Chapter 10

10

ARIA

T he soft glow of twilight filtered through my balcony doors, casting long shadows across my room. I paced back and forth, my mind a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts and emotions. Ossian's desperate request from earlier echoed in my head, mingling with what Zephyr had told me of the bloodlust, of what Ossian had expressed he was afraid of.

I paused, glancing at the door. The vampire halls weren't far. I could easily slip out, find Ossian's room, and... what? Offer myself as a meal? The absurdity of the situation wasn't lost on me. Just days ago, I was a counselor in a community center, my biggest worry being about calling protective services on a teen whose parents drank too much and verbally abused her. Now, I was in a magical realm, contemplating letting a vampire feed on me.

"What am I thinking?" I muttered as I shook my head. Helping a vampire feed? It was crazy. Dangerous, even. And yet...

We were all in this together, weren't we? Thrown into this strange new world, facing an unknown threat. If Ossian needed help, shouldn't I offer it?

Ossian's words about falling into a bloodlust state if he didn't feed soon haunted me. The idea of him losing control, potentially hurting others or himself, made my stomach churn. We couldn't afford that kind of chaos, not with everything else we were facing. Besides, with how the others spoke of vampires, it was not going to end pretty.

I was the only one who could help him. Who was willing to.

I thought about Chris, about the growing connection between us. What would he think if he knew I was considering this? But then again, we weren't officially together. And this wasn't about romance – it was about survival, wasn't it? Not to mention he'd shut me out after our kiss.

I clenched my jaw at the horrible memory.

We were going to be at war in a matter of months, a war we might not survive.

I swallowed down the dark thought, not wanting to even entertain it. We needed all of us, vampires included.

Before I could talk myself out of it, I opened my door and stepped into the hallway. The corridor was quiet, most of its occupants likely in their rooms this late at night. I made my way towards the vampire section, my heart pounding with each step.

As I approached the first door in the vampire wing, uncertainty gripped me. Which room was Ossian's? I hesitated, then knocked softly, hoping I wasn't about to make a terrible mistake.

The door swung open, revealing a statuesque woman with long, dark hair and piercing green eyes. She looked me up and down, her gaze cold and assessing. I felt like a mouse being sized up by a cat.

"Well, well," she drawled, leaning against the doorframe. Her voice was melodious, with an accent I couldn't quite place. "What do we have here? A little human, all alone in the vampire halls. How... delicious."

I swallowed hard, fighting the urge to take a step back. My heart was racing, and I knew she could probably hear it. Chris and Zephyr had said they had heightened hearing, most supes did. But vampires had a knack for hearing the blood pumping through your veins.

Still, I forced myself to stand my ground. "I'm looking for Ossian," I managed to say, proud that my voice didn't waver.

The vampire's lips curled into a smirk. "Are you now? And what business could a human possibly have with one of us?" Her tone was mocking, but I detected a hint of genuine curiosity beneath it.

"That's between me and him," I replied, lifting my chin slightly. I might be out of my depth, but I wasn't about to be intimidated.

Mind you, she could rip my throat out before I could even blink, I realized.

No, I wouldn't let that scare me now.

She chuckled, the sound both musical and menacing. "Oh, you've got spirit. I like that." She jerked her head towards the next door. "He's down there. But word of advice, little one? You might want to stay away from our halls. For your own good."

I nodded, relief washing over me. "Thank you. I appreciate the warning. May I ask your name?"

She raised an eyebrow, seemingly surprised by my politeness. "Valeria," she said after a moment. "Good luck, human. You'll need it." With that, she closed her door, leaving me alone in the hallway once more.

Taking a deep breath, I moved to Ossian's door. Before I could knock, it swung open, revealing the vampire himself. His dark eyes widened slightly at the sight of me, surprise evident on his usually composed face.

"Aria," he said, his voice a mix of shock and concern. "What are you doing here?"

I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze. "I've been thinking about what you said earlier. About needing help and the risk of bloodlust. I... I'm here to offer that help. We can't risk you losing control, not with everything that's going on."

Ossian stared at me for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then, slowly, he stepped aside. "Come in," he said softly. "But Aria... are you sure about this?"

As I stepped into his room, my heart pounding wildly, I couldn't help but wonder if I was making a huge mistake. But there was no turning back now. Whatever happened next, I was committed to seeing it through. The potential consequences of not helping seemed far worse than any risk I was taking now.

I hoped.

Zephyr had said vampires had learned control over the years, and I trusted his word.

Ossian's room was dimly lit, but I could make out a large bed with dark sheets and a desk near the window. The space was sparsely furnished but neat, with a few old-looking books stacked on the nightstand. From the communal area, perhaps? I'd inspected some, but they were in a language unfamiliar to me.

As Ossian closed the door behind me, I caught a whiff of his scent – something old and earthy, like aged wood and leather.

"Aria," Ossian said, his voice soft. "I didn't think you'd actually consider my request."

I took a deep breath, steadying myself. "We're all in this together, right? I want to help if I can. Besides, you only came to me because you really needed help, right?"

