_15_
As Lothanna stood with Cara in the corridor, his gaze turned toward the end of the hall, his instincts confirming what he already knew. Kiel. Lothanna could not shake the uneasy feeling that washed over him.
The hairs on the back of Lothanna's neck stood on end, and his grip on Cara's shoulders tightened. "Tell me!" He half-yelled, his voice thick with urgency. "Did you meet him?"
Cara's eyes widened, and her breath caught in her throat. Lothanna's outburst had taken her by surprise, and she felt herself shrink under his intense gaze.
"I… I did..." She managed to stammer, her heart pounding in her chest. She didn't know why Lothanna is suddenly getting riled up but one thing is sure — he isn't the type to get on his nerve. "I didn't know you weren't the one on the training ground."
"What did he do to you...?" Lothanna pressed on, his gaze raking all over her. "Did he — by chance — touch you? Or hurt you?"
Cara did not understand Lothanna's sudden protectiveness. Cara shook her head in confusion. "No, no, he didn't do anything like that." She insisted, her voice still shaking. "I didn't even know it was someone else. I thought he was you—"
She broke off, realizing how that might have sounded. "I mean, I didn't know it was him until I saw his face. And he didn't hurt me or anything. He only ask me to leave his sight, that's all."
Lothanna's gaze was piercing, and she felt like he could see right through her. Even though he felt she's telling the truth; he didn't want to let his guard down — not that he didn't trust his uncle, but his sudden behavior the other night seems off.
"It's good thing he asked you to stay away from him." He said, his gaze leaving Cara's for a moment and meeting Kiel's dark eyes that's lurking the shadow. "You should listen when a dangerous man like him ask you to."
"A dangerous man...?" Cara repeated, the expression on her face otherwise. She didn't understand why Lothanna would say the man is dangerous — except the fact that he tried to scare her away. "He doesn't seem like one."
"You don't argue with me, Cara!" Lothanna's voice was hard and fame, his sharp gaze meeting Cara's eyes again. "Kiel is dangerous. You should stay away from him!"
"Uh, I'll." She admitted with a sigh shoulder shrug. "But why are you suddenly bring so protective? Who is he? If he's really dangerous, why let him stay around?"
"Because I have no choice than to tolerate him, Cara, it's more like baby sitting an old man!" Lothanna would have laughed but he's being serious and couldn't afford to smile at his own joke.
Cara was confused. "Old man?" She asked, her brows creased. "But he doesn't seems old to me. He look like someone in his early thirties — perhaps younger?"
"Don't be deceive by look, Cara." Lothanna told her, his voice softening a bit. "That old man is my uncle — you can't imagine how many centuries old he is."
"Your uncle...?" Cara repeated, her voice filled with wonder. Then it hit her. "Wait... He's a vampire? A full blooded? Is that why you said he's dangerous?"
Lothanna nodded, confirming Cara's realization. "Yes. Kiel is a pure blood vampire, and a powerful one at that. The fact that he chose to warn you instead of attack speaks to his level of control… but still, I would prefer that you avoid him as much as possible."
Cara swallowed, her gaze darting towards the shadows where Kiel had stood — she realized few moment that Lothanna had his gaze on that direction for a while; and her guess turns out right.
"Why is he here?" She asked, her voice trembling. "And… what does he want with me?"
"He hates humans..." Lothanna stated simply, clearly trying to scare Cara away from his uncle. "You know what happens when vampire despises humans, no?"
Cara's heart skipped a beat as Lothanna's words sank in. "He… hates humans?" she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. "But… what if I stay away from him? Will that be enough?"
Lothanna shook his head slowly, his expression grave. "Kiel is… complicated. He's like a storm — you can't predict how he will react. And even if you stay away from him, I fear he may not stay away from you."
Cara swallowed, her palms beginning to sweat. "Lothanna, what am I going to do?" she asked, her voice shaking. "I can't just live in fear that he's going to come after me. Is there anything we can do to…stop him?"
Lothanna frowned, considering the question. "There may be a way," he said slowly. "But it is risky. And I don't know if it will work."
Cara's heart beat faster at the thought of a solution. "What is it?" she asked, hope and fear mingling in her voice.
Lothanna's lips curled up in a sly smile. "I'm afraid the onlybway is to let him have your blood...!" He blurted out, earning a soft gasp from Cara, her eyes widened in fear.
"Are you nuts?" She half yelled at him. "Does that even sound like a way out to you? You literally telling me to just die!"
"Hey...hey... I'm only playing around." He uttered with a slow laughter. "Don't worry, Kiel knows his place if you stay away from him."
Cara's heart was still pounding as she glared at Lothanna. "You're a jerk, you know that?" She said, but there was no real heat in her voice. "Don't scare me like that!"
Lothanna chuckled, his smile turning sheepish. "Sorry, I couldn't resist," he said, shrugging his shoulders. "But seriously, if you keep your distance and don't provoke him, you should be fine."
Cara nodded, still processing the thought of being food for a vampire. "Okay. I'll... try to stay away from him." She muttered, heaving a small smile afterward.
Seeing Kiel still standing in the same position, this time with a tight frown on his face, his gaze sharp and threatening. Lothanna sighed inwardly, placing his right hand on Cara's shoulders.
"Go back to your room, the maids will attend to your needs." He told her, barely avoiding Kiel's watching eyes. "They are waiting..."
"Okay..." With that, Cara exited Lothanna's presence unaware of the heat that was suddenly generated immediately she left.