Blaise stood in the balcony staring outside.
From the Runen manor, there was a view of the city of Runen.
She liked the place. It wasn't as serene as the Valerian manor but it was fine. Besides, it was her fault there were here in the first place.
Blaise's mind drifted off to the morning's events. She wondered who the woman in her dream was?
Whenever she thought about the excruciation pain, shivers run down her spine.
The woman could hurt her even in her dream. It was so terrifying. It felt so real even though it was just a dream.
She remembered how helpless she felt. Until she heard him call her.
Every changed when he touched her.
She could still feel his hands wrapped around her. His body was cold, yet, she felt such comfort in them she'd never felt.
She remembered how he cooed her and called her… Vivi.
She remembered their kiss. Their first kiss. His kiss was so gentle and his lips were so tender. At that instant, she forgot all her fears.
She felt things she'd never felt before.
Blaise couldn't deny it now. Her heart raced whenever she saw him. Her tummy did a funny turn whenever his name was mentioned.
She was aware for a fact she had feelings for Keith.
But it wasn't the same for him. Was it?
He didn't ride with her this morning. He didn't show up for dinner because of his meeting. She felt he was just ignoring her as always. Pretending nothing had happened.
But Keith was not one to pretend. From what she'd learnt, he either wanted to do it or not.
"You will catch a cold. Come inside." A voice said from behind.
Blaise turned to find Keith staring at her. Her heart suddenly skipped a beat.
He had an astonished look when she turned around. It was quickly masked with a cold look.
"That dress. Who gave it to you?" Keith asked.
She looked down at the royal blue night dress she wore.
"Heather gave it to me. She said it…"
"It was my mother's." Keith interrupted her.
This was the first time he'd ever mentioned his mother to her.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know. If you don't want me in it. I can ta…"
"It's alright. You look beautiful in it." He told her.
Blaise blushed surprisingly.
This was the first time he'd ever complimented her.
"How are you feeling now?" He walked towards her.
Blaise's heart raced as he stepped closer.
"I…I… am fine." She stuttered.
Keith stared at her.
She'd clasped a handful of her dress in her right hand. He could hear her heart thudding loudly.
"Vivian, are you okay?" He reached to touch her.
"Y…Yes. I…I am fine." She quickly stepped away from him.
Keith pulled back his hand.
"Alright, then." Keith turned to leave.
Blaise suddenly grabbed his arm.
"W…Wait." She stammered.
Keith glanced down at her.
"I'm sorry. I just wanted to thank you for today. I probably would've hurt myself and everyone else if you didn't show." Blaise said.
"It's nothing. You are fine now, that's all that matters." Keith replied.
Blaise nodded with a smile.
Suddenly, it began drizzling.
"You should come in now, unless you want to stay in a bloody downpour." Keith said.
Blaise walked inside while Keith shut the doors to the balcony.
Inside, the room was warm and well-lit with candelabras.
This room was larger than her room back at the Valeria manor. It had darker features like Keith's room back at the manor.
She slowly sat down on the large bed.
Keith headed towards the drawer searching for something. She watched him as he searched. He was in a black man's robe. His blonde hair was tied up with a few strands in his face.
She wondered why he hadn't already left. The clock on the wall struck eleven. The rain began to pour louder outside.
"There's something I want you to have?" Keith turned around.
He walked towards her and sat next to her.
"Here." He handed her a black leather book.
The book was designed with thorns with a symbol of an owl.
"I know this symbol." Blaise said.
Keith nodded.
"The owl represents the watchers from the coven of Heretics." Keith told her.
"The Heretics was one of the most powerful of the six. But they were wiped out." Blaise said.
Keith nodded.
"Ho…How did you get it?" Blaise asked.
"It belonged to my mother. She was the last of her bloodline." Keith replied.
Blaise noticed the sudden change in his mood. He didn't like talking about his mother.
"I…I can't take this." Blaise gave it back to him.
Keith glanced at her.
"Take it." He said in an authoritative tone.
Blaise reluctantly took the book.
"My mother may have been the last of her coven but she was very powerful. Her grimoire contains numerous spells you can learn from." Keith told her.
"Thank you." Blaise nodded.
Keith reached out to pull a black box from his robe pocket.
