l tried forcing my eyes open even though it felt as though l am pinned to the bed by some unknown forces. l stopped forcing it after several futile attempts. l remained awake even though my body is asleep. l pondered in my mind why l was bedridden but it seems my previous memories had been snatched from me. 'Where did my memories go?' l tried hard to break through the boundary that is hindering me from connecting to my memories and almost immediately, they started rushing back to me like water from a tap. l carefully reminisced on the events as they unfolded in my mind and without much effort, l sprang up from the bed covered in sweat. l had trouble adjusting my eyes to the heavily lit room but l eventually got used to it. l was covered in sweat and fear engulfed me. The awful memory of my blood draining from me and my life flashing before me was too cruel to handle. What in Heaven's name is the Lord? What did l do to deserve such treatment from him?. l had only treated him good from the beggining till this moment so why? Why?. 'What if l had died?' l swallowed uneasily at the creepy thought and l realised how unsafe l am. ln my panicked state, l grew to recognise the room in which l am as the Lord's and l weariness grew. l made futile attempt to stand several times and it was beginning to become tiring. l tried to stand again when the door flung open. l ceased my actions immediately, my body becoming rigid as the incident from the other day flashed before my eyes. lt took every ounce in me to gather courage to see whoever it was that entered the room and when l eventually looked, behold, it was Lord Micael. l felt rage build inside me on sighting his shocked out of the wit expression. What now? Was he expecting to see my dead body? I wrapped myself with my hands as l gently drew backwards to make him know he is not welcome. However, his next action left me surprised. He rushed to me after recovering from his shock and engulfed me in a tight bear hug like an elder brother will do to his baby sister. 'What is wrong with him?' l asked no one in particular as l let him hug me. He withdrew from me and started ranting bout how much he missed me, how much he and Lord Quinn pray day everyday for my recovery, how they never left my side and so on... l just sat there, listening to him rant on and on until he noticed l wasn't looking that enthusiastic as he was. He stopped running his mouth to observe me for an unbearably long time. From his cautious and concerned look, l know he knows about the incident hence l did not bother beating around the bush or sugar coating my words.
"What is Gabbriel?" l asked, my voice devoid of emotion
"He is not a what, he is a who" Lord Micael answered in a low but clearly irritated voice. He has the audacity to defend a blood sucking, life draining person? Hell!
"Ohhh" l said sarcastically. "I don't know how l am not aware that human beings drink blood from their fellow human till they die" l said, staring wide eyed at him.
"See Prettiest, what you don't know is we are not human. We are vampires. We survive on blood, blood of humans. However, we don't endanger human lives by drinking directly from them. We extract blood from them through safe means and package it for sale. But then, all vampires have a particular day that comes at intervals in their life. This day, their vampire instinct rules them and they are destructive. They only want to feed on blood and blood only. In Gabbriel, this day lasts for days. All this while when you thought he left without informing you, he was in the dungeon battling his other self. He is not allowed to drink from humans neither is he allowed to exceed a particular limit of blood bag. He was going to painfully live through these days in agony as has always done until you walked to him willing. l know you did it out of curiosity and l would not blame you but still, you could have died Nessa.... Please forgive him. He knows not what he was doing at that time. He almost ended his own existence when he thought he had killed you until the doctor gave us hope. Do not forsake him. He loves you." Lord Micael explained and l felt my blind rage dissolve. How could l had thought so I'll of my Gabb? How could l had thought he wants me dead? My conscience ate my insides deeply and l longed for him. The one l had thoughtlessly criticized.
"Where is he? Where is the Lord?" l asked, impatience lacing my voice. Lord Micael looked lost for a while before he recovered.
"He must be hiding somewhere, knowing you have woken and you hate him" he said accusingly
"I do not hate him. l only wanted an explanation!" l defended myself bashfully. "And l have gotten the explanation" l continued. "Please bring him to me. l need him by my side. l need to erase the self hatred and dreadful regret he must have felt while l was away" l said in urgency and Lord Micael seems to get the message because he stood promptly and made for the door in haste.
★★★
It's been three good days since Vanessa disappeared and no one has heard from her. What is happening in this mansion? First, it was Penny and Hehi now, it is my dear Vanessa. What is happening? Were we brought here to be slaughtered secretly? Is this maiden thing just a disguise? The Lord is yet to be back and Lord Micael is surprisingly distant. He wouldn't say a thing. He avoids everyone including me and my hatred for him has grown to its peak
"Grace, how do you think Lord Quinn will react if he finds out about Vanessa?" Danielle asked, snapping me out of my thoughts.
l shifted my attention to her and my emotions just ran wild. tears stained my face and my shoulders began to quiver. Why do we have such luck? Being born low is not enough, being used as a collateral for debt is not enough either. Now, we are being killed one after the other
"Hey do not stain your cheeks with tears" Danielle consoled as she gathered me into her arms. "Vanessa is coming back to us. Nothing, l repeat, nothing can take her away from us"
"But where is the Lord and the Lady? Lord Micael only is the one we are seeing. Do you think we should be worried?" Bruse connered
"Do l think? This has surpassed thinking! l am worried!" Danielle interjected
My tears increased as l listened to their conversation. My Vanessa... My heart ached badly in my ribcage as l pondered on what might have happened to her
"And why is Lord Micael running down the stairs like he saw something weird?" Lola asked all of a sudden, drawing everyone's attention to the stairs. True to her words, Lord Micael was descending the stairs in incredible speed. l averted my eyes from him as my hatred towards him arose. l am sure it is evident in my eyes at this point. l stood tersely, making my way to the kitchen trying to get away from his annoying aura as fast as possible however, lunch seems to not be on my side as the very person l am avoiding came to stop right in front of me. His hands took mine and he nudged me towards the garden. 'What does he think he is doing? After ignoring me like l am nothing for the past three days, after keeping mute about my friend since she disappeared, what does he want from me now?' l snapped my hands from him and bowed before him. l don't that it is a normal thing for a Lord to touch a maid...
"What service should l render my Lord?" l asked curtly. l did not get to see his reaction but l know he is angered..
"This Lord wants you to go to the garden. He wants to give you instructions while he watch the beautiful scenery" He finally said after what seems like forever
"Yes, my Lord" l said, as l made my way to the garden while he followed closely. What does he want now? Am l the next person to be taken? Does he think..... Strong pair of hands gripped me from behind and gently lure me into the heat of the chest. l was startled at first, but l subconsciously leaned on the rock hard chest. l know l should not be resting on this chest. Everything is wrong with this...He is a Lord while l am a mere maid, he is also someone that might be here to slaughter me but l needed the comfort. The heat of the chest, the peace it gives me, the way it makes me feel like no harm can ever come near me, Hell! l turned around and buried my face in his chest while he ran his hands through my hair. l lost count of how long we stood before l pulled back. l once again courtsied before him
"What instructions do you speak of my Lord"
"Why are you doing this Grace? You know l only spoke of instructions because you would not follow me"
"If my Lord has nothing for me, l will take my leave then.." l made to go but he drew me back by my hand
"Grace! What in Heavens is wrong with you!" He said, raising his voice and that was it for me. l can take no more!