A Study of Poisons

FOUR

      I refused to waste anymore time on playing their games. I had moved around the furniture in a free room and had been using it as a sparing space for myself.

It's been three days of my summer stay in the manor. I was here to do a job and the Gods forbid above I was going to do whatever I could to fulfill it. I don't care if they don't like me or want me here. Out of anger, I plunged my sword into the ground of the wood. The floor cracked, wiping the sweat off it my forehead I looked down to the destruction I had caused. The room had things thrown around it, the things on the wall sat on the ground and everything around it was misplaced. According to some of the servants, it was just an empty room. Rich aristocrats always had stupid rooms like this.

Moving over to the chair I pulled my militia jacket from my back. To escape the warmth that pursued me, I slid each of my arms through the sleeves. Drawing back from the room I came down the hall. My list of precausions grew longer. I found myself having trouble with deciding what should happen next.

This building had too many windows. I wouldn't be able to spell them all. I was only able to put a barrier around the perimeter to make it easy to detect unwanted entry. Then I considered something I did on Kate once.

I could put a tracking charm on the Prince but I doubt he would allow that. The Prince liked his privacy just like any person. I could attach the tracker to something other than the Prince himself. Then his golden necklace came to mind. It was perfect, he never took it off.

That wasn't another problem... he never took it off.

Speaking of the devil, the Vampires were meeting in the entertainment room. I walked in and the conversation stopped. They'd claim me as the enemy. That was fine it didn't matter. "I need to speak to the Prince." They all gave me warned eyes, all but Natalia- who looked like she was holding back.

The Prince met my gaze, all I could remember was my lips pushed against his hand. He seemed to remember it too as his eyes turned away. "Whatever you have to say to me can be said before them, they're my family." I didn't want to argue and cause a scene.

I gave in. "There is only so much I can do to ensure your protection without betraying your privacy." I said as I would hate to be attached to his hip. "I've put wards up around the entire manor but it won't keep things out. My only suggestion would be to put a tracking spell on you." He shot his head to me, he was wildly against me. My heart stammered.

"Like hell." He told me.

I put my hands up to my defense. "It will be discreet, I came up with a solution." I watched the necklace that dangled around his neck. Then I noticed the veins near his throat reacting to my staring.

"What?"

Pulling myself away from watching him, I made sure to show the entire room I was talking to them. I needed to focus. This is a job Delia. "I'll enchant your necklace to where if it gets taken off the tracker spell will lead me to you. I've done it before." A memory of Kate came to mind. When she refused me the first time, I gave her to wear a pair of earrings. Little did she know it carried that enchantment.

The Prince considered it."You won't use it to spy on me?" No, why the hell would I need something like that? He could see the disgust on his face. I didn't plan on tracking his every move like my parents did to me. I wasn't going to stoop that low.

I shook my head, "No, because the spell will only intact when you take it off." I didn't want know anything about how the Prince spent his personal time. That was none of my business.

Natalia had my back, her eyes wide as she spoke to the Prince. "Just let her do it Alex, it will be safer for you." I looked around to the rest of the group. They all nodded in agreement. So that's how I get on their good side, I thought. I have to go through Alex. If I'm able to get Alex to trust me even the smallest bit- I would be able to keep my head. Like I'd ever let them have it. I'll burn myself alive before I let them touch me. I am a Keeper before I am human.