I am about to open the door when Theo catches my hands. He grabs me around the waist and spins me around, crushing his lips to mine with a fiery intensity. I can feel the passionate longing emanating from him, the desperation to keep me close, as our kiss deepens, sending warmth radiating throughout my body.
And yet, even if I am overwhelmed with a deep longing, there is a sense of dread inside. I want to stay in this moment and prolong this, but I know I can't, so I push against his chest.
"What are you doing here, my King?" I ask, panicking at the same time.
He presses his lips against mine again in an unbridled display of affection. I feel a wave of pleasure course through my body.
"Kaiya, be mine again," he whispers, his hands cupping my cheeks.
"I–"
He leans towards me again, and his lips fervently caress mine. His kiss is deep and violent, further stirring up the passion inside.
"Stop!" I complain and push against him. He hits the wall in front of us, yet our shared heat lingers on my body.
"I..."
This time, he's the one lost for words. He gazes at me, his face a picture of yearning and defeat.
"Just tell me why you followed me!" I snap at him.
"Because I sensed you need me tonight." He steps toward me, and I raise my hand to stop him. "And I need you tonight as well, Kaiya. No, I always need you."
"Resolving your itch is no longer my role!" I shout at him. Before he can do anything, I enter my room and slam the door in his face.
With a pounding heart, I pace back and forth in my room, my mind reeling from the events of the past few minutes. I glare at the door. I know Theo is still behind it, waiting for me to change my mind, but I won't!
And yet, every time we are together. Every time he kisses and touches me, there is an intense passion that is almost impossible to resist. With a deep breath, I try to quell my nerves and remind myself that I must not forgive him.
But it will not deter Theo. Behind the door, he implores me to be his once again, claiming that I need him as much as he needs me.
Instead of going out, I hit the door and scream, "Go away!"
Then, I jump on the bed and close my eyes, hoping to sleep everything off.

**********
I woke up the following day feeling uncomfortable. I realize I didn't change into my sleepwear. As I enter the bathroom, I groan as I take my clothes off.
It was a dreamless sleep, which is strange because I have been dreaming a lot for the past few nights. Now that I think about it. Those dreams are probably my memories replaying in my head.
After a bath, I leave my room and nod at anyone who acknowledges my presence. Thankfully, their opinion of me is slowly changing. Maybe the other warriors would no longer think that I don't deserve the position of Major.
"Going to start with your day?" Inanna asks. I nod. She is looking at me as if she can see me. She places her hands on my shoulders and whispers, "Don't worry. All your inner conflicts will be resolved. It might take time, but it will."
"Can you read emotions?" I ask, incredulous.
"No. It's just obvious based on your presence," Inanna responds.
"Thanks for the concern, then."
"Also, Gezer is looking for you. And that huge man that matches you."
"Gezer and Klevon. Where?"
"At the barracks," she answers.
When she leaves, I shake my head. She really is a weird being. Making my way towards it, I pass through the training ground. It is full of warriors who are training to be stronger.
I push open the door and see that not only Gezer and Klevon, but Ninus is also present.
"Inanna said you called for me?"
"We did," Klevon says.
"There are already sightings of the escaped vampire, Bryer Clark," Gezer adds.
"And it's in my home, the Kingdom of Owusu."
"What sightings?" I ask. "I hope he hasn't turned any humans?"
Gezer and Klevon look at each other.
"That's what we are going to find out."
"You will go with?"
"Ninus and I will go. A vampire needs to be there to locate Bryer. And Klevon knows the area. However, we need you to come with us, since we are not yet trusted."
"That's the problem. I can't. I've marked Theo, and I can't leave him for long. Else, I will crave and go crazy for his touch," I say, looking away.
"If it's the mark, Inanna can remove it for you."
I sharply turn towards him. "What? How?"
"Anything spiritual and intangible, you can ask for help from Inanna. Werewolf and vampire marks work the same. She just needs to cut it off."
"And whose consent is needed?" I ask. I doubt Theo will agree to it.
"Whoever marked the other. Since you are mated with a human. You are the only one needed when the ritual is done by Inanna."
"Oh," I mutter. I can choose not to tell Theo. However, it fills me with guilt not to get his permission. Or at least to inform him that my mark on him will soon vanish.
"And if both of us don't come? What if we let the other Pitchford and Owusu warriors to handle it?"
"They could never track the vampire. Much less know how to trap or kill it."
"Owusu's are known to be monster hunters. They are trained and prepared for any kind of monsters, right?"
"Not this type of creature," Klevon interjects. "And besides, we are used to monsters who think little or not at all. This is a complex-thinking monster. And as Gezer mentioned, we should handle these creatures differently."
I raise my brows at him. Gezer? He never calls him by name and treats him as another creature.
"We bonded over drinks," Gezer supplies. "But more importantly, there are a couple of deaths already. All are drained of blood. So, I think he is still starving and doesn't know that he can transform a human into a vampire."
"This differs from just biting a human, right?"
"No, of course not. Same as what happened on the island. If we just bite on you, you will turn like us... but mindless. A creature who only wants to destroy. And to turn someone to be someone like us with our minds intact… there are steps to follow."
"Then why didn't you turn anyone?"
"Why would we subject others to the same ordeal we are going through?"
I nod. Somehow, I feel relieved that they are not too selfish. "Why did this vampire Bryer not know how to do it?"
"Because he already escaped before the Blood God taught us how to do it."
"Why did he escape, anyway? This is still during the time the Blood God is still treating you well, right?"
"Treating us well?" he laughs. "Say that to both Bryer and Inanna."
I blink. "Inanna?"
Gezer smirks, an ominous look on his face. "You should have heard how she screams and cries every time the Blood God takes her."
Is that why they start to rebel against the Blood God? I turn my head to look at Ninus, whose face is twisted in a mask of rage, the same expression Gezer is wearing right now.