Lysander sat silently in the room, his gaze fixed on the floor. His heart was in so much pain that he didn't know what to do.
He could feel Lucian's eyes on him too, causing him to smile sadly.
"She rejected me," Lysander spoke after minutes of silence. The words felt heavy in his mouth. His heart aches in despair.
"Humans are not meant for us. This is what you should understand," Lucian said his voice low and steady.
"If she was not meant for me, how on earth did she break my curse. Powerful witches and sorcerers have tried, even the same witch who put me under the spell couldn't undo it," Lucian said calmly, but what was going on inside him was far from calm.
When Lucian didn't say a word, Lysander raised his head to look at him.
"You don't understand. I thought she could see beyond my nature. I thought love would bridge the gap between us."
"Lysander the gap you're talking about isn't a small gap. You two are worlds apart. Lucian told him.
"But I love her," Lysander said, barely a whisper.
"Love? What you feel is infatuation. She rejected you, didn't she?"
"Yes," Lysander said, his voice cracking.
"So you're just prolonging your suffering. You must realize her kind and yours are worlds apart. You're a vampire and she's….well…just a human."
"And….there's something you need to know."
Lysander looked at Lucian who had a hesitant look on his face.
"What is it?"
"Mia…she has a boyfriend. She's seeing someone else. I saw it with my own two eyes."
"What are you talking about?!"
Lysander was now on his feet. The news came like a dagger to him.
"No…it can't be," he whispered to himself.
The thought of her with someone else twisted like a thron in his chest.
"Lucian tell me this isn't true…tell me you're only saying this to get me away from her," Lysander said, almost in a begging tone.
"I wish Lysander but I saw her with my eyes. She was with Mattie, remember the man I told you I signed a contract with and he was hosting a party? Yes, his son."
Lucian waited for a response from Lysander but minutes passed and the room was in silence.
"I'll go inside now."
With that he left leaving Lucian all alone.
*************
Mia sat in the lecture hall, lost in deep thoughts. Her gaze was fixed fixed on the blank space she had opened. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, the professor's voice fading into a distant murmur.
She tried so hard to focus but the stranger had occupied her thoughts. When he confessed his feelings to her, his words rang in the air like a spell, wrapping around her heart. His eyes and earnest and hopeful but instead of her to embrace the warmth of his affection, she recoiled.
Now as the lecture droned on, regret gnawed her inside. She wanted to say yes, to let herself fall into the possibility of love, yet she was scared. She didn't know what she was scared of but something was definitely eating her up.
Mia glanced around the hall, her classmates were busy scribbling notes and engaging in discussions. They seemed so carefree.
But all she could think about was the stranger. She could still feel the coldness of his lips on hers, a moment that felt right.
As the lecturers voice faded entirely, Mia closed her eyes. Imaging the stranger before her, she imagined how everything would have been if she had yes. To have experience what love felt like.
The class soon ended and Mia gathered all her stuff and walked out of the lecture hall. Laughter and chatter filled the hallway as she made her way through the crowded students. A few students lingered by the bulletin board, scanning for fliers about upcoming events, activities and clubs.
Mia soon reached the exits and the familiar smell of freshly brewed coffee hit her nostrils. She decided to go to the cafe to have a drink. Maybe that will calm her down. With this in mind, she walked towards the gate.
Before she could cross the road, a black van parked in front of her and she felt a strong grip on her arm.
Panic surged through her as she was pulled into the van. Another person shut the van and it zoomed off, her surroundings blurring into a chaotic mix of sounds and color.
"Who are you and what do you want?" Mia asked, trying to stay calm as she looked at the masked men in front of her.
The van was empty, with only four seats, three were already occupied but Mia was made to sit on the floor.
They looked at her but didn't say a word.
"Please don't hurt me, I am just an orphan. Just let me g…go," she pleaded, her voice tumbling out in a frantic rush. " I haven't done anything wrong, I want to go home!"
The men exchanged glances, they're expressions unreadable because of they're masks. Mia felt a lump in her throat as she continued, " I promise, I won't say a word. I won't tell anyone about this. Just let me go."
Tears began to well up in her eyes, and she fought to keep her voice steady.
But her pleas seemed to fall on deaf ears.The men remained silent. The van continued to speed away, and with each passing moment, Mia's hope dwindled. She hugged her knees tightly and cried, not knowing what to do.
After an endless journey,the van finally came to a halt, the engine's rumble faded into an eerie silence.
Mia's heart raced as the van door was pulled open, revealing an ancient looking castle looming before her. It's stone walls were covered in creeping vines.
Two figures stepped out of the van. They pulled Mia out of the van roughly. She stumbled out onto the cobblestone path , her breath hitching at the sight before her.
The castle's heaven wooden door creaked open, revealing a dimly lit interior that felt both majestic and foreboding.
As they led her inside, Mia could fell the chill if the air that surrounded her, contrast to the warm sunlight that was outside.
The walls were filled with ancient tapestries, and lots candles flickered across the room, casting a ghostly shadows across the room.
Fear gripped her heart but curiosity mingled. How did such a place exist in their town? Was she even still in her town? What is this place? Why have they brought her here?
She was led into a grand chamber that was also candle lit.
'Haven't these people heard of light bulbs?' She wondered.
The atmosphere felt heavy with unspoken tension. The flickering candle light cast eerie shadows on the wall and her heart raced as she took in the sight in front of her.
A man was kneeling on the floor, his hands bound to the back by a rope. He was trembling with fear as he gazed at the one sitting on the throne. He exuded a aura of power and menace.
He wore a crisp white shirt which contrasted sharply with his black trousers, the fabric clinging to his form in a way that was both regal and intimidating.
The two mean that led her there stopped a few meters away from him and he smiled immediately his eyes landed in her.
"Anna Mia Harper," he yelled with an eerie smile , his voice echoing through the room. Mia found herself shivering even more.
Silence engulfed the room with the only sound coming from the man kneeling.
'Was he crying?'
As if he had communicated to the two men with his eyes, they left Mia's side immediately to hold the sobbing man down.
The mystery man on the throne pulled out a small knife and a glass.
Mia's eyes widened in fear as realization of what he was going to do hit her like a hurricane.
A scream left her lips as the man's throat was slit, the red liquid oozing from his neck was collected into the glass.
"Take him away," The mystery man commanded the two masked guys and they quickly dragged the man's lifeless body away.
The man's gaze shifted back to Mia and she jumped back in fright, even though they were meters apart.
He smiled his eerie smile and looked at the glass in his hand. The way he swirled it, watching the viscous liquid cling to the sides of glass sent chills down her spine.
'What was he going to do with that? Were they going to do same to her?'
His gaze on her was piercing,an evil glint in his eyes that made her feel exposed. It was as if he could see right through her. There was a cruel smile playing on his lips,one that hinted dark intentions and a hunger for power. She felt small and vulnerable in his presence, as if she were nothing more than a pawn in a game she didn't understand.
The air was thick with foreboding, and she knew whatever he had planned out for her would not end well.
"Take her to the dungeon," the man spoke, breaking out of her daze. She didn't even know the two men had joined them again.
"Dungeon?" She asked, her body pale with fright as the two men grabbed her arms harshly and began dragging her away despite her pleading and thrashing in their grip.