Page 18 of Potion of Deception (Potion of Deception #1)

THE THINGS NOBODY WANTS TO KNOW

T he darkness outside was wafting a strange obscurity and eeriness.

The bare branches of the dark trees were strangely akin to the bony fingers of terrible witches or monsters that live deep in the forest, ready to drag anyone even deeper, where only the moon and stars will hear their hopeless pleas for mercy.

Violette ran a wavy line along the foggy window with her finger, turning it into a small drawing of a flower.

She took a deep breath before the clock struck ten in the evening, bringing her out of the abyss of her thoughts.

Her eyes traveled to the arrows of the clock as Dante appeared in the hallway.

He wore a dark blue velvet doublet with crescent moon ornaments and curlicue patterns on the collar and long high boots.

His hand held two dark blue – almost black – cloaks.

“Ready?” he asked as if he cared about her answer.

“Are you sure it'll work and they'll want to listen to us?” Violette came closer, keeping the distance between them, the taste of the previous night still lingering under her skin.

“Yes, they will,” he said with such confidence it infused a suspicion into Violette’s chest. “Do you know the spell to change the colors of the cloaks?”

Violette nodded, getting out the magic wand.

“It should be a dark shade of emerald,” he remarked.

She wielded her wand, with a light movement it burst out sparks and in a brief moment the two capes in Dante's hands changed their color to a spellbinding emerald shade.

He handed her one and put the other on himself.

It was heavy and weighty, although inside it was very soft and pleasant to the skin.

She didn't think it was cold enough outside to wear such warm clothes, however, maybe it was cooler in the forest than in the town.

She fastened the gold clasp on her neck under her ribbon necklace and glanced at Dante, already waiting for her at the exit.

The silence between them was prevailing since they left the inn. And despite all of the revealed truths about vampires, Violette couldn't stop wondering. Dante hasn't tried to talk with her either but it was so him to do it: he wasn't really talkative, not until she provoked the conversation.

“So,” she finally spoke, trying to sound nonchalant. She still kept the distance between them, though she assumed he wasn't dangerous to her, at least, not while he was in the mask.

“Oh, I was wondering when it will happen,” he said lightheartedly, slightly throwing his head back.

Her brows raised in confusion. “What?”

“Your curiosity awakens and you'll talk me to death. ”

You can't kill something that is not alive , she wanted to say but instead let out another question. “Do you blame me for my curiosity?”

“I just don't like it,” he cut off.

“Good for me, you don't have a choice as to how to tolerate it,” she waved away. “It's an important question though. I wonder why you are so sure these witches will want to help us.”

He didn't hesitate with the answer, his voice didn't lose its chill. “Oh, I don't think they'll want to. You see, death is a natural thing, but rising up from the dead is not. They don't like it; they have the mindset that it's not right. So, I won’t exactly be a welcome guest there.”

Despite his words, Violette didn't notice any concern in his behavior, not a crumb, which only aroused her suspicion.

“Not like you're welcome anywhere else, Dante,” she noted.

She could hardly imagine someone would want to invite a vampire over for a cup of tea. If she knew who he was when she saw him for the first time at the shop, she would kick him out in the span of a second, though it certainly wouldn’t help.

“It would be sad if I cared,” he said apathetically.

Violette bristled. “Were you even going to tell me you’re a vampire?”

“Well, I didn’t hide I'm a vampire, I just didn't mention it.” His figure swayed for a second as if it was something rather funny.

“That doesn’t change the fact you kept me nescient. Did you think I will never know?”

“Of course not. I told you, I was simply curious how long it would take you to guess. I actually expected you to do it sooner. Perhaps I overestimated you,” he breathed coldly.

Violette’s face took on a frown.

“It’s not like vampires are a common occurrence.”

“Exactly why I didn’t mention it when we met. How did you imagine that? ‘ Hi, I am a vampire and need your help to take off the mask which I was imprisoned in ’?” he ridiculed her. “You already hesitated to trust me, I doubt it would make me more reliable in your eyes.”

“What about your mask then? I don’t think I paid much attention to it before you said you’re a vampire.”

“Well, it’s enchanted in a way that people don’t question it much. It helps with unwanted attention.”

“Wait,” Violette blew, remembering their previous encounters. “But I asked you about it, didn’t I?”

“You did but if I didn’t mention it first you wouldn’t. People don't really pay attention to this thing on my mouth, if they do, they quickly forget what was bothering them. But soon as I mention it myself, the charms vanish.”

That makes sense. Before, she couldn’t really see it properly, it’s like something didn’t let her see the hideous bars, and how erratic the mask looked.

Its top edges were protruding with spikes, reminiscent of a dragon crest, a detail which was really hard to miss.

But before it felt like her eyes were veiled as well as her mind and any curiosity about his appearance.

“So what are we planning to do?” she asked, following him through the thickets of the forest.

The air meanwhile became only colder, bracing her throat.

“You'll speak with them,” he stated. “They are pretty compassionate about others, especially since you're a witch too. You're just a poor girl who became a victim of an evil vampire's plan. Doesn't it sound so dramatic? They will eat this up.”

“Will they not feel you're something…unnatural?” she wondered.

“No, they won't. However, they’re claiming they can communicate with nature, like hearing the wind. I think they're just brainwashed or hopeless dreamers. What freaks,” he grumbled.

“Said the one who literally raised from the dead and now can't step out the room while it's sunny outside,” Violette pointed out.

“Don't tell me you really believe they can speak with the wind.”

“I just cannot exclude it from being possible.”

“Well, next time you need help, you should talk to the grass, maybe it will give you some advice.” The corner of his mouth twitched.

Her eyes slid his way. “Still better than yours.”