Is it wrong to love a vampire?

Chapter 17

Beth led Georgia through doors and hallways, they all seemed the same and she was lost but not hopeless, she had seen him. The feeling of joy spreading throughout her body. It was hard to force down that smile and there was the continual knotting and unknotting in her stomach. She could feel it filling up with joy and she knew it was all thanks to Jet. Georgia had heard him call her name, it was like the wind had carried his words to her. Beth swore she didn't hear anything but Georgia knew it was there, she had heard Jet's voice and she knew, with all her heart that he was coming to save her. Beth pushed open yet another door and Georgia gasped at the room's brilliance. A chandelier held above them, the lights twinkling like little stars against the black ceiling, the white marble flooring was smooth and as her bare feet touched it, send cold shiver up her spine. The black walls were too smooth to be stone but didn't look like marble, Georgia walked over to the wall. Her bare feet making light taps on the floor below, she ran her hand across the wall, testing it's smoothness with her palms.

'This place is beautiful.' She whispered under her breath.

'Yes, it is.' Beth's beaming face stood behind Georgia. Georgia turned and gasped as she could see Beth's small fangs, hanging over her bottom lip. Beth's face fell and Georgia felt the guilt eat at her.

'I'm sorry.' Georgia whispered. 'I didn't mean to make you upset. I've just never seen fangs before.'

Beth nodded and grabbed her good arm, leading her away once again. She tried to soak in as much information about the place, paintings hung from the free space on the walls. Portraits of people sharing the same black hair and grey eyes, the fangs visible through their stoic faces. Then Georgia saw it. Her mouth dropped open, looking at the golden frame before the familiar image. Beth kept dragging her along but Georgia slowed and ripped her arm out of Beth's grasp and ran towards the painting.

'Georgia, stop.' Beth called from behind her.

She couldn't hear Beth, she had to get to that painting, her steps slowed as she neared it, almost hesitant to look closely. An enormous painting of a girl with her hands folded neatly in front of her. Her long dress flowed in different shades of red the box cut top, accentuated her chest and the sleeves draped elegantly down from her elbows. The waist went in tight and the skirt puffed out, creating creases and folds, highlighting the blood red. Georgia stared at the girls face, her long midnight hair hung loose, secured in place by a golden net, her green eyes shone out through the paint and her cheeks rosy. Her plump lips showed two white fangs peeking over her bottom lip. Georgia checked the gold plate, desperate to know who she was.

Lady Alice Grove (At the age of 16 years)

Daughter of Lord Peter Grove and Lady Veronica Grove

Born: 16th August 1492

Portrait Painted: 17th June 1508

Georgia couldn't read the rest, her thoughts kept swimming around, how could it even be possible. She shook her head, trying to figure it out but something wasn't right. Deep down, she could feel something going horribly wrong. She looked closer at the painting, trying to study every detail of the vampire, searching for differences and then she saw it. Her eyes grew wide as she noticed the necklace hanging around the girl's neck. The silver chain with the droplet ruby pendant.

'It couldn't be.' She gasped and grabbed the necklace hanging from her own neck, the one her mother had bought her before she died. She held it up, comparing it to the one in the portrait. 'This doesn't make any sense.'

Beth's hand climbed up her shoulder.

'Georgia, are you okay?' Beth's voice sounded distant.

Georgia's eyes remained locked on the painting.