After dinner was over, Vlad went to his massive library to start his research. The guys and I retired to my suite. We had been enjoying each other's company for hours until we heard, “Shit!” as Vlad screamed in frustration.
I hear Vlad's frustration and anguish so I look at Vincent.
Vincent nods, “Yeah I heard it too.”
Eric sighs, “We all did.”
I throw my hands up, “Ugh!”
Sam looks at me, “Eva just accept what you can't control or change.”
“But he has someone he loves. This can't be happening!” I exclaim.
Vincent gives me a pointed look, “Well you both can fight it till the full moon but…”
I sigh, “Yeah I know we lose days because the Haze makes that choice for us.”
Eric chuckles, “And you wrote supernatural porn. I wonder what this installment will entail.”
I blush and look away, “Please drop it.”
Vincent smirks, “Not a chance! I can't wait to read what I do to you next.”
I shake my head, “You all suck!”
Sam chuckles as he wolfishly grins, “Yet I never hear you complain.”
I beyond embarrassed and frustrated, “You're all being asses right now! I'm so done with this conversation!”
I walk off shaking my head. I have nowhere in mind, I just walk. I end up in the library.
As he rubs his forehead, Vlad looks up from his thick book, “You need something?”
I shake my head, “No I am just escaping the guys so I set off randomly.”
“You do that a lot?” he asks.
I nod, “Usually I go outside, nature balances me. But right now there's an odd energy out there that I'm not in the mood to explore.”
“Restlessness, yeah I feel it too.”
I nod, “Yep, as well as something else and It's heavy and dark too.”
Vlad sighs, “Just goes along with my mood. I'm having no luck finding anything concrete.”
I go and sit beside him, “It's fine. I'm just going to have to accept that maybe I'm unique but I have to be based off of something. I'd just like some foundation, ground rules, or operator's manual.”
He smirks, “At least you're aware that you need one.”
I put my hand over his, “So tell me about Elena. I already know some, but I need more.”
Vlad sighs, “Alright, I will tell you everything. I found her in The States. I was there recruiting because I knew a war was coming. She and I just hit it off. She was smart and attractive so I sought out to seduce her and see if I could acquire or harness her power. She was easy to train and eager to learn, but she was stubborn which spurred my attraction to her. I didn't initially want her as my girlfriend or wife. So I kept her at a distance for a year. She kept trying to be close to me. I gave in and fell for her before I made her a vampire. She craved excitement and adventure from the day I told her that I loved her. She was out running errands and her group was ambushed. I rushed to the scene. I saved a couple of my men and her. But I had to turn her in order to save her. I couldn't lose her. I told her how much I loved her that day and asked to marry her.
I ask, “Then what happened? Because you don't just stop loving someone that easily.”
He nods, “You're right. You don't. You can fall quickly but it takes longer to recover, if at all, after you lose it. We were married for a few years. I knew she wasn't my mate, but I still loved her. But we both started disagreeing more. She started rebelling more and refusing my protection. That intimate love started to fade. We became more like partners and friends than romantic lovers. We would still fuck, but that's all it was. She kept going on missions. She wanted to keep pushing herself even if it put her in danger. That's how Merdon got her.”
I am trying to gauge Elena through Vlad, “So she had to have at least been okay with going with him. Do you think he tricked her into binding to him or did she willingly?”
Vlad sighs, “I want to think she was duped somehow, but honestly, I don't know. I lost my link to her then, so your guess is as good as mine.”
I smile, “Well, we will know soon! inveniamus grati.”
A book comes flying towards me and hovers in front of me. It's written in an ancient language.
I hand it to Vlad, “Here, I have no clue what it says!”
Vlad takes it and asks, “What did you do?”
I shrug, “l asked for guidance.”
Vlad shakes his head, “Well I can't read this either.”
“Vincent!” I yell and he ports in seconds later.
I glare at Vincent, “You could've walked because you're just showing off now!”
Vincent rolls his eyes, “Whatever, my love.”
I roll my eyes and Vlad interrupts Vincent and I’s bickering, “Alright focus before you both blow-up something or I burn this place down! Brother, do you know what language this is?”
Vincent looks it over, “It's nothing completely terrestrial-based or I'd know it! Where did you find it?”
Vlad looks at me as Vincent huffs, “Figures!”
