I opened the door and stepped out of the car. The cold wind stung my face. I walked down the path with Alessandro. I stayed closer to him. I wasn't bothered about Silver's gaze, "Are they friendly?" I asked as there was nothing to distract me from the trouble brewing on the horizon.
"You'll be safe. No matter what?" he said, his gaze was on them.
"I know," I sighed. I glanced at them. Bunch of hot chocolate! I wasn't flirting. Just saying. I inhaled deeply. But I couldn't smell anything dead or rotten in the air.
"Miss Nelson, I'm Jamie. Our master is waiting for you." The tallest and the handsome one said.
Just Jamie! No surname? Master?
"Yes, my friends are coming with me," I said.
He nodded and looked at the SUV, "We weren't aware your guards were coming." He said coldly.
"They won't harm anyone," I said immediately.
They weren't smelling like rotten things, they were totally different from the vampires who attacked me.
He smirked and his friends laughed, "That's not our concern, Miss Nelson. You have to park your vehicles here. There's the Parking lot." He gestured at the left.
Edward growled loudly. I didn't mind it.
I was still stunned hearing an open threat from him. Of course, They could outnumber us easily. I stepped closer to Alex.
Jamie snorted and turned to the path. I stared at Edward. He shot his brows up. Before he could taunt me, Elizabeth came to his side and outstretched her hand with the backpack.
"Thanks," I slang my bag over my shoulder and began to pace behind them. I wasn't expecting anything good. But you never knew what destiny had stored for us. I shoved the thoughts aside. Picking at them just led to bitterness, I had already had an argument with Edward. It shouldn't happen.
"Where are they taking us? Don't you have his number?" Silver asked me.
Edward was walking along with Elizabeth, Alex with Silver and Silver and Betty were on both sides, guards were walking behind us. Burt was walking alone, away from us, but I felt his gaze and ears on Jamie and his friends.
"I forgot to ask his name too." I whispered.
I worried my lower lip. We're acting casual but we were in dead men's territory.
"Doesn't matter," Elizabeth said.
"We'll know soon." Silver muttered.
We remained silent while walking behind them. Burt slowed his pace and he muttered something to Alex. I tried to hear. But I did not know how they could talk without moving their lips.
Burt's gaze met mine and he immediately looked away. Wasn't he my bodyguard? Huh! All in saying. He must have told them my plan. I shouldn't trust him.
The fog was puffing out of my mouth with every breath, "Why is it so cold here?" I asked, rubbing my frozen hands together.
"We are close to the hill station. It seemed it was snowing last night," Edward answered.
I nodded and kept pacing behind them, hoping to find something warm. the wind getting more ferocious with each step. Silver and Elizabeth came closer to me wrapping their warm arms around my shoulder and middle.
"Take this," Alessandro said, giving me a red warm coat.
I took it with shivering hands and draped it around my body. My heart began to thud when we walked into a dark cave. I wanted to run back. When I was determined I saw Jamie pressing a button on the wall.
The opening revealed the elevator, "Wao! How did you build it? An Elevator in the cave." Silver asked. I was astounded and scared.
"Thanks for your appreciation." Jamie smiled at Silver and earned a menacing glare from Alessandro. Jamie stepped back with a smirk.
We stepped into the elevator. Jamie's arm brushed my arm. I felt cold. It was getting more ferocious. A soft grip tugged me away, "You won't feel cold," Edward said, pushing me toward Silver.
I frowned at him but did not say a word.
"It's going to be colder for you, Miss." Jamie winked at me.
Alessandro glared at him again, "Where is this taking us?" He demanded.
Jamie snorted at his command, "We made this for fun." He replied.
"For humans, females, who are not one of you. Who doesn't have speed like you," Edward said dryly.
Jamie ignored negotiating further and didn't drift his gaze at us. I perched on the other end, "Are you sure? It was wise to come with me?" I asked them.
They nodded immediately. The door opened. It seemed like never ending minutes without any sound. We walked out. The walls were white and the floor tiles were brown and shining like glass.
"This way, " Jamie said, increasing his pace toward a narrow hall. It looked like a tunnel. It was a magnificent structure of new technology.
"You must have hired a lot of engineers," I asked.
"Adam," He slapped the back of his companion, "He was an engineer. He used his free time to build our empire."
I glanced at Adam. He looked 22 but I was sure he wasn't. It felt really weird to hear about him in past tense but he was alive in front of me. He just glanced at me. Suddenly, I felt aware of my over-dressing. They were dressed like they were enjoying one of the normal days of the summer.
"Are you okay?" Silver's voice jarred me from my thoughts.
I nodded and kept pacing behind them, trying to match with their long strides.
I crossed my arms against the cold as they stopped. My gaze darted around to find him. It shouldn't be a trap. Edward moved closer to me, a crease in his brow. His eyes glowed amber.
