Silas felt a wave of anxiety wash over him, a tight knot forming in his stomach that threatened to make him sick as he observed the unfolding scene. He wanted to urge Keira to stop, but uncertainty gripped him—he had no idea what might happen if he stepped in.
His gaze shifted to Lila, who appeared unsteady on her feet. Taking a deep breath, he reached out and grasped Keira's shoulder, feeling her tense under his touch. Leaning in close, he whispered urgently, "Stop, you're going to hurt her. What will you say to everyone if she collapses, with bite marks on her wrists and blood on your lips?"
Keira released her hold on the woman's wrist, snatching a napkin from the table to wipe the blood from her mouth. With a gentle grin directed at Lila, she handed her the blood-stained napkin. "Just put this on your wrist. Forget this ever happened. If anyone asks, you can say a big dog bit you."
Silas was bewildered, yet Lila seemed to bounce back to her usual cheerful demeanor as she pressed the napkin against her wrist. She chuckled softly, a hint of embarrassment in her voice, "Oops, my bad. I think I'll head out now; a dog just nipped me."
Stunned by the bizarre turn of events, Silas watched Lila walk away, clutching her wrist, before turning his attention back to Keira. She was staring at him with an intensity that made him uneasy.
"What?" he asked, feeling the weight of her gaze.
He noticed her eyes shift from a deep crimson to their normal black, the faint black veins beneath her skin disappearing as if they had never existed.
With a nod and a cruel smile, she replied, "Nothing. Just remember not to interrupt my meal next time."
Silas remained silent, which made Keira narrow her eyes with a dangerous glint. After a moment, he nodded in reluctant agreement, feeling a shiver run down his spine. The cold amusement radiating from her was palpable as she asked, "Are you going to finish the rest of the food?"
He was taken aback by her question, searching her face for any sign of a joke. How could he possibly have an appetite after everything that had just happened?
His brows furrowed in confusion. "How can I eat after this?"
She shrugged nonchalantly, as if she hadn't just almost drained the life from another person. Silas shouldn't have been surprised by her casual brutality; it was clear she had no respect for human life, treating it as if it were nothing more than pests or worse.
Feeling utterly drained, Silas realized he was still a captive of this vampire, a creature that most dismissed as mere folklore.
Then he remembered the stolen phone tucked away in his boots. Could he call for help? But who would believe him? If he called the police, how long would it take them to arrive? In this day and age, who would take a vampire seriously? And would a gun even harm one? Myths suggested that garlic could injure them or that a stake through the heart could kill them, but he wasn't sure how much of that was true.
His thoughts were interrupted when he felt her firm grip on his chin, forcing him to meet her gaze. He was startled, barely managing to mask his surprise.
He held her stare, noticing the disapproval flickering in her eyes. "What are you thinking about?" she asked.
He shook his head, moistening his dry lips. "Nothing."
Her eyes narrowed further. "Really? I've been talking to you, and you seem completely lost in your own world. I don't like being ignored. I might overlook a few things, but don't push your luck. Even I have my limits."
A nervous laugh escaped him. "Are you serious? When are you going to let me go? Are you going to kill me or not?"
Silas remained silent, which made Keira narrow her eyes with a dangerous glint. A chill ran down his spine when he felt a light, cold touch on his cheek, as if he were merely a pet or a source of entertainment. "Don't worry, handsome, I'm not going to kill you just yet. Besides, I need a beautician."
Silas's jaw dropped in bewilderment. "What? A beautician? Do you need a beautician? Are you asking me to do your hair?"
She chuckled lightly. "Absolutely, and you'll be painting my nails too."
Silas was left speechless, realizing he had been kidnapped to serve as her personal stylist. He struggled to keep his rising anger in check.
"I really don't know how to style a woman's hair," he replied, trying to maintain his composure.
She laughed, giving him a piercing look. "That's fine. You can start learning right now. And just so you know, I expect hard work and loyalty from you. You'll follow my orders without question."
In his mind, he was screaming,
That woman is a real lunatic, completely insane! She's a deranged, psycho vampire!
With a deep breath, he exhaled, "Okay, but I need to use the bathroom."
Keira shot him a skeptical glance. "Really? Are you sure you're not just trying to come up with an escape plan? Everyone uses that as an excuse."
He let out a nervous chuckle. "True. If you don't trust me, you can come along to make sure I don't run away."
Her eyes sparkled with a wicked gleam. "No, go ahead. I doubt you're foolish enough to try escaping. But remember, if you do anything to upset me, there will be consequences."
A shiver ran down Silas's spine. There was something unsettling about her words. Taking a deep breath, he stood up and made his way toward the bathroom.
"Wrong way," her voice called out from behind him. "Turn around."
Embarrassed, he pivoted and walked in the opposite direction, acutely aware of her intense gaze on his back, making his legs feel unsteady as he moved.
He smirked at the corner of his mouth, recalling that he had a phone tucked away in his boots. It would be foolish not to attempt an escape; after all, who knows when another chance might arise?