"Really?" I asked as I laughed at the silly story he said. I could not help but laugh out loud. He was fun to be with. His presence is not as intimidating as the two vampires I met from a few days ago. Rasheb was so kind to me.
"Yes! Could you imagine how much I spent money just for that collection only to drop and step foot on it?" he laughed. "There's only 10 of it in this world yet I only dropped mine."
I grinned. "Well, should I call myself lucky then, because I've got one of those 10 collections?"
His jaw dropped. He looked at me in shock as he straightened his back. "Y-You're kidding me."
I shrugged and smiled at him smugly. "Yes. I got it from Hong Kong last year on my 17th birthday. My mom took the slot for me."
"Wow..." he uttered in awe before he frowned and playfully shot me a glare. "Don't make me envious. Toy collections are always my weakness. I live for them."
I giggled. "I'm not trying to make you envious, I was merely sharing it with you."
He scoffed as he pouted. "Either way, you should not be telling it to someone who has a bad past on the particular thing."
"Okay, okay!" I burst into laughter. He tried to hold his pout but he eventually laughed along with me.
"By the way, how are you related to... uhm, Traiv..?" I trailed off. Mentioning his name through my tongue seems strange to me.
"Oh, Traiver? Well, he's a cousin of mine." He shrugged. That probably explains why the two of them have attractive faces and physiques. Though, the two of them have their own beautiful features and personality.
"Ah..." was all I managed to reply. Fortunately, the servants came bringing various sweets and desserts. Our attention was diverted to it and I felt super happy.
We were about to leave to have a walk together when an unexpected person suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
"Fancy seeing you here, Rasheb. What brings you to visit my house without prior notice?" Traiver asked through gritted teeth.
Rasheb smiled widely and pounced at Traiver to give him a bear hug, but the latter dodged. Rasheb pouts.
"Well," Rasheb was still pouting, but when he glanced at me, his face brightened up, "I came here because I've heard you took a human guest to your house, and then I met lady Navelle."
Traiver stole a quick, cold glance at me before he said blankly to his cousin, "She's not my guest."
Rasheb laughed awkwardly and waved his hands in the air. I smiled at his cuteness. I am already looking forward to meeting him again and having a nice conversation with him. I wish we could be best friends in the near future. Well, if Traiver decided to let me go.
But if he'd kill me...
I sighed.
"Go home, Rasheb," he added in a firm and emotionless tone. His face was stoic.
"Huh? But I just arrived—"
"Now." I shivered at how cold his voice is, and how deadly it is. His face may be emotionless but you would tremble in fear once you see him and hear his voice in person.
Rasheb sighed. "No. I'm staying here." He flicked his fingers and a servant came and bowed his head. "Prepare the guest room for me, please," he said kindly to the man. "And... also, make sure it is a room next to lady Navelle, alright?"
"Yes, sir."
"Great. Thanks."
"Stubborn." I heard Traiver mutter under his breath as he glared at his cousin.
Rasheb turned around to face me. He flashed a kind smile. "It was nice meeting you, Navelle. I hope to see you around here often. For now, I should take my leave. Goodbye."
Before I could even bid a goodbye to him, he vanished into thin air in a blink of an eye.
"...Bye." I sighed.
Now that he's gone...
I turned around and came face to face with the devil himself. I could now feel my heart pounding in fear as I gaze up at him.
He scoffed and crossed his arms across his chest. He rose his thick brow at me. I immediately looked down on the floor and fidgeted with my fingers.
I bit my bottom lip as I sweat.
"Go to your room, prey." I flinched at his voice. I nodded my head and scurried away to the stairs. Thank God— "Hold on."
I stiffened as I stopped on my track.
Within just a second, he was now standing beside me on the staircase.
I looked up at him fearfully. "W-What?" Does he want something? Does he want to drink my blood? Would he punish me again? But I didn't know I did something!
He lifted his hand. I closed my eyes and waited for his hand to land upon my face, but to my surprise, I just felt a slight touch near my ear.
I sluggishly opened my eyes to peek and saw him holding the rose that Rasheb gave to me.
I gasped and my eyes widened.
"No! That's mine!" I exclaimed and out of instinct, I stole it from his hands. I brought it to my chest and glared at him.
Again, he arched his thick brow. "That's from MY garden, isn't it?"
"Yes, it is. But it's mine. Rasheb gave it to me."
He scoffed. "Courting in the wrong backyard, I see."
"What are you talking—"
"Give it to me."
"What?"
"The rose."
I narrowed my eyes further, and if looks could kill, he would've been dead now. "No. It's mine—"
"I hate repeating myself."
I pout as I unwillingly handed him the rose. My eyes were teary. Tears were threatening to fall.
