Castle Vitale

Part 22: Never Lost

Darius POV

As I went the short distance next door to Drake's room, I had a feeling this was going to be one hell of a conversation. What was it going to be about? Are we in danger? I know we started setting plans in motion just in case things went south, but I was really hoping to just slip out of here like we planned. We brought tribute--plenty of our Vitales' best product, wines, and even some electronics. Hopefully that would be enough?

I'd only gone once to meet the Vampire Elite with Drake. I was only fifty years old then, still looking very young because of my half vampire blood. To so many vampires I considered a baby or "tender" and "succulent."  I'd never been more scared. Some Elite named Adrian wanted me badly. I wasn't even gay, but he wanted me just the same. Drake had me show the medallion, which signified me under his protection, and Adrian kept making offers. He finally tried to touch me-overpower me--and Drake exploded with rage. He beat the vampire up in front of the Elite. Though Adrian was one of their own, they were entertained. Drake finally told him that he'd kill him if he didn't leave me alone, and Adrian didn't so much as speak to me or look my way for the rest of the time we were there. He told the Elite I was like a son to him, so I was off limits. We hadn't received another invitation since then.

Now here we were again. We had two psychics in tow-beautiful women at our sides, and their presence was requested. They probably knew Charlotte was pregnant, another distraction for their entertainment. We may have to fight. We may have to run. I was ready for anything, I really was.

I took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

"Come in," I heard Drake say.

I came into the room. Everything felt so tense. I immediately spotted a man I'd never seen before. I looked to Drake for some sort of sign. 

"You might want to sit down, Darius." Drake said. He raked his hair and I began to panic. That wasn't a good sign.

"I think I'd rather stand, if you don't mind." For some reason the other man gave a little smile and nodded his approval. "What's going on?" Drake couldn't look at me. "Drake?" Was he giving me away at this late date? No. He wouldn't do that. I took a deep breath. "Just say it, Drake you're scaring me!" 

He went to his bedside table and turned around with a small glass of liquid. "Drink."

"Is that blood?"

"Yes."

"Who's?"

He swallowed hard. "Mine."

"What?"

"Just...drink."

I looked at the man who was watching us. "Who are you?"

"An observer at the moment."

"Drink," Drake told me again. "Have I ever hurt you?"

I extended my hand and he gave me the small glass. It was probably a shot or two, I wasn't sure, but I tried not to drink for entertainment. It made me...different. "Will this hurt-what you want me to see?"

"I don't know," he whispered. "But it's certainly better to show than tell you."

I drank the small glass and waited. Then, the world opened up to me:

A woman with auburn brown hair ran the hills in the moonlight. She was scared. Vampires were after her. They had finally cornered her. Then, Drake burst into the abandoned place they were in. He ordered them away, threatening to kill them if they ever disturbed her. Exhausted from her ordeal she swooned and he caught her.

"So, you are the one who will end me?" she asked, her blue eyes glistening.

"No."  His gaze was that of a man taken. "What is your name?"