Cross My Heart And Hope To Die

Chapter 3 - Initiations

I have literally spent the last two hours trying to make sense of what has just happened. He talked to me as if more than just my helped, my companion. He gave me his first name for gods sake. He was so crossing the line. He was crazy. I had a crazy helper OMG... this is just what I needed. 

I had to get ready. No matter what.. I had to make a good second impression. This was our initiation night, just like if I was in a sorority. See, who said we can’t have all that we wanted? 

I opened my closet to find an array of new dresses fitted just for my body. This was going to be so much fun. I would enjoy this week as much as I could. I found the perfect dress. It was a one strap long dress. Oh.. I forgot to mention it was red. Perfect for my snow white skin. 

I don’t know why but when Mr. Brown... Luke.. knocked on my door I was suddenly nervous. Control yourself Emily. This is not like you. I opened the door to reveal a very attractive Luke presenting his hand towards me. He was young, maybe twenty five or twenty six, but with his tux he looked way more professional and formal than just twenty five. And way hotter than what he looked before. I was going to have to control myself. This was so out of line. I blame him. He crossed it first. 

When he finally looked my way his composure broke for a second. He had to clear his thought a little before speaking. He made me blush. I didn’t have the courage to look at him in the eyes. “Miss Petrova,” he bowed. “It’s time to go.” I accepted his arm willingly and so we parted towards the ball. 

I must say vampires do know how to throw a good party, maybe it was because of how long they have been around but there was no doubt the undead knew what they were doing. Their living room was now turned into an open dance floor. All of the offerings, meaning us, the humans, were dressed for a ball. This was our initiation. I had no Idea what would happen. This section of the procedure has never been talked openly about. It has always been kept a big secret. 

Luke walked me to the far en of the line of girls, vowed and then left. I felt awfully alone as I was here. I didn’t know anyone. Looking around I understood all of us felt the same way. We have not been given a chance to meet any of the other offerings yet. We were all dressed in formal attire and there was a dance floor so I could only guess we would dance today. Thank god I listened to my mother and took classes when I was young. We were placed in lines again. All the girls to the right and the guys to the left part of the room. Yes, we were obviously going to dance. 

“Good evening ladies and gentlemen,” The elder voice from earlier today started his speech. “I didn’t get a chance to introduce myself earlier. My name is Edelan Dragomir and this is my house. Welcome again.” We all bowed in response. “I am pretty sure you are all wondering why you have been summoned here tonight. This is you initiation. As you may know after this week you will either become part of the family or not live to tell a soul.” He laughed a little. This was all a joke for him. 

“Where was I? Oh Yes. Tonight is your initiation. We will be testing your dancing and socializing skills.” Why is this even important? Why is this even relevant? “This is relevant to our decision because we need capable people here. We need people who will add to this family and it's image to the outside world.” He cleared staring at me as if scolding me for being so rude in my thoughts. My thoughts! Geez. 

“I know you all are waiting to meet the bachelors and bachelorettes of my family but we are changing things up this year,” Great. I was just in a foul mood now. This was not fair. I came here with my head set for something different from what it all would turn out to be. “We have two bachelors and two bachelorettes amonst ourselves but you won’t know who they are until the end of the week when we make our choice of who is to stay.” Okay if they where four then four of us would stay. Two guys and two girls. Half of us will be dead by the end of the week. “They will be amongst you, for all you know the are standing next to you pretending to be offerings. Be advised, this means we are watching you, twenty four seven.” He glanced at me quickly. I could already tell this was going to be a good week. “I am proud to say that one of my sons is amongst the bachelors of this year finally agreeing to participate.” We all looked around trying to find who his son was, who looked out of place but everyone looked exactly the same. I couldn't even tell who was a vampire and who was not. To be completely honest, I couldn't see a difference since the second I set foot in this house. 

“Well I am rambling now. Your initiation will be very simple. There are four guys and four girls.” He pointed towards our groups. “Family take your pick.” We didn’t understand what was happening as a group of vampires started walking towards us. I could see the face expression in all the offering’s faces including mine. Raw fear. “Don’t fret loves, this will not hurt any of you. This is the tradition to mark you as ours. After this you will now become property of the Dragomir clan.” Edelan rose his open hands and finished by saying, “Proceed.” 

The group of vampires grew closer. Four guys and four ladies as he had said.  One of the guys stood in front of me smiling wickedly. I am pretty sure that under other circumstances I would have considered him to be attractive, more than attractive but as of right now the only thing I could do was blush.We bowed and he took a step closer and I knew I could not run away. I knew I could not so I stood there, motionless, as I let the stranger get closer to my neck and proceed to bite into my flesh. I’m not going to lie, it hurt. It really did but we didn’t scream. None of us did. 

It was over before I knew it. He stepped away from me and pinched his finger with his fangs and robbed it again my neck closing my wound. He leaned closer and whispered, “Thank you.” a little too close to me. I shivered. There was something creepy about him but I could not deny he was hot. Maybe it was his pale blue eyes? I did not know. He moved back and bowed ... I didn’t know what to say. I was stupefied. He stayed there for a second. I looked around and realized they were all standing there as if waiting for something, the offerings and the vampires. There was more?

Edelan rose and spoke loudly and clearly, the excitement in his voice palpable. “Now we dance.” Yes dancing. Something I could totally do. Who would I dance with though?  

My silence revery was interrupted by the vampire god standing in front of me. “May I have the honor of this dance Miss Petrova?” I nodded. He smiled back at me and in a second we were dancing to So Close by Jon McLaughlin. Strange taste in music. We started moving and oh could he dance. I think that is a vampire thing. 

“What is your name?” he asked out of the blue. 

“Emily Petrova.” Saying my last name felt useless but who knew. He nodded.

“My pleasure Emily.” We kept dancing. I had no idea what to say next. 

“What is yours?” The question came blurting out before I had a chance to run it through my head. In a normal exchange between two people this would be the polite way to go but in this special circumstances we were not supposed to know who they were. I blushed ashamed. 

He leaned in and whispered in my ear. “Philip.” He sent shivers down my spine. “Don't tell anyone though, It’s our little secret okay?” I nodded. 

The song was over before I knew it and someone was now patting on Philip’s back. He looked annoyed but turned around. When Philip stopped moving I could see who it was. What was he doing? “May I have this next dance?” He asked directing his attention to me, authority in his voice. Philip bowed looking a little surprised and let me go willingly. What was that all about?

I was stunned. Paralyzed in the middle of the dance floor as Give Me Love by Ed Sheeran started playing in the background. I loved that song. 

“I asked you a question.” The velvet voice of my now waiting helper interrupted my thoughts. 

“Umm.. Sure.” I agreed as he bowed and then proceeded wrapping his arms around me for the slow song. This was so wrong in so many different levels... but I truly couldn’t help myself. He really looked handsome. I was so drawn to him it was hard to believe I had just met him a couple of hours ago. It was hard to say no to Luke. 

He pulled away for a second and turned me once as if to take a better look at my dress. He looked into my eyes now admiring. He held me close again and whispered in my cheek, "I didn't say it before but you look stunning tonight Miss Petrova." There was nothing else to do but blush. This was so unexpected. 

WAOO What was that all about?? You will find out soon enough :)

Thank you so much for reading! :) 

I will be updating soon. 

Till next time.