Chapter 3 ∣ Target Acquired:  Lord Blaise

-Evicka 

"They're not ready," Killian sits on the brown couch in the living room with his feet kicked up. He has this look, criticizing me for how soon they'll genuinely come face to face with their own enemies.

I'm sitting sideways in my comfy cushion black chair, my legs hanging over the side of the armrest. I tilt my head to the side, watching Killian intently and reply with the same reassurance, "I know."

"I don't like that you have decided to go on your own," he eyes meet with mine.

I see the worry in reflecting off his features, as I have seen every single day since my mother was taken from me. He's worried something is going to happen to me, but if I don't act soon, I'll become too comfortable and forget the past.

I can't forget. I won't forgive.

I often find myself longing for the merciless killing of the one who took my mother away. I also long for the day I may find my father...and question why he didn't care enough to keep me with him. As far as I know, he's an ass who didn't care, even though Killian reminds me all the time that he did it out of 'love.'

What type of love tears families apart?

"I have to, you know that," I reply, taking a section of my white hair and braiding it absentmindedly while we talk.

"I'm coming with you then," Killian decides for himself while he sits up, swinging his legs until his feet meet the ground.

I arch a brow while asking, "You are, are you? I don't think so. Only having one vampire to defend my hunters is not enough. Besides, once I kill Blaise, we are going to be on the move from that point forward."

"Evie...you can't go by yourself...it's not safe!" Killian stands up, walking over to my chair just to look down at me.

I tilt my head up, meeting his eyes before replying sternly, "It'll never be safe, and there are times it is better not to risk the lives of others."

"You've never met, let alone, fought another pureblood before," Killian continues, crouching down beside me, my eyes following his, "they are vicious...and they have all been around a lot longer than you have. Blaise will rip you apart."

"I'm not a little girl anymore, you can't always be there for me," I whisper. Killian shakes his head and sighs at my retort. He stands up as I swing my feet around and sit upright in the chair. Our eyes lock, and I continue, "Stop getting in my way."

Killian angrily questions, "Getting in your way? Are you serious?!"

"Dead serious...you may see it as protecting," I glower at him, placing both hands on the arms of the chair and pushing myself up, "I see it as you are standing in the line of my target...every single time."

"Fine," Killian snaps back, turning on his heels and heading down the hallway to the training room.

I wrap my arms around myself, the pain of calling him out and casting him aside is hard. Killian has been the only one to stand by my side, protect me, and watch me grow. But, if I ever want to become stronger, or find my mother and father, I must stop relying on other people and start counting on myself.

"What do you want?" I can hear his heart beating.

Zak comes into view, dressed in dark blue jeans and a plain white T-shirt. His demeanor seems to have altered slightly. I don't feel the hatred emanating from him as I had just yesterday.

Has he finally learned he could trust us?

"I wanted to speak with you," Zak's voice is on edge.

I narrow my eyes at him...

...something's off.

"Sit," I motion to the couch Killian had previously been sitting on, observing him. It occurred to me, we really hadn't spoken to each other all that much, unless it had been him flexing his ego and challenging my friends.

Don't get me wrong...one day he will lead Janie and Rainier. He is strong and has determination.

Zak lowers himself down into the chair, placing his hands on his knees. A few seconds later he asks, "Why do you want to kill the coven leaders? You are a pureblood yourself...it just doesn't make any sense to me..."

"It doesn't matter that I am a vampire," I reply, trying to find the right words to ease him, "one of them took my mother away from me when I was very young."

"Why kill them all?" He appears intrigued by my response.

"Why not?" I question him back.

"Only one took your mother," Zak seems to be trying to relate to me...he's trying to get close, "are you trying to start a war?"

"It's not like I could ask one without that one alerting them all...and for all I know, they are all in on it," I release a sigh as I try to bring him to understand where I'm coming from. I walk toward him, coming to stand in front of Zak before I inform him, "If I have to start a war, so be it."

"Your own kind will kill you...that's treason, what you plan on doing...King Locaine will come after you without a second thought. After he kills you, he will kill the rest of us for helping," Zak looks up at me, his white irises holding understanding.

