Elissa didn’t look away. Her heart pounded wildly, but she couldn’t afford to show weakness. The vampire studied her with lazy curiosity, yet beneath that indifferent facade lurked something far more dangerous.
— Are you not afraid of me, princess? — his voice was soft, almost hypnotic.
Elissa clenched her fists, trying to hide the slight tremor in her hands.
— I am not a fool, — she replied. — If you wanted to kill me, you would have done it already.
He smirked, flashing his fangs for the briefest moment.
— Perceptive, — he approved. — So you truly want to know the truth?
She nodded.
— Then tell me, princess, why are you so interested in knowledge of vampires?
Elissa bit her lip. She wasn’t sure if she could trust him, but it was too late to turn back now.
— Strange attacks have been increasing in the kingdom, — she admitted. — People are disappearing, and those who are found... they bear the marks of bites.
The vampire held her gaze, but now something new flickered in his eyes—interest.
— And you think I might know who is behind this?
— Don’t you?* — she shot back.
He didn’t answer immediately, only smirking as he stepped closer. Now, only a few steps separated them.
— Perhaps, — he tilted his head slightly, as if examining her. — *But information comes at a price.*
Elissa tensed.
— And what do you want?
The vampire reached out, lazily running his fingers along the spine of the book she held.
— One evening, — his voice dropped to a whisper. — You will spend it with me. Without fear. Without prejudice. You will let me show you a world you have never seen before.
Elissa gritted her teeth. It was reckless. Foolish. Dangerous.
But wasn’t this exactly why she had come?
She took a deep breath and met his gaze.
— Fine, — she said. — One evening.
The corners of his lips curled into a dark, enigmatic smile.
— Then prepare yourself, princess. Because tonight will be the beginning of a new story for you.*