The Hunters

Chapter Seven: I love you

Marco

"I love you," I said the words echoing in my mind. "I-Marco," Veronika said looking shocked and totally unprepared. I had never seen her like this she was always composed and level-headed but here she was blushing and panicking. "Let's go back to the ballroom," Veronika said once again cool and level headed. Veronika walked off and I stood there for a minute not expecting her reaction.

"What had I done wrong?" I thought still standing there letting the hedges cast shadows over me. I walked back into the ballroom but Veronika was nowhere to be found. I was dejected as I went to the hall where the palace staff were keeping refreshments and food and I grabbed a glass of champagne. I would come back for food later or not but I didn't care. "Why did Veronika act like that?" I thought, "Was it pure shock?" Or was I the one in shock. Maybe she just didn't like me like that. I walked back out to the garden and sat down on a bench to admire the flowers and try not to think about what had happened. The stars sparkled and the garden was bathed in pale moonlight which was comforting to a troubled mind.

"Why are you out here all alone?" A woman said causing me to look at her. She looked familiar but the bottom half of her face was concealed by a piece of blue tulle. That was a style mostly seen in Tirania, a country over the Torn Sea known for its rough sailing conditions. The woman's dress had a slit up the right leg and her silky black hair was swept over her left shoulder. Her eyes were emeralds set off by her copper skin. She was gorgeous. "I just want to think that's all" I said with a forced smile. "Oh no you got rejected." the woman said pity in her voice. "How did you know?" I said with a laugh of disbelief mixed with agitation at the woman's pity. "I know a rejected man when I see one." she laughed which made me more agitated. "You know you look familiar." I said studying the features that weren't concealed by the layers of tulle that covered her mouth and part of her nose. "Oh really?" She said with what I thought was a smirk.

I stood up and looked her in the eyes. There was something charming and devilish about her eyes. Deep down I wanted to be with her even though I had just met her it wasn't right my heart belonged to Veronika. All of my muscles had tensed every instinct telling me to go but my feet refused to move. Before I realized it the woman's lips were pressed to mine.

She was enchanting but it felt wrong and that feeling was burning into my brain. "Come with me." The woman said taking me into the ballroom. As we danced the wrong feeling faded away to content. I was care free and the night seemed to pass quickly in her presence. We walked out into the courtyard getting ready to leave as the night was starting to get late. "What are you trying to do?" I asked the woman. "Trying to make a living," She laughed, "good night darling." The woman seemed to disappear perhaps I had drank too much but it felt like there was more to it than that. The world seemed blurred as I called a taxi to take me back to Veronika's estate.

I got back that night and dragged myself to my room deaf to anything or anyone around me. I collapsed onto my bed after closing my door. I stared up at the ceiling then cut out the lights, not bothering to change out of my suit. The night was comforting as my head rested against my pillow.

Nausea attacked me and I ran to the bathroom. I vomited into the toilet as stomach acid burnt my throat and wafted up into my nose making me throw up more. I wiped my mouth with a cold towel and found blood on it when I pulled it away. I looked into the toilet and the bright red mixed with the water. I stood up flushed the toilet and looked into the mirror. I was pale and my eyes were blood shot as my veins became more prominent and blue creeping up from my neck. "Shit," I murmured at this point struggling to stand then I fell down onto my knees and violent coughs shook my body. More blood came up and I knew there was definitely something else going on than too much champagne. I clung to what little consciousness I had left in an attempt to get out of the bathroom then the bedroom.

I pulled the handle and it opened after a few attempts. Heat started to spread through my body so I took off the blazer and got rid of my tie hoping that the heat wasn't as intense as I stumbled towards the bedroom door. I pulled at the handle again and again and again and then I fell down and I knew I wasn't going to get up this time. I laid on the ground and wanted to stay awake but dark spots clouded my eyes and eventually darkness claimed me.