Chapter 12

What"Isn't it just gorgeous?"Although at the time I desired his company and had secretly missed him, I surprised myself by actually starting a conversation with him.

His voice was deep and raspy, and I could make out from my peripheral vision that he wasn't looking up at the sky. "Gorgeous..."The arches in my face were the focus of his fixed gaze as he observed me.

I'm not sure what possessed me.I attempted to attribute my foolish actions to my intoxication while flying.As my nervous pinky intertwined with his, I slowed my approach and let the side of my hand rub against his.Strangely, his skin was warm.I was honestly shocked.He did not have the ice-cold skin that the vampires always had in stories and movies.I was infected with a fever of lust due to his natural energy of calefaction, which was inviting and warm.For the first time, my mind was on board with the idea, and my heart begged for more of his touch.

As he crept up on top of me and cupped one hand on my neck and the other on my hip, I felt an electric jolt through my body.As a soft moan rattled in my throat, I parted my lips.His touch had an euphoric effect on me as I was enveloped in his embrace.As the uncontrollable heat submerged me, I had the sensation that my body was on fire.

Don't challenge this.I am aware that you feel our connection as strongly as I do.My chest began to heave as he pressed his forehead against mine.He stated the facts.After our meetings, I was so exhausted from fighting my emotions because our connection was so magnetic in ways I couldn't understand.

I had to exercise self-control.Before I did something I would later regret, I needed to snap myself out of his intimacy.

"I ought to go home."I stumbled as I shook beneath him.

Black veins began to pulsate under his eyes as he traced the lining of my mouth with his fingertips and simply nodded.Like the Northern Lights, it was majestic and beautiful.

I refuse to let you go.It hurts to be away from you.The harshness of his voice had almost disappeared, and his words were soft and gentle.

I wasn't sure what to say.My teenage brain wasn't ready for something this intense.As I struggled to think of words, all I could think about was how much I wanted him to kiss me.My inner teen girl was pleading for her first kiss.

He slowly leaned in and gently kissed my lips, as if he could read my thoughts.My stomach started to flutter as our mouths twisted into a delicate kiss.When we parted ways, he let out a trembling breath, and he vanished into the night before I could blink.He wasn't there when I hurriedly searched my surroundings.My heart was broken when he left me alone in the dark.As I felt abandoned by him, my anger surfaced.He fled like a coward as we were having a magical time together.He tried so hard to get me, but when an opportunity came up, he vanished.I declared that I would never allow him to kiss me again because I resented it.

I was erased from memory when my mother yelled at me to hurry.Before I climbed into the car and made my way to school, I escaped downstairs and glared at my reflection in disbelief.

FLASHBACK [3 Months Ago]

It was a hot, dry night.My earphones were plugged into my ears and I was seated at my reading table in my room.In the hope of convincing myself that it was just another day, I had thought about the following few hours throughout the day.Balrus and I returned to our parents' house, and I immediately went to my room while they excitedly inquired about his day.I didn't come down the stairs for supper when my mom sent Balrus to get me, I let him know that I had no craving.In the end, my absence was of no consequence.Balrus ensured that he kept a plate for me.After I finished taking a shower, he must have sneaked into my room because I noticed that my food was carefully wrapped in wrapping paper on the reading table in my room.Balrus.My brother, whom I adored and never forgot.Even though I was unable to express what was bothering me, he had demonstrated his support for me by providing me with a plate of food.I sent him a heart-emoji thank you text because I don't think I could ever fully express how much it meant to me.He quickly responded, "You are welcome sis, sleep well."

Consequently, I ate but did not sleep.When I turned sixteen in a few minutes, how could I have slept?Either they no longer care about the deal they made with Valerian or they have completely forgotten about it.However, because it was my life, I did.I would have less time to be human because I would have a new birthday.Living in that neighborhood, ruining Balrus's perfectly combed hair every morning on the way to school and seeing his blue eyes light up with a smile every time,He had become so healthy in those days that I had virtually forgotten the years when he was still ill.

