Chapter 17 Spill.
It was a miracle that I found the room Linus and Domenic disappeared to, but I did eventually. It was hidden somewhere close to the dining hall. I just had to go through a few series of stairs and hidden corridors.
Very few vampires were around here, so it was easy to keep myself away from them. Although I've come to understand that I have a very strong scent and my blood smells sweet. Also with the level of vampires sense of smell, I had to be very careful.
Domenic was in the hidden room with Linus and another man I have never met before. He looks like a middle age man with thick glasses, dressed in a professional outfit consisting of a white button up tucked into his suit pants.
"He's dying Domenic." The man with the glasses spoke sadly. I shifted a little to look towards a bed that Domenic was crouched down beside. He was holding the hand of a sickly man who lay on the bed, but I could see his face properly because they were obstructing the view, but I know for sure that the man is Domenic's father; the king of the vampire's, Nicolas Darkshadow.
"Is there no way to keep him alive for much longer? He can't die now Julian." Domenic pleaded, his tone heavy with guilt. It broke my heart even though I tried to deny it.
"I am sorry your highness, but I have tried everything possible to keep him alive. I can no longer keep up." Julian replied. His own voice was heavy with the force of his grief. It was obvious how disappointed he was in himself.
Domenic looked like the world was crumbling before his very eyes. He looks shattered and devastated. It didn't take a genius to know that his father is very important to him.
I realized it then. He was not as much of a monster as he claims to be. Domenic Darkshadow does have feelings.
I heard Julian sniff the air while looking around, "something smells so alluring." He spoke breaking the tension in the room.
My eyes widened when I realized he actually meant me. I quickly hid behind the wall.
"Kate," Domenic's voice echoed in a dead calm tone. "I know you're hiding there Kate."
I sighed and stepped out from behind the wall. "You weak pathetic human! Who gave you the audacity to come here?!" Linus came charging at me but Domenic held him back by the arm.
"Calm down Linus!" He stood glaring but made no move to come at me again. I heaved a sigh of relief. That guy has always hated me. It won't be nice if he got mad and ended up killing me. I still have my mom to come back to.
"What are you doing here Kate?" Domenic's tone had me gulping in discomfort. Unlike his teasing tone and his dark side he had shown me a few times, his tone now was completely serious, and for some reason it scared me so much.
"I... I was just curious." I mumbled in a lame attempt to defend myself. I_ a mere human who was supposed to be a slave, I'm here intruding in something that is supposed to be personal. It must feel like a slap to their faces.
Domenic's eyes soften just as the other guy spoke. "She knows of the King's critical illness now your highness. Should we kill her?"
My eyes widened just at the same time Domenic growled, "no! No one touches her!" The two men raised their brows at his aggressive tone, and I found my heart growing warm.
He said he doesn't care about me, but the more he acts the harder it is for me to believe that.
"Then what should we do your highness?! Leave her so she can reveal our secret to the council?!" Linus spat.
"She doesn't even know who the council members are. Are you forgetting that it hasn't been long since she arrived here? She's harmless." Domenic defended me which made my heart race.
"We can't trust anyone!" The other guy argued.
"I won't tell anyone about the King." I spoke up, and three pair of eyes stared at me. "I mean, you literally said the king was in critical condition and might breath his last earlier at the dining hall Linus, so technically you have already told me the secret."
Linus looked away in annoyance knowing I was right.
The king groaned and we all looked at him. He was dying.
Domenic crouched down beside his father. "Please father hang in there!" He pleaded and stared at Linus. "Get a human Linus, he needs blood!"
"He's dying your highness! I doubt blood would revive him, and even if it can, getting a human might be too late." Julian argued.
Linus looked at me and then back at Domenic, "this human girl is here. Why don't we use her blood instead?"
Domenic's eyes grew dark, and he snarled. "No! Not her, get someone else!"
"But it might be too late your highness. She's our only option right now!" Linus argued.
Seeing that they just kept arguing and going in circles, I spoke up. "I'll do it!" The room went silent and they all looked at me. "I'll give my blood to the king if that would help."
They all looked surprised, and even I was surprised by my words. I have no idea why I wanted to do it, but I know for sure that its because I saw something in Domenic's eyes when he looked at his father's almost lifeless body.
I thought of my mom. How would I feel if I lost her? I would be very heartbroken, I might even want to join her in death.
I saw that humanity in Domenic's beautiful green eyes too. He loves his father so much that he wanted him to live. Doing this disgust me! Giving my blood to these blood sucking monsters made my skin crawl.
But for Domenic's sake.
I thought about his smile at the cave and how he called me cute. The way he held my hand and saved me from those monstrous creature.
Domenic isn't a monster. He's just hiding his humanity behind false cruelty.
But why?
I wanted to know who he really is. Is he Domenic the man who saved my life at the cave and loves his father so much, or is he the cruel vampire he is trying so hard to make everyone believe he is.
Whatever it may be, for his sake, I am willing to save his father, if I can.
I stepped closer towards the bed but Domenic grabbed my arm giving me a pointed look. "You don't have to do this Kate. I can get someone else to give him blood."
"I'm the nearest option," I said gently but firmly. "Let me do this."
I pulled my arm away from his hold and took the dagger in the other guy's hand. I held my wrist above the open mouth of the vampire King. His fangs were long and yellow. They terrified me, yet I proceeded.
Everyone held their breaths, and I paused for a moment before slitting my wrist.
The moment my blood spilled, all hell broke loose.