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IMPRESS.

Chapter Nineteen: Fire Upon The Vampires

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[Monday]

"I have been here a week and I don't feel like I know you very well. The second stage of the IMPRESS event is tomorrow and I have no idea if I will ever see you again after it so, who wants to go for a trip around Aeralin," I clapped excitedly and the smile on my face was gleaming.

My three ladies widened their eyes and all nodded in unison with smiles on their faces, "thank you, lady! I'm sorry it's a habit, thank you, Natalya. What time, where should we meet you and what should we wear?" Leia asked on behalf of her, Kiera and Claudia.

I smiled, "meet me in here around 4 O'Clock, I don't want you three wandering around this castle on your own without me. And you can wear anything you want from my wardrobe. I'll go make sure Viktor is left in good hands before we leave so don't worry about that."

"Thanks, Natalya, see you at 4 unless otherwise," Claudia pursed her lips and smiled before I waved goodbye and went to exit out the room.

"Oh, another thing Natalya!" Kiera's voice called from behind as my hand grasped my bedroom door's handle. I turned my body around with my hand still holding onto the handle, "Viktor lost both his son and daughter that had come to visit him yesterday, he found their bodies in a waiting room not far from this room, you might want to go talk to him before we go."

I had yet to speak to Viktor ever since I saved his life, I mean I had seen him but for like a second until I was always needed elsewhere by either Evelyn, Xander, Alaric and Lord Hilbert.

My heart instantly broke at the breaking new Kiera had shared with me and I lifted my eyebrows in shock and sadness, "oh my- thank you for telling me Kiera. I shall visit him as soon as possible. Is he coping well?"

Kiera shook her head with a hurt expression, "he- he isn't."

I nodded in thought and left the room immediately. There was no doubt that Irwin's children were killed by some of the stupid, selfish and idiotic vampires that roam this castle and world.

After I had spoken to Oberyn last night, Alaric taught me the basics of having an ability and taught me how to control it if I ever use it. I struggled. Every time I would try and light a candle, I would set something else on fire that Alaric had to quickly put out since I would instantly panic.

I guess maybe I should practice a little more before I freely begin using my ability.

It is currently morning just after 10 am and I am on my way to the castle's biggest meeting room which I had been instructed to attend to by Xander and Evelyn early this morning.

I don't know why but they told me it was important.

I had planned to go find and speak to the black witch today if I got a chance to be alone with. I desperately needed to speak to her about my parents, grandmother and Oberyn.

Alone.

If Alaric spoke to her with me he would most likely restrict and distract her from saying anything to me because my brother is first of all good-looking, second a little too protective and three quite intimidating.

My schedule today is busy seeing as I now have to fit in Viktor too, catch up with him and see how he is doing straight after this meeting I have to attend linked to the IMPRESS event.

Anyway, my ladies helped me get ready this morning. They left my hair in big curls falling behind my back and did two single waterfall braids on the sides of my head which met in the middle at the back. My hair seriously looks insanely good, trust me.

The dress I was wearing was the colour I had chosen to wear throughout the competition and that was black. It was a long, deep plunge, backless dress with a slit for one of my legs to be exposed. I wore some nude heels to top off the whole outfit.

Finally, I arrived outside the door of the meeting room I was invited to come to and saw Xander and Evelyn speaking to each other in a way that looked like they were almost arguing about something.

They both looked mad and appeared to be shouting at one another.

"Evelyn, Xander?" I said their names in order to get their attention and immediately both of them turned to look at me, instantly masking their faces with smiles instead of the anger that they had wore not even a second ago.

"Hello, Natalya..." Xander said through his teeth trying but failing to not appear guilty of something.

I crossed my arms and turned to Evelyn hoping that she will tell me what is going on, "mentors shouldn't lie to the person they are helping so tell me, what is going on?"

Evelyn clasped her hands together and exhaled looked at the meeting room door. "Turns out this isn't your meeting."

"What do you mean by not my meeting?"

Evelyn nudged Xander so he could spill the tea and I impatiently waited for the bad news. "Turns out this is my brother's meeting and he-"

I was distracted for a second when I saw through the gap between Xander and Evelyn, Meredith coming towards the meeting room door with her two mentors.

Whilst watching Meredith walk towards our direction, Xander continued to speak... "my brother wants you and Meredith to serve the drinks for this meeting. Apparently, it is an important one."

I shrugged and fluttered my eyes surprised because I thought the news would be worse. "Well, I don't mind serving the drinks. I mean what could possibly go wrong?"

Evelyn and Xander stared at each other worriedly.

***

This is possibly the worse thing ever.

I should have known. Meredith and I are the only humans in the competition, it was super obvious, of course we would be the ones to serve the drinks!!!

With a scowl on my face, I stood beside Meredith like the composed lady I definitely wasn't and watched as Zac sat at the head of the conference table as some old and young men entered the room and flooded the ten seats surrounding the table.

It was a formal meeting.

Each seat was fixed to its own space where a glass was waiting for either mine or Meredith's blood to fill it.

Meredith was not even trying to make conversation with me, she was clearly panicking on the inside just like I was. I could tell by her gaze which had been fixed on one of the room's arched windows for a long time.

