Michelle spotted her and beckoned her over. “I didn’t know what you’d like so I got a few things,” struggling to speak while chewing. “There is toast and fruit here, but there is bacon and eggs in the fridge. Have whatever you like.”
“They keep food here?” Alex asked.
Michelle nodded, swallowing. “For the servants. But as it’s so late, they would’ve already eaten. They’re probably attending the gardens or something.”
Alex looked around, focusing on the sky outside. “Hey…how late is it?”
Michelle took a sip of some coffee. “We’d better be heading up pretty soon.”
“Why?” Alex asked.
“Dante will be up soon.”
“What do you mean?”
“They all will,” Michelle said darkly.
Alex saw the darkening sky in the background, having to do a double-take. Finally, the truth hit her.
“No way! I thought it was only late morning”
Michelle rose with a piece of half eaten toast in her mouth, a cup of coffee in her hand and an apple in the other. “We’ve been asleep for the entire day,” she mumbled through the bread as she turned rather quickly, towards the hallway.
Alex, still flabbergasted, followed the now uneasy Michelle to the stairs. Out of the corner of her eye, Alex saw a door to her left slightly ajar and a hint of the brightest colour of blue she had ever seen. It was unnaturally bright, glowing even. Curiosity getting the better of her, she stepped closer to the opening and could hear whispering.
“Are you sure they are even still alive…?”
“I don’t ask questions…just do what I am told. So should you. It’s safer that way.”
Alex peered in to see a very small room, rather a large-sized pantry. But instead of food, the spice racks were lined with tens of small vials, each holding the glowing blue-coloured liquid. The two men inside appeared to be taking inventory, taking the oldest ones on the top shelf and pocketing them.
Alex moved along as she heard, “Is that enough for the week?”
“Who knows? It is taking more and more to keep them asleep…”
She found her room again and Dante was awake. Alex forgot her question about the blue vials and the loss of an entire day when she noticed he was drinking from Michelle’s wrist. Alex stood mesmerised as Michelle played with his hair with her other hand, pressing her lips to the top of his head. Michelle caught Alex staring from outside the door and gave her a quick wink. Alex was unable to piece together her feelings about what she saw. Confused, sickened perhaps, but in a strange way, jealous.
Michelle looked so content to do this. It’s the feeling of submission. Of being completely helpless. From the quiet moans she let out, she sounded it too. She held him close to her and used her fingers to play with his skin, giving him tender kisses along his ear and cheek. Dante moved his arm around Michelle’s waist, pulling her in even closer to him, twisting their bodies around.
Dante opened his eyes and found Alex. There was no wink, no acknowledgement whatsoever. But he didn’t break contact with his eyes or mouth, continuing to stare at Alex as he drank. Alex didn’t budge, save for an unconscious movement, her fingers gripping her arm, pinching and scrunching it. She didn’t know where to look. Despite herself, just for a moment, the thought flashed through her mind of joining them.
A flash of walking over…having Dante give her that look of hunger…Michelle behind her, running her hands over Alex, letting her know everything was going to be all right, before leaning Alex’s head to the side, pulling her collar down with other hand…Dante looming closer, gripping her body with his incredible strength…the canines, already dripping with blood, coming for her…that wanted her.
Suddenly her thought was forgotten as she found herself back inside the room, hearing footsteps underneath her. The other vampires had awoken too. Judgment was at hand.
Chapter Thirty
Hail To The King
While waiting for the summons, Dante, Michelle and Alex kept to themselves, until Nathaniel knocked on the door, asking Dante to play with him. They watched a movie to while away the time. Alex, still a bit leery, was beginning to warm to the vampire boy, who was admittedly very cute. Before long, the request came and the three descended to stand before Vincent.
The two trios faced each other again in the same spot as the previous night, but there was no longer just the six of them in the room. Alex noted a solitary vampire standing in the corner. He had definitely not been there the day before. Alex had no idea if that was a good thing or a bad thing. She and Michelle had clasped each other’s hand as they walked in. It was the only comfort they could give in the cold, dark room.
“Do you wish to say anything in your defence?” Vincent asked, torches flickering around him.
“No.” Dante said flatly. “Let’s just get on with it.”
Vincent raised an eyebrow at Dante’s clear disregard for his authority, but seemed to think better of making an issue of it, and simply proceeded with his judgement. “Very well, I find you guilty on all charges.”
Michelle clutched Alex’s arm frantically. Dante did not move.
“Had your actions been the result of self-defence or survival it would be overlooked.”
“How was it not self-defence? How was it not survival?”
“You put yourself in the situation, a situation you helped create. You gave a show of your abilities in the process to a waiting throng of cameras.”
“The media thought it to be a joke! An act! What harm was done?”
“You risked the exposure of our world for the protection of a human! That human! One who still offers nothing,” Vincent
