Page 17 of Dark Desire (Dark Souls Spin-off Short Story)

Chapter Nine

S tanding on the bottom step of her staircase, with my back pressed against the wall so I remained out of sight, I watched with a smirk as Beryl whipped open the door with a vicious scowl, causing more wrinkles than usual to appear on her face.

“Oh, uh. Hello, Beryl,” Darcelle’s husky voice was laced with disappointment and panic. I lifted my chin, gazing up at the ceiling to stop any amused noises from escaping my lips.

“What do you want?” Beryl snapped.

“I, er, is there a, er, man in there with you? Staying with you, I mean?” She was flustered, and I was loving every second of it.

I followed the witch the moment she left Evie’s this morning and waited outside while she went into the doctor’s surgery.

Even though I couldn’t see her, I could hear her heartbeat through the brick wall, tracking her every move until she entered the doctor’s office.

Her heart was irregular when she was alone with that man, and after overhearing their conversation, I understood why.

He liked her, and it made her uncomfortable.

I tried not to care. It wasn’t my problem how others made her feel.

I should be ecstatic that someone was making her day even more miserable but.

.. I didn’t fucking like it. The witch’s heart was mine.

No one else was allowed to make it race, whether out of fear, disgust or desire.

It didn’t matter. It was off limits. Darcelle Knightsbridge was off limits to everyone but me.

Yes, I was using others to get to her, but if someone was messing with her and it wasn’t because of me, that put me in a violent mood.

It took a lot to walk away and continue to follow her to the coast instead of tearing off that man’s hands for touching her, gouging out his eyes for leering at her, and forcing him to swallow his tongue for making her uncomfortable.

But I managed it. Just. And my plan to mess with her was back on track.

I let her see me. I let her follow me. I led her straight to Beryl’s.

I knew she wouldn’t be able to resist the invisible pull of attraction the soulmate bond created, even if she wasn’t aware of it herself.

She'd managed to distract me with it last night, but now it was her turn to feel its effects.

I wanted her desperate for me. And clearly, it was already working.

“Why would I tell you that? Will he be your next victim? I know what you did!” Beryl grabbed her broom and vigorously swept the floor, aiming it towards Darcelle's feet.

I heard an ‘ow’ and some movement as the witch stepped back.

The scent of the most alluring, rich blood wafted through my nostrils, and my eyes instantly turned red.

Fuck. Some part of her was bleeding. My cock sprang to life and my fangs snapped down.

I pulled my lips over them to hide my appearance from Beryl.

Luckily, she was too preoccupied with trying to sweep Darcelle away to notice.

“Ow! Okay, I get it! You hate me, but what exactly do you think I’ve done, Beryl?”

“You murdered Betty!”

“Betty? The cow? Really?”

“You can’t fool me, witch! You and your sacrifices and crystals and no shoes! The sooner you leave my village, the better.”

“Okay, Beryl. But can I please speak to the man in your house? You know, he’s this tall, this stacked, the size of a Viking with long red hair? I know you know who I’m talking about. I literally just saw him walk in here.”

“You stay away from Zachary, you man-eating witch.”

“Zachary?” she repeated, impressively undeterred by the hostile little woman in front of her. She raised her voice and shouted, “Zachary!”

I growled because the sound of her shouting another man’s name made me furious. Which was bloody stupid. Stupid fucking mate bond.

“Oh no, you don’t! Shoo! Be gone, witch!” Beryl grabbed her spray bottle, which she used to water the flowers outside, and started spritzing it in Darcelle’s face.

“Bloody hell! Beryl! Water? What do you think is going to happen? That I’ll melt?”

“Worth a go! Now bugger off and never come to my door again unless you want me to call the police.” Beryl slammed the door shut just in time for me to control my bloodlust, retract my fangs, and change my eye colour back to green.

“There. I got rid of her for you, Zachary. That woman is trouble, stay away from her,” Beryl said, wagging her finger at me before heading to the kitchen.

I inhaled a deep breath, trying to rid myself of the urge to go after the witch.

The plan was to make her desperate for me.

Not the other way around. My fangs were tingling and my cock was pulsing an angry beat beneath the towel.

I stormed up the stairs, charging into the bathroom and grabbed my dick with a growl.

It took about ten rage-filled strokes and the memory of her lips wrapped around my cock last night to explode.

Yet, it wasn’t enough. My desire for her was relentless.

My thirst for her blood was all-consuming.

