His Other One

16|The Charge and A Good Laugh

Story so far... Taylor and her twin finds out their silent yearly visitor is actually a vampire whose family has a pact with hers. Samantha is chosen to go with vampires to their world but Taylor takes on her sister's identity and goes in her stead. There, she gets married to the half vampire, half human prince. She befriends a maid and they have both agreed to escape Ardelean  using a secret key. Through all this, Taylor is uncovering a truth about a hated race, discovering her feelings for her husband and still planning to run away!

I feel I've been gone so long that we need reminders.  This is short because I just defeated a nasty writer's block. Plus I have exams coming up in two weeks. Don't give up on me yet....please?

Taylor didn't know when she fell asleep, but found herself dreaming. This time it was about Olivia.
She was leading her through dark  corridors in the castle, hurrying her up urgently.
She stopped at a small room full of laundry. Then she grabbed her hands in a tight grip;
Find me. I am in danger. I need your help.
Then she began to fade into nothing rapidly.
Taylor screamed out to her but she had become a swirl of dust leaving behind her last echo;
Find me!

Taylor jerked awake, her heart still beating anxiously. She soon got her bearings and found Anghel, shirtless sleeping next to her. The duvet only covered his midriff downwards. She didn't know what time of the day it was since there was no open window in sight. And she had lost all will to sleep.

She gazed at Anghel's sleeping form instead and all her worries began to slowly dissipate. The light from the candle added mystery to his attractive features. But she knew his face, it seemed to be imbedded in her memory, every line and curve, every dip and rise. Tentatively, she reached out in the dim light finger his hair. Silky soft. Then without her better judgment her fingers began a feather light exploration of his features. She traced his perfect eyebrows, his curly lashes, his straight hard nose and then finally his lips. The plump bottom lips was pale and inviting. Her hands moved to his chiseled jaw, he needed a shave.

Then suddenly a hand shot up to grab her wrist in a death grip and in seconds, she found her self bodily pinned by Anghel to the bed, fangs bared with iris a tinge of crimson.
She gasped in terror.
"Taylor?" Sleep and ardenaline made his voice low and raspy.
A second, two passed as they both froze on the bed, one hyperventilating and the other confused.

He had her hands imprisoned over her head and his hard body was pressed and fitted to all her curves and his face, mere tantalizing  inches from hers.

Anghel's sleepiness cleared when he registered the position they were in, the red tinge melted away to make way for a different light clouding his eyes.
Taylor saw it and tried to squirm herself free, afraid she might throw all caution to the wind any second.

His grip tightened and his body tensed against hers.
"Stop it" he growled in an husky voice. Taylor froze, her gaze arrested by his. The moment stretched as the air sizzled between them. Taylor felt very hot and it surely wasn't the weather.

Then just as suddenly, the weight lifted and she was free. Anghel slipped out of the bed wearing only cotton pant* . Without a word he poured himself wine from the glass cabinet in the corner.

Taylor sat on the bed unsure what to do. Somehow, her brain was muddled and nothing came up but noisy silence.

After an akward silence, Anghel finally asked;
"What were you doing?"

Taylor looked up "n...nothing. I was doing nothing" She didn't sound convincing, even to herself

"I could have hurt you" he said after a swig from the glass he held.

Taylor had no response to that, she looked everywhere but at him.

"Do not sneak up on me Taylor, ever again.  You got lucky my reflexes was disoriented tonight."

Taylor nodded with her head bowed. She felt silly. What had she been thinking?!

The next morning, Taylor started from her sleep to find herself alone on the bed. Events of the night crossed her mind and she cringed inwardly. Anghel had left the room to her and the thought of facing him in the light of day made her cringe the more.
Then Taylor sensed  his presence as physically as if she saw him. She looked up and saw him standing by the door post. He had cleaned up and looked very formal in an attire similar to what he wore to the ball. But this time there were moon shaped crests ceremoniously attached to his breast pocket and shoulders. Taylor suddenly felt conscious of her bed hair and squinty morning face.

"Did I over sleep?" She asked timidly, while making futile attempts to re arrange her hair.

"Yes. We are to be presented at the court today. I don't care for it but it's the custom. Have your maids to get you ready."
Then he made a move to leave.
"Wait! What am I supposed to do there?" She felt stupid asking but it wasn't everyday she went to 'court'.

"Apart from acting like a love struck bride, just follow my lead. What's the worse thing that could happen facing a bunch of ancient vampires" His easy smile would take some getting used to....after her stomach stopped trying to twist to knots

"Wh...Anghel!" She whined when he only smirked and gave a mocking bow.

"You'll be fine...hopefully" he threw at her over his shoulder as he walked out.

Two hours later, Taylor felt as fine as a duck on roller skates. She was dressed up  like a princess again....no like a queen. The purple and gold trimmed gown and train made her look like a character from a fairy tale.

Anghel had given her his rare reassuring smile, and offered his arm in a charming gesture. Even now as they glided (for she indeed  felt like she was walking on air) down a flight of staircase, her arm tucked cozily in the crook of her dashing husband's arm, and trailed by two short lines of handmaidens, she felt overhelmed. Like she was still trying to get her head wrapped around everything that had happened in the past weeks.

Anghel noticed her pained looks and quietly told her,
"You just courtsey and try to smile. No, not like you have cramps (he referred to her poor attempt of a smile), oh now you look constipated "
Her sound of distress extracted a chuckle  from his otherwise reserved expression.
"Alright don't smile then. I don't think you'd find them amusing anyway. If anyone asks questions you find uncomfortable just say sloanťe." 

"Sloanťe" Taylor experimented. She liked the way it rolled of the tongue. 
"What does it mean?"

"Its a polite phrase  to remind people to mind their business"

"Common, that's rude." She retorted, slightly mortified by the thought. She hardly told anyone sut up all her life.
"Well, it's a lot better than...how do you mortals say it "shut your....asshole? "

Taylor eyes widened in amusement and gave a less than lady like chortle
"Oh my God, I don't think you'll get a pass in mortal swearing slangs Anghel" She managed between laughs.
Anghel shot back his head, and laughed with her.
Behind them, the maids exchanged shocked looks, they had never seen the prince laugh that way.
Taylor found her stomach had untwisted, the wonders of a good laugh...and a person to share it with.
Anghel felt lighter hearted. And it suddenly hit him that he had forgotten what it meant to enjoy someone else's company. To laugh with with such mirth. He looked down at Taylor, and smiled. He had missed it, God knows he has.