Well, to be fair I wasn't panicking. I was more annoyed.

There were four guards stood in each corner of the room but none that I really knew like I did Derek, Roger, Thomas and Alaric.

Breathing out I shifted uncomfortably in my spot when I realised Zac was checking me out from his head seat.

He was comfortably sat tilting his head so he could roam his eyes from my head to toes.

When my eyes connected with his for the briefest moment, he winked.

The wink made me blush and had me hyperventilating, I don't know why but it just did. It was like he was messing with my hormones.

The smirk that appeared on his face was to top off the clear satisfaction he had gained from doing this to me.

Once his eyes left mine, my eyes decided to analyse the last three men who were walking into the room in their breeches, boots, jerkins and medieval tunics. Each man in the room had a different region logo printed on their clothes.

Two men had a yellow feather with a golden sword driven through it printed on their tunics like a badge and the symbol represented the region Miriadan.

Two other men had the region logo for Agriassi the black raven printed on the upper arms of their white shirts underneath their long black jerkins.

The silver crown logo for Aeralin was printed on two male representatives' collars and the dark green, jumping horse outline logo for Weimos was a badge pinned onto two other Lords' jerkins.

Looking back to the door I waited for the representatives of Icilia to walk in so I could see the iconic logo that was the purple diamond.

When the two representatives of Icilia did walk in, I genuinely thought I was going to drop and die.

I- I seriously wasn't ready.

The third and seventh people on my I'm going to get revenge list.

Jamie Hayes and Lord Mclaren. Had walked in, right here, right now.

Jamie Hayes the man who was in control of the taxes in Icilia and who bothered my parents to death and almost sexually assaulted my mother whenever they didn't have the money to pay him.

Lord Mclaren the man who stole everything from me against my will. Everything except my virginity, fortunately. Although someone else stole that from me. I don't want to talk about that, though.

The old but young vampire man Lord McLaren who claimed he had fallen for me not long ago.

I hated them. I despised them. I absolutely loathed them.

I swallowed hard and shuffled once again in my spot as I watched Lord Mclaren and Jamie Hayes take their seats.

They hadn't noticed me stood here yet, thankfully.

I felt sick to my stomach, watching them represent my home region when really all they represented was pure cruelty.

What if they recognised me? Shit! I need to hide my face.

"Natalya..." Zac's voice called and I mentally cursed. What great timing...

Ughhhh.

There was no point hiding now, they would soon see my face and definitely already know that I am participating in the IMPRESS event.

Zac clicked his fingers at me and motioned for me to come to his side.

Hiding my worry, I wore a mask of confidence with the determined look on face as I walked over to him.

"Your honour, may I have a drink?"

That voice sent a gazillion strikes of fear within me and I squeezed my eyes for a second, scared that Zac would easily allow Lord Mclaren to drink from me.

No no no, please no.

When I opened my eyes, they connected with Lord McLarens who was both knowingly and wickedly smiling my way. Jamie Hayes was mirroring the same expression as his partner in crime.

I broke the eye contact first and looked back down at Zac, my breathing becoming non-consistent.

Those two being in the room made Zac seem less scary and more like an angel from above to me.

That was how bad they were.

"Human, you heard the man..." When Zac pointed behind me and to Meredith, a sudden relaxation filled me within and I wanted to thank Zac so much.

I don't know why he didn't just allow Lord McLaren to drink from me, maybe he knew by the look on my face I was afraid. Just maybe... Unless he was still keeping his promise to Alaric that he wouldn't allow others to hurt me?

I mean he called me by my actual name and just called Meredith human. That means something right?

"I'd rather have a bite of her if you don't mind..." Lord McLaren's eyes were burning into the side of my head as he said this.

I breathed in and waited for Zac to respond to the idiotic prick.

"No this one is off limits to you and anyone else, if anyone touches her, they die. Simple as..." Zac was already angry the way he spoke was very threatening.

I was taken back and the butterflies in my stomach were spiralling out of control as I smiled to myself.

Lord McLaren wasn't satisfied and as he grabbed Meredith's arm and sunk his teeth into her wrist, his eyes burnt into mine like fire melting ice.

I just pursed my lips trying not to think too much of the nice deed Zac had done for me unintentionally.

When I wasn't concentrating Zac took my arm into his hands and ripped a bit of my flesh with his fangs in order to fulfil his thirst with my blood.

It hurt at first but the more he drank, the more I kind of like it.

It was weird. This wasn't supposed to be pleasurable, it was meant to just be painful.

Lord McLaren and Jamie Hayes both looked annoyed at the fact Zac was the only one in the room who could drink from me and I sent them both a ha ha in your face bitch look and smirked.

I was well aware the other men seated at the table were looking at me both in lust, hunger and confusion. But, I didn't pay attention to any of them.

Twenty minutes later my legs were beginning to ache from standing and I felt faint because of the number of times I had to refill Zac's glass whenever he got into a heated argument with someone at the table, mainly Lord McLaren.

