Next morning.
While a knock was made outside the Manor, Butler Timothy ran a hand through the pocket watch as he scanned the smaller arrow during the time that it met the eighth hour and ticked, alongside the longer arrow. The middle-aged man unleashed a sobered grumble, in the process of exiting the door to encounter the uninvited.
A man was dilly-dallying on the premises of the spendthrift house. Antecedently, he had made chaos in the village and relayed a message to the Lord. His expression was apprehending and forbearing as one who genuinely had fallen hard in destitution.
Ignoring the queasy penetrating gaze and idiotic gossip of the early nobles in the street, Peter fisted his hands. He was not socializing in their class and didn't give a f**k about that. He was there acutely to settle scores with that evil blood-sucker and recoup Marinette at all cost.
He pealed a thunderous slam on the door, desperately waiting to be answered.
---
At the same time, Marinette had only been woken up after the intense intercourse with the Lord. She pushed herself from the bed and thought of a way to get her daughter.
"Let's give room to another position, hmm? I enjoyed your warmth, last night and now" As she turned her gaze to the door, she heard the Lord say behind her as he had taken a bath and was preparing for another journey about some pressing matters in the kingdom.
Marinette turned mute, as she deliberately dismissed his words.
"Also, your blood, it gets tastier every da*n time" He added hoarsely.
"One day, I pray you choked to death by my blood. If only Gabriel was to be alive" She murmured, her gaze distant.
Betwixt and between their jejune dialogue, a knock accrued from the door. Absent of reality, Marinette disappeared and pierced into the bathroom. Lord Frank outlawed her tiny movement through the mirror. He sighed.
"Enter, Timothy"
"Yes, Lord" The butler advanced in and relayed his message. "He is here"
Lord Frank watched his reflection through the mirror, his mature face glowing under the sunlight. He stared at the butler and commanded "Take him to the other corridor, I'll be there in a minute. And prepare snacks for his brave visit" He scoffed "I was probably nicer to him the last time, was I?" He pondered to himself.
"Has Emine regained consciousness? How come I haven't seen Agnar around?" He enquired with a fatherly expression.
Butler Timothy responded "Not yet, and Agnar has been spotted with his friends"
After the Lord acknowledged his message, he exited the room.
----
In the servants' quarters.
Sunlight crept into the bricked windows and penetrated the nearest rooms. One which came to be Harriet's. Last night was hell for the little girl, but fortunately, she had been strong enough to overcome the big trouble. Only one thing fretted her, and it was Emine's health.
"W-Will she be healthy again?" The assigned maid to cater for her needs nodded her head as she supported her steps after washing her body.
"I was traumatized. I didn't know what to do after she fell into the pool. I am sorry and tell mother too" She mumbled. In due time, Harriet was done with dressing and was allowed to go out, but not to the main house. While the girl observed two mahogany trees crossing each other, by the side of her eye, she saw a familiar silhouette.
"Look at her. Mother is at the Lord's mercy, while the daughter..."
"Her mother is a whore! Lady Rosie died by her husband's hands. I am certain the Lord is torturing her."
Harriet perked her ears. She frowned by the maids' accusations. Her mother was no whore, and she loved her father. Taking her attention back to the silhouette, her eyebrows puckered.
"Peter?" She frowned and craned her head to the left side, and there was the man walking with the butler into the main house. Without delay, she called "Uncle Peter!! Uncle Peter"
Peter knew the voice, and the moment he turned his head back, he saw the child and his eyes watered instantly.
Harriet continued to call "Uncle Peter, I missed you" She quickened her feet and ran straight to him.
"Oh, Harriet. How lovely you are? Have you been well?" The man embraced her. He felt emotional to finally have her in his arms. She was very important in his life too, even more than his son.
"Uncle, how about Darius? Did he not come with you?" Harriet asked, but in the process, she received a growl from the Butler, who was displeased with her. She too looked at him, hatefully.
Darius noticed the crossed feelings between the two and was glad, his little princess hadn't been swayed by these bloodsuckers.
"Darius travelled to his maternal home," he told her. Harriet pouted.
"You didn't come to get Mama and me? Has father returned? I miss him so much. Mother said we would visit here for some time as a vacation and get back home, but...." Harriet deepened her head. "This is the fourth month"
Butler Timothy raised his brows and narrowed his eyes at the audacity of the child. Wasn't she aware of the present relationship she and her slutty mother shared with his Lord? Or was she purposefully taking advantage of his gravely thin patience? The morning sun had started to shine vividly, and the maids have been prepared. As some females saw the strange man and his masculinity, they blushed wondering who he was.
