"I'm sorry Lord Leif, but I haven't gone hunting before," Eve dipped her head low, refusing his request.
"I'm not asking you to come along and hunt. You can just watch from where you are. I'm sure you'll enjoy the hunting trip as much as you did the meat." He concluded. Looking at the girl closely, he asked,
"Do you miss your home- with your family?"
Eve looked up from her meal, surprised that he asked. "It's being just a day since I left-" Even if it's more than a year, she wouldn't miss them and would never desire to meet them again. Leif smiled seeing the look on her face as she talked about her family.
"I suppose you don't spend much time with them, accustomed to idleness and having a maid at your beck and call," he said, his voice dripping with disdain.
Eve's lips thinned, his words causing her mind to wander into her past. She was no stranger to servitude, having been the one taking orders and enduring harsh punishment. Although she had longed for freedom, this was not the form she desired.
"I'm used to the company of other servants," Eve finally answered, the tension in her voice palpable. He caught the emphasis on the word 'other' when she spoke of the servants. "I would have been returning from the market by now, keeping the chef company as she cooked," her voice trailed off, lost in thought.
Leif's eyes narrowed as he studied her. He had been right about the proud nature of vampires; giving birth to a human was a monumental disgrace. He had noticed her calloused hands when he helped her into the carriage, a testament to her diminished status within her family and society.
Eve sensed his scrutiny and averted her gaze, her lips tightening. He seemed considerate, asking about her life, but it did little to dispel her wariness. She turned back to face him and asked, "Do you think I'll be able to escape from here?"
Escape? Leif's eyes grew cold. "Alive? Barely," he replied, his voice cutting like a knife.
"Don't try to run away, Lady Evelyn. It would benefit no one," he warned, a hint of menace in his tone.
Eve bristled at his authoritative manner, feeling as if they sought to control her like a puppet. She was far from that, she wanted to shout.
Leif noticed the flash of irritation in her brown eyes and smirked. As he had suspected, she wasn't one to be easily swayed, which was why he had exerted his dominance over her.
"I must depart, as I still have tasks to complete for the King. I'll send your maid to escort you back to your room when you're ready," he said, his voice firm.
"Thank you," Eve replied through gritted teeth, forcing a smile. Leif offered a shallow bow before leaving her to seethe alone in the dining room. These vampires treated her like a plaything, trapped in their web under the pretense of a truce.
Ezra appeared at the door just as Eve stormed out of the room, and they both made their way to her chambers.
"If you have other duties, you may go. I know the way to my room," Eve said, glancing back at Ezra, who trailed a few feet behind her.
"I'm assigned as your personal maid, milady. My only task is to attend to your needs," Ezra replied.
"Don't worry, I can manage on my own. You may rest or attend to other matters if you wish," Eve retorted as they entered the spacious chamber. Just before stepping inside, she noticed another room a few feet away from hers.
"Whose room is that?" she inquired, her curiosity piqued. It was the first time she had noticed another room in the quarters.
"His Highness, milady," Ezra replied.
Eve's eyes widened in shock. She was sharing quarters with that shameless vampire? Before she could voice her outrage, she heard the door click open, and she rushed into her room.
Sebastian stared lazily at the door that was closed shut before looking at the maid standing in front it with her head bowed. He looked nothing than a devil as he stood with his white shirt stained in blood and his red eyes which looked darker.
He walked closer to the maid, who didn't dare move away despite the open threat in front of her. Her head hung low as she waited, her heart pounding in her chest. When his black shoes appeared in front of her, Ezra lifted her head and stared at his face. A gasp escaped her lips, and in a swift motion, Sebastian grabbed her by the neck and sank his enlarged fangs into her.
She writhed in his arms, attempting to free herself, which only made his hold tighter and he sucked harder on her neck. Soon, he could feel her resistance weakened and she fell limp in his arms as he pulled his fangs from her. Her face was ghost white and her eyes looked soulless and he dropped her with a thud on the ground.
He closed his eyes and licked his lips, relishing the sweet taste of human blood, a gift to his Kind. Their blood was sweeter than that of the vampires, which was he always went down to Vrussia to hunt. He didn't have to do that anymore, as he had a purer human by his side. His jaw clenched at the thought of Eve. She was the cause of his feral attitude. Ever since he touched her in the library, her scent invaded him. It made him thirstier, despite all the blood he had drunk. he was thirstier.
He snapped his eyes open, revealing the deep root-like veins at the sides of his eyes. He walked away from the chambers and the guards at the entrance bowed at him. He made his way to a secluded wing of the castle, his shoes making thudding sounds that echoed in the silence. He stopped in front of a pool that shimmered in moonlight and stepped in with his clothes. He swam and pushed himself deeper into the blue water, pushing thoughts of Eve to the back of his mind.
~
please add to library and vote with your power stones. thank you