In the night and it's calmness, Raphael walked further and further away from the palace.
The air was temperate and the breeze was cool but with his nature, he could not feel any of it. Every time that the breeze swept the area, it continued to dishevel his already messed hair to which he made no attempts to tame it.
"It's good to see that you have decided to show up otherwise I would have made a visit to your house. I am sure your daughter would be more than elated to have me as a guest."
As he said those words, a man who seemed to be in his fifties emerged from the darkness while holding a small case in his hand.
Like most springs, the moon hung low in the sky, casting a soft silver glow over everything in sight and as Raphael walked towards the man, his shadow stretched out across the ground.
"I brought what you asked for. Could now please leave me and my family alone." The man spoke in an indifferent tone and not used to receiving such a tone, Raphael narrowed his eyes and with just that one action, the man apologized.
When he handed over the small parcel to Raphael, he did not waste time and instead he opened it to reveal a black star shaped pendant.
"I am more than pleased by your work, Oscar. I shall reward you handsomely for this." Raphael stated with a smile. Even under the moonlight, his looks were still appealing and he was aware of that.
Once the man had left, he did not also stay there for long and turning around, he started to make his way back to his house. With hours that had passed since the nightfall, most people were in their houses and due to that, the night was hushed and the only sound that could be heard was that of crickets and that eerieness of the night gave comfort to his twisted life.
Being a popular jewelry trader in the land, at times he had to use blackmails or even murder to get what he wanted and unfortunately for Oscar, the man possessed something that was very valuable but the man was not aware of that.
When he opened the parcel again, the same black star shaped pendant was revealed but over time, it gradually changed it colour and it became golden to which he removed it from the parcel and placed it in his palm.
After several minutes, he finally got back to the mansion which was also quiet and getting back into his own room, he got onto the bed and waited for another day.
+++++++
At the break of dawn, the whole Campbell family had woken up and after breakfast, Larissa had gone to the horse shed and once she was done with feeding the horses, she was about to go back to the house when she noticed that the gate had been left ajar.
"Why would uncle leave the gate open?" Lowly muttering to herself, she headed towards the gate only to find her cousin speaking to a stranger.
With the back of the stranger facing her, she could not tell who it was.
"Ella, you are not supposed to be out here." She said to the girl but before the small girl could speak, the man turned around.
'it was him.'
"Is she your sister?" The man asked Ella who shook her head before saying,
"She is my cousin sister, Riss." The girl quickly replied.
"Ella, come on. We should get back inside."
Still holding her kite, the Little girl walked towards her cousin but before they could leave, Raphael spoke again.
" Why don't you excuse your cousin for a moment."
With his words unusually sweet, the girl did just as told and once the little girl had left, the smile that was on his face morphed into seriousness that scared her.
"We're you planning to skip work today?" He asked and it took almost a full minute before Larissa spoke.
" I came to realize that I did not need work anymore."
"Well, that is too bad for you because you have to work." As he said those words, his lips pulled up into a smile that did not look genuine in any way. Speaking of handsome creeps, she could not find any other suitable person if not the man who stood in front of her.
If it were up to Raphael, he would not have made any effort to search for his grandfather's servant but since morning, the man had been hopefully waiting for her and the moment she did not show up, the old man looked disappointed. If there was one person that Raphael cared about, it was the old man.
"I don't need work. Especially not in a vampire's house." Larissa said.
When Raphael took steps towards her, she took steps backwards and it did not take her long before her back almost collided with the fence.
As if having a vampire near her was not enough, her aunt showed up.
"Riss what are you doing he.._ Who is this person."
The middle aged asked while her eyes danded for explanation.
"You must be Mrs Campbell. I am Raphael Hamilton." Turning to look at Larissa and then to her aunt, he obliviously asked, "Haven't you told your aunt about our relationship?
"Aunt, it is not what you think. I.._"
"What are you saying Riss. Aren't you my grandfather's caregiver to which we share a master_servant relationship?"
Raphael cut her off. This man had definitely come to destroy any remaining relationship that she had with her aunt.
She thought to herself.