The Year 3000

Chapter 26: Kingly Meetings

Scarlett's POV

Previously:

"Actually, you did both of those things willingly," he said in a matter-of-fact tone, leaning down close to my face as soon as I began to object, instantly shutting me up, "I didn't have to do anything . . . forceful to get you to do what I wanted."

His breath fanned out over my lips, making the room's temperature seem to increase several degrees. I couldn't breathe, my eyes widening in fear of what he was about to do next.

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By now he was just taunting me with the power he had, dangling it out of reach over my head. I couldn't do anything to object to him, because then he really would do something forceful to me, and I didn't want that. So instead I just stood there with my arms at my sides and braced myself for whatever he was about to do. That was when he suddenly pulled away, immediately causing a breath I hadn't realized I had been holding in to be released. Harry looked down at me quizzically.

"Do I make you nervous?" he asked coyly, a smirk planted very prominently on his features. I couldn't look him in the eyes, so I just focused my attention on the ground, something I had been doing a lot of lately. Harry coughed slightly, and my head instantly shot up when I realized that I should be looking at him when he spoke to me. Harry seemed pleased with my reaction, but he was still waiting for an answer. I knew I couldn't lie to him, even if it would help my dignity, but considering how much was left, this wouldn't injure it too much. I straightened my back.

"Yes you do," I admitted. Harry simply nodded, his smirk growing in size.

"Good," he stated, but then swiftly changed the topic, for which I was grateful, "Now, I'm sure you have many questions as to why the Rebellion stole cases of vampire blood, so I'm going to give you a chance to ask them, and I will try my best to answer."

I was stunned, but I definitely wasn't going to pass up an opportunity like this, because in all honesty, I was genuinely confused.

"First of all, how am I still alive after you fed me your blood? I should be dead," I said, shaking my head. Harry's cheek twitched almost imperceptibly.

"Well," he began, "For starters, no form of vampire blood is poisonous, even if the vampire has consumed human blood. That was a myth the other Kings and myself created to prevent the humans from stealing our blood. It actually has many healing properties, and it can give humans the temporary strength and speed of vampires without actually changing them, if consumed in high enough quantities," Harry explained casually, but I just stared open-mouthed up at him.

My whole life I had been fed lies.

"So that's why the Rebellion wanted the blood," I muttered, mainly to myself, but then frowned when a thought crossed my mind, "But how did they find out that it wasn't actually poisonous?" I asked in confusion, causing Harry to frown as well.

"Considering Luke was able to escape from the dungeons after feeding from you, a vampire, I am almost positive that he's the cause of this whole mess." He huffed in annoyance, shaking his head in disbelief. I didn't dare say anything, knowing he was probably right. When Harry continued, it almost seemed like he was talking to himself, "You told me yourself that he came to visit you during the attack, so obviously he was a part of it. And he's a vampire himself! That's what I don't get. Why is he with the Rebellion? Working for a human cause? How does the Rebellion trust a vampire to lead them?"

"Only a few people know he's a vampire. The rest of the time he hides and pretends to be human," I admitted. Maybe if Harry thought I was on his side . . . maybe he might start trusting me more.