VIOLET DAWN

Chapter 4

"Is it London?"

"Is what London?" Patrick looked ahead at the Circus lights and wondered why on earth he had agreed to walking. The sticky mud beneath his boots made a sucking noise that was about to drive his sensitive ears mad.

"Don't pretend like you don't understand!"

Patrick glanced at his companion in surprise and saw her face pale.

"I am sorry Leader, I meant no disrespect." Elisabeth bowed her head, her eyes glowing red under the shade of her flowery hat. Patrick barely restrained a sigh of irritation as he came to a stop himself. With her long golden locks, pale blue eyes and lush red lips, Elisabeth was one of the most beautiful Vampires he had ever met, but her games bored him.

"I have told you countless times you can speak your mind to me Elisabeth."

She did not lift her head. "You are the leader of the Northern Clan, I can not gainsay you and yet I can not speak to you as if you were...ordinary."

Laugh it off and move on, Patrick told himself. But he could not. It was always the same. He would meet a beautiful woman, feel the excitement of the chase and then... then their schemes would begin.

"Tell me what you meant Elisabeth." It was a direct order, one she would not be able to refuse as his subject.

Elisabeth raised her pretty face to his coyly. "I was just wondering what it was that made you unhappy Leader. Perhaps our London does not compare to your Scottish highlands."

In truth Patrick did miss Scotland; the fresh cold mountain air, mirror-like lochs and plain speaking people. But he liked London just fine.

"Elisabeth, what is this actually about?" Patrick pulled his hand through his dark, unruly hair and waited for her to choose her words. Elisabeth had been acting strange of late and he was through indulging her moody ways.

"I just noticed that you were unhappy lately and thought..."

"Elisabeth." Patrick cut her off with a frown. What was wrong with the chit? "Tell me the truth or nothing at all."

"It is the Blessed one, she tells lies about me to one and all!" Elisabeth's eyes glittered with unshed tears as she spat the accusation at him.

Although he should have been relieved that she had finally told him what was truly on her mind, Patrick found himself wishing he had said nothing. Angelica slandering the innocent? The Princess abhorred gossip, it just wasn't her style. 

"I am sure you are mistaken Elisabeth. Angelica has better things to do than spread lies about you. She is carrying a Blessed child."

"I am not mistaken I tell you!"

While normally he would have enjoyed her spirit, the spiteful expression on Elisabeth's face made her look ugly. What had he seen in her? Patrick could not seem to recall any reason for their relationship as he watched her calculating eyes. What was she after?

"Tell me then how you are so certain."

"She said that she saw me in a compromising state with the marques of Ludington," Elisabeth said with derision. "As if I would ever entertain the notion of bedding a human!"

Patrick nodded as though he agreed, then took a step forward and held Elisabeth's chin between his thumb and forefinger.

"You are lying."

"I am not! Truly, I would not!" She tried to pull away from him, but he cupped her head with his hands and smiled pleasantly.

"Now, what gave you the impression you could lie to me Elisabeth?"