Thirteen

As ever their travel from Italy to Romania was not as smooth as it could have been. Most were aware of how they should behave and act but others seemed to have forgotten. For example Federico and Valencia thought it was perfectly acceptable to terrorize the humans and then engage in a full on snogging session that scarred most passersby. Needless to say they were both reprimanded by Lorenzo for their pour behavior.

Mercy travelled in a group with Sam, Billy, Illenia and Zack. They travelled as ‘friends on holiday’ and were keeping up their act of being overly excited and friendly quite well. In the time it took to get to Romania, Mercy learnt a lot about Billy and Zack. It was an experience that further taught her that it was ok for her to let her own barriers down around these people, however difficult that might be.

It turned out that Mercy and Billy had a lot in common and certainly explained their hardened attitudes. Coming from a background where he didn’t have much control, it was easy to see why Billy excelled so much as a vampire. His mother hadn’t been around much and his father had been an alcoholic. This had made it hard for him to have any friends or people over to his house from fear of being judged. With his father the way he was, Billy couldn’t have a normal life. His father hadn’t physically hurt him but the emotional words thrown his way had been just as bad. As a result – as any child would do – Billy began making up imaginary worlds where he could have great adventures in. It was his way of escaping the life he was living. That level of imagination had been magnified when he was turned and being a vampire had given him a freedom without responsibilities that he’d craved for so long.

Zack’s talent was interesting but he thought of it as a part punishment for his obliviousness during his human life. See Zack was always really good at reading people; their personalities, their relationships, their behaviors, it all came naturally to him. In the mist of all this he’d managed to find a girl that he hoped to marry one day. To him she was perfect, but it was his love for her that blinded him. His girlfriend had been cheating on him for some time and for a man who boasted about being able to ready anyone, he’d failed to notice what was really happening.

Mercy could sympathize, though it was a different situation entirely, she herself had at first been blinded by Thayer because he was her brother and when she had realized the true extent of who he was it had knocked her for six.

Mercy had hoped that she’d learn more about Illenia on the trip to Romania but the girl was giving nothing more away other than a twinkle in her eye. At some point during the flight Sam had fallen asleep, his soft snores filling up the silence and his hand linked with hers, she liked the feeling and was loathed to let it go however it may make her look.

Mercy was surprised about how quickly their group had grown. She hadn’t expected to find quite so many vampires nor have them so willing to join her. Including herself there were now nineteen of them. It was clear that fractures within the group were going to happen, especially when the group kept growing. Apart from Sam there were six other vampires that Mercy trusted – probably trusted and not just fake trusting – these were; Grifel, Gustavo, Olga, Lorenzo, Billy and Illenia. They were trusted either for something they’d done or something they were going to do.

As they arrived in Romania and travelled through the stupid human security area, Mercy observed a different Valencia through narrowed eyes. She knew that Lucia had done something because Valencia was talking once again but she couldn’t work out what else had changed. It definitely had something to do with Frederico thought because they were sticking to each other like glue and that kiss they’d shared at the previous airport had been very self-explanatory. Although she seemed more twisted and obsessed, she seemed less manipulative and evil and was no longer making eyes at Sam, so it was all good according to Mercy.

‘Where are we’ Mercy was cut off by giggling.

‘This way, Ivan likes places where he can cause trouble’ said Illenia.

‘Great’ muttered Mercy.

They all followed Illenia through the streets of Bucharest – the capital of Romania – but had little time to sightsee. Illenia stopped outside a grant old building.

‘He’s here’ she said her eyes glittering.

Without warning she ran into the building, the others hot on her tail. The inside of the building was a far cry from the outside. There were multiple sofas, beds and soft little stools. Feathers glitter and ornaments hung all around. Waiters bought drinks and nibbles to all the guests who seemed to be mostly women with lots of money to spend. Between several woman and looking like the cat that got the canary sat a young looking man with bright blonde hair, brown eyes and stubble on his chin. He had a silly smirk on his face and wasn’t wearing a shirt, his abs standing out in the light.

‘Ivan’ sang Illenia bouncing forward.

Ivan’s eyes widened in amusement ‘dear Illenia however did you find me?’

While one of the women next to him said; ‘Ivan? I though you said your name was Darren’.

