The Fire Within (The Fire of The Soul Series) by Racquel Kechagias

the supper
room in silence. It isn't until we get to a large set of doors that Victor
comes to a halt before turning to me. "There will be many of my kind here tonight
Anna; you must stay by my side. A lot of the people attending tonight do not
have the same kind of control over their blood lust as I do Anna and if one of
them should catch you alone, I fear that they will not be able to control
themselves." His eyes plead me to understand, and I do. They are vampires,
bloodsucking monsters.
    I reach up and place a kiss on his lips. "I'll
stay by your side Victor," It looks as if he is going to say something,
there is a simmering to his eyes, the questions burning within them but the
door opens before he can say a thing, and we are welcome by the applause of a
few hundred people.
    "This is what you call a small gathering?"
I ask Victor as we stand before the crowd at the top of the staircase.
    "Only a handful," Victor grins before he
takes my hand in his, and we walk over to our seats facing out towards the
crowd. There are four other people at our table, all of them facing the crowd.
The table is rectangular in shape and is covered by a white sheet with lace
trimmings. There is a spread of food across the table, roasted and cold meats,
vegetables, baked potatoes and salads. Two people at our table are sipping from
the clear goblets. It would have been stupid to assume that the crimson liquid
inside of the goblets was anything but blood. However, I am far from stupid and
that assumption did not come to mind.
    Victor pulls out my chair and I placed myself within
it, smiling slightly at the people sitting with us. Victor places himself beside
me on my left, and on my right is a bulky tanned man, and I have a feeling that
he is not a vampire.
    "Good Evening Gentlemen, Astoria," Victor
addresses the three gentlemen and the Lady sitting at our table. "As I'm
sure you have already assumed this is my dear Annabelle, my betrothed,"
Victor says smiling genuinely at the other people sitting at our table.
    "Anna, on your far right is Lord Baron he is an
old friend of my parents. Beside you is Kayden, he is in charge of my Special
Force Intelligence and one of my closest friends. Beside me is Lady Astoria and
Lord Augustus, again they are old family friends and my Godparents,"
Victor says, introducing me to his family.
    "It is so very nice to meet you all," I
say sweetly and for the first time in my life I actually mean it. Victor stands
after everyone has sat down in their seats. He ushers me to stand up with him
and so I oblige.
    "I thank you all for attending tonight. Each
and every one of you are dear to my heart, and so I have asked you to come hear
tonight, so that I may present my betrothed to our society. I want you all to
treat Anna as one of us. We have not as yet decided on a wedding date, but I
hope that you will all be apart of it," Victor says before sitting back
down, and I quickly follow suit. It isn't long until everybody is eating and
enjoying each other's company. The food is divine; it tantalizes my senses and
melts within my mouth.
    It isn't too long until I have my fill. Victor is
still talking to Lord Augustus and Lady Astoria. Kayden turns to me and smiling
sweetly asks "May I have this dance Anna?" I had promised Victor to
stay beside his side but having one dance with his closest friend could hardly
hurt.
    "Of course you may Kayden," I reply
standing up and allowing him to lead me out onto the dance floor.
    "Please call my Kay." He says grinning
from ear to ear. He places one arm around my waist, and takes my hand in his as
"Air on a G string" by Bach starts to play. The soft and gentle curve
of the music floats through the air and urges us to dance. Kayden starts
swirling us around in slow, smooth circles. Kayden's crooked smile is adorable
and it reminds me of a happy puppy. The moment is beautiful and innocent, two
people simply getting to know each other through song and dance until we are
interrupted. Kayden