chapter 9

As we walked into the dinning hall the smell of tomato sauce and cheeses wafted into my nose. Definitely an Italian themed dinner, my mouth watered at the anticipation. Suddenly my stomach growled, Alaric flipped around still holding my hand looking right down at me. I couldn't help the purple flushing coming to my cheeks as I tried to avoid eye contact.

"Someone's hungry, come on let's get in line." I anxiously looked behind me to see if anyone else heard but no one else seemed to care. Zander and the man were talking with Zander stealing glances at me occasionally. Valentine was looking around the cafeteria, seemingly looking out for someone. And Mathew was right next to Alaric chatting quietly with him.

The line wasn't too long, we seemed to have gotten in line pretty late. Other students were already sitting down talking amongst each other. "So, Lilith is it?" I looked up to Mathew talking to me. I smiled and nodded politely, I was honestly afraid to speak. This man was huge, his hair was straight and long. He had a bit of facial hair and scars on his face. His voice was very deep, you could hear the low growl in the back of his voice. "My name's Mathew, I'm Alaric advisor or most just call me his right hand man. I really hope I get to know you more, from what I hear you're a very sweet girl." I began anxiously taping my foot. "Oh thank you, I-I hope to get to know you more too."

Alaric seemed to look down at me...almost proud. I tried ignoring the thought that I liked that look on his face...I liked feeling like I was pleasing him in some way. This man...I've just met him. I understand that he likes me, I'm not blind and he's being so obvious. But it makes me nervous, it feels like he's already made his claims and I know I'm definitely ill prepared to be any kind of royalty. I honestly don't think I could choose anyone else at this point..but the thoughts are still nerve racking.

"Lilith? Lils? Rose bud?" I looked up at Alaric who had brought me out of my nervous spiral. "You okay? Are you ready to grab your plate?" I looked in front of us as we were now at the front of the line. "Y-yeah sorry...just got lost." He patted my head, letting go of my hand. "It's okay doll, you should talk about it when you have the time. That brain of yours seems busy." I giggled at what he said. Boy did he only know the half of it.

I grabbed my tray and began loading it up with pasta, an apple, butter bread, and a juice box of fruit punch. Alaric seemed to peek at my plate, nodding to himself seemingly pleased. My heart did a flip again thinking of how he was pleased once again. "Don't leave my side, okay?" I looked up at him nodding following him to the medicine booth. "Alaric VanDoren, January 20th, 2005." The woman nodded before disappearing to the back. She came back with a blood bag, filling yet another chalice with blood for Alaric. "Last one of the night Mr.VanDoren, make it last." Alaric nodded grabbing the blood and walking towards the table that the others were already sitting at.

"Can I ask something?" Alaric hummed nodding while still paying attention to walking without spilling his tray and glass. "Why do you get more blood...and why is it in a fancy cup?" Alaric chuckled to himself as he sat his things at the table. "I'm pure, i use up a lot more blood then most. During the time before we became more... civilized...pure bloods would drink a whole human... completely drain them. So I need 3 cups a day to keep my body working, id I use too much of my power I tend to need even more. The "fancy cup." By how that cute little of yours called it is what all the students get. You just haven't seen them yet silly." Alaric was already taking sips out of the glass as he explained it to me.

"So what you got some kick ass powers or something?" I looked across the table to see Zander being the one to speak. I gasped looking at him knowing he just cussed in front of a lot of people...who probably disapproved of it. "Yes very kick ass powers, but I wouldn't suggest using such fowl language in front of a table of doms. You know better, Lilith might have an excuse but you don't mister." Alarics booming voice made me squirm in my chair, he seemed to pick up on it but ignored it as he gave Zander a very serious stern face. Zanders face seemed to twist into shock as he looked over at me. "I-I think it would be best that we let whoever ends u-up being his Dom deal with it, d-dont you think?" I looked up at Alaric trying my best to smile through the nervousness, I could feel a bit of sweat pooling above my brow. Alaric hummed taking a sip of his blood patting my head. It was a simple gesture, but it calmed me down greatly. I took a deep breath before taking a few bites of my food.

