Chapter 2

Alyssa

As I run past trees and sneak through bushes to avoid being seen by the villagers, my heart is still pounding, reverberating every time I remember Azrael's smile—I can't for the life of me get him out of my damn head!

Groaning in irritation, I rush the last distance home until it feels like my limbs will burn and fall to the ground. It feels good; anything is better than remembering the angel—falling in love with him would literally kill me, and I'm already crushing on the guy.

"Ugh, I'm so annoyed!" I complain to no one in particular while brushing my fingers through my untamed, orange, or red, whatever hair in frustration.

The spell set on our castle hums in the air, and I walk through the opening rift, glad to finally be home where angels with blonde hair and smirking faces aren't roaming around like free real estate.

"Alyssa! You're finally back!" A happy voice calls out, and I jump in fright when a beaming smile swoops down from a tree branch; Maze loves climbing in the trees—one could mistake her for a monkey instead of assuming she is a werewolf.

Maze is my best friend. She is three years younger than me and will grow old eons before my bones crumble to dust. Since I'm a vampire, we will one day grow apart, but at the moment, Maze acts like a little sister to me.

Catrina, Maze's mother, works for my father as his most valuable and work-driven maid, but Maze is a troublemaker and not the least bit interested in helping her mother. She can often be found escaping from her duties and hanging out with me instead.

"Are you listening to me?" Maze's hair is brown and wild, and her pointy canine teeth show in the smile she aims at me.

"Yeah, I'm back," I give her a weak smile and avoid looking at her face when her knowing eyes wander across my face. "And... It was fun being outside of the castle,"

Nothing slips past Maze; she can read my face like an open book.

"Hmm," Maze hums as she jumps down from the tree with a creepy smile covering her lips. She follows me down the courtyard with her arms behind her head in a carefree display. "You're blushing; who did you see this late evening, Alyssa? Do you have a new boyfriend?"

I pause but quickly recover; nevertheless, it's too late; Maze is already laughing in amusement.

"I knew it!" Maze exclaims and stops me by placing her hands on my shoulders—I can almost imagine her tail wagging if she had one; even her eyes are sparkling like diamonds. "What's his name?!" Maze erupts. "Is he hot? How old is he? What color is his hair? Is he tall? Oh, I bet he is gorgeous; you're redder than a tomato!"

My face is rapidly heating up, you could probably cook eggs on my cheeks, yet I intend on pretending Maze didn't ask about Azrael. There is nothing to tell her anyway! Azrael is not my boyfriend!

"I'm not redder than a tomato!" I push past her, aware of her knowing smile.

"Alyssa is lying, Alyssa is lying!" Maze sings while following me towards the big doors leading into the castle. "Love is in the air tonight!"

Frustrated, I turn around, glaring at the grinning fool. "Sch!" I angrily push my finger against my lips, determined not to let Maze's words be heard inside the castle. "I don't want my father to hear about this! He can't know I've been outside the castle grounds, or he will ground me!"

Maze raises her eyebrows, grinning wider at me—I feel like sinking through the ground because I know what she will suggest.

"Then tell me his name!" Maze says and laughs when I growl at her smiling face. She isn't about to give up. "Come on! I'm your best friend! I deserve to know his name!"

I grit my teeth and shake my head before forcing out the name I'm trying so hard to forget. "Azrael... His name is Azrael,"

"Azrael?" Maze walks in front of me and observes my face with wide, curious eyes. "So he is an angel then?"

I stare at her. "How do you know that?!"

Maze shrugs. "Everyone knows Azrael is the angel of death, which is kinda suiting because everyone knows what will happen if you fall in love with an angel,"

Anxiety washes over me. "That's why I'm trying to forget about the guy,"

Maze grins in her cheerful way. "Azrael is known for being a player; my mother talked about him the other day, complaining she is losing workers to the parasite. He lives in a castle down south, and apparently, he is hiring maids,"

I ponder on her words. "Azrael looked rather young to be hiring maids,"

"Angels can change their appearance; it's not like they roam around in their proper forms either,"

"Oh," I hum and try to imagine Azrael looking older, which ends up with me blushing yet again. "I didn't know that,"

I walk inside the castle together with Maze. We head over to the kitchen right away. The smell of freshly baked bread immediately sprung Maze's nose to life, and now we are sitting by the table, eating a super early breakfast while chatting about Maze's mate.

Unlike vampires, werewolves have a destined mate that is picked for them by fate. Maze doesn't think she will find hers, convinced her mate got hit by a horse carriage or something.

"I think I'm meant to die alone!" Maze complains and shoves more bread into her eager mouth. After she is done with the bread, she proceeds to chug down an entire jug of mead, burping when she is fulfilled.

