6 Chapter 5:

My eyes snapped open to the sound of birds chirping outside the room I'd claimed as mine. I was breathing hard with sweat running down my body, the red nightdress I wore was damp from the struggles I'd had in my dream. Silent tears fell off my cheeks and hit the silk pillow beneath me.

Carefully sitting up, I sighed and wrapped my arms around my body for whatever sort of comfort available. But still, I couldn't find it within myself. Just a cold hole that scares me because I have no idea how deep it goes.

Because when it came down to survival, I was willing to do anything.

That was proven with managing to live through everything Valentino threw at me. I'd lost everything. He had taken everything that ever mattered to me. Anything that could make me happy or put a smile on my face for just a second.

And now... I can't tell if my smiles are genuine or just for show.

"Vivian! Come on, let's go out and eat! We can all get to know each other a little better," Oriness's peppy attitude this early in the morning is definitely going to grate on my nerves if this is a habit. Get to know each other better? Are you serious? I've known Ivy since I was a little girl, her coven didn't live that far from the demon kingdom I lived in.

We're literally connected by the soul, we know everything there is to know about each other.

The only one here who didn't know anyone was Oriness. Not that it mattered, she could just get to know everything we fucking feel with a touch.

A morning person I am not.

Grumbling some more, I went to get dressed up in a white crop top that hugged my chest and stopped just under my breasts. Then I pulled on a rose gold silk skirt that started from above my belly button. Instead of putting my hair up, I just flattened the curls and let the strands fall down my back.

It took us 15 minutes to drive to the road and then 30 minutes until we reached the cute little café in the city.

"Dragons, Vivian? Really?" Ivy groaned after the waitress brought us our orders. Those blue-green eyes looked at me with a disapproving look and I frowned while continuing to eat my cake. Asking Ivy to break the blood bond with the level of her magic power would be a good idea but there could be repercussions to it. And I just might need Cole at 100%. He'd be a useful pawn for the plan to kill my father.

Not only that but something is up with her spirit, according to our best friend Nyx, which is why even the smallest of spells need to be done extremely carefully. She says it's all about not putting too much magic into them but it isn't simple in the least.

The woman that sat in front of me had a heart-shaped face with plump lips coated in a dusty pink colored lipstick. Flawless fair skin with golden curls that moved in the ponytail with every movement. Ivy wore a form-fitting white flower dress that hugged her ample chest. A dark blue lace material wrapped around the dress from above her waist and to the bottom of the dress, which stopped mid-thigh. Perfectly manicured nails that shined the color of violet.

You'd think she would've been the succubus.

Looking at Ivy, something tugged at my memory. Something I should really remember but then again, with my age, there are a lot of things I could've forgotten. So instead of trying to figure it out, I decided to stand up for myself.

"Look, I was just hunting like any usual night. And then I ran into Anais... and her," I muttered, hooking a thumb over at my half-sister who was currently making a rampage through her third double-decker burger and large fries. Oriness also seemed to take a liking to the milkshakes.

When she realized we were watching her, Oriness stopped eating and blinked at us with huge eyes.

"Wait, did you say Anais?" She asked, covering her mouth with her hand. After swallowing all the food in her mouth, Oriness followed it with a long sip from the strawberry milkshake.

"What did she say? Is she okay? Did Dexter get to her? Vivian, you have to be careful, something isn't right with him," She was talking fast but I was able to keep up for a moment. Her eyes looked around us on high alert.

It sounds as if she's expecting Dexter to attack during the day. Vampires didn't do that because they were more vulnerable under the sun. Sure, they could walk through it but it was irritating and also made them extremely tired.

But then again... those vampires in the club are a testament that things might be changing.

No one should be brave enough to attack in dragon territory and if it's Dexter, he would've known this before ever stepping foot here. Even if Elzrurron protects this city, his territory expands beyond that.

"She's fine and I'm thinking Anais is probably long gone by now after tossing you at me. And... wait, what do you mean something is wrong with Dexter? When is there ever something right with him?" I asked, putting my fork down and taking a sip of the hazelnut coffee in my cup.

