– Don't worry, you'll get used to my form soon enough," the vampire told me mockingly. – Morgan's never shown himself to you like this, has he?
– Once," I squeezed out.
He grinned-a smile that must have made me shake.
– Get used to it: I won't hide. – Grayson let go of my hand and opened the boot, pulling out my suitcase and tossing it at my feet. – Pick it up and carry it to the castle.
Picking my suitcase up off the ground, I set it on its wheels and dragged it behind me. The vampire and I headed towards the castle. As we walked in the sun, I tried not to look at Grayson, but in the shadows, my tormentor became handsome again. We climbed the stone stairs (I had to carry my heavy suitcase myself), and the vampire opened the tall wooden door in front of me, with a beautiful metal weave of leaves on it.
– Welcome to Sunset Hall! – he said in an unexpectedly friendly tone, and suddenly he pushed me through the door, causing me to fall face-first to the floor.
– Can you not yank and push me? – I blurted out.
– I can if you ask me to," Grayson said.
– So you don't know what it means to be polite! – I grumbled, getting to my feet and shaking off my jeans and T-shirt.
– You don't deserve to be polite," he replied calmly and shut the door.
Deciding to ignore him, I looked at the interior of the castle with curiosity: it was luxurious, but elegant. Every little detail seemed to have been taken care of, and everything seemed to rest so perfectly in its place, as if there were no other place for it. But one surprising detail caught my eye: all the windows were covered with dark, thick curtains, and the hall was quite dark, with only daylight coming through the small oval windows at the very ceiling, which was so high that I had to lift my head. On the very ceiling hung a huge, must have been a crystal chandelier. A wide, white, marble staircase led to the upper floors.
The vampire suddenly took the suitcase from me and headed up the stairs. Not expecting such a pleasant favour from him, I ran after him.
What's wrong with him? Had he become the polite host of the castle, as if I were really his guest? His motives and actions were a complete mystery to me. The only thing I was sure of was that his soul was rotten and black.
When we got to the first floor, we walked down a long stone corridor: all the curtains were open, and it was filled with daylight. The vampire walked so fast that I had to almost run after him. There was no carpet on the floor, and my hurried footsteps echoed off the high ceiling and walls. Grayson's footsteps weren't heard at all, as if he were floating above the floor.
Grayson stopped next to one of the doors. I walked up to him, a little out of breath from my fast walk-the corridors of the castle were long enough for a morning jog.
– You'll live here," the vampire said, opening the door and letting me go in first.
Suspecting a trap, I glanced warily at Grayson, but he smiled charmingly back at me.
I took in more air and stepped through the door, and instead of a trap or a dungeon, I was greeted by a large, bright room with beautiful, expensive furniture and a fireplace. It didn't fit in my head, and it was not what I had expected. I looked at Grayson, puzzled.
– Where's the prison? – I asked quietly.
– I need you healthy," he said in an indifferent tone, and as he entered the room, he tossed my suitcase into the corner. – You're my guest, and you'll be staying in the guest room.
