Page 4 of Paying The Vampire
“Come and attack me and you’ll find out how real I am,” I said, my words scraping against my tongue.
He glanced towards Willow. “We need to get back and warn the pack. If one of them is here then the Alpha needs to know. We need to plan for war! Willow, come on! Quick! Before he attacks!”
Brandon’s words were hurried and terrified. My mouth twitched into a smile, enjoying how easy it was to make a wolf afraid. They liked to think of themselves as the most powerful in the land, but when faced with a true master of the sinister arts they were nothing. He was certainly not why I had arrived, and I had no urge to waste any more time with him. I instead leveled my gaze at Willow. I was surprised and impressed that she met my gaze and did not waver.
“Begone. I have no use for you. Go and warn your pack if you like, just as long as you leave Willow and I alone,” I said.
Willow’s eyebrow arched, intrigued.
Brandon seemed incensed. “Willow, we need to leave. I can’t just leave you out here with that thing,” he uttered through gritted teeth. I could tell he was torn between wanting to return to the safety of his pack and wanting to make a name for himself. By confronting a vampire he would have etched his name in history, especially if he thought he could kill me. It would have been the last mistake he ever made though, for I would have made short work of a wolf like him.
“I don’t need you to save me Brandon. I told you there are ways of handling things other than fighting,” Willow said.
Brandon’s mouth twisted and then he cursed under his breath, tearing himself away from me. I noticed the unpleasant odor in the air as he took the form of a wolf again and sprinted away, back to his pack. I did not show any sign of it to Willow, but I was nervous. The clock was ticking now, for once the wolves learned that a vampire was in their midst they would send an army after me, and as powerful as I was I did not like the odds of taking on an army by myself. My instincts had been dulled, of course, as the rats in the castle did not provide much of a challenge. But I still had some time, time to win Willow over to my side and convince her to come back with me.
“I’m impressed by your wisdom. I can see you are a superior being to the one who just left. But may I ask why you are so sure you are safe with me?” I asked.
Willow still had her arms folded across her chest and she tilted her head to the side. Her common clothes were not worthy of her. I was already thinking of other outfits she could wear that would more properly accentuate her natural beauty.
“I never said I was safe, but I don’t think you’re going to attack. If you were going to do that then you would have done so already. You wouldn’t have given up the element of surprise if you wanted to fight us.”
She sounded confident and assured. Her voice was as gentle as the winter mist. I gave an approving nod. “You have a good thought process. And you are right, I have no intention of attacking you, although I fear your brethren do not share that sentiment with regards to me.”
I noticed the way she flinched when I called them her brethren. I stepped closer towards her and continued, “I sense that there is some animosity between you.”
“You could say that, although I don’t think it takes a genius to tell that after we were just arguing. I can see you’re interested in me for whatever reason, and I’m assuming that you must have a reason for being here. If the stories are correct then vampires never do anything without a calculated plan. But if that’s the case then I think you’re going to have to be more forthcoming with me, because I’ve been dealing with a lot of annoying people all my life and I’m not going to indulge you as well. I notice you’ve already gained the advantage of learning my name. How about you show that your intentions truly are good and tell me yours in return?”
I smirked at her. “I’m not sure my intentions are ever truly good, but of course I would be happy to tell you my name. I’m Cassius. Well, technically I’m Count Cassius von Aachen, but Cassius will suffice.”
“Good, because the alternative is a mouthful. So Cassius, what are you doing here? Because if you want to hunt the pack then you’ve come at the wrong time. They’re eager for a fight.”
“I did not come to hunt, and I did not come for a war. In fact I came for you.”
This was the first time she let the mask she was wearing fall from her face. She flinched and her arms unfolded, before she composed herself and tension ran through her body once again. “What do you mean you came for me?” she asked. She watched me carefully. I began to pace in front of her, making sure to keep my distance as I did not want to appear threatening. I wasn’t sure if I should give her the entire story yet, rather just enough to intrigue her. However, my instinct told me that she was a woman who appreciated honesty, so I knew that vague promises and empty flattery were not going to win her to my cause, as was right. Anyone who was swayed by such things would not have been worthy of being my mate.
“You see Willow, the world I come from is a bleak and desolate place. The sun is setting and it is not covered in this lush forest as this world is. My race has dwindled until there is only one left, and I seek a companion.”
“Oh, I see. You’re just like every other man,” Willow rolled her eyes and was about to turn away from me.
“Oh no, in time I hope you will recant those words Willow. I do not speak of some fleeting physical pleasure, but of something deep and profound. I want someone to come into my world and share in what I have learned, in all the wisdom and experiences I have accrued during my life. I want to have someone to fill the silence, to spend time with me and make the days seem shorter. I find myself falling into melancholy as I lose myself to my own thoughts and wonder if anyone will ever sit beside me again. I have a feeling you know what it's like to be alone,” I said.
Willow narrowed her eyes at me. It was at this point that I realized I had misspoken and overstepped my boundaries. “I don’t know what trick you’re using, but you don’t know anything about me. Don’t pretend that you do. If the stories are true then I know what you’re capable of, and I don’t want any part of it.”
I held my hands up and bowed my head. “I merely meant to say that I can sense some resentment to your fellow wolves. It doesn’t seem as though you are as much a part of your pack as wolves are supposed to be.”
“No. I’m not. But I’m fine with being alone. I’m happy to make my own way in this world.”
“You may think like that now, but try spending your life by yourself as the days turn into years and the years turn into decades. It can be a harrowing experience. Besides, wouldn’t you rather be with someone who appreciates what you have to offer and doesn’t just judge you based on what thing you have lurking inside you? You are more than a wolf Willow.”
“You mean less than,” she replied.
I shook my head slowly to emphasize my point. “You only think that because of the world in which you have grown up. You are more than a wolf, much more. Of course, they’re going to think that they’re the superior life because it’s the only thing they know, but what do they do with their powers? They run around the forest and hunt like mere animals. They do not seek to elevate themselves or learn more about the world around them. They lose themselves to the wolves, while you could be something greater.”
“Just because I can’t become a wolf doesn’t mean that I want to look down upon it. This is still who I am, what I was meant to be. I would give anything to be able to turn into one of them. You might think you know me, but you don’t. You don’t know what it feels like to be empty inside, or what it feels like to call on something that does not answer. You don’t know the pain of knowing that you’re not what you’re supposed to be, so don’t come here and try to pretend that we’re the same, because we’re not.”
But I knew we were. I could sense it, even if she couldn’t. I had perhaps allowed my own disdain for the wolves to overshadow the way she felt, but it required only a slight readjustment to lay the final enticement that would bring her to me. This time I did step towards her to see her reaction. She did not step back, and did not seem to be on edge. I lowered my voice to a whisper in the hope that it would elicit an intimate atmosphere between us.
“I apologize for my presumption. I hope you will be gracious enough to forgive me. Tell me then, what lengths have you gone to in order to solve your problem? I assume you have prayed to your precious moon?” I asked, having to bite my tongue to not completely deride her for her silly superstitions. I had to keep reminding myself that it wasn’t her fault, it was only thanks to the world she had grown up in. She nodded. “I see, well, since you seem familiar with the stories of vampires then you know we are the master of conjuration and have various artifacts. If you have not found where you belong here, then perhaps by coming back with me you could find something in my castle that would bring out the wolf inside you, if you truly wish to do such a thing.”