Two for tragedy. Volume 2

I cried quietly, and then darkness enveloped me. When I woke up, it was about ten o'clock in the morning.

As I hurriedly opened the windows, I heard birds singing outside, chasing away the terrible memories of last night's dinner with Grayson from my mind. The morning greeted me with grey clouds, thin as lace, gradually covering the sky, but I breathed in the fresh air with pleasure, and the memories of the terrible night before seemed to be erased from my mind, as if it had all been a dream. The sun's rays, occasionally breaking through the clouds, cheered me and gave me hope for the best. The scent of fresh flowers wafted to me, and as I leaned over the stone window sill to breathe in their heavenly fragrance, I smiled to find that there were lush rose bushes growing beneath the windows of my room. But remembering the unfortunate dress, I glanced at the corner of the room where I had thrown it, and saw that it was still there. Then I looked again at the park and was surprised to realise that Grayson's car was missing.

Then he had gone, and I could have escaped!

A mad rush of joy came over me, and I ran for the door.

"No! If I run away, that psychopath will announce Cedric's indiscretion to everyone! No, I can't leave," The thought made me smile bitterly and slow my step.

The vampire was taunting me with freedom. He knew that even if he left me alone, unlocked in the castle and gave me a chance to save my life, I would still stay, choosing to willingly sacrifice myself for Cedric.

The door to my room was unlocked and I was free to leave and look around the castle. Suddenly, my empty stomach rumbled loudly, reminding me that it had disposed of all the food it had received at the midnight dreadful meal yesterday.

"I need to eat. I need to find some food," I decided and was about to head to the dining room when I suddenly heard a familiar tune.

I glanced over to where the sound had come from: on the dresser, in front of the mirror, was my mobile phone, the one Cedric had given me and Grayson had taken away.

Grayson had given it back to me? Why had he left it behind? Though…

The answer to that question came immediately– Grayson was testing me. He was testing how much I loved Cedric, and whether I could lie to him, convincing him that I was okay while my own life was no longer my own.

Still, I was overjoyed to hear my lover's voice. I quickly grabbed the phone and flopped down on the bed, pressing my finger forcefully on the screen.

– Cedric! – I exclaimed, barely holding back tears of joy.

– Viper! Where are you now? Are you okay? – Cedric's voice came through the phone, and I was suddenly afraid I wouldn't be able to contain my emotions and burst into tears.

No, you can't cry! Cedric must think I'm happy!

– I'm fine! I want to go to the beach today and see the ocean," I started to weave my lie. It was terribly hard to lie to the person I loved most. A vampire, actually.

– That's a wonderful idea. I'm glad you're doing well. What hotel are you staying at? – Cedric asked softly, and I was confused: I didn't know any of the names of the hotels in Rio de Janeiro.

– The one you booked me a room at, you know how bad I am at that sort of thing," I found myself remembering that Cedric had booked me into the best hotel.

– Were you being met? You should have been.

– Yes, I was met wonderfully! I was picked up in a car, and my room is gorgeous. You can see the ocean from here! – With a hint of fake joy, I lied.

– Viper, are you sure you're okay? – Cedric asked in an unexpectedly caring tone.

– Of course I am! I'm totally fine! Why?

– You sound strange.

– I just woke up," I said. – I was so tired yesterday that I slept all day today. How are you?

– I'm fine. Markus's wedding is in three days.

– But they said the wedding was on the eighteenth of August! – I was surprised at the rush.

– Yeah, but it's moved up, and all our family and friends are already here. But let's not talk about that. I don't want to hurt you with all this talk.

The reminder of the great Czech vampire hunt brought back the image of Grayson drinking blood, and I shuddered again at the memory and the revulsion-I thought immediately of how many people would be killed.

– Cedric, please don't kill anyone on the hunt," I asked quietly. – I can't bear the thought.

– I can't promise you that," Cedric said in a serious tone. – I will need to kill.

– Then don't kill as much as the others," I whispered, and when I felt I didn't want to talk to him anymore, I added: – I'm sorry, but I'm awfully hungry. I've just ordered myself a load of delicious things. Will you call me later?

– Yes, of course. Enjoy your meal.

– Thank you! You too! – I sarcastically blurted out. I hastily disconnected the call.

Thanks to Grayson, I could see the vampire in full view: a brutal, strong, silent killer who knew no pity. And Cedric is the same. He kills people and drinks their blood. He's as ruthless a killer as Grayson.

But Grayson was right: no matter how much of a monster Cedric was, I loved him. But I'll never see him again. Well, at least he'd be safe.

I showered, washed my hair, brushed my teeth, drank some tap water, cleaned myself up, and headed to the dining hall. After yesterday's torture, I knew it was on the third floor. Why the third floor? Strange, because in all houses the dining room is always on the ground floor.

But when I went upstairs, I found no food in the dining room: the table was empty. So I looked for the kitchen: I was getting hungrier and hungrier. With difficulty I found the kitchen and was glad to see the fridge, but there was no food in it. I was sickened by what I saw: the fridge was full of dainty glass bottles that were probably filled with human blood.

I slammed the door in my heart and hurried away. I needed fresh air after my gruesome discovery, so I headed resolutely for the park. As I walked down the hall to the front door, I glanced at one of the walls, and a large wooden door nestled between two black marble columns caught my eye. I was immediately filled with a mad desire to see what lay behind that door, and though I had never been an adventurer, I made my way to the mysterious door. The door was an imposing, heavy shutter with a handle shaped like the paw of a beast of prey. I held my breath and hesitantly touched the handle.

What was behind it? Such a heavy and large door had to be hiding something forbidden, hidden from view.

My attempts to open the door came to nothing – it was terribly heavy and as if it didn't want to reveal its secrets to me. But I didn't give up: I grabbed the handle with both hands, put my foot against the wall, pulled, and the door opened with a soft creak. It was a dark corridor with no hint of light behind it, but I decided to follow Grayson's example and clapped my hands, and a bright electric light appeared in the corridor, so I could see where I was.

As I stepped timidly into the suspicious room, I hugged my shoulders: the air in the long corridor before me was icy cold. I was afraid to go forward, but I forced myself, thinking that, while my tormentor was away, I could examine his castle. So I bravely but slowly walked down the corridor and saw what must have been left over from a very long time ago: on either side of the corridor stretched small cells fenced with heavy iron bars.

"My God, are these really the dungeons I'm supposed to be in?" – I cringed at the thought.