Marked For Life

Chapter 3

Samantha opened her eyes adjusting her vision to the dim light. She looked around as her sight cleared, a little puzzled to what had happened she tried to remember her meeting with Justin.

"Justin?" Her voice was hoarse, as if she had been on a deep and heavy sleep.

"I'm here, Sam." She turned to the sound of his voice. He was walking to her and behind him a huge fireplace, the only source of light in the room, a room she did not recognize.

She began to feel that fear that had been absent earlier, and instinctively she tried to get out of the bed.

"Sam, please, relax." He was now beside her.

"Where am I? How did I get here?"

"I said before, and I will say it again, I will never do anything to hurt you." He stood close to her his hands on her shoulder, reassuring her.

"But..." She couldn't remember anything after closing her eyes, something he has asked her to do, and foolish enough she had done. "You said I could trust you." It was all she could say, she wanted to remind him, it had been his request. She had been fighting his kind for too long, could she really trust he meant her no harm.

"I love you Sam. I always have and always will." She looked up at him, feeling defeated. She couldn't love what he now was, but she would always love who he ha been.

"Justin, I wish...I'm trying really hard, I really am."

"I know you are." Nothing had changed, he was just as understanding as he had always been.

"What...Where am I?" She looked around at the dark and massive bedroom.

"There' a lot I need to tell you and I know you questions of your own but the palace is the safest lace right now. There are going to be some changes in our society and I need you here."

"Did you say palace?" She finally said, looking directly at him. She couldn't argue with him just yet about him putting some sort of charm on her. 

"Indeed, Miss Granger. Welcome to my home."

A chill went down her spine at the sound of the dominant voice. She looked to where it came from and when she saw him, she knew she had crossed the verge of a panic attack.

"Sam, it's ok, no one is going to hurt you." Justin's voice sounded so far away, her own breathing sounding louder as the man causing her frenzy came closer.

"That's---" She looked back at Justin as the man stood behind him.

"Trust me Sam." Justin's voice now firm and demanding.

She wanted to, but the moment she saw that vampire, everything had changed. She had recognized him immediately. How could she have missed him entering the room?

"Aleksander." Justin moved to Samantha's side, she was not sure if it was in a protective way but she felt protected.

"Samantha is awake, maybe we should go to the library." Aleksander didn't respond, he simply watched her, with interest or simply with the same curiosity she stared back with.

She couldn't look away from him, noticing how he towered over Justin who stood at six feet tall, he easily stood at six-five or seven. She had seen him in the news, in the papers, on magazine covers but he never looked so intense, so intimidating. Not that she ever planned to know for sure. But here she was, in front of the vampire king, the one she had recently threatened international broadcast, realization sank in.

"Should we go then?" Justin asked again without moving.

"Savlanut! Can't you see she's terrified." His cynicism disturbed her.