Redemption: My Vampire Lover Part #2 (A Dark Realm Novella Series)

by Victoria Embers

  I approached her.

  She growled, showing me her sparkling white fangs. Her thick, light beige fur rose along the ridge of her back. She slammed her head into the cage a few times, threatening to attack if she could break free. Once she stopped moving, she continued to watch me with angry eyes, her head swaying back and forth like a snowy owl, all the time remaining defiant, fearless, and ready to kill me at a moment’s notice.

  I knelt before her, hoping my research on Lunar mythology was accurate. A wolf chant may calm her down. I had to reason with her in this form before Father arrived. Would she understand me? Would the chant work?

  I spoke to her in the language my mother had taught me. It was the language of the Fanged world and allowed me to speak with many others who were shifters or practiced the Magics. She probably knew it too. Maybe I could convince her I wasn’t a threat? “Una bellezza come nessun altro. Così bella. Calmati. Calmati. Io non ho intenzione di permettere a nessuno di farti del male.”

  Her eyes glowed a magnificent shade of amber unlike anything I had ever seen before.

  I repeated the phrase again and again and again. It didn’t matter what I said as long as I repeated it, like a chant. Quickly, I sped through the words. I wanted her to know she was safe.

  Her eyes flashed. She slumped down, touching the steel surface of the cage and slightly whining as she placed her paws over her head. Damn it. I spoke too rapidly. She was in pain.

  “Come on, Raphael. You can do this. It’s a lot like snake charming.” I laughed at that last statement I said to myself, recalling the last time I had seen my uncle Sarif in snake form. A giant black cobra, arching 10 feet in the sky, spitting fire down on his servants like a crazed dragon when they failed to prepare enough meat for the feast. That had been a fun family visit.

  I returned my attention to the she-wolf, saying the chant again, this time slowly, softly, and with feeling.

  After a few moments, her back legs slouched and collapsed on the bottom of the cage. She continued to glare at me. I held her gaze, commanding her to hear me. I’ll help you get out of here, but you’ve got to trust me. Soon enough her eyelids grew heavy, and she passed out. Welcome to Hell, little one, I mentally added, knowing the connection was broken.

  “Raphael, how are we doing in there?”

  Father’s voice boomed from my library, instantly bringing me to my senses.

  ***

  I slammed the bedroom door behind me, forgetting the noise would likely disturb my guest. “It’s a mess in there, Father. I can’t let you in.”

  “I’m not interested in your interior decorating or lack of. It’s not like you have any,” he said, probably referring to my basic attire of a black fitted T-shirt and black leather pants to go with my steel-toed leather boots or my few pieces of furniture in my rooms. I spent my earnings on weapons or books, not meaningless knick-knacks like those that he did.

  “I have things under control here,” I announced.

  “I’d like to visit our pretty pet.”

  “She’s not ‘our pet.’ She’s mine, remember? Besides she needs time to adjust. She’s not exactly happy with this situation.” I continued to block the door as he wandered around my library.

  He noticed the small bottle of potion on the floor and sauntered over to where it was. “She’s still in wolf form then?” He picked the bottle up and examined it carefully as he spoke.

  “I’m afraid so. We wrestled, and I knocked her out,” I lied. In my haste, I had made a grave error.

  “Pity. I was hoping to get a look at her this evening before the hunt. I hate hunting on the grounds, but perhaps the tents by the stadium are set up already. I may go over there. Care to join me?” He strolled around my desk in his hunting outfit which consisted of a long red riding coat over a silk shirt with white slacks stuffed into black leather riding boots. He tossed the bottle near a stack of my books.

  “I have my blood tea. Thank you just the same.”

  He arched his eyebrow at me, clearly displeased with my answer. He was extremely hungry, and it showed. I wasn’t letting him anywhere near the she-wolf. His wrinkled face and sunken eyes reminded me of the welcoming globes that would be used to light the roads leading to the stadium for the games.

  “Perhaps another time.”

  “Certainly,” I replied as I impatiently waited for him to make his way across the room and out the door.

  “My boy?”

