Chapter 14: Lucky

Arioch held out his hand towards Marv as she stepped out of the car in front of the lodge resort. The Gothic theme blended so well with oriental building, the built-in screen walls, mosque arches and the aromatic scents that circled the air. Marv was in love, especially the embroidered quilts and pillows, and the balcony that opened onto the sea. The breezes caught Marv's senses, which caused old, faded memories. A bittersweet taste coursed through her mouth and made her eyes glassy.

Marv turned to Arioch and others, but she found a pale-looking vampire. He was shaking and his oval lips were dry. She turned to Min and Nandi, but they both looked unconcerned with the shape of him. Marv stepped forward to help him, but Nandi hooked her arm and walked her towards the elevator.The group was quiet, which made Marv feel a bit nervous. She hopped on the balls of her feet and fidgeted with the hem of the orange jumpsuit.

Arioch noticed Marv's uneasiness and grabbed her fingers. The sound of fabric rubbing against her skin was causing tension to rise in his shoulders. She stared up at him. His eyes were bright red, blood seemed to bleed through the cracks of his dry lips and his cheeks were hollow. Nandi pulled Marv into her space and Min stood between the two. She let out a breath and Nandi caressed her hair while the elevator came to a stop.

With a bing! A hotelier popped up in front of the group. "Welcome back, Sanskrit Arioch, we have everything prepared" He was the perfect butcher who made Minjun steam.

Arioch nodded. "Thank you, Raj, just give us a chance to settle in." Raj bowed to leave "Min, blood, now" he gasped, falling onto the couch. Marv made a move to catch him, but Nandi held her back.

Minjun instantly went into assistant mode, searching through his bag when a look of fright crossed his face. "I can't find it"

Arioch whipped his head towards him "Excuse me" his voice was harsh and grit.

"I remember packing it but" Minjun explained, but Arioch's death glare silenced him.

"Get Raj," Arioch announced as Minjun stomped away. "Marv, you should settle in, get some rest," Arioch said, not even looking at her.

"I slept on the plane" she stepped forward "are you ok? You look like shit," Marv said, which made him look up at her.

Arioch's eyes pierced Marv's eyes, tingling started at her fingers and arched up her arm, causing goosebumps around her neck and she gasped. The sound of her breath escaping made Arioch rush towards her. In a split second he centimeters away from her, Marv reached out and touched his face but Nandi grabbed her arm and pulled her away.

"This way, your room is immaculate" Nandi rushed Marv away into her room.

…

"What color is the sky?"

Marv opened her eyes to the mosque ceiling of swirling blue and purple against white finishes. A breeze caressed her face. Marv sat up, not recognizing the place she woke in. She was on a balcony overlooking the private sea. It was peaceful. She pulled off the blanket that was carefully placed on her shoulders and moved into her room.

The room had white marble pillars with mosque arches, floor to ceiling windows. Everything was white on white. It made Marv nervous. She moved past the four corner bed and pristine vanity before walking into the living room. It was silent. Marv grabbed her sides and walked into the kitchen. Her throat was sore with thirst and her head was throbbing. Marv watches the water fill up the glass, feeling the cold marble under her feet, making her toes wiggle.

A gasp sounded in the kitchen. Marv turned around, looking for the source, but found nothing. She moved back to her drink when a soft moan floated through the air. This time, Marv followed it. The sounds came from a door. Marv pushed it open to find a Gothic office.

Arioch stood over Minjuin with his gentle fingers holding his neck. Minjuin looked like it caught him in a haze. His breathing was shallow, and thick blood dripped down his throat. Arioch pulled Minjuin's lean body against him, licking the thick blood that settled at his collarbone. He licked his way up to the two holes that spewed the blood. A moan emerged from both of them and they let out a sinful growl. Arioch grabbed the fabric of Minjun's blazer and slid his fangs into the holes again.

Marv was speechless at the sight. It caused a tingling grip on her fingertips and her heartbeat was frantic in her ear. The sight of Minjuin grabbing Arioch's chest, the jawline clutching made Marv's stomach swirl. Arioch's eyes found Marv's, and he released Minjuin, who fell to the fall in a paddle. Arioch stepped over him, wiping the blood from his lips with a handkerchief.

"How did you rest?" Arioch growled. His eyes were back to their deep red, his cheeks weren't hollow and his body was calm again.

"Well," she whispered, her voice hoarse from the scene, "is he ok?" she asked as Minjun's arms wrapped around his body.

"I am fine," Minjun whimpered. "I just need to control some urges," he tucked deeper into his arms.

Arioch was still looking at Marv when she looked back at him. "I told Nandi that we would meet her on the beach, so go change into something more breathable," he commented before turning back to Minjun.

"Ok" she said, nervousness on her tongue while she watched Arioch carrying Minjun out of the office and to other end of the penthouse.

…

Marv sat before a raging bonfire, Nandi stoked the flames while Minjuin sat next to her, patting his hands on his leg, like nothing happened earlier. Arioch sat on a beach chair. The flames flickered against his sharp jawline and strong brow bone, his lips oval were in a pout. And a soft tongue swiped across his bottom lip which only made Marv look at Minjuin, who was obvious to the action, but the shadows created by the flames covered the piece of neck that Marv wanted desperately to see. But all Minjuin did was smile at me.

Nandi sat down in a huff. "So, here's the plan" she intertwined her fingers.

"Why do we need a plan? I am so out of the loop" Marv looked at Nandi, who nodded.

"So, we need to save the clan from a powerful vampire. He wants to take all Arioch's wealth, his title and his influence, but…" Nandi was cut off by Marv again.

"Why would he want to take Arioch's wealth? They are already powerful. What's the point of that?" Marv expressed with a bored expression. "Are they a 'poor' powerful vampire? That doesn't sound believable" Marv looked at the other two. Minjun was focused on Nandi's response, and Arioch sat silently.

"It's about revenge," Arioch growled, watching Nandi's expression. "I took everything from him and he wants it back. The reason for the plan is to protect the clan and break the bond" Marv watched Arioch closely. She knew there was more there, but she didn't dare touch it.

"So, how do we break the bond?" Marv asked as Arioch turned to Nandi.

"Ok, we find a witch and not just any witch, a vampire witch. She will brew us a potion that Arioch and the vampire will take simultaneously to break the bond," Nandi explained.

"Where do I fit in?" Marv asked. As the group grew silent, she stared at each one until her eyes found Arioch.

Arioch inhaled deeply and sat forward, holding something between his fingers "you look just like the vampire's bride" as he gave a photo to Marv.

Marv looked down at the photo, but it wasn't even a photo but a painting of this woman. The woman was wrapped in deep silk with an intricate embroidery stitch throughout the fabric. Beads enveloped her body with symbols on every edge. Her thick black hair fell at her waist in black silky ringlets and braids interwoven with gold and beads. She held candles in her hands and the paint was drawn on her face. But her face was Marv's. The sight made her tear up.

Nandi cleared her throat "we need you to dress up like her and trick the vampire into breaking the bond" Marv was still fixated on the portrait, Nandi looked at Arioch "there is an masquerade ball, a week from now, you will be the bait"

"What happened to her?" Marv whispered, her fingers caressing the paper.

There was silence between the vampires. "She died," Arioch said in a dismissive tone.

"lucky" Marv hushed under her breath.