"Also, better watch Lilly over there, she cusses a lot too." My eyes darted up to Zander, almost choking on the bit of pasta in my mouth. Zander was giving me a sinister grin and then winked at me. 'What did I do!? I was trying to save your ass!!!' I yelled in my head, absolutely boiling that he would call me out. Alaric just looked down at me, seeming to try to read my expression. 'You said you guys were friends? He's kind of an ass.' I quickly shot my head to Alaric. "Id agree but he is my friend, he's just...well...being exactly what you called him." Trying to avoid saying the exact word that got zander in trouble to begin with. Everyone at the table seemed to look at me puzzled. 'I didn't say that allowed.' Alaric replied in a sing song voice with a grin plastered on his face, this time I was watching him...his mouth wasn't moving. 'y-you can read minds? And talk to people through there minds?' Alaric nodded taking a bite of cake from his tray. 'bingo, it's called telepathy. Though I'll always try not to pry into your mind, I just thought it was funny to hear if you actually did cuss in your mind. You little flower...have a potty mouth.' I blushed trying my best to not look at him. 'meanie.' is all I said before my mind seemed to go quite again.

I just focused on finishing my meal listening to the banter between Alaric, Valentine, and Mathew. Zander would throw in a cocky reply only for the man sitting next to him to give him a look. Something tells me both me and Zander won't be going with who the school chooses for us. These vampires...already have there fangs too deep for us to run. I finished up the last of my pasta and apple and started to get up to put it in the bin. "Hey, can we talk for a second before the end of dinner." I looked down at Alaric who came up to my chest in his chair. "U-uh yeah of course." He shoved the last bit of food in his mouth, leaving the fork dangling out. He walked behind me as we threw away our trash and placed our trays in the cleaning conveyor. "S-so what do you want to talk about?" I asked turning to look at him. He grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the doors of the cafeteria. Once we were outside he crouched down to my level and held both of my hands. My face turned a dark purple as I started biting on my lip. This felt like a proposal and felt super awkward. "I just wanted to...admit something." I looked at him nodding. "Y-yeah me too." I said softly, too scared my voice would disappear if I spoke any louder. He smiled seemingly comforted by me wanting to talk too.

"I...chose to come here so that whoever I ended up with, wanted to be in the same lifestyle. I wanted them to have free will, able to tell me yes or no when I asked. I still wanted to train them, don't get me wrong, But I wanted them to have a choice...so I guess what I'm getting at...is I want you to have a choice. I really...like you and want to be your Dom, but that is completely up to you. If you need time to think, I understand. You just have to make up your mind and if my name gets called after yours...I'll know you chose me, but If not I'll know you found someone else to be happy with and I'll understand. As long as your happy I will be pleased with your choice."

I looked at him taking a moment to think and form my own words. I felt so loved, despite the fact I had just want this man today...I felt loved and appreciated for just...existing. I took a deep breath, trying to push all the anxiety, all the nervous flutters in my belly, all the shakes in my hands, all the racing thoughts in my head down to my toes and out of my tiny body.

"I've been thinking on it for a while...ever since the bus...I-i think I would really like that. I'll give it the time to think about it completely...but I do really like you and I find my mind and body reacting on its own to you...I really thought I wasn't meant for this life. I was angry that id spend the rest of my life doing whatever someone else wanted...but I think...I think I'd be happy with you controling that. Thank you for telling me, like I said I'll give it time to think but...I'm quite certain I've already made up my mind." I smiled feeling the heated bubbles through me that I always get when I'm proud of myself.

Just then the bell rang and the halls flooded with students, Alaric quickly grabbed my hand as to not loose me. "Let's get going Rose bud." I nodded smiling brighter then I had since I first arrived.