"I don't like this place, at all. Take me away from here, it makes me sick. I smell blood everywhere" Harriet saw someone to confide in him. As Butler Timothy's ear was sharp, he heard her words, and his expression showed a little more color for the first time. This pest!
Peter smiled and reassured her to be safe, while he followed the butler to the house.
A pang of loneliness pierced her chest as she stared at the retreating back of Peter. The way she could see the interpretation was that these people she adored so much would one day leave her alone in the cruel world they arbored in. She feared about that.
"What are you doing? Get back inside" Madam Ciara ordered the nosy maids as they sneaked looks at the man leaving the abode. "You too, girl," she told Harriet.
---
Late at night, as a ravenous heavy rain poured, a child is seen tiptoeing out of the main door and heading directly to the servants' quarters. The umbrella over her head unexpectedly got swung and swayed away by the thunderous wind. Thankfully, she had a defensive cardigan around her body. She endeavored to get shelter from the diminutive garments and continued to saunter ceaselessly.
As soon as she reached her destination, she knocked on the small vintage door at the third row in the dark aisle. Her hands quivered as she lagged at the door.
"Harriet" She quietly called, through the crater in the window. Emine explored the place, terrified to be captured as her father had forbidden her to meet Harriet. If Harriet was her sister, why being locked away for a week? Mother was also edgy.
"Harriet, are you asleep? Can you hear me?" Emine attempted again and gladly, the door was barely opened.
"Gracious Lord, you are burning up. Have your soup, will you?" Emine towed the girl to the bed and forcefully held her down to have the casserole that had turned cold. Her heart hurt with the mere introspection of Harriet gone. And as she gazed at Harriet's sickened face, she frowned and reprimanded "It is not your fault I fell. I guessed I slipped" the girl said. For a minute there, she inflated her hand to caress Harriet's hair, in a mode to ratify her suspicion. After that incident, the little vampiress believed Harriet wasn't just an ordinary human being.
While Harriet languidly slumped on the soup in the bowl, she was ignorant of Emine's mysterious movement. The young vampiress tilted her head to the side as she was observing Harriet's blonde hair. She was scouting for the silver strands she had seen that day, and how they glowed.
She shifted closer to Harriet and brought her hand closer to her hair and touched them. Harriet was startled, as she looked at Emine with a what-are-you-doing gaze. Emine smiled back to hide her awkwardness.
"I should leave before Father hears I am missing. I'll be back tomorrow, the day after, and the day after that. Remember to eat your meals, or I will suck your blood" The vampiress threatened, her eyes glowing red. Harriet stared at the girl with a dead expression. She was not intimidated at all. If it had been two months ago when she saw those bloody eyes, she'd have drowned herself, but things were different now.
What was bothering her was their long stay here. When was her father coming back? Why was her mother staying in the same room with that man? Why was Emine her sister? Nobody explained to her. She sought, however even her mother was inaccessible to give her answers.
-----
A wall of rain moved over the oak tree and the drops bucketed down the ground. So much rain was tumbling that the sound blurred into one long, whirring noise. Heavy blackened clouds slowly swill like pillows wet in the sky.
"Are you crazy? Do you hate your life this much?" Marinette sizzled. As the rain poured down restlessly, she kept her eyes peeled from the paddock as she took shelter from the rain outside. Beside her, was Peter containing the woman in his arms.
"What is life without you?" The man purred behind her as he inclined his neck to her shoulder.
"Aish! If our worlds collide, I will let you drown than me losing my mind. If the Lord spots any mistake, your head will be severed. Do you want that? How about your son, at least consider his age and rights."
Cutting her advice off his ears, he whined "Elope with me. I will treat you better"
Marinette blinked her eyes. She shook her head as she was aware of his vehement stubbornness. She needed to fix his attitude, else, it would get him killed. She still had to avenge her husband's death.
"Mary, why didn't you tell Harriet the truth? Aren't you scared about her hearing from a stranger? You know how hard she holds grudges" Peter asked. He pitied the woman's situation. If she had agreed to become his woman, then none of this would have transpired.
"That's none of your business, Peter. Please stay out of my matters" She responded rudely as if cautioning him.
"You cold-hearted woman. Ah, my heart" He erupted into a deep pleasant laughter, one that took Marinette by surprise. She sneered.
