Page 44 of Potion of Deception (Potion of Deception #1)

A light wind caressed her back. Taking a deep breath, she raised her head to the sky and closed her eyes.

The peace and quietness of the surroundings lodged the looseness in her soul. Only a quiet breeze was breaking the silence, playing with the leaves of the trees.

All at once, she heard a strange sound coming from the bushes.

Her eyes flashed open. Just a quiet sound but something was unnerving in it.

Perhaps just an animal. She looked around and finally it struck her – it was already darkening.

She hadn't noticed how time flew by. Just a few moments ago she was strolling under the cloudy sky and now, the stars have already started to lighten up instead.

Another rustle. Violette felt uneasy, just in case she took out her magic wand, gripping it tight. Maybe it was Dante who came for her? It's strange how one situation could make you wish for the presence of someone you don't trust. Perhaps she felt more calmer with him than she cared to admit .

The next rustling sound appeared too close and she'd have liked to ignore it, but a sudden burst of coolness made her turn around. There was nothing. And yet she had a strange feeling as if she was being watched.

“Who is there?” Violette let a question into the air.

Silence.

She spun back, maybe it was her imagination? She was probably already going crazy.

Again the strange chill struck her back, making her whirl around sharply. Nothing again. Only trees and bushes.

“I know you are here,” she let out firmly, narrowing her eyes. “Dante? I told you to not scare me.”

A deep sharp male voice entered the air from behind, “I wouldn't want to be confused with Dante. I find it disrespectful.”

Her head snapped at the side the sound came from.

Right in front of the tree was a stranger, leaning over its trunk with his back.

The barn red color of his suit stood out against the dark bushes, his pale golden hair fell sloppily onto his forehead and his dark gray eyes looked at Violette with such entertainment like she was a little animal in a cage.

“So it's true, Dante got himself a girlfriend,” he said with a provoking smile .

“Who are you?” Violette’s shoulders tensed.

“Friend of your vampire.” The grin, arrogant and cruel, appeared on his face, the menace in his eyes was noticeable even far away.

“He's not mine,” she snapped. “And as far as I know he doesn't have friends.”

“Friends…enemies…same thing. From one to another one step, you know.” And as he threw his head back and bared his teeth, Violette’s eyes caught two front fangs .

She withdrew a step back, hand tightened around the magic wand, extending it against him.

“What do you want? Dante is not here if you are looking for him,” she blew in the air.

“I didn't say I need Dante,” the vampire purred and negligently shoved off forward. “I'm actually here because I wanted to see his new little toy.”

Violette's stomach twisted in absolute disgust.

“I am not anyone's toy and I suggest you to not come closer if you don't want to get to know the ground beneath your feet,” she gritted her teeth.

The stranger laughed. A sharp, merciless sound.

“Oh, I would like to see it.” His back straightened up, he immediately grew taller. “You are a witch but know nothing about vampires, right?”

Violette's brows twisted together. “What do you mean?”

“Magic doesn't work on vampires, silly,” he derided.

No , she felt sinking. It's a lie. Dante would say to her. Right?

“If you think I'd believe any of your words, you are–”

“Then just show me your magic, pet.” The stranger's face lightened up with an amused smile as he shoved his hands into his pockets, drawing a step closer. If she thought Dante was shameless, this guy, right here, was a definition of this word. Selfish, conceited and cavalier.

She couldn't comprehend why Dante wouldn't tell her that magic doesn't work on vampires. She threatened him a few times already. Was he just laughing at her all this time, letting her think she could hurt him? What a stinky bastard!

She didn't finish her little pleasant conversation with the blond vampire as a tall dark-haired figure appeared in front of her.

Dante emerged out of nowhere shielding her from the piercing gaze of the other vampire. And he wasn’t in such a happy mood as his friend…or enemy, or whatever he was.

“Dante, how many years,” the stranger drawled with the same careless smirk.

“Not enough. I'd take a few more. Hundreds,” Dante nearly hissed.

“You have become grumpier.”

“What do you want, Nigel?” No sight of a smile or any friendly appearance on Dante's face.

“Just wanted to visit an old friend,” he waved and threw his gaze over his shoulder to eye Violette. “And to see his new pet.”

“If you did what you wanted then get lost somewhere else,” Dante grumbled.

“You are so inhospitable, no wonder other vampires don't want to befriend you.”

