Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 122946 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 615(@200wpm)___ 492(@250wpm)___ 410(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122946 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 615(@200wpm)___ 492(@250wpm)___ 410(@300wpm)
“Lord Thorbørn does not need to explain himself, nor does he normally. However, he knew you would ask, and so he directed me to explain. I was chosen because I cannot lie, nor do I bend protocols, regulations, or etiquette. I will never be your friend, for I am at the service of this nation and family.”
“So...” I thought carefully about what that meant. “You are here, so I learn protocol, regulations, and étiquette? You will not change for anyone or anything, so I would need to act accordingly?”
She nodded. “He said you would understand partially, and I was telling you that you may be who you are, but you must also be more than that. For a family is a sum of all parts together. For as long as it takes you to digest and accept that, you may remain in this room.”
“What?” I panicked. “So, this is jail? I can’t leave until I agree to follow the rules?”
“You must stop thinking as a mortal, mistress,” she stated, and at that point, I wasn’t sure if it was her or Sigbjørn speaking, but I was confident she would not say it if it weren’t the truth—at least truth to her.
“How am I thinking as a mortal?”
“Every foreign thought or practice is meant to harm you, is the thought of mortals,” she replied. “You are not being imprisoned. Those who serve here are not slaves, and the titles given to you are not for pomp and circumstance. It is our way. If you wish to leave, I will show you the door, and whatever you wish to take with you will be given, whether it is gold, silver, or land. If you go, you will never be disturbed or insulted or even spoken about by anyone here, ever. You can be free of all this and them, for no Thorbørn would follow you.”
Not even Theseus... No, I didn’t want him to just leave with me. How could I make him give up his family? But...all of this...
“He knew all of this was a lot to understand and digest for one so young and uncultured as you. Even more so, with the whole family questioning you and your unease by the presence of so many other vampire’s unknown to you.”
It was then that I started to understand. “So, he had you lead me away from them, so I could be at ease, and you could explain all that I was walking into...or better yet, already in? In here...what? He wants me to decide if I am going to stay or leave?”
She answered by walking back out the door, but before she closed it, she spoke. “There is no rush for you to decide, either way. He wishes for you to take more time rather than less, thinking of only your own desires. They shall all stay as you left them and wait for you, even if it takes hours, days, or years. I shall await your choice from out here as well, mistress.” She did not wait for me to respond before closing the doors.
They would stay as I left them. So, if it took me years, they would all just sit in silence in the living room waiting for me? That would be insane. The thought of Ulrik silent for so long didn’t even seem possible. He’d at least try to mess with Melora, and she’d definitely respond.., or would they? Was it different since their father had given a command?
Would that be enough to make sure Theseus would never look for me again if I left? Thinking of Theseus made me lower my head. With everything he’d done for me, could I just run away?
“How selfish,” I whispered, no longer wanting to stand. Instead, I lowered myself down onto the floor until I laid completely flat, looking up at the bare ceiling. I felt weird. Part of me wanted to run; this wasn’t my world. I wasn’t a princess. I didn’t really care about vampire-society protocols. I didn’t know how to do family. I liked Theseus, but the vampire came with a hell of a lot of baggage.
“Says the vampire who doesn’t even remember her mortality.” That light voice, the one that directed my magic, spoke in my mind.
“Who are you?” I asked
“Who are you?” she questioned back.
“Druella Zirie Monroe.” A month ago, I would have just said an art history nerd. But I’d become so many things since then. I’d seen so many things now.
“Because of Theseus,” she stated.
“Yeah.” But it all came at a price.
The further I went with him, the more unstable everything became. I’d never doubted who I was before, and now I wasn’t sure of my own past. And if I didn’t know that, what else didn’t I know? How was I connected to the Omeron witches? Why did he appear right in front of me? Why couldn’t I give in to him even though I did like him? Why did I have memories of things I didn’t remember? What was going on?