C H A P T E R 18

Vladimir Bloodthorn

under the moonlight next to her made him feel things deep in his chest that he did not know existed nor has ever felt before and when it does confuse him it also does leave him wondering about it with curiosity and interest. The things that he told her, the things that he said to her were personal and Vladimir did not know why he let a Werewolf, his sole enemy know how Vampires come to be. A secret that only the Vampire species know.

Perhaps deep down he wanted her to know, he wanted that Werewolf girl that he has taken interest in to know how messed up he is and what she is getting herself into yet perhaps he did it because she has shared something personal and something close to her heart. The things that she said made him see her in another light and maybe, just maybe the Werewolves are not as big of a threat that he might have believed them to be, not the savages that Vampires have pictured them to be and not the killers that they tell them to be but peaceful creatures.

His scarlet red eyes return from the moon over to her to see her eyes closed and her breathing soft and steady. The corners of his lips curl up in a small fraction of a smile and if anyone were to see him he would deny it and most definitely kill them on the spot. He puts a cover on top of her to keep the chilly air from biting her. His eyes stare down at her and for a small second all he felt was guilt. He has slaughtered and killed mostly all her kind.

And many more will die, yet the King that believes himself to be the cruelest of them all finds himself wanting to do everything he can to keep her alive, to Hell with her kind, he just wants her alive. Vladimir may not know why he does yet the feelings inside beg him and when normally he would never give in to such begging he just has to. Going soft, that is what is happening to him and he knows it. As he stares down at her sleeping body, the more he begins to realize that he is not as ruthless as he was before.

He would spend his day draining and killing anyone and everything in sight yet he finds himself now laying beside a Werewolf woman. Softly growling in anger he stands up and walks into the tent. He had removed the mattress from the bed to leave her on in the sun to give her as much as she needed there and comfortable. His anger rises yet when his mind travels to her all he can think of is wanting to please her, make her comfortable and keep her safe. These are things that are new to him and make him extremely confused.

Never has he felt like this about anyone before. Wanting nothing more than to kill something or someone yet can't find it in himself to do so for she is the only one around and he can't hurt her. When the black haired King had gone into the tent to get away from her, he finds himself unable to get rid of her in his mind. Walking out of the tent and seeing her sleeping face there he lets out a growl. He can't get her out of his head and it is making him sick.

Killing her would end it all but he can't do that. He feels for her for some reason, though he doesn't understand it and as he walks back into the moonlight and watches it shine its silvery light on her pale face he realizes that he doesn't feel for her because of the fact that she has never turned into a Werewolf (actually makes her less of a threat now) but because of the fact that she had it so hard in her life and he only brought her more pain and he knows he will continue to bring her pain.

As he watches the soft breeze slowly move her golden blonde hair and back forth in soft motions he finds himself smiling. She looks peaceful and almost happy yet when looking closer one can see the illusion of happiness. For her cheeks are sunken from lack of food and her skin is deathly pale from the loss of blood and the purple bags under her eyes show how mentally and physically exhausted she is. However, through all of that he still finds beauty in her and the ways that she continues to fight back despite all odds against her.

His ears begin to pick up a sound from a horse carriage and when he stands up and looks around only to see the smirking Killian coming on a horse carriage he can only let out a low groan and roll his eyes. It does not take long before his carriage has made it there and he stands there before his friend with a goody grin on his face. "We cannot allow you to have all the fun, now that you have slaughtered all the workers, someone has to bring more" He simply says as he walks past him and goes to Valentina who still sleeps soundly.

"The Werewolf seems to be useful" He says smirking as he goes into Vladimir's tent. "What do you have for fun around here, Vlad?" He asks him as he sits down on his throne like chair with Vladimir behind him. The King already knowing that the trip will be much longer and more boring now that Killian is here can only let out a annoyed groan. "I do not have fun on a trip like this one" He says as he grits his teeth seeing his friend sitting in his throne.

