Hearts Betray

Chapter 3- Thawed

Esmeray's POV

For a few long seconds, we stared at each other in silence while the gentle golden-pink rays of light from the sunset outside the grand window flooded the room. I refused to move an inch.

"Well Miss Croí, please do take a seat. We can get the process going and out of the way soon" Theodore stated suddenly. And quite calmly too, to my surprise. He sat down at one end of the desk and looked up at me expectantly.

I reluctantly followed suit and sat down in the chair opposite him. The chair was large and soft, with the poof-like seat making me feel like I was sitting on a cloud. It really didn't fit my mood and emotions in that moment. There was an odd calmness in the air coming from Theodore about this entire situation and I didn't quite enjoy the sense of foreboding growing in the pit of my stomach. I had a suspicious feeling that he knew exactly what I was trying to escape from. I shifted uncomfortably before clearing my throat and proceeding to talk.

"Right, er- Your Highness?" I asked quite unsurely. He laughed.

"Call me Theodore. Or Mr de Krew if we both insist on some formalities for now." He replied with a smile.

That simple gesture made me slightly more uncomfortable. Theodore de Krew was capable of smiling towards another being? That went against all my thoughts and stories about the heartless Vampire Prince who never offered second chances to anyone. It didn't suit the descriptions of him from other vampires and supernaturals. My dumbfounded expression must have been visible because it didn't take long for the Prince to begin explaining himself.

"Forgive me, but I quite dislike the exaggerated royal formalities. 'Your Highness' makes me sound like an egotistical asshole. Not to mention, quite old too." He answered with a more visible grin.

He had been in an awfully positive mood ever since he entered the room, and I didn't know whether I should be worried or not. My cauldron of a brain that was swirling with many different emotions screamed at me to just get up and leave. Walk away from the tension and the consequences. But a feeling somewhere deep within me told me to stay put as no harm would come my way around this man. Where is that feeling coming from anyway? I thought. It's not like Theodore was known to be kind-hearted after all.

"Right then, Mr de Krew. I'm here to register with one of the Vampiric Societies. To make things easier for yourself and the High Court, I have already chosen my category. And I am educated of its basic responsibilities." I announced hoping that it sounded confident enough to mask the uneasiness I felt. I really wanted this rather interesting encounter to end.

He stared at me for another few seconds in content silence before he leaned over and opened one of the desk drawers. He pulled out a massive folder that was overflowing with documents. It looked like the thing was about to burst and cough up every remnant of each white sheet right at me. He flicked it open to what I believed was the contents page and looked back up at me again.

"Very well. Which Vampiric Society do you wish to be a part of? I will fetch the registration documents for you, and you will have 48 hours in total to fill them out and return them to the High Vampire Court or myself. This is only for the purpose of keeping records of every vampire in our Kingdom. Oh and- I will overlook the last six years of your anonymous phase too, Miss Croí" he explained with authority, adding the last part rather quietly. As if he didn't wish to be overheard by anyone.

The realisation of his words hit me like a train at full speed. I knew he knew. I don't know what I had been expecting. He had records of every vampire in his Kingdom; naturally born, turned, raised or trained. It was an impressive characteristic belonging to him but scary, nevertheless.