Page 95 of Vampires of Eden: Oliver
Camille chuckles. “You’re welcome. He had a right fit, of course. Then Benjamin—God bless his acting skills—screamed and sanctioned me to my quarters for the next week. With all the fuss the duke made, Lord Blakeley easily agreed to it.
“Immediately after I was dismissed, I packed up everything, then waited until dinner service to make my move. While everyone inside was preoccupied, Hudson let me out the main gate. It all went smoothly!”
Listening to her story is truly humbling. Also, I owe Ben a sincere apology. I am definitely guilty of sending some bad vibes his way over feeding Aries. I never even considered that he was forcibly ordered to do so by the overseer.
“I’ve been wanting to quit ever since Lord Blakeley raked me over the coals for those pictures you posted—utterly fantastic, by the way. We were all so proud of you for speaking up and publicly highlighting that issue, but we couldn’t say anything.” She reaches down and grabs her thermos. “I didn’t quit after that, though, because Hudson told me to hold out. He didn’t want me to leave, then be replaced by some old fart who religiously drinks from the fountain of Lord Blakeley’s piss and would stifle you even more.”
“That’s… graphic.”
“That’s how some of them are. Loyal worshippers. Anyway, Hudson kept saying that we needed to be watchful in case you wanted to escape. That we should help if we could. It’s like he was waiting for a sign.” She glances at me, bringing her thermos to her lips and wiggling her eyebrows. “We sure got one, didn’t we? An astrological sign. Sexy Aries.”
Leaning my head back against the seat, I close my eyes. Humiliating. “Is there anyone who doesn’t know about that?”
“I think Lord Blakeley suspected, but only put two and two together the morning that you left for Central Eden. You had some rather, um… distinct energy bursts early that morning. I guess it could have been you and Alexander but… let’s be honest. Weknowit wasn’t you and Alexander.” She laughs loudly and it fills the small car. “Mr. Perfect Purebred doesn’t seem like the type to give someone that kind of raw pleasure, does he?”
In a drastic gesture, she gasps, which makes me start and sit upright. Nervous, I glance around. “What is it?” Is someone following us? The jig is up?
“Before I forget, look in the glove box. Your phone is in there. I swiped it on my way out. Fuckers. There’s a suitcase of clothes and some things for you in the backseat too. I couldn’t take too much but I grabbed what I could.”
Cautiously, I open the glove box, and there it is. My real phone. When I pull it out and tap the screen, it’s fully charged.
“I don’t know how long it will be before Lord Blakeley has it shut off, but you should text the golden prince and tell him you’re alright,” she says.
I pause, confused. “Alexander?”
“Yes, Alexander. He’s pitching a bloody fit back at the castle! Livid and blatantly questioning Lord Blakeley about where you’ve disappeared to. It’s brilliant, honestly. Masterful. I’ve never seen anyone just openly confront and provoke Lord Blakeley like that—in the presence of servants and everything. Zero fucks about decorum and all that rubbish. The rules have been blown out the window. I guess he’s got some fire in him after all? Good for him.”
Admittedly, I am surprised to hear this. “Maybe… I’ll text him when I get to the safe house.” Alexander has already helped me a lot—more than I deserve. I want him to know I’m okay, but I need to think for a minute. Everything is happening so fast.
“Maybe? Despite his shortcomings, I’ve always pegged him for being genuinely devoted to you. Your ride or die, so to speak.”
I frown. “What does that mean? Who’s dying?”
“Never mind. Welp, it’s your choice. It’d be easier if he knew, though. Then he could, like, help and feed you. We don’t have a long-term plan for your escape, but Alexander has connections beyond Eden and might have some ideas? Feeding-wise, you’ve never had anything below purebred, right? Unless you had a sip of Aries…” She cuts her eyes in my direction as if she’s waiting to hear some juicy gossip.
Could I even call what I had a sip? I bypass that question altogether. “What’s your plan? Are you going back to the castle at all?”
“Hell no. I’ve got my clothes back there, too. I’ve been hoarding cash since I started assisting you. I’m catching the next flight to Paris. Au revoir, assholes.”
Laughing, I lift, pulling my talisman from my pocket and unfolding the paper to reread Aries’s words.We made a promise.We did indeed.
“Can we keep in touch?” I ask.
“That’s a given. You and Sasha will need to come visit me someday soon—if I can finally convince her to stop fooling around and walk away from Elaine.” Camille takes another sip from her thermos. “Speaking of, text your sister. She’s waiting to hear from you.”
“I will. And I look forward to visiting you in Paris. Wow.”
Part of me wishes that I had Aries’s phone number. I had it saved in the temporary phone that Lord Blakeley gave me. Not my real one.
Another part of me is glad that I don’t have it. Camille probably has his contact information. I’ll ask her for it later, just so that I have it.
I don’t want him involved in my mess. This chaos that is my life right now—physically fighting with my evil birth conduit and being imprisoned in a dungeon. Traversing through the woods and being smuggled off to a safe house. It’s a lot, and I have no idea what will happen next.
When I see Aries again and talk to him, I want to be independent. Self-sufficient and stable to a point where he doesn’t feel the need to swoop in and save me. My hope is that I can stand on my own two feet and meet him at his level. Two liberated and worldly vampires choosing each other—intentionally coming together as one because we are well matched. Because we know it’s right.
Not by force or codependency. Because of love.
Well, for better or worse, the first major step is done. I’ve officially escaped.
