Page 37 of Potion of Deception (Potion of Deception #1)

IN THE VAMPIRE LAIR

S nowflakes fell softly on Violette's eyelashes. The shoulders of her cloak were dusted with snow and the cold, giving her cheeks a slight rosy blush, making her thankful that she'd worn the long gloves today.

As they passed an empty snowy clearing they came to two tilted weeping willows bearing a resemblance to an arch, further – a land of bones and stones.

Old stone graves looked like they belonged to someone who died a long time ago, long before this kingdom started blooming.

Violette's gaze was following each grave they passed; Most of them didn't have anything on them except for the name and year of death.

Almost every stone shared the same date, sometimes in a span of a year or two.

The stories which died here and were put in the ground were more than two hundred years old .

Dante was making his way to the end of the cemetery, not paying attention to any of the stones like they weren't here at all.

Each grave was graced with a glorious angel statue. Some wield swords, others were depicted in tears, a few were crowned with flowers. One angel was kneeling, resting on his sword with his head.

Violette took a glimpse of the inscriptions engraved on stone: To a guardian and protector who… as she passed by. She didn't discern the second part.

Another winged warrior, with a chalice raised up, was guarding a stone with the words To a dreamer who was never meant to make it . Gone again. Next one was praying to the snow beneath. All of them were looking down. Not to the stars. But into the cold ground.

As they got to the end of the graveyard, Dante stopped and reached for something under the thin layer of snow on the ground. He pulled the doorknob, opening an old stone door, leading somewhere down. As Violette already guessed, it was an entrance to the realm of the dead souls – vampires .

“It doesn't look promising…” Worry clouded her features.

“Promising? It is an entrance to the place where vampires live, what were you expecting?” A line between his brows formed as he stood up.

Violette looked into the darkness hidden behind the stone doors.

“I don't know…” She faltered. “I mean, where does it lead to? I didn't think the Vampire Kingdom was literally underground .”

“Vampires can't live under the sun. Where else did you think they live?”

It was a reasonable question but Violette hadn't actually thought about it before, though the underground definitely wasn't in the way. She had grasped that vampires have their own kingdom only a few hours ago, after all .

“I don't know, maybe a place where it is always night and magic holds the darkness all day long,” she suggested.

“Vampires don't have such magic, we are not wizards. I don't know if it's even possible.”

“Then, in a castle with fully closed windows. I don't know!” Violette shrugged, chaotically waving her hands. “Somewhere where it is not that…deep.”

He looked at her intimidatingly before making a step down the stairs.

“Are you coming?”

Violette’s mouth went dry. She didn't like the secret room in the crypt which was definitely not that deep in the ground and this looked more scary than meeting a bunk of vampires.

“Is there even enough air?” she let out uncertainly.

He cocked his head to the side and extended his hand, inviting her with him. She fell silent, looking at his palm facing her.

“I want you to remember,” Dante remarked, “do not trust any vampire there and do not accept any of their help.” His eyes narrowed and brows knitted. The caution in his words sounded not like one more joke, he was more than serious.

Violette raised her eyes to his and reached out her hand to accept his offer when he flinched his hand, letting her stagger.

“As I said, do not trust any vampire,” his mouth twitched .

“Really?” She snorted. “We haven't even gone down yet.”

“Never let your guard down,” he said as he bent his head to the side with a smile on his face, offering her his hand again.

“No, thank you. You'll not trick me again.” She walked past him, pushing him aside, and proudly tipped her head.

Dante stumbled slightly, his smile growing even more satisfied as his eyes followed her back.

It was cold and empty down here recalling the entrance to an ancient tomb, and perhaps it was so. The stairs didn't go too deep and ended abruptly.

Violette's lips parted as her foot reached the stone ground, wondering about the place they were. It looked like a cave, rather than a beautiful kingdom, though the road led somewhere further. And before she made another step, Dante's voice hit her ear.

“Wait.”

He took his coat off and threw it over her shoulders.

“What is that for?” She lowered her eyes to the dark blue fabric.

“To muffle your human scent. They'll still be able to smell it, but at least it won't drive them crazy.”

“Drive them crazy?” She winced.

“It's possible that you might meet a hungry vampire. ”

Violette's legs staggered and her brows pulled down. Her fingers nervously gripped the edges of the coat's collar.

