Dinner was good, much to my surprise. When Damon said he was sending someone up with food, I had no idea that it would be someone that so closely resembled a butler. The whole time he was here I had to refrain from laughing.

It had been an hour since I’d eaten and I could only manage to read one book. I guess I was too anxious to sit still and relax. I sauntered over to the large window, curious as to what was outside. I was lucky that the moon was out tonight, as there were no street lights of any kind. I could just about make out some hedges. After staring for a while, I realised they formed a maze and I felt excitement build up inside of me. I loved mazes and puzzles! I hope Damon allows me to venture out there one night. On that note, where was he? He said that he would be back later, but how late was it going to be? I did not want to wake up to him attached to me again. Something... Weird happened last time. I could swear part of me enjoyed it.

A clock chimed somewhere in the house, notifying me that it was 3 o’clock in the morning, and still no sign of Damon. I paced the room, irritated that he was making me wait, yet still anxious about everything that had happened. I looked out of the window again and had a thought. Surely Damon wouldn’t mind if I ventured out into this magnificent garden.

I grinned to myself and slipped out of my room, not even thinking to take a jacket from the closet that was miraculously filled with clothes my size. I crept down the grand staircase and wandered around searching for a back exit into the garden. I didn’t want to be caught sneaking out the front door. I was so scared I would get caught, and any moment I expected Damon to appear behind me. Yet he never did, and eventually I found the back door.

The night air was icy, so cold I almost regretted going outside. But the idea of being cooped up inside four walls again wasn’t appealing, so I continued towards the maze. As I got closer I realised how far away I had viewed it from, it hadn’t looked that big to me, but upon being closer, I realised it was large. Possibly the biggest maze I had ever seen. Full of excitement, I didn’t hesitate entering.

At first it was fine, quite fun. I picked any path, making numerous turns, but after a while I grew tired. I figured I should turn back and try another night. I sat down for a few minutes to get my bearings, but I had a problem. I was so interested in there being a maze that I forgot to make note of the way I’d came. Now which way did I go? I was determined not to panic. Panicking will get me nowhere.

I picked a route and left. I probably shouldn’t have walked so far into the maze. Now I was exhausted and lost. I had a bad habit of walking into bad places; I knew there was going to be trouble. It must be nearly 5 in the morning now, but it was still dark and the moon had moved so the moonlight wasn’t lighting my path any longer. I was mostly feeling my way back through the maze. This was such a stupid idea. I felt my way round a corner and heard rustling in the hedges next to me. There was no breeze tonight, what was making that noise? It seemed to be following me, so I started running. I’m not the athletic type; I can’t run to save my life. But something was after me and the adrenaline I got from it was enough to keep me going. Something was in front of me and I didn’t see it, I tripped and went flying. I picked myself up, realising I’d hurt myself, but not wanting to stop in case whatever it was behind me caught up. I was sure I was being paranoid, nothing could be following me. I found out only last night there were scarier things in the world and I was living with one now. I heard laughter behind me, unfamiliar laughing. I screamed. What if it was one of the other vampires that Damon was talking about? He kept going on about this ‘rich’ blood that I have. Why didn’t I just stay in my room? I was starting to get out of breath and I knew I’d have to stop soon. All of a sudden I bashed into something hard, but before I fell to the floor something, or someone, caught me.

“So you’re the one Damon’s been keeping up in his house.” A voice drawled at me from above yet very close. “You know, he hasn’t left his place for ages now, he said he had work but I knew he had found a new pet.” Something stroked my cheek and I froze. I couldn’t speak this time, all the times Damon had put fear into me, at least I could whisper. But this time... Nothing.

“You smell different.” He was now right by my neck and I couldn’t stop him. I closed my eyes expecting pain. “Hmm, I can’t hurt you, I think Damon might put up a good fight for you. We’re not allowed to touch his possessions.” Again with the possessions? Who is Damon? Some King or something? Another time and I might have rolled my eyes, but now I was thankful that Damon was so powerful, it meant that I wasn’t going to die right now. Maybe when I get back after Damon realises what has happened, but not now. I breathed out and felt better, I hadn’t realised I’d been holding my breath this whole time.

