Tammy burst out laughing. “What? Him? Ha, I do not think so.” This was a joke and a very good one. Tammy shook her head, she was dying to get out of this dress. “I am going to my room.”
“Tammy,” it was now her mother that spoke. “Not him... His son! And your father agreed. You leave tonight to go and stay in Ashville manor.”
Tammy froze on the spot, the suit cases! Her mother in flood of tears! “No!” she cried, her anger targetted at her father. “You don't have the right to do this!” Her father hung his head down in shame. “Who does this? You can't just walk into someone's home and make these demands.”
“He's paid us!” Her father yelled.
Tammy felt like someone had punched her in the chest. Her body physically shaking and her mind racing with fear.
Sold?
Her father had sold her to strangers? For all she knew they could be cold killers. Her father had put money over his own flesh and blood.
They were poor, she knew that, but this was going a little too extreme.
“The money will help with Gran” her mother continued. “We will be able to get her treatment and care.” Tammy's jaw dropped in shock, that was the reason. Even her own Gran wouldn't allow this. This was wrong on so many levels. Her mothers tears had now dried up and they were both waiting for Tammy's reaction.
“Tammy,” her dad said. “Sir Renaldo has promised us he will look after you and keep you safe.” Tammy didn't reply, right now she hated her father. “I'll take your things to the car.”
The minute he left the room. Tammy raced over to her mother, falling on to her knees. “Please, please, please” she begged, clenching on to her mothers hands. “You can't let this happen.. Stop it please!”
Her mother's hand reached out and touched Tammy on the face. “Don't you see” she gave a slight smiled. “This is your chance.”
“My chance of what? Death? Rape?” She spat. “We don't know anything about these people. Normal people don't pay people to marry their children. You have to do something” she demanded.
“Tammy, sweetie... These people are rich. You'll be marrying into money. So, you never love this boy, but at least you won't have to endure this life anymore. Anything is better than this.”
Tammy narrowed her eyes, had those words actually come from her own mothers mouth? She wanted her gone too. Why was everything about money? Her life wasn't that bad, not bad enough that she had to agree to this weird occurrence.
“Go and do this for me, please” it was a plea. Her mother was begging her to go and do this. Tammy looked into her mother eyes, there was no fear in her face. Sadness, yes, but she didn't look scared.
Tammy gave her mother a hug, slowly rose to her feet and made her way out of the house. She couldn't believe she was doing this. She hadn't even said goodbye to her Gran. She didn't want to spend another minute in a house where she didn't belong. This was nothing to do with her parents--she hated them. This was for her Granmother, if her doing this made her Gran's last days of life easier, then it was worth it. As she got into the back of the car she made a conscience decision never to come back to this house again and she would never speak another word to her parents. As from now, they were both dead to her!
***
“Here is your room” Sir Renaldo said as he opened the door for Tammy. Tammy stepped inside, she didn't care to take in the room. She didn't want to be here, now she had no choice after the decision she had made. She walked over to the bed and sat down. She watched as Sir Renaldo put down the cases.
“It's okay, Dad” said a voice. “I'll take it from here.”
Tammy looked up and Dante had now appeared in the room. So, here was her husband to be. Tammy glared at once was her perfect stranger. Had his party been a hoax? Was that the only way he was able to met women. What had happened to courting? Tammy took her eyes off him and stared down at the floor. This was wrong...
“Tammy,” Dante's voice was smooth and crisp. Any other girl would of probably got chills from it. Tammy cringed at the thought of him being any where near her. “I am glad you agreed to this.”
“What is this about?” Tammy snapped.
“It's been a long day” Dante said, ignoring Tammy's question. “Maybe you should sleep!”
Tammy looked up and narrowed her eyes. He was already trying to control her which made Tammy cross. This was exactly why she had tried to avoid marriage!
“Tell me” she ordered. “What is this all about?”
Their eyes locked, he took in a deep breath and suddenly Tammy felt funny, as if something was being pulled away from her. Her eyes began to get heavy and her body felt drained. She tried to keep her eyes open but failed. She felt hands lay her down on the bed.
“See, I said you were tired” chuckled a cold voice. “I'll explain in the morning.”
The darkness set in and Tammy was fast asleep.
***
He heard her feet stomp down the wooden staircase. She appeared in the doorway of the kitchen, still dressed in the blue dress from yesterday.
“Morning,” he mumbled sitting at the breakfast table. “My mother went to the trouble of making you breakfast” he waved his hand over the table. As per usual, his mother had gone over the top. She didn't speak, just glared at him. He felt his lips twitch, she was not going to be easy to deal with.
“Come! Eat!” Tammy slowly walked over to the table, she sat down and folded her arms. Her eyes still burning into him. “Sleep well?” He laughed, at his private joke.