“Don't worry, you are in no danger. If you stay close and don't stick your nose in everything like you usually like to do. Moreover, this will give them a sign you're already claimed.”

“Claimed? I'm not a thing,” Violette spat.

“Don't forget, for most vampires people are just prey, Little Witch. No offense but you are just a toy to claim for them.”

“So gallant,” she grumbled as she drew a step but Dante stopped her again.

“Stick with me, don't lag behind and don't get ahead of yourself,” he warned.

Violette felt the words Save your curiosity for another time dance on the tip of his tongue, however he didn't let them out. She nodded.

They had walked quite a bit when another staircase appeared in front. Again, deeper in the underground. Violette hardly swallowed.

A dark corridor, surrounded by the immense void on the one side and a cold wall on the other. No handrails and the steps seemed extremely unreliable and flimsy. One wrong step and the Valley of Enchanted Stories would be replenished with a new tragic tale.

In a moment, Dante extended his hand in front of Violette just as a dark flock of bats fluttered past their faces.

Her shriek echoed from the stone walls and she took a sharp step back and suddenly her feet no longer felt the ground beneath them.

And she'd have fallen if Dante didn't reach for her hand, gripping his fingers tight into her wrist. Pulling her towards himself, his hands held her waist. Violette pressed herself tight against his chest, her heart panting, lump stuck in her throat.

Clinging to the vampire, her eyes fell down as horror crossed her face – several stones fell straight down into a dark hole where, apparently, there was no bottom at all. Or it was so deep down that she couldn't even hear when the stones touched the ground.

“When I said you are in no danger, I meant vampires. At this rate, you'll be dead before we even meet one,” Dante said coldly and removed his hands from her.

Violette swallowed, her gaze trailed down again. As her attention got back, she found herself still holding onto Dante's arm, her nails firmly digging into his shirt. Surprisingly he didn't say a word, however she let him go without giving him a chance to mock her for it later.

They entered through a semicircular archway and suddenly everything around felt more alive, brighter. The light walls were traced with an intricate helix folding in a distinctive pattern. The impossibly ornate candelabras along the way kept the corridor in a crepuscular light.

Violette's silhouette flashed in one of the top rounded mullioned windows, reaching to the ceiling. Her eyes fell to the floor as her black boots were stepping on the wine carpet as if drenched in blood, however under the stripes of light it seemed brighter, nearly berry red.

The air seemed quite suffocating, although she surmised it was because she knew who exactly lives in these walls and yet, there was no vampire in sight.

They turned into another same looking hallway.

This place was not as disheartening as she could imagine, especially compared to the dark stone hallway before.

The passage they were walking through reminded her of a big manor or perhaps, a castle.

Their steps halted when the pale face of a woman with auburn wavy hair popped up in front of them. Her fangs flashed in the candlelight like the moon in the sky and her scarlet lips twisted in a delighted smile.

“Oh, look who is here,” a velvet voice slipped out her mouth.

Dante drew an irritated sigh. “This will be a long night.”

Violette glanced over his shoulder, and Dante immediately grabbed her hand with tension as a reminder to not stand out.

“Didn't think you missed us.” The woman's voice sounded like wine, the same way intoxicating and flirtatious.

“Not in a thousand years,” the apathetic words came out of his mouth.

He made a step but the woman didn't let him go further.

“Move away,” he commanded but she only smiled more, trying to peer at Violette over his obscuring figure.

“I didn't say hi to your friend yet,” she nearly sang.

Violette's eyes darted around.

“She'll live.” Dante's jaw clenched.

“I insist. I don't want to seem ignorant to our guest.” The woman inclined her head to the side staring at Violette, which only made her frown.

In one simple and quick move she appeared at Dante's back, looking at the girl as if appraising her. Her fingers grabbed the sleeve of the dark coat embroidered with black threads, weighing on Violette’s shoulders.

Violette pulled back as if the woman was contagious, as though her simple gesture was a threat, however she was just studying the fabric.

Dante's hand tightened around Violette's wrist, pulling her closer to himself.

“We're in a hurry,” he stated as Violette lowered her head avoiding the uncomfortably curious gaze of the woman. She would bet her life her eyes weren't even blinking.