He opened the box to reveal a necklace. It was blue diamond necklace.
It looked so familiar. Blaise wondered where she'd seen it.
"I want you to have this too. It's made from blue amethyst." Keith handed it to her.
"It's beautiful. Thank you my Lord." She said with a bright smile.
Keith nodded.
"Can you help me put it on?" Blaise asked.
He nodded and took the necklace from her.
Blaise turned around. She pushed her hair aside revealing her neck.
Keith moved closer to her. He unlocked the necklace and slowly placed it around her neck. His fingers brushed her neck as he closed it.
She sighed from his touch. She felt slightly disappointed when he pulled away.
Blaise headed towards the mirror.
"Thank you, it's beautiful." She told him.
"I'm glad you like it." He replied.
"I love it." She smiled.
Keith stood up from the bed.
"You cannot use your powers, Vivian." He said abruptly.
Blaise turned to face him.
She looked down at her hands.
"I know. Again, I'm sorry about today. I wasn't my intention to ruin the manor." She replied.
"Is fine. The manor has seen worse." Keith said.
Blaise nodded.
"Vivian…you should know I don't intend to stop you from using your powers. You can use it at least, within these walls. But you can't use it outside. It's…"
"It's dangerous and poses at a threat to the vampires. I understand." Blaise said.
Keith walked closer to her.
He raised her chin and looked into her eyes.
"You are not a threat, Vivi." He whispered.
Blaise's heart skipped a beat. She stared into his eyes totally lost.
Their lips were inches away from each other. She could feel his cold breath on her cheeks.
For a minute, all they did was stare at each other. Blaise felt his hesitation. She placed a hand on his chest and tip toed.
She slowly advanced for his lips. He unexpectedly pulled back from.
"You should go to bed. It's late." He said. He immediately headed towards the fireplace.
Blaise stood still for a while. What just happened? She asked herself.
"What about you?" She asked.
"What about me?" He asked.
He sat in the large chair by the fireplace.
"Won't you go to bed?" Blaise asked.
"I don't need sleep." He replied coldly.
Minutes ago, she swore he'd changed towards her. Now he was back to his old self.
Blaise headed towards the bed. She laid down on the bed and wrapped the black covers around her.
The pillows were filled with Keith's masculine scent. She realized why he still hadn't left.
This was his chambers. She wondered why he'd let her here.
He could have given her a separate room like before .
She remembered something Morgan had said earlier.
She closed her eyes and clutch to the necklace around her neck. Thoughts of Keith filled her mind. Before long, she drifted of to sleep.
"Promise, you will come with me." Clarissa asked Blaise.
Both Blaise and Clarissa were heading for breakfast. Blaise woke up in the morning alone in the room.
She wondered where Keith had gone. She knew he'd probably gone for a morning ride. She had a strange urge to see him morning. Not long, Clarissa appeared at her door insisting they spend the day together.
Blaise had nothing to do so she agreed.
"Fine, honey but you would have to ask your fa…"
"Father is coming too. He will not object you coming." Clarissa let out.
Blaise smiled.
"I just want both my daddy and mommy to be there. It's my first invitation to any gathering you see." Clarissa said.
Blaise stopped pushing her wheelchair. She bent down to Clarissa's side.
"Why did we stop?" Clarissa asked.
"Clary…you just called me…mommy?" Blaise asked.
"I can call you that right?" Clarissa asked.
Her light blue eyes were filled with longing.
"Of course, honey." Blaise cupped her face.
"Are you sure you won't be furious if I call you mother?" Clarissa asked.
"Of course not honey. Why will I be?" Blaise asked?
"Mother…never liked it when I called her mother. Mother never loved me. That's why she left." Clarissa said in a sad tone.
Blaise realized Clarissa's mother did not just abandon her child, she neglected her. That explained why little Clarissa yearned for mother figure. Even though her father loved her beyond compare, but there was nothing compared to a mother love.
"Come here honey." Blaise said.
She kissed her forehead and hugged her.
"I love you, Clary and you will always be my little girl. You can call me anything you want, alright." Blaise told her.
"I love you too, mommy." Clarissa whispered.
"There you are." Heather appeared in the hallway.
