Bliss didn't want to let Luka to know she was wearing the Dragon Tear necklace so he couldn't compel her if he wanted. She defiantly met his gaze, "You said you wouldn't compel me."
"Rafael is an extremely dangerous and powerful vampire, don't let his gentle persona fool you. How did you meet him?"
"At a party. He actually rescued me." From the poisonous Princess you are supposed to marry.
"Rescued you? He doesn't do anything without a purpose. When was this?"
"No more questions."
"Dammit!" He pinched Bliss' chin and his eyes reddened, "Bliss Quinn, you are so stupid! You are afraid of me but welcome that insidious vampire's attention."
"Listen, I don't welcome any vampire's attention, but as I said he helped me out and I have no reason to dislike him."
"What if I told you he mercilessly ripped out his own wife's heart then tortured and killed his only son?"
I shuddered and felt my heart tighten, no..he spoke with such love about his wife and child. He couldn't..he wouldn't. Bliss nervously clutched the necklace around her neck and felt nauseous. "I...I don't believe you."
"It is a fact. Bliss Quinn, stay away from him!"
"As soon as I finish filming I hope never to see any of you vampires again."
He grabbed Bliss into his arms and buried his head in her neck, "I told you that you can't escape from me." He licked her neck and as his fangs touched her skin he suddenly let he go. Luka looked extremely angry, "Take it off."
Bliss opened her eyes wide, "I don't know what you are talking about."
He tore the buttons on her sweater revealing the Dragon Tear pendant that was now glowing. "Do you know what you did by accepting this necklace from that devil? The necklace belonged to his wife for fuck's sake! He wants you!" Luka paced around the gazebo, "I should have seen it...you bear a resemblance to Margot."
Seeing the pendant glowing I was a little startled, "He said it would prevent a vampire from compelling me or drinking my blood."
Luka's eyes were filled with leaping flames as he sneered, "Any vampire besides Rafael! I said take it off! I promised you I wouldn't compel you or bite your neck."
Bliss was confused and didn't know what to believe. It is true that Luka made me a promise and hasn't broken it but what about all those other vampires that want to torture me. "I don't believe you. If he wanted to do something to me he could have last night or today."
Luka had a crease between his brows, "Who knows what goes on in that maniac's mind. I am asking you to trust me and take off the necklace."
Bliss disregarded the warning given to me by the crazy Princess and angrily stomped her foot. She impulsively blurted out. "Luka Lenovich, you have no idea what I went through last night because of you!"
She started crying then shook her head, "Do you know how much I hate snakes? I can still feel the terrifying snakes crawling up my body... sinking their fangs into me and the laughing faces of the crowd... Rafael saved me...where were you? Huh? I kept waiting for you to save me but you didn't come..."
Bliss tripped on the two stairs as she ran out of the gazebo and he anxiously followed. Effortlessly picking Bliss up into his arms, he kissed her tearstained cheek, "What happened? Who? I will kill them."
"I want to go home. I don't want to be here. I don't want anything to do with vampires. You..Rafael..any of you!"
Luka tenderly kissed her forehead "Give me the necklace and I will compel you to forget and take you home."
Bliss gazed up at him and pouted, "You promise?"
"Yes."
"You will stay out of my life?"
He hesitated then replied, "I will wait until you come to me."
"That won't happen."
"We will see."
"Okay. I will take off the necklace."
He carried me into the mansion and up to his room. I glared at him, "Your bedroom?"
"You share a room."
He put me down on the couch and Bliss reached around and grasped the hook on the back of the necklace. She wasn't able to unclasp it. She looked at Luka and asked, "Can you help?"
He lifted my hair and touched the necklace. "I can't take it off. Raphael cast a spell."
Now, Bliss was beginning to worry and think there might be some truth to what Luka told her. "Get me some scissors, cut the chain." At this point she didn't care, she just wanted to forget and go home. Berta and the company can fine me or do whatever they want. It's not worth my life or...my sanity.
Luka reached into the drawer of his desk and took out a pair of scissors. He walked over and Bliss strained her neck to look down as he tried to cut the chain but couldn't.
She remembered Rafael had called earlier, "Luka, I am going to call Rafael and ask him about the necklace. I will be back."
He replied, "I will come with you."
"No. Mandy will wonder why I am with you. I don't want to explain."
"I will compel her."
"I said no. I will be right back. Wait here." Bliss had some questions for Rafael she didn't want Luka to hear.
Bliss hurried down the stairs to the second floor. When she opened the door to the bedroom room she gasped, Mandy was in a daze sitting on a chair and Rafael was stretched out on Bliss' bed leaning on the blackboard with his hands behind his head.
He smiled, "I knew you would have questions after Luka showed up in the gazebo. I have been waiting for you."
Bliss furrowed her brow and didn't hesitate, "Rafael, tell me the truth. Did you kill your wife and son?"
"I did."
"But..you told me they were precious to you. Why? Why would you kill them?"
"I also told you I was motivated by greed and power at the time. My father told me the only way I could ascend to the throne was by ridding myself of any attachments. I made a choice that I have regretted for two hundred years."
Bliss' stomach was in a knot and she clenched her fists at her side."Take this necklace off me."
"My dear Miss Quinn, I have no ulterior motive in giving you the necklace. Do you think Luka Lenovich's hands are not stained with blood? Humans..Vampires when it comes to war or power we aren't much different. We kill who needs to be killed to reach our goals. I realized too late how hollow and empty obtaining power is in the end."
"I don't want to get involved. I want to go home and resume my life. Please take the necklace off me."
"If you insist. I gave the necklace to you with good intentions. You do remind me of my love and I felt that helping you gave me a little respite from the guilt I have felt all these years."
He stood up and approached Bliss, "I hope you don't regret your decision."
Bliss found what Rafael said was disturbing but at least he told the truth. "I appreciate you saving me last night, I do...but Luka promised to compel me and take me home. I won't remember any of these past couple days and I think for my sanity that is the best."
Rafael removed the necklace then in the blink of an eye disappeared.
Bliss was relieved but a little unnerved by his admission of guilt. She assumed he would deny the allegations and say Luka was lying. She glanced at Mandy who seemed to be waking up from her trance then left to return to Luka's room.
When she knocked on the door Luka answered and looked at her neck.
Bliss decided to tell him what happened with Rafael.
Luka had a stunned expression on his handsome face, "Rafael admitted to the brutal murders?"
"Yes. Now compel me and take me home. I want to forget the past few days and return to my normal boring life."
Luka hugged Bliss and whispered in her ear, "I will make you mine, Bliss Quinn."
Bliss could feel her heart racing and she stuttered, "Com..Compe...Compel me! Now!"
Luka gently kissed her lips then reluctantly released Bliss from his embrace. He stared into her expectant eyes with a piercing gaze then she felt drowsy.
With a look of longing in his ink black eyes, he whispered as she drifted off to sleep. "Bliss Quinn...you will be my Queen."