A Thousand Years Ch. 04

"But Vyeila will ruin you. She's like a poison, no, more dangerous and lethal. She's pure evil." The Duke turned towards Vladimir frantically, repeating Kathry's words without even knowing it.

"Actually, Vyeila has been in sight for most of these past few days. I'm sure she's not planning anything," Vladimir sighed. "Quite honestly, I believe she has no such intentions of harming her future husband, and she knows that power resides in the Vampiric line, not hers. Besides, she has probably changed for the better. Most women do when they are about to be married. The Duke just shook his head silently. He didn't even feel like he knew this Vladimir anymore. Had Vyeila seduced him with her dark arts? The Vladimir that he'd known before Melanie had left would have no less called Vyeila changed for the better than he would have called a boa constrictor a harmless pet.

"Congratulations, Vladimir," Melanie stopped herself from calling him Vlad, somehow she needed to speak formally, to make this situation seem less personal, less hitting home to herself. "I know you'll be very happy." She pressed her lips in a tight line to hold in the welling tear that threatened to spill out any second now. She looked away, and quickly took a sip of her tea.

"Thank you," Vladimir replied with a smile. "Will you be here or will you be home at that time?" He said the words almost on reflex, politely, like a host to a guest, as if they had no import to him. Mel wondered if there was any hidden meaning, but knew there wasn't. She tried to respond, but her own impending depression choked at her throat.

"She'll be here," The Duke responded, almost sarcastically. He wondered if it was too late to change Vladimir's mind, to make him come back to Melanie.

"Who will be here?" a high-pitched, almost steely voice was heard. A long black robe flowed under a wide face with dark eyes and lengthy raven locks. An emaciated, dark figure glided forwards. Vyeila sat herself down at the table in one swift motion. Melanie froze, like a deer in headlights, and for one second, Vyeila's onyx eyes were inflamed by the hatred of a burning glare, but then she blinked, and her face was again as composed and cold as ever. The two women looked at each other, and both turned to see Vladimir's reaction. He smiled gently and stood up.

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*Feel free to use these characters. I might continue but have not currently planned of more.