Stuck with my Vampire Mate

24 - Seems like a fairy tale

"I thought we were heading to a hotel or something," I said after an hour, still glancing at the passing trees outside. The dense forest loomed around us, its eerie stillness giving me the sense that we were venturing deeper into the unknown. Did they have an obsession with creepy forests? Of course, they did. They were vampires, after all.

"We have a house to stay in. It's one of my friends'," he replied, the last part coming out dryly.

"You don't seem to like your friend that much," I pointed out, turning to look at him. I could see the tension in his jaw and the way his eyes flickered with annoyance.

"Is it that obvious?" He frowned, and I couldn't help but chuckle a little.

"Yeah, it is. You're practically radiating dislike."

He smirked, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. "It's just... complicated. Let's say he's not my favourite person."

"Complicated how?" I pressed, curious despite myself.

"Well, he's not my real friend, but... it's like, 'The enemy of your enemy is your friend,' right? And we have some history together," Ryan explained, his tone revealing the intricacy of the situation.

I nodded, intrigued. "So, who's your common enemy?"

Silence hung between us for a few seconds, thick and heavy.

"Asmodeus," he finally said, his voice low and laced with anger, his teeth gritting as he spoke the name. My stomach dropped at the mention, and I instinctively looked down at my lap, feeling a surge of anxiety.

"Isn't he...?" I began, but the question trailed off, the words caught in my throat as I struggled to voice the unease that had settled over me.

"Yes, that's him," Ryan confirmed.

The name sent a chill through me, conjuring images of a powerful entity I had only heard whispers about—a name synonymous with chaos and darkness.

I leaned back in my seat, trying to absorb the gravity of what he was saying. "What does he want?"

"Power," Ryan replied tersely. "And he's willing to do whatever it takes to get it."

Each word Ryan spoke revealed the depth of his hatred, no, his absolute disdain for Asmodeus. I felt the anger simmering within me, but I remained silent, unsure of what to say about the man who had taken everything from me. How could I ask questions about the person responsible for my parents' deaths, the one who had shattered my world for reasons I could only guess?

It was he who killed my parents.

It was he who made me an orphan.

It was he who separated me from them.

With each thought, the list of grievances against this monstrous figure in my mind grew longer. My thoughts spiralled, filled with the bitterness of loss and the desperate need for answers.

As I continued to chart my frustrations, the car suddenly came to a halt. Ryan paid the cab driver, and we stepped out into the cool air. The sound of rushing water caught my attention, pulling me from my dark musings. My head snapped to the side, and I strained to listen closely.

"Are we where I am imagining we are?" I asked with hope and disbelief in my voice.

I asked, raising an eyebrow; my interest piqued. He nodded, and an excited squeal escaped my lips. I had never ever been to a waterfall before, and the thought filled me with pure joy. As I caught sight of the other three walking towards us, I couldn't contain my excitement any longer. I dashed over to Helena, wrapping my arms around her in a tight hug, squeezing the life out of that poor soul.