Chapter 139

“Thank you.”

Ciara looked disinterested at the food placed before her. It had been a week since that night and she had been a prisoner in her room since although this room could fit into her whole apartment.

A brisk breeze tugged at her hair and she lifted her face towards the dark clouds. There was a storm brewing tonight, matching the turmoil inside her. She glanced around the private little garden she called home these days. The first plop fell from the sky and instead of rushing inside she sat there, loving the feel of the heavenly sent tears soaking into her skin.

The heavens opened and she closed her eyes, savouring the feeling of countless drops needling her, soaking her to the bone. As if the clouds didn’t appreciate the human mocking its unleashed fury, thunder sliced through the air. The loud clap set Ciara to her feet, the food forgotten on the table.

Sliding the glass door shut, she shut the weather outside. A shiver tapped down her spine and she stripped her clothes from her cold limbs. Dressed in a tee and a pair of well worn jean shorts, Ciara turned towards her bedroom door just as she did since the night he locked her in.

Flicking her wrist she was about to turn away from the door when the door clicked open. Knowing that the servant probably forgot to lock the door, she nonetheless thanked her stars and slipped out.

She felt like an intruder as she sneaked through the long, silent hallways. Turning towards the kitchen she dug into the fridge. With a bowl of fresh strawberries and cream and a steaming mug of coffee she made her way back towards her room when she heard a low droning coming from down the hallway. Knowing that she was looking for trouble she shrugged it off. Xander never came home early these days. Maybe it was the servants watching tv.

She patted barefoot through the monstrous place. Entering the part of the chateu she had never seen before she felt her heart kicked into gear, galloping in her ears.

A light streamed from a room and as she turned the corner she was frozen in shock.

A sea of faces was settled around a huge rectangular table...vampires. They were all vampires! Ciara’s breath hitched in her throat, a wave of heat crashed into her chest and she suddenly felt languid.

Ciara sagged against the wall, brushing her brow she was about to turn when she realised the chateau had become as silent as a graveyard.

A dozen glimmering orbs were locked onto her and she gasped. She felt her instincts rose within her and she knew she was in danger.

Xander’s head snapped towards her and his dark eyes morphed to the burgundy orbs she feared so much.

As if one the vampires dipped their noses into the air, sniffing deeply, they growled appreciatively.

Xander stood beside her in an instant.

“Agapeemenee what are you doing out of your room? You’ve put yourself in danger by being here.”

“I’m sorry the door was unlocked and I was hungry.”

“Haven’t you received you dinner yet?”

“I did but I...Xander you are hurting me!”

“Why don’t you introduce us to...”

“Ciara...” Xander said through gritted teeth.

The other vampire was so close to her she could see the gold flecks in his shimmering eyes. His eyes were so intent on her she felt like his next meal.

“Maybe another time, I’ve intruded...”

“No...please.” His hand closed around her wrist, bringing it to his mouth he inhaled sharply.

“Hhhmmmmm....”

Panic rose swift and dark through her and Ciara looked back at Xander standing behind them.

“Don’t be fearful Glykós ángelos (sweet angel). All will be well.” His fanged smile almost set her on full flight but his hand tightened and she knew. Taking a deep breath she wiped her racing thoughts from her mind.

She was led to the edge of the table in the opposite side of the room. All eyes bore into her and she felt her heart bouncing, she knew they could hear it too, the sound of it exciting them but for the life of her she couldn’t slow her heart, that she hadn’t mastered yet.

“Poú eínai o sýntrofós ti̱s? (Where is her mate?), myro̱diá tou eínai akómi̱ páno̱ ti̱s. (his scent is still on her.)”

“Af̱tós eínai nekrós. (He is dead.)” Xander stared blankly at the vampire. He was obviously the leader.

He circled Ciara again, brushing her hair from her face, a wave of appreciative growls rose from the room. Ciara swallowed, keeping her eyes on the hypnotic amber orbs so close to her own.

“Échete ton skóto̱se gia na ti̱n párei gia ton eaf̱tó sou? (Have you killed him to take her for yourself?)” Xander lowered his head, nodding.

“Eínai mia ómorfi̱ gynaíka. Boró̱ na katalávo̱ giatí, allá ékanes itshed?

(She is a beautiful woman. I can understand why but you did it but you know its unacceptable?)”

Xander burgundy orbs met the amber ones in a dead stare.

“Tha dechtheí opoiadí̱pote timo̱ría kýrié mou thélei na exapolýsei páno̱ mou. (I'll accept any punishment my lord wishes to unleash upon me.) To móno pou iketév̱o̱ na mi̱n ti̱n párete apó ména í̱ na vlápsei me opoiondí̱pote trópo.

( I only beg of you not to take her from me or hurt her in any way.)”

“Arketá kaló. Tha apofasísei schetiká me ta katálli̱la punsihment arketá sýntoma. (Good enough. I will decide on an appropriate punishment soon enough.)”

His smile suddenly beamed at Ciara, tracing her vein along her neck, she watched in horror as his fangs punched even lower.

“Myro̱diá tou Ciara sas eínai arketá methystikó. Eímai vévaios óti den tha sas peíraze na dokimázoume to ti échei na prosférei to vampír agó̱na?

(Your Ciara’s scent is quite intoxicating. I'm sure you won't mind if we taste what she has to offer the vampire race.) Tha Xander?̱( Would you Xander?)”