“Better than I wanted too” she quickly replied. In fact, she had no idea what had happened last night. She didn't even remember laying down and closing her eyes. She was just putting it down to trauma. She looked over the table at all the food, there was enough here to feed her family for at least a month. These people liked to flash their money about. Her eyes looked back at Dante, his eyes still staring. She wondered what he was thinking about.
“You not going to eat?” He pushed a box of cereal in her direction.
“Are you?”
He tilted his head to the side and gave a amused smile. Like he knew something she didn't and she was dying to know. “I have already eaten” he smirked.
Tammy rolled her eyes and poured some cereal into a bowl. “Where are your parents?” She asked as she poured in the milk. His staring was beginning to make her feel uneasy, there was something not right with him. His eyes were a much brighter shade of brown than they were yesterday. He didn't look as dark and dangerous as he did at their first encounter. Tammy shook her head and dismissed the idea. She was starting to sound like a crazy person, no one's eyes changed colour. She started to eat her cereal.
“They have gone away for five days” Tammy stopped eating and looked at him shocked. “It's tradition” he added.
“Tradition?” Tammy replied, “None of this is tradition. What happened to courtship, stolen kisses and the getting down on one knee.” She focused back on her cereal.
“An old romantic” Dante laughed. “Can't you just be grateful that my family have taken you away from your miserable life.”
“My life was not miserable... Hard, maybe... But not miserable!”
He leaned his elbows on the table and scowled at the ungrateful girl. “Can't you see this as a win-win situation” his voice low. She was starting to bug him and he had no idea how he was going to make her warm to him. Five days didn't seem enough time.
Tammy raised an eyebrow and swallowed what was in her mouth. “Why do I get the feeling this is something more than you gaining a wife.” Something chilled inside her, she couldn't explain what that feeling was.
“Your quick,” he smiled, that breath taking smile. Tammy felt herself lower in her chair, now he had her intridged. He quickly jumped up and ran a hand through his black hair. “I'm going for a swim... I expect you to join me.” Tammy just stared at him dumb struck. “You may go and change” he hissed. “My mother left a few things in your bathroom.”
Tammy
dropped her spoon in her unfinshed breakfast. She had lost her appetite anyway, she rose up and left the kitchen. She ran upstairs and into room she was staying. She closed the door and rested up against it. Her heart racing and breathing erratic. What was going on? With her and this whole weird situation.
She entered the bathroom connected to the room, sitting on the black marble counter was a black swimming suit.
The bathroom was bigger than her bedroom at home, Tammy felt a pang of saddness. She could no longer call it home, after all her father had sold her to the one who was making her heart race and dragging her into some crazy world.
Tammy liked the pure white rolled down bath, she could use that as a swimming pool-- it was massive. She picked up the swimming suit and cringed, she had been swimming but it had been a while. Also, she couldn't just slip it on and be done. She had a lot of prep work to do. She caught her reflection in the large mirror. Now she was here there was no point dwelling on what had happened. There was a dark part of her fascinated with the mystery with what was going on.
A little smile appeared on her pale little face. She could have her own fun, have her own game plan, find out all of Dante's dark secrets.
Even if they did get married, she was never going to love him. He was very attractive and there was something different about him. Something that called out to her, maybe she should take his words for it-- Why couldn't she see it as a win-win situation?
Although, she would be winning wealth.. What was Dante getting out of this?Tammy stopped her thoughts in their tracks, she had to get ready for her swim and get this game rolling.
What the hell is she doing? Dante thought to himself as he sat on the pool's edge. Surely changing into a swimming suit didn't take this long. She had to be taught not to keep him waiting. He could feel his teeth grit in anger. She hadn't even thanked his mother for the breakfast she had prepared. She was ungrateful and asked too many questions. He would have to teach her not to speak unless she was spoken too.
“What took you so long?” He growled when she finally did grace him with her presence. The swimming suit fitted her slender body perfectly. Her brown hair pulled back in a ponytail, it was her eyes that caught his attention the most. They were far too big for her tiny doll featured face. In fact, everything about her reminded him of a little pale doll.
Tammy shrugged and sat down next him at the pool's edge.
“Sometimes a girl just needs time!”
Dante let out a groan of annoyance. “Time is something we do not have. We only have five days to get to know each other.” His eyes turned to look at hers. “Maybe you should remember that!”
Tammy gave a little chuckle and Dante's expression hardened. “Five days? You can't get to know someone in five days!”
“Do not laugh at my family's traditions. After all, no one forced you to my house yesterday” he hissed. “You came just like all the others did-- to find out who the freaks were!”
Tammy's jaw opened in shock. Okay, she did come to see who lived here but she hadn't thought of them as freaks. She shook her head and folded her arms. Dante rolled his eyes, everything about her screamed child.
“I actually came because I thought I was invited to a 21st birthday” She turned her nose up. “It looks like I was doped!”
It was now Dante's turned to laugh, she really did have a vivid imagination. “21? I am 27.” he tilted his head to the side and the sadness flooded through him. “I was late awakening. My parents had hoped it had missed me completely.”