"He can try," I growl back at him. I often wonder exactly how robust King Locaine really is...

...I guess we'll find out soon enough should we reach that crossroads.

I roll my eyes and ask, "Why do you care anyway? Wouldn't you rather see me dead? After all, I am a vampire."

Zak's facial expression instantly changes, his eyes casting away from me momentarily.

What's wrong with him...he keeps giving me that funny look.

"I-I-," Zak pauses for a moment, hesitating before finding the right words to say, "I guess not...all you have done is welcome me...and I've been a complete ass."

Admittance is the first step...you're on the road to recovery and discovering precisely what your potential is.

"Yes...yes you have...about time you admitted it," I agree and laugh at him.

"I'm sorry, but I couldn't help overhearing," Zak continues, looking up at me curiously, "why are you going by yourself?"

I place my hands on my hips and tilt my head to the side, "Rainier, Janie and you are not ready. I need Killian and Kenzie to watch over you while I'm gone. Our house isn't impervious, and we are not part of a coven, so we don't have any way of resting easy and being safe."

"If you leave, Killian's going to kill me," Zak seems very nervous.

I chuckle, "Oh hunny, Kenzie would kill you long before Killian would. She's still ticked off with you by the way." After a few moments pause and watching the way his face pales for a second I state, "Anyways," I start walking away from the living room, Zak quickly getting to his feet and following me, "I really must be going, it'll be nightfall before I know it."

"I want to go with you," I'm completely taken by surprise as Zak takes hold of my upper arm. Sure, he's powerful for a hunter, but he pales in comparison to the vampire race. Though...

...this is quite cute, acting all tough.

"When you are ready, but right now, you don't think things through and charge right in. I don't want to be running around saving your ass," I reply honestly, placing my hand on his and removing his fingers one at a time.

A smile creeps across my face, his features lightening as he lets go of me. "Okay," he nods.

I pointed toward the training room, encouraging him to learn how to become a better hunter before he gets killed trying to run after me.

**

"Well hot damn..." Blaise's voice trails as his eyes travel over my body, standing at the doorway to his mansion. I wear a red skirt and a black corset bust over a crimson crop top, accenting my curves while my black heels click softly on the front step. My hair is down, falling forward over my shoulders; my whitish-blue eyes reflecting the chandelier light that comes through the front door.

His long white hair is pulled back at the nape of his neck. He is wearing dark slacks, black dress shoes, and a white button-up shirt. I figure, the best way in is just walking through the front door...

So, this is another pureblood.

"Hi there," my flirtatious smile catches him off guard.

Blaise tilts his head to the side before saying, "I don't believe I've had the pleasure of meeting you before, miss...?"

"Elani," I reply with the introduction of a fake name, "the pleasure is all mine."

"Lord Blaise," he removes himself from the doorway, allowing me entrance to his coven. Apparently, it's as easy as that when you're a pureblood.

Not very smart on his part...all too trusting.

I step into the mansion, taking in all the amazing and beautifully crafted marble. The walls are a dark forest green; the floor is silver with flecks of gold woven in.

"Please," Blaise's voice comes from behind me, startling me for a moment, "join me in the parlor." He motions to two sliding black doors. My eyes catch sight of at least seven vampires alone wandering around on the main floor.

Maybe...this wasn't the best idea.

My mind begins to work out exactly how I'm going to escape his coven should I be successful in ending his life.

I nod and make my way over to the door, that's when I notice a young human female who can't be more than eighteen or nineteen. She appears slightly frightened, opening the door for the two of us and casting her eyes to the ground in the process. Her long curly brown hair falls just past her shoulders, the clothing she is wearing...repulsive.

I'd almost forgotten I would run into this at some point...

"Thank you, slave," Blaise replies.

I hate that word...

Blaise offers me a seat in one of his high back chairs. He faces me opposite on a couch as I lower myself into the chair. After a few moments of silence between the two of us, he asks, "So...what do I owe the pleasure of your visit? There are not that many pureblood females...where have you been hiding?"

