Page 70 of Potion of Deception (Potion of Deception #1)

HUNTED

V iolette studied the map while Dante dozed off. She was plotting the path to the magical cave in her head.

The map has indeed changed since they broke the spell – some of the names have shifted, and the position of places has switched.

Where it was empty now towered kingdoms, some towns disappeared, new ones emerged, more forests grew, and new lakes formed.

The map seemed to adjust to their time and it wasn't surprising, since Dante said the Queen lived several centuries ago – it was likely that the map showed old places that are unknown to anyone now or bear little resemblance to nowadays.

Her eyes fell on a new name on the parchment she'd never seen before – Lost Kingdom. She stopped, and wracked her mind about what was there before. And it struck her – Desensisfort . The kingdom from Dante’s past. His kingdom.

She peered at the sleeping vampire over the map.

Her eyes ran to the parchment again and trailed the way to their destination.

If she was right their path lies through…

Oh . That's why Dante wasn't satisfied with the map's answer.

It really spat the bad news in his face – soon they'll pass by the remains of the kingdom he once called home.

Painful memories – if trusting his words.

He probably never wanted to come back even to see this fragment of the past, what was left of his – once – life.

His human life . Interesting. How much time had passed since the last time he was here?

Was this the reason why he rarely looked out the window on the way?

Violette was hit once again with a feeling she was trying to overcome – compassion.

She looked up at Dante again, her eyes raked over his dark hair to his calm sleeping face.

Her heart sank. In this state she would never have said that in front of her was a murderer and a monster.

He looked so harmless, so sweet…And that is exactly why Violette was avoiding feeling sympathy for him.

In this light she would easily believe he is an innocent soul.

It was so easy to doubt everything she heard about him right now, about the vampire who gutted the whole kingdom. She couldn't let it fool her.

Remember it, Violette. Do not believe anything, especially what you see, sounded in the back of her mind.

Vampires were so easy to trust with their charm.

They were the masters of allurement and lying, able to make their prey believe they were just unfortunate souls who were enclosed in the bodies of bloodsuckers.

But…Dante had never tried to paint himself as a saint.

She remembered Lamia's words and they had been rooting in her head since then.

‘At least, he doesn't pretend to be someone he is not.’

And yet, Dante himself said she can't trust anyone, even him.

Was he really just a victim of circumstances or was he just trying to make her believe he is better than he is?

He looked so shattered and regretful about what he did…

or was he playing? If so then it was cruel.

Something in Violette's heart wanted to believe him, part of her soul wanted to give in, to hope all he said was true and he isn’t the monster as everyone paints him…

But she couldn't. If she would do it, she would be foolish.

Dante was exactly what he was and she should sink this thought in.

A few hours passed until the coach stopped. Violette couldn't make herself sleep, she might have dozed off for a while, but it didn't last long – the seats were too hard and uncomfortable. She opened her eyes right before the carriage stopped. Dante was already awake.

Her head popped up out the window. They arrived in a town, quite big and crowded. This place lived and flourished; people hurriedly were crossing the roads, the air was brimming with loud conversations, shouting of vendors spread through the streets.

“We'll stay in the inn for a rest and then take another carriage to the final destination,” Dante said and opened the door.

They appeared to be on the main street with a market on the other side. The noise was following them all the way to the place they decided to stay in, until the door closed behind their backs.

While Dante decided to check the availability of the carriage, Violette chose to take a nap, even if it was a short one – a few hours of sleep is better than nothing .

Her muscles ached with a deep soreness, mind clouded with a hazy fog. As soon as she stepped on the threshold of the room, she surrendered to the warmth of the bed.

But soon enough something flew into her face, snatching her from the clutches of the dreams. Her eyes burst open.

“Wake up, Little Witch. Plans have changed.”

“What?” She roughly rubbed her eyes, a slumber still obscuring the clarity of her mind. She blinked continuously until her vision became clear again, finding Dante peering out the window through a gap in the curtains.

“I noticed two vampires in the town. I don't know if they're here for our souls or just to have fun, but we need to get out urgently.” He drew the curtain closed and streaked through the room. “We won't go by carriage, we need to leave unnoticed.”

“If not by carriage, how will we get to the grotto?” she finally spoke, still veiled with the drowsiness, as she almost wore a left boot on her right leg. She picked up the cloak that Dante had thrown at her a minute earlier when she heard his next words.

“On foot.”

“On foot?” Surprise filled her voice.

“Yes. We'll go through the forest,” Dante stated.

“Isn't forest a more dangerous place to hide in?” Her brows pulled together in confusion. It sounded like a terrible idea .

“In any other time, yes. That's why they'll be looking for us in the towns. It's filled with too many scents but that's exactly what would make them think we'd rather be here than in the woods,” he explained.

