ELLE
“Excuse me, Ma’am. May I serve you the special wine for tonight, which is the sacred wine?” the sommelier asked.
He started pouring the wine into Ellise and Raven’s glasses. I had never tasted it before, even though I worked for the company, so I was excited to finally try it.
He was about to pour some into my glass when Ellise suddenly interrupted him.
“Stop! You can’t give her that. Just give her normal wine instead.”
Huh? Why couldn’t I drink the sacred wine? Was it poisonous?
“I’m sorry, Ma’am. I’ll get you a normal wine instead,” the sommelier said before immediately leaving.
“Why can’t I drink the sacred wine?” I asked Ellise.
“What do you mean? Hasn’t Blade told you anything about the sacred wine?”
“What do you mean? Blade hasn’t mentioned anything about it to me.”
Why was she acting like there was something strange about the sacred wine? Was there something else I didn’t know?
“Oh my God, really? Well, I understand. You two are still new, so maybe he hasn’t told you yet.”
“What is it? Just tell me, Ellise.”
She looked toward Blade, who was still busy talking to someone.
“I don’t know if I’m in the position to tell you this, but I don’t think there’s anything wrong with telling you.”
I stared at her seriously, waiting for her to continue.
“Sacred wine is made only for vampires, just like sacred medicine.”
I couldn’t hide my surprise. Why was I only finding this out now? What was the purpose of the sacred wine?
“Sacred wine contains animal blood, which is why this kind of wine is only for vampires. This is what we drink instead of human blood. However, some vampires don’t like it, so they continue drinking human blood.”
I suddenly remembered what I had seen when Blade and I visited the winery. Was this the reason there were animals there?
The hairs on my arms began to rise. I was frightened by the thought that they could actually make wine like this.
So this was the reason sacred wine was one of the company’s best-selling products. It had its own special purpose.
“Why didn’t Blade tell me about this?”
“Like I said earlier, you two are still new. Maybe he didn’t want to overwhelm you with too much information. But Elle, please don’t tell anyone else about what you learned tonight.”
“You can count on me, Ellise.”
We smiled at each other.
Tonight had certainly been full of shocking things I had seen and learned. My mind was slowly opening up to their world, and I was sure that if Dixy found out about all of this, she would be shocked—but probably excited too, since she loved vampires.
A little while later, the sommelier returned and poured normal wine into my glass.
I took a sip and closed my eyes because of how strong it was. It was the kind of wine that could actually make someone drunk.
I looked around again, but I couldn’t see Blade anymore. He seemed to be talking to someone else.
Music began playing, and some of the guests moved toward the center of the room to dance.
“Can I have a dance with you?” I heard Raven ask Ellise as he held out his hand to her.
I noticed how flustered she became.
“Sure.”
Ellise took his hand and stood up. Before leaving, she looked at me again.
“Don’t drink too much, Elle. Just wait for Blade. He’ll be back soon.”
I simply smiled at her and watched them walk toward the dance floor along with several other vampires and humans enjoying the slow music.
“Where’s Blade?”
I looked up when I heard the voice.
It was Ms. Jane, wearing a combination of black and red.
“He’s talking to someone.”
“Oh, okay. Here, get this.”
Ms. Jane handed me a glass of wine, but I hesitated to take it because I was afraid it might be sacred wine.
“It’s just normal wine, so take it.”
I had no choice but to accept it.
“How’s the party, Elle?” she asked as she drank from her own glass.
“It’s okay. I’ve learned a lot about all of you.”
She laughed at my answer.
“I’m amazed. You seem to be taking everything you’ve learned surprisingly well.”
“I think it’s also because of Blade. He made me feel that even though we’re different, we can still interact and get along with each other.”
“I like that. You’re special, Elle. Did you know that?”
“Because your hypnosis doesn’t work on me? I already know that.”
“No. It’s not just my hypnosis that doesn’t work on you.”
I looked at her in confusion.
“What do you mean?”
“I can read minds. Only a few vampires have this ability, and I was surprised because from the very first time we met, I couldn’t read your mind.”
I couldn’t immediately respond.