Ori opened her mouth to say something in response but stopped. I didn't need her to tell me what it was. Before he even walked in the door, I could feel his very energy as he landed out of the sky. Humans would've ignored such a sight, having dealt with being the lowest on the food chain that they keep their nose out of our business.

For their own sake.

Elzrurron walked in through the doors of the café as if he owned it.

And in all honesty, he probably did. Following behind him were Leomaris and Valence. When they reached our table, it was the hostile growl from Valence that had me stiffen and narrow my eyes on the young dragon.

His grey eyes were on Ivy who was glaring at him out of the corner of her own. Witches were perhaps the most disliked creatures in the world. The old witches have set a bad reputation for the new generations, it would take an amazing witch to change their view of them.

And sadly, Ivy is one of the older witches that doesn't deserve the hatred thrown her way. Well, except that one time she went on a rampage but it wasn't like she wanted to do it.

"Do we have a problem, little dragon?" Ivy asked in a sultry sweet voice while deciding not to give her his attention. Instead, she picked up the open book that had been on her lap.

"She's part of the deal. If you want me to stay here, Ivy will as well," I spoke up before anyone could say anything.

"And if we refuse?" Valence's words were hard as he glared daggers right at me, obviously seeing me as an enemy now that he knew I was with a witch.

"What do you think you can do against me?" Ivy laughed, her posture and cold challenge in her eyes told them the confidence she had in her sentence.

The witch in front of us is a dangerous one, even her own people forced her to become an outcast because they didn't have the power to kill her. But at certain times, Ivy's magic could be completely unpredictable and hard for Ivy to control.

Other times, it was perfect.

Before the young dragon could reply, Cole surprised me and simply took a seat beside me.

Scooting over so Valence had room, he took another move closer to me and then stopped before we touched. The waiter hurried to hand each of them a menu. While Oriness sat beside Ivy, Leomaris sat on her other side. Valence had taken the spot on Cole's left side.

"We're here to ask Oriness if she knows the reason the vampires were after her," Cole got right to the point, not even giving Ivy any sort of attention.

"No," Was all I said when I saw Oriness start to get uncomfortable and no longer eating.

We were having a perfectly fine time before they interrupted us. Now the mood was ruined. It didn't help that Valence kept scowling at Ivy, who continued reading the book in her hands. Though I was starting to get curious as to what she was reading.

Ivy must've felt my staring because she looked up at me as I raised an eyebrow at her. Reading her lips, I read "the usual", which meant a spell book. With how old she is, the one thing that Ivy has always kept up with is new spells. Or relearning and perfecting old spells. I'd say she makes her own spells but that's an extremely difficult thing to do and I hate the thought of the things she's done to herself in those experiments.

The first time I'd seen her do it, I'd screamed my head off at her.

So, I don't bother asking, it'll just piss me off.

"No? What do you mean no? It's not like you can stop Oriness from talking on her own," Valence spoke up, not taking his gaze off Ivy.

"Yea? Well, I'm Oriness's older sister... how old are you Ori?" Might as well make up a nickname like we've been bonding since I took her back with me. It's not a lie but it isn't necessarily the truth either.

"17..." Definitely a shy one here.

"This means I'm her guardian and as her guardian, I say she can't speak about anything that makes her feel uncomfortable," I decided to look up at Cole, a daring look in my eyes. And the sound of a growl coming from Valence had the hair on the back of my neck standing up.

A young dragon, yes, but deadly nonetheless.

Before any of us could say something, Valence shouted in shock as he practically jumped off his seat and onto the floor. My gaze went directly toward Ivy just in time to see both eyes completely taken over by the blackness that had my stomach getting heavy. But I'd looked just in time before it disappeared, and Ivy was back to herself; an evil smirk hidden behind that book as she gazed away from Valence.

"What the hell was that?!" Valence stood up with an angry look on his face, his eyes instantly going toward Ivy, who paid him no attention. When the young dragon opened his mouth though, his melted silver eyes looked toward Leomaris before closing his mouth but refused to sit back down.

Leomaris's dark blue eyes held a hard look in them.

He managed to get himself seated properly before their orders came in.

