C H A P T E R 15

Valentina Dove Blackclaw

could not explain why she did what she did nor did she herself know why she did it but she laughed in his face. Even when her throat felt like it was on fire she continued to laugh. Knowing that it would only anger him further Valentine still did it. Her laughter coming from her throat is painful to the limit yet she still continued. And then she found out the truth, as hurtful and harmful that truth is it is the pure truth at its finest.

Her very own Mate, the man she was supposed to spend the rest of her life with and love more than anything is unable to love her in return and be with her. A part of her wonders if the universe is trying to tell her something, that she doesn't even have a Mate at all. Yet she does and he sits there in the flesh. Vladimir is her Mate whether she likes it or not and as much as she would like to change him for the better she is starting to see that it will never work.

The black dots that have slowly been taking over her vision dance across it like they belong there and she feels herself lose all strength in her body as she falls down with her head on the ground. Letting out one breath Valentine's eyes soon close as she couldn't win the battle with the tiredness that threatened to take over her and the darkness welcomed her into its depths like it wanted to devour her whole existence and she allowed it and soon everything around her went silent and the darkness took over.

Valentina's ice blue eyes flutter open and she's met with the tent. In confusion she sits up and looks around herself. It's rather dark but a couple of candle lights illuminate the tent yet not too many for the tent is flammable. There is no one inside the tent but herself and she is sitting in the middle of the bed. She hurries herself to get out of the bed but finds herself dizzy. A striking pain in her neck brings back the memories of what happened before she blacked out and how idiotic she had been and now she regrets it as she found the truth out.

Her stomach growls and she walks over to the fruit and takes out a strawberry. The bowl that she had finished hand been filled and she realizes that everything had been changed yet made to look like the same. She doesn't understand how but doesn't question it. She freezes right in her tracks when she feels a dark presence behind her and Valentina doesn't need to look to know who it is. "I cannot decide if you are just plainly stupid or rather brave" He speaks. With a strawberry in hr mouth she turns around.

Every time she swallows pain runs through her whole body like electricity but she pushes it aside and ignores it, worries about that later for the nervousness in her body is too overpowering as all she wants to do is cower in fear of the man standing in front of her. On the other hand she must remain strong, strong until the end. "I would think the latter" She whispers after she has swallowed the strawberry she has been chewing. He takes a couple of steps over to her until he's standing so close to her that she can almost feel his touch on her skin.

Her cheeks heat up by the thought of his touch on her and the butterflies in her stomach aren't helping her either alongside her pounding heart which she's sure he can hear. "If you think so... well, let us see if that is true or not" He says with a smirk and she can't be sure what he is doing until he grabs her wrist into his hand and before she could react he slices her wrist or more importantly the cut that was beginning to slowly (and unnoticeably) start to heal.

A hiss escapes past her lips as blood begins to ooze out of the wound and leak down her hand. "You can either walk out of this tent and into the grassy field where there are twenty or so Vampires hungry for blood or stay here. The choice is yours..." He trails off, his voice filled with nothing but evil and she knows that he is serious. A choice she has to make and one will tell if she is brave and the other will if she is not. It is also a choice that will risk her life, yet then again what does she have left to live for?

Before the golden hair girl knew what she was doing she walks over to the opening of the tent with her bleeding cut and a pain waving through her entire body like never before but all that will be for nothing if she does not prove that she is strong. Something inside her speaks to her and it tells her that if he were her Mate and if he has felt the bond even in the slightest then he would at least stop her or stop anyone from harming her in any shape or form.

Her heart feels like it wants to break out of her chest with every step she takes as the fear increases inside her and it creeps in her bones. The goosebumps on her skin is enough to say that the girl is frightened to death. Hearing talking when she moves the door slightly so she's able to walk outside. When her ice blue eyes notice how many they are her heartbeat continues to pick up and the fear becomes too much for her to handle. She keeps telling herself that he will not allow this to happen but with every step she loses a fraction of the hope of that idea.

All eyes are on her or the blood that drips from her wrist. She stands there as the blood leaks on her palm and then into the green grass. The darkness outside is a something that should comfort her and the moon and the stars that often make her feel like she belongs have failed in keeping her safe as she stands there in the middle of the field. The Vampires looking hungrily on her and it is only a matter of time before someone attacks her.

One Vampire dressed in a guard uniform stalks towards her with desire and lust in his eyes and staring at the crimson liquid that runs through her veins and now is leaking out from the cut that has been made by his King. Fear is all that is in Valentina's eyes when he comes even closer. He stands in front of her and for a moment she thinks that he won't hurt her as he does nothing for a small second but that is all replaced when in one quick movement he forcefully takes her wrist bites down.

His razor sharp fangs pierce her skin and dig themselves deep into her flesh as he begins to suck her blood. She can feel the blood running through her veins being harshly taken from her and the blood-curling scream erupts from her already burning throat. Feeling the horrible metallic taste in her mouth because of her injured throat she coughs out blood in between crying out in pure agony. The familiar black spots are on her vision once more and every inch of hope that she had of him saving her all wash away like water going down the drain.

