In Between by Rizonne Alexander (the reading strategies book .TXT) 📕

big when I realised how fast she got to the door. “How?” I stuttered. “I told you to not escape and to not run.” She said letting go of my throat. She handed me the clothes and I took them still feeling absolutely flabbergasted. I quickly got dressed and handed her the hospital gown. “Come.” She said and we both stepped out of the room. The stone floors were like ice cubes against my bare feet. We walked down this really long passage that had absolutely no colour. Everything was dull and dim. The only light that there was is candles aligned along the walls. Everything was quiet, it sounded dead. We finally came to a stair case that led down. We walked down, it felt really creepy. The candles danced with our shadows as we walked by. The place was really cold, and I hugged myself trying to radiant any heat that would come. Once we were finished with the stairs another long passage. “Really now?” I sighed at the nurse. She just gave me a stern look and walked ahead. I scurried behind her till we approached a dungeon like door. Big and black. She opened the door which led to another passage but this time with plenty of doors that looked like possible bedrooms. After passing a few, she stopped at one. She unlocked it and opened the door. “Your room, I shall send Dregicht with your breakfast shortly.” She stated and left the room. I stepped into the room and too my amazement, colour! I closed the door behind me and took a tour of the bedroom. A really large bed, bathroom and everything else was colour coordinated which included mats, flowers and sculptures. It was quite modern to my surprise. I went to the bathroom that was mostly made out of marble. I run the water and walked over to the wardrobe. To my surprise once again, it was filled with garments. Fur. Yes, the Czech wardrobes are mostly made with fur. This is where many designers got their inspiration from. I pulled out a black pants with a plain black long sleeve with some sneakers. All my size, strange. I ran into the bathroom with the clothes and closed the tap. I quickly undressed and slid into the bath. It was freezing cold and this bath was currently doing wonders. I quickly sponged myself, embracing the warmth of the water. For some reason I wasn’t really scared, more curious and confused. I think maybe it’s because the moment my parents find out I’m missing; all hell will break loose and my captors will rot for eternity in jail. This made me more content, also the fact that my captor has given me a decent room, clothes and food. I quickly jumped out the bath to try and avoid the piercing coldness against my body. I dried myself off and put the clothes on. I opened a small cabinet that consisted of a hair brush as well as an electric toothbrush. I laughed out loud, wow. Luxury for the captive. I finished up and made my way to the bedroom. My heart jumped when I saw Dregicht. He sat silently in the corner, neatly dressed in a salmon coloured suit with white shoes. Luckily, I was dressed already as this would have been quite a mess. “Dregicht?” I asked “Amber, I’m glad you have made yourself at home already.” He responded. “Not so fast, this is not my home.” I replied making my way to the bed. I took a seat and faced him. “We have a lot to speak about. Some things just don’t add up. The nurse has speed that is inhuman, and the outside of this bedroom looks like a morgue! Have you made contact with my parents already for whatever you seek?” I asked. He let out a loud chuckle. “You are indeed feisty, and I think this is one of the reasons why Lord Bastiaan has chosen to keep you.” He said laughing still. “Chosen me? Lord Bastiaan?” I asked confused. “Right, let’s get started. There is no ransom. This is no hostage take.” He stated. “What?” I asked shockingly. “There are some things in this world that you might have thought does not exist, well, it does.” He claimed, looking straight into my eyes and it gave me chills. “Listen, so far you have been really good to me, but can you just please get to the fucking point because I need to get home. Whatever amount of money you want, you got it. Give me a laptop and your banking details.” I said frustrated. Once again, he laughed. “Do you think this is funny? I have a business to run.” I said standing up. “Amber, calm down okay. Have a seat. Let me get to the point. I am a vampire, I have been alive for more than two-hundred years and Lord Bastiaan for more than three-hundred years. Lord Bastiaan has been in a deep sleep for around twenty years until we finally found you who resurrected him.” He explained with a straight face. “What kind of sick joke is this Dregicht? I really cannot fathom that you have time for jokes.” I stated and getting even more angrier. Almost immediately he stood in front of me, his eyes gleaming red and teeth protruding that resembled fangs or canines. I started screaming and backed up against the headboard. I grabbed the cushion and