And I was struggling to control myself from finding her right that minute, fucking her senseless and then drinking her dry.

‘That sounds like a brilliant plan,’ Ambroz hissed in my mind, adding his own needs to my slipping control. ‘Fuck her, drink her, claim her soul, and eat her heart.’

I screwed my eyes shut, a hiss escaping through my fangs as my body shuddered from the restraint I was showing.

I couldn’t even question Ambroz’s disturbing mention of claiming her soul.

That wasn't part of our plan. When the sink came loose from the wall because I gripped it too tightly, I knew I was in dangerous territory. Not only was I at risk of ruining everything on impulse, but I'd also expose myself to Beryl and others if I didn’t get a grip. I couldn’t be here.

Lifting my head, I opened the bathroom window and climbed out, completely naked.

I shifted into Ambroz, allowing our black and red feathered wings to expand behind us before diving out the window, swooping low and then frantically beating our wings to rise into the clouds where we wouldn’t be seen.

Flying in demon form was always risky, but even more so during the day.

Still, I had no other option. I needed some distance from the witch to screw my head back on.

It took more than an hour before the Romano Castle came into view. Its hauntingly beautiful gothic structure stood out against the surrounding evergreen forest and vampire village. I descended, landing on the gravel driveway, and was immediately swarmed by twenty vampire soldiers, circling me.

“It’s fine! He’s welcome,” an authoritative voice commanded, and I turned to glance over my shoulder to find Arius Romano standing in the entrance to the castle.

His blue and brown eyes looked my naked, tired body up and down with amusement, and with a stern nod, he dismissed his soldiers, causing them all to fall back and leave me alone.

“Arius,” I greeted with a slight bow of my head as I strolled up the castle steps towards him. I didn’t like many people, trusted even fewer, but I owed this man my life. He was the one who sensed the raven curse on me and brought me back to my true self.

“Zoran. Good to see you. Though I didn’t expect to see quite so much of you,” he teased, folding his arms across his chest. “Do you mind if I put some clothes on you before you come in? You’re putting a lot of my soldiers to shame.”

“Carry on. More Luka’s style, not Leif’s though.”

He chuckled and snapped his fingers, dressing me in black jeans and a black T-shirt. I nodded my approval. “Come on in. Everyone will be happy to see you. Luka and Hana especially.”

We walked through the grand foyer and down to the family’s private quarters. We stopped by the kitchen and Arius gave me three blood bags to take the edge off my thirst, but if I was being honest, it barely touched the sides. It wasn’t just anyone’s blood I was craving. It was hers.

“Zoran!”

I spun around to see my little sister standing in the doorway. She was radiating with happiness, her smile beaming and her bright green eyes sparkling as she saw me. Before I had even taken the blood bag out of my mouth, she had bulldozed into me with her vampire speed.

Wrapping one arm around her shoulders, I lowered my voice as I spoke to her in Serbian, our native language. “Baby sister. Are they treating you well?”

“Yes,” she answered, pulling back from my embrace to peer up at my face. She was tall for a woman but still nowhere near my height. “I love it here. Everyone is so amazing, and Ronnie is treating me like a princess. I’m just so happy, Zoran. I never knew life could be like this.”

I smiled at her, tugging her back into my chest and kissed the top of her head. “That is good, Hana. That is very good. You deserve it and more.”

She squeezed me tight before stepping back. “What of the witch? Luka said you’ve found her, but she’s hard to get to.”

I nodded, not wanting to elaborate on that and thank the gods I didn’t have to because Ilaria came bursting into the room.

“Zoran! You’re back! Does that mean she’s dead?” she asked. I smirked because I really liked how blunt my brother’s mate was. Always to the point. No bullshit.

“Not yet. But soon,” I answered. “Where’s Luka?”

“He and Ronnie are hunting,” Hana answered. I frowned.

“Hunting?”

“Green list,” Ilaria clarified. I nodded. Good. Luka was teaching Ronnie how to be a vicious vampire, worthy and able to protect our sister. Not that she needed it. She could take care of herself if needed.

“I’m actually here to see Leif. Any chance he’s back yet?” It was Friday after all. Family night.

“Not yet. He’ll probably be here in an hour or two. You look exhausted. Do you want to rest in your room until then?” Ilaria asked. “I’ll get the cooks to prepare something for you, too. We have a few fresh organs in the fridge for Luka and Hana. I’m sure they won’t mind sharing.” Ilaria smiled.