I play around with the water in my cup, circling it around the bottom while staring into the abyss. "You will find someone Maze, I can feel it,"

"You're right about that,"

We both look up when my grandmother walks into the kitchen area with her walking staff. She wasn't born a vampire but was turned at an old age. She is wrinkly and old, and in her past life, she was a witch, which left her with some magical abilities.

My mother claims my grandmother can see the future. I'm not sure if I believe her, even if it's true that my grandmother is somewhat mysterious. Her hair is white, and she dresses in purple and black, and her staff is embedded with a crystal ball; she looks like the cackling witch in every fairy tale.

"Really?" Maze looks hopeful. "Have you seen my future?"

My grandmother smiles and takes a seat by the table. She is short with a sore back and doesn't like walking around. "I have," She says and gives Maze a mysterious wink. "I think you better follow me to see my friends down south; you will find your mate over there,"

"You're heading down south?" I ask. "Again?"

My grandmother nods. "I have to head back,"

"I'm coming with you!" I exclaim. "You're too old to be traveling alone!"

My grandmother shakes her head with a puzzling look on her old, wrinkly face. "Destiny got other plans for you. It would be best if you stayed in the castle, and don't worry about me," Her old eyes find Maze, and a smile spreads over her thin lips. "Maze will be the perfect companion for this trip; she is strong and can carry all my bags,"

Maze beams at my grandmother. "I promise to behave!" She then turns to me with hopeful eyes. "I need this, Alyssa! Please let me go! Finding my mate is my biggest dream!"

I sigh and look between both of them, my eyes stopping on my grandmother's wise blue. "Are you certain about this?"

"I'm positive," My grandmother replies. "Maze needs to leave the castle while destiny is telling me she wants you to stay,"

I laugh, shaking my head. "So destiny talks with you now?"

My grandmother cackles. "One day, I will tell you everything destiny told me, but not today," I watch her frail hands pick up a piece of bread from under the blanket. "I heard you turned down Fabian's marriage proposal yet again,"

I frown. "I don't want to marry Fabian; please don't try to talk me into marrying that brute,"

My grandmother cackles. "I wasn't going to talk you into marrying him. I think you should stay clear from Fabian; he is a hazardous man,"

I regard my grandmother with lifted eyebrows. This is the first time someone is standing on my side regarding the marriage proposal if I don't include Maze.

"You think so?" I ask.

Maze is smiling. "Of course she does! Your psychic grandmother knows there is somewhere else out there for you; hey, why not ask her about Az-..."

I mute Maze with my hand and hold back the squirming werewolf with my overpowering strength while smiling at my curious grandmother. Azrael is a secret I don't intend on sharing with anyone.

"Alyssa!" Maze is trying to break free while howling into the palm of my hand.

"I won't release you until you promise to keep your mouth shut!" I tell the werewolf.

My grandmother cackles at us, amused by our wrestling competition at the table. "What is such a secret that I can't hear about it?"

A blush spread onto my cheeks, and I let Maze go; the werewolf is panting too much to speak anyway.

"Well..." I hesitate and take a deep breath. "I met a boy tonight,"

"Oh?" My grandmother isn't looking at me; she reaches out her hand to pick up another bread. Her eyes seem strangely thoughtful, concerned even. "Is this the first time you met?"

"Yes," I can't keep myself from fumbling with the words. "The boy is... He is an angel,"

My grandmother's eyes slightly widen, but she quickly blinks as if trying to hide her reaction. "Falling for an angel isn't very wise, Alyssa,"

"I know,"

My grandmother gets up from her seat with a thoughtful expression; her eyes linger on my face for a second before her smile finally returns to her kind lips. I wonder what went through her head, but I don't dare to ask her. I'm already embarrassed that I've mentioned Azrael to two people in one day.

"I should pack my bags," My grandmother says and nods at Maze to follow her. "Maze, you should get ready to leave the castle too; your mother won't let you leave, so we should leave before she wakes up,"

"Ay!" Maze hurriedly gets up from the table and runs out of the kitchen in haste. "I don't have a lot of stuff to pack, but if we are about to see my mate, I'm bringing my prettiest dress!"

I glare after the werewolf. Maze doesn't own many dresses, and she is running in the direction of my room. I know she is about to steal the beautiful blue dress from my wardrobe, but I don't possess enough energy to stop her; besides, she needs it more than me.

My grandmother hums before walking up the stairs. "Be careful, Alyssa, I sense trouble in your path,"

I grow thoughtful, but my grandmother is no longer standing by the stairs when I look up. How did she leave the kitchen so quickly?

Slowly, I stretch and look at the bread with an uneasy throbbing in my chest; somehow, I can sense trouble too.