I shoot him a cheeky smile and reply sweetly, "I've been here and there, really just searching somewhere to settle down."

"Well then," Blaise's interest peeks, his eyes flashing with something dangerous and somewhat alluring, "I don't suppose you would like to stay the evening and see what I might have to offer you?"

I don't even know the human girl's name, but she appears in the parlor door. Drawing our attention, she informs Blaise, "Master, there is a letter that came for you. I've placed it in your room."

"Slave, come here," Blaise orders the girl.

She is wearing what looks to be a two-piece maid's uniform with four-inch heels. She shyly approaches, keeping her eyes from staring at me as she comes to stand beside Blaise. I eye her up and down, wondering exactly how long she's been with him in she's acting like this.

A small gasp escapes her lips as he abruptly pulls her onto his lap while stating, "Slave."

"Yes, master?" She replies obediently.

"What do you think of Elani?" Blaise's eyes rest on my form, the girl glancing up from the ground to quickly studying me.

"She is very beautiful master," the girl responds promptly.

Blaise takes hold of her chin and forces her to look at him while asking, "What would you think about her being your mistress?"

"I would like that very much, master," the girl responds, embarrassment clearly written on her face as her cheeks begin to turn red.

"Tell me," I question the girl as I attempt to play the role I appear as. The girl's eyes are averting mine with every chance she gets.

Am I that intimidating?

"What should I know about your...master?" Even I don't like the word coming from my own mouth.

Blaise nods his head, letting the girl know she can speak freely. She turns in his lap and stutters, "Uh-uh I-...if you ar-are staying...my master is really...rough."

Oh lord...

...she's talking about sex...

Well, this might work to my advantage. No one will question the noise, that's for sure. Also, there might be other ways to escape his coven...

Blaise's thundering laughter, in turn, causes the girl to jump as he runs his hand over her thigh while reaffirming what she's said, "You know it, slave."

Mindless these humans are...

...I'm glad my hunters aren't like this.

"Run along," Blaise lifts her off his lap and slaps her ass, lingering for a moment just to squeeze it. She exhales sharply and squeaks before leaving the room flustered.

"How long...has she been in your possession?" I ask curiously.

Blaise arches a brow and tells me, "Not that long. The last one was quite disappointing, so I had to replace her rather...unexpectedly."

"What did she do?" I inquire while leaning back slightly in the chair.

"She tried to kill me, failed and I beat her to death," Blaise replies nonchalantly.

How pleasant...

"My dear," Blaise speaks once again, a seductive grin playing across his lips, "you couldn't have possibly stumbled upon my coven by accident," he pauses a moment to ask me rather straightforward, "are you interested in me?"

"You caught me," my eyes hold a glint of knowledge in them, continuing to walk further down this lie, "I've heard many things about you, and I must say, your reputation precedes you."

"What have you heard about me?" This catches his interest while he smirks,

I stand from the chair, swaying my hips as I come to a halt directly in front of him. Very slowly, I begin to appeal to his ego, "You are quite powerful, keeping a strong grip on this island. I'm looking for someone who can match me..."

"Oh, really?" He chuckles and arches a brow.

The lust is evident in his eyes as he stands from his seat. This is becoming easier than I first thought...

...maybe too easy.

Blaise cups my cheek and caresses it with his thumb. I sigh lightly and lock eyes with him...though I'm in shock when he wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me to his body. I feel his muscles beneath his shirt, exuding his strength.

"How about we talk about business later and move straight to the pleasure?" He whispers into my ear.

"I'm here barely ten minutes, and you're already trying to get me into your bed?" I ask him with amusement laced in my words.

Blaise drops his hand from my cheek and smirks at me before stating, "My dear, you know how rare female purebloods are? I would be stupid not to make you mine...or at least attempt to."

His smile is compelling as his fangs creep from between his lips. I shoot him back a mischievous smile and shrug, "Why not? Just don't leave me disappointed."

"Oh sweetheart," Blaise's lips are at my ear when he boasts, "there's no one better."

I retract away from him, the unease chill running down my spine. Blaise's motions toward the parlor door, "This way."

