The Taste of Seduction

hallucinated or she really heard a voice inside her head?

The man\'s lips curled up at her expression of utter confusion and once again spoke directly into her head without ever moving his lips or sound coming from his mouth.

"I asked you a question. Who hurt you?"

Meredith opened her mouth and closed it, shock passing through her. She pointed a finger at her chest, a frown marred on her face.

"Are you talking to me?

The man nodded to their surroundings and continued silently, "Dangers lurks around you and you\'re being heavily monitored. Their hearing is too sharp to be avoided, so for right now, I will speak to you in this manner, do you understand?"

Meredith swallowed and nodded. The man was beyond handsome. He was the most handsome person she had ever met and his violet seemed to glow in the bright sunlight. He was tall with angular cheeks, long flowing snow-white hair.

It was her first time meeting someone with violet eyes. She wondered if he was wearing contacts.

"No, it\'s my natural eyes." The voice sounded again in her head.

Meredith\'s whole body stiffened. Could he also read her thoughts? Who the hell was he?

"I\'m the only one capable at the moment to read people\'s minds. Don\'t be afraid. The vampires could compel you to say what\'s on your mind but they can never read your mind."

Meredith\'s heart raced and her eyes pricked at this news.

"Who are you?" Meredith asked, her voice trembling.

"Don\'t you have more interesting questions you want to ask instead of knowing who I am? We will meet again soon and I will properly introduce myself. Now tell me who hurt you?"

Meredith avoided his gaze and knotted her finger.

"N-no one."

He studied her expression. He seemed to be trying

to determine if she was trying to tell the truth.

"The look in your eyes. Complete devastation. So much anguish is harbored behind those warm, hazel eyes. So much sadness.tell me little one why are you sad?"

Meredith couldn\'t speak. She was too afraid that if she opened her mouth, huge, wailing sobs would break free. Someone was actually asking her to open up.

They were not reminding her why she has to put up with all of this for her people. People who didn\'t even know she existed until three days ago.

No one has asked her what she wanted. She had never had a choice since she came here. So

She sat there in silence, staring down at the fireplace.

Her whole life had been shredded into pieces in the blink of an eye.

She closed her eyes, her hands balling into fists against her side as she struggled to control

the rising fury, panic, and dread that was welling

inside of her.

And with that sudden bombardment of feeling,

there came other thoughts and emotions.

Atlas\'s face flashed through her memory.

Oh, how she longed to hear his voice. how much easier all of this would be if only she had

him by her side, how much braver she would feel if she felt his hand in hers.

She wanted to hug him so badly and tell him about the injustice she was facing. They were not giving her a choice. They were taking him away from her.

"Oh" The man\'s voice bloomed in her mind and she remembered that she was not alone. The worst thing was that he could read her thoughts and sense her emotions.

Meredith glanced at him and saw him staring at her. Did he just pry into her mind?

"Sorry for invading your thoughts but I had to make sure you\'re alright. I travelled across the lands to confirm the rumors were true. I didn\'t mean to catch you at a bad time."

He smiled softly at her.

"I can\'t tell you much but if it\'s meant to be it would be."

He said softly.

Meredith nodded numbly. Silence ensued between them before the man spoke again.

"I can let you see him but it would cost you."

Meredith\'s eyes widened and she licked her lips. She knew who he was talking to but was she ready to risk everything to see him? Was she going to make a deal with this stranger man just to hold his hands again?

"What do you want?"

The man\'s lips curled up and a trace of surprise flashed across his eyes.

"Hmm I don\'t know now but one day I will ask for it."

Meredith furrowed her brows as she contemplated.

"And why should I trust you when you just told me not to trust anyone?"

He was studying her intently. He considered her words for a moment, and he smiled.

Meredith\'s heart fluttered anxiously in her chest as she waited for him to answer her.

He didn\'t answer her question. Instead he

continued quietly, "You remind me of your mother. She said the same thing the first time we met."

Meredith was shocked that he had brought up her mother. He spoke so fondly of her. Almost as if he was in love with her.

On this topic, she wanted to know more and asked softly,

"Did you know her?"

He studied her again; Meredith suspected he was looking for a part of her mother in her.

"Open your palm." He whispered.

A small photo appeared in Meredith\'s palm as he answered,

"YesYour mother and I were friends. But I\'m a busy person and wasn\'t around much. Sorry. I wasn\'t there when she needed me the most." He murmured guilt laced in his voice

"Keep this. I am certain she would want you to have it."

Meredith looked carefully at the photo. Truthfully, she looked nothing like the woman in the photo.

The woman had red hair that framed her face a little haphazardly, and her green eyes reminded Meredith of the forest. She was shockingly beautiful. But it was her expression that captured her attention most.

She was smiling at the camera, almost mischievously; clearly enjoying whatever moment she was in and whoever was taking the picture.

Meredith noticed the baby bump and tears pricked her eyes. She struggled to speak over the lump in her throat and asked thickly,

"Was she pregnant with me ?"

The man\'s lips curled up and he nodded. "Yes."

He answered simply. He stared off into

space. It was evident he was reliving any number of

memories with her mother in his mind. Her mother.

Even though she had seen her in her memories it was weird to hear people talk about her. Meredith didn\'t know how to even act when people brought her parents up.

She didn\'t know them enough to feel sad or hurt.

"This man you really love him?" The man asked softly.

"Yes." Meredith glanced up and met his eyes.

"Then I will say, don\'t waste time. You might never know the last time you would see him again so cherish every moment with him." He muttered as if he was talking to himself.

"Half an hour." He added

"Huh?" Meredith blinked in confusion.

"I will give you half an hour to see him."