The Dragomir Heir (Watty Award)

Meet my cousin

Lucius sat in his silver Audi R8 and watched as the black Aston Martin parked in front of the hotel and Valentina and her companion stepped out. Iona sat in the passenger, still overwhelmed that she was invited to lunch with him. Lucius noted that she was inappropriately dressed, with her scarlet dress being too tight for lunch. But it must do to tempt this Adonis, which Iona will definitely fall for.

As they made their way towards Valentina, he heard her beg Zacharias to stay and he accepted by kissing her hand. Lucius’ heart broke at her relief and he dragged Iona over to the table. Valentina looked up to him, surprised, when he interrupted; her companion was amused and did not even spare a second look at Iona. Lucius grimaced as he felt his plans crumbling but he soldiered on.

“I am Lucius Vladonov, Valentina’s fiancé”, he said and extended a hand to Valentina’s companion, who shook it. “And you are…?”

“…Amused” replied the vampire while he eyed Valentina. She eyed him back and together they had a silent conversation communicated through the male’s smirk and Valentina’s glare. Lucius, having enough of their private moment, turned to introduced Iona who stared longingly at the other vampire.

“Oh why not”, said Lucius enthusiastically, clapping his hands together, “let’s have lunch together”. He flicked his fingers to get attention and commanded a waiter to join the tables together. Soon he sat himself next to Valentina, ignoring her protest. Turning to her companion, he asked, “Sorry, I didn’t get your name”.

The vampire looked over to Valentina and smirked at her frown, “The name is Bond, James Bond”, which brought a knowing smile from Valentina. Calming his temper, he said, “Well Zacharias, I think I’m going to enjoy your company”. At this, both Valentina and Zacharias looked up, startled. Zacharias leaned over to Valentina and whispered something to her, but she glared at him, seeming to implore him to stop what he was about to say. Secrets about Valentina, perhaps? This was something Lucius had to know, so he asked, hoping that Zacharias would take the bait, “how do you know Valentina?”

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Valentina frowned as her cousin eyed her, begging her to allow him this moment of amusement. She slightly turned her head to indicate her disapproval but he ignored her. She could not correct Lucius because they were in the presence of Iona. When Lucius surprised her with Iona clinging onto his arm, she boiled but she masked her anger over this betrayal. So he was better off, was he? Then fine, Derrick could have his fun and she will stay out of it, Valentina thought. It was childish but who was at the wrong this time? Lucius, who was lunching with a woman who he had slept with before or her, who was catching up with her cousin?

So she lightly nodded to her cousin as a way of saying ‘fine go ahead’. Derrick grinned widely and said, “Oh, we’ve known each other since we were young. I went through thick and thin with her and luckily we went to the same school”.    

Lucius questioned Derrick and glared occasionally at Valentina’s hand, which Derrick was holding and squeezing when he reflected on a memorial event.

“Remember the first time I helped you sneak out of school grounds?” asked Derrick smirking arrogantly.

“Yes, you scaled the building to my window and helped me, Vera and Vanessa out. You said that you were taking us with some of your friends to a bar for drinks. I think we did more than that”, answered Valentina, genuinely smiling at the memory. She remembered that day and the night that followed well. She was in her 10th year and was only 10 years; Vladius had accelerated her learning. Derrick was in his 12th and final year at school. Though he was a prefect, his behaviour was not that of a role model.

That day, after class had ended, he had rounded up his friends and Valentina to tell them of his plans to get a drink outside of school. He made sure that his plans did not reach Alek and company; Derrick never did like the tsar and Valentina did not know where the hatred came from. Valentina had her first taste of alcohol under her cousin’s cautious guidance that night. After her first martini, she felt bubbly and high, which made Derrick worry; one was enough for a 10 year old.