She really had the ability to read minds? And why didn’t it work on me?
“My ability to know what someone is thinking has limitations too. I can’t use it on fellow vampires or anyone else who has vampire blood.”
I still couldn’t get over what she had told me.
I quickly drank the wine she had given me, and just like before, I closed my eyes because of how strong it was.
I began feeling dizzy, and I thought I might throw up at any moment. But I looked at Ms. Jane again when she spoke.
“So, I have a question for you, Elle.”
She lowered her wine glass and studied me carefully.
“Who are you? What makes you so special?”
Why was she asking me this?
I didn’t know how to answer because I had no idea why their powers didn’t work on me.
I pressed my fingers against my temple when I suddenly became dizzy and nauseous.
I wasn’t used to drinking, and the wine I had consumed was very strong, so maybe that’s why I was feeling this way.
“Excuse me, I need to go to the restroom.”
I stood up and forced myself to walk even though I was already dizzy. The wine was definitely starting to affect me.
I left Ms. Jane behind and, thankfully, the restroom wasn’t difficult to find.
I went inside and splashed water on my face, hoping it would help clear my head.
I didn’t throw up, but I was still dizzy. I probably needed to rest.
I needed to find Blade so we could go to our room at the resort. Our luggage was already there because we had sent it ahead of us.
I couldn’t walk straight anymore, but I forced myself to continue until I finally left the restroom.
“Hi, Elle Morgan.”
I stopped walking and turned toward the person who had called my name.
“S-Spike.”
My heart immediately began beating faster when I saw him. It wasn’t surprising that he was here because he was one of the company’s board members.
“I’m glad you still remember me. I thought Blade was the only thing on your mind now.”
He slowly approached me.
Even though I was dizzy, I tried to back away. But because he was a vampire, he moved incredibly fast and suddenly appeared right in front of me.
He pushed me against the wall.
“Why do you look so scared?”
“W-What do you want from me?”
“Blade is so lucky to have you. You’re so beautiful. But there’s nothing wrong with me stealing you from him, right?”
The hairs on my body stood up when he placed his hand around my waist.
“Let go of me!”
I couldn’t remove his hand. He was too strong.
“Don’t worry, Elle. I’m much better than Blade.”
I felt disgusted by what he was saying.
Using all my strength, I managed to push his hand away and stepped back from him.
I almost fell because I was still dizzy.
“What’s happening here, Elle?”
I turned around.
Blade.
Thank God he was here. I didn’t know what I would have done if Spike had come any closer.
“Why are you here, Spike? Didn’t I tell you before not to go near Elle?”
Blade quickly approached Spike and grabbed him by the collar.
“Ooh, easy there. I was just saying hello to her, right, Elle?”
I didn’t answer him. My head was still throbbing.
“So the rumors are true. Something really is going on between the two of you. Good for you, Elle. You’re dating a vampire.”
“What do you mean?” Blade asked while still gripping Spike’s collar.
“Don’t mind it, Blade. Just enjoy your moment with her.”
Blade slammed Spike against the wall, but Spike only laughed.
“Whatever you’re planning, Spike, don’t go through with it. You don’t want to make me your enemy.”
Blade’s voice was filled with warning.
Spike laughed again and removed Blade’s grip from his collar.
“I’ll be going now. Always keep your eyes on her, Blade.”
Spike quickly disappeared.
Blade immediately returned to my side.
“Did he do anything to you?”
“N-No.”
I couldn’t answer him properly because I was still dizzy.
“Are you okay?” he asked when he noticed that something was wrong with me.
“I’m dizzy, Blade. Let’s go rest.”
He suddenly leaned closer and smelled me.
“You drank, Elle?! Why did you drink?”
His voice became louder, and he looked angry when he realized I was drunk.
“It was just a little.”
“F*ck. Even so, you shouldn’t have drunk!”
“Let’s go! You’ll be punished tonight!”
He grabbed my hand and pulled me away.
This wasn’t good.
He looked angry, and what did he mean by punishment?
Don’t tell me…
I suddenly became nervous and asked myself,
Am I ready?