Redemption: My Vampire Lover Part #2 (A Dark Realm Novella Series) (3 page)

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.

When he turned and looked directly at me, my
heart splintered into a million pieces as I witnessed the
expression on his face.
Wolf, what has befallen upon me?
Despite my confusion, I returned a half-heatedly crooked smile in
his direction from across the room as my mouth fell open slightly,
instantly forgetting why I was there. I was speechless to do
otherwise. This man, this vampire was a vision of sheer beauty, and
he wanted to help me. Moreover, he instantly trusted me. A person
he didn’t know. He trusted me.
A warrior who understands and
strives to be honest, loyal, and trustworthy. A man like no other.
A vampire. Maybe. A demon? Never!

Within seconds, his dark, broody stare had
transformed to a delightful, glorious appearance. That essence of
love came from his heart. From what my aunt had told me, no demon
could fake love or real concern for another. They didn’t possess
it. This man. Raphael, as he was called, was a real warrior. A
vampire, a man, and a warrior. All in one. No trace of a demon at
all. I couldn’t form a single word to respond. The attraction I
felt pooling up in the pit of my stomach was undeniable.
But how
could this be? And more importantly, why?
Why would I feel
an instant attraction to a different species?
I instantly
realized I couldn’t kill him. I couldn’t think straight. Actually I
couldn’t think at all. I simply returned his gaze, letting myself
be taken in by his eyes.

Our silence intensified as I studied him. He
returned my gaze without shame, looking into my very soul it
seemed.

Raphael was tall with a well-toned physique,
and long muscular arms and legs. He defined every square inch of
his clothing perfectly – like a warrior – as he stood there
watching me in his black fitted T-shirt, tight leather pants, and
bulky leather boots. None of that should have registered with me as
I continued to watch him, but it did. His facial expression said it
all. It was a familiar fondness as if he had known me all his life,
unashamed and comforting as if I were a lover who had discovered
her way back to him. Despite my duty, I wanted to run and jump in
his arms, smothering his handsome, rugged face with kisses. He
sealed my fate with his eyes. No man had ever looked at me with
such desire. It overwhelmed, and I knew my life would never be the
same from that day forward.

Before I realized it, he crossed the room. In
my disoriented mood, I let him pick me up and set me on his bed in
front of him. To my astonishment, he knelt before me, brushing away
the remaining knives to the center of the bed behind me. He let his
hands linger on my naked knees and immediately rushes of warmth
radiated in every direction along my upper thighs and lower legs.
His shirt, the one I wore, was the only thing that divided us. I
swallowed hard, trying to dispose of my immediate attraction for
him.
Wolf, what has certainly befallen me?

The curse of true love.

“I know we just met, and this is the worst
way to meet someone…” The rich timbre of Raphael’s voice surprised
me. “But you seem like a nice, pleasant person, and I wouldn’t want
anything to happen to you. Caroline, I’ll get you out of here. That
I can promise you, but this is a strange and dangerous place. And
at all times, I want you to promise; you will stay by my side. No
matter what you see or hear. Do you understand?”

I nodded, swallowing again as I attempted to
not roll my eyes at the polite command in his instructions. “I’ve
been around,” I challenged. “Where am I exactly?” I asked, knowing
already what the answer may be.

“I doubt you have been to a place like this.
You are in the Dark realm, in the city of Asmodian. Lord Asmodeus
is the ruler here. He kidnapped you, and he’ll put you in the games
where you will be hunted and killed, preferably by him or one of
his brothers. He has a wall of trophies in his study featuring many
of your species.”

“What?” I screamed.
My younger brother. My
aunt. My blood instantly went cold.

“Shhh. Someone will hear you.” He clamped his
hand over my mouth. We fell onto the bed in each other’s arms. He
shifted his weight, and I ended up on top of him. I could see the
knives out of the corner of my vision.
It wouldn’t be difficult
to kill him from this vantage point. Did silver affect vampires the
way it did werewolves?