Married to the Vampire King (COMPLETED)

Chapter Fifty-Six

My stomach dropped as I recalled the bargains I had struck with Rayne. First, I asked him to help Mia and Luc. Then, I'd asked him to help save Christie from Rudolph.

Each of these requests had come at a price.

"What do you want from me. You have to tell me," I asked.

"I told you, for now, nothing," he said. "I would ask that you avoid telling your husband about our little deal. I don't think he would approve of it."

I said nothing.

Rayne studied my expression and shook his head. "I'm not the bad guy, Sophie. We wouldn't be doing this unless it was essential. Try not to dwell on it too much. It's best to focus on saving Mia, which reminds me."

Rayne held his hand, and over his palm, shadows started to swirl and form into a small black knife.

He plucked the knife from thin air and handed it to me. I took the strange knife in my hand and noticed the intricate black engravings that covered the blade.

"It's a gift from your Grandfather," Rayne explained, "A spirit blade made from the broken souls of the damned. It's the perfect weapon for killing demons."

I tried handing the blade back to Rayne. I didn't want to pay the price that came with taking the blade, but Rayne refused to take the blade back.

"Take it and keep it close to you. You may need it one day," Rayne replied and glanced down at his watch, which looked suspiciously like Rolex. "You'll have to excuse me, my time on earth is limited each night, and I must now return to Hell. I hope this conversation has been enlightening."

He dipped his head in a fake bow and dissolved into nothingness.

Casper came out the bedroom door, looking concerned. He glanced around the darkened corridor to see where Rayne had gone.

"He's disappeared," I said.

"Why didn't you run out of the room like that? You know it's not safe to be alone with a demon," Casper said.

I thought about what Rayne had said earlier about not telling Casper about my demon heritage. I wondered how Casper would feel about me if he knew I was part demon.

"I should call an exorcist to the palace to get rid of him. The sheer arrogance of that man, to think he can just shimmy in and out of my palace like he owns the damn place. Horrible, wretched, demon scum," Casper growled and then paused. "Are you okay, Sophie? You have gone pale."

I reached up and pressed the back of my hand against my frozen cheek. The colour was draining fast from my face as I realised that Rayne might be right. Telling Casper, I was part demon would be a bad idea. He would probably tell Nico, and my food and drink would forever be spiked with silver and holy water.

"I think I need a drink," I said, backtracking down the corridor.

Casper followed behind me, and we began to head down the spiral staircase.

As we neared the ground floor, I could hear some kind of commotion coming from the foyer.

"The King has declared it. She is mine," Rudolph's voice echoed up the stairs.

There was a scuffling sound, and Nico's voice yelled, "Stop it, Jacques. He's taunting you."

I glanced anxiously at Casper and noticed his demeanour had suddenly changed. He reached out and grabbed my arm to stop me from taking another step.

He said in a low, pleading voice, "Come back to our bedroom. Please, Sophie."

I glanced back down the stairs and heard the muffled sobs of a woman.