“Good thing, I don't care. Now, get off,” he trod a step forward, all of his muscles went still. “If I see you near her one more time, you'll see how inhospitable I can really be.”

“Ohh, how unfriendly. I didn't mean to cause drama,” Nigel sang joyfully.

Meanwhile, Violette stood up on her toes to peer over Dante's shoulder.

The stranger, as much as in the short time that she managed to dislike him, aroused her interest, or rather, Dante's reaction did.

He certainly perceived him as his enemy or a person he least wanted to see.

Even Caidas didn't deserve such a threatening look as Nigel.

“I'm not saying goodbye,” Nigel winked to Violette and disappeared into the darkness.

Not a muscle on Dante's face moved, his eyes peered at the spot where the vampire was a second ago.

“Who was–” Violette wasn't quick to say as Dante cut her off .

“Why the Hell have you gone that far?” He finally turned to face her. An expressive pinch between his thick brows didn't bode well.

“I just decided to take a walk,” slid off Violette's lips.

“Was it so hard to stay near?”

“I don't have to report to you about my every decision and action.” She pouted.

Dante held his gaze on Violette – she did the same. The darkness of his eyes matched the storm in hers. Her brows pulled even closer to her nose bridge, making him swallow his disaffection.

“It was Nigel. The most nonchalant and sordid asshole you ever can meet,” he sniffed.

“Oh, so you’re not the worst. This took me by surprise,” Violette taunted.

“He has no affection and sympathy. I don't want to see him around you.”

“Not like it depends on me.” She narrowed her eyes.

“I just warned.”

Crossing her arms, she eyed Dante from head to toes. He seemed to have come to his senses since the last time they talked, she actually liked him more when he was injured – he seemed nicer.

“About assholes,” Violette started and pointed her forefinger at his chest, pressing it against his shirt. “Why didn't you tell me my magic can't harm you?”

Finally that dim fire in his eyes danced in another tone, corners of his mouth slightly lifted. “Oh, about that.”

“Yes! About that.” Her finger poked him twice. “Were you even about to say it to me?” She frowned.

“Why? You look so funny when you try to threaten me,” his lips swayed as he shrugged before turning around and taking a step ahead.

Violette's mouth fell open, the heat embraced her cheeks. His audacity was unbearable to tolerate.

“You are…”

“Yeah, what?” He faced her again and leaned closer, widely grinning.

“You are an insufferable jerk,” she drawled sizzlingly through her teeth.

“Anything else?”

She frowned, looking away. “Just shut up.”

His eyes flashed, a playful smile exposed his snow-white teeth, and with that his two front fangs, hidden behind the mask.

“Words are not the only things that could shut my mouth. There's plenty of other more effective ways to do so.”

“Oh, right, I know one – stab you with a stake in your heart.” She grumbled, pushing his chest away.

“This will do you no good.” He mockingly shot his gaze to her back as she was walking away.

A dirty look darted at him over the shoulder. She knew that stake would do no harm to him. But she had something better – thanks to Caidas – though it was not the time to talk about it. She actually wondered if she should tell him about it at all .

“What now? Do you have a plan?”

“We'll go to the inn. And will think about what to do next,” he said vaguely, hiding his hands into his pockets.

After some silence Violette decided to speak again, revealing her little research.

“While you were…asleep,” she tried to pick the right word to use. “ I was studying the Hegga's book.”

Dante curiously raised a brow, side-glancing her. “Studying?”

“Well, perhaps, saying studying is too much, rather I flipped through it. I don't know Heggas’ language after all but there were little notes and symbols written in known language to both of us. Not much but I found it pretty interesting.”

Dante listened to her, watching his footsteps.

“Some of the pictures,” she continued, “seem to be written with different inks or written much later, as the whole text is more dingy.

I don't know if it's on purpose or she just swapped the inks but you can clearly see some of the little images that have been drawn have a different shade.” Violette's gaze followed Dante, waiting for him to say something but the cracking of the snow under the boots was the only sound stirring the air.

The awkward silence, settling between them, made her push the conversation further.

She wasn't sure if Dante was thinking about her words, trying to come up with ideas or just didn't want to talk with her.

As she learned this evening – he didn't like to talk about his past, and it was beyond just spite, he really didn't have any desire to talk about it. Out of fear? Regrets?

“So,” she tried nonchalantly but was cut off too quickly.

“You might be right,” the words left his mouth,

Violette curiously fluttered her lashes.