Two people left standing outside the restaurant, both hearts are crushed because of what has just occurred. They were both left thinking of what they have done with guilts inside their hearts.
"Well…I guess we went too far…?", Grace asked while scratching the back of her head to ease the awkward silence left between her and Yuri.
"What are you talking about? It is only natural for us to worry about her. We want her to be safe, but the problem is she doesn't see it at all.", Yuri exclaimed.
"Anyways, it's no use to just stand here. I am too cute for this!", Grace looked at Yuri as if he was crazy but then they both laughed. Grace appreciated Yuri's way of comforting her, though she can't get off her mind about the "thing" she saw at the restaurant. It surely is real. She saw it with her own eyes, but maybe it can be just her hallucinating. As she was thinking about it, she feels a hand on her left shoulder. Looking to her right, it's Yuri.
"It's going to be okay. We are going to get through this. I'm Yuri you know. I don't back down easily." Smiling at her cutely.
Laughing again, she gave Yuri a gentle smile. "Yeah, you're right."
Maybe…
Just maybe, it can go back to how it was before that jerk came.
BACK AT THE RESTAURANT…
Dusting his suit and fixing the creases on his clothes. A man came up behind him. It's none other than his loyal secretary.
"Sir. I'm very sorry. If only I was more attentive this wouldn't have happened. It's a shame to our kind that this kind of thing happened. I will take any punishment for my wrongdoings Sir." Said the man while bowing.
"It's alright. I was kind of disappointed of what it turned out but then…I'm kind of liking what is happening. It's been a while since I've had this much fun."
Hearing that statement, the poor secretary flinched. This is bad. Whenever he says he is having fun it always ends up so messy. The part of his boss he never wanted to see again might resurface again at any moment. The man in front of him is a ticking bomb. It has its limits, especially when it is having fun.
Seeing the smirk on the other vampire's face, just made the secretary more nervous. He can't do much about it if it happens again, but he will try to lessen its impact if it were to happen.
"Investigate on those two people who were with Penelope. There is something I want to know and confirm. And if you're done just put it in my office. And call the chauffeur." Still bowing the secretary responded with a curt "Yes sir." Seeing his boss' back go further down the hallway.
Arriving at his home, he strides inside. As usual, he wants to go for a bath. It's the only thing he can do as a "relaxation" because sleep is…well already know he can't sleep.
Ordering the maids to prepare his bath, he just straightly walks into the bathroom seeing the bathtub almost full and a wine glass with the bottle of wine on the table beside the bathtub. Removing his clothes dipping his feet one after the other. As he feels the water on his skin, it instantly calms him. Laying on the bath, with his head resting on the end, he lets out a sigh.
As he closed his eyes, he remembers the incident at the restaurant. Unconsciously, there's a tug on his lips almost like a smirk. Noticing it, his face got back from the usual stoic face he has. Drinking the wine slowly, savoring the taste. The face of a specific woman suddenly appears on his mind.
And it's the weird woman who goes by the name Grace.
CLAUDE'S POV
Come to think of it, usually women, especially human girls, can't control themselves when I am around, because as a male vampire with a high rank in the hierarchy our presence usually comes off stronger than average male vampires. It's an invisible barrier, like a radiation, and it radiates to humans. It could affect the minds of humans, but the vampire can somehow also decrease it sometimes when they want. It's kind of like a vibe but with an unavoidable effect. But that woman seems to resist this, and I find it weird, unusual even.
What happened at the restaurant today is also like the day I interviewed her. She's so relaxed and composed, without having any trouble in rejecting my advances.
But then…there is this weird feeling in my chest. It feels like a magnet. It doesn't stop when she is around. It's like I'm being pulled by a string and I can't stay calm when she is around. It is a frustrating feeling, itching to be let out.
As I was having an intense stare with her back at the restaurant, I swear that the tension between us at that time is so high. The only difference is she feels anger and rage while I feel attracted for some reason.
