The Vampire's Bride

Chapter 3

Iris dreamt of dancing. She wore a beautiful blue and black gown that swirled around her, and she felt a mask apon her face. Her hair was allowed to flow loose.

The arms that held her were strong, but the grip was not uncomfortable. As she was spun, she noticed a couple leaving the ballroom. The woman was tall and slim, shiny black hair curled up halfway atop her head as her red and white gown followed her. The man had sandy blonde hair, and when he looked back at her with hazel eyes,

It was her father.

She went to call out to him, but found that she could not speak. Iris finally looked to her partner, staring up into deep green eyes before her vision shattered like glass. Her heart stuttered. It was her attacker! Iris stumbled back with a cry.

She was now falling, fire burning at her sides, electricity sparking along her nerves as darkness enveloped her. She tried to scream, but couldn't, seeing the light glowing inside her dart away. The girl looked around in panic once more to see that the shadows surrounding her were not shadows, but bloodsoaked ravens.

Iris woke with a splitting headache and an emptiness in her chest. She blinked and rested her palm on her chest in confusion. It was as if the leaving light from the dream had left a void inside her in reality.

"Are you alright?"

She sat up quickly at the sound of Jason's voice, folding her hands into her lap.

"Yes," Iris said quietly. She peeked up at him, freezing when she saw his appearance.

Bruises marred one of his cheeks, a bandage peeking out from one of his sleeves.

Jason chuckled softly, "You're a heavy sleeper, aren't you? The carriage was attacked by bandits while you were out."

"Are you alright?" She asked nervously. He chuckled again and nodded.

Jason glanced to the side, remembering it all. The commotion with the guards, the bandits knocking them out.

Then heads flying and rolling as he tore through them, his laughter ringing through the cold fall night as blood splattered the orange fallen leaves.

The burning in his throat had been soothed, like cool water crashing down his throat as he drank. The euorphic feeling that spread through his veins...

Jason shivered lightly and looked at Iris.

"I'm alright. The guards handled it well," he said reassuringly. "We're a few minutes from the castle now; are you nervous?"

Iris hesitated, then nodded. She began to play with her long, golden hair. She could feel him watching her as she twisted her hair into a loose braid, then pulled it apart again. She looked at him, seeing that Jason's head had slowly tilted again. The girl smiled slightly at him.

Kova yawned loudly, causing both of them to look at him. The dog jumped down from the bench and began pacing between them.

His hackles were raised as a low growl came from the hound.

"Kova, no," Iris said firmly. The dog ignored her, glaring at Jason. The girl reached over and tugged the hound back, sighing as she attempted to calm the dog down. "You were fine with him yesterday, what's wrong with you now?"

Jason shifted slightly; not a nervous action, but definitely a shocked one. The dog, Kova, as the girl called it, had sat firmly by Iris' side the entire attack, refusing to bark or budge from her side. Far too controlled and stoic for a normal creature. And now, just as he had been about to touch Iris...

It was like the dog knew, knew what he was, and what he wanted from her.

"Where did you get your dog?" Jason asked curiously.