Bound

Some Answers

After we made sure that Katie was comfortable, Eric took us to an office. I'm assuming it's for one of
the cardinals or something. Religion
has never been my thing so please
forgive me if I don't get their
hierarchy correct. Everyone removes
their masks. Wow! All three of them are very
handsome. Their eyes just pull me
in.
I cross my arms over my chest, "Now I think you all have some explaining to do."
I think Vincent just wants some clarification and the others might too, "First Eva, who do you work for?"
I smirk as I reply, "Stranger Things."
Vincent blinks a few times. He looks
amazed that I am a journalist or maybe that I am Midnight Rose. Has he read my articles as Eric has?
Sam chimes in, "Hold up, so Eva you wrote about these guys and have no
clue what they are?"
Honestly, I can't blame them for being surprised and I can't blame Sam for his comment either. Yes, I write about anything and research it enough to appear as an expert to make it believable. But creatures like werewolves and vampires that go bump in the night are just fabrications of young children manifesting their fears, right? They don't exist and I'm not in a room alone with them either. But what if I am?
I look at the guys, "I write about a lot of things
that don't exist like aliens and
swamp creatures to name a
few."
Eric sits on the edge of the desk, "Assume that everything you have researched is real. Based on that, what do you think we are?"
I answer him, "Well based on your
mannerisms, skin color,
voices, and the fact that I was
called food I'd say, vampires.
But they're not real right?"
Vincent just smirks as he took a step forward, "Well you said seeing is
believing right?"
This may come back to bite me, "I did and you said you would
show me."
I don't even have time to blink. He's now nearly touching me. His eyes are a glowing blood red and his smirk is now adorned with fangs. So, I make eye contact as I say, "Back off."
He takes a step back and then
regains his composure. He's a vampire! So he was trying to read my mind or compel me. Why didn't he? Why didn't it work?
I have no choice but to accept it, "Fine, point proven."
Well f*k they are real!  I only
assumed it was a possibility based
on my research. But now I'm in the
room with two vampires and a guy
that could possibly be a werewolf. Also, why am I not afraid? Why am I curiously aroused?
Eric breaks my thoughts, "I am a vampire too as was my wife."
I need to know if I caused her death, "I'm sorry about her. Did I kill her?"
He smiles briefly. Did he not love his wife? Do vampires even love?
Eric says softly, "No, but you did compel her. How?"
I wish I knew. Since my 25th birthday, strange things have been happening to me and I have discovered that I can do even stranger things. But I also don't feel the darkness as I did. I have always been able to judge people a bit, but I just chalked it up to journalistic instincts. What if it was more than that? What if I can detect evil?
I decide to be open with them, "Just envisioned myself
strangling her. I felt a
darkness too."
Eric thinks for a moment, "Try to compel Vincent and I."
I will try. I do. I can feel a bit of their resolve
weaken but not enough to fully
control them. I could maybe just one
of them, but I couldn't keep it for
long. They're so strong.
"You're quite strong. Not as
strong as an elder but
stronger then the average
vampire," Eric says. He seems impressed too. Does he know why I can do any of this?
Sam seems surprised, "But she's not a vampire or
witch!"
Vincent smiles, "No, she's not."
Sam looks at Eric and Vincent, "But we can all agree that she's not human."
I poke him in his chest, "Last I checked, I'm very human!" He chuckles as he raises his eyebrow.
He gets a sheepishly boyish look as he takes my hand, "You don't smell human. Why I was surprised that you didn't
know what we all are. But we will help you discover yourself."
"Fine, but if I don't smell human then what do I smell like
Alpha wolfman?" Since vampires are real, werewolves should be too and Sam has the characteristics now that I can see
him fully that is.
He chuckles, "Nothing I've ever smelt and how?"
I take my hand back and run it through my hair, "Just guessed because you
don't seem like Vincent and
our host."
"Sorry let me formally introduce myself, I'm Prince Eric Wood," he says as I just look at him, "Not Prince like you're
thinking. We preside over
territories and try to keep the
peace between immortals
and humans. There are a few
of us all over the world. There used to be Kings and Queens but they became too power-hungry so territories were formed and Princes were chosen to preside over them."
The power and history in this room amaze me. The things that they have seen and experienced must be novel-worthy. "Explains when you said mixed company now Sam."
He replies, "Yes, here is neutral ground."
Eric seems annoyed, "Why I'll have to cover for
what happened to my wife."
"I'm sorry, Eric."
He lightly brushes my arm, "Eva, stop. She deserved it. You didn't make her die, either."
"Then what?" I really need to know.
Vincent says, "I suspect it had something to
do with the ritual."
Sam nods, "She died after mentioning it
and that she needed Steven
to do it to stop you, Eva, and
those like you."
"Stop me from what though?
I've never killed anyone," I'm so confused.
Eric tries to calm me, "We need to find out. I'll
search our home and see
what I can find."
My mind swirls with shadows, "She had a darkness attached
to her, so could that be
involved too somehow?"
Sam looks like he thought of something, "That could be useful. We
need to go to my pack."