  “Yes, Father?”

  “Just because your mother was a sorceress doesn’t mean I want you dabbling in Black Magic. You were born a vampire, and you’ll remain as such. I’ll not have you become a threat too, so no hocus pocus.”

  Before he could finish his second threat for the day, I added ‘or else’ and nodded with an over-exaggerated bow of sarcastic respect. “I may be a warrior, protecting the Dark realm, but I know my place in your city. I’d never jeopardize my standing among the guard,” I announced.

  “Just so we are clear.”

  “Crystal,” I snapped, not caring if that implied I’d be consulting my crystal ball later. I didn’t own one. The realization that he referred to my mother in past tense startled me. She couldn’t be dead. You, cocksucker, if you killed her…

  I turned around to return to the bedroom when I heard the library door open again. I hissed and dropped my fangs in that direction, ready for the threat. Father stood, holding the door ajar for two of his staff members as they slunk into the room. One deposited the bathing supplies on my leather couch while the other dumped several feet of chain and a black dog collar on the Persian rug in the center of my library.

  Both held their heads low until Father summoned them with a cluck of his tongue. He followed the domesticated hellhounds to the door.

  “By the way genius, silver paralyzes the movements of werewolves. Unlike the others, these chains should keep your pet in her place. I will see her the next time I visit.”

  Mentally I heard the threat with his ‘or else’ words again being added despite the fact I had not heard him utter them. My father, Lord Asmodeus was spectacular at being an asshole. I had to come up with a plan and fast.

  Chapter 2 - Caroline’s Realization

  Author’s Note: This chapter is told from Caroline, the heroine’s point of view. Remember each chapter goes back and forth, sharing the hero and heroine’s point of view.

  The minute I awoke, I knew I was alone. For how long I had been alone, I didn’t know. “Move, Caroline. Move,” I thought to myself. Cold steel stung my naked flesh, and I realized I was finally in my human form. I opened the door to the cage and wiggled my way out.

  The bedroom was sparsely decorated with only a few items positioned strategically in the room. The enormity of it halted me in my tracks as I searched for something to put on. A square dining table that doubled as a writing desk and nightstand was shoved up against the wall next to the largest Victorian four-poster bed I had ever seen. A pile of books and papers was scattered on the table amid a few small blue glass bottles, bowls, and ceramic cups. Almost touching the seven-foot-tall wooden ceiling, the bed was made of the same red mahogany wood and had a green velvet bedspread and curtains lined with gold tassels. The bed stood on a plush forest green and tan rug that peeked a few feet out from beneath the bed. Clearly a man had decorated this room, but what kind of man? A giant?

  “I hate hunting on the grounds this close to the games. Will you join me perhaps?”

  When I heard voices in the other room, I dove into the closet. Weapons, I thought. Clothes or weapons. What can I use as a weapon? I stood frozen in fear, contemplating, questioning my every move. How was I going to do this? My hands began to tremble uncontrollably. Control, Caroline. Get control of yourself.

  Immediately I called upon my wolf sense, the wonderfully intuitive side of my lunar nature that kept me balanced, focused, and ready to take on the world. A warmness settled in my stomach, and I stretched my neck through a man’s long-sleeved shirt that reminded me of silk. Pr
oblem one solved. I realized I’d be sore for weeks after shifting half a dozen times because of my human fright, but I pushed that to the back of my mind. I continued to search through the closet, and then suddenly felt cold steel. These will do.

  Exiting the closet, I raised my nose in the air and breathed in, hoping to understand my surrounds. Wolf, where are we?

  In the land of demons.

  ***

  When the door partially opened, I took aim at a large, dark figure and threw the first knife of several. I stood behind the massive bed, using it as a bunker, as the person came into view. This demon was not going to take me alive.

  The figure grunted, slumping slightly to the ground.

  I heard the weapon I had thrown at him fall to the floor.