"Good morning, Aunt Evie." Clarissa said with a smile.
"Good morning my lovely sunshine. I take you had a splendid night?" Heather kissed her forehead.
"I did." Clarissa replied.
"While you two were here bonding, the rest of us waited on you. My blood tea won't drink itself." Heather said.
"You could've started without us." Blaise said.
"You have learnt nothing from your stay here. Have you?" Heather asked.
"In my defense, there is a lot learn." Blaise said.
"I will explain on our… Is that what I think it is?" Heather touched Blaise's necklace.
"Oh…it's…"
"Where did you get it?" Heather asked.
Blaise furrowed her brows.
"Leo gave it to me." Blaise replied.
"Did he now?" Heather mumbled.
"Is there something wrong?" Blaise asked.
"Never mind, love. It's beautiful. Let's go now, lasses." Heather pushed Clarissa's wheelchair.
"Anyway, when was it your job to come fetching for us? I thought that was Morgan's job." Blaise said.
Clarissa giggled.
"Aunt Evie the Butler." Clarissa said.
Heather gasped.
"Clarissa, you degrade me. You, Vivian, what have you been teaching my niece?" Heather glared at her.
"Nothing she hasn't already learned from you." Blaise replied.
"I looked into the symbol and guess what I found?" Klaus asked his brothers at the dining table.
Keith looked up from his newspaper.
"My hunch?" He asked.
"Better. The owner of the largest potion store here in Valeria." Klaus said.
"Bloody Old Harry." Damien said.
"Yes mate. Unfortunately, Old Harry disappeared about a month ago. His whole store was burnt down. No one saw how it occurred. However, his son recalled a man dropped by a week prior his father's disappearance." Klaus said.
"Let me guess, that man inquired of a very rare potion." Heath said.
"He did. Old Harris was reluctant in sharing the information. The strange man left without a word that followed with the disappearance of Old Harris." Klaus said.
"Any description on this man?" Keith asked.
"Black hair, blue eyes, shrewd smile. Recall any one with such features?" Klaus asked.
"Why on earth are you discussing Samuelson Archie." Heather walked into the hall with Clarissa and Blaise.
"Nothing important." Keith said.
"Good morning, Uncle Klaus, Uncle Heath, Uncle Damien." Clarissa greeted.
"Good morning Clarissa." They responded.
"My Lords." Blaise greeted.
"My Lady." Klaus and Heath replied.
Blaise glanced at Damien. He was engrossed with something in his book.
"A lovely morning to you father." Clarissa smiled.
"Good morning, princess." Keith carried her from her chair.
He placed her on his lap. Blaise and Heather took their seats.
"Got something for you." Keith told Clarissa.
"You did? What is it? What is it?" Clarissa asked excitedly.
"Morgan." Keith called.
Morgan walked in with a veiled cage.
Clarissa raised the veil to find a small Havanese puppy. It had golden brown fur and a royal collar around its neck. It's long fur was brushed neatly to the side.
Clarissa gasped.
"Daddy its beautiful. Can I touch it?" Clarissa asked.
"Go ahead." Keith replied.
Morgan carried the puppy from its called and handed it to the princess.
"Oh its lovely." Clarissa giggled.
"What are we going to call her?" Heather asked.
Clarissa whispered something into her father's ear.
Keith's expression changed.
"I am naming her Lady Corentine." Clarissa said.
Klaus coughed.
Everyone's expression turned sour.
Blaise looked around and noticed the changed expressions.
"Err…honey. Why don't you call her Cory, just like Corentine but shorter?" Blaise suggested.
"Cory? I love it. Welcome to Valeria, Cory." Clarissa kissed its head.
"Well, speaking of presents, that's one lovely necklace you have there, Vivian." Klaus changed the subject.
Blaise touched her necklace.
"The rarest of its kind, courtesy of our brother." Heather said.
"Jealous, Eve?" Heath said.
"Yes, quiet jealous." Heather replied.
"You can always get a husband to give you one." Klaus said.
"I heard Lord Belmont is back from Theroden." Damien said from his book.
"Look who decided to speak up?" Heather glared at Damien.
"Only contributing to your well being, sister." Damien replied.