I glare at him, “Ass! You may go now since you're going to do nothing but antagonize me.”
Vincent smirks, “Make me!”
I raise my eyebrow, “Alright! Transfigri avis incarceras!”
He turned into a raven in a cage. Vlad chuckles. I laugh, “Be careful what you ask of me!”
Vlad asks, “How long will he be stuck as a bird?”
I smile, “Until he figures out a counter spell or I get bored. Sam!”
Within a few minutes, he strides in, “Where'd the bird come from Snow White?”
“His name is Vincent,” I beam.
Sam bursts out laughing. Then he talks to the bird, “Man you never learn. Don't fuck with Snow White! There's a reason she's our mate!”
l laugh. Sam smiles as he looks at me, “You want me to babysit him don't you?”
I kiss his cheek, “Yes please!”
“Alright I'Il let Katie help, she'll get a kick out of this!” he says with a huge grin.
I hug him because he's so accepting. I wish I could be, but something isn't fitting, “That she will.”
Sam asks, “Why a raven though?”
I shrug, “I just specified a bird. I'm guessing his soul identifies with ravens.”
Sam looks between Vlad and me, “You find anything here?”
I hand him the book, “Just a book in a language we can't read. Vincent said it wasn't completely terrestrial.”
“May I?” he asks.
“Sure!”
He thumbs through it, “I recognize one word, Amun.”
My eyebrows shoot up in shock, “As in Amun-Ra, the Egyptian supreme god or King of Gods?”
Sam nods, “Yes. Why this book?”
I bite my lip, “Um I did a spell asking for guidance since Vlad was near torching the place.”
Sam huffs, “Of course you used your powers! Just don't rely on them!”
I shake my head, “I don't Vlad tried the old fashioned way first.”
Vlad comes to my defense, “I've been at this for hours.”
Sam sighs, “Fine! I'll deal with the bird. Maybe I can find a good recipe for raven.”
Vincent tried to peck him. We all laugh. He leaves after giving me a kiss.
Vlad takes my hand, “Let's take a walk, Eva.”
We walk and talk through his castle.
Vlad says, “Looks like the book points to Egypt.”
I nod, “I guess so.”
“Maybe there is no one answer. The wolf doesn't like you using magic, does he?” Vlad asks.
I nod, “It makes him uncomfortable. think because his kind views it as unnatural. Witches take advantage too. Plus it drains me a bit.”
Vlad replies, “Same for vampires, as we don't like to be controlled but some witchcraft is useful to us. As for the use of powers, it's draining for vampires that possess them too.”
I nod, “I suppose so.” I honestly never thought of that.
Vlad asks, “What replenishes you?”
“Sunlight and vampire blood, but eating helps a bit too,” I respond.
Vlad inquires, “You need both blood and sunlight?”
I shake my head, “No, sunlight works but vampire blood works faster. Both at the same time are instant. Also eating helps but is the slowest way.”
Vlad smirks, “Makes sense why you'd have a vampire as a mate then doesn't it?”
I laugh, “Yeah. yeah!”
We found our way outside. We had barely felt the air on our skin when I yelled, “Shit!”
I throw up a shield as a purple bolt rushes toward us.
Vlad yells, “What the fuck!”
“Dark mage, remember we sensed darkness. Looks like she's it!” I say as I grab his hand and just let my instincts guide me, “Tempus sustini.”
Time stopped but we could move, similar to what happened in the woods with my mates.
Vlad smirks as he looks at our interlaced fingers, “Cool trick.”
I sigh, “Follow the bolt!”
We trace it back and find the caster.
——-Vlad’s POV——-
I just watched this infuriatingly beautiful woman turn my brother into a raven. If I hadn't seen it. I wouldn't believe it. Then there's this Haze thing. I don't know how much longer I can fight it. I know Eva doesn't want to do anything that could hurt Elena. But Elena and I were over before she was taken. Do I still care for her?
Yes, I do. But the more I see the others interact with Eva, the more I see and feel what I was missing. All of the indicators point to Eva as my mate. I think we had the mindlink through the phone because since then I have felt strange. I telt anxious, and I don't get nervous at all. Yet, around Eva, I do a bit. I can tell that I make her nervous too. Why we are both fighting it. I think we are scared to find out what happens if we give into it like she and the others do.
Fuck my eternity!