"You sure aren't clueless on how to irritate a woman." She shivered as a cold wind clambered through her exposed skin. Not only had she left her body too exposed, but she had also not worn a shawl or coat to cover her body.
"Elope with me"
"Peter, when the storm calms down, leave. With my current situation, I don't think I can run away. My daughter is locked away. I still need to see her"
"Mary"
Marinette was now face-to-face with him. They both caught the neighing of the horses inside the stall and ignored it.
"Go Peter, I will be hurt if anything were to happen to you. I don't think I will survive this if I lost any more valuable people in their life."
"I love you. I love you so much" The man confessed as his heart was full of happiness.
Marinette narrowed her eyes by his sudden profession and her face turned beet red. What the hell?
"I....hmmm" Peter was too excited as he snaked his arms around her waist, swathing her in his cage, before taking her lips like a hungered tiger. He nibbled on the bottom lip first, softly, before he ate her whole, sucking her existence.
"I will come back again, for your answer until you finally agree with my idea" He stole kisses from her and smiled.
------
Music Recommendation: Affair of Honor by Kiryl Larchanka
"Where were you crawling from?" Marinette froze, her heart thumping against her chest. She only left for a few minutes, was he a stalker?
"Answer me when I speak, Mary. I am your Lord, your husband, the father of the child you are bearing. You don't neglect my words" She could sense the anger in his tone. Did he find something? She made sure to be careful.
"Oh, goddammit Mary! Speak to me. You are no mute" He was ready to pounce on her. Marinette took a deep breath as a shallow pain stimulated from her stomach. Even the baby was in his favor.
"I...I just needed a few breaths" She muttered, trying to leave, but his next words sent her walls breaking frantically.
"Why has my nose become sensitive? I can breathe in another man's scent on you. You reek of dirt."
Lord Frank settled his bloody-red eyes on the rear of the woman. He already perceived her lies way back. Who dared to touch his female in his absence? Who was that pest?
"My Lord, you are mistaken. The cushy wind must have made you delusional. It is late, you too should take to bed. Have a horrible night."
"STAY THERE" He suddenly grunted out, making the woman flinch.
"You do what I say and stay back there, you wretched woman. Are you cheating behind my back? Answer me?"
Marinette jerked once again. This behavior of his was her first. She snickered. Now, he was revealing his real character.
To fuel his agitation, she prompted "So? Is it wrong to find pleasure somewhere else? I got bored of your little man and sort for a larger one, was it wrong?"
"My Lord, if I may ask, aren't you in the same situation? Last evening, I could hear the moans of a maid in your room, am I wrong? You are shrewd and despicable. Take my suggestion, leave me in peace at least!"
Lord Frank seethed his teeth. He clenched his hands and took long roaring steps to the woman, before gripping her shoulders.
"Quick to forget how I stunk your ex-husband's blood, darling. By any chance, do you demand that too for your daughter?" He keened, sending shivers down Marinette's spine. Although she feared his threats, she couldn't be rampant.
"Do whatever you want, but the moment my daughter appears with a mark, I swear to my late grandparents, I'll end the life of your awaited son."
"You do have a sharp tongue, don't you? How about I cut them off next time? I have a thin line in patience, Mary. I am no fool."
The two were at each other's throats. A distant thunderstruck in the sky, fiercer than previous.
"I know you met with Peter. I am telling you if I get my hands on him, I will end his life" He warned.
"Peter isn't weak. He is stronger than any other man. Don't underestimate a calm man, he could blow up like a bomb at any time...Ahhhhhhh"
"Shhh, I'll be gentle"
"You bastard. Tell me beforehand" Marinette cursed as she felt his fangs sink into the most sensitive part of her body."
"I am a jealous man. Keep on defending that farmer, and I will cut his breeding rod"
"I hate you...Ah"
"Now be an obedient wife and quit provoking me" He urged for her sake.
Unbeknownst to the couple, an intruder was loitering behind the pillars of the corridor, eavesdropping on their conversation.
"You promised me your blood."
"You promised to heal my child completely."
Being a witness to the dialogues, the intruder was heartbroken, but more than that, they were betrayed.
Who is this intruder?
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A/N
100 Golden ticket - Two bonus chapters.
150 Powerstones - Three bonus chapters.
Gifts and reviews - Four bonus chapters.
Please help me fulfil this. Pls and share the book with family and friends.