  My aim was bad and had not found the demon’s heart. I was at a great disadvantage. “You stay back, demon!” I shouted, hoping to sound far more threatening than I’m sure I appeared to be. “I’ve got more where that came from!” Dripping wet, I was maybe one hundred pounds. Cold, weak from hunger, and nearly naked, I was half of that I was sure. Or at least I felt like that. Adrenaline and self-preservation would have to see me through so I could complete my mission.

  “Do your worst,” the tall figure announced. “However, I’d like to ask if I may turn on a few lights before you continue your attack. If you don’t mind?”

  He mocked me, which should have infuriated me even more, but I held my position and watched as he illuminated the room. He flipped a few switches by the door frame, and the room took on a blue hue as if it had been bathed in the soft, gentle lights from beneath the sea.

  I looked up at the ceiling just as the wooden beams filed away to two corners. “How did you do that?” I gasped, forgetting my defensive stance all together.

  “I can’t handle fluorescent lighting, so I had these installed. Blue is my favorite color actually, even though I wear a lot of black. Here let me show you one more thing. I just had this done.”

  He raised his muscular arm upwards and pressed a button at the top of the door frame.

  I blinked my eyes several times, getting used to the various colors I saw forming on the ceiling. An image was being constructed.

  The lighted design was magnificent and astounded me. A variety of shades of blue, green, and purple illuminated behind the picture of a warrior riding a fierce dragon. The dragon, with its head held high and proud, stood on a set of rocks jutting out from the edge of a cliff. The warrior wore silver armor, waving a lance in one hand as he looked across the horizon while perched on his dragon. A strong image of a strong warrior and his companion preparing for battle. Why would a demon have such an image promoting the bond of man and creature fashioned on the ceiling of his bedroom? It didn’t make sense.

  “I’ve never seen anything like it. Is that you?”

  “More or less. My friend, Orlando created it and installed it for me. I’m not really an admirer of art or paintings. I’m more interested in books, mythology really, but Orlando thought this would dress up my bedroom. I mainly like it for the quiet motivation it gives me. Each day is a test, a determining factor of what kind of man I am going to be that day. It helps me remember, despite everything, who I really am.”

  “What kind of demon are you?” I blurted out.

  Instantly he crossed the room towards me. He had his large hands wrapped around my elbows before I could grab another knife. I was pinned against his brawny chest. The minute our eyes met, a bolt of lightning felt like it had ricocheted through my body. My eyes widened as he let me go and I wrapped my arms tightly around my body, so I wouldn’t fall. He staggered for a moment too as if he’d been hit by the same burst of energy.

  The immediate recognition of a soul mate was something that did not occur outside the pack. It had to be a mistake. But was it? It felt so real. In that second, I re-evaluated my course of action.

  “I’m not a demon. I’m a vampire,” he replied as he put some distance between us. “My mother is human, so I’m only half-demon. I’m not a demon.” He retreated to the table and sat down. He remained quiet for some time. Finally he added, “If you must know, I prefer to be called a warrior above all else.”

  I thought about asking a second question like ‘Why did you kidnap me?’ but I remained silent. It didn’t really matter as long as I found my target. I had heard of a demon mating with a human and bearing a vampire child, but I didn’t think it was possible. Just a myth. The accusation of calling him a demon seemed to have gravely offended him, and I didn’t want to offend him again. Instead, I wanted to comfort him. Why would I want to do that? He was the enemy. I opted to use my charms on the man. Violence would get me nowhere with him.

  “I like the ceiling painting,” I offered.

  “Thank you. It’s very nice, isn’t it?”

  “Do you have a name, vaaa?” I abruptly stopped before I insulted him again.

  “Raphael.”

  I waited for him to ask my name. He studied the table instead.

  “I’m Caroline.”

  “Caroline.” He repeated my name slowly and carefully as if it was a foreign word he didn’t want to forget.

  “Your name is very unique.” A few compliments couldn’t hurt. “What does Raphael mean?”

  “I’ve never thought to look it up. I don’t know.”

  I watched as he drew a few curves and lines along the table, absent-mindedly tracing something. “If my memory serves me right, I think Raphael means healer.”

  He grunted.

