She paced in the bedroom in an angry way, followed by Asher’s anxious gaze, who whined silently every now and then. What did David think? That she won’t be angry after he hid such important things? A future bride? She? It was really time for him to explain things to her! What was he playing at? She wasn’t just a puppet whom he could play with! She had feelings and until now she thought that David had some for her too! But he seems to “forget” informing her about his decisions, especially if they are ones to do with her!

Asher looked into the direction of the door and after a minute he started to wag his tail. So Viola knew who was coming as she stood in front of a window and folded her arms in front of her chest when she turned to the sound of the opening door. And there he was, smiling contentedly – this made her blood boil.

“What is it, my princess?” he noticed her anger immediately.

“Don’t call me princess! I’m waiting for your explanation!’

“For what?”

“Don’t act like a fool! You know what I’m talking about! What’s this ‘future bride’ stuff? And what do you want with me at all? Why am I here? And don’t avoid my questions! It is time to confess your plans! I’m fed up with the half-truths!”

“Please, Viola, calm down” he sighed and walked towards her, but she didn’t let him touch her so he sank his hands into his pockets standing a few steps away from her.

“I won’t calm down, David!” she hissed “I’m really pissed off now, so I’d like to hear what this whole thing is about! Why did you choose me? What’s your purpose?”

“I see… so you really want to hear it, I guess.”

“Yes.”

“Fine” he looked at her with a serious expression “First I just wanted to suck your blood, but you seemed interesting for me after I came to know you a bit better. The cause why you are here is simple. I love you and I want to be with you” he raised one of his hands to stop her before she could interrupt him “And no, now I’m not covering my true goals with saying I love you. I mean it. I didn’t feel something like this… for long centuries. Yes sometimes I loved my victims, but that was just the love I usually feel towards their lives. You know for us, vampires, the gift of mortal life is something special. We can watch as people grow old and how they change during the years. We barely change – especially we pureblooded. Of course we are getting old too, but very slowly. I bet you don’t know my true age. I’m not just a two hundred years old man as you might think from my family tree. I’m older, but this isn’t that important know. You asked something and I want you to know my answer.”

“I’m listening…” she leant against the table with her butt.

“I think you always knew the answers. You always felt who I really was, that’s why you wanted to escape from me. Mortals with strong instincts always do the same. It is as if they feel the danger we can cause for them. Well… but you came back. Do you want to know what can be the other cause next to loving me?” he smiled carefully, but Viola just nodded once “I did a little research and it turned out that your noble family had vampire roots, but your family never gave any signs of vampire activity through the centuries. The dark gift in your blood was sleeping for long chains of generations. But when I tasted your sweet blood, I felt the hidden flavor in it…”

“What are you talking about?” she asked surprised from his sentence.

“You know it well, Viola. That hunger you felt in your little studio. You acted like a wild animal, crying out for the monster inside of me. I know you remember the urge to bite me, to suck my blood from my neck. I let you drink, because I wanted to wake this side in you. I know it can sound crazy, but that’s the truth. That’s why you always have hunger for my dark blood, that’s why you find its taste irresistible.”

“So you knew these things about me and my family and never mentioned it, although you know how I miss them and how I hate the lack of information about them!” she cried out loud, because she felt as if Dave betrayed her. Asher gave out a sad yowl – he didn’t like that his masters were quarrelling.

“I’m sorry Viola, but I had my reasons. You weren’t ready to know this and I’m sorry that this turned out like this. I know you are mad at me right now. But please don’t go away. I really need you!”

“Need me for what? Playing your little games with me? You like it that I have feelings for you, right? It flatters your vanity! You’re just a desperate vampire who doesn’t want to be alone. Do you want to turn me into a vampire too? That’s why you let me live here?” she seemed furious, cuz this was the first time she needed to suffer because of her beloved duke.

“Yes. Here’s your answer you were really seeking for. I planned this but didn’t know how to do it. I never made another vampire. I made an oath on my life at my dead parents’ grave after the vampire hunters killed them when I was a child. I swore that I won’t turn anybody into a vampire until I find the perfect person. And this person is you whom I truly love, although I thought I won’t be able to feel something like this after all those terrible things I needed to do in this dark world of mine. I confess that it’s not easy to live with this knowledge and power. We have enemies. Mortals and immortals also. That’s why I started training you. It’s not easy to confess that I’m terrified of the thought you getting hurt by someone – and I know that now that you are by my side, my enemies can find my weak point” he folded his arms in front of his chest and stepped to a window, watching the dark garden and the waving sea “I never had a weak point” he whispered “But since I know you I’ve changed. I was always cold as ice and strong like a stone. No one was able to come near to me unless I wanted it. That’s why I have very few connections with other vampires. My dearest Viola” here he turned to her “please, forgive me for everything I hid from you, but I did it to protect your sanity. You can’t imagine how afraid I was when I took too much blood from you and felt your fear. I thought you’ll leave me and I won’t be able to look into your beautiful face ever again …” he stopped speaking and looked away. He wasn’t able to bear her accusing gaze.

Silence fell upon the room – even Asher remained silent by the foot of the bed. Viola was thinking hard and didn’t know what to do. She loved the duke who seemed so lonely and sad like on that day when she moved into the castle and made that sketch on the balcony. She sighed and looked at him. If everything was true he said she must think about this whole situation. But now she was too tired for this. She stepped to the vampire and put her hands onto his shoulders to turn him towards her.

Viola raised one hand when their eyes met and stroked his smooth and pale face. His dark gaze seemed terribly hurt and open this time. She could read from it, she could see the whirlwind of emotions inside of him. She realised that he was afraid that she’ll go away… that she’ll leave him. He was too proud to beg her in words not to do this, but his eyes didn’t lie. This made her heart beat faster and she leant closer to kiss his lips softly. She felt as his hands sneaked around her waist really carefully, not knowing how she’ll react. After she finished the soft kiss, she looked at him again, her hands on his chest.

“Will it hurt?” she whispered and heard a surprised sigh from him as he was searching her face. He knew what this question was about and it surprised him. Viola didn’t act like he thought she will. A faint smile appeared on his face – he loved her exactly for this. She loved challenges and adventures, and he loved the way she was thinking – not like an average human - that’s why he dared to love her. He took her into his strong arms and looked down at her reassuringly.

“Well, until your mortal body dies, you may feel pain, but this won’t last too long, don’t be afraid. But are you sure that you want this? I don’t want to force you in any way. We have time, we can wait until you are ready for this gift of mine” he whispered.

“I’m sure. I don’t want to grow old and die by your side. I know it’d hurt you too much, cuz now I see how deeply you love me. And I’m grateful for this love although I get it from a vampire. I won’t leave you David, because I love you too. So don’t be afraid I won’t run away. I don’t want to know the details of the transformation, I don’t care. I just want to be with you. I just want to know the necessary things and a little time to think. I don’t feel myself ready for this now. Can you give me a few days or a week, please? I want to prepare myself for this, because it’s a big step in my life.”

“Of course I can give you time. Just like I said, I don’t want to force you. I won’t turn you into a vampire until you are ready for it. I hadn’t got any choice, because I was born as a vampire, but you can decide whether you want it or not. I don’t want you to hate me later because I made you someone you didn’t want to be…”

“Thank you, my love. I appreciate this…” she whispered resting her head on his shoulder as they were standing in the tight embrace.

“I thank you Viola for your understanding. You know, very few people could bear this knowledge you have now. Come, let me show you how much I love you…” he whispered back and kissed her while his hands started to undress her until she was standing naked in front of him “You are beautiful, my love…” he sighed and took her hand to lead her to the bed.