3 Chapter 2

"What are you upset about?" Ivy finally broke the silence that was taken over by the tv show in front of me. I narrowed my eyes and turned to look at one of my best friends who sat on the single chair with her legs thrown over the arm. In her lap was a hot cup of coffee that smelled divine but I'm not really one for coffee. Though coffee pastries are pretty good.

"What makes you think I'm upset?" I muttered, taking a bite of the delicious black walnut ice cream on my spoon. It was just so silky and tasteful; this ice cream was perfect in every way.

The silence was my response, so I looked at the beautiful blonde witch that could hold her own against almost anything, as far as I'm concerned. The woman's silky long curls of blonde hair fell around her diamond-shaped face. Giving me a "seriously?" look with those green-blue eyes that glittered like gems under the sun.

"Okay so... I think I may or may have done something last night while I was hungry..." I spoke carefully, looking away from the woman that knew me well.

"Did you kill someone?" Her eyes said it all. I killed a human, so what?

"Well I mean yea, afterward but before I fed... I ran into Anais," That had Ivy's eyes go wide with surprise. Yep, I hadn't expected Valentino's men to be this far out either. And it isn't like I tried killing the humans when I fed. I just tend to wait until the last minute to feed. With all the nightmares I've had as a child, even at my age now, I've had a problem with feeding at times.

Just 50 years ago I'd been taken out of a dark prison that I couldn't escape. It was a prison that held me locked in my own fears by the time Ivy found me, small and dark areas made me feel as if my entire world was about crash down on me.

Now there was silence again, so I decided to keep speaking.

"They were trying to snatch some chick and I just couldn't help myself, Ivy. I just wanted to fuck their shit up a little... so I killed some assassins and then I told Anais that if she didn't get out of my way, I'd kill her. Then just as I was about to leave I seen this hot and sexy guy came down the stairs, I haven't seen a man like that in a long time," I sighed, sinking into my chair, putting the spoon to my mouth, and carefully eating more ice-cream.

"First off, I think hot and sexy mean the same thing. Secondly, what about him? Why's he even matters in this situation?" She asked with a frown, putting her coffee down and turning the TV off. Then the background noise of Spongebob's laughter no longer filled the living room of our temporary home.

We'd chosen a location far away from the actual city and deeper within the forest. Though we had different names on the house papers. And then Ivy did her thing and put wards up around the house. We were protected from unwanted guests.

"He isn't human, Ivy. His power is on a whole other level and I honestly didn't stay around long enough to find out," With a snort, I put the now-empty bowl onto the table in front of me, got up, and stretched. Ivy snapped those graceful fingers and before I could defend myself, glared right at me. The bowl was gone and I'm pretty sure it was washed and up in that cabinet.

"Okay but... you do realize we can't move until Nyx gets here, right? That was the plan, so we need to stay inside. That way no one can find us and none of this mattered," She sounded so matter of factly.

I nodded my head slowly, carefully tilting my head, and remembered the woman I left behind. And then an annoying and useless feeling of regret hit me.

"What is it now?" She sighed, running a hand through her hair.

"Uh so... I may or may not have left the woman in the club by herself and just gone somewhere else to eat," I sighed and rubbed the back of my neck.

"And now you feel bad," Ivy stated, earning a glare from me. Fuck her and the human.

The image of how she'd been wobbly, and weak from the after-effects of being hypnotized by a vampire, made me start to wonder where she'd gone.

"Don't go out too far, at least not without this," Ivy got up and walked into the kitchen. There was a large island that split the giant kitchen from the living room. As she made her way away from me I sighed, jealous of her full and thick figure. Mine was far slimmer compared to hers.

As a creature made with the instinct to seduce, I could see where Ivy's body is perfect. It made me jealous, a natural habit of mine because I'd gained some of the natural slimness of a vampire. It got on my nerves when I compared myself to other women. But my natural species tend to get jealous of something we thought better than ourselves. Pride and all that shit.

Ivy walked back toward me with a new short sword that would fit perfectly on my back. When I grabbed it and pulled it out halfway out of its scabbard, the black blade shined under the bright light in the living room. Damn, it was sharp as shit and when I touched the hilt I felt the energy inside of it.

"I've been working on it for like, 5 months. You can cut through anything, Vivian. Anything," The assurance in her voice was strong and I nodded my head, not doubting the woman I've known since I was a child.

"Okay, yea... I'll go find her but it's only because I don't think I could handle that lady's death being on my mind right now," So I stood up and decided to go out tonight. Take a risk. Be the bigger person being here.

Which is how I found myself here now.

"I honestly didn't think you'd still be around here," Anais's laughter grated at my nerves but then had me guessing, why was she still here?

I twirled the sword in my hand, leaning against the wall of a store just a few blocks away from the club.

"So, what are you still doing here, Anais?" I sighed, itching for a fight every time my eyes glanced toward that stupid uniform. The fire sigil that lay on top of her left breast was a symbol of her rank and what she stood for.

Valentino Daphne.

For a moment she paused, looked away, and then looked back.

"I need that girl, Vivian... I can't go back to him with nothing," She growled out, jaw locked in irritation as her eyes burned with passion and the cold look of a killer.

Which meant that the lady wasn't in their hands.

"Oh? And what will you do for me?" I asked, an eyebrow raised.

"What do you want?" Those red eyes glared at me, not bothering to look at the sword she knows I'd use. The one that lay against her hip was dangerous as well.

What did I want? Well let's see, just last night in over 48 years I've seen the first sign of Valentino's mark and it wasn't for me.

A good thing, really. It meant that it'd be easier to plan a way of killing my own father. And I know this isn't something you should ever have to think about but it would be a nice ending to a bad, bad dream. Though it seemed important to know who his up-to-date enemies were.