  Knowing I’d probably upset him again if I said it too loud, I mumbled under my breath as I attempted to process the realization. “A healing vampire? Wasn’t that an oxymoron?”

  “Perhaps it is,” he answered. “You forget. I have excellent hearing too. What does your name mean?”

  The second knife flew from my hands and slammed into the wooden table, a few inches from his hands.

  He didn’t flinch one inch.

  “Freedom,” I announced as I swiftly bent over to retrieve another knife lying on the bed.

  “Well that’s good. Freedom for Caroline. I like that.” There was a trace of laughter in his voice. He paused for a moment before he continued. “I know this is highly unorthodox, and you’re in an extremely frightening situation. I want to put your mind at ease, however. I’m not interested in harming you. I know you are of immense importance to your people. I’m going to try to get you out of here, but you’re going to have to trust me. It’s as simple as that. Do you think you can do that?” He yanked the knife from the table and with an ironically tender touch, he bent the blade into a slight arch, disabling it so it couldn’t be used for another but holding a bottle of wine or large orange. I swallowed hard so my mouth wouldn’t fall open. This vampire could kill me in an instant.

  Suddenly a vision from my wolf state hit me. I recognized his voice. I’ll help you get out of here, but you’ve got to trust me. I closed my eyes and relived the moment again. “Una bellezza come nessun altro. Così bella. Calmati. Calmati. Io non ho intenzione di permettere a nessuno di farti del male.” Over and over again, that voice. A ripple of awareness surged through me. His voice was the same as the man who had come to me to console me in my agitated wolf state. It was deep, almost sensual, yet tranquil and protective. This man before me had calmed me. “The wolf chant. That was you?”

  “Yes.”

  “What did you say?”

  He paused for a moment, digging his long nail into the wood of the table. “That’s not really important, is it?”

  “I insist,” I replied with my polite royal tone I used when I wanted it to be known I expected to get what I sought.

  He chuckled. His laugh was low and throaty. “I’ve seen pomp and circumstance from my father. You don’t have to take that tone with me. There is no need for hierarchy.”

  I attempted to soften my insistence. “I’m sorry. Please then.”

  “Don’t apologize. Let’s keep this a level playing field. I treat you
as an equal, and you treat me as one. Okay?”

  His confidence was infectious.

  “Fair enough,” I whispered, only realizing a second later that I had not fully enunciated the words. Clearly this man had not kidnapped me so why was I in his presence? Did he know who had kidnapped me? Maybe he could lead me to the person? Equals? Why would he say we were equals? Men in my realm certainly didn’t think like that. His words and actions of kindness and hospitality thoroughly confused me. As a sign of good faith, I placed the weapons down before me on the bed, noticing in passing the letter ‘R’ carved into the blade of each knife. I needed to know more before I made my move.

  “A beauty like no other. So beautiful. Calm yourself. Calm yourself, my sweet. I’m not going to let anyone hurt you.”

  “I’m sorry? What did you say?”

  He repeated his words for my benefit.

  I replied, “No demon would know how to practice Wolfen Magic.” I observed his new nervousness. His mood had shifted, and he refused to look at me as he continued to scratch at the table.

  “I’m not a demon. I’m a vampire. I’m a warrior, a vampire warrior.” He glanced at the ceiling, looking again at the lighted design of the warrior and dragon. “I thought we covered that?” His tone was very gentle even though I saw the muscles in his jaw twitch a few times.

  “Raphael, the vampire warrior, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” I curtsied, trying to appear more of a princess than I felt as well as lighten the mood.

  The intensity of his serious face vanished, and he laughed as he stood up from the table. Watching his contentment was like observing Zeus shower the Earth with the Northern Lights when he was in a good disposition. It immediately put me at ease.

  “My mother is a sorceress, so yes I dabble in the Magics. And I bet I know more about Wolfen Magic than you do,” he bragged.

  “That’s probably true. I know nothing about magic. Only the Wolf guides me.”

  “Perhaps I can teach you some.” His smile was radiant, confident, and proud. His demeanor changed frequently. Was there such a thing as a moody vampire, I wondered.