Ossian nodded, gratitude crossing his face. "Thank you. Please, make yourself comfortable," he gestured towards the bed. "I want you to relax. You'll be fine, I promise I won't hurt you."

As I sat on the edge of the bed, questions bubbled up in my mind. "Ossian, when you came to the communal room, did you try to compel me?" I didn't beat around the bush, I was already in his room, I just wanted to know.

"Truthfully, Aria, yes. It seems this Keep is warded against most magic though, so my compulsion didn't work on you," he said sincerely.

I swallowed and gritted my teeth, hating the churn in my stomach. So our kiss… it had stemmed from a lie?

At least he was telling me the truth, not lying about it. I had to appreciate that. Still, it did little to alleviate the odd emotions coursing through me now. How was I supposed to feel about that?

"Would you have just fed from me and then made me forget?" I whispered.

"Yes. It would be to protect myself from going into a frenzy, and keep you in the dark. It's not exactly a nice way of doing it, a willing person would be preferred, but with the way the world is back home, it's not an option. It's not one I've ever had the luxury of having," he said slowly. "But here, with everything going on, I figured asking was the only option I had left."

"I'm not sure how to feel about knowing you were planning to feed on me and erase my memory of it," I said as fisted my hands in my lap.

"You need to understand, it's been the way of my people for centuries. My way of survival for so long. Had I known you'd actually have considered helping me, I wouldn't have gone that route, Aria."

"But you did," I said with a sigh.

"I know, and for that, I apologize. But being able to chat with you because my compulsion failed, I wouldn't change that. It was… nice," he said, the corner of his mouth quirking up, before his expression sobered. "Do you still wish to help me?"

"Would you try to stop me if I said no and wanted to leave?" I dared to ask.

"Despite what the other supes would have you believe, we're not all monsters. Some of us clung to our humanity, cherishing what we once were," he said carefully. "We started out human, remember."

"So is that a no?"

"No. You can leave if this has changed you mind."

I stared hard at him, contemplating my next move. Was I upset? Yes. Did I want to question him about our brief kiss? Also yes. But I also didn't want to seem like I felt anything towards him, not after this little revelation. I didn't want to admit it stung, but it did. At least he'd said he'd enjoyed chatting with me.

Damn, I really was naive. Dana would be laughing at how crazy this was, my inability to think straight when in the presence of all these fine as hell supes.

Ossian didn't say a word, just continued to watch me, that damn uniform doing little to hide all the lean muscle that made my single little heart far too happy.

"Okay. I'll stay, but only because I don't want others to wind up hurt. I'm still a little disappointed about how we first met properly and the true intentions there…" I muttered.

"Do you regret the kiss?" he asked, causing my heart to skip a beat as I inhaled sharply.

Did I?

I pursed my lips as I watched him, trying to figure that out myself.

"I didn't, if that means anything to you. I'm glad it happened," he said as he folded his arms. God, why did that stance look so damn appealing? His biceps bulging and head cocked as he watched me.

My stomach tightened, and I shook my head, unable to focus on anything now that he'd said that, so I grasped at the first barely related thought that snuck through my head.

"I was thinking about this whole sunlight thing. Is it really as dangerous for vampires as the stories say?"

He chuckled softly, sitting beside me. The bed dipped slightly under his weight, and I was acutely aware of how close he was. "It's actually a myth. Sunlight is uncomfortable for us, but it won't kill us. We just prefer the night - it's quieter, and better suited to our eyesight. Most vampires are solitary creatures, so the night suits us well."

"Oh, right."

"Do I make you nervous?" He leaned closer, and my breath caught as I stared at him, studying his face. In the dim light, his features seemed softer, more human, save for those dark eyes threatening to swallow me whole.

His sharp cheekbones, the angular jawline without a hint of stubble, making him appear younger than the centuries old vampire he was, and lips that had been so soft and cool…

"Yes," I breathed, knowing it was pointless to lie. He could probably hear my frantic heart giving away how I felt right now.

Was this nervousness at his closeness because of how fine he was, or because I knew how easily he could tear my throat out?

"You said vampires tend to be solitary creatures, that must get lonely," I blurted, and his lip quirked as he pulled back slightly, amusement dancing in those dark eyes.

"It is what it is. I'm used to it by now." But I could've sworn an oddly wistful look crossed his features before he banished it away.

I nodded, processing this information as I tried to get a handle on my unnecessary feelings right now. It was hard to imagine living for centuries, mostly alone. No wonder vampires had a reputation for being cold and distant.

And right now, I had no right feeling the way I felt, all tied up in his presence.

"What about people walking around with bite marks? I mean, if vampires feed regularly, wouldn't someone notice?"

"Ah, that's a good question," Ossian said, his mouth curving into a wicked smile. "Most vampires heal the bite marks with their blood afterward."

"With your blood? But Zephyr told me vampire blood can turn humans."

Ossian shook his head. "Only in large amounts, and only when a human is nearly drained. A small amount for healing won't do anything to you except make you feel recharged and refreshed."

