Chapter 1
The library was still as I sat silently reading. It was brought to my attention that my brother was getting quite lonesome in the palace so I figured I'd be nice and hunt for a companion.
Andre has become kind of like a servant because he had done bad things when he was younger. He is my half brother and is also a vampire. I treat him as more of an equal than a servant. However he is to still be watched closely because evil is still evil.
Humans never want to go willingly, and I'm personally not a fan of violence. I had my eyes on a couple of different women but neither of them looked like they would even be remotely interested so I kept searching for the perfect one.
I was searching for a girl about the age of my brother, so around the ages of 16 through 18 as my brother is 22.
I glanced up at the window in front of me and noticed the sky was beginning to turn dark.
With a stretch, I emerged from my chair, quietly walking down the isles of book shelves that filled the room.
A young girl, almost child like, sat in the far corner of the room quietly reading. I payed no mind to her as children are not what I'm particularly looking for. I couldn't help but wonder why a child was alone this late, and I couldn't ignore it any longer.
"Where's your parents darling" I said quietly, keeping my eyes planted on the books in front of me.
The small girl looked up at me with innocent eyes.
"I don't have parents" she said as she glanced back down at the book.
"Children shouldn't be out this late alone" I said rolling my eyes to where she couldn't see.
A scoff was heard from where the girl sat and it caused me to only slightly glare from the corner of my eyes.
"I'm not a child, I'm damn near 17 years old" she said with an eye roll herself.
"So you're 16 and you don't have parents?" I asked in suspicion that she was lying.
She closed the book with a hard slam and I could feel her eyes resting directly on me.
"I don't talk to strange men who creep out in the library's" she said as she stood up and walked away.
"Psh, rude" I said out loud, loud enough for her to hear.
The place was silent for a good while before I felt her eyes on me again.
I glanced at her from the corners of my eyes just long enough to see her eyes quickly move from me and down at a book that was in her hand.
Her mind raced with impure thoughts and it was honestly quite cute.
I let out a sigh followed by a grin as she contemplated what she would say next.
I was patent, flipping the pages of a random book that rested in my hands, not saying a word, allowing for her to approach me herself.
What can I say? I'm a gentlemen. I don't prefer kidnap and would rather my pets to be willing.
She slowly started to walk over to me but she was still shy, so I left it up to her weather or not we spoke.
I kept my eyes planted on the book as I carefully read her thoughts.
(I guess he's not too bad, he's actually kind of cute) she said within her mind as her small body was now standing next to me, pretending to search for another book.
(Maybe I should purposely reach for a book that I can't reach, maybe he will take it down for me. That's a good start right?) she asked herself within her thoughts.
I chuckled within my own head careful not to make any kind of expression on my face.
Just than she stood on her toes and reached for a higher book that she couldn't possibly reach on her own.
Glancing at her slightly, I reached for the book and gently placed it in her tiny hands and focused my eyes back on the book I pretended to read.
"What are you reading?" She said shyly, finally deciding to make some sort of conversation.
"Hm?, I thought you didn't speak to strange men" I said with a deep but gentle voice.
"I guess you're not so strange, and I could use some company, I basically live here" she said with a cute but awkward giggle.
"Aah, I see, well, I'm happy to talk for as long as you want darling" I said still not wanting to make her uncomfortable.
"So, the book" she asked again as her eyes curiously glanced at my book.
"Dark poetry, have you ever heard of Alec graham" she shook her head, still curiously in wonder and with that I flipped the pages for a dark poem to read out loud.
"The flame danced among the the eyes of the man who's sorrow could only be felt within the arms of midnight gloom, for the emptiness of day would come too soon, his mind held the visions of doom, for the melody of his soul would bloom such fantasy and in his dreams the face of beauty loom visions of unrefined porcelain perfection allowing his mind to consume"
I stopped there as her thoughts were filled with pure amazement.
"Wow, that's so beautiful" she said with joy.
"And yours" I asked with a friendly smile still pretending to read, only glancing up to catch her facial expressions.
"I uh, well, I guess I'm not actually too into this book, I picked it out for its title, but it doesn't look so interesting" she said trying to come up with a better way to say she only chose the book because it was the first book she saw.
"Well, if you would like a recommendation, letting me know what you're looking for would help a lot" I said in a friendly manner.
"Do you know any mystery books?" She asked, obviously still shy.
I glanced up, not looking at her but at the ceiling in thought as I still read her thoughts, scanning for something she might enjoy.
"Do you happen to like fantasy?" I asked as I eyed her with a gentle smirk, already knowing what her answer would be.
Her eyes grew wide with joy and she shyly nodded her head.
"How about" I paused as I scanned the shelves with my fingers, looking for a dark fantasy author.
"Caith Briller" I said as I slid a thick, blue book from the high shelve above me, placing it in her tiny hands.
She scanned the pages silently and I watched as her smile grew upon her little face.
"Wow, it's like you've read my mind"
My eyes shot up in fear but softened once I realized she couldn't possibly mean that literally.
"I guess I am just good at guessing huh" I said with a grin, being careful not to expose my teeth.
"May I ask your name?" She asked in a shy tone.
"Of course my dear, my name is Athan, and you" I said finally closing the book, starring down at the small girl.
She looked up at me with innocence and refused to look me in the eyes.
I already knew her name as it repeated in her head over and over before she said it out loud.
"My name is, Heaven" she said reluctantly holding her hand out for a hand shake.
I shook her hand with strength and it made her thoughts run wild with pleasure.
Damn it, she likes me, but I need to lure her for Andre not myself. I thought within my mind.
"It's awfully late Heaven, shouldn't you be getting home, it's not safe for young girls to be out alone this time of night" I was trying to push for information that I couldn't get from her thoughts either that or my questions would spark thoughts that I can lean from weather or not she spoke them out loud.
"I don't exactly have anywhere to go, if I must be honest, my parents abandoned me when I was 9, the owner of the library was kind enough to let me live here as long as I, um" she didn't wanna finish her sentence but she did within her thoughts.
"I see, what is the cost of your stay here?" I asked already knowing the terrible secret that she held within her mind so painfully.
"I promised not to tell" she spoke with obvious tears swelling in her eyes, she honestly feared to tell me out of shame, knowing that I knew just by those words.
I sighed and looked around as she quickly wiped the tear that dared to escape her eyes so that I wouldn't see.
"You don't have to continue living like that, Heaven" I said with pity.
She glared at the floor in obvious shame.
"Do you want a better place to stay?" I asked hoping that she would agree.
I can't let her stay here where she would be abused. I'm not the kind of man to allow such evil to take place when I can so easily stop it.
Even if she doesn't agree, I will show up every night just to make sure she's safe.
"I can't possibly accept that offer" she said timidly and continued. "I agreed to his offer, I don't wanna be in debt to another man" she said as she thought she would have to give herself to me as well.
"I'm not that kind of man, Heaven" I said as a man walked from the back room.
I glanced up at the man to meet his eyes as he spoke.
"Heaven!, it's time for bed" the man yelled roughly as he looked me up and down than back at her.
His thoughts were full of evil and it pissed me off. Fucking bastard. I thought to myself as Heaven glanced at him with fear.
"Can I have a few minutes?" She asked in a shaky voice.
"No!, now" he said with a smolder as he continued to speak.
"You, we're closed" he said roughly as he pointed to the door.
"I'll be back in the morning" I said low enough for only Heaven to hear as I politely walked towards the exit.
Her mind echoed through the room as I left. She didn't want me to leave as she knew what this man was going to do to her and honestly I wanted to rip his throat out right there. But I had to contain myself for now. I felt just as guilty for leaving her there alone.
