Sleep

I woke up to the sound of my door, creaking as if it was pushed and opened. The room was dark and only the dimmed candlelight stretched on the floor. I let out a small sigh and put myself back to sleep when the door closed, leaving me in this empty space. My back was facing the door so I had no idea who opened it. For a while, I felt fear but when it closed, I was calm again. 

Restlesness occupied me the whole hour. I couldn't sleep. Since I was awake the whole hour and doing nothing but trying to feel the quiet surrounding, I finally decided to get up and take a short walk. I pushed the door open and the dark hallway met me, approaching like it was chasing ghosts that sent chills down my spine. 

Sighing, I put on a long, silky white robe to at least warm me up a little before stroding the hallway with nothing but a candle lamp in my right hand. The darkness was like a predator, gawking at me in every step I make. The chills was still there but I no longer feel the creeps. 

I have never been into a place this wide. I have never felt this safe while walking in the midst of a dark hallway. As I reached the stairs, I saw a glimpse of light from my Master's bedroom. The light was dim, visible enough to see the designs on the red carpet. Because I had no other things to do, I made my way towards his chamber and peeked on the small opening. There I saw my master's back facing me. He was shirtless, and the dim light only made his naked back even more gloriouss. 

On his hand was a sword. A silver sword, I guess. He gently wiped the black piece of cloth on the silver blade. I took a step backward and was about to just leave him do his own thing. I heard him put down the sword so I glanced back to where he was. But to my surprise, he was no longer there. 

"And why are you still up, woman?" 

My lips parted when I heard his voice from behind me. It was deeper than the night. It almost sounded like the cold wind that howls through the curtains. 

"I..." 

I stammered to answer. I was lost of words. My tongue seemed to retreat its way to my throat.

"Hm?" 

I turned around to meet his gaze. A gaze full of hunger like I was his prey. I was actually his food so I can understand the thirst in his eyes. When our eyes met, I couldn't help but ask myself if he already had taken someone's blood other than mine. Is he hungry? Is he thirsting my blood right now? Does my heart beat make his tongue go crazy when it's rapidly racing? 

His index lifted my chin, tilting my head a little as if he was checking his bite mark that was covered with a scarf. He loosened the scarf a little and caressed the mark of his fangs on my neck. I let out a long sigh when I felt his thumb on my sensitive skin. Oh, that touch will forever be embedded into my skin. I would be thirsting over it like a starved vampire lusting over one drop of blood...never satisfied. 

"You can't sleep?" 

He asked yet he already knew the answer to my restlessness. My Master made sure that the mark on my neck will be fully covered by the scarf before he offered his arm to me. 

"Come to me, darling." 

I gulped and snaked my arms around his elbow, "Where...are we going?"

He chuckled, "To the library. You like books, don't you?"

"Yes...I like books."

My master shrugged, "Quite odd for a young lady to like books."

"Why?" I looked up at him as he took the candle from my hand and raised it high enough for the light to stretch. 

"Most girls your age are far more interested in getting married, gowns, jewels and all the things...Yet here you are, a bookworm." 

"I have nothing else to love in this world than books," I answered with courage. 

He stopped walking and faced me with a proud look in his face. God, I did not stammer upong saying it, didn't I? 

"I thought you're too shy to even talk," he smirked. 

I looked down on my bare foot, "I...um..."

"Um..." he mimicked me and chuckled.

I pouted. Seeing his eyebrows rest above his eyes without furrowing, calmed the chills under my robe. I kept my eyes at him as we kept on walking. There was silence. It was deafening yet it assured me of my security. 

"What's the first book that you read?" he asked as he placed the candle lamp above the stretched table of the library. 

"Not read, actually..." I looked away as his eyes found mine. 

I took a seat on the only chair of the library, "It was read to...me." 

    Lord Minir smiled, revealing his white fangs that rested above his swollen red lips, almost seducing me, making me cave in to his needs. I gulped, calming myself as I felt the sudden rush of familiar tension between us. I know this feeling. It's the same feeling when he ignited me. 

    "Very well. Since we're both here already, " he continued. " I shall let you know of my absence in the next few days. I will leave the mansion in Lady Catherine's care." 

    "W-Will you be back, master? " I asked. 

    His eyes glinted. Lord Minir nodded,

     " Yes. But I will take time. Gerber will guide you. Count Vlad will also visit. No need to feel worried or, scared while I am gone." 

    " I'll keep that in mind. "

    " Good."

    I averted my gaze towards the shelves, letting my eyes describe the grotesque designs on the walls, the pillars and the cabinets. I am not yet comfortable when it comes to talking to him. I don't even have to know his whereabouts in the next few days. Yet I felt curious. Or maybe, this is more than just being curious. 

    Deep down, I know I wanted to know where he will go and when he will be back. I want to know if I am safe or if all of us in here are safe. 

    "Woman..." he called me. 

    I lifted my gaze to him.

    "You have to be safe. I will leave reminders to Gerber and she will be the one to tell you."

    I nodded softly. I was expecting for him to disappear in my sight again but then, he remained in the seat with his eyes focused on me. Isn't he busy or something? He must be so annoyed by my presence a while ago that he end up bringing me in this lonely and dark library. Probably to lock me in here tonight.

    I don't know where I get these silly dark thoughts. Maybe, it was because of all the dark romance books I've read so far. 

    I pulled my chest away from the table. At the same moment, Lord Minir leaned closer until his index finger finally reached my chin. The closer he was to me, the more I feel like I'm losing all of my blood. Oh, Lord. 

    "Hm," he sniffed. He paused as if he caught a familiar scent from me, pulled away and chuckled, "You smell pure. I like that. Though I am not fond of amateurs. But I like it. " 

    I looked straight to his eyes, questioning his intention. He held my chin up, tilted my head a little and pushed his tongue into my closed lips. 

    "Just a sip, darling."

    It was a like a magic word. My lips parted, welcoming his foreign tongue into my mouth. Slowly as our lips sync to the rhythm of him sucking and worshipping my red lips, my eyes closed. 

    Ignited by the flick of his tongue in my jaw, I unconsciously pushed myself to stand just to let his lips stay on mine. He stopped me, went back to his seat and patted his lap. Without any words to protest his request, I crawled on the table and made my way to sit on his lap with him facing my back. 

    "Hm...sweet, " he complimented the mixed scent of my skin and blood. 

    He pushed my hair to the other side. I closed my eyes, trying to feel the sensation of his calloused hands on my bare skin. I gasped when I felt his teeth sunk on my shoulder. 

    I flinched but he pushed my head back to the other side, making me calm down as he sucked my blood out of me.  

    "M-Master..." I moaned. 

    It wasn't long that I felt his teeth left my skin and his tongue erased the mark of his fangs. I thought he was going to ignite me even more but I was wrong. I was just a quick drink to quench his thirst. 

    "There. There. Sleep now, woman."