3_ Bizarre, unworthy little creature.
3
Kamilla tried to swallow, but couldn’t. Her throat felt as dry as a rock in the sun.
Her gaze remained fastened upon the man before her, all her senses focused on him. Her fingers tingled as an inexplicable desire to rush into his arms filled her.
She gritted her teeth, shaking it off.
He took a step forward and she gasped, her desire to go to him even stronger than before.
He took another step. Kamilla fisted her hands. What was this energy, this power he had over her?
“Fascinating…” he said. Kamilla stared but saw nothing of his face as he stood in shadow. “A vampire who can withstand my power?”
She finally managed to gulp. His words were sensual, like a caress over her tingling skin.
A final step brought him into the light.
“Holy shit…” Kamilla whispered, staggering back. He lifted his head and looked at her. Her eyes stared up into a pair that strangely reminded her of herself. Her mouth parted softly. The man before her put every single handsome person she’d ever seen to shame. He was unbelievably beautiful.
His eyes glowed green above his perfectly straight nose. He curved his pink mouth in a sardonic smile as he regarded her. She gasped. He was handsome, but when he smiled, he was devastating. His hair waved down to his shoulders, thick and black as midnight, making his skin stand out beautifully.
Viktor studied the woman before him, his rebellious spirit urging him to fight against the strong pull he felt towards her, but he couldn’t. She was absolutely gorgeous. Her red hair waved all the way down her back, covering her neck from him. He wanted her closer but fought it. With effort, he put on an arrogant smirk.
“Luckily,” he continued with his devilish smirk, ignoring his inner battle. “It appears that my looks still have a great impact.”
“Indeed,” agreed Damon.
Kamilla swallowed again. She couldn’t speak for now. She strangely felt as though she had to gather energy just to speak to the vampire. His power was so overwhelming that she couldn’t take her eyes off him, the last thing she needed was for him to hypnotize her.
“You are Kamilla Drew,” he stated. It wasn’t a question, so Kamilla remained still, building strength after whatever sorcery he had just done to her. “My betrothed.”
With strength or none, Kamilla couldn’t help but snort at his words. How could he kidnap her and so easily say that she was his ‘betrothed’? Did he think she would still marry him?! And why? Because of a silly little agreement that their Vampire fathers, certainly drunk on blood, had made? It was laughable.
She eyed the man before her, considering all his beauty, his power. Damn, he was the most gorgeous man she’d ever seen. Kamilla bit the inside of her cheek. She had to admit that this was surprising. She’d imagined nothing more than an old, wicked Vampire as the King. Not this… beautiful creation.
At her snort, she saw the King’s brow rise. “Is that your form of mockery?” he asked. “Do you deny that you are my betrothed even when your eyes show that your soul intertwines with mine?”
Her eyes? Kamilla’s fingers rose of their own volition and tentatively touch the corners of her eyes.
“Yes, Kamilla,” he said. “As a Vampire, you should know what it means when your eyes show—”
“Excuse me?” Kamilla suddenly said. That was it. She’d let him speak enough, but now she was back. His little magic tricks could never keep her quiet for long. “Vampire? Let me remind you that I, your majesty, am not a vampire!”
Her heart ached at the thought. How could they expect her to just accept that she was no longer totally human and be okay with it? It had only been two days since she found out, for heaven’s sake!
Kamilla narrowed her eyes at him, hoping he picked up the sweet sarcasm in her “Your majesty”.
He didn’t respond to her words, only looked at her like she was a bug under his shoe.
His gaze went to Damon behind her. “What’s this?” he demanded, indicating Kamilla.
She gasped. “Did you just...? I am a person, not ‘this’!”
Damn, but these Vampires had no manners. They’d kidnapped her and hadn’t even offered her water to drink! Nothing, but threats and insults. Kamilla couldn’t believe her cursed luck.
“Uh… uhm,” said Damon quickly, coming forward to stand beside Kamilla. “Viktor, she’s—”
“Rude. Insolent!” stated Viktor in a sharp, cold voice. Kamilla couldn’t help but shrink back a little.
She clenched her jaw quietly. He hadn’t seen rude or insolent yet. She was determined to get out of this place.
When he stepped up in front of her, intruding her personal space, Kamilla withdrew even further.
“Do you know who I am?” came the question.
She peeked up at him with scorn.
