Blood in the Water

Seven

I thought I could feel their eyes the moment I woke up. Their cold harsh unforgiving eyes. But it was the cold sweat that woke me up.

The tent was freezing, the blankets that I'd pilled on myself had fallen off at some point, leaving my toes and legs open to the frigid air.

"It's pitiful just how much you beings need sleep." I yelped and fell out of the bed, my bum landing on the cold floor. I looked up and my breath caught in my throat.

There sat on the bulk opposite was Ivan, his horrid face hidden by the shadows of his cloak.

"W-what are you doing here?" I scarped myself against the side of the cot, my breathing ragged. My skin tingled and sweat gathered at the base of my spine.

"You have a bargain to maintain, Cassia Bane." His tone was indifferent. "Lord Briss sends his deepest condolences; he so very wishes he could have been here."

I swallow and feel around for anything that I could use against this ugly motherfucker. "Stay away from me."

"Fear not, I'm not here to hurt you today." There was no underlying threat to his voice, I almost relaxed a bit. "But I am here on business."

"I don't have anything to report yet. I've not even been back a day yet." I'm whispering and hoping to God that Nash decides to come and check on me. Having Ivan so close to me in such a confined space makes me feel uneasy.

"I'm sure you've gathered much intel on your beloved pack." He ignores me all together, brushing an imaginary speck of dust off his pants.

This thing was the definition of terrifying, I hadn't even begun to process what had happened and here he was acting like we were best friends.

I have to try stop the incoming panic attack because being this close to someone like him steps my whole being on edge. And it's not because of what happened, although it definitely doesn't help. No, it's because Vampyre's and Wolves were never going to be best friends. And, I have this god-awful feeling that Ivan knows my secret.

"No, I am here to make sure that you stick to your end of the bargain." He's looking around the tent, it doesn't even compare to the halls and great rooms in the castle. We must live like rats in his eyes, another emphasis on the hierarchy implemented upon us.

"I don't remember making a bargain." I challenge getting to my feet. The room feels like a million times colder with his eerie eyes peering everywhere. I remember those eyes glinting dangerously, and I remember his impersonal hands as they ripped away my last shreds of hope.

"You humans are always so fickle and so quick to go back on your words." Ivan sighs and gets to his feet. His sounds are mute, no wonder he got in here undetected. How long has he been sat watching me sleep? The very though chilled me to the core.

"I'm an honest woman, I would never." Accusation clouds my tone. 'But I never made no bargain with anyone, including your lord."

As Ivan edges closer, I move further away – circling each other around the foot of the room. Being here with Ivan feels different, I'm perfectly aware of the danger I'm in, but I feel like I'm being tempted into a false sense of security. And, when I least expect it, he'll pounce.

"I'm sure this will displease his Lordship greatly," Ivan sighs, but there's a deep glee that clouds his voice. "Such sadness I will reap when I tell him of this news. It's such a shame."

"Is it?" I stick my chin out, narrowing my eyes are the glorified body-bag.

"For the balance of your little pack hung on your promise." I see a hint of smile flash under his cloak, pale skin taught over the bones. I gulp. "Like I said, humans can be such fickle creatures."