I must stay in control...

...I can't let him have the advantage.

Blaise's mansion has a charming white marble staircase that leads to the upper levels. I follow him, my eyes briefly contacting other vampires. Their stares quickly vanish when they do make eye contact with me.

Good.

Be afraid.

After we climb the staircase, Blaise opens a door that comes around the right corner, holding the dark cedar wood door wide open for me. I step inside, taking in the beautiful room. He has quite the taste for books, as there are four bookcases wholly filled. There is one wardrobe, a king size bed with gold covers and white marble floor.

I can't reveal myself...Killian's right, if I use my blood magic and I don't kill Blaise, he'll expose me to the world for what I am...

...that is, if he doesn't decide to kill me first.

I know I'm playing a dangerous game of cat and mouse with this much older and stronger pureblood. Though...at this point, I'm not entirely sure which one of us is the cat and who is the mouse.

"There's just something about you I can't quite place my finger on," Blaise's voice reaches me as the sound of the door closing and locking echoes through the room.

I turn to face him and gracefully smile, "That I'm nothing like anything you ever have seen before?"

"Got that damn right," he growls, taking both of my hips into his hands and pulling me right against him.

I gasp before whispering, "So, how often do you fuck your slave?"

"Far more than you'd like to know about," Blaise runs his canines over my exposed neck, sending a shiver down my spine. He then states, "But, I'd give that up for you in a heartbeat."

I'm aware that a vampire biting another vampire is not just to feed, it's the highest form of intimacy. It completely exposes your most vulnerable point, and I'm not about to let him do that...

...I'd never let any vampire bite me.

I push against his chest playfully, creating space between us quickly. Blaise's eyes trace over me as he asks, "Yes, sweetheart?" Though I do catch that he does appear slightly upset at my actions.

"It's nothing," I reply before altering my tactics, "I'd rather skip the foreplay."

"Eager, are we?" Blaise's voice is slowly becoming husky. He stops for a moment and continues, "You remind me of someone...I just can't place who."

I arch a brow and assure him, "I'm not sure who that would be."

Unless...

...you have my mother.

"Well then, if you are so restless and want my cock so bad," I feel the bulge through the front of his slacks pressing against my pelvic bone, "I'd be happy to oblige."

With that, Blaise lifts me off the ground and lightly tosses me onto his bed.

Fuck.

I'm taken right off guard a second too late...

He crawls on top of me, desperately trying to devour my lips with his, but I arch my neck back, pulling ever so slightly away from him.

"Alright then," Blaise continues as he runs his left hand down the side of my body, slowly hiking my skirt up. He chuckles with a sly smirk and plays my own words against me, "You did say you'd rather skip the foreplay."

Oh, hell no I ain't letting you fuck me.

I can tell he is wrapped up within himself, letting his guard slightly down. I'll have to act now, or-

I just did that, didn't I?

I moan loudly as he runs his fingers over the outside of my panties. I shake my head, clearing it before arching my hips up with all my strength and wrapping my legs tightly around his waist. Blaise is shocked as I roll him underneath of me, studying his expression.

"I should have guessed," Blaise is evidently impressed with my actions, "you have a dominant personality as well."

Of course...Killian keeps saying I get that from my father.

Blaise reaches up, sliding his hands over my corset, slowly making their way to my breasts.

Nope.

I reach my arms up in the air, placing one up and over my shoulder, reaching alluringly down my back. Blaise is becoming impatient, feeling the way his grip on me tightens with anticipation.

My fingertips contact the hilt of my medium length dagger I had hidden away down the back of my corset. I casually begin to pull it from its hiding place.

With my free hand, I playfully take hold of Blaise's wrists into one hand and thrust them above his head. He does struggle for a moment, and I can feel him using only an ounce of his full strength.

He's playing with me...

...just as I am with him...though, for many different reasons and a very drastic outcome.

"Sexy little minx, are you trying to dominate me?" Blaise's eyes are sly as he watches me ardently.

"I just may," I purr back while winking at him.

I begin to grind my pelvis against