Chapter 33

Chapter 33
Rhea PoV
He’s taking me outside, I'm going to see the sky in god only knows how long, and I'm ready for it. I'm ready to feel the wind on my face, i am ready to see the sun or the stars, whichever time of day it might be.

I'm grateful to Gabriel, i really am, but is there some sort of ulterior motive going on here? Is there something that he wants from me and he’s doing this to make me say yes? I just don't understand it, I'm his slave, he can do whatever he wishes with me, he doesn’t need my permission.

Why is he being so nice to me?

“Rhea.” Gabriel calls out as we walk back to the room. “You seem distracted by something, it everything ok?”

He sounds so concerned about me, but i know that it is all a lie. He's a vampire, an immortal demon. He cares for nothing but blood and power.

“I’m just lost in my own mind.” i find myself admitting, my hands cold to touch.

Perhaps i should be afraid of him, and i was up until a few days ago, but today he gifted me an entire library. He gave me it because of my love for reading, but that doesn't mean he doesn’t want anything in return for his kindness.

I don’t know what he will ask for from me, but i know that it’ll go against everything i believe in. Is it worth it? Is seeing the outside world worth whatever he will want in return?

I think that it is. I don’t have much i can be excited about anymore, not when my life belongs to a monster, but when i am offered something nice, i will take it. Especially because i never know when the next act of kindness will come. It could be weeks, months, maybe even years.

And reading will make the passing of time less painful, and seeing the outside world even for a moment is worth a thousand doses of wolfsbane.

“You don’t have to be afraid of me anymore, Rhea. I am not going to hurt you like i did when you first came here.2 Gabriel says, his voice softer than I've ever heard it. “Just make sure that you follow the rules, and your life here can be nice.”

I want to believe him, i really do. But he’s a vampire. Vampires are bad news, especially for she-wolves. He wants me content, maybe even happy, but that’s only because he wants a child from me.

Vampire women cannot have children, but the men are fertile. That's where she-wolves come in, we are the only race strong enough to carry a vampire child. They tried it with humans and all the women died, and so did the infants.

“I will follow the rules.” i say, keeping my eyes on the windows as we pass them, if we hurry, i might get to watch the sun set. “But you have to keep your promise and let me see the outside world every now and then.”

“If it makes you happy, then you can go outside every day, we have the harshest winters, but some plants still grow in the gardens, perhaps you could spend some time caring for those.” he turns to me, forcing me to stop with a hand on my arm, “Betray my trust, even once, and you will be locked inside these walls for the rest of your life.”

“I won’t betray your trust.” i manage to croak, his grip on my arm excruciating. “I have no reason to betray you when you are giving me what i need.”

“It isn’t what you need that worries me.” he says, watching me with red eyes. “It is your wolf convincing you that you can escape me, but let me warn you, Rhea, no matter where you go, or how far you may get from me, i will always find you.”

I had a feeling that he would say something like that.

I know that there is no escape, and even if i did manage to get past all of the guards, i have nowhere to go. My pack won’t take me back, even if they wanted to, it would be a death sentence for everyone, even the children.

I couldn’t do that to my family, or my pack.

“You don't have to worry about me running, Gabriel, i have nowhere to go.” i whisper, trying to hide the pain from my voice.

He stares at me for several seconds, calculating, and then, he nods, “I’m satisfied that you are telling me the truth.”

“Lying would be stupid.” i chuckle, though the sound is hollow, “Especially when i am finally getting a little more freedom.”

We stop outside the bedroom door, “Go and get something warmer on, and put on the snow boots i left for you in the closet.” he says, leaning against the wall. “But be quick, i have things that i need to take care of.”

“I’ll be quick.” i promise, rushing into the room.

I may not have the life that i want anymore, but if i do as he asks of me, i may have some sort of future that i can be happy with.

If i follow the rules, he may give me more, and he may let me help to raise any children that i give him.

I have heard stories of babies being ripped from their mother’s arms and taken away, most vampires only want one or two heirs, and they do not want the she-wolves raising them. They give them to a vampire woman instead, and the mother never sees the child again.

I don’t want that to happen to me, it would mentally destroy me, so maybe, just maybe if i follow his rules and make him happy, he will allow me to be a part of my child's life.

I just hope that i don’t end up dead in a ditch the moment that i give birth to a healthy child, because it happens more often than not.

Vampires do not care about the she-wolves they obtain; they only care about what we can give them.

I just hope that Gabriel isn’t like that.

I pray to every god i know that he’s different, and little by little i see the differences in the way that he treats me.

but it isn't enough to disregard everything that he has done to me, he has a long way to go if he wants to make up for the dungeon and the torture he put me through.

I may forgive him eventually, but today is not that day. Not even close.