I opened my mouth but I was yanked away from my path. Edward and Alessandro bared their teeth. A vampire bounced at me. He was pulled away harshly and pinned down to the ground. His red gaze was on me.
My heartbeat drummed in my ears. Dread blazed through me.
"Stay!" A sharp voice came into the hall.
Jamie and his companions moved back with a bow head. My breathing turned shallow.
"Master, her blood is calling me." He said, crawling on his knees toward me. He ran his tongue over his lips as his expression was showing his hunger for my blood.
I shivered. Silver stepped forward. Her gaze flashed amber. Elizabeth opened her arms behind me, ready to cast a spell.
"Your death is calling you, Joey." His voice was slow but strong. He glanced at Jamie.
With a bow, Jamie jerked him off the ground and hauled him out of the hall. Jamie's hold didn't flatter after a lot of struggling, pleading and screaming from Joey. He kept on hauling him out.
"My lady!" My body jerked when he held my hand.
My teeth chattered. He was so cold. He didn't seem to notice my shivers partly with cold partly with fear.
"I don't know your name," I said. I caught the sight of fire.
"Aragon," He said with a soft smile, tugging me toward the couch in front of the fire.
"Thank you for keeping my friends safe," I said. There could be a conflict and anything could be. They were in attendance. It seemed to me to escape out here without harm.
"You asked me," He turned to me and motioned at the couch.
"Thank you," I said and sat down. The couch was warm. I advanced my hands to feel the heat of fire against my skin. It felt so good.
"Shouldn't you protect her? He could have killed her," Silver bellowed. Elizabeth muttered something to her. Silver let out a heavy breath.
"Miss Silver, have a seat," He waved his finger in the air and the chair slid behind my couch, "You would like to stay close to your friend, Miss Elizabeth," Another chair slid.
Silver stomped her feet and plopped down the couch. Elizabeth followed her.
"How did he do this?" I asked her.
He took the seat in front of me on the second solo couch. He didn't offer Alessandro and Edward to sit, "Every vampire is gifted with something special. I'm extra lucky. " He smiled.
"You can move things with the swipe of your finger?" I asked, I removed my puffy coat and placed it over the arm of the couch.
He smiled again. Before he could answer.
"We're not here to know about your power. You know the way to the Dark Realm." Edward spoke, his words were crude.
"Yes, the book has sent us to you." Elizabeth spoke politely, trying to cover the rudeness of her mate. She was looking calm.
"Interesting!" He rubbed his jaw, "You should return, Miss Nelson,"
"No, please. You're my only hope. It took us days to reach the book. It has guided us to you, Aragon." My breathing turned shallow. I could feel the painful chilling crawling up from my feet.
"The book clearly says. You know the path." Alessandro said calmly.
"Your spell is fading. You should take her back." Aragon said to Elizabeth.
Elizabeth and Silver looked panicked and turned to me. I tried not to show the slow crawling pain on my face, "I'm fine. She can cast her enchant again." I told.
"No, I can't do that." Elizabeth said without missing a beat.
"It will drain your power. Right? I understand," Vampire were their enemies. I was useless in the fight.
She lowered her gaze, "It would kill you." Aragon said, without hesitation.
My neck jerked to him and then at Elizabeth. Sadness in her eyes was telling the truth.
"We should leave immediately." Alessandro said.
"I won't leave without knowing my next clue," I turned my gaze to Aragon. I wasn't afraid of dying.
He reached for my hand. I let him hold my hand again, "You'll be safe here." His skin was cold against my warm hand.
"No one could be safe here," Edward retorted, looking at the door where Jamie took Joey hauling.
He brushed his fingers on the back of my hand. Whatever he was doing? It was helping, the crawling things ceased.
"I can help you. You have to drink my blood." Aragon said.
My eyes dilated in shock. A shiver ran through my entire body. He must have felt it too. The dread dissipated in the pit of my stomach, suffocating me.
"It could be a trick," Elizabeth squealed.
"To enslave her," Silver got on her feet.
"Your mate can smell a lie better than anyone." His gaze turned to Alessandro.
"He can help," Alessandro said.
I looked up at him. Tears gathered in my eyes. Alex nodded at me.
"But it could be risky. They drank each other's blood to complete the mating bond." Elizabeth said, panicking.
"No," I panicked, my heart began to pound. I knew. They could hear the beating of my heart.
"It wouldn't be a mating process." He said, still holding my hand, "If you're not ready to do it. You must leave now."
I looked at Alessandro again and then at my friends. I could trust him. He didn't hurt them, "I wanna do it," I breathed.
"No, we're leaving now," Silver quicked her feet to me. Alessandro clasped her wrist before she could pull me on my feet. Alessandro nodded at me.
"Ok, again." I told him, though I was scared.