"I am just saying that we should put some thought into rebuilding the burnt down village in Icilia. It doesn't make our region look very attractive to visiting outsiders. Don't you think so, sweetheart?"

I froze standing beside Zac's seat and bit my bottom lip when Lord McLaren directly addressed me.

What he was saying was true and I wanted to agree but at the same time, I didn't want to give him the satisfaction of telling him he was right.

I remained silent.

"Aren't you from Icilia? I have never met you before but I am sure it was mentioned when you became a competitor in the IMPRESS event...." Jamie lied with the corners of his lips rising.

Why is he lying? He for sure knew me and he certainly knew my mother when he was harassing her right in front of-

"Natalya, you told me your parents died in a village fire... Is that the same village he is talking about?" Zac asked suddenly and startled me as I wasn't expecting him to remember the story of my parents.

Jamie Hayes was grinning like a sicko when Zac mentioned the death of my parents and I really wanted to drop kick him so bad.

I slowly nodded and looked down sadly... The death of my parents was still a very touchy subject for me.

"Well on second thought, I will allocate some men to rebuild the village," Zac responded and I widened my eyes glancing back up.

Did he just- Wait... Did he just change his mind because of me? Surely Zac is not feeling very well today.

Everyone in the room was as surprised as me including Meredith and the guards in each corner of the room.

I blinked for a long time with my mouth slightly ajar when Zac decided to dismiss everyone.

"Now, gentlemen, my ladies can stand no longer so let us postpone this meeting for another day... Till next time."

***

On my way to the room Viktor (the man I saved)'s room, I couldn't stop thinking about how Zac was being really tolerable at the meeting.

How considerate he was being. It was so random, as soon as he drank my blood it was like my opinion mattered to him.

Even before he drank my blood he was still quite kind?

I don't know but so far the day has been weird.

And also, seeing Lord McLaren and Jamie Hayes for the first time in a while was a complete blow to the face.

Fast walking around the castle corridors, I turned a corner to a unlit hallway where it was completely deserted.

A bit strange?

I continued on and dismissed the fact the hallway was unusually empty and the fire torches were not lighting it.

Little did I know...

That was a big big BIG MISTAKE!

Oh, sheet.

"And where do you think you are going-" A man I had seen not long ago blocked my path with unfriendly, black eyes, "-little girl..."

My breath was knocked out of me as I halted and stepped back in fear.

Quickly I turned around and began to run back down the dark hallway.

Until...

I was trapped by another familiar face.

Jamie Hayes.

Oh, fuck.

"What do you two want?" I crossed my arms and looked between them.

I was terrified. Being trapped like this was a nightmare.

But... I had to appear fearless and strong. "What? Not even a greeting to an old friend." Lord McLaren stepped towards me until his hand was caressing my cheek.

I shuddered and kept my lips sealed.

"What happened to you? You are extremely stunning now... When I heard you were competing for the crown I thought it was a lie until I saw you fight yourself past the first round..." Lord McLaren whispered just beside my ear.

The hairs on my arms were standing up because of the cringy way he was whispering which was giving me goosebumps.

"And?" I gained back my speech challenging Lord McLaren.

He sniggered and so did Jamie Hayes, "she has always been a little feisty. I knew she would grow to be hard to please whenever I paid a visit to her beautiful mother."

I balled my fists annoyed, "don't ever speak about my mother..." I said through gritted teeth.

"Now now dear, no need to get angry. He didn't say anything negative..." Lord McLaren tried holding my hand but I snatched it away from him.

"What do you want? I will scream if you even think of touching me again." I asked and took a step back.

The step back didn't help because both of them only followed me forward and circled me.

"That's the thing sweetheart..." Lord McLaren ignored what I had said and placed his hands on my waist, "...I want you."

And before I could scream a hand was covered my mouth from behind and I realised it was Jamie.

My screams were muffled as I struggled to remove his hand from my mouth.

"Don't fight it, baby..." Lord McLaren was unzipping his trousers and my eyes immediately widened as I panicked... "this will all be over soon, trust me you will enjoy it."

When I bit Jamie's hand and was able to speak I yelled, "get your hands off of me! You- you rapists!"

I backhanded Lord Mclaren across the face and left a red fingerprints mark on his cheek before I ran for my life screaming.

When nearing the end of the hallway my path was suddenly blocked by Jamie in a flash and I was grabbed back by the arms with a hand back over my mouth.

"There is no getting out of this one, sweetheart." Jamie's voice rung in my ears and my eyes began to become teary.

Okay, now I was scared.

I had to stop this.

Lord McLaren was going to have his was with me and I was sure he would give Jamie a go too.

Oh my God.

"Rip her dress off... I want to feel her everywhere..." Lord McLaren ordered Jamie and his orders were easily followed.

Lord McLaren was now holding his hand over my mouth, tears from my eyes pouring onto his hand as Jamie tore my dress apart and revealed more of me than should be seen.

That was when I remembered.

Fire.

But, could I really burn them alive?

I mean something inside of me was screaming yes and the more I thought the more the idea of it became moral in my mind.

It would be considered an act of defence, right?

You know what? I DON'T CARE.

I'm not going to go through this again. I