Forbidden Mate: Awakening

“I can’t…”

“Of course you can’t… You’ve become so weak, hiding yourself among these animals. You think you can hide from your true nature…” The vampire looked at Adrian with a piercing gaze and spoke in a scornful tone.

Adrian’s face showed the pain caused by those words.

“You cannot hide for so long…when they find out who you really are, you know they’ll mercilessly kill you.”

I felt a chill run down my spine, realizing that the vampire’s threats were serious. If Adrian was caught, the consequences would be severe. The vampire wasn’t lying about that.

“That’s not for you to curtail… tell me what you guys are planning to do.”

“I didn’t tell that idiotic old man and you think it’s you I’ll tell?” He laughed, “I have already told you. Judgement is eminent and you will not escape it, if you continue to be an ally to them.”

I made a sound which made Adrian notice me hiding behind the statue, in the shadows. Surprise and concern crossed his face. I stood there, holding my chest, hoping he didn’t hear it.

Then a hand held my shoulder. I was dragged out.

“Lily, what are you doing here?” Adrian said hastily. “Don’t you know it’s dangerous for you to be here?”Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

“Same for you. I followed you…” I defended.

“Why?”

“I was worried.”

Adrian contemplated letting me stay but I was already approaching Ethan carefully, glancing at Adrian for any sign of disapproval.

He finally held me back, “No, you shouldn’t be here. Don’t go any closer.”

“Is he dangerous? I just want to ask him some questions.”

“Oh dear, I can’t even hurt a fly.” Ethan, with his dragged voice, said cunningly.

“There’s nothing for you to ask him. Go back and go home.”

“I’m not afraid…you’re here beside me and he’s chained and locked up.”

“Still, you shouldn’t be here.”

“I’ll stand back…” I was resilient.. I needed to get something out of Ethan.

Adrian seemed lost in thought, looking pained and helpless. He took a deep breath and then nodded.

“Kara misses you.” Ethan chimed in.

Kara? “Who’s Kara?” I asked Adrian.

“Noone. Just stand here beside me.” I nodded back at him then faced Ethan.

“Who are you?” I asked, feeling both curious and cautious.

Ethan looked at me and smiled bitterly. “You’ve already heard him call me Ethan so that question is unnecessary.”

“I know that’s your name but who are you?”

“And what will make me tell you who I am?”

I thought hard of a reply. What could I do to get him to answer my questions? What, Lily, what?

“I’d free you.”

Adrian turned to me sharply, “What are you saying, Lily?”

“I need to get info from him any way possible.”

“Not by endangering your people.”

“Is he really that dangerous, Adrian?”

Adrian didn’t always have an answer to that question. Ethan’s chuckle made us face him.

“Nothing you would offer me would make me give away my identity or people, unlike some others.” He glanced at Adrian who looked down.

Adrian’s face was contorted with anger and sadness. He looked at me, silently asking for me to just leave my enquiry as it was of no use. I reached out and held his hand.

“I would say though, it is my greatest pleasure to meet the person who was able to lead the heart of our most vibrant and loyal warriors astray.”

I sharply looked at Adrian. He was a vampire warrior?

“Oh, he didn’t tell you? Has he been lying to you the whole time or worse, he’s been avoiding to tell you?” Adrian couldn’t talk. He faced me and held my hands.

“Lily, we should go.”

“No wait.” I took my hands away from his. Is what he’s saying true? That you were a warrior in your clan?”

He breathed out, “That’s not for us to talk about now, Lily. We need to leave.”

We heard a sound of a door being clicked open and we quickly rushed out the hole. The last thing I saw was Ethan’s evil smirk still playing on his lips. As Adrian was holding me by my hand, leading me down the darkly lit hallway after the tunnel, I stopped and took my hand away.

“Adrian, tell me the truth now. The whole truth. Who really are you? And what happened in your past that brought you here?”

He seemed to be facing a mental battle, whether to tell me or not.

I presurred him, “If you don’t tell me, I’ll never trust you and I might stop talking to you.”

He breathed out and looked ready to start talking, but a door opened. He quickly hid behind a pillar.

“What are you doing there?”

It was a guard. He could barely see from that far so I just took the advantage and faked a deep voice. “Just doing my nightly runs.”

Thankfully, he believed and returned to his business. I sighed and looked at my side but Adrian was gone. He ran away, again.

This was starting to get harder to put up with. If he didn’t tell me everything, I’d really have to be doubting everything he told me. If he was a vampire hunter, then that would change everything.

°°°°°°°

As I was quietly making my way back to my room, still trying to process what happened between Adrian and the vampire, I realized my pendant had fallen off from my neck. Oh shit. Now I had to retrace my steps.

Why were my nights always longer these days?

I searched back from where I was to the hidden underground passage Adrian followed to meet the vampire. I finally saw it. It was steps away from the cell.

Then, I stumbled upon a surprising scene. Jaxon was huddled near the vampire’s cell, working tirelessly to free him from his chains. I felt confused and curious, but I chose not to confront Jaxon at that moment and instead watched from a distance.

With skilled hands, Jaxon picked the lock, setting the vampire free. I gasped and hid behind a huge statue. As soon as the chains fell off, the vampire moved swiftly and silently, disappearing into the shadows through the hole, along with Jaxon. It became clear to me that Jaxon had planned this escape, but I couldn’t understand his motives or what would happen as a result. Why would Jaxon free the vampire? Or was I hallucinating?

Suddenly, the blaring sound of an alarm shattered the silence, snapping me out of my thoughts.

“The prisoner has escaped!” One of the guards announced.