Page 3 of Elegy of Twilight
He grimaced. “It’s a hideout, nothing more.”
The steady drip of water confirmed my assumption that I was in a cavern somewhere beyond thewaterfalls. Veilix was a lush countryside of hills and mountains hiding deep canyons and yawning caves. As a child, I’d explored many of them, but now they were forbidden. For the hollow caves were where vampires lurked in the shadows, ready to pounce, to kill, to drink.
The man before me did not look like a vampire, but what did I know? I’d never actually seen one. Still, his fingers were just that, fingers not claws. His eyes, instead of red, were the color of bright blue water graced by flecks of sunlight. The way his rumpled hair curled was disarming. If I’d seen him in the village, I would have greeted him kindly, offered him a meal, and thought him handsome. In the shadows of the musty cavern, an intoxicating danger emanated from him.
He held out the goblet, but I shook my head. I’d be a fool to take a drink from a stranger. With a shrug, he downed the rest of the contents and picked up his lute. It reminded me of a guitar, although much smaller, with a rounded body and twelve strings instead of six. When he strummed a few notes, a hum echoed, and my heart rate slowed.
“Will you untie my arms?” I dared to ask.
“Why should I free one who so willingly offeredherself to be tied up?”
“It’s getting uncomfortable,” I admitted.
He strummed a few more notes, studying me intently. “If I do, will you hurl the goblet at me and run into the cavern, searching for escape?”
“I’d very much like for you to let me go, but I don’t know my way home from here, and I’d hate to run into more vampires.”
His lips curled back in a smile, and then he stood, leaning over me. His cheek grazed mine, the stubble rough against my smooth skin. The scent of sweet berries left me feeling heady. I held my breath as he ran his fingers down my arms in the most sensual manner. As I tipped forward to allow him access to my hands, my head pressed against one of his broad shoulders. Again came the quick pitter patter of his heart, as though he were doing something thrilling, arousing.
At last, he pulled back with the rope in his hands. I rolled my aching shoulders and rubbed my wrists.
“Thank you,” I whispered, not daring to look at him until he’d resettled on the rock across from me.
“Tell me, oh lady of the moon, do you have a name?”
I weighed giving him the information, and then gave in. Conversation was better than being eaten. “Lucia, and you?”
He wagged his finger. “I’m not sure you’ve gained the honor of my name.”
“But I’ve given you mine,” I protested.
“True, but I haven’t decided whether you’re trustworthy.”
“I made a choice to trust you with my name, the least you can do?—”
“You also made yourself a willing sacrifice for me,” he interrupted with a smug grin. “I think I control the information here.”
I glowered at him, the remark stinging. “I only did it to protect Veilix.”
“So you came willingly? You weren’t forced?”
“No, I took vows to serve and protect those around me with what skills I’ve been given.”
“A vow,” the man teased. “Oh, how special you must be, a member of the Order?”
“No, I’m a priestess.”
“Ah, you’ve taken a vow to abstain from worldly pleasures. Shame, I could show you many things you’re missing.”
Aware that I was alone in varying shades of gray and gloom with him, I drew a sharp breath, searching to change the dangerous trajectory of the conversation. “I’d like to extracta vow from you instead. You will leave Veilix alone and go elsewhere to hunt for blood.”
“You’re asking me to leave and terrorize another village? Doesn’t that strictly go against your vows?”
It did, but the vampire king was sitting right in front of me. I had to make a deal with him so my sacrifice would not be in vain.
“I will make a bargain with you if you leave Veilix and all villages in peace. No more nights of terror.”
“A bargain, you say. It assumes you have something I want.”
