Arabella gritted her teeth. She slowly stood up from the floor while Lady Blair who hadn't paid attention to her started to acknowledge her presence and frown upon seeing her who had moved her dirty feet toward them. Lady Blair clenched her hands on Cassius, sticking to him even closer as she whispered, "Nasty thing."
From the corner of her eyes, Arabella saw how Cassius's amused red eyes had turned grim. There was a deadly shift in the air that only Lady Blair didn't notice. Panicking, she muttered out loud to warn the lady, "Y- You shouldn't touch him!"
What should she do?! What can she do?! Her head was ringing so loudly with alertness and her heartbeat was racing so loudly she was going to faint! She was running out of oxygen to her brain and all she knew was how much danger she had fallen into.
"What's with this ugly mutt?" Lady Blair frowned before turning to Cassius who didn't respond but his smile vanished which made Lady Blair sure that he was also offended by Arabella's presence. The lady wasn't aware that Arabella had yelled not for her own sake but for the lady's safety. Instead, Lady Blair was offended that a lowly thing like her had dared to speak to her.
Lady Blair who had been trying with all her means to gain Cassius's attention was surprised upon seeing him who had decided to meet her today in the guest room. This was because no matter how many ladies or princesses who had came to meet him was always rejected. This was why she was so so rejoiced upon hearing that Cassius had came to see her.
She didn't notice Arabella at first, only thinking she was a maid but after another look she realized that this human must be one of the well known "pets" in the castle.
The human pets weren't really a secret to the human. It's because from long ago, the vampires of the royal family would keep a few pets around them for fun as food and entertainment. Most of the time however, their lifespan was quick and short. This is because whenever these pets offended the vampire, they would be killed with no second thought. It was why Lady Blair wasn't interested or concerned about Bella's presence. She believed that it won't be long before Cassius would be bored of this "pet" and kill her.
But she's different from this pet. Different because, she is the young daughter of the Viscount family. Her worth is far greater than a pet like Arabella.
"I'm only advising you for your sake," muttered Bella in fear as she could feel her entire blood turn cold as Cassius's red eyes had fallen to Lady Blair's neck. This vampire was about to kill Blair yet this lady couldn't see it!
Bella shut her eyes. She doesn't like any rude people but that doesn't mean she wants someone to die right before her eyes!!
She clenched her hands tighter and prayed fervently in her heart that Blair wouldn't try to do stupid thing but her wishes fell to deaf ears because Lady Blair was convinced her value was much higher than Arabella to Cassius's eyes. To Blair, the words Bella had said to warn her only looked as if she was jealous of the lady for taking the crown prince's attention for herself.
Lady Blair crossed her arms, marching toward Bella and then pulled her by her hair, causing Bella's scalp to burn in pain.
"Ouch!" Bella yelped as the lady didn't held back when she had yanked her hair. She snapped her eyes at Lady Blair who was now looking at her face, as if assessing how the "pet" look like and how startled was Lady Blair upon seeing that Arabella was actually a fair maiden?
Round eyes like a fawn, her skin though covered in grim was actually smooth and fair, her small and pointed nose as well as her now paler red lips were alluring. As a woman, Lady Blair could tell in a glance that if cleaned up Arabella would look much prettier than her. This revelation only made Lady Blair's anger turn twisting into jealousy as she glared at Bella's face. A sudden fear caught her when she realized that perhaps Cassius was also swayed by this little human's appearance.
She wasn't threatened by Bella's presence in the beginning but after seeing Bella's face, the loom of fear circled around her neck, causing her to turn hateful from jealousy.
Lady Blair turned toward Cassius, twisting her lips, "This pet is really noisy isn't she, Your Majesty? For not knowing her place, I can help you punish her so she wouldn't repeat her mistakes."
Bella's lips were parted in shock. She had tried to protect this lady but it seems to the lady's eyes, her help was unnecessary! Does she really want to die to that hungry blood sucking monster over there?! She couldn't understand what would be so appealing from Cassius if not for that handsome face and his status as the Crown Prince, or perhaps that was what this lady liked?