Her legs shake before she falls down on her knees for all strength is leaving her body as well as her blood. "ENOUGH!!!" A loud familiar voice yells, his voice so powerful that even she wants to follow it and obey his every command. Instantly she feels the Vampire let go of her and she falls on all fours but the pain in her wrist makes her fall on her side. Laying on the ground with a still bleeding wrist. The green grassy turns dark as the crimson red blood leaks from her wound down and mixes with the once beautiful ground.

The dizziness threatens to bring Valentina down but she refuses but she does stay on the ground as the man that she knew would protect her goes over to the Vampire that had bitten her. A soft smile on her face as the hope returns and the gesture might not be that big nor mean something to anyone else but this meant a great deal for her, knowing that her Mate is starting to feel the bond and perhaps she was wrong. That the man she thought could not be able to love is actually capable.

Maybe it were the thoughts of a person who is literally bleeding out and has little, next to nothing blood in her veins but she still felt the blood. Through the blurriness of her vision she saw him stalk towards the Vampire that had fed from her and she could almost feel the anger radiate off him and it did not mean well. Valentina knew that blood would be spilled and her blood is not the only blood that would land on the soft green grass that she lies on. As she does, everyone else is watching their King.

Everyone bowing before him in pure respect and it's something that she's never seen before and can't help but admire the fact that they respect the man that can slaughter them, or perhaps it is just the fear that forces their respect. At this point she cannot be sure of it, then again she is losing blood and doesn't have much in her system. Vladimir bends down and whispers something in the man's ears, something that she nor anyone can hear but she can tell by the look on his face that he is mad and is likely threatening him and by the look on the man's face she can tell that it is working.

One moment the man is alive and then the next his head has been ripped off his body. The sounds still echoing inside her head and a scream is heard. It takes her a couple of seconds to realize that the scream belongs to none other than herself. The head of the man rolls away from her but his body remains the same and blood leaks faster than a river out from his severed body. Vladimir turns around to look at her in this shocked state and there is only murder in his eyes, that she can see.

He walks over to her and lifts her up bridal style as if she weighs nothing at all. If she were in her right mind she would be trying to get out of his arms but the shock and the fact that his touch is on her skin blinds hr from reality. He just killed someone right in front of her. Valentina is no stranger to death but to see if after what she has gone through, it burns in her brain and becomes a living hell that will forever haunt her for as long as she still takes breath which she already knows by now will not be for that long.

No words are spoken as he takes her inside the tent and lays her down on the bed and pulls the covers over her to keep her warm. Taking bandages that were on the table which went unnoticed by her, perhaps because of the food and he wraps them around her wrist in silence. The ice blue-eyed girl doesn't know if this is all because of... kindness or because she is supposed to be his Blood Slave, which she believes the meaning is that she is his Blood Slave and no one can take her blood but him.

Trying to decide if he can love or not is harder to do than anything she has ever done before. This man is more of a riddle than any mystery that the world has thrown at her. Valentina watches his every move as he continues to wrap the bandages around her wrist and she can tell that he knows she's watching him. His hands covered in her blood yet it doesn't seem like he cares for it nor notices it.

"Now that we have established that you do have courage inside you after, we shall be going over the rules. From now on, you will stay by my side. Never go near another Vampire and never start from me again. If you do, I will feed from you" He tells her almost in a quiet voice. She has thought that he would lock her up or punish her or hurt her again but he didn't any of the things she expected, quite the opposite of what she thought. Nodding her head as she did not trust her voice at the moment before he looks at her and their eyes meet. Scarlet red to ice blue.

"Why did you do that?" She asks him, she's not sure herself if she were asking about killing that man or helping her with the cut on her wrist and the bite marks that are stinging with pain. Trying her hardest to forget the pain that is going through her, she continues to look into his eyes. Valentina can't be sure what is hidden in his eyes but there is something unknown yet so familiar inside them. And somehow each day she finds herself getting closer to cracking this riddle or that is what her mind thinks, as she has no idea if it is all a trick or not.

It seems he doesn't know either what her question is referring as he stays silent. The thought of why she isn't treated like the Slaves that she has seen in movies or history books but the fear of asking keeps her from dwelling much on it. Knowing that it is better to not be in chains rather than being in chains. But then her mind goes to the days she spent in the dungeon and how she will never be able to forget that time, as long as she lives that will be haunting her memories.

When he has wrapped her wrist and cleaned the blood he stands up and sits on the chair that is meant for him while she still lies there on the bed, not knowing what she is supposed to do now. She realizes that this is what a Blood Slave is supposed to feel like. Completely drained of all energy and just so tired and exhausted, with pain radiating inside of them. But this is the first time that a Vampire has made her feel that way.