‘I always know where to find you Ivan’ said Illenia.

At that moment the doors at the back banged open and in walked twenty heavily armed guards ‘arrest that man’ they declared pointing at Ivan.

Ivan gulped ‘I suggest we run!’

Illenia rolled her eyes ‘what did you do now?’ she asked.

‘I may or may not have slept with the royal princess…’ he said ‘also I’m technically banned from this particular club’.

‘Technically?’ asked Illenia.

‘Yeah, when they remember my name’ he said grinning impishly.

‘You’re an idiot’ said Illenia.

‘I prefer to think of myself as an adventurous gentleman’ he said.

‘I’d prefer to know when we will stop running’ said Mercy bitterly.

Ivan turned as if he was only just acknowledging the presence of others beside Illenia.

‘Right-o, not far to go now, it’s just round this corner’ he said.

Just around the corner ended up being another twenty minutes of running before they reached a rundown sort of house that had a mat outside the door which read ‘home, sweet home’.

‘Ahh, home at last’ said Ivan breathing in the stale air.

‘Lovely’ said Mercy falsely.

‘You all must be hungry. I would have offered you those delectable women if we hadn’t have had to run away. I’m afraid all I can offer you now is the frozen stuff. Not the best I’ll admit but it does keep the hunger down’ he said.

‘Do you still keep it downstairs?’ asked Illenia.

Ivan nodded.

‘I’ll go get a selection for everyone’ she said joyously skipping away. She was like a mischievous child.

‘So’ said Ivan pouncing next to Mercy ‘you must be the elusive princess. You’re much sexier than I imagine you to be’ he purred.

Sam who was sitting on the other side of Mercy growled at Ivan’s forwardness and grabbed Mercy’s hand in his. He began stroking the back of her hand to contain the jealous monster inside him.

‘You know I always wanted to meet you. The secret life of the princess seemed so enticing’ he whispered, his fingers trailing down her face.

‘Don’t touch her!’ growled Sam firmly.

Ivan sighed ‘seems I am too late to win your frozen heart. Someone else has already claimed it’ he declared dramatically while looking at Sam.

‘I’m back’ shouted Illenia returning with an arm full of blood bags.

Everyone was quiet for the next couple of minutes while everyone had their fill. Ivan was right, cold previously frozen blood was not nice to drink and it slid down your throat in an unappealing manner but it did the job of sating the hunger.

‘You know I was hoping Illenia would seek me out to join you. I am getting rather bored of this world’ said Ivan.

‘You were not banished’ said Sam.

‘Clever man’ replied Ivan ‘he’s a keeper’ he said winking at Mercy.

He looked around the room, ‘Gustavo my old friend’ he exclaimed.

Gustavo looked rather put out at being remembered ‘we are not friends’ he said.

‘Oh you wound me so’ said Ivan.

‘You are nothing more than a troublemaker with a reckless attitude’ grumbled Gustavo.

‘He jumped through the door without permission didn’t he’ said Sam.

‘Oh we’re on a roll here’ said Ivan smiling.

Sam rolled his eyes and briefly tightened his grip on Mercy’s hand.

‘I was bored, life was so dull when Thayer took the crown and I need excitement to live. I saw a way out and I took it’ said Ivan proudly.

‘So why return?’ asked Mercy.

‘Once again boredom has enslaved my heart and I demand a change of scenery. Plus the Kingdom might be more fun with you on the throne’.

Mercy stood up pulling Sam with her. Her fangs were out and her eyes were darkening ‘you know nothing of the world outside your own pathetic bubble. You’ve see nothing of the horrors and heartbreak the Kingdom has suffered because you were too ‘bored’ to remain. Why do you, he who cares for no one deserve to return to our Kingdom?’ she hissed.

‘Coming from the vampire so cold and uncaring that no one could ever get close to her, the vampire whose technique of killing is second only to her brother. He shaped you so well, you are exactly like him. Are you sure the Kingdom would be better in your hands’ he mocked.

‘I am nothing like him’ growled Mercy.

‘Prove it’ said Ivan ‘I challenge you to act like a human for one week’.

Mercy glared at him ‘deal’ she said while shaking his hand.