Page 50 of Potion of Deception (Potion of Deception #1)
HIDDEN INTENTIONS
T ime had flown too fast in Violette's mind.
Just a few days ago she was working in her little shop and now she was on her way to shop with a vampire, and she even met the Lord of Vampires which actually sounded absurd.
His words couldn't leave her and she tried to ignore the dagger he gave her but sometimes she could swear it was whispering to her.
Despite not having any desire to use it, thoughts about it had been scrambling into her head.
Caidas said Dante is a monster and he had no place in this world, otherwise it's in danger, which didn't make much sense to her; Dante looked too apathetic to be plotting atrocities against others but she knew for sure – he wasn’t innocent and this mask on his face only proved the fact he wasn't trustworthy.
They passed a little clearing surrounded by trees as Violette grabbed the dagger on her waist, her fingers felt its hilt encased with gems.
She never wanted to hurt anyone. The thought of killing someone seemed horrendous, even if it's someone as terrible as a night demon.
And she wasn't sure she wanted Dante dead, aside from his terrible character he didn't do anything bad to her.
If only she had more time to investigate what exactly happened, what put Dante in his mouth trap.
But he was an impenetrable wall and was very careful with his words.
He'd never let her know more than he wanted her to know, he treasured his secrets as if they were inviolable oaths and it’s unlikely it would change in the near future, if ever at all.
Her reflection glimmered in the blade, bathing in the moonlight.
A new image surfaced in her memory. That servant in the witch's reminiscent…
he killed her. What if he will kill more people if she'll free him?
All their blood will be on her hands because she let it happen.
She once again felt creeping cold in the empty dark room: Dante sitting on the ground, his shirt stained in blood.
Now she imagined the girl who he killed; she didn't deserve such a fate… Nobody does.
She squeezed the dagger's tilt.
“What are you doing?”
Violette’s eyes snapped to find Dante staring at her, his brows writhed. Her throat went dry as she stumbled upon the words. She had to come up with something. Quickly.
“I was thinking maybe you'll show me how to use it right?” Not a shiver in her voice. “It's no use if I don't know how to…use it?”
“Where's gone 'I'm a wizardling, there's nothing I can't do'?” he sneered.
“As you remember,” she accusingly pouted her lips, “my magic doesn't work on vampires and I was thinking maybe it's time to learn how to protect myself…From someone like Nigel or Caidas.”
Dante stared at her for some time with a completely unreadable face, Violette almost believed he'll laugh at her at any moment but instead “It's reasonable” came out of his mouth .
And then, by a quick move he knocked out the dagger of her hand and pointed it at her. Violette's brows jumped, she reared back.
“First, you should move quicker. Dexterity and agility are essential if you really want to fight with a dagger,” he said with a serious tone, then flipped the dagger over with the hilt facing Violette. “Second, confidence.”
She cautiously took the weapon, not taking eyes off his face.
“You must trust yourself and be stable with your intention. You can hurt someone only if you really want it,” he uttered.
“If you are not confident in your thoughts you won't be confident in your movements either.
You'll never be able to stab someone if you're unsure or have doubts, Little Witch.
Never be scared you won't hit the target.
Just stab. There's always a chance you'll still hurt your opponent even if not in the place you wanted.
You'll win some time anyway,” with these words he stalked closer.
“One of the best parts to hit – the thigh above the knee. Another – side of the abdomen but it's much more difficult to reach.” Dante came around from behind and wrapped his palm around her hand on the dagger. “Hold it tight and with honor, it won’t bite you.” He dropped her hand.
“Now imagine I attack you, what would you do?” His hands in a second landed on her waist.
Violette's spine straightened.
“I…” she stuttered, thinking, “I'd hit you in the stomach and I'd step on your foot…I guess. ”
“Okay. And what about the dagger?” Dante's head lowered to her closer.
“Uh…” A strange excitation slinked under her skin. “Stab you in the thigh?”
“Much better. You can also hit me in the knee to throw me to the ground and put the dagger to my throat. Like this,” he whispered, moving her hand to her throat, another wrapped around her shoulder.
Violette swallowed, her eyes fixated on his palm around hers.
“But if someone did it to you,” he continued, “you can strike them with your elbow in the stomach as you said, then in the nose or their jaw, and while they're in pain, push in the shoulder to knock them down from their feet. Let's try, fight me, Little Witch,” he said, his grip tightened.
Violette's body tensed and she weakly hit him in the stomach.
“Come on, it should be much stronger to hurt me.”
“I don't want to hurt you,” she let out.
“Very bad,” he chuckled. “I thought you disliked me enough for it.”
She frowned and kicked him harder.
“Slightly better,” he said, his voice too even to think he felt something.
Violette's brows twisted together, she gathered all her courage and hit him with all her finding force. He clearly succumbed to her but dropped his grasp. Then she blew a strike at his nose and pushed him down to the ground, pressing him harder and pointing the dagger to his throat.
“Is that better?” she blew, her voice came out panting.
His face was only a few inches away from her as she overhung him. His eyes flashed with merriment, a shameless smirk contorted his lips as he purred, “Oh, I just wanted to end up beneath you.”
Violette sputtered and pulled back, shoving on her feet.
A delightful chortle escaped his mouth as he lay on the ground.
“But you were good,” he said, lifting his body. “Need more practice though.”
Violette shot him an evil look. “Don't even dream,” she pressed.
Dante responded to her by gritting his teeth.