In the mysterious shadows, I finally recovered from my injuries and managed to break free from the shackles of the sickbed. By then, the summer sun, like a sly elf, had quietly sneaked into the room, wantonly spilling its brilliant golden rays all over the shabby little house. The translucent glass ceiling was like an entrance to a mysterious realm, making the sunlight dance and sparkle on the celadon floor tiles like a rain of golden diamonds, as if weaving a bewitching dream.
After just lying in bed for three days, the weather outside had changed unpredictably, as if being manipulated by some evil magic.
I opened the small wardrobe gently. There were very few clothes that could be changed inside. There were only two long maids' dresses in black and white. One was wrinkled all over, as if it had been wantonly crumpled by the cruel hands of time; the other had a faint yellowish tint due to the erosion of the years, as if it had been quietly tainted by the shadows in the darkness.
Were these the clothes for a personal maid serving the young master? It was really unimaginable. I couldn't help shaking my head, secretly speculating that some sneaky people in this big mansion must be trying to bully me.
I put on the slightly yellowed long dress and shrugged indifferently. As a maid in the count's mansion, I was dressed even worse than the lowliest servants. It was their negligence and also the absurdity of this strange place.
At first, I wrongly thought that it was the servants who had deliberately given me such shabby clothes to humiliate me. However, in just a short while, I realized my own stupidity. This outfit was actually the deliberate request of that evil and charming Aaron.
When I walked into his luxurious suite wearing the yellowish black-and-white dress and the round hat exclusive to maids, with a respectful look like a puppet on strings, he was lazily leaning against the head of the bed, not even sparing me a single glance with his eyes, as if I were just a speck of dust in this magnificent cage. Instead, the Countess Pessina Eugenie, who was sitting gracefully at the side, had a flash of displeasure in her eyes: "Go back and change your clothes quickly. I'll ask Maggie to prepare several sets of nice clothes for you."
Maggie, the woman with her hair done up in a bun, was our head maid. I replied softly and was just about to leave when he seemed to wake up from the darkness and said coldly, "There's no need to change. What I need is a rough servant girl, not a personal maid."
The Countess Pessina Eugenie immediately understood what her son meant and said slowly, "In that case, forget it."
The mother and son then started whispering to each other. Their voices seemed to be sealed by some mysterious magic. I couldn't catch a single word even when I strained my ears, and I could only stand there bored, like a lonely soul forgotten by time.
After the Countess Pessina Eugenie left, I tied on the white apron and began to clean this magnificent prison.
I jumped onto the wide transparent bay window like a nimble spirit and wiped the window that led to the outside world but seemed to be imprisoned at the same time. Then I bent down on the dark yellow floor again, as if I was worshiping the master of this evil and charming place. Sweat poured down like rain, soaking my clothes, as if I was sacrificing myself with hard work. After cleaning, I started to tidy up the room. I gathered all the clothes together and put them into a large and delicate woven bag, preparing to send them to the laundry room later to wash away the mystery and evil in this mansion.
Good heavens! In the past, I had never done such chores. Although my family was not wealthy, I only needed to worry about my studies. I never spent my free time on cleaning.
I moved a bench and placed it at the foot of the bed. Then I stepped on it to change the long and thick bed curtain. While doing this, I was as nervous as a frightened bird, trying my best to keep a distance from that vampire man, for fear of accidentally becoming his blood food again.
During the days when I was lying in bed to recover from my injuries, Maggie, the head maid, had come once. She didn't explain much but just said coldly, "It's your honor that the master favors your blood. After you recover from your injuries, continue to work. Just rest for now."
I didn't say a word. I closed my eyes and pretended to fall into a drowsy sleep again.
The midday sun was slowly moving. Before I knew it, I had been working in this mysterious room for several hours. I was exhausted, as if there was only a wisp of my soul left. Dragging my legs that were as heavy as lead, I was just about to escape from this devil's lair when his bewitching and magnetic voice that seemed to come from the abyss came slowly: "Your blood is rather delicious. Come here."
I was shocked as if struck by lightning and stood rooted to the spot. My feet seemed to be fixed by some evil spell, and I didn't dare to move an inch.
"Come here." His tone rose slightly, full of an irresistible commanding tone.
I still stood there stiffly. Thinking of the nightmare of being "tortured" again, my body was as rigid as a stone.
The tense atmosphere filled the air, like tangible shadows. He stared at me and slowly got out of bed. He was only wearing a white robe. The ribbons were tied casually, and his taut bare chest muscles were faintly visible under the robe, seeming to be both tempting and threatening. I had no intention of admiring his almost perfect body. Seeing him approaching step by step, I only thought about my own safety. My chest heaved violently, as if trying to break free from the shackles of fear.
I secretly wondered whether I should run away at this moment or rush out of the door to find a maid who was willing to offer her blood to satisfy his bloodlust. Presumably, there wouldn't be a lack of people willing to do so. Thinking like this, I moved quietly towards the door like a rat in the dark night, sticking close to the wall, without making a sound, as if merging with the shadows.
As he got closer, I also moved inch by inch towards the door. Just when my hand was about to touch the doorknob, he suddenly grabbed my wrist like lightning and then bit down hard.
I let out a shrill scream. The scream was so sharp that it seemed to be able to tear through the curtain of this mysterious space and almost burst my own eardrums. He bit through my originally intact left wrist and sucked blood like a devil. I burst into tears and sobbed uncontrollably: "You devilish vampire, let go! You once said that you wouldn't care for those who were unwilling!"
He seemed to turn a deaf ear and continued to suck blood fiercely. However, this time it didn't last long. After a while, he threw me aside. I staggered and fell to the ground, crying bitterly, and my tears flowed like a flood that had broken its banks.
"Get out!" He wiped the blood stains from his lips, and his cold eyes shot out a sinister glow, as if they could freeze my soul.
My breathing was rapid and disordered, like the struggle of a dying person. The sharp pain in my wrist came in waves like the tide. Hearing this order, I rushed towards the door, stumbling and crawling, as if being chased by evil spirits from hell, fleeing from this evil and terrifying devil's lair.