The storm made the ride tedious and uncomfortable. They had to take shelter in an inn for two days which delayed their arrival to the mansion. " We have arrived. " the coachman announced as a huge silver gate greeted the carriage. The coachman got down and showed something to the guards who were standing in front of the gate. Selena scanned around to see that the mansion was in the middle of the forest. After verifying what the coachman had given them, they opened the enormous gate to reveal a splendor beyond Selena's imagination.
As the carriage entered the mansion, Selena saw different kind of flowers that surrounded the brick path to the mansion. Forget me nots, violets, flamboyant, chrysanthemum,sun flowers and other type of flowers that had been used as a path. The mansion only screamed gold and silver to the extent that Selena had to cover her eyes.
" Don't worry you'll get used to it." Mickel said with a chuckle making Selena blush out of embarrassment. "Whoa! You are red. This is a first." Mickel said a he neared Selena trying to get a proper look. She pushed his head and rushed out of the carriage making Mickel laugh. The bronze door opened to reveal an older man with gray hair who had light red eyes. He introduced himself as Almond as he bowed to the new mistress. Selena kept awing at the interior design as Almond led her to her room. The huge crystal chandelier that hung on the sealing complimented the gentle gold color on the walls and the royal blue curtains that hung on the windows. The butler showed her room which was opposite the duke's room. She opened her eyes in surprise because her favorite colors were used to decorate the room. The door shut as the butler left her alone in the huge room. " I can hide a thousand cats here and still get more space for my things." she said excitedly as she jumped on the soft red queen size bed. She suddenly stopped smiling when she remembered of her plans to escape this marriage and that all this things would not be hers after she runs away.
Selena was strolling around the mansion with her new attendant, Maria who was surprisingly a human. Maria showed her almost everything in the mansion with enthusiasm and by the time night came Selena was tired. She fell on her bed and slept instantly when Maria left her.
" Welcome Master Xavier." Almond greeted as he bowed his head to the vampire with deep violet eyes. " Have they arrived? " He asked as he walked to his office with Mickel and Rubin waiting for him. " Yes master. But I'm afraid the young mistress did not eat before going to bed." he said making Xavier turn and his and nod. With that Almond left leaving the three vampires in the office." Have they made a move yet?" He asked Rubin who was sipping blood in a goblet. " Tsk do you even care for me? I have been following them ever for some days now. Do you know I slept on the ground in the horrible cold and all you could do was ask me if they have made a move. How heartless." Rubin whined as he tried to clean the invincible tears in his eyes. Seeing that Xavier did not pay attention to him he mumbled a no and looked outside with a dejected look. Mickel stood at the window blanking staring into the night pondering hard about something. " Something happened when we went to the Blood bank." he said turning and gaining their attention. " What happened huh? Did you see another beautiful girl who couldn't stand you?" Rubin asked as he chuckled. "No you idiot. I thought I saw Selena that night." he replied.
" But that can not happen. She is basically a prisoner in that manor . Maybe you saw another female." Rubin said as he sat on Xavier desk making an attempt to annoy the vampire. " I did not see her face because of the bunny mask she was wearing but pray tell me. Do you know any other female in Mischolham with flaming red hair? I saw a lock of her hair when she was fighting with some goons." " Haha... haha. Fighting ...Selena fighting.. Haha." Rubin laughed with his hands on his belly as he swiped a tear. " You saw the wrong person,Mickel. Miss Selena is like a gentle breeze. She can't hurt a fly." he continued as he went to lay in the couch. " You idiot how dare you try to look down at my observation skills!" Mickel screamed as he jumped to fight Rubin.
" She might the one in the bunny mask who looked at me as I fed in the blood bank that night." he whispered as he thought of her intention, ignoring the quarrel between Mickel and Rubin as he went up to his room. He heard the faint breath of Selena who was opposite his room. His legs moved themselves and entered the room to see a petit female whose hair had spread on the bed resembling little flames. He walked closer to her bed as he bent down to look at her closely trying to engraved her vulnerablness in his mind. The way she slept with her legs dangling worried him so he carried her and tugged her in bed well, making sure that she was warm.
" I will protect you from them. I won't allow you to die like my past wives. My little flame." he whispered as he kissed her forehead. He looked at her for sometime trying to understand why she was beyond the manor walls and with that he existed the room leaving Selena who started having another nightmare.