"Fortunately, for me I have four large hounds who scare every suitor that walks through that door." Heather said as she sipped her tea.
"You scare them yourselves, Eve." Heath said with a low chuckle.
"Lord Erin is short. Edwin isn't handsome enough. Darren is too kind. No one is good enough for you, Eve." Klaus said.
"Henry has a huge head." Damien said.
They burst into laughter.
"Henry does have a huge head." Heath laughed.
Blaise noticed Heather's frown.
"That's enough. You three lay off Evie." Keith said.
Klaus, Heath and Damien turned silent.
Heather sprang out of her seat.
"I'm in a good mood today but guess what? I have better places to be than wasting time on you lads." She said.
"I thought we were going for a…"
"I'm not in the mood anymore. Find another lackey." She told Heath.
"Vivian are you coming?" Heather asked.
"Err… Yes. Excuse me." Blaise replied reluctantly.
"Can I come too?" Clarissa asked.
"Fine. Don't bring her." Heather replied.
"But Aunt Evie…"
"Oh fine, fine. Whatever sunshine let's go." Heather said with sigh.
She took Clarissa and placed her in her wheelchair.
"We gals have to stick together. Don't we?" Clarissa asked Heather.
"That's right love." Heather replied as she glared at her brothers.
"Vivian, I will like to speak to you before you leave." Keith said.
"Alright." Blaise replied.
"We will be outside." Heather said.
Keith stood from his seat and headed for his study.
Blaise followed after him.
"We did it again, didn't we?" Damien looked up his book.
Klaus and Heath chuckled.
"As always." Klaus mumbled.
Blaise entered Keith study for the first time to find him at his desk.
"Close door behind you?" He said.
Blaise closed the double doors and looked around.
Suddenly, a black crow flew into the study. It landed on Keith's shoulder.
Blaise stepped back startled.
"A crow?" Blaise asked.
"Vivian meet Ares. Ares you've met Vivian." Keith said.
The crow cawed.
"I see." Keith replied. He removed a small paper from its feet.
"That's your pet?" Blaise asked.
"What's wrong? You don't like crows?" Keith asked.
"Not really." Blaise mumbled.
Keith stood up with a large black box in hand.
The crow flew to the windowsill.
He opened the box to reveal a pair of black gloves.
"Heather's known for her frantic behavior. Take care of her for me. Will you?" he told her.
Blaise nodded with a smile.
"These are enchanted. They will prevent you from doing magic whenever you have them on. Just to prevent any unforeseen events." He told her.
Blaise pulled on the black gloves. They matched perfectly with the black gown she wore.
Her initials, V.V, were engraved with tiny diamond crusts at the brim of the gloves.
"Thank you, they are lovely." Blaise said.
"You are welcome." He replied and walked back to his seat.
"Err… my Lord, can I ask you something?" Blaise asked.
"Go on." Keith said.
"I just wanted to know...whether you have in your possession any of my letters." Blaise said.
"I don't." He replied.
"Oh...Okay. Thank you for these then." Blaise said.
She stepped out of the study.
Not long after she left, Keith turned towards the window.
"You lied to her." A feminine voice said from behind.
Keith turned to find a naked black haired woman at his desk.
He turned back to the window.
"Learn some decency, Ares." Keith said.
"Oh…can you blame me. I've been in the wild so long I forget my humanity." Ares said.
She poured herself a glass of wine and gulped it quickly.
"I usually comprehend your mischievous ways but I fear, I don't know what you are up to this time. Why would you lie to her?" Ares asked.
"I'm in no mood for random chatter, Ares. Follow her." Keith ordered.
Ares furrowed her brows.
"My Lord?" She called him.
"Yes, Ares." Keith replied.
"I've followed her long enough to know, she's different." Ares said.
"And exceptionally gorgeous." She chuckled.
"I understand, Ares. You can go." Keith retorted.
Ares sighed.
"Alright then, leave that bottle for me will you?" She transformed back into a crow and flew out the window.
Keith opened the small piece of paper in his hand.
He read its content and crumbled it in his palms. He stood staring at his palms. The paper suddenly burst into flames. He watched as its ashes withered away.
He looked out of the window to find Blaise entering the royal carriage.
"She's different." He repeated.