“Question is, do I care? But if I’m to take a guess, you’re probably the person who got me kidnapped and locked up like an animal.”
Animals definitely didn’t get locked up in such gorgeous castle rooms full of luxury, but Kamilla was determined to ignore that.
“For heaven’s sake,” muttered Damon at her. “Will you shut up?”
Viktor was staring at Kamilla with unhidden irritation, but addressed Damon. “And you speak to her in such an informal manner, Damon. Why? Even if she’s a bizarre, unworthy little creature, she remains your future queen.”
Kamilla’s eyes narrowed. Bizarre? Unworthy? Creature?!
Damon sighed. “Yes, Viktor, I know. And trust me, I tried, but your little bride here would rather exchange insults instead of pleasantries.”
Kamilla turned on him. “I’m not his bride, you blood-sucker!”
“See that?” said Damon, running a frustrated hand through his white hair.
Kamilla slowly turned back to face Viktor, staring up into his glowing eyes. She clenched her jaw when her heart began to do strange things in her chest, her blood rushing through her body. What was he doing to her?
“Look here, woman,” he murmured. Kamilla held her breath. So strong was his effect on her that she could feel a moan come up her throat just from the way he stared at her. He took a step closer, leaving only a few inches between their faces. “Neither do I like you, nor do I have to tolerate you. Your presence here is to honor my and your father’s oath and that is it. You may feel anger, fear and all such worthless human emotions at your being forced to stay, but don’t expect me to care or understand. Most of all, don’t ever expect me to tolerate your insulting our kind. If you can’t accept what you are—”
“What I am not!” Kamilla interrupted with a scalding glare.
Viktor’s mouth curved in a smile so seductive, Kamilla had to bite the inside of her cheek to hold herself back.
“But, little one,” he murmured. “You are every bit a Vampire, every bit as dead as I am.”
“Half!” she argued. He wouldn’t play these mind games with her. She wouldn't let him. “My mother is human. I’m only half a Vampire… only half dead. I don’t belong here, so please… please, just let me go.”
Viktor laughed. The sound filled the room, rich and sensual like dark red wine. He was so bloody perfect. Kamilla scowled. Oh, she would hate him. She would hate him so damn much!
“Half?” he asked chuckling. With his laughter, his eyes dimmed. Kamilla watched in fascination as the glowing green faded, replaced a blue so dark, it looked like he had pure sapphire jewels for irises. He stared at her and Kamilla shivered. His eyes darkened, the evil in them so cold, she felt it to her toes.
“You think you’re half?” Viktor questioned again. He turned to Damon. “Damon, how old is Demetrius?”
Damon cleared his throat. “Three hundred and thirty-five years old, Viktor.”
Kamilla nearly choked. Who was how old?!
“Hm,” hummed Viktor with a nod. “And has three hundred and thirty-five-year-old Demetrius ever been able to undo, resist or reciprocate my power?”
Kamilla made a face. “Who’s Demetrius?”
They ignored her.
“Of course not, Viktor,” said Damon. “The very thought is laughable.”
Viktor nodded and turned his evil gaze back on Kamilla.
“You, at twenty-two years of age, not yet out of your diapers, have just done something that a seasoned Vampire has never been able to do and yet… you think you’re only half?”
Kamilla shivered, struggling to keep her gaze locked on his.
“I totally am out of my diapers!” she muttered angrily, hating that this Vampire had such power over her.
He smirked, his eyes gliding slowly down over her body, making her tremble so powerfully, he might as well have touched her. “I intend to confirm that. Very, very thoroughly. Until then, you, my little one, are going nowhere.”
Kamilla’s face went hot. “W-what's that supposed to mean?”
Viktor tilted his head at her, his blue eyes mocking. “Oh? Do you not know? I’ll clarify. Before either one of us can resist this…” He moved a hand back and forth between them. “…force, this power that draws us to each other, it’s going to land you, Kamilla, in my bed. Our fathers thought it necessary in order to secure an heir.”
She gasped. With a shake of her head, she took a step back. “Not on your life, blood-sucker! I’ll die first!”
Viktor’s mouth curved in a smile that made her knees quiver.
Kamilla watched, entranced, as his canines lengthened. She watched in utter fascination as his pink tongue glided over one sharp fang and he gave her another seductive smile.
“Well, then Kamilla,” he whispered. “Let’s see how long you resist.”