Worried on what she should do, she turned her eyes to Cassius, hoping to find an answer on her next move from his face. But he seemed thoughtful. His eyes told her that this wasn't quite "amusing" enough. Then what was amusing to him? Her stabbing another vampire? Or? What?
Just as she was wrecking her mind for an answer, Cassius lazily drawled, "What do you to your pet, Lady Blair?"
"Oh," Lady Blair smiled wide as she was delighted to form a conversation to Cassius. She eagerly answered to all his questions, "I have a dog and a cat, actually I have more than two of each.."
"I don't care as to what kind of pet you have," Cassius cut her coldly even though the corners of his lips were still curled upward. His eyes seemed so bright that it could eat the moon alive. He chuckled, "Back to answering my question, Lady Blair."
The authority in his voice was indeed frightening. Even Bella couldn't help but feel herself faltering and have to answer to his demands.
"O- Oh," lady Blair's face was flushed but how could a mere Viscount's daughter like her ever receive the chance of talking to Cassius again? She doesn't know what gold she had stuck today but she was certain that there was no other chance given for her than tonight if she fail to impress him and continue their friendship. Letting go of Bella's hair, she answered in a coquettish manner, "I teach them of course. They entertain me in exchange."
Bella saw Cassius's eyes that fell on her again when Lady Blair mention how the pets "entertain" her in exchange.
He was still talking while staring toward their direction but Lady Blair wasn't aware that Cassius's gaze was lower and it didn't meet her gaze, instead he locked eyes with Arabella who was the only thing that had interested him.
He hummed, "Teach, do they have book on how to teach pets?"
"They do! I would be able to send you the pet book soon if you wish, Your majesty," said Lady Blair in all eagerness. "My father is quite the bookworm, you would be pleased to visit our library and to see how extensive his choices of reading books are. I can assure you that it would never bore you."
Cassius seemed to have laughed on her words but the two girls were confused on which part of Lady Blair's words that were funny. Arabella saw his thoughtful gaze that stare at Bella, "You see, I also believe that pet is the best entertainer ever. I quite love having pets myself but none of them ever lived for long."
"Oh poor you, was it illness?"
"No. I killed them," said Cassius with a shrug of his shoulders while Bella's face fell from shock. Seeing her face, Cassius's body moved forward and he began to break out into a laughter. He was holding to his stomach as he burst into laughter and Lady Blair was so confused as to why he was laughing but she began to awkwardly follow his laugh with a faint forced giggles.
Bella stared at him with her eyes judging his insanity. Perhaps this vampire was actually born insane. No wonder he was so weird. He's actually insane isn't he?
Meanwhile Cassius couldn't help himself from his laughter. He had always thought that there shouldn't be someone whose face was as easy to read as Arabella's. The silly human girl had shown him a completely incredulous face with her mouth that was made into a wide "O" shape.
"-I- I see it was a joke," Lady Blair chuckled.
"A joke?" Cassius's laughter fade. Though traces of his laugh and smile was still pulling the corners of his lips as if even if you wipe it clean, he would die with that curl grin at the edges of his lips. "No," he answered and again the mood shift as coldness chilled down the room. "I really did kill them but now here for the question. If you see your pet dog was hurt by a stranger, wouldn't you be upset, Lady Blair?"
He was polite. So polite actually for the heir of the throne. But why did she feel that his tone became even more condescending and menacing as each seconds passed by?
He then raised his hand upward and curled it, calling for her to walk forward, "Come here."
Bella was confused, thinking for a moment that Cassius was calling for her but Lady Blair had walked first, she marched faster toward Cassius, smiling as she drawled, "I would say, Your Majesty, it would be a good idea for you to abandon this stupid pet of yours. I can tell in a glance that she's so slow. You can leave her to me and I can dispose of her cleanly." Lady Blair was still unaware of the dark glint filling Cassius's eyes, enamored by the beauty laid in front of her to the point that she was eager to set Bella as far away from his sight so she wouldn't be swayed by her beauty.
As she rushed forward, Cassius frown and pushed Blair aside, "Why aren't you walking?" Cassius's eyes fell toward Bella and he cued her to come with his index finger, "Come now. My little birdie hadn't gone deaf because someone ruffled your feather, right?"