CHAPTER 6 :

"Privacy." He annouced, as the guards bowed infront of him and left the corridors one by one.

"So, let's arrive to the main point already. On, the behalf of saving your life, and your friend's, you need to make a deal with me, because you simply have no other choice." He said, as he drew out a silver dagger from the hem of his trouser. Does he plan on slitting me with that?

"Which is?" I am quiet insistent on agreeing to whatever he says, to save Jamie, especially after I lost Mark. I couldn't possibly afford to lose him.

"The deal is a really win-win on your part, Daemon." He proceeds, as his eyes change to a darker shade of red.

"Okay. I hate suspense. Spill the beans already." I coax him to go forward.

"Marry me." He states, as my jaw almost drops on the floor. Is he insane?

"What makes you think that I'll ever marry an abomination like you? A ruthless monster who feeds on blood?" I shake my head in disgust.

"Mind your words, Grey. Your friend's life depends on this. I can be ruthless enough to slit him into pieces before I throw him at the hoards of crowds containting my people." He brushes the tip of his silver dagger on his wrist.

"Why? Why me? I don't get one single thing of this mess. First, someone from your family kills my friend, then your people shoot me and another friend unconscious, and bring me here in this filthy cell. AND NEXT YOU ASK ME TO MARRY YOU!" I growl at him, as he grabs me by my collar, by letting his hand in through the gap between the metal rods which surrounds the cell.

"I asked you to marry me, and that too for 6 months. And then you're free. Should you refuse, the parlor tricks would get increasingly less fun." He seethes, as he presses the tip of the dagger on the base of my neck.

"Explain why. Please." My tone comes down to a mere request as he lets go off me and regains his composure.

"My father was the king of this town. Of all the clans. Suddenly...he umm...died. And, he wrote that until I get myself a legal married partner, I wouldn't be a legal part of the vampire council and neither would I be a proved heir to his throne. And...there is a curse on my family." He trails off as he speaks the last few words.

"Curse? What kind of a curse?" I ask him, inquisitive.

"A vampire from my family, went and killed your friend because of that curse. Soon, 6 months later, all of us would go rogue like that, and wouldn't be able to control our blood thirst anymore. Unless we break the curse. And, to break the curse, I need complete control of the empire, which can only happen after I marry you." He sounds quite logical.

"Do you know who put the curse?" I try to assume what's going on in his mind, but his face gives nothing away.

"It is a witch. And, I don't know who could possibly do something like this. My influx of enemies grow year by year, so I can't pin-point anyone." He puts the dagger back in it's intricately carved golden sheath.

"Should I accept to marry you, what will happen? What are the conditions?" I look at him, to find him grinning at me.

"You will stay at my mansion, and you help me run my empire and try to find out how to break the curse. And, ofcourse, you'll be provided of luxuries of all sorts. And, after 6 months, we'll legally seperate, breaking you free of this stupid bond." He scans me with hooded eyes.

"I agree. I'll marry you." I give in, and I really think that this will be the last mistake of my life.