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

with scattered dead bodies that have been drained of their blood. For a year this continued until my father grieved for each of his children after taking their lives for he had no other choice. Alas, I was the remaining son who listened and obeyed. All my siblings that died left plenty of new vampires behind and so my father started our legacy. He gathered all and created our coven, all under one roof and was taught the correct way to live with this eternal curse. Many vampires were lost, and many vampires was created. Today, I am the new King and I rule the vampire world. My parents aren’t dead, they just felt that they needed to retire after years of ruling and I was the only heir to take my father’s place. About seven years after my coronation as King, a witch came by and struck me with a chamber glass. To this day even after been woken up, I still do not know why I got attacked by the witch. My men and associates have searched for the witch for many years but unfound. A chamber glass is very rare to find and to retrieve as well, it’s a weapon that can demobilise a vampire. The only cure is pure blood, it might sound easy, but it is not. Every person has a past, a secret and a sin that was committed. For the twenty years my men have searched for a pure blood, every person that they thought was one would be drained of their blood. That was the unfortunate case of finding the one to resurrect me; many dead bodies along the way. After thousands of bodies, my best friend and right hand decided to go in search for a pure blood himself. He excelled in the task and today I am breathing. Dregicht has reigned the coven for twenty years and he has done a really good job. I have chosen to keep the pure blood only because of how rare it is and how hard it was to find her. It’s not something we do but my life was saved and I need to thank her personally. Both my parents were also ecstatic to hear my voice over the phone. It been about three days already since I was brought back to life and I needed to pick myself up and get back into action. I sat in my study, I just put the receiver down when Dregicht walked in, he was extremely frustrated. “Sir Dregicht, what might be the matter?” I asked, “My Lord, it has been four days already and she is still driving me crazy.” He explained falling onto the sofa and putting his hands onto his head. I let out a loud chuckle, got up from my chair and made my way over to him. “Why would you let a silly human upset you like this?” I asked, still laughing. “My Lord!” Dregicht glared at me. “Please do go and see for yourself, that human is beyond everything that I have ever come across in my life. Her backchatting, her demands. I would have sucked her dry on the first day already.” He claimed throwing the cushion at me while I was still laughing. “Ah Sir Dregicht, very well. I will go see for myself. I want to meet her, I felt it in her blood that she is a hard one”. I explained. “I should have let her go the moment you opened your eyes.” Dregicht mumbled and left the room. I took one last sip of blood from the crystal and left my study. The corridors have always been dull and old but the inside of every room was spectacular. I think I made the castle like this because that is my personality. Dull on the outside but burning with passion inside. Before I go to the pure blood, I decided to rather take a quick shower and dress myself in clean clothes. Once I reached my bedroom I locked the door behind me and got undressed. The room smelt of fresh sandal wood, just the way I like it. For a moment I stood in the mirror, looking at myself. I still had a few dry patches on my skin that was healing. I quickly jumped into the shower, I decided to have a quick shave as well. My beard was very long, and I looked much older than what I feel. Once I was done, I got dressed into a black pants, white shirt and black shoes. I messed up my hair and added some cologne. Done and satisfied I thought to myself as I looked back into the mirror. As I was about to walk out the door, Dregicht ran in. “My Lord! She escaped! She has gone over the wall!” he shouted. Fuck, I thought to myself. I pushed him aside and ran out through the castle and into the garden. Outside the castle wall is danger beyond my control, she will be lucky to be alive. I smelt fresh blood and jumped over the wall. The moment I landed on to the ground, everything went silent and darkness grew. I have never been scared in my life, but this place gives me unexpected chills. I still wonder sometimes why my father would build a castle in the outskirts of this part of the forest. I dare to not move because I do not know what could be watching or preying on me at this very moment. However, I looked to my left and there she was. Bundled up with fear against the wall. I heard dried leaves creaking and dashed to her side, I lowered myself next to her. She was silently whimpering. I looked up and saw two green eyes. I knew immediately this was a wolf, vampires and wolfs do not get along well. I grabbed true blood and jumped over the