Bite Me Forever

CHAPTER 32: A Mysterious Past

The next night, I was awoken abruptly by Raoul. He looked preoccupied, his brows knitted together in a worried frown as he gestured for me to get up. My heart started to beat faster and I immediately knew something was wrong - what had happened now?

Raoul confirmed my fears with two simple words - "Viktor left."

I felt like the wind had been knocked out of me and I gasped in shock. Why would Viktor do such a thing? Abandon us when we had a plan to rescue James tonight? And he didn't even say goodbye to me! He went to Raoul instead. He had done exactly what he swore me not to do to him, leave without a word! What the hell was wrong with him?!

My mind raced as anger, confusion and disappointment all mingled together inside of me. I sat up quickly, my heart pounding wildly in my chest.

"What happened? Did he say anything?" I asked desperately, looking Raoul in the eyes.

Raoul sighed, shaking his head and sitting down on the bed beside me. "He said he had something to do and that we should wait for him to come back so we can confront Dario together. He seemed to be in a rush."

I just sat there silently at first as my mind processed what Raoul had said. What, and he wanted me to waste time and wait for him? No way, no way... It's not fair... I was frustrated beyond words but at this point, all I could do was clench my fists and try to control my breathing.

Suddenly, Raoul touched my shoulder lightly. He sat down on the bed next to me, and I could sense the weight of his words before he even spoke.

"Lucy, I know Viktor can be difficult sometimes," Raoul began. "But he's also one of the most kind-hearted and brave people I've ever met."

I looked at Raoul sceptically, wondering where he was going with this. But Raoul continued, telling me about how Viktor had saved his life many times. He talked about how Viktor had led him and the other vampires in the Great Vampire Rebellion, putting their needs before his own.

"I owe him everything," Raoul said, his voice filled with gratitude. "Meeting Viktor was the best thing that could have happened to me, even if I ultimately regretted serving Queen Naran."

"I... I didn't know that about Viktor" I muttered.

I tried to imagine Viktor as a general, leading an army of vampires. And he did all that for Naran? Why was it that he was unable to tell me about his past? I felt a mix of happiness and bitterness as Raoul spoke because on one hand, I was learning more about Viktor, but on the other, it should have been him the one who decided to open up to me. Raoul must have guessed I was still feeling angry and conflicted, as he put a hand on my thigh and squeezed my arm gently.

"I know it's hard", he told me. "The way he might seem unapproachable and distant... But it's a facade. You have to look in deeper than that".

Raoul explained that when they first met, he had nothing. He was a young man with no purpose, no money, living off of crime. He had begged Viktor to turn him into a vampire, and Viktor had seen something in him that he didn't even see in himself. He had given him purpose and friendship and never asked anything in return.

"He's been like a father to me," Raoul said. "And I know he cares about you too, even if he doesn't always show it."

His words evoked something in me and the tears started rolling down my cheeks.

"I've wanted to get closer to Viktor since we first met, but he's always pushing me away," I said between sobs. "Why is he so distant? Was it something Naran did to him?"

Raoul pulled me close, his strong arms enveloping my body as he tenderly cradled me against his chest. His fingertips softly ran through my hair, creating sensations of warmth that soothed away my sorrows.