Tammy looked over at him curious, his tone had softened and he was just staring out at the water. There was that word, the same word her Gran had kept saying. “What had missed you?” The hairs on her arms stood on end. A chill ran through her blood as she remembered everything her Grandmother had said.
“The curse” he shrugged his shoulders and dropped himself into the pool. “You coming?”
Tammy stared at him. “Are you not going to tell me anymore?” Feeling intense disappointment in the pit of her stomach.
“No,” Dante snarled. “Not until I can trust you.” He was about to swim off but froze turning back round to look at Tammy. His tall lean but yet muscular figure commanding every inch of the water. Tammy felt herself swallowing hard, he was very mesmerizing. “I will tell you something...”
Tammy climbed in the pool and swam so she was directly in front him. He had her full attention, one of his masculine fingers ran down her cheek. Tammy gasped as an electric current shot through her and at gentleness of his touch.
“I am drawn to you” he slowly said, a hint of deep husk to his voice. He gave a slight smile and swam away.
Tammy stood frozen in the pool, what did this all mean? She was starting to get dizzy from his weird mood changes. He was drawn to her.. What did that mean? Tammy had only one choice, she had to gained Dante's trust and then she would know the real reason why she was here with this perfect dark and dangerous stranger.
Chapter Three
After their swim Dante had suggested they should go and sunbathe on the loungers on the terrance. Tammy was only too obliged to anything he suggested, she hoped if she remained on his good side he might devour some more information. Every so often Tammy would take a peek at Dante, who was laying on his sun lounger lost in the sun, his black sunglasses hid away his eyes. His skin slightly glowing from the sun's rays.
Tammy had decided there was something different about him, after all she had never heard someone like her use awakening of age and curse in the same sentence.
She turned on her side and propped her head in her hands. She slowly followed the length of his body, he didn't look any different from any other man. His words kept swirling around in her head 'I am drawn to you'-- in what way? Sexually? Tammy felt her cheeks blush.. she had never considered herself sexy before. No, she doubted very much it was in a sexual way. What would draw a perfect man like him to fragile-too skinny pale girl like her?
“You're staring,” Dante snapped, as he turned on his side to face Tammy. “What do you want to know now?” He removed his sunglasses and gave Tammy his full attention.
He had been watching her himself for a while, hiding behind his dark shades. She was fascinating to watch, it was the blushing that had made him chuckle to himself. He wondered what had caused that, maybe later
he would find out.
“What did you mean you're drawn to me?” Tammy asked, the words seemed to just blurt out of her mouth.
Dante sat up a little, he had been expecting that question. “I am not entirely sure” he took in a deep breath. “The other day while I was walking around the town, something drew me to the book store. I didn't even realize I had gone in” his eyes locked with Tammy's and she felt that electric current again.
“Till I saw you” Dante swallowed hard as he remembered how he had felt in Tammy's presence. It had been her scent, but not that alone there was something else. He just couldn't figure out what. Once he realized Tammy was alone, he had panicked and walked out. He had been afraid, not sure if he would have been able to control his new feelings and wants.
He had felt exactly the same at the party. Now, everything was being made official he could wait to give in. He shook his head, he no longer wanted to talk about his dark wants.
He jumped up, stretching his arms high in the air. “You must be hungry” he ordered, he gave a little laugh, another of his private jokes.
Tammy sat up with that puzzled look on her face. “You haven't finished answering my question.”
“There's no need” Dante added. “All you need to know is you weren't a random choice. There is something about you that calls out to me.” He rubbed his chin. “I am not sure if it's your scent or your energy.”
Tammy gave a little laugh. “What are you talking about scent or energy? All your riddles of answers are starting to give me a headache.”
“I told you I will tell you everything once I can trust you” Dante yelled.
“Are
you afraid I will tell people?” Tammy asked, feeling slightly wounded. She had never been a gossip in her life. Tammy stood up and gave Dante her evil glare, in fact mimicking the way he had once looked at her. “ I would never tell a soul... Maybe you just have trust issues” she stormed off back into house.
“Grrr!” Dante roared letting out his anger. She was such a frustrating little being. Trust issues-- of course he had trust issues. This was all new to him, so how was he meant to know how to react to others.
Dante sat back on the sun lounger and remembered how easy his life had been just a few months ago. He had moved out, had an apartment and a job! His parents had been so sure the curse had some how missed him.
Then one morning he woke up and started to feel strange. He had rang his father immediately and they had ordered him home. Now, he had to endure HER!! Annoying little woman, who at every chance ask questions. Why couldn't she just wait till he was ready to explain?
“Damn this life!” He hissed, he laughed at his choice of word. Damn!
He was most certainly was damned. Unless, if he was the one to make this curse of centuries? The only problem was breaking the curse involved Tammy. Although, at least he knew how to shut her up.
That was the first time he had drained someone of their energy. It had been easier than he'd thought or maybe it was because it had been Tammy.