Grayson seemed to believe me: the smile faded from his face, and it took on an expression of deep seriousness.
– So you're not as important to him as he claimed," he said, taking the phone from me again.
– He was playing with me! – I sobbed, not looking at Grayson, but as if I were talking to myself, desperate. – How did I deserve this? How could he do this to me? I mean, I love him so much, and he …
– If he hasn't responded, it's not a sign of anything. I think he's busy now, or he's among us, so he couldn't answer you.
– No! He said he'd wait for my call! He promised he would answer under any circumstances! – I exclaimed, praying that Grayson wasn't right and that Cedric wouldn't call me back.
Grayson silently pulled a clean, white, neatly folded handkerchief out of his pocket and held it out to me, "Wipe your tears and stop being hysterical. You're starting to get on my nerves.
Accepting the handkerchief from him, I wiped my tears. Waiting patiently for me to finish my task, Grayson took the handkerchief from me and tossed it into a nearby rubbish bin. Then the vampire opened his umbrella again, and we walked out into the sun-drenched square. Fortunately, it wasn't a long walk-I realised I was being led to a small plane.
But then, to my horror, my phone, which was in the vampire's jacket pocket, rang loudly.
"No, Cedric! Don't call me! – I thought with despair. – Why are you calling!"
Grayson stopped abruptly, turned to me and looked mockingly into my eyes, and something strange flashed in his gaze that made me go cold despite the heat around me.
The kidnapper silently held out my phone to me.
– Cedric! – I exclaimed in a purposely cheerful voice as Grayson kept his eyes on me. – I just landed in Rio! It's so hot here!
– Viper, how excited I was! – I was beyond excited to hear Viper's voice on the phone. – I'd already thought of a thousand disasters! – But I kept silent about how apprehensive I was about her possible encounter with a dangerous vampire, since I didn't want to scare her with something that wasn't really there: she called me as promised.
– Don't worry, I'm fine! I was a little scared when the plane started to shake, but, on the whole, the flight went fine," Viper said.
– I'm sorry I didn't answer right away – I had to leave the castle to call you back," I said, feeling incredibly relieved. – Did you notice any vampires around you?