As midnight got closer, I sneakily glanced up at the old wall clock that was hanging above my desk and listened to the chimes.I brushed my teeth in the mirror before going to bed because my hair was still wet from the shower.They appeared to be a little longer and protruded a little more clearly when I smiled, from what I could see.I would go to the dentist and completely remove them if I could.Why did they continue to expand?And when exactly would this expansion end?

After shaking the thoughts out of my head, I completely concentrated on completing my math assignment.Since my "engagement" or "sale" to Valerian Zakharov, the dawn of each birthday had left me feeling uneasy, so I should have gotten to it sooner.Like a mental internal clock that nags at me every year to remind me that I still have no idea what it would be like to leave the human race.In the vampire world, were there high schools?Are they all hundreds of years old, or did they have teenagers?In any case, where was this community?Underground?suspended in mid-air above people?between the walls?Is what the books say true?That the only way to kill them was to drive a silver stake through their hearts?That if you didn't stake them in the heart, their damaged bodies would heal on their own?That they could fly through the air faster than you can blink and had no reflections?What and how did they all eat?Did vegan vampires exist?I took a nervous swallow.Would I also be expected to consume human blood?What if I said no?

There.I was repeating myself.allowing all of the unknown aspects of my future to consume me.I tried to reassure myself by taking a few deep breaths.Ms. Richardson's wrath would catch up to me much sooner, even though my future with Valerian was still at least two years away.if I didn't complete those math problems before the next day's class.With the goal of completing all of the math problems before going to bed, I picked up my pen and began working.I bent over my desk and worked that way for about an hour without any new distractions.Until I heard a gentle breeze blow open my bedroom window.

The grandfather's wall clock, probably older than I am, began to softly chime above me.I waited with my eyes closed at the tenth chime.I murmured, "Here we go again," under my breath.I also heard that familiar whooshing sound coming from my window on the 12th chime.My room's temperature immediately dropped to a few degrees, which could only mean one thing.As soon as I felt the gust of wind at my back, I quickly opened my eyes.I was already rolling my eyes when I felt his warm breath on my neck.

I wasn't entirely sure that Valerian's sudden appearances were a good thing because I had become quite accustomed to them.

He wished Catelyn a happy birthday.I wish you all the happiness in the world this new year.His voice sounded just like I had always remembered that midnight birthday on my 16th.Low, a little soft, and menacing in a comforting way.Every year, he made the same wish for me.Then his perfume smelled even more expensive, and I wondered:How much money did Valerian have?When he withdrew his hand, he had left behind a small, neatly wrapped present that had passed over mine on the table.Then I heard him take a few steps away, probably looking at me with his right head slightly cocked.awaiting my response to this latest present.I concluded that this present was a box based on the shape's outline.If his previous gifts were any indication, the box in front of me was undoubtedly also costly.

He instructed, "Open it."You are aware of your desire.With a sigh, I brushed my damp, red hair with my left hand.He was correct, and I hadn't even turned to look at him.I was already letting my curiosity get the better of me, but not in the way I imagine he thought.

I reached for my birthday present because there was no point in pretending, and as I did so, I assumed that it would be the only present I would receive that day.My father had completely forgotten that I had ever been born ever since Balrus was found.However, being forgotten was preferable to the verbal abuse, beatings, and scowls he reserved only for me, so I had no complaints.Naturally, the situation involving my mother was more complicated.She would sometimes look at me as though she were seeing me for the first time.She did so in wonder, without malice or any recollection of the past that she had worked so hard to forget.However, such occasions were uncommon and only became more so as time went on.She mostly avoided looking into my eyes and face.even when she had to address me directly.I also tried to avoid them both as much as I could.When I was 10 years old, their betrayal had broken my heart, and I was learning that wounds like these rarely heal on their own.

The elegantly designed white wrapping paper featured red and blue streaks.I had been correct when I pulled and untied the strings.It was without a doubt a box of some kind.I forced myself to swallow my gasp after taking it out.Diamonds, sapphires, and what I thought were rubies were set in a gold jewelry box.White and pink sapphires, as well as yellow and white diamonds, were also present.To further examine it, I leaned in closer.Was it the three heart-shaped petals of lapis lazuli?