– Can't sleep? – It was my neighbour's handsome voice.

I looked up from my backpack: the vampire was already sitting in his seat, leaning back and smiling at me.

My whole being went cold with fear. And the vampire was only smiling, but his previously charming smile had turned into a mocking one. He was mocking me, and he wasn't even trying to hide it. And then it hit me: he'd taken my phone while I was pretending to be asleep!

– Where's my phone? – I asked him anxiously. – Why did you take it?

"He took my phone! What am I going to do now? How can I text Cedric now?" – I thought with despair.

– Your phone? Why do I need it? – The vampire answered my accusation calmly, but his eyes were laughing.

– I know you did it! And I didn't allow you to address me as 'you'! – Forgetting my fear for a second, I blurted out.

– I don't need your permission," he grinned and leaned in close to my face. – I know who you are, and you know who I am," he whispered in my ear.

I slumped into the chair, feeling terror running through my body. Suddenly I felt an icy touch on my cheek, and I shuddered, but I managed to hold back a scream.

– I don't know what you're talking about," I whispered, horrified by his merciless words.

Alas, my hope was dashed: he'd heard, maybe even seen Cedric and me at the airport.

– Don't take me for a dullard. I know everything about you. And I know you're very dangerous because that idiot in Prague told you something you shouldn't know. Yes, I'm a vampire, and you know it. Wow, what does Morgan see in you?

My heart was racing, but I couldn't move, just clutched the armrests of my chair.

– Though I admit, I can see why he's interested in you: you're pretty cute. But he told you about our secret, and damn it, he did it for nothing!

– I don't care what you do to me, but leave Cedric alone! – I whispered curtly. – It's not his fault! I made him tell me....

– Self-sacrifice! How sweet it is! But don't worry, he'll get what he deserves!

– No! You don't understand! – I exclaimed quietly.

– No, you don't understand, you little fool! He made a fatal mistake, and mistakes must be paid for, – he whispered in my ear.

– Please leave him alone!

– Leave him alone? Do you think it's so easy to tell a mortal our secret and not be punished? It's not a secret that belongs to him alone, and Morgan should have known the consequences. But what about you? There's an easy fix, though – you're not getting off this plane.

I was the only one who could hear his ominous whisper, and no one could help me.

I felt an icy palm slowly creep to my neck, where my carotid artery was beating frantically. Under the vampire's fingers, the artery throbbed even harder, ready to explode and splatter everything around me with my blood.

My eyes filled with tears: I cried at the thought that all was lost. All our dreams and hopes had been shattered. Our secret was exposed. Our future – crossed out. And all because of our own carelessness.....

– You're so beautiful when you cry," the vampire whispered, leaning even closer to me and keeping his hand on my throat.

– I swear I'll scream! – I whispered loudly, willing to do anything to get him off my back.

– Scream all you want, but know this: if a single scream comes out of your throat, I will kill everyone on this plane. You don't want their deaths on your conscience, do you?

– You'd better kill me, but don't mock me! – I whispered doomedly. – But please don't hurt Cedric! I'm the only witness, so when you kill me, your secret will die with me. If you want to kill me now, I won't even resist.

– Kill you now? – The vampire smirked sarcastically. – ''That's certainly very tempting, but there are too many witnesses here. But you need to wash up. Come on, and behave yourself! – He rose from his chair, took my hand and pulled me along, and I followed him obediently, like a dog on a leash.

We reached the bathroom. The vampire unceremoniously pushed me inside, stepped in himself, and snapped the lock shut behind him.

I stared at him incomprehensibly: would he kill me here? In the loo?

– Wash up and I'll make the call," I heard him say in a commanding tone.

– But you can't make a phone call in here," I whispered, scared to death of his behaviour.

What? He won't kill me? Or will he kill me when he calls? What the hell is going on!?

The vampire pulled his mobile phone out of his jacket pocket and, looking at me, added mockingly:

– Live for now. Killing you here would be a bad idea.

I hesitated, not knowing what to do.

– Wash your face, now! – He repeated in a harsh tone that made me flinch.

When I turned to the sink, I saw my reflection in the mirror above it: crying, dishevelled, with a flushed cheek and nose. I switched on the water and began to wash my face.

– Markus! It's Grayson," I heard behind me. The vampire switched to English. – Yeah, on the plane. Listen, I have something important to tell you. I'm sorry to just drop off like this. I had an emergency. Are you busy? Then I'll call you back later. Good luck, my friend. And don't forget to kiss your lovely bride on my behalf.

"Does he know Markus? – I was stunned. – If Markus knew that this ruthless bloodsucker was planning revenge on Cedric, he would have forbidden his crime to be publicised to the entire vampire world to keep Cedric safe… But why didn't this strange vampire even mention me? I mean, he obviously has no idea that Markus has known me for a long time!" – I wondered sincerely.

But the fact that Markus was friends with this vampire brought me relief: Cedric wasn't in danger of being brutalised! Markus wouldn't allow it!

As I washed my face and looked in the mirror, I saw that Grayson (now I knew his name) was looking at me thoughtfully.

– What am I going to do with you? – he said, rubbing his chin. – I can't kill you yet, and I can't leave you free. The only thing left is for you to stay with me.

Stay? I couldn't imagine what he wanted to do to me. The only thing I had no doubt about was that my life would become unbearable from now on: my secret with Cedric was out, and now it was time to pay for our love. I used to think it would be my death, but I never thought it would be over so soon – I was facing one of the things Cedric wanted to protect me from.

– Have you ever been to England? – Grayson asked.

I stared at his perfectly handsome face and couldn't answer.

– You'd love it there," the vampire smiled. – And so will my castle.

– Why don't you just kill me? – I asked in a low voice.

– I'll definitely do it, but later. Let's go.

Grayson grabbed my hand, opened the door, and led me in again. His icy fingers burned my palm, and I felt like a little bunny that the beast had already captured in its deadly embrace and was squeezing, but not killing, to savour its victim's suffering.

We took our seats: me by the porthole, the vampire in a neighbouring chair.

I turned my back to the window. I wanted nothing more than to be silent. My gaze was fixed on a single point. All the strength in me was gone.

– Still, I can't understand how he fell in love with you enough to tell you he was a vampire," my neighbour said quietly, mockingly.

– You've probably never been in love," I whispered faintly.

– Not me, heartless," Grayson grinned.

I listened indifferently and smiled weakly at the thought that my Cedric wasn't like other vampires. My Cedric is kind, sensitive, and human.

– Why are you smiling?

– I'm glad Cedric isn't like you. He's taller than all of you," I answered him, feeling proud of my lover.

– Only a crazy idiot would fall in love with a mortal," Grayson said in a quietly sinister tone. – How much did he tell you?