"Who was that back in the club and what does he want with the girl?"

There was no one near us but Anais took the courtesy of keeping an ear out before returning her attention to me.

"He goes by a lot of names. The humans call him Cole Rysoot, fairies gave him a name unknown to the human tongue, but you would know him as Elzrurron. The Dragon King," His name was something whispered throughout thousands of cities from hundreds of years ago. A beautiful creature that would kill with no mercy. Someone who caused wars and mayhem because of the simplest signs of disrespect.

Before my imprisonment, I heard rumors of Elzrurron perhaps falling in battle or run off into hiding. It was as if he'd disappeared from the planet. And then he turned into a myth in the eyes of those who had never taken a glimpse of him.

"Well, well my father is living quite dangerously, is he not? And what of the girl?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.

At this, that cold look stayed in Anais's eyes, but a tint of humor had me on guard for an attack. Perhaps even an ambush but I didn't see, hear or smell anyone nearby.

"Don't you remember the rumors of your father mating with a very... sensitive mortal woman?"

My body froze.

I hadn't been ready for that punch in the gut. That human I'd left in there really is my sister? Mine? Just because it was born from the seed of a monster? Oh, I don't think so. And the word "sensitive" was just another word for a special human. Someone with abilities or senses that a normal human wouldn't be able to handle.

"You see, you two are more similar than you would think. Your mother was unwillingly mated to him... her mother was in the same situation. Though it didn't last as long as your moth-. " Before she could finish that sentence I was in front of her and slapping her with the back of my hand.

Anais's flung to the side, but she managed to catch herself from falling.

"I may not be underneath my father's thumb but remember who you stand in front of, Anais. If it becomes necessary, I will kill you," I could see the hurt on her face as she once again stood up, rubbing at her cheek as if the pain would disappear.

There will be no misunderstanding as to why she got punished.

"I may not have access to the throne of either the vampire or demon kingdom but never, and I mean never, will you compare me to a half-breed! I've yet to form an opinion of the girl so this is a subject you shall need to tread lightly on.

"Of course, your highness," She whispered, looking down at the floor before returning a wavering gaze toward me.

"The girl is your half-sister, Vivian, and he wants her. I'm asking you to return the favor you owe me," At her last words I growled and narrowed my eyes, handing the human over didn't seem like much of an option. I'd been raised never to abandon family unless necessary.

"I need you to keep her safe and away from Valentino's hands," Anais's words most definitely surprised me, so I frowned and looked up at her as everything sunk in.

It pained me that Anais is willing to break the rules for this human but when I needed an ally, she was nowhere to be seen. I was hurt to see there were a lot of people happy to help my little half-sister and I felt a sour distaste toward her. Goodness, these ridiculous feelings of mine were making me feel sick.

"Okay but... I don't have her," I smiled one of amusement as the shocked look overtook Anais's face.

"What do you mean, Vivian? So you would've tricked me into giving you this information and sent me back with nothing? Where is she?" Anais laughed a bit, a look of hurt covered those red eyes.

"Don't act like I'm the bad guy here, where were you when I had begged you to come with me yet I was being chased away from home like an animal? And how should I know? I'm not anyone's babysitter, I left her back in the club when I saw the dragon," I shrugged, ignoring the worried look that clouded the vampire's face.

I practically saved Anais from my father's hand and in return, she was too afraid of leaving the monster she's known all her life. And now she's being brave. That was new.

"Look, I'm sorry, okay? I was stupid and scared but Oriness doesn't deserve to be hated for my actions... she's still your sister," My eye twitched at my half-sister actually having a name and I began tapping my foot in impatience.

"Yea, whatever. Just get out of town, Anais... those dragons didn't look happy finding those vampires in his club," I folded my arms.

"It wasn't my command, Vivian. Dexter is in town, I think he's onto me. I needed to hide her before his men could find her," Ugh, Dexter? Of all the creatures in the world, it just had to be him.

"His methods of finding her are pretty... savage, as you know," Oh yea, I know.

Dexter was the master vampire that my father had wanted me to mate with when I'd been a prisoner in my own home. I'd managed to delay it until I could escape. Thank fuck. Dexter might be hot as shit, but he has a thing for blood that goes beyond healthy. It's flat-out creepy, the vampire seriously has a way of making me feel uncomfortable.

Then I heard it, the sound of wings beating in the air. Before any words could be said, Anais was gone in the wind. Traitor, again! Instead of turning, I waited for the owner of what sounded like strong and powerful wings to land. The wind blew around wildly before slowly simmering down, so I turned around quickly. And held in my next breath.

Despite being fast it would give me a better advantage to get away from an attack if I can get him comfortable enough to tuck his wings back in. Before he can get them out and comfortable to fly with, I'd be long gone.

Standing before me was the man from last night. His presence made me want to purr in appreciation or run the other direction. So close like this, I could see the strength in those bright eyes that seemed to be watching my eyes move. But I was busy checking him out with all that sun-kissed skin and long hair pulled back in a bun. It was low and simple, which looked good because I could see his face more clearly.

"Demon, it would seem you have yet to ask for permission to step on my lands, let alone hunt," His growl was intimidating and really, really making me want to run in the opposite direction. Anais had made a smart decision.

My natural stubbornness and curiosity were going to get me killed.

"I honestly just learned whose territory I'm in just a moment ago, I'm guessing you'd like to talk, right?" I raised an eyebrow, not bothering to show him my hesitation in even being this close. The dragon walked closer to me than he had been in the club, not that we'd been near each other.

Especially not just 4 ft away.

"Let's go talk in my office," Was his only response so I shrugged and unfurled my wings, flying after him the moment he took off. The dragon was fast, I'd give him that, but I was able to keep up and follow him to a club.

The exact same club I'd left that human at. This would be a good place to look around for her.