wall within a split second. She was still holding onto me tightly even though I was strolling back to the castle, through the garden with her in my arms. Her scent enticed me, I shook it off. The wind picked up and her blonde hair swept below my nose, her scent once again tried to capture my attention. Dregicht and the housemaids were all awaiting my arrival at the back door, I was still carrying her in my arms and she too had kept her hold onto me. I just gave weak smile to everyone and carried her to her bedroom. Once we were in the room, I locked the door with my one hand. “You can let go now, you’re safe.” I stated. I could feel her muscles tense up with the sound of my voice but at least she did what she was told to do. She still had on a white night gown, strange that a human would want to escape in a night garment. I walked over to the chair that was in the corner and took a seat and I crossed my legs. I looked at her, she was terrified. “You could have gotten us both killed you know. I’m sure my housemaids around have mentioned about the dangers beyond my castle.” I stated. She looked at me and stormed off towards the bathroom. She then slammed the bathroom door shut. Wow, I thought to myself. She is not even scared of a vampire King!  I decided to wait for her, I heard the shower water go on and off again, soon enough she was wrapped in a towel and exiting the bathroom. The water dripping from her body and hair tensed me up. I have not seen a woman like this for more than twenty years, imagine my build up! My pants became tighter as I imagined the towel dropping. She didn’t once look at me, I kept my eyes on her. She took out some clean clothes and went back into the bathroom only to return dressed up. She went to the window, climbed onto the top of the sill and sat there staring out. It was like she blocked me out or that I was even in the room. I got up and moved towards her, she didn’t flinch. I looked out the window and checked the garden too. “Beautiful, isn’t it? My workers kept their promises to make sure everything stays the same while I was not here.” I said hoping to get her attention. She glanced at me for a second, gave a sigh and stared back out. Wow I am the King, but I am being disregarded here. “Excuse me, I am Lord Bastiaan. King of the vampires, are you aware of that?” I asked, “I am yes, am I bruising your ego?” she asked smiling. Dregicht was right, she is really bad. I ended up laughing, I think I was more in shock on how I’m being spoken too. I then walked towards the bedroom door, “It was nice meeting you, I hope to see you at dinner tonight.” I stated while opening the door to leave. “What? Dregicht said I would just be meeting you and then I can leave!” she pleaded. I turned around swiftly and within a split second I was in front of her with my hands behind my back, smiling at her. “Did he say this in those precise words?” I asked looking at her. She looked down, I could sense she is scared. “Do you want me to ask the question again pure blood?” I stated. Still no answer. I moved a little closer but this time I went to her ear with my lips. She flinched a bit but stood still. “Did he?” I asked again. “No.” she whimpered, and I left the room. I went back to my chambers where I found Dregicht lost in some fairy tale book. “You never seem to leave those tales Sir Dregicht.” I said chuckling. “My Lord, for as long as I live. It’s the only thing that keeps me going after Stella.” He said. Stella was his wife, she sadly died years ago when a werewolf attacked her in the mountains. Another killer, werewolf’s. Our blood boils and shreds us into pieces with one bite. “So, what do you think of Amber?” He asked me. “Oh, her name is Amber? Well Sir Dregicht, if she had not brought me back to life I would have sucked her dry instantly.” I claimed sitting down at my desk. We both laughed for a while. “She has this beauty I cannot describe.” I said staring through the full crystal of wine that Dregicht poured. “Please no. No way. She will be the death of you.” Dregicht responded. “Then let she be the death of me.” I said smiling. “Head over heels, let me go and make sure the cooks are preparing tonight’s dinner already.” Dregicht said shaking his head and walking out the chamber room. I sat there for a few more minutes when a bird flew right into my chambers through the window. A Raven, pitch black. I took a last gulp of the wine and place the crystal onto my desk. The bird than transformed into a woman. “Neriah, haven’t seen you in years. What brings you by?” I asked. “Bastiaan.” She said trailing her finger alongside my desk and sitting on my lap with her naked embrace. “I missed you.” She said and licked my neck. “Neriah.” I slowly breathed out. “What Bastiaan? Don’t make as if you did not miss me too.” She said in her deep husky voice. “No, I did not. While I was in asylum for over twenty years, you were out fucking another.” I said to her and pushing her away from me. “Excuse me? How dare you speak to me like that!” She turned to me and slapped me across the face. “You know I love you and will do anything for you! Bastiaan!” She