Of Blood and Downfall

Chapter 30.

Mavis's POV:

    I return back to the ballroom, leaving Karden behind. I don't know what happened but I agreed to going on a date with Karden? A vampire? A bit of me feels excitement but another is embarrassment when I return to the gathering and Calen is sitting next to his twin sister and others.

    His fire sprite clinging onto him for dear life.

    I gnaw my bottom lip, hoping he doesn't share anything to anybody—

    "Someone is really happy." Gasping at the voice, Damien is wiggling his eyebrows.

    "Are you..."

    "Feeling your emotions right now? Yes, and something tells me that you can't get something romantic off your mind." I shrug him off, scanning the room and hoping to find Issy.

    "I don't know what you're talking about." I feel my neck flush with heat and rush all the way up my ears. When I try my best to ignore him, his stares harden with curiosity.

    Eventually, he drums his hands on the table and nods, "As though I don't smell it." He mutters into my ear before walking away. I gulp, my hands shaking from his cold breath that creeps to my face.

    Karden has returned and is standing next to his friends. Damien is back on the dance floor, slugging drinks down and dancing with a female. I avoid the whole family as much as I can until Issy pops in front of me.

    She says something but all I see is her lips moving.

    "What?" I say but it comes out like a shout. A few heads turn and Issy furrows her brows when she notices how faint I feel.

    "You look like you're going to pass out."

    "I think I'm going to be sick." I mutter, holding my stomach and feeling thick bitter bile rush up my throat. Issy grabs me and ushers me out of the ballroom and down the hall.

    We make it to an empty room and I fall on the chaise. Issy shuts the door and runs a hand down my warm forehead.

    "You're burning up." She says, unsure on what to do. "Should I call Valeria?" She asks nervously and I swallow, shaking my head.

    "No, no I just..." I pause, opening my eyes and looking up at Issy. "Your brother..."

    "Which one?" She wonders and I rest my head on my hand.

    "Karden." She gulps, her eyes not matching the sour look on her face. "He's not going to kill me is he?" I ask her, breathing deeply.

    Issy frowns and her shoulders drop. She rushes to me and kneels down on the floor in front of me, wrinkling her dress without care.

    "Goodness no." She is in utter shock for me to even think that. "Karden would never hurt you."

    "He keeps giving me these mixed signals and it's really throwing my feelings off. I-I can't even think how I feel..." I pause, glancing at the shut door. "No one is going to hear me right?"

    Issy shakes her head, "No, we're okay. No vampire will even consider listening to us or even try to hear us."

    "Okay, good." I begin to feel better, letting the air from the open window rush in and graze my hot skin. "I feel like an idiot."

    "Why?" She falls on her butt and waits for me to explain.

    "Karden came in and it felt he wasn't in touch with his mind. I was terrified that he was going to kill me or-or bite me. But all he was saying was that it was mistake I came and now he wants to take me out on a date?"