The Bloody Deal

Viv screamed and jumped back from the window as the creature's face pressed against the glass. Its mouth opened wide, showing long, sharp fangs. It scraped its nails—no, claws—against the window, making a terrible screeching sound.

"Get away!" Viv yelled, taking a heavy book from the nightstand. But before she could throw it, something moved so fast it was just a blur.

Damien appeared at the window, his face twisted with anger. He yanked the thing away from the glass. Viv heard a terrible shriek from outside, then quiet.

Her heart was beating so fast she thought it might burst out of her chest. She backed up until she hit the wall, still holding the book tight in her hands.

The door to her room flew open. Damien stood there, his clothes torn and blood on his hands.

"Are you hurt?" he asked, his eyes searching her face.

Viv shook her head, too scared to speak.

"That was one of the younger ones," Damien said, walking into the room. "He smelled your blood from the gardens. I warned you—your blood calls to us."

"What did you do to him?" Viv finally found her voice.

"I reminded him that guests in my house are not to be disturbed." Damien wiped his bloody hands on a handkerchief. "He won't bother you again."

Viv's legs felt weak. She slid down the wall until she was sitting on the floor. "What do you want from me? Really?"

Damien was quiet for a long moment. Then he held out his hand. "Come with me. It's time you learned the truth."

Viv didn't move. "I'm not going anywhere with you."

"You can sit in this room and wait for another hungry vampire to find a way to you," Damien said, "or you can come with me and learn why you're here. Your choice."

Put that way, Viv didn't really have a choice. She took his hand, surprised again by how cold his skin felt.

Damien led her through halls she hadn't seen before, down a spiral staircase, and into what looked like a library. Books lined the walls from floor to sky. A fire burned in a large chimney, giving the room a warm glow.

"Sit," Damien said, pointing to a chair near the fire.

Viv sat, watching as Damien paced back and forth. He seemed nervous, which was strange for someone so strong.

"I'm dying," he finally said.

That was not what Viv expected to hear. "What?"

"I'm dying," Damien repeated. "Or whatever passes for dying among my kind. My powers are fading. I can't keep my strength up no matter how much blood I drink."

"Is that... normal for vampires?" The word felt strange coming out of her mouth, but after what she'd seen, there was no point lying anymore.

"No. It's a curse placed on my bloodline centuries ago." Damien stopped pacing and looked at her. "Until I found you."

Viv felt a chill run down her spine. "What do you mean?"

"Your blood is different. Special. When I smell it, even just a drop, my strength returns. I can feel power flowing through me again." Damien knelt in front of her chair. "I've consulted with doctors, witches, even other vampire clans. No one could help me. And then you walked into that cathedral."

"So what, you want to keep me like a... a juice box?" Viv felt sick at the thought.

Damien laughed, but there was no fun in it. "If only it were that simple. My enemies know I'm weakening. They're planning to take everything from me—my territory, my businesses, my people. There are vampires who think humans are just food, Vivienne. They don't believe in living alongside you peacefully as I do."

"You call locking me up peaceful?"

"I locked you up to protect you!" Damien stood up suddenly. "If my enemies found you, they'd drain you dry without a second thought."

Viv crossed her arms. "So what's your plan? Keep me here forever?"

"No." Damien walked to a desk and pulled out an old book. "There's an ancient custom among my kind. A blood bond, sealed through marriage."

"Marriage?" Viv nearly choked on the word. "You want to marry me?"

"Not in the way humans think of it. This would be a contract, nothing more. You would be under my protection as my official consort. No vampire would dare touch you without facing my wrath. And in return..."

"You get my blood," Viv finished for him.

"Some of it, yes. Not all. Just enough to keep my strength up." Damien opened the book and showed her a page with strange symbols. "The bond would give you certain protections. And after one year, if you wish to leave, the contract can be broken."

"And if I say no?"

Damien's face darkened. "Then I can't protect you. Or anyone you care about."

Viv stood up, anger replacing her fear. "Are you threatening me?"

"I'm warning you. My enemies have already started investigating you. They found your home address. Your friend Katie's apartment. Your grandmother's nursing home."

Viv felt like she'd been punched in the stomach. "You're saying they'll hurt my family if I don't agree?"

"I'm saying I can't stop them without my full strength." Damien closed the book. "Which I can only get from you."

Viv turned away, trying to think. This was crazy. A week ago, she'd been chasing a story about missing people. Now she was being asked to marry a vampire to save her family.

"How would it work? This blood bond?"

"A small ceremony. A mixing of our blood. You would live here, in comfort. All I ask is a small amount of your blood each day. Nothing that would harm you."

"And after a year, I can go free? You promise?"

"You have my word." Damien held out his hand. "Do we have a deal?"

Viv stared at his hand. She thought about her grandmother, who'd raised her after her parents died. About Katie, who'd been her best friend since college. If saying yes kept them safe...

"One condition," she said. "I need proof my family and friends are safe. And I want to be able to call them, to check on them."

"Agreed."

"And I'm not just going to sit around being your personal blood bag. I want access to your library, your house. I want to learn about your world."

A smile touched Damien's lips. "Curious as ever. Very well."

Viv took a deep breath. "Then yes. I'll do it."

Damien took her hand. "The ceremony must be tonight. At midnight."

"Why so soon?"

"Because," Damien said, his voice dropping to a whisper, "there's something I didn't tell you. The vampire outside your window wasn't a random youth. He was sent by Lilith Ravencroft, my former advisor. She's gathering forces against me. And if my sources are correct..."

A loud crash came from somewhere in the house, followed by screaming.

Damien's eyes turned bright red. "They're already here."