Be Careful When You Bite Me

We finally reached a pair of large stone doors that opened up on their own to reveal a garden. I had to refrain from gasping loudly at the sight. I'm not sure if it was the feeling of not having been outside for almost 24 hours or if it was the beauty of the garden or a combination of the both that left me simply astounded. A cobblestone pathway stationed between acres of grass led the way towards a pavement opening where a large fountain was the main attraction. Large, perfectly rounded green bushes lined the football stadium-sized garden. Sculptures stood proudly and the perfectly kept pool made me wonder if vampires enjoyed swimming. The full moon shone so brightly I would have mistaken it for daylight had I not known the time. Damon led me down the pathway towards the fountain where his parents; the King and Queen stood waiting for us. I wondered how they had gotten here before us but shrugged the thought as there were more important things to think about.

It was the Queen who broke the silence," I see that you came fully prepared."

I looked down at my dress when I realized it's what she was referring to and nodded," Yes, I am."

"Did you know white silk is traditional when performing a ritual involving a foreign human?"

"N-no," I stuttered. She must be talking about the villagers. The Queen smiled briefly," It's for good luck."

I almost wanted to chuckle or let out a snort but refrained.

I had to be the unluckiest person on the planet.

"Guards," ordered the King and as if on cue, the metal gates stationed between two bushes opened up from behind people began to bombard inside the garden.

Some cheered and some snarled, regardless it was quite clear they were not human. I was suddenly engulfed with the feeling of claustrophobia and glanced at Damon as if for reassurance but his focus was on the crowd of vampires.

My eyes drifted to the guards who began to line the perimeters and it was only a couple of minutes later that we had gone from just four to over 50 people. Joining them last, and standing the furthest from the crowd, stood Seth, Isabelle, and Damon's older brother.

"Quiet!" yelled the Queen. Immediately, everyone fell into a silence, their hungry gazes stationed on me.

I couldn't help but swallow back in an attempt to drown my fear and moisten my dry throat.

over how beautiful she looked in her long-sleeved midnight blue skin-tight gown, her blond hair moving as if in sync with the wind," Tonight, we are going to attempt something that has not

her, turn her into a

does not need to be a native to be turned

when stepping foot into the castle, she

hairs on my skin all lifted and I couldn't help but shiver. It was suddenly cold, almost unbearably so and part of me wished that Damon would at least look at me. Was I expecting reassurance from him? Maybe, he had saved that poor man after all. Part of me wished he would defer the angry and heartless act for later and spare me some comfort but I knew I was in over my head. I was in this completely

from a line of natives would be committing a transgression," the King's deep and authoritative voice managed to quiet down the crowd," The main reason we have been able to live amongst their world without war or fear of being exposed is by feeding off those who belong to the Cold Ones. This foreigner is going to be returning back to where she came from with absolutely no memory of

almost in awe at her beauty," Assuming that our blood won't kill her and assuming

Queen's soft-spoken voice was almost melodic," when combined

witch-" the redheaded woman began, only to be cut off by the

"We need each other."

towards a guard who presented the crowd with a goblet. Had I not been so scared I would have humored

I did not recognize. From a distance, I saw little

as you all already know, a drop of Cold One's blood powers the stone combined with the Full Moon, the potion

scrunched up in horror and my stomach twisted with

who mirrored the

at this fresh cut before glancing back at me with a look I had

almost struggling to form the words," won't the venom

would have to drink this vampire blood-infused magic memory-erasing cup but wouldn't the venom poison me as Isabelle's

arm and trickled a drop of his blood into the goblet before

liquid that made up a quarter of the cup and stared back up at

his eyes