Mine

Part 7

I get back to the mansion and instantly know something isn't right. Usually I can hear movement in the house, but it's silent. Cautiously, I move forward into the house. When I step in, I stop at the sight that greeted me.
The entrance hall was closed off by my surrounding clan mates, all snarling and glaring at me. In the center, stood James. His calm anger reached me and I knew it was for me.
"What's this?" I say, just loudly for James to hear.
"Sneaking off to see that human boy?" James replies. "Wishing you were human?"
"Is that a problem?" I ask bravely, raising my eyebrow. Out of the corner of my eye, Salina shakes her head, looking worried.
"You told him what you are. You threatened our entire clan. Not only our clan, but other clans, the Council, the whole vampire community." James tells me.
"I did not tell him." I snap. "He figured out on his own."
"He was bound to figure out with how much time you spend with him." James argues. "Do you disagree?"
"He also knows that I would not hesitate to kill him if he told anyone." I cock my hip out, placing my hand there. "Besides, who would believe him? The humans think our burnings in the 1400's is a myth."
"That human boy happens to be a ghost hunter. A believer. So are his friends. Do you believe they would not?"
"He won't tell."
"You know the law, Sammie." James sighs. He didn't want to kill me. "You know what happens to traitors."
"I know what happens to traitors who don't challenge the leader." My words were met with silence. Never, as long as I have been created, has any vampire challenged James.
"Are you challenging me?" James raises his eyebrows.
"Yes." I lift my head. "I, Penelope, challenge you, James, leader of the Blood Serpents, to a fight to the death." Gasps met my ears. Everyone looked from me to James and back again.
James pauses. He knew he would lose. Other vampires said James put me as his second in command because I was useful, but that was only part of the reason. He put me as second in command because I was useful and a very good fighter. He knew I would be able to protect the clan if he died. James nods calmly. "I accept."
There were gasps. "What? James, no." Micheal calls out.
James raises his hand. "Micheal." He says quietly. "It's my choice."
"She's a traitor!"
"Please, Micheal." James replies. "I believe Penelope has a very good reason."
"He's her One." Everyone turns to the new speaker. Salina steps forward.
Micheal scoffs. "The legend of the One isn't real."
"That's what most vampires believe." Salina replies.
"Do you have proof that this human boy is Penelope's One?" James asks her.
I scowl at her. How would she know? Not even I knew if Colby really was. I mean, sure. I did want him all to myself every time I was with him, even when I wasn't. I remember the time I first came back to James to report my finding on Colby's area and being angry at the thought of other vampires taking the area.
"The night Penelope came back after scouting out that new area, the human boy's area, she came to my room. She told me that she had met this human and that he smelled so good, and then I remembered the book you gave me. The one from the Regime? I looked through it and told her about the Scented One."
"And how is this proof?"
"The Scented One is most often the One for a particular vampire. Usually, when we feed on any human, they taste about the same as every other, right?" Some vampires nod in agreement. "The Scented One is one human that is the 'favourite flavor of ice cream' to a vampire. So when the vampire feeds from their Scented One, it's almost impossible to stop. That's why so many vampires kill themselves after feeding from them. Because their Scented One is almost always their One."
"So you believe that because he smells good to her, that he's her One?" Micheal asks, rolling his eyes.
I look to James, who was tapping his chin, his eyes on Salina. He was watching her to see if she was lying. Apparently he was satisfied, because he turned to me and nods. "I believe you."
"So does this mean there's no fight to the death?" Salina asks cautiously.
James nods. "For now."