[Warning: Graphic Content]
Lord Fashire's grip on the vial tightened as he circled it in his hold, his gaze distant and his jaw clenched. He lifted his other hand to touch the tender flesh of his mouth. A fleeting frown crossed his face before vanishing. His shoulders sagged, and he let out an exasperated sigh, his eyes drifting up to the ceiling.
I tensed with dread. What was he planning to do next?
For what felt like an eternity, he remained motionless, a statue carved from the darkest nightmares. Then, with an unsettling smirk curling his lips, he glanced down at me.
He murmured, "The others are going to have a field day about this."
The ringing in my ears ceased. He slipped his fingers into the breast pocket of his dark shirt to retrieve a gleaming silver key. The bright lighting caught its shine as he grabbed my hands and turned the key in the lock. The shackles fell to the ground with a heavy thud.
His fingers crushed my wrists, and he dragged me to the door like I was an empty sack of grain. I dug my feet into the ground, trying to gain footing, which was worthless against his immense strength. My wounded shoulder screamed, and a sharp gasp escaped my lips as another surge of blinding pain crippled me.
In a last-ditch effort, I mustered the courage to reach out, my elbows grappling with his legs. My wrists throbbed from the strain, and I released my elbows from the flimsy grip.
"Please… stop!" I pleaded, doing my best to ignore the pain.
The heavy desperation in my voice accomplished nothing, so I yelled at the top of my lungs, "My blood is in you now, and if anything happens to me, I can't guarantee your safety!"
I bumped into his legs when his steps faltered right in front of the double doors. Lord Fashire peered down at me, his eyes widening. "Unbelievable. Did you just threaten me?"
My eyes watered, and I pressed my quivering lips tight, refusing to tear my gaze away from his. For some reason, the intense pain and disorientation added a level of boldness I never thought I'd possess. I had to stand my ground, to fight for my family's life. It would all be over the moment I passed through those doors.
His lips twisted into a sour grimace, and he withdrew his hand from the door. Silence enveloped us, the tension thickening the air as our gazes locked in a battle of wills.
"Please… I beg you to reconsider," I managed to force out, my voice trembling with a mix of fear and determination.
And pain.
My arms were beginning to go numb, and I had nearly lost all feeling in the wounded one. My eyes shifted, but I refused to look at it. My breathing was shallow enough. I didn't want to see how severe it had become.
A flicker of amusement danced in the corners of his lips, an enigmatic smirk playing upon them. "How quaint of you to think that you could threaten me."
My heart stuttered to a stop. He had a gleam in his eyes, an unsettling knowledge that stripped me of all defences. He knew I was just trying to save my skin.
With one final tug, we crossed the threshold. I squeezed my eyes shut, silently praying for a miracle. It couldn't be over. Not like this. One small mistake, and I had sealed my fate.
And my father... What would become of him?
A short burst of air raced past my ears, and in less than a moment, I heard Lady Gremlin's soft voice. "Oh, Venti… what is this now?"
Chills shot down my spine, and my eyes snapped open. I remained still, unable to raise my lowered head. The polished floorboards of the dining hall were unmistakable, along with the striking presence of the other Lords looming in the air.
Lord Fashire flung me forward. I tripped over my feet and crashed onto the floor. The impact caused a jarring pain to radiate through me.
The impact jarred through me. My vision blurred at the edges. I couldn't even vocally express the pain I felt.
"Why is a human wearing our servant's clothing? An intruder?" a Lord spoke up, his voice dripping with sick amusement.
Another Lord chuckled—a voice all too familiar. Lord Daniels. "They appear to grow bolder and bolder by the day."
It was then that I noticed what I was wearing. Had he dressed me up in my servant clothing before gaining consciousness?
"Are you blind, Venti? Or do you not see how you are soiling the floor with her blood?" someone else added, annoyed.
I finally took note of the dark splotches on the floor. They started to merge into a small puddle at my side. I blinked lazily, unable to feel my arm. That looked like a lot of blood. All in a few seconds.
'Why am I still conscious?'
Lord Fashire's deep-throated laughter pierced the heavy silence. The wicked sound mocked my misery as it echoed off the chamber walls. He finished with a sigh and spoke, his voice raised, "It appears the humans have found a way to masquerade as vampires."
My throat constricted at the deafening silence that followed.