Secret Of The Crest by Demetra Gerontakis

the wine was too much and I am better off with cocoa before bed time. Gregor, would you like to join me for a cup of tea this morning?’
       ‘I would love to but I need to finish up here if I‘m going to be ready by the time you all finish breakfast. Maybe next time’ he said.
       ‘Okay, your loss. See you later!’ 
       Becca met up with her friends in the diner. Gregor’s eyes fell upon Cassandra over and over again. Then his thoughts changed and he wondered if anyone had noticed the scratches on Rebecca. He couldn’t resist the temptation the night before. Rebecca was so innocent, vulnerable and available. Resisting the taste of innocence was unbearable. Now the thought of being able to keep away and withstanding the temptation should he again get the urge to taste her blood was torturing him.
       ‘ I must be stronger!’ h e thought to himself.
       His Grandmother slapped him out of the trans.
       ‘Gregor, see that you do not taste of the others when you take them into the forest! You must only concentrate on Cassandra. Do you understand me?’
       ‘Grandmother, I know what I am supposed to do but I must not be in a hurry’ Gregor stated.
       ‘On the contrary my boy, in a hurry is exactly what you should be. The group will be leaving in the end of this week and then you will have lost your chance to complete your task and we will lose her forever. Therefore, no wasting time!’ she demanded.
       ‘Alright, I will do it the soonest possible. Now let me be, we are leaving soon.’ 
       Cassandra and her friends were almost finished with breakfast and they had laid out a map on their table marking the points they wanted to see.
       ‘Hey Sam, do you have a GPS on your mobile?’ Cassandra asked.
       ‘No, I don’t have one on my mobile but I do have a GPS. You’re welcome to use it and it’s all charged up and everything’ Sam replied.
       ‘Great, we will use it to find our destinations after our tour with Gregor is over. I don’t think he would like being dragged to every photo shoot venue.’
       ‘And why not may I ask?’ Rebecca inquired. ‘Don’t you think he would be great company and perhaps he could continue his story while we are out there?’ she added.
       ‘Actually, I think he wouldn’t deny us if we ask him to come along to all the sites but, you must understand that it wouldn’t be polite on our part to put him in an imposition knowing that he  has so many duties to attend to’ Cassandra answered.
       ‘Don’t worry you two. When we are out there if he is enjoying our company and there is still much to say, I will discretely ask him if he would like continuing on with us for the rest of the points. It’s that simple!’ said Sam. ‘Now let’s go, we’re going to be late.’
       It was a quarter to ten and the girls had to get their bags from their rooms unlike Sam who had brought his down to save himself from a flight of stairs. He was always very smart and practical. The three girls ran upstairs to their rooms took their gear and were back downstairs in no time. They all sat on the sofas and waited patiently for Gregor to come. Mrs. Marina came to them with a large picnic basket full with savory smelling foods!
       Placing it on Sam’s lap as she spoke.
       ‘Here are some local foods you will probably like to snack on when you get tired. I have made spanakopita(spinach pie) and creatopita(meat pie). I believe it will be a delight after walking through the mountain trails for a few hours. All that fresh air gives birth to hunger, you know. There is a variety of fruit and some nutty snacks and don’t forget to fill your canteens with water before you leave’ the woman reminded.
       ‘We don’t have canteens, we have plastic bottle though’ said Sarah.
       ‘There are plenty of canteens in the cupboard over there for all of you. The cupboard that is behind the door there. Fill them up, they will keep your water cold