“I hope you're right because if I die, I will find the way back just to annoy your whole existence to the end of your days,” she snorted.

“I am immortal.”

“Exactly,” she blew.

Dante hurried. “We need to cover up your smell.”

“My smell? Do I stink?” Violette's face contorted in an offended way.

“I'm talking about your human scent,” he evaluated. “Some of the vampires met you before, they can recognize it. Do you have something that you haven't worn yet and that hasn't taken on your scent?”

“I think I have another dress in the bag,” she murmured as her hand reached for another pair of clothes.

She took out a long-sleeved dress of a vivid purple color with a cape attached to its back.

Dante pulled one of the sleeves and sniffed it. “I can still smell traces of you. Can you change it with magic?”

Violette faltered. “I can conjure a trailing scent but it'll be very light like a perfume. There's no spell to change a scent, especially since vampires have such a sensitive smelling ability.”

“Fine, then just change clothes and throw my coat on top,” he suggested.

“Won't they smell you?”

“No,” he flung over the shoulder, leaving the room. “Vampires can't sense each other. The only way they can track us down is your scent.”

So strange…Violette could clearly smell Dante, for a vampire he had a very delightful scent – it reminded her of a late summer night, lulling her to peace, totally the opposite of death.

Violette's dress was a slightly warmer tone of violet than her previous one.

It had long sheer sleeves to the knuckles, black lace along the hem of the tiered skirt, which ended just above the knees.

A wide corset belt, decorated with silver star patterns entwined her waist, her magic wand hanging behind.

As she found Dante on his way downstairs, he measured her from top to toe, his eyes lingered for two seconds on her collarbone crossed with lilac ribbons, matching the black one on her neck with a violet rose. “Are you ready?”

She nodded as they stepped down and he shoved her his long embroidered coat in a dark blue.

It was heavy and much bigger than her, making her doubt she would be as fast in it as always but it wasn't like she had other options.

At least, it was warm and soft inside, she felt like she was wrapped in a blanket.

As they approached the first floor she noticed a hint of concern on Dante's face – it was something new for sure. Her fingers seized the coat, pulse quickened. She looked around, although it was a pointless thing – she couldn't distinguish between vampires anyway.

“Let's go out the back door.” He moved to the back of the hall. "Stay here for a moment, I'll take a look around,” he said near the threshold and just before leaving, he turned to her and said formidably, “ Don't do anything.”

“I won't,” she breathed with the intention to keep the promise.

His forehead crinkled, gaze lingered on her face, and then he disappeared in a second as if merging with the darkness outside.

Violette only now noticed how loud her heart was thumping, she could hear it in her ears. Growing anxiety made her look out to see if Dante was coming back.

“Hello,” a cloying voice called instead.

A male head popped out in the doorway, a malignant smile dancing on the corners of his lips.

The blood in her veins curdled.

Bad. It was very bad.

Two young men blocked her path. One of them bared his teeth – fangs . Such a simple act but it made Violette nervously back up, she suddenly felt like caught prey. She reflexively reached for the wand, though it wouldn't help her.

“Don't think we are familiar but you know some of our friends,” another vampire finally smiled as they both made their way closer.

Her back pressed into the wall and she shut her eyes in fear. The echoing heartbeat in her head was all-consuming. And then she remembered she actually was holding the most powerful thing. The Vampire Slayer. If only she could reach it in her bag.

Her eyes flew open as something hit the wall nearby.

The vampire who was threatening her a few seconds ago was pressed to the wall with a broken forehead.

The bright red was dripping to the ground as she raised her eyes to Dante, who was seizing his neck.

Another one tried to hit him but ended up being hit into another wall, his legs hanging up in the air.

Dante squeezed his collar and leaned closer.

“I'll say only once, so listen closely and tell others,” his voice came out raucous. “I'll rip the head off anyone who even breathes her way,” he snarled.

Violette could feel her heart palpitating relentlessly against her chest, each beat echoing like a drum in the silence. She seemed to be fused with the ground, as if invisible vines held her firmly in place, refusing to let her move even an inch.

Dante added, “Now, if you value your limbs, get lost.” His fists unclenched, letting the vampires go, and both of them whipped out into the darkness.

Violette breathed out, oblivious to how loud it was. Dante spun to her, his expression remained serious and baleful, his features hard and sharp. But his voice turned out much softer.

“Are you fine?” he asked, something twinkled in his eyes.

She held his gaze, swallowed and slowly nodded, fastening her nails into the fabric of her coat .

“We need to hurry,” he said and grabbed her by the hand. They almost jumped outside in the direction of the forest. Violette once again looked back at the city lights as her legs continued to run towards the thick trees, her hair fluttering against the wind.