“Perhaps I will get a reward for returning his plaything.” He mocked but didn’t move away from my neck. “Hmm, I wonder if he would notice one bite... He should really share things more often.”

I flinched as shivers went all over my body. “This won’t hurt a bit.” I screamed as something pierced the skin on my neck. Tears were rolling down my face; it was nothing like when Damon bit me. I wish I had listened to him now; I should never have left the stupid room.

All of a sudden the pain sudden the pain stopped. “Oh shit!” He abruptly backed away from me.

“She’s mine!” I recognised that voice, Damon had finally turned up. “You of all people know better than to touch my possessions! I didn’t think you needed reminding.”

“I’m so sorry, I found her wandering my maze all alone. You shouldn’t let your snacks roam around unprotected. Especially this one.” He gestured towards me. “Have you tasted her?! It’s the most exquisite thing I have ever tasted!”

I didn’t know how I was still standing; I was sure any moment now I would pass out. I just didn’t want to be unconscious around two angry vampires.

“You will pay for this, Dimitri.” Damon warned. I felt someone holding me and I went rigid. “It’s okay Evain, it’s me.” Damon’s deep voice reverberated through me and I relaxed slightly. I still wasn’t comfortable around him.

“Oh come now, Damon. It’s not like I stole her off you. If you let your toys go wandering through my maze, there really is nothing I can do. Maybe you should let me have more of her, she tastes so good.” I felt him come closer and I moved as close as I could to Damon.

“This isn’t over, Dimitri. Once I’ve returned Evain to her room, I will be having a word with you.” Something told me there would be more than just words happening.

“Fine.” Dimitri spat. “You can have the little brat. But just wait until everyone hears how delicious she is, you can’t fight off everyone.” I could tell he was smirking, even though I couldn’t see anything anymore.

“That’s it!” Damon let go of me and I collapsed on the floor. I couldn’t see, but I could hear what was happening. They were fighting; I didn’t know who was winning. I wasn’t fond of Damon, but I was terrified of Dimitri, who knows what he would do to me if he won. Please win, Damon. I thought as loud as I could, I knew he would hear me somehow.

There was a loud screeching sound that shattered the quietness around us. I covered my ears until it was over, praying I would live to find out what had happened.

“Evain?” I lifted my head and could just about make out Damon right in front of my face. “You stupid girl. Do you know what could have happened to you?! Do you know who I just had to destroy? My neck will be on the line for this. All because you couldn’t listen to one rule!” He grabbed me and dragged me the rest of the way out of the maze. It turned out that I was right by the entrance, how stupid had I been?

Shit, shit, shit. I was in so much trouble this time. Damon gripped me tighter in response, clearly I have no idea how much trouble I’m in. Being dragged along the ground hurt like hell, but Damon was in no mood to slow down.

I could tell it was getting lighter outside so I could see more, but Damon moved even quicker. I guess the sunlight thing is true... From the glimpse that I got of where I was, we were deserted. As in, apart from the maze, there was nothing around for miles, just baron land. Where the hell was I?

We reached the stairs, I was hoping he’d let go so that I wouldn’t get bumps and bruises from being dragged up the stairs. No such luck.

“That is the least of your problems.” Damon snapped at me.

I flinched at the anger in his voice. “Look, I’m sorry I wondered off. I was so bored and I just couldn’t relax! Besides, you said you were coming back later, and I didn’t want to be asleep when you did. I waited for ages and you never showed. What was I supposed to do?!” By time I had finished my rant, he had let go of me, and looking at him glaring at me, I could tell he was furious.

“Bored? Does it look I am here to entertain you? I was late? Evain, I am not obliged to be with you when you wish, this is not a date.” He snickered at me and I felt foolish.

All laughter was gone in an instant. “This will cause me so much trouble, you have no idea what you have done!”

“Then explain it to me! Tell me who you are. Tell me why everyone is so afraid of touching your ‘possessions’” I couldn’t help the curiosity I had, even when he was so angry with me.