planted my face into it. “Please! No! this cannot be!” I screamed into the cushion. “Amber please, I did not intend to do that however you left me no choice. Your mental state is beyond childish.” He stated, walking back to the chair. I could not stop crying, the tears were never ending, and my screams were choking me. By the time my throat was burning, and my eyes swollen, Dregicht was sitting with his head in his hands, I could sense his frustration too. “Why am I here?” I whispered to him and avoiding eye contact. “You are here because you have resurrected our King.” He replied. “How did you know I will be able too?” I asked again. “Because of your purity.” He responded. “Was it you that took me while I was in the forest?” I asked another question. “Indeed, thus making it my responsibility to keep you safe and in good health until Lord Bastiaan is ready.” He said smiling. “Ready for what?” I asked. “To meet you.” He stated. “Well, since I healed him or whatever I should serve no more purpose. Let me go please Dregicht.” I sobbed. He ran his fingers through his hair, I could tell he was frustrated. “Amber, I cannot. That would be up to Lord Bastiaan. I know this is probably not how you pictured things to...” he tried explaining “Probably how I have not pictured things?” I cut him off and raised my voice. “This is absolutely ludicrous!” I shouted, “Do you even know how I feel?” Dregicht stood up and made his way to the door. “I can’t speak to you while you are in this state, I have given you sufficient information for you to think about. Let me know when you are ready to speak. Breakfast will be with you shortly.” He stated and walked out. As soon as the door closed, I threw a cushion at it and screamed. “No” I thought out loud. This is impossible, but even so I was able to resurrect a vampire. Suddenly the door opened, and a woman walked in, she looked like a house keeper. She gave me a slight smile and wheeled the trolley over that was filled with plenty of treats. She turned and made her way to the door. “Wait, Sorry, stop please!” I pleaded with her. She slowly turned around and looked at me. “I need your help please.” I said. “My Lady, I cannot speak to you. I am just here to bring your breakfast.” She explained. “I understand that, but I was taken against my will and I need to escape.” I tell her. She looked at me with big eyes, she slowly stepped forward. “You cannot escape, beyond these castle walls is a lot of terror. Unspeakable terror. I have to leave now.” She explained. “Wait, one last question. I can imagine you are risking a lot at this moment.” I tell her. She stopped and looked at me again. “Lord Bastiaan, is he a vampire? Is everyone here a vampire? Does vampires truly exist?” I asked almost in tears. “Indeed.” She stated and left the room. I feel like my life is falling apart. How did I end up here and why? I took a couple of deep breaths and pulled myself together. “C’mon Amber, you can do this.” I tell myself. “You can do this.” I got up from the bed and went over to the silver trolley that was filled with food. I started on the omelette and made my way through the fruit and yogurt. I did not realise how hungry I was until I started eating. I gushed down a glass of fruit juice and continue to eat on the muffin too. Once I was filled up I went over to the window. I opened up the curtains to have a better look. I could not see beyond the castle walls but was faced with the garden outside at least. It was really cold and snowing outside. Everything was dull except the room that I’m in and the garden. The garden is really a good view, even though it is winter, the trees and grass was green. How I longed to be on the outside right now, my mind every time drifts to the unthinkable and the unbelievable. I closed the curtain and made my way to the bed. I was really tired, full and had a rough morning. The moment I put my head down, I was lights out. Chapter 2 - Bastiaan’s POV

 

As a boy I was always on top. Top student, top athlete and even my parent’s favourite. I’m the fourth son to be born out of seven children that consisted of two girls and five boys. To tell you more about myself I will have to go way back, and when I mean way back I’m talking about the year 1509 when I was in my child hood years. Even though I was the favourite, I was beaten by my father to try even harder. To excel beyond my best. We were never vampires until one day an old witch got pissed off at my father and cursed us all and that is how the vampire bloodline started, grew and increased over the centuries. It’s not hard to turn others into a vampire too, one bite, some venom release through our fangs and then over the next twenty-four hours a vampire is created. Unfortunately, I was the only son out of all my siblings to survive. My parents mastered the art of being a vampire, controlling the hunger and blood lust, they tried their best to educate us. However, my siblings were constantly getting into trouble. Leaving the world in a daze