I absorbed this information with a mix of fascination and nervousness. There was so much about this world – about all these supernatural beings – that I still didn't understand. Ossian reached up, gently touching my arm. His skin was cool, but not unpleasantly so. I wasn't sure what the intent was behind it, but it made a nervous ripple course through me once more.

"Aria, are you sure about this? I don't want you to feel pressured."

I met his gaze, seeing the hunger there, but also genuine concern, and something else that made my stomach knot even more. It touched me that even in his state of need, he was still worried about my comfort, but what else was it I could see? Was I just imagining something more?

"I'm sure. You need this, and I want to help. Just... be gentle, okay?"

Ossian nodded, his expression softening. "Of course. Try to relax. It might feel strange at first, but I promise it won't hurt."

He leaned in slowly, giving me time to prepare or pull out, I wasn't sure, but I was seeing it through.

I tilted my head slightly, exposing my neck, positive the vein there was pulsing with my frantic heart beat. His cool breath washed over my throat, causing the skin to prickle, and then his lips grazed it. I quivered, a tingle coursing through me and right to my core at the oddly intimate gesture, but then the sharp prick of his fangs chased it away. For a moment, there was discomfort, but it quickly gave way to an unexpected sensation of pleasure that amped up the spark that had flickered to life.

As Ossian fed, I relaxed into his embrace, a warm, euphoric feeling spreading through my body and blooming in my lower region. It was unlike anything I'd ever experienced before, and I had to fight the urge to let out a contented sigh. My mind felt hazy, filled with a pleasant fog that pushed away all my worries and fears.

Why was I getting aroused by this? It felt so different to anything else I'd ever felt, even with Jason. Was I inexperienced in the bedroom? Possibly, considering I'd only been with two guys, my high school boyfriend and then Jason. But this? This was something incredible, a bliss unlike anything else.

Time seemed to lose all meaning. I wasn't sure if seconds or hours had passed when Ossian finally pulled away, and the pleasure dissipated. His face looked less pale now, his eyes brighter and more alert. He quickly bit his thumb and gently brushed the blood over the puncture marks on my neck.

I swallowed, trying to quell the heat that had risen inside me. This was not supposed to be anything more than me helping him, and yet, I'd felt something I'd not expected.

"There," he said softly. "All healed. How do you feel?"

My cheeks burned for a moment, but I forced myself to keep my expression masked. He didn't need to know how I'd truly felt. Not right now… then again, supes had heightened senses. Could he smell me and my excitement? Surely not…

I took a moment to assess myself otherwise, stomping down the pleasure that had coursed through me as I pulled myself back to reality. To my surprise, I felt energized, almost buzzing. It was as if every cell in my body had been supercharged. "I feel... good. Really good, actually. Is that normal?"

Ossian smiled, although there was an odd glint in his eye now. "Yes, it's a common reaction. Thank you, Aria. You have no idea how much this means to me."

As I stood up, finding myself a bit unsteady on my feet, I realized the full weight of what had just happened. I'd willingly let a vampire feed on me, and even more surprisingly, I didn't regret it. In fact, part of me – a part I wasn't quite ready to examine too closely – had enjoyed it, far more than I should have.

"I should go," I said, moving towards the door as the confusion set in. "But... I'm glad I could help."

Ossian nodded, a look of gratitude and something else - was it longing? - in his eyes. "Goodnight, Aria. And thank you again."

As I stepped into the hallway, I saw Valeria's door open slightly. She smirked at me, her eyes gleaming in the dim light. Had she been listening the whole time?

"Well, well," she purred. "At least one of us has found their fix here. Be careful, little human. Not every vampire is as nice as Ossian."

I swallowed hard, suddenly very aware of how vulnerable I was. "Should I be afraid of you?"

Valeria's smirk widened. "No, I'm a new vampire. I still remember what being human was like." With that, she shut her door, leaving me alone in the hallway.

As I made my way back to my room, my mind whirled with everything that had happened. The euphoria from Ossian's bite was starting to fade, replaced by a mix of emotions I couldn't quite sort out. Part of me felt empowered – I'd faced my fear and helped someone in need, challenged him and gotten answers, although whether or not I was okay with that knowledge, I still wasn't sure. But another part felt guilty, as if I'd betrayed Chris somehow. Then again, despite me thinking we'd had a connection, he'd pulled back, shutting me out.

I shook my head. If he was so willing to cast me aside and ignore me, then screw him. If I felt something for Ossian, then so be it. Although, given he was a six-hundred-year-old vampire, a romance didn't seem quite possible.

No, it had to be some silly little crush.

Back in my room, I caught sight of myself in the mirror. I looked... different. My cheeks were flushed, my eyes bright. I touched the spot on my neck where Ossian had bitten me, but there was no mark, no evidence of what had transpired.

As I crawled into bed, exhaustion finally catching up with me, one thing was certain – life in Dracaria was going to be far more complicated than I'd ever imagined. Between the looming threat of the Void, our magical training, and these new, confusing feelings, I was in for quite a ride.

But as sleep claimed me, I couldn't shake the feeling that somehow, someway, I was exactly where I was meant to be.