“Because they just are. Bad things happen to people who touch my belongings, hence why Dimitri is now none existent.”

I gulped. “Are you like a king?”

“No I am not a king, what a stupid thing for you to think.” I could have sworn he nearly rolled his eyes at me. 

I was hurt by I quickly recovered. “Then what are you? Some sort of powerful vampire?”

“Something like that. It is none of your business anyway. Just go to your room, you have caused enough trouble tonight.” 

I felt ashamed in myself, I had only wanted to do something interesting. I couldn’t help that he took forever to turn up. I was sulking and I knew it. 

Anger flamed in Damon’s eyes. “Do you not understand?!” He shouted at me. I felt myself slam back into a wall, just how much power did he have? “If I had lost the fight earlier, how long do you think you would be alive for? I was not joking when I said you had unusual blood. If he didn’t drain you, someone else would have!” He had me gripped by the shoulders, his nails digging into my skin. 

“But you won! Why are you still angry? He’s gone now, no one knows.” 

“Do you honestly think that this ends here? I destroy the bad guy and everything is fine? You stupid girl.” I snorted, I didn’t exactly consider Damon as the good guy. I felt his nails pierce through my skin and I winced.

“Just like you humans have rules, we have rules. Seeing as I destroyed Dimitri, there will be hell to pay. Do you not understand? On the way back in, I was so busy trying to keep you safe that I didn’t check the surroundings. Anyone could have seen or heard what happened. Do you know what will happen if anyone knows that you are here?” I shook my head, not daring to speak. “Well... Let’s not go there.” A chill went through me. What have I done? If anything happens to me now then it’s all my fault. 

“Now you understand.” Damon let go of me and backed away sharply. It was so suddenly that I stumbled and nearly fell. 

“I wish you didn’t smell so good. You don’t know how difficult it is to stay away from you.” His words wrapped around me seductively and I felt small shivers flow through my body. 

“Try to not make yourself bleed. There’s only so much restraint I can muster.” He had moved closer to me again. So close that we were nearly touching. We locked gazes and I felt giddy, almost as if I was drunk. His voice was so deep and dark; I was practically wrapped around his finger. 

I felt like something was shouting at me in my head and I snapped out of the trance he was trying to put me in then ran into my room. 

“I told you to stay out of my head!” I glared at him from the far side of my room. 

“Indeed you did, but you see, you disobeyed me tonight.” He smirked. All too soon it disappeared and it was replaced with a look of confusion. “You know, it is very unusual for someone to be able to snap out a trance like that, especially one of mine.” There was emphasis on the last word. What was so special about his trances? “Perhaps it’s your particular blood type.”

He had glided right towards me whilst saying that and I couldn’t back up any further. “Perhaps I should have some more, just to test something.” He flashed me a smile, showing me his sharp teeth. Not again I thought, please no. “You’ll kill me.” I sounded defeated, there’s nothing I could do. 

His smile faded instantly. “I would not let that happen.” He looked almost possessive. I thought back to the night he took me. I made one wrong decision, just one. If I had let him carry on with that woman in the alleyway then I would be safe at home. Why did I have to turn back?! 

“I am so glad that you did.” The smile was back, slightly warmer than it had been before. “Do you know how long I have been searching for you?” 

“I haven’t been around that long, you can’t have been searching for that long.” What a fool. 

“There was a myth that entailed of someone with your pure blood. What the myth failed to mention was when such a being would walk this earth.” His face was right next to mine again. “A few hundred years later and I stumble into you in an alleyway.” He laughed deeply. “Now, let me have a bite.” 

“NO! I won’t let you treat me like a snack whenever you want! I just won’t!” I shouted. 

“You are incredibly stupid if you think you can stop me.” And as if to prove it to me, he grabbed my hair and yanked my head to the right. I gasped and braced myself for the inevitable pain. He snickered, as if my pain made him happy, the sadist. He pulled harder causing me to scream and then he sunk his teeth into my neck, right on my wound from Dimitri. I don’t know how long he was at my neck, but I was tired of screaming, tired of crying. Everything started to turn black, and I embraced it.