Why do I feel like this?
Those brown eyes…
"Urggggghhhh!"
Holding the wine glass tightly he glares into nothingness as he convinces himself.
"What the hell am I thinking?! This isn't the time for this, nor this is right. I must be out of my mind. Attraction? Hah! You must be kidding me." Drinking the last bit of wine on his glass and placing it on the table harshly. He fixes his composure and sighs looking at the night view in front of him.
But then, he sure is lying to himself…
MEANWHILE…
Arriving at home tiredly. Grace removes her shoes placing them on the shoe rack just before the door on the left side. Walking inside, she declares, "Mom. I'm home."
"Hi dear. How's your day with your friends?", not wanting her mother to worry, she decided to keep what happened.
"It was fun. It's just that…We're very tired."
Sensing the emotion behind her daughter's statement. The said mother didn't argue on the topic further.
"Hmmm. Is that so? Well, you're just in time for dinner. I'm still making it so you can clean yourself first."
"It's okay mom. I can do it later. I can help you with cooking though."
"Uh-uh. You said you were tired right? Just sit there. Leave it to me. Instead, why don't you tell me about school. It looks like you've been busy these past few days." Grace's mom said while turning around to continue chopping the vegetables.
Honestly, Grace has been preoccupied with the issue regarding Penelope. And the school isn't really giving them a lot of work that's why she had time to sneak out and do these things.
"Well…It's still the same. The lessons are getting hard to understand as the semester goes on, but I think I can still handle it. Though it's tiring sometimes mom. Ahhhh! I wish I can have a day where I can just sleep the whole day. That would be amazing." She said while stretching her hands upward together with her back. Releasing tension, she didn't know she had.
"Hahaha. I'm sure you can surpass this. Just don't overwork yourself and remember to relax. Whatever grade you get I'm okay with it, because I know you're always trying your best. With just that I'm already proud of you.", Mrs. Salmont said, smiling gently towards her daughter.
Hearing this, Grace feels like crying but she holds it in. Instead, she stood up from her chair and placed her hands around her mother's belly. She side hugged her mother who is cooking, just like what she'll do when she's little. Feeling the warmth of her mother, her tiredness somehow goes away. "Thanks mom."
"Of course, dear."
While closing her eyes to relax, the image of the fangs she saw at the restaurant flashed before her eyes, thus making her open her eyes instantly. Until now she still can't shake the feeling that it was real and not just her being crazy. She knew she won't be feeling at ease until she confirms it, but who the hell confirms an occurrence like that as if it were a little problem. The fact that it includes fangs is already weird enough for people to judge her. After having a battle with herself inside her head.
She gathered her courage and decided to ask her mom whilst still hugging her.
"Mom… what do you think about… vampires? You know… the news that's been circulating around…What is your opinion about it… Do you think their real…?"
Hearing this Grace's mom flinched and stopped whatever she was doing. The shock and fear written on her face are unnoticed by her daughter as her daughter is looking down lost in her own thoughts. That gave her the advantage to compose herself.
"What are you talking about dear? Well, I think it might be just a harmless rumor. I mean we are already in a new generation, stories like that are ancient. Don't worry yourself about it. I think the police will do what they can do to catch those who are guilty. Okay?" deciding to just forget about what happened and accept the reason that maybe… she's just hallucinating because of lack of sleep.
Grace nodded her head as an affirmation.
As the evening goes by, they finished eating their dinner and prepared themselves for bed. Bidding a goodnight with her mom with a kiss on the cheek, Grace strides to her room and falls on her bed. Finally feeling the coziness and warmth of it. Moving around to find a perfect sleeping position, she hugs her favorite dog stuffed toy with a pillow between her thighs. The tiredness she felt consumed her body making her sleepier. As her eyelids slowly feel heavier, she decided to succumb to it.
With the thought of forgetting about the incident, Grace drifted off to sleep and entered dreamland.
But can she really forget about it so easily?