"Where will we go next?" She asks. Valentina feels herself being pulled into the darkness but decided to ask to keep herself awake. It does take a lot of energy to be able to stay awake yet she does try and she tries her hardest not to move. Not only because she's so tired but because if she were to move pain would go in waves through her. "Under these new circumstances, you are unable to travel anywhere and I would hate to have to go the rest of the trip without a Blood Slave or any source of blood" He speaks but doesn't look at her.

She didn't show it but his words send pangs through her heart as she comes to grips with the hard reality of how he doesn't care about her and the only reason he saved her and is doing this for her is because he only needs someone to donate blood whenever he needs and wants it. "I can travel" She says without thinking it and regrets it right when she says it for she knows she is in no condition to even stand up or do anything for that matter.

He chuckles at her words as if they amuse him and in a way she could understand why, as she obviously would not be able to travel. She doesn't know what she was thinking. "Tonight there will be a performance for their King and I would like you to accompany me" The ruthless King suddenly says to her which makes her eyes nearly pop from their sockets fro she is so surprised and shocked at his words. Then again there was also excitement inside her for some reason that she didn't know what was but wasn't going to dwell on it.

"When is it?" She asks him, holding normal conversation like the things that have happened between them never happened is going to be harder for her than she thought but she wants something to be normal. "In an hour" He answers. His voice holds nothing but annoyance and boredom and she knows better than to ask anymore and keeps her mouth shut. Angering this man would be the last thing she'd want to do and would do anything to not do that. "In the meantime, how about we have some fun...?" He asks her and she nearly chokes on her own spit.

The tone in his voice was playful and almost like if he were a child and it shocks her to the bones. He stands up and sits on the bed when she had begun to cough. She looks away from him in shame as the blood rushes to her cheeks and hints of blush is created. "What kind of fun?" She asks but her voice shakes all over because the fun that he would be suggesting might not be the fun that she would want to have.

"You tell me, what do you like to do?" He asks her and it is the first question that has been asking what she liked or wanted. Valentina doesn't know if it's the lack of blood she has in her body or if this is reality but it did sound like he was interested in knowing what she liked. "I like reading" She whispers to him, her voice holding fear inside it, the fear of speaking the wrong thing because one wrong word she will be sent to her grave, that she knows all too well and she is careful what she says.

But she hasn't been careful with her words. Only moment before she has told him to his face that's he was unable to love and whether that was the truth or not, she knew she hasn't watches what she was saying to him. Perhaps she forgets that he is a man that can kill her with only one quick movement and it doesn't make much for that to happen and she will no longer be alive in this cruel world. He stands up once again and walks over to the table where yet another thing was hidden from the food.

A familiar object comes into view and all the pain and numbness in his body disappears when she sees the book that she had with her, the same book that she had lost days ago and the same book she believed to never be able to see again but he holds it to her which she takes and the smile on her face is hard to hide from him. Her lips had curled up into the happiest smile that she has made in a long time. The salty tears prick her eyes like never before and she lets them fall down her cheeks.

"Thank you" She whispers to him as she hugs the book close to her chest. The book meaning the whole wide world to her and he might never understand what kind of love she has felt in her heart but at this moment she feels like she is seeing him in another light. Perhaps he is not all bad yet he is still far from being good and that is a start in this whole thing. He is after all her mate and is supposed to love, protect and cherish her for as long as they live.

And he has only done one of those things yet not for the sake of love but for his own selfishness. "Thank you" She says again even when it is not needed. The happiness taking over her body over powers the pain and it makes her believe that kindness and goodness is powerful enough to defeat the bad and evil. "What do you like to do?" She asks him after a while. She doesn't let go of the book and neither does she intent to know that she has it, she is never letting it go. It is clear that her questions shocks him like when he has asked her but he covers it well, just not well enough for Valentina to spot it.

"Beside killing and slaughtering, I do enjoy pleasure... though I take it that is not the answer you were looking for" Vladimir answers her question and he did answer in the way that she had thought he would. It confuses her on how the two of them can have a normal conversation one minute and the next she is bleeding. "No, it is not. Does nothing interest you? Like a hobby?" She asks him again, trying to narrow it down a bit.

He pretends to think for a moment before a smirk comes on his lips. "Horseback riding" He answers as he sits on the chair for him. She gives him a soft smile as perhaps the happiness inside her body is over the roof and as she lies there with her back slightly up against the pillows she looks up at the tent to see the light come from the moon on top of the tent itself. "Maybe we can sometimes go, but you will have to teach me. I've only driven a car but riding a horse seems much harder" She says with a giggle escaping past her lips.

"Perhaps..." He trails of as he is in deep thoughts about the matter. The golden haired girl shrug and opened the book on the page that holds the words that she will forever keep inside her heart. When darkness sinks its claw in you, all you have to do is fight back ~ Love dad. Thinking of her father brings the tears to her eyes once more when she has just about finished crying. "Why do you cry?" He asks her but she could tell his voice held no interest in knowing the answer.