determine that he was much older than Robin. “The way you look at the palace. It is apparent how completely in awe of it you are. I noticed it the moment you walked into the room to meet us. It’s refreshing, really. I, for one, am going to feel quite sad once you’re turned. Things are just so much more interesting with a human around.” Although Dmitry was making me feel slightly like a lab rat, his expression was friendly.
“She’s really funny, Dmitry. Did I tell you she thought we didn’t have reflections?” Robin rolled with laughter again and Dmitry joined her.
I tried to fight my irritation, but having two vampires laughing at me didn’t make it very easy. I knew my face was turning red so I tried to ignore them and focused my attention toward the television by grabbing the remote and raising up the volume.
Robin sighed aloud and moved to sit beside me. “Claire, we aren’t laughing at you. You just don’t realize how exciting it is to have someone new in the palace. We are very happy you are here and I hope that you don’t ever lose your hilarious human qualities. It’s one of the things I love about you.”
Dmitry nodded in agreement as Robin spoke and I could feel my frustration quickly disappearing. “Okay, I’ll forgive you just this once,” I said as I smiled back at Robin. The tension quickly dissipated as our attention centered on the news being reported on the television.
“That, however, does get very old. After everything Nicolae has done for this region and they still find reason to protest,” Dmitry said sharply as a low growl erupted from him. “The occurrences of protests are becoming more frequent. The news thinks it’s helping by reporting the protests, but I think it’s just making it worse. Ignorant hatred such as this,” he pointed to the television and look at me with a severe look, “spreads like a disease.”
“You just said you thought humans were fascinating,” I said, trying to change the subject and lighten the intensity that was beginning to build in the room. He wasn’t the first I had heard to say that. My mom, my human mom, was growing concerned about the same thing and had redoubled her efforts in the recent months to portray vampires in a much more optimistic light.
“Not all of them, obviously. They are being completely irrational. I can’t think of a single reason they should have to be unhappy.” His temper was starting to rise, so I quickly changed the channel.
I was just beginning to feel like I was getting along with Dmitry, and I didn’t want anything to interfere with that. I especially didn’t want to be around another pissed off vampire. Even if his anger wasn’t directed toward me.
“Let’s go check out the gardens,” I suggested.
“Oh, Claire, you’ll love them. They were designed to be especially enchanting at night,” Robin exclaimed with excitement as she rose to exit the room.
I looked at Dmitry to see if he would be joining us. “I believe I will pass, although I would very much enjoy seeing how you behold them in all their glory for the first time. I have much to do in preparation for the upcoming events.”
In one fluid motion, he stood before me, offering his hand. The strength in his presence made my skin shiver and I again felt the tingle of power that emanated from vampires.
“It was lovely to speak with you. I am eager to spend more time with you in the future.”
With that, Dmitry exited, leaving me flustered and blushing on the couch, my mouth hanging half-open. I had to admit to myself that Dmitry was breathtakingly handsome, yet until this very moment, it had not impacted me with such intensity.
“What was that?” I whispered to myself.
“Really? I am starting to wonder if you’ve been hiding under a rock all this time.” Robin sounded half exasperated and half amused. “I wish he wouldn’t have done that, it always leaves humans feeling…” Robin paused, trying to find the correct word, so I finished it for her. “Intoxicated?”
“Yes, I suppose you could describe it that way. It was a long time ago when I was charmed by a vampire. I’m sure Dmitry just wanted to see your reaction for his own amusement. I swear, he must have been some sort of mad scientist in a past life. Let’s get going, moving around should help if I remember correctly.”
I allowed Robin to help me up and we made our way out of the room. “It’s like being drunk… except with sensations and emotions all over your body.”
Robin giggled at me as I slowly regained my composure. Even though I knew there was no way I could have prevented it from happening, the more the effects wore off, the more I started to feel embarrassed.
“Trust me, it’s no big deal. Humans have no defense against it. I’m fairly certain we’ve all gone through the same thing. At least you got charmed by someone you know. When it happened to me, it was some snobby vampire boy who was visiting from the southern part of the region. He would do it to me all the time just to harass me,” Robin said with irritation dripping from her voice. Seeing her angry, and the way it distorted her features into something unrecognizable was frightening. When she saw the way I was looking at her, she stopped dead in her tracks.
“I’m sorry.” Robin turned away and her angry expression dissolved into shame.
“It’s okay. Everyone has had to deal with a bully at least once in her life, I know I have. Yours just happened to be an annoying, teenage vampire boy. You know what they say about guys that pick on girls?”
“No, what?”
“Oh my, the all-knowing Robin doesn’t know the answer?” I harassed her playfully. “Guys who tease girls do it because they like the girl.”
Robin’s body began to wriggle and she started giggling until tears nearly fell from her eyes. “Ew! He was so not even cute, Claire!”
I joined in her laughter as we made our way through more lavish hallways, passing maids, butlers and other vampires whom I hadn’t met yet.
“You know what you need?”
“Umm?”
