Page 40 of Potion of Deception (Potion of Deception #1)

Violette's hands fell onto her skirt after a deep sigh, revealing that his attempts were hopeless.

“I'm sorry but I don't know what you want to hear from me, Caidas.

I've already said all I had to.” Her eyes got back to his face as his figure stopped in front of her.

He leaned forward, pressing his hands on the armrests of the chair on either side.

“Do you think I don't know he is trying to take his mask off?” In a moment Caidas' voice became sharper, Violette held her breath. “He knows I know it as well. I just don't understand your role in this. I know you're somehow connected to all of it. You know the way to take it off, right?”

Violette’s gaze locked with his intensity and that's where she could say the purest truth. “No, I don't.”

The vampire fell silent for a moment. He made a deep sigh, before continuing more blandly, “Do you understand why he is imprisoned in that mask? Did you see any other vampire with something like this here?”

“No, but I didn't see a lot of them. Good for me, I guess,” she said, holding his gaze like it was a game of who will give up first and she definitely didn't plan to lose.

“Wonder why?” His voice dropped. “Dear Violette, you should understand that Dante is not like any other vampire here.” His back straightened, getting away from her – Violette's chest rose, feeling the relief.

“He is not a rebel. He is an anchorite .

He had never actually sought control in his bloodlust. He doesn't care how much to take.” Caidas waved his hand and turned his back to her.

His tone changed, “ I tried to teach him, to help him, but it was useless.

You can't really help a person who doesn't seek salvation.”

Violette drew a glance at him before quickly looking away.

It was tiring – to sit here, to lie and try to prove she is just a clueless girl, especially when her opponent was an old vampire who definitely wasn't born yesterday.

The air wrapping her was even more suffocating than his attempts to get the truth from her mouth.

“Caidas…” she breathed, “I understand you but I can't help you. Dante promised me something and it's very important.”

She still wasn't about to lay all the cards on the table, however she wanted to share some truth. Maybe it would make it believable after all.

“Don't be scared of him. I will take care of it, of you and your situation. Whatever he offered you, I can do it as well and even more. You have no reason to be afraid of Dante if you'll trust me.”

Afraid? She wasn't afraid of Dante. She disliked his view on a lot of things, he annoyed her – sometimes even too much – he was shameless and at the same time secretive, cold and aloof. But not scary and Gods know why.

“You don't understand.” Another brief moment of truth. She kept reminding herself to not overshare. Good thing he couldn't get into her mind, perhaps Dante wasn't much weaker than him: his protection was working just fine. “We made a vow. My hands are tied. Literally.”

Caidas fetched another sigh. He was probably fed up with this conversation as well as she.

Violette had felt something else – Caidas didn't just dislike Dante, he truly despised him. She couldn't get whatever was going on between them, between Dante and vampires, but this time she was confident that it's none of her business. Not here. Not now.

“Then tell me his plan, maybe I can–”

“No,” she said firmly, her shoulders straightened.

“I will not risk it. I understand what you're doing, and your duties.

Though, I wouldn't trust you either, not you, not Dante, not any other vampire.

Maybe it's the only good advice he gave me.

I'm sorry, but if you want to stop him – do it without my help.

I'll do my part and then I'll go back home to my life, leaving all this behind.”

“Dante is a monster, Violette. Once you unleash him – you will not be able to control it.” Caidas took one last chance to convince her, “All he is driven by is thirst and hunger. While other vampires have limits, he does not.”

“And yet it doesn't change anything,” she swallowed. She understood Caidas' worries, she truly did, but all she could really concentrate on was her father. He needed that cure, she needed it.

Caidas pressed, “I can help you to get rid of him. To get rid of the deal, you will be free without making your part. And I will accomplish his part, how about that? ”

“What do you mean?” She recoiled with caution, a drop of mistrust, her hands tensed around the armrests.

He walked around the wooden desk and pulled one of the shelves towards him. An oblong box of a cobalt color appeared in his hands. His fingers stroked along the velvet surface embossed with an intricate black tracery, opening the case.

Violette's gaze followed his every move as he pulled a familiar dagger out of the box. Her eyes narrowed. She'd already seen this shape of the blade, and this handle strewn with rubies was familiar to her… The Vampire Slayer.

Her back straightened, a tingling sensation went down her spine.