He takes him by the shirt he wears and throws him on the ground and then he sits down on his rightful throne while Killian can only smirk and let out a chuckle. "If I did not know better I would say you still want blood and that Werewolf blood has made you stronger" He tells him as he stands up. Killian sits on the wooden bed since there is no mattress he sits on the frame. "Yes, if has" Vladimir answers, though he is in no mood to deal with his friend at the moment.

As he wishes only to be with Valentina alone and now more are coming. "Tell me, why did you slaughter the workers? One or two for fun perhaps yet all of them is a bit too much as you were vulnerable for an attack" Killian asks him within a raised eyebrow. The King does not do things without a reason, unless it is killing yet he does not kill everyone if it were not for a reason for he does have limit to the people he does murder. Vladimir smirks and scoffs. "If I were vulnerable then I would have been attacked already yet here I am" He answers.

Truly not feeling like being there at all, nor does he need anyone. It is true, anyone would have attacked at any given time as he was in the open yet he was not attacked and he would not be. He is not just a ruthless King who kills but he is also feared and respected and he does have the reputation for being unbeatable no matter how many stand against him. He and Valentina were perfectly safe, except for his own people who now are gone from this living earth.

"Here you are indeed, now do you have a drink around here. I've been traveling all night and I'm starving" He says as his razor sharp fangs show themselves, begging for the crimson blood with lust. Vladimir lets out a laugh. "Did not pack a snack, Killian, such a shame" He says as he stands up and walks out of the tent with a smirk on his face, knowing that his friend will be just as annoyed with him as he is with Killian and perhaps he will finally leave. "Then why don't I get a drink from the Werewolf?" Killian asks, smirking, challenging him. One might say the thoughts of murdering him are rather clear in the King's head.

Vladimir sat beside Valentina as she softly started to wake up when only an hour was left of the night. He watches as her eyes flutter open and she begins to slowly move. Her body was still weak yet getting stronger. "How long was I asleep?" She asks when she does wake and understand her surroundings and he sees calmness in her eyes, perhaps for she does not see him as a threat to her anymore.

"Five hours, dawn shall be upon us in under and hour" He speaks, his voice has softened. Only for her, he realized when not knowing why. He helps her sit up and hands her a bowl of strawberries. After seeing how she has taken liking to the fruit he had requested a huge amount of the red small slightly heart-shaped fruit for her. She begins to eat it with a small smile on her face. "We shall be on the road once again before the dawn breaks" He tells her as she eats. Getting as much food in her body as he can so she gathers her strength.

Seeing her like this breaks him apart in ways that he did not know could be broken apart and when it does confuse him he also enjoys it and the feelings of going soft only for her is perhaps all right. Yet, he will resist it all he can. He notices that she has gone silent as she watches the grass in front of her but she has not finished the strawberries in the bowl. Neither does he speak a word as he takes the bowl from her and sets it aside as he helps her lie down once again.

He stands up and walks into his tent but as soon as his ears start to pick up the voices from the new workers that Killian has brought with him, he is quick to go outside. In case she is hurt and he cannot allow that to take place, not again. "Once again you will ride with me" He tells her as without warning he picks her up and carries her to the horse carriage that they had been riding in when they came there. He smirks to himself as he sees another carriage behind where Killian is chained up.

Setting Valentina down in the carriage he sits down and even when she does try to get away from him and he feels his heart want nothing more than to have her close, he does not pressure her. The cruel King should be torturing her and taking every drop of blood in her veins. Yet she is not. However he did defend her honor as Killian continued to wish to drain her dry which he had to punish him for and now he is suffering for it.

He is not called a ruthless killing machine for nothing for if anyone were to disrespect him and his Blood Slave again then he will fight back and he will do so with a smile on his face. His scarlet red eyes catches the sigh of a sleeping Valentina and his dead heart feels calmer, knowing that she is safe as they are going their way and she will be safe, always when she is with him from now on. Without knowing it herself she has softened him and he knows it and yet he wants to fight it but does not and does not want to.