"Hmm.." Ares cocked his head thoughtfully, his ruby eyes glimmering briefly before abruptly fading and returning to their mesmerizing silver hue, which peered at her with an icy glare. "No."
Eleanor's teary eyes dilated with frustration and rage. She felt the impulse to punch his handsome face intensify, so she clenched her fists, tensing them every second. What right does he have?! What right does he have?!
"You... You are making a big mistake!" She broke out, her lips quivering.
"Oh?" The man chuckled amused as though she had just cracked a joke and patted her cheek. She flinched, slapping his hand right away. "Oh." This time, he was surprised by her behavior and took a small step back.
"Do.. do not touch me!" Eleanor spat out enraged, her teary eyes narrowing fiercely at him. "Take me home."
"Still with the stutter."
Vampires were ruthless, self-centered, and bloodthirsty creatures. To them, phoenixes were merely food, priceless feasts. Eleanor knew the history between the phoenixes and vampires.
Her race was reduced to such a minimal number until the strongest phoenixes at the time forged a truce with the vampires. There haven't been any attacks or indications since.
So, why now? What was happening? Why did everything just vanish from her hands in an instant? This vampire, who was he? Why did he insist on claiming that they were betrothed?
It was true that she had never left her chamber.
It was true that she had never stood beneath the sun, stars, moon, or sky. Nor had she ever experienced the actual coldness of snow as the world was blanketed in eternal winter.
Her family had to have concealed her from the world for a purpose, right? However, that was the issue. No one knew she existed so why was this vampire...
Her tearful eyes narrowed even further, filled with deep anguish and hatred for him. His gaze was filled with amazement and curiosity as he looked at her. His words and aura notwithstanding, he didn't truly gaze at her the way the other vampires did the other night. Not with madness, not with self-centeredness... Out of fury, he had even slain his own.
She leaned her back against the wall, closed her eyes, and let her tears cascade down her cheeks.
That was why she believed he would take her home.
"I.. I.. I will do anything. Just take me home." She hesitated.
"You still do not understand, Little bird." He took a step towards her, closing the distance between them.
"I—I don't want to understand anything. All I want is..."
"Little bird, open your eyes and look at me." He lifted her chin again, and that deep ocean blue of hers flitted open to meet his silver ones.
Hesitantly, Eleanor's lips parted, her heart missed a beat, and her gaze remained fixed on him. Such eyes, such ethereal features. He would surely be misidentified as an angel or an angel of death.
In all honesty, she had always thought of vampires as hideous creatures. Pale complexion, four tails, malformed bodies, protruding eyes, and fangs. Maybe it was a little too much to add the tails.
"The home you speak of is no more. Enebelle has been destroyed, burnt to flames."
Eleanor went limp, her vibrant eyes losing life.
"L— iar."
He released her, his brows throbbing with confusion.
"Why would I lie? I am trying to make you understand that you have nowhere to go. And even if you do, I won't let you go."
"LIAR!" Eleanor let forth an enraged scream.
"Huh?" Ares questioned even more surprised.
Eleanor pointed at his face, her eyes brightening with anger once more. "Take me home! Take me home! Take. me. home! Are you daft to understand that I do not want to stay here? I do not care about whether or not we are betrothed! I only want to return home."
She had no idea where she was at all! All she knew was that she would not live with a vampire! Particularly not one who believed he could dominate her!
"Daft?" he asked with a tone of disapproval, titling his head. "Little bird, your home is right here with me. And in the next 30 days, we will be getting married." Again, he left her breathless by leaning his face close to her. "You are mine to keep till then and beyond. You have no say in any of this."
"30 days... I refuse to wed a monster! Take me home." Eleanor screamed angrily. She would rather let another vampire suck her blood until she died than marry him!
"Enough with that," He breathed grievously, his silver eyes glistening with amusement which confused her.
"Do not tell me what to do!" Eleanor snapped and raised her hand to give him a slap.
He caught her wrist, his eyes flaring brightly.
Her whole existence froze, his touch was so frigid it nearly made her scream out in pain. However, when she tried, she couldn't. She knew she hadn't lost her voice, but it seemed like she had.
What was he doing to her? Those keen eyes of his were piercing and filled with flaring mirth. At that moment, she couldn't tell if he was angry or not.
"You are quite noisy. I am not fond of that."
A scowl crossed Eleanor's face. He gave a smug smile.
"Now that's hostility."
Eleanor opened her mouth to speak again, but nothing came out. Was this some sort of spell? What right does he have?!
"If you put forth more effort, you'll damage your throat and lose your voice. We wouldn't want that, Little bird, there are so many sounds I'd like to hear from you."
Eleanor squinted at him. She also desired to hear his piercing cry of terror as she kicked and beat him up. It was the best she could come up with.
Ares looked down at her wrist that he was holding. She was so delicate. Her wrist would be snapped with even the slightest movement. He did, however, adore her state of health. Anger twisted such lovely eyes, such immaculate skin, and such innocent features. It never occurred to him that his betrothed would amuse him. She gave off the impression of a pet accustomed to lots of affection and care.
That being said, she was no longer in the same world as before; this one was significantly more vast, dark, and far away.
Tightening his grip on her wrist, he looked back at her scowling face. "Now that you know who I am, I will answer your second question."
Eleanor's frown disappeared in an instant, to be replaced with a hint of shock.
"You didn't do anything, Little bird, you didn't deserve to lose all of your loved ones in that manner. You did nothing to me."
Tears instantly welled up in Eleanor's eyes. She ignored what he had said earlier and pushed herself, using all of her energy to scream.
As soon as Ares realized this, he dully broke the spell, and Eleanor let out a dejected cry. Without warning, she then lunged at him, slapping him with her other hand, while ignoring his firm hold on her wrist as tears streamed from her eyes.
"I told you not to touch me!"
Ares's face darkened for a second and he let go of her wrist.
Breathing heavily, Eleanor glanced at him and staggered back. "You are very bold to say that to me! Are you saying that there was no rhyme or reason why my entire family perished? Should that be the case, do you think I will accept this betrothal right away? Are you expecting me to acknowledge that I am your property?!"
"No." His reply was more subdued than she had anticipated. It was so serene that it sent shivers down her spine.
"W.. what?"
"You have no control over anything, Little bird. You are not and will never be able to make a choice." He responded indifferently and his expression brightened slightly, as though she had not just slapped him.
"I—"
"The maids will take care of you." He turned away, headed towards the door.
Eleanor was livid. "You—"
Ares grasped the doorknob and halted peering at her over his shoulder. "Avoid considering unreasonable actions. Heaven or hell, I will find you, so do not underestimate my words." And he walked out of the room, slamming the door softly.
Eleanor leaned against the wall, her legs giving out, and as she sat there on the ground, she started to cry and scream hysterically. "Pl.. please, just please! I can't do this, I just can't!"