"Oriness, do you think you can answer a few questions of ours? If they don't make you uncomfortable?" Cole asked in a soft and sincere tone that had me pausing to drink my cup of coffee. The sneaky little lizard will act in any way just to get what he wants.

"Uhm... sure," She nodded slowly, glancing at me every now and then but I refused to look her way and instead began drinking my coffee.

"What do you remember about the night you were attacked?" He asked her.

I saw the small moment of pause as she questioned herself on just how much to tell them. Still, I let her handle it. Plus, I was a bit curious about what had happened.

"Uh, it was my first night out since my escape. I had only wanted to look around but when I left a restaurant, I'd been followed by some vampires," She slowly nodded her head, using a French fry to poke at the ketchup on the plate.

"Escaped from where?"

His question caused Oriness to give a faraway look as if she was right back in that prison called home. And... I couldn't help but relate because every time I wake, it's because my dreams have brought me back into that dark mansion.

"I don't remember..." Oriness's voice came out at barely above a whisper. And the table grew quiet until the idiot spoke up.

"How do you not remember where you escaped from, do you know what direction you went in? What about the scenery? Do you remember seeing anything at all?" Valence seemed confused, ignoring the look of caution Cole threw at him.

But instead of breaking down and crying, Oriness looked up at Valence and glared.

"It was dark as hell and I was drugged from the food I'd been given the night before my escape. I don't remember shit, okay? Anything else you need to know, detective?" A smirk formed on my lips as Valence had a shocked look on his cute face. Does she even know what a detective is? Has she had enough time to even bother looking up human information? Either way, Ori has some fire in her and it was about time for the girl to show it.

Since he met Oriness, she's been nothing but nice. It satisfied me to see her claws out with them pointed at Valence. I'm not going to lie.

A part of me wondered if she would have a better relationship with Cole and his people. Especially since I literally left her back at the club. But the knowledge that she was my half-sister made me... happy. She isn't the only half-sister I have but Oriness would be the only one by my side.

"Alright, demon. Do you think you could be of some assistance tonight? Maybe lower the time on your sentence?"

Now that sounded lovely. Cole was finally speaking my language. I was not meant to be here.

"And what could you possibly want from me, lizard?" I turned my complete attention onto Cole, enjoying that I had to look up at him with him being so close. He's far larger than me. It's a definite turn-on and it's something I didn't realize I enjoyed. I'm usually not picky.

"I'd like you to join us on patrol,"

That caused Valence to cough on the piece of cake he ordered. Leomaris's face was still void of emotions as he drank the black coffee from his cup. One of the most disgusting things I've ever seen.

Anyone who drinks black coffee has no soul, this coming from someone who drinks it solely based on its taste.

"Patrol? Uh, sure but why?" I was curious as to what I would be needed for, doesn't he have enough men to cover everything?

"You can think of it as bonding time. Since you'll be around for a while, we might as well learn to work together," It was an adult decision.

Yea, I got that but man, the two of us alone?

"You think that's a good idea? I don't know if I'll be able to keep my hands off you," I smiled playfully as I took a seat on his lap, pulling his head down to my chest and petting his head. Cole froze completely in surprise that I'd be so gutsy, but I found his reactions, as well as everyone else's, to be extremely entertaining. Not to mention I want to piss him off some more.

It was Oriness who broke out in a fit of giggles and I looked over toward her with a smirk on my face. Ivy just shook her head, keeping her eyes on that book.

"At least one of you has a sense of humor," My words were light as Cole "helped" me back into my seat, rubbing his temple as if I was already giving him a headache.

"Yea sure, whatever," I shrugged, not knowing what it was he wanted from me. But then, did it matter? Just like everyone else in this world, I'm a pawn of fate. This blood bond didn't give me much of a choice. Sure, I might be able to escape for a while from Cole but if I stayed too long in one place, eventually he'd catch me.

And if it wasn't Cole I got killed by, it would be my father.

Because he believed there are sins I need to pay for.

But I know he has sins that one day, he'll lose his life too.

If it were up to me, Valentino Daphne would burn for the torture of over a million innocent souls.

Those who are both dead and somehow alive.