Belle gulped down the lump that was settling on her mouth. And for some reason, she could not breathe; he was taking too much of her personal space.
"A man like my father?" She said, not too sure herself. All Belle knew was that her father loved and cared for her; he protected her and Piper even till his death. 'That was for sure how to define a real man.' She thought with a smile.
Kione mused, "And how is your father like?"
"A total gentleman."
"How profound!" He hummed. "I am a gentleman, but not in the way a bunny like yourself would know." His tone was husky, and a sly smile settled on his lips.
"Why are you so close?" Her voice came out as a whisper, and Instead of giving the girl the space that he knew she desired, Kione leaned in even more, with his eyes at the same level as hers and their lips some distance apart.
For a moment, she fell into a trance just staring at his currant-red eyes, which had a maroon shade of red around them. Without even knowing it, she was memorizing his face. His long, messy hair covered part of his eyes and face as they rested on his forehead.
Her eyes trailed from his eyes down to his lips, and a gasp fled her lips as she took a step away from him, but Kione pulled her back by the waist, flushed on his chest.
SWOOSH!
An arrow flew past behind her to hit the nearby tree. Her eyes darted to the tree, then she looked up at Kione with furrowed brows.
He stated mockingly, "What were you thinking stepping away, bunny?" as if he was not the least bothered that someone just tried to hurt them.
She ignored his words, shifting her gaze to look at the direction the arrow came from. "Who was that?" Worry marred her tone as she said this.
"Someone who has a death wish." He said smugly before they started walking again; this time he allowed her to walk with him side by side. He glanced at one of the trees where a black bird sat, and in the next moment, the bird flew away.
"Thank you for saving me."
"Which time are you thanking me for exactly?" His eyes focused forward, with an aloof air now shrouding him. Belle turned to look at the man, not expecting him to bring up the incident in Lasburgh.
"Ha, I never got to thank you for that, did I? Pardon my rudeness." She stopped and bowed deeply to him. "Thank you for saving my life, My Lord."
"Mm, that won't be enough." He countered. "I don't do things for free; everything comes with a price. Don't you agree?"
Belle set her lips in a thin line, suddenly becoming tight-lipped. She should have known that running into him would put her in a bad situation because his kind was not good for her.
Now she wondered what he was going to ask for as a price for saving her life.
"I am afraid there is nothing I can offer you."
"There is."
Belle's eyes held a question in them, and her brows raised the slightest. "And what could that be?"
"I've saved you. You belong to me now." He uttered, shocking her. "I get to decide when and how you die." Turning to meet her stunned expression.
"…" Belle was at a loss for words; she would never have thought in a million years that would be his price. She shook her head before saying, "Whatever that meant, you are asking for a whole bigger price that I cannot offer." She tried to remain polite despite wanting to shout it aloud.
Maybe that would remind him of how insane his price was. Is he the devil who takes people's lives in return for his help? She harrumphed silently.
"A life for a life, Ms. Thornhill." His lips curled up at one corner into a smile, with a mischievous glint present in his eyes. "It was not a request if that was what you assumed." He spoke in a serious tone.
"Wha—" Her words were interrupted by a voice that was not Kione's.
"Ms. Annabelle," Jade called again, and Belle turned in her direction to find the young woman hurrying towards her. "I have been looking for you. Where did you go?"
"I'm fine." Jade nodded in understanding before taking the wood out of the girl's hold.
Her eyes moved momentarily to each side of Belle as she inquired with a frown, "Were you talking to someone?" She had heard a distinct voice, but she was not sure anymore as there was no one here with her mistress.
"Ye…" Belle trailed off purposely because, when she turned to the spot where Kione once stood, he was no longer there, and a look of suspicion traced the outline of her face. "No, come on, let's leave here." She said, but not without looking around and not finding the Lord.
Leaving the forest, the two women headed straight to the house, not once stopping to listen to the townswomen's gossip.
Belle went to her room to get cleaned up. Closing her room's door, she slipped out of her dress and stepped into the bathtub.
Allowing her body to relax in the scented water, she curled her knees up as she sat there in thought.
'Was there a thing like belonging to someone? Even if there was, she could never belong to a vampire or his likes.
She should have known that he was dangerous from the very night they met; she should have stayed away and avoided any surprise encounter. But it is never too late for a change.
Belle stepped out of the tub after scrubbing off the dirt and rinsing off. She wrapped her petite frame with a large towel before stepping back into her room.
After putting on a clean dress, she stood in front of her mirror to observe her look. One moment it wasn't there, and the next moment she saw the glow bloom from a tiny glint to a bright one covering her entire face.
Her hands reached out to touch her golden blonde hair, where the glow was slowly spreading. Her eyes widened in awe and wonderment.
KNOCK! KNOCK!
Belle snapped her gaze to the door, and her feet were suddenly rooted to the floor. She worried how Jade would feel if she saw her like this.
Though Piper had said that she could meet Jade for anything she needed, Belle doubted that the lady meant confiding in her about her true nature.
"I brought the needle you asked for. I am bringing it in, if you don't mind." Just as she mentioned this, she slowly pushed the door open.