– Ready, beauties?

I turned around: Grayson was standing in the doorway. The beautiful killer.

The girls cried out in fright, running to me and hiding behind my back.

The vampire slowly approached us.

– Viper, silly, you can't be so heartless," Brandon said to me, grinning an unpleasant crooked grin.

– I feel responsible for them! – I replied to his lunge.

– Everyone is only responsible for themselves," he countered.

– You'll never understand that! – I said quietly.

A thousand curses, taunts, and sarcastic remarks about Grayson were stuck in my throat-he disgusted me more than ever. He mocked us mortals, but he was a true monster himself. But I swallowed it, remembering that he'd promised to let the girls go, which meant I couldn't make him angry.

– You're right, I'll never understand that weakness. – Grayson smiled contemptuously, and I knew from his tone that he was referring to Cedric's love for me. Then Grayson sat down on the bed and kept his eyes on us. – What a picture! Three imperfections cuddled together, their eyes glistening with fear and hatred for me! – he grinned.

– Will you let them go? – I asked, switching to Czech so that the girls would not be frightened by our frank conversation.

– I promised you. If you want them to go right now," he replied in Czech. – But you promised me something too.

– Me? – I was genuinely surprised.

– Yes, and you don't remember it? – He asked with a smile. – Let's go to the other room, we need to talk.

A shiver came over me.

"God, what does he want from me?" – I thought with horror.

– 'Yes, of course,' I still replied, completely unaware of what he wanted to talk about, but agreeing so he wouldn't change his mind about letting the girls go.

Grayson got up from the bed and held out his hand to me, smiling pleasantly.

I put mine into the vampire's palm, and we left the room and headed forward down the long corridor. I was so nervous-the unknown terrified me: Grayson was a great actor, and his words about needing to talk could mean anything.

Finally, the vampire led me to the end of the corridor, opened the door of the room in front of me, pushed me in, walked in, and closed the door behind him. Grayson walked over to the window.

– Amazing day, isn't it? A storm of emotions! – he said cheerfully, looking out the window. – Come to me.

I immediately obeyed his order.

– Do you want to talk about it? – I asked incredulously, standing next to him.

Grayson looked at me. His face was terribly stern.

– Of course not, silly. – He grabbed my hair and pulled me to him, forcing me to look into his face. – So what did you promise? – He asked sternly.

I dazedly grabbed his hand he used to pull my hair.

– You're hurting me! – I shouted.

Tears streamed from my eyes: he was hurting me so badly that I thought I could feel the skin on my head tearing.

– What did you promise me? – he repeated, raising his voice.

My mind began to frantically recall what this sadistic man had asked me to do, and what I could promise him.

– I promised to… Clean the scratches?" I asked uncertainly, hoping that was what he wanted me to say.

– Did you do it?

– I didn't have time…" A cry of pain escaped my throat as the vampire yanked my hair so hard I felt like he'd ripped half of it out.

– You didn't. That's a shame. Too bad, Viper, too bad!

– I'll do it right now! – I begged.

– You disappointed me. I gave you a gift, and you spit in my face! Should we take these girls back to their cosy cells?

– Please, Brandon, no! I'm begging you!

– Stupid girl, you think I'd want you with dirty blood? They could have infected you with something, and I asked you to wash your scratches. – Grayson's deep voice was even scarier than his actions.

– I beg you… I didn't have time… But if you want me to, I'll do it right now....

– Yes, Viper, I do! And let's agree to keep our promises: next time I won't be so kind!

– Yeah, sure! Whatever you say!

The vampire let go of my hair, and I immediately ran my palms through it to make sure he hadn't ripped it out. Luckily, they were still there. But his outburst of anger had really scared me, and now I was terrified that he was going to lock Lourdes and Susan in the cells again.

– Clean your damn scratches! – Grayson ordered me sternly, nodding his head at the table where I could see the medication.