Chapter 5: The Price of Pleasure
The night had been so haunting, it seemed like it would never end.
But the dawn came eventually. It was a cold morning, and he woke in grief and anger.
Standing on the balcony, he stared out at the forest, glaring at the raindrops on every leaf, left behind from last night’s storm.
The sky had torn in two at night, rain pouring out with lightning and thunder.
And inside his bedroom, in his bed, they’d had sex to the rain’s melody.
His stomach rolled with disgust. He’d enjoyed it.
He’d been pleasured by their acts, he’d delighted in pleasing her. When he’d stolen her from Death, it was because he’d wanted to humiliate her, to break her and avenge his blood before she died again.
And yet, somehow, he found himself bound to the wretched girl.
That’s right. He’d come to terms with it. He didn’t know how it had happened. Perhaps it was when she’d made that deal with him in the flames that killed her. Or perhaps it was some twisted trick attached to the enchanted pool at the center of the cursed forest.
Somewhere along the line, something had gone very wrong. And, because of that, he’d been at the mercy of some unseen bond all night, craving her pleasure like it was blood.
Glaring at the dark sky, he silently clenched his jaw. He’d be damned if he let this go on any longer. If getting himself out of the curse of wanting her meant he had to forfeit his plans of vengeful fun, then he was willing to do so.
His grim aura was so dark, it was nearly tangible.
In the bedroom, Aurelia slowly stirred out of sleep, sensing his darkness before she’d even opened her eyes.
When she sat up and drowsily looked around, her mind was blank.
The memories slowly came flooding in, the events that took place yesterday playing through her head like a series of fever dreams.
Auntie Hazel.
Aurelia’s throat closed, tears blurring her vision. But then a breeze blew into the room, lifting the drapes into a beckoning wave through the air.
Her gaze went to the balcony, looking out of the open doors. As soon as she saw him, her heart stilled, peace gently flowing in.
A man stood there. The clouds were dark above his head, the forest even darker beneath his feet. He had no shoes or shirt on.
His skin, on his sculpted body, was pale as alabaster, a stark contrast to his black cotton pants and the mop of black hair on his head.
Darkness emanated from him, and she stared, remembering the way he’d appeared in her death, dragging her back to life.
Aurelia didn’t know what it was, but something deep inside of her yearned for him. She wanted him to come to her, to wrap her in his arms.
Frowning in confusion, she cautiously analyzed the emotion. It made no sense to feel this way. She’d given her body to him last night. The right feeling would be shame. Shame and repentance.
But she only felt a pull so strong, she couldn’t take her eyes away from him.
She watched his fingers curl into fists.
He knew she was watching. Clenching his jaw, he glared at the rushing stream on the forest floor far below the balcony.
Unable to bear her piercing stare anymore, and making up his mind about what he would do, he spun on his heel and marched back into the room.
Like an arrow through his chest, the scent of her blood pierced him. It wrapped around his head, and his breath hitched, eyes shutting tightly as he turned away.
His chest constricted, veins thickening as his blood rushed, turning his breathing shallow.
He glared at her, growing even angrier when she blinked innocently at him. His bed had soaked up the blood of her virginity, and now the scent was tormenting him.
It was sorcery. Like a magical flower, drawing him in with the fragrance of its enchanted petals. But he knew, the closer he got, the more in danger he was of getting pricked on those poisonous thorns.
Swallowing hard, he forced himself to stand upright. His fangs started to lengthen, and, enraged by his body’s traitorous reaction, he shoved them back in.
He would rather die than crave her like she was some divine being. Last night would never happen again. He refused to resemble a bloodthirsty animal before her; it was an insult to his entire lineage.
“Are you okay, creature?” Her soft voice broke into his thoughts.
Behind his curtain of hair, he scowled at her.
Aurelia studied the perfect line of his nose and the curve of his lips. She would say she stared at his lips so often because his eyes were hidden, but it would be a lie. She stared at them because they were so enticing.
“Stop staring at me,” he muttered bitterly.
Blinking, she quickly lowered her gaze.
His throat muscles worked as he swallowed, gaze slipping down her body. Her hair, two glistening rivers of brown tresses, perfectly covered each breast.
The sight was strangely more provocative than if her breasts had simply been visible. Sighing, he looked away.
“You’re going to leave this place,” he stated.
She cautiously glanced up at him. “What? All by myself?”
“What did you expect?”
She looked troubled, and that pitiful look was back in her eyes. “But I’m not sure where we are. There are no forests in Solara. Have we left my kingdom?”
Scoffing, he glared at her, his body twitching with restraint at the scent of her blood. “Your kingdom? Princess. We’ve left your world.”
Aurelia tensed. “My… world? What do you mean?”
“I mean that if you stare at the horizon and turn a full circle, all that your eyes will see, and everything beyond it, belongs to the non-human.”
She stared at him, paling.
He exhaled and squared his shoulders like he was preparing himself for something. “You’re the only human here. You’re in my world now.”
A cruel smirk tugged up one corner of his mouth. She was in his world, and he was about to throw her out there to be devoured. Once she was dead, the ridiculous bond between them would disintegrate.
“Okay,” she softly said, visibly trying to toughen up. “There’s no point in being shocked. You are a Vampire after all, of course, there would be more.”
Her lack of panic displeased him.
“Stand up,” he muttered. “Come here.”
With poorly hidden zeal, Aurelia wrapped the sheets around her body and went to him. Maybe it was because he’d saved her or because she was in a foreign land, but she wanted to be close to him. He’d gone from being monstrous to making her feel safe.
His eyes stared at her. “Listen carefully.”
She nodded.
“This… never happened.”
Her eyes filled with confusion. But he didn’t stop.
He was going to erase her memories of him. It was the only way to undo the tie he’d accidentally made between them.
“You never met me,” he continued. “And, from this day onward, you do not recognize me.”