Blood Queen

Beautiful Gift

>>>Atticus' POV>>Echo's POV<<<

When I woke up the next morning I was alone in my bed, but his place was still warm, so he must have just left. He was a gentleman the entire night, and just made me feel better after the bullshit that happened last night. I wondered if he would stay, but pushed it out of my mind and got dressed. I went down for breakfast, it was Saturday and I didn't have training or school, and was a little disappointed to see the dining room was empty. I sat down and in a few moments, I was served my breakfast. Sausage and cheese omelet with grilled mushrooms, and a side of hashbrowns. A large glass of fresh squeezed orange juice sat beside it, and I was left alone again. 

I rested my head on my hand as I picked at the food with a fork, poking it like it was going to move. I hated being lonely. I was a pack animal, and had grown up around hundreds of my favorite people, and now, there was no one. The maid staff said little to nothing. Only Mrs. Atkins spoke to me, but always kept it professional. My closest social interaction was my language tutors, but that was terribly boring too. I'd probably die of boredom before I ever shifted. 

While I sat feeling miserable and sorry for myself, I didn't notice the King had come and sat down at the far end of the table until he spoke and startled me. "Good morning."

"Oh! Good morning Your Majesty." I replied. My usual cockiness was being held in check since he helped me through last night.

"My name is Atticus. Use that." He told me as the maid served his breakfast. I nodded and started to eat. He couldn't possibly expect conversation with my mouth full of food, right? "When you've finished your breakfast, I have a surprise for you." He said as he began eating without looking at me. I didn't know what to say, so I just nodded.

We finished at almost the same time, and we stood up together from the table. I followed him up the stairs and then up another flight to the third floor. We walked to one of the locked rooms, and he took the key out of his pocket. When he opened the door I was absolutely shocked. 

A beautifully huge studio was inside, twice as large as my home studio at the pack, and was filled, absolutely filled, to the brim with art supplies. Some of the most expensive paints were stacked on the shelves, along with canvases of all different sizes. A drafting table with all my sketch tools was there, and a brand new easel was in the middle with a padded stool. The entire floor was covered in drop cloths, and a few art smocks hung on a coat rack. A whole wall of drying racks lined the wall with the door, and I stood in awe with my mouth agape. 

It almost made me cry, and he grinned as I looked at it. "I noticed your studio in your room before you left. I wondered why you didn't ask for another, but I realize now that you don't often think of yourself first. I wanted you to still be able to create." He said and I couldn't help myself, I threw my arms around his neck and jumped into a hug. 

He moaned a little, "You should clean your head wound again." He said, setting me down gently. 

"Hell no I'm gonna paint!" I said excitedly. "Thank you, seriously, thank you." I told him, but he frowned and grabbed my hand, taking me to my bedroom. He pulled me into the bathroom, and took out the first aid kit. "Really, I should be healed by tomorrow, please don't trouble yourself." I tried to reason with him. 

"It can't wait Echo, your scent is driving me mad." He said honestly, obviously embarrassed the moment it left his lips. "I'm sorry."

"It's ok. I'm sorry, I didn't realize." I whispered as he dabbed the wound clean again. "Thank you. I'm, I'm sorry I was a total b***h to you at my pack." I said honestly. "You don't seem to be as terrible as I was told."

"I am." He said simply, "But you will never feel that side of me. I understand you were upset about the situation."

"I, I have questions." I said shakily, I wasn't sure how he'd take them.

"Go ahead." He said gently.

"I thought Vampire's didn't have heart beats. I clearly heard yours. I think everything I may have been told about your kind may have been a lie." I admitted.

He smiled at me softly, "I'm not a Vampire. I'm an Ankara." He said simply, as if his answer clarified everything and didn't confuse me more. He noticed and continued, "We are often confused as Vampires, as we are similar in that we live a really long time, and sustain ourselves with blood. Vampires were an experiment gone wrong by the Primus family, the first Ankara Family, when they were experimenting on humans to create a race of slaves. Luckily, a Primus decent, put a stop to the slavery, but it left an entire race of semi dead blood thirsty creatures. They cannot breed, they can only turn others, while Ankara can have families, mine being the third oldest in our existence. We allow the confusion because it protects our young, as they grow."

I nodded at his explanation, "Are you going to feed on me?"

He smiled again, cupping my cheek in his hand, "Not until you're ready for that, but I won't hurt you." I should have been more terrified at that answer, but something about it was sexy.

"Why did you choose me?" I continued. 

"I can't answer that yet, but I will explain everything the night you shift." He said, stepping away from me.

"Are you going to stay now?" I tried to keep the hopeful tone out of my voice.

"Yes, but I will be on the fourth floor. I will be here to protect you, but will be giving you space. I request you give me mine as well." He nodded curtly, and his expression went cold. 

He left quickly, and I didn't see him the rest of the day. d**k. Well, d**k that gave me a studio. Maybe not so much a d**k, meh, now off to paint!