I try to steady myself, but I can't. I wasn't expecting this turnout; my heart is pounding hard against my chest, and my hands are quivering; I can barely hold on to my crossbow.
Why didn't the stake kill him? This doesn't make any sense. The guild, their research…. Are they wrong?
"Well, little bird," his low, husky voice resonates within me. "According to human law, since you attempted to kill me, anything I do now is nothing but self-defense"
I open my mouth to speak, but he suddenly disappears, leaving a dark mist behind. Fuck! I curse, his sudden reappearance behind me causing me to freeze, my shoulders tensed up, and my breath caught in my throat.
He strokes my hair, tilting my head to the side and exposing my bare neck. His movements are slow and steady, his hot breath grazing my skin.
The crossbow slips from my hand and falls, making a clunking sound, while I remain frozen on the spot with sweat beads forming on my forehead.
I quiver as his index finger trails down my neck. He chuckles, his voice dropping to a low menacing sound "Hmm, I love how your body trembles under my touch"
His almost seductive voice leaves me weak in the knees. I'm completely paralyzed from fear, his dark powers are what's restricting me and I know it. I don't want to die, I don't want to get killed by a vampire. No, not like mum. Theodore, Orion, I wish you guys were here.
I squeeze my eyes shut, bracing myself for the potential pain. Instead of the sharp, piercing feeling of his fangs biting deep into my neck, I feel the softness of his lips as it touches my skin.
I feel his arm wrap around my waist, the other, holding my tilted head. He whispers into my ear, his voice gentle yet commanding. "Sleep, little bird"
At the sound of his voice, my eyelids suddenly feel heavy. I'm struggling to keep my eyes open. What has he done to me? No! I can't submit, I must kill this man. I feel my knees buckle, giving away as I succumb completely to the darkness clouding me.
A throbbing headache pierces my skull, snapping my eyes open. I sit up, heaving with erratic breaths, sweat trickling down my face.
Instinctively, I reach out to my neck, my eyes darting about, my heart racing.
"You're awake." Orion's voice cuts through my disorientation, and I blink rapidly. He walks towards my bed, sitting with a concerned look on his face.
I slowly regain myself, shifting uncomfortably as my thoughts recollect themselves. I'm…. Alive? I don't understand, how?
"What happened?" I manage to ask.
Theodore answers instead, his voice low and intimidating as usual. "We found you unconscious in some kind of underground cellar bathhouse." I avert my eyes from Orion to the door where Theodore is leaning against with his arms folded across his chest.
Orion laughs "Thought you were a goner for sure"
I ignore his humor, my mind reeling with questions. The vampire, why didn't he drain me? I mean, I tried to kill him; why would he keep me alive?
Then, it hits me. My expression darkens as I recall the man's words 'Weak humans always leave a bad aftertaste' Tch! That bastard!
Ugh! I collapse on my back, my palm smacking my forehead. "I couldn't kill a vampire this time," I mutter, frustration escaping my lips in a deflating sigh.
"That's all right, none of us did," says Theodore, prompting me to sit up with a confused look. My brows furrow at Theodore's serious expression and I can't tell if he's lying to make me feel better.
I avert my eyes to Orion, and he nods, saying "Yup, we thought we killed 'em, but all of a sudden… bam! They're up again." Orion purses his lips as if remembering. He mutters "That shit scared the fuck outta me"
Theodore cuts in. "Turns out that merely stabbing their hearts with stakes and silver spears isn't enough to kill a Legacy born. The guild's mistake almost got us all killed," he says with a tired sigh.
I lean back, thinking. It's no wonder I wasn't able to kill that man. Ordinary vampires would've died, but he knew he couldn't be killed yet he pretended to be dead just to tease me.
My jaw clenches, that god-damned vampire! Makes me want to kill him even more now. "What about dad?" I ask
Theodore responds "He's gone overseas to see the guild. Next time, we'll need to be well prepared. Dad also said you should let work go today, just rest"
"Ugh!" I groan loudly, falling to the side. "I wish I could, but the owner of the company is coming today, I've got so much to pile up and submit"
Orion stifles a laugh and I ignore it. Subconsciously, I reach out to my neck. Instead of biting me, he kissed me. That bastard!
"Hey, you weren't bitten were you?" Another one of Orion's dry humor cuts through my thoughts. I open my mouth to speak but Theodore cuts me off seriously "If she was, there would be a mark"
His expression turns cold as he says to Orion "You shouldn't have let her go down there on her own"
My face twists into a frown. Here he goes again, belittling me like he always does. I cast my gaze downwards.
"We can't shield her forever, You know. She gotta do stuff herself," says Orion. I look up at Theodore, our eyes locked. He says nothing and leaves.
Orion gets up from the bed, stretching his limbs. "Oh well," he says, tucking his hands in his pocket. "Gonna get me a nice warm bath and some good-looking ladies"
I roll my eyes, shaking my head. A sigh escapes my lips, I just want to lie here and do nothing.
Sadly, after one hour and some minutes, I collapse in my cubicle, sinking into my chair. I exhale, my fingers hovering over the keyboard.
Suddenly, someone behind grasps my shoulders.