“Where…How?” Her tongue twisted, her mind couldn't comprehend how it could be in Caidas' hands if it was in her bag.

“I see you know what it is, right?” His index finger ran along the steel blade of the dagger.

“Dante has the same,” she remarked.

“Right, he really does,” Caidas confirmed and then came closer, leaning back to the edge of the table. “Except this is a real one.”

“What do you mean?” She pulled her head back, a lack of trust pulsating in her temples.

“Dante has a copy, one that can't really kill a vampire.”

She frowned. “Does he know?”

“Of course he knows. He is not stupid to carry a dagger with himself that can kill him.”

“This was not what he told me. ”

Caidas chuckled. “Does he ever share with you his plans or is honest with you?”

Violette decided not to answer.

Caidas' shoulders slightly relaxed as he continued, “Nobody knows I have the real one. It was part of our agreement, making Vampire Slayer unattainable. While everyone thinks Dante has it – it safely lays here. I wouldn't want a lethal vampire weapon to be in a human world.”

Violette raised her chin. “And why do you tell me all of it?”

“Because I want you to take it,” he said, his eyes found hers.

“Excuse me?” She backed up in the backrest of the chair.

He took two steps to her and offered her the dagger.

“I want you to save it for me. And,” he paused, “perhaps, to use it.”

Violette shot her gaze from the silver blade of the dagger to the vampire's face. Her pupils widened, brows knitted together, lips parting in confusion.

“I don't think I understand you,” Violette nearly whispered.

Caidas looked at her thoroughly – she fully understood what he meant.

“I think you do. I want you to kill Dante.” Words fell like a stone.

She pressed her back into the chair tightly, wishing to dissolve in it. “Are you insane? ”

“Violette,” he started as he walked to the table and faced her again.

“As I said, caring about others is my duty. I built a whole kingdom for vampires, set the rules. Here they are under my control. And Dante is a threat to everything I did to keep people safe, as well as giving vampires a life not much worse than the one they had as humans. Dante ruins everything he touches and I do not have the luxury of fixing it again and again. You will release a disaster in the world. But you also have a chance to not do it.” His eyes slid to the Vampire Slayer in his hand.

“I'm not a murderer,” Violette pressed, her eyes glaring.

“Of course you are not. You will be a savior.”

She didn't like how it sounded despite the meaning behind this word. She still saw it as just her taking life and she didn't want it, she knew she wasn't able to do such a crime.

“Maybe you're wrong about it,” the words fell from her lips. “I don't know him much, but it seems he just wants to be free. He's pretentious and apathetic, and some of his actions are questionable but I don't think he seeks destruction.”

“Violette, Dante will shred the peace into flinders. He's already broken and wants to break others as well. People like him find peace in ruining other lives, so they don't feel as lonely.”

Lonely. Dante seemed to relish solitude, it scarcely weighed on his soul. However if he truly wished to stay this way, he wouldn' t be so eager to remove his mask. Maybe he wanted to be a part of this world. A human world.

“And you think killing him will be a good idea?” Violette frowned, she couldn't believe he was asking her about such a disgusting and soul dirtying offer.

“To save the lives of hundreds and thousands.”

Her nails dug into the chair’s arms. “No…It's not right. I don't want to.” The unbreakable decisiveness scattered throughout her voice.

“You said you can't break the deal. Killing him you will no longer be in debt, as well as it will help me, and save many people. This world can survive the death of one vampire, and believe me it will breathe a sigh of relief.”

She looked at him as he extended the hilt to her again. Her gaze dipped to her reflection, eyes glowing in the silver light of the blade.

“I just hope you're kind enough to understand me, because I already know you're smart enough,” he affirmed.

They definitely saw kindness differently.

“Why do other vampires hate Dante?” she finally asked. If they were so frank right now, she deserved to know the truth.

“They have their reasons. Believe me.”

Again a mystery that nobody cared to tell her. Everything she'd wanted to know ‘has a reason’, it started to get on her nerves .

Violette didn't think even for a moment. “I'm declining your offer,” she stated, raising her chin. She had no desire to change her mind.

Caidas disappointedly pressed his lips together. “I see,” he sighed. “Then just take it. Just in case.”

He probably thought she'd change her mind, so instead of taking it she looked right into his eyes, not moving even a muscle.

“I insist, please.”