I saw his defined jaw clenched.
"W-What are you g-gonna do with it? R-Rasheb gave it to me..." I uttered.
"Ah, this?" He raised the rose in the air. "Simple. Burn it." Before I knew it, a flame suddenly burned the rose to ashes.
My jaw dropped.
"NOOOOO!" I cried.
He chuckled evilly. "Go to your room now, human. I'll send some servants to prepare your bath. We're going somewhere."
"I hate you!" I punched his chest before I scurried away to my room and slammed the door shut. I went to my bed and cried my heart's out.
How dare him destroy the rose?! It was mine! Rasheb gave it to me. The only friend I have in this house aside from Eliza. They were the only people who were nice to me.
He really did want to hurt me. In all aspects...
I cried and cried until I eventually fell asleep. Eliza woke me up and told me to go to the bath because their master instructed them, but I threw a fit on her. I was still mad at her master. Where would he possibly take me? Ha! In the basement and watch me getting fed by other vampires?
I don't want to go!
I could still remember that day vividly. The way he took his girlfriend to the basement and told her to suck on my blood without even having my consent. I hate him!
"Sir, we're very sorry but lady Navelle refuses to get changed."
"Where is she?"
"At her room, sir. She's been crying since she woke up."
"Very well. Open the door."
I heard unclear voices outside the room. I couldn't hear them properly due to my cries. The door open and it revealed the person I wanted to see the least.
I shot him a glare.
"What are you doing here?!" I yelled as I threw the pillow. But he quickly dodged it.
"This is my house, thus, I own every corner of this place."
"GET OUT OF HERE!" I screamed.
He has an emotionless face. His hands were tucked in his pockets. He calmly sat on the bedside table.
"Why would I?"
"THIS IS MY ROOM! YOU'RE NOT WELCOME HERE!" I threw another pillow, but he caught it before it could even collide on his face.
"This is my house, and I'll do whatever I want to do. Now, tell me why are you throwing a tantrum?" he asked.
"I'M NOT THROWING A TANTRUM!" I yelled as I sobbed. I bet my whole figure is a whole mess. My hair was dishevelled because I just woke up. I still wore the same dress I wore earlier.
"Yeah, yeah. Then why are you crying?"
"Isn't it obvious?! I hate you!"
"Really? Or it has something to do with the burned rose?" he tauntingly asked and a smirk made its own way to his lips.
My lips trembled. I wiped my own tears through the back of my hands.
"I-I hate you...!" I sobbed.
He sighed and stood up. He went in front of me and I looked up to see his face. I, again, wiped my unstopping tears.
"Get up."
"No!" I punched his thigh but it didn't even make him move him a bit. I helplessly mewled.
He sighed and shook his head. He leaned down and wrapped his arm around my waist. Before I could even ask what he was doing, he suddenly lifted me up.
My eyes widened.
He easily hoisted me up to his arms. I shrieked in surprise at the thought of him suddenly throwing me against the wall. I wrapped my arms around his neck and my legs around his torso.
"N-No!"
He scoffed. "Clinging into me like a tarsier. Tsk."
"I'm not a t-tarsier! Get me d-down!" I said through my sobs.
"Hey, prey?"
"W-What?"
"Hold on to me tight, alright?"
"W-Why would I—" I couldn't finish my sentence when I suddenly felt the air going fast slapping across my face. I tightened my grip on his as I shrilled. He ran at an unnatural speed. Oh, my gosh.
"I told yah."
I slapped his shoulder as I suddenly felt the urge to puke out. He let go of me and I felt a cold tire against my feet.
Opening my eyes, I saw we're already inside the bathroom.
My brows furrowed as I gaze around. I shot him a questioning look.
"You're going to take a bath. I told you we're going somewhere."
"I'm not g-going with you." I hiccuped.
"Yes, you will." He smiled sarcastically.
I pouted and glared at him.
"Stop sulking and strip now. We're running late for the event."
"What event?"
"You'd know later."
"But I don't want to go!"
"You have no choice."
"Why would you bring me?! Why don't you bring your girlfriend instead?! Are you gonna offer my blood to some vampires again, huh?!"
"Strip or I'll make you."
I stomped my feet in frustration. Fear was starting to build inside me. No, I won't be coming with him! What if he'll bring me to a group of vampires and let them have their own ways? What if they'll kill me? What if he would kill me?
I shivered at that thought.
He sighed for the ninth time. "Worry not, no one's gonna bite you there."
"W-Why would I t-trust you?" My voice quivers as tears flow down on my cheeks. "The last time I checked, you let s-someone bite me..."
He didn't respond.
I bit the bottom of my lips before adding, "You're a liar."