Night After Day

Chapter 22: Deal

The guard left me standing there. After a few moments I hesitantly knocked again. Still no answer. I began to get annoyed. "If you call me here, then you have to at least open the door!"

The door flew open and I stared openmouthed at a bare-chested Jason. I closed my mouth and said in a strained voice, keeping my eyes on his face. "You know what? I changed my mind, you can close the door again."

He smirked, as if he knew how uncomfortable he was making me and opened the door fully, inviting me in. I swallowed and moved past him, trying hard not to touch him.

"So, what do you want me here for, my lord." I folded my arms. "If Angeline finds out that i'm not down... There... She will kill me."

He walked past me and poured a glass of water, offering it to me. I shook my head but he insisted. "You have been down there for days, Hayden. Just drink it." Shoving it into my hands he then walked over and rummaged through a closet, pulling out a grey long sleeved shirt. Thank god.

"Also, I managed to get Angeline to let you out early."

At this I stared at him. "Why?" I took a sip of the water.

"Because it's my fault you were down there."

I asked the question that I had been dreading. "What about Owen?"

He looked over, confused, then his expression cleared. "The hunter? I'm sorry, but that was one person I couldn't bargain for."

My heart fell and his face clouded. "Im guessing my dear cousin gave you those."

I looked in the mirror and saw that my face was bruised and had two cuts, one on my lip from her punching me, and the other from her dagger. "Yeah." I rubbed off some of the dried blood but my cheek stung as the cut reopened. I looked at him nervously but he didn't seem to be concerned with the smell of blood. A small crimson trail ran down my cheek and I jumped as he whirled around, but instead of attacking me, he offered me a cloth.

"Sink in there, you should clean yourself up a bit." He turned away and I got the sense that he was trying very hard to ignore it. I walked through and closed the door behind me, leaning on it. What a cursed life.

I walked over to the sink and began to wash the blood off.

A few minutes later I walked back through the door. The exiled prince was laying on the massive canopied bed and reading a book. I stared at his bronze hair for a moment, then cleared my throat. He looked up.

"I'm gonna go.... Thank You... For everything."

I began towards the doors but then heard the bed squeak.

"Wait a moment."

I turned back to have him standing right in front of me.

"You're planning to escape, aren't you?" The suspicion in his voice reminded me very quickly that he was Angelines cousin and I shook my head. "No."

"A child could see that you are lying. I warned you about this before. You can't escape this on your own. Help is coming. You just need to wait."

"You... Don't know what you're talking about. And what do you care? Vampire?  Why aren't you like everyone else?"

He stood uncertainly and I carried on. "Jason Monterio, my lord.  Why the hell do you care so much what happens if I try to escape?"

He growled suddenly, and the noise was so different to the vampires that I took a step back, putting my back to the wall. He closed his eyes, seeming to calm down and took a step back too. "My apologies... Hayden, you need to trust me."

"I don't trust anyone anymore. You're going to have to try harder than that."

"Someone I know has an interest in you. I can't tell you who, you just need to believe me."

Something in his voice made me stop and turn to him.

"Jason." He looked at me when I said his name, "who are you? How can I trust you?"

"The Patenuade's are the reason that my family lost their crown. Why would I want to help them in any way?" He could sense that my resolve was fading, that I was unsure and he pushed his point forward. "Let me help you at least."

I stared at the vampire's face. He was hiding something. Of course he was. There was no way he could be serious, but if there was a slightest chance to get out then I had to take it. "How?"

Jason seemed to relax once he realised that I was listening and he sat down comfortably, nodding to another seat across from him. I sat, then gestured for him to go on.

"The poison that in running through your system right now is fading. Over time it runs out completely and you're back to normal. You still need the antidote for a while. But not for long after."

I nodded. "So if I wait then I'll be back to normal?"

He was already shaking his head. "Angeline will make sure that you are kept under the control of the poison. She will just give it to you again."

I gave an exasperated sigh and went to get up but he fixated me with a look. I sat down again.

"There may be a way to speed up the process."

"Tell me!" I actually leaned forward on the table and he continued. "When you exercise your blood is pumped faster around your body. The poison is still very strong and it has a way of making itself stay in the system for a long time, that's why when you're training Angeline doesn't let you stay out there for very long. But if you train for a longer period, and get your blood cleared once more, then the poison will be gone."

A flaw of hope burned bright into my mind and for the first time stayed there. "How long will it take?"

"A few weeks at best, longest a few months. But it was to be fast because pretty soon Angeline will just readminister the poison to you. We need to work quickly."

"We?"

He smiled. "Naturally, I'm going to be the one training you."

I immediately thought back to Angeline and I training and as though he could read my mind he added. "And I would suggest not shooting your ally in the stomach. It does hurt you know."

I gave a slow grin. "You heard about that?"

"I don't think that there is anyone who hasn't heard about it by now." He leaned back, looking slightly smug.

"So Hayden Alexandra, do we have a deal?"

I hesitated. "Wait.... What do you get out of this?"

He paused and looked at me. I saw his eyes go darker and found myself wishing that I hadn't asked.

"I get to have a little revenge. But that's my job here. Your job is to do what I say and try not to die between now and then. Which reminds me.... The antidote that I gave to you. Where is it?"

"My wardrobe."

"You should keep it on you. You never know when you're going to need it."

I nodded and suddenly realized that I was starting to trust him. No... I wasn't trusting him. I just needed his help. A thought came to me. "I have one condition."

His eyes flashed to mine and it was like he immediately understood. "Yes, the young hunter can come. But you have to convince him to not kill me. You also have to wait until my plan goes into action. Don't just run off. Because it won't work out the way you want it to. You should go back to your room. Angeline will be waiting."

I touched my cheek and noticed my hand was shaking. I closed my fist and shoved it into my pocket. Standing, I walked over to the door and looked back. "Thank you."