Must Love Vampires

Verdue patted my hand. I didn’t feel it. I didn’t feel anything at that moment.

All I could do was absorb the information he had given me.

How could Valen have had another mate before me? Well, and almost mate. And when Griff killed her, was that when their feud started? I didn’t want to process it, but it did make sense.

I ran through the story.

So, when Valen lived in Germany, he was arranged to marry some chick named Lydia. A week before the marriage and initiation Griff’s family arrived for the ceremony. Whenever a prominent clan member marries, other clans make a point to come to show support and hospitality. Hense the arrival of Griff’s clan.

But when Griff was coming home one night from meeting with a friend, he hit something with his carriage. Rather, someone. Apparently he had run to see what had happened, and saw that Lydia was crushed under the carriage, one of the wheel spokes clear through her chest. Her heart had been impaled.

When Griff alerted the inn, people came running to see what had happened. Valen thought that Griff was just doing it for political advantage, and that the death of Lydia was not a mistake. Valen blamed the entire debacle on Griffin.

Griff argued his innocence, and without enough evidence, no one expected Lydias death as a ploy. But Valen never forgot.

According to Verdue, Valen seduced Griffin’s sister as a revenge. Griff saw this, and tried to stop it before it got out of hand. But, she was killed when Valen and Griffin were at each other’s throats.

What Verdue didn’t see was that I was Griff’s revenge. Griff was going to take me from Valen just like Valen took Griff’s sister from him. My head was ringing with confusion. There were so many facts to every relationship, all the events of the past.

I didn’t want to think that there were other girls before me for Valen. He seemed so genuine about his love. Maybe it wasn’t as affectionate as I thought. Or maybe Valen was in the wrong, blaming Griff and then trying to plot revenge on him. But then again, it’s terrible of Griffin to blame his sister’s death soley on Valen and to use me as a vendetta.

“Verdue, he’s using me. Don’t you see?” I cried and pleaded with Verdue. He was my only hope for escape.

He shook his head. “No. I see Master Iliac has a good devotion to you. It is not false.” Verdue was insistent, shaking his head and standing storng with his employer.

“But I need to get out of here! I have a family back in California, a life, actual friends! Well, one specifically, but still! You’ve got to help me. Please.”

He turned his rail-thin body and went for the door. “You are not leaving here, Miss Sylvie. This is where you belong.” The door slammed into the frame. He was gone. I was alone. Again.

Sylvie

Griffin (eh, damn, it came out small)

Beatrice

Titus