Chapter 23
"A sip?" He let out a small silky laugh, " I can't hold that promise".
I didn't get a chance to reply as his teeth sunk into my skin. Fangs tearing through my flesh in a single moment of pain, before I felt his tongue glide across the tear. I felt him sucking the blood.
It hurt only for that moment, after that there was little to no pain. I could hear the gasps of pleasure he released. But no pain followed.
My head began to spin and I realised i had to get rid of him.
"Jules!" I cried worried he would ignore me, but he lifted his head and licked the blood on his lips as he looked at me. The predatory look leaving his face the moment our eyes met..
"You're glowing…" I heard the words leave his lips as I saw his face. His eyes looked at me in wonder, as his cheeks flushed a deep red. His breathing was still laboured as he lifted a hand that reached for my face. I jerked my head back.
He froze. Shock surfacing his face as he pushed me away from him. I fell to the ground, legs giving out.
"What-What have you- done?" I heard him say, voice trembling alongside his body.
"I-" my throat hurt, "I didn't realise…" I was at a loss for words.
"You- I- I've never…" he touched his lips, a loud gulp sounded the room.
I didn't get to hear what he said after that. My head began to spin and before I knew it darkness hit me. Pitch black.
I awoke that morning with a sore throat.
'I can't remember going to sleep', was my only thought as I stretched under the sheets. The scent of fried eggs and toast greeting me.
"What time is it?" I asked to whoever it was who was writing away somewhere near. My hand reaching for the back of my neck as I sat up.
"It's nine", Crystals voice replied softly, perhaps she was being considerate towards me for sleeping in late.
"That's late" I groaned as I sat up, I noticed that I was covered in sweat and grimaced. "Was it warm last night?" I asked her with a frown.
"No, but this morning you looked like you had a fever so I let you sleep in" Crystal said, she was next to me sooner than I realised and her cool hand touched my head. "It's gone".
"I feel fine, but I don't like this sweat at all" I groaned, eyes looking at the breakfast laid on the table.
"What time did you sleep?" She asked.
I paused as I tried to recall when I fell asleep. I couldn't remember and decided it must've been at some point when I had been staring off into the dark.
"I can't remember" I shrugged and stepped out of bed to get to the small table where the food was.
"You came in rather late" she remarked quietly and I stopped on my way, turning to her with a furrowed expression.
"I never left the room?" I said slowly in confusion.
"Oh… it must've just been my half asleep mind playing tricks on me then" she dismissed with an expression that looked far from dismissive.
"Sure" I replied uncaringly and took a seat on the sofa, ready to eat as much as I could. I wasn't sure why I was so hungry, but I could probably eat a load with this appetite. "So any clues what the next test is?"
"Sarah thinks it may be embroidery" Crystal said and i stiffened hoping it truly wasn't.
It was possibly the only thing I had a talent in. I had enjoyed it thorough as a kid, finding it almost magical. I might have to pick a simple and plain design if I were to do something.
"But it's all speculation. If we actually had a relationship with the empire we may be able to at least guess what their going to do" she sighed, going back to her writing.
"Practicing calligraphy?"
"No. I'm writing mother a letter. She sent one this morning".
"What did she say?"
"She was asking how we were doing and she said your family wishes for your safe return as soon as possible" her words made me grit my teeth.
"I would be home now if it hadn't been for this!"
"They know that, but your mother… well assuming your going to be sent home soon, have an engagement proposal for you" she smiled happily at me, expecting the same reaction.
"Is it some blind old man whose never heard of me?" I asked in shock.
Nobody had any interest in me. As sad as it sounded it was true. I found it laughable, in a depressing sort of way.
"I don't know. It doesn't say, but I'm sure it's a man whose liked you for a while secretly. How romantic!" She gushed over it herself.
"There isn't any" i rebuked.
"That's why I said secretly!"
"That's impossible".
"So depressing" she said with a sigh of pity.
I was ready to continue, but stopped when I acknowledged that she was right. I sounded like an old spinster who had given up on love. I was still in my teens.
"Well, I'll write that you're doing strangely well and to hold off anything official" .
I groaned in frustration.
Everything is going wrong!