Two for tragedy. Volume 2 - стр. 27

Just forget about them? Ignore the fact? It was impossible: I closed my eyes and saw the unhappy girls in front of me, their hysterical screams ringing in my ears.

Perhaps I was soon to be in one of those cells. Because I was determined to talk to Grayson about the prisoners and try to get him to let them go. Even at the cost of my own life.

Tired and broken, I walked out of the castle into the park and sat on a bench by the fountain. The morning, which had recently seemed joyful and hopeful, was as dark as the sky above my head: the smell of a thunderstorm was in the air.

"How many days have passed since Grayson locked his poor prisoners in the dungeon? How many horrors they must have endured and are enduring every day! Are they receiving food and water? Lord, if you are, how do you allow such things to happen? How do you allow some of your children to abuse and kill your other children!" – The thoughts in my head were interrupting each other, and I had to grit my teeth to keep from crying at the sheer injustice.

Soon it started to rain, but I didn't want to go back to the castle: I was disgusted to be in a vampire's home. So, without moving, I sat in the summer rain and thought about the poor girls locked in their cages.

My thoughts were interrupted by the quiet rattle of the gate opening, and as I glanced up, I saw Grayson's car pulling into the park. The gate closed immediately. The car stopped at the stone staircase, and in a few seconds the master of the castle himself stepped out of it. From now on, in my eyes he wasn't just a monster-he was a maniac, a sadist, a madman. I began to hate him even more, if that was even possible.

Grayson glanced at me and, grinning, headed in my direction. He was beautiful in a dark blue classic suit. His dark hair set off his handsome face perfectly, on which a welcoming smile shone.

– Good morning, Viper. How did you sleep? I hope you didn't get cold last night? – He asked, stopping in front of me.

I had no desire to talk to him or even look at him, but I needed to find out who those girls were, in his dungeon, and what he planned to do to them. Maybe he would hit me for my insolence, maybe ban me from the bars next to them, but I needed to know.

– Brandon," I began timidly, remembering well how angry he'd been yesterday for my not calling him by his first name.

– You finally learnt my name," he said mockingly.

– Who… Who are they? – I asked in a broken voice, not daring to look at him.

– Who are they?"

I looked up at him.

– The girls in your dungeon," I said quietly and squirmed, preparing to take his punch or slap.

To my amazement, instead of frowning or slapping me, Brandon smiled.

Fear gripped me: you could expect anything from him, I'd learnt that forever.

– Oh, damn it, you ruined my surprise! – The vampire said with reproach in his voice.

– What surprise? – I was surprised, not understanding what he was getting at.

– Well, all right. Did you find them?

– Yes! How did they end up there? What do you want to do with them? – I exclaimed.

The captives were his surprise to me? So he wanted to tell me about them?

– It's very simple. But be patient: soon you will have the surprise I have prepared for you.

– Will you let them go? – I asked with hope in my heart.