I woke up on his bed to the sounds of
murmuring.
The pain had subsided. I sat up slowly. Hand
on my head. He was by the window side,
talking to someone on the phone. Tall, still
dressed in his suit but without the suit jacket.
His back was broad. His hands to his ear.
"What… happened?"
He turned back to face me, removing the
phone from his ear. He looked… angry.
"You're awake."
He walked closer to me before pulling me by
my ankle to the edge of the bed.
I trembled, trying to pull back but his grip was
firm.
"The… the pain is no longer there. What did
you do."
"nothing." He states firmly.
He stared into my eyes coldly.
"You smell… delicious."
His hands held my thighs now.
"So. What is wrong with you?"
He stood up abruptly. Turning his back at me.
"I.. I don't know. I have these marks
somewhere in my body."
"Where?"
He faces me.
"My… My left nipples."
He chuckles darkly.
"Are you trying to seduce me?"
"No… no I'm not. I swear. I'm not."
"Then show me."
He crouched down. His hands reached out to
play with the edge of my tank top.
"I… I can't show you… That's. That's private."
"Then I can't help you. You can leave"
He stood up. He walked up to the window,
lighting a cigarette.
"Please… just tell me what's behind the mark.
You don't have to—"
He interrupts me firmly.
"I've been living for over centuries. How do you
think I won't know?"
He took a long drag of his cigarette.
"I… I can't." I stammered.
"Then leave!" he said coldly.
I bowed my head before turning to leave.
He continued smoking by the window, watching
me walk from the window with a smirk.
I went to my room to change into my maid's
clothes.
"Huh?"
There was a new mark on my right nipples
now. 'A.R.I' on both my nipples areoles.
It was written in a circle as if trying to round my
nipples areoles.
"No. No. No. I don't even know when it will start
hurting."
I sat on my bed. Both hands on my head.
I stood up, dressed before standing up to
leave.
I came out to see Mr Aristarkh already
leaving for business in his expensive suit.
"Anastasia!"
I turned to see who was calling me.
It was Lira Popov. One of madam Vivika
personal maids.
"Yes?"
She walked closer to me.
"Madam Vivika has called for you. Follow me."
"Okay."
I followed her.
"I hope she doesn't know I slept in Mr
Aristarkh room yesterday." I muttered to myself.
I bow.
"Good morning ma'am."
She looked at me coldly.
"Raise your head up."
Y-Yes ma.
I raised my head up.
"My maid said she saw you going into Mr
Aristarkh room yesterday night and coming out
of the room this morning. Is that true?"
She asked, standing up.
I took a step back.
I lowered my head, not meeting her eyes as I
trembled.
"Y-yes ma."
"What took you there?"
She was now right in front of me.
"I-I—"
She grabbed my jaw with her right hand,
making me look directly at her eyes.
"Did you fuck him? Or did he fuck you?"
I shake my head immediately.
"Then why did you leave the next day? You
know what I am. What I'm capable of. So you
better talk because I can serve your head to
the dogs right now."
"I-I"
I didn't know how to explain.
Her hand moved to my neck, Gripping tightly.
Her nails dug into my neck drawing blood.
"I-I went— he called me. He was the one that
called me."
I lied.
She released my neck.
"Called you for what?"
She turned her back, licking my blood off her
fingers.
"Delicious!"
She turned to face me again.
"Called you for what?"
"To-To—"
Inessa entered and interrupted.
"Ma'am, Mr Aristarkh is back and has sent for
you."
She looked at me.
"You're dismissed. And Lira? Make sure she
scrubs the east Wing ten times."
I looked up immediately.
"Ma'am, please–"
She ignored me and passed by.
"You sent for me."
She walked to him. He was smoking cigarettes
in his study. Sitting behind the desk in his suit.
His silver hair styled back in gel. He stands up
and walks straight to her. Not losing eye
contact.
"I can scent someone's blood on you."
He lifts her right hand up, sniffing it.
She pulls her hand back abruptly.
"It's nothing. I only touched the white hair
maiden. And it turns out her blood is fucking
delicio—"
He slaps her immediately, before she could
finish her sentence. Her face falling to the side.
"You did what?!"
He grabs her by the throat, backing her up
against the wall.
"Who gave you permission to fucking touch
her?"
She touches her cheek.
"I don't remember needing permission to hurt
any maid."
"Not her! You dare not touch her again. She's
mine. You're lucky I'm not in a bad mood
today."
He let go of her neck and walked back to his
desk.
She touches her neck, healing herself.
"She came to your room last night. What for?"
"That's none of your fucking business."
"Are you fucking her now? Because she's
pretty or because of her tits?!"
She snapped.
"I said shut it! Get out. Now!"
He looked at her angrily over his shoulder.
"She's trouble. I can smell it."
She muttered before leaving his study to her
room.
After cleaning the West Wing for the tenth time,
I went to my room to sleep. I showered before
sleeping. That night, the marks on my body
didn't hurt.
The next day I woke up and the marks Madam
Vivika left on my neck was gone. Even the
pain
I sat at the edge of my bed. Wondering what
happened. I was interrupted by the sound of
my phone ringing.
"H-Hello?"
I picked it up.
"It's Ivanov."
"Oh hi Ivano"
"Save the number
."
He states firmly in his deep voice.
"Okay. I will."
"So how are you doing?"
"I'm… I'm good. Y-you?"
"I'm okay. Do you have plans for today?"
"N-No I don't. It's my free day. What a
coincidence."
"Cool. Do you want to go out on a date?"
"Uhm…Yeah. Sure."
I smiled over the phone.
"Cool. I'll pick you up by 6pm."