– No, not at all. You put me on the plane yourself!
– But I didn't have time to check it out. I mean, I couldn't.
– It's okay, Cedric! Sorry, I'll call you back or text you later. I have to pick up my luggage.
– I'll do that. I'll wait for your call. – I listened to every note in her voice.
– Okay, I'll go. Just please don't worry about me," Viper said softly.
– 'I miss you already. But be careful and don't go outside after sunset. Remember everything we agreed on.
– I will! I love you!
Viper disconnected.
I felt so happy and at peace. I was suddenly ashamed that I'd almost gotten in a fight with Markus over my misconceptions about Grayson. But now I was at peace.
***
I silently handed the phone to Grayson.
I was surprised to find myself talking to Cedric as cheerfully and carefree as if there was no danger, as if Grayson and his servant didn't exist. It might have been our last conversation. Now that I heard my lover's voice, I felt a little better. I wanted to call my parents one last time to tell them how much I loved them, but the vampire didn't give me that chance: he took the phone from me, grabbed my hand, and we walked to the plane.
As we walked up the ramp to the rather spacious cabin, sparsely but comfortably furnished, I wanted to sit down on the small couch and rest, maybe even sleep, when I heard the vampire's icy voice over my ear.
– Were you trying to trick me? – Grayson asked in a dark tone, and I was suddenly lying on the green carpet that covered the floor. My left cheek was flaming.
He'd hit me.
I was insanely scared, and my body shook with a fine tremor.
No one had ever laid a hand on me in my life, and now this hard slap threw me into a daze and a maelstrom of fear. I didn't understand: why? Why had he slapped me? Had I not fulfilled all his demands?
Grayson towered over me like a threatening dark rock.
"He's going to kill me!" – A frantic thought raced through my brain, and I shrank back and hid my face in my hands, waiting for him to hit me again.
The vampire set me roughly on my feet and pulled my palms away from my face. The expression on his face was terribly stern.
– Did you think you'd tricked me? – he said quietly and began stroking my hair.
I was trembling. I felt completely defenceless against this monster in human form.