“Come with me,” Robin said as she took off running down a narrow hallway. Trying to keep up with a vampire who was running slow by vampire standards, was still quite difficult. Luckily, our destination wasn’t very far away and I smelled it before we even got there. My mouth started watering as the door to the kitchen was opened.
“I remembered they were making spaghetti tonight, and that was one of my favorite meals when I was human. I’ve been a vampire for years now, but I’ll never forget it. Besides, you’ll wake up every vampire in the region with the sounds that stomach of yours has been making,” Robin poked me in the abdomen and we headed into the kitchen.
Had I not been as starving as Robin so blatantly pointed out, I might have entered the kitchen with my usual awe, but all my focus was on the delicious and savory smells that were floating through the air like scrumptious, fragrant delicacies.
“This is Bruno!” Robin said as she bounced around a very robust-looking Italian man. His forearms were rippled and well-defined. I joked to myself that cooking and mixing must provide quite an extensive workout. “Bruno, this is Claire. He makes the most delicious foods you’ll ever eat.”
“Oh, zee Princess Claire, what an honor it eez for you to be in my keetchen. Pleeze sit and I will serve you. I promise zis will be zee best meal you have ever eaten or my name eez not Bruno Alfonso Mario Lazzarro!” he proclaimed in a thick Italian accent.
Robin and I slid onto seats in the small dining nook while we watched Bruno bark orders in Italian at the sous chefs. It was almost hysterical at first to watch them scatter about like wasps whose nest had just been disturbed, especially when Robin was trying out her best Bruno impression. Our laughter subsided when Bruno placed a mountainous plate of pasta in front of me and topped it off with freshly grated parmigiano reggiano, which I learned soon enough how to say correctly. I discovered it was more delicious than I could have ever imagined. I never realized how much I could like cheese until I ate this meal.
Robin entertained herself by making doe eyes at one of the younger Italian sous chefs, while I busily stuffed my face with Bruno’s pasta perfection. I had to stop myself on more than one occasion, from offering some to Robin. However, that didn’t stop me from wondering about her “diet” which would soon be mine.
“Robin…” I said her name almost as a question as I twirled the last bit of pasta around on my fork.
“Mhm?” she mumbled as her attention was still locked on the dark-haired Italian who was very much enjoying the attention. He was slicing various meats and placing them on a large silver platter.
“When do you… uh eat? Or drink?” I fumbled with the words, not knowing what exactly to call it.
“I’ll show you later, let’s just enjoy the night. Besides, all your questions will be answered soon; you get a crash course tonight,” Robin smiled wickedly at me and dashed out of the kitchen with a giggle faster than I could even react.
I wasn’t sure if I liked the idea of a crash course on being a vampire, but I figured I didn’t really have a choice. One way or another, I needed to know what to expect.
I could feel myself starting to worry if I could handle everything that would be happening to me. I’m not even certain if I had completely accepted the idea yet, but I couldn’t let the cloud of doubt consume me.
Feeling like I was being watched, I quickly made my retreat out of the kitchen, in search of Robin. Although I enjoyed her company, it was nice to have a moment to myself. I didn’t feel like I had the opportunity to have many of them lately.
I made my way through the hallways, going in no particular direction whatsoever, completely lost in my thoughts. I wondered how Liz was and what she was up to. I even thought about ways I could sneak out to visit her, as I still intended to keep my promise.
A cool breeze poured over my skin and I realized that I had somehow managed to find the entrance to the gardens all on my own. The immediate sense of calm that enveloped me at the sight of the gardens made all the worries that were muddled in my head wash away.
I wasn’t sure exactly what I was expecting, but what lay before me certainly wasn’t it. A garden that was designed specifically for night-time viewing was unlike anything I thought possible.
Stepping out onto the large stone balcony, I felt as though I was descending into an ocean of twinkling lights. Trees were wrapped in tiny glowing bulbs. Large arch-ways hugged paths and their fragrant foliage hung down in delicate sweeps.
Flower petals covered the pathway and I felt almost sad that I had to walk on them, but there was nowhere else to step. I followed the path, letting the delicate scents of roses and lavender guide me until I reached a great willow tree whose pliant branches hung longingly over a large pond.
An ornately carved wooden bench occupied the base of the willow, along the bank of a pond. It looked as though it might have been carved from the very roots of the tall and ancient tree.
I took a seat and looked out beyond the swaying branches of the willow to the servants on the opposite edge of the water. Two women were talking softly to each other, each lighting small candles and setting them adrift in the large pond.
I watched them with quiet fascination until they finished their task. They strode joyfully along another path that led toward the palace and lit tall light posts along the way. Their orange glow cast scattered shadows amongst the plants.
I couldn’t help but think how beautifully romantic this garden was. I was happy to be in a place that was so lovely, but sometimes the nicer something is, the more lonesome it made me feel. The glow from all the candle’s danced across the landscape and for a moment, my skin prickled. I had the sensation that someone was watching me. Despite all the people in the palace constantly casting their eyes in my direction, I felt as though someone had been staring at me for some time. I looked out into the darkness, opening my eyes wider, as if that would really improve my sight in any way.