Chapter 3: The Cravens

Chapter 3: The Craven's

I woke up feeling sore all over my body. As I open my eyes I hurriedly stand up even though I'm not feeling well. I am not in a familiar place and I shouldn't be lying on a bed. To lay in a bed is for a noble only, people like me used to sleep on a cold floor where mice used to live.

I got nervous when I heard a knock on the door. I want to hide but it is too late when someone opens the door. It is the Craven I saw in the woods. 

I quickly kneel to apologize for the things that I have done. I bowed my forehead touching the floor as my hand started to shake.

" I'm sorry, I didn't mean to laid on the bed. I don't know why am I here. Sorry, please forgive me. I... I promise not to do that again. Please don't hurt me"

I said, trying not to cry. It is not really me, I don't know why I got here. I know I deserve a punishment but it is not really my fault. But who am I to depend?

" What are you doing?"

The Craven asked but I didn't move.

"Stand up"

He said, but still I didn't budge.

"Are you crazy?"

He hold my arm and pull me from kneeling down. I look at him confused as he looks at me looking wondering.

"Aren't you going to hit me?"

I am confused. Why?

"Huh? Why would I do that?"

He is much more confused than I am.

"Because I laid on your bed?"

"So?"

He asked, raising one of his eyebrows. I felt that something slide in my eyes. My tears started to flow. Why? Why am I crying? Is he preparing for a big punishment? I shake my head when I remember that I already experienced this in the sir's mansion.

They have become too kind to me in the past three days. After that is the most excruciating pain for me. Is he going to do that to me? Because if yes, I am going to ask for punishment right now.

I stopped doing anything when I saw him staring at me like a painting, a painting he doesn't wanna look at again. I feel so little that's why I hold the end of my shirt, it is still the clothes I wear before I run away from the sir's mansion. It is full of dust and dirt. The atmosphere became too dark.

"I'm not going to do that"

I was taken aback by the words he used. He's not going to do that? I held my mouth and my eyes widened in shock. I realize that he read my mind like he did in the forest but I am not sure at that time but now, I confirmed it. I remember when the elders used to say that the Craven's have an ability to control and read one's mind, some have an elemental control, and some can hypnotized.

That ability is one of the reasons why the Craven's rule the entire Cromoria. They are above humans and normal vampires. Normal vampires cannot control the elements and they usually lose control at night when they did not drink even a single drop of blood. They attack humans and drink their blood to survive. And in this kind of situation, the one who will take care of it is the council. I don't know much about them but I know that there are 13 members of the council. They are the representatives of each village inside the city. It is a mix of races in probability to equality. Humans, vampires, and werewolves representative. They are the ones who hold trials in violation and crimes.

" What is your name?"

He let go of my arm and asked while taking a step backward. My name? This is the first time someone asked my name and it saddened me. 

" Calliope, sir"

I answer by putting both hands on my stomach as I bow. I want to ask his name but I do not have the courage to do so. 

" Go back to your bed, this is your room and you can do everything you want. You are in the Craven's manor, no one can hurt you, no one will try. You’re not here to serve anyone and don’t you dare bow to anyone "

He said before I heard the door closing. I'm still bowing when I saw a drop of liquid on the floor. Why am I crying these past few days? Am I really that weak?

I don't know but I became disappointed when he didn't introduce his name. I want to know and I want to ask why he took me to Craven's manor. Is this the Gideon the werewolf said? But why?

I straightened my head and looked at the bed beside me, it was pure white and even if he said that I can lay here, I can't. I don't wanna stain it and I do not deserve to lie on this soft bed.

I sigh and wipe my eyes before sitting on a sofa. I looked at my state and I am full of bandages. It looks like someone gave medical attention to me. I just felt heavy and confused. What if they are treating me this way because the sir and his daughter are on their way to pick me up? Thinking of that, I want to escape this room. 

I heard a knock once again so I swiftly stood to greet the person who opened the door. It is a lady holding a tray of food and a glass of water. I was shocked when she greeted me with a smile before bowing a little bit as she was holding something.

"Good morning my lady"

I shake my head and wave my hand before bowing down. 

" Good day miss, but I'm not a lady"

She looks baffled before smiling widely at me. 

"You're indeed a lady"

She whispered and I didn't get the chance to hear it as she started to move. She put the tray on the mini table placed beside the bed.

"After you eat, please take your medicine, it is effective as it was from the towns apothecary, have great day ahead my lady "

She bowed once again before getting outside. What was that? Seriously, this situation is scaring me. When I saw the food, my stomach reacted, it growled as if wanting to take something. 

Is it really okay for me to eat? In the mansion I eat what is left on the table. A once in a day meal for me. But I'm really hungry. I took a heavy breath before deciding to eat. I will just take the beating later.

I start eating and my eyes became teary. As much as I don't want to cry, this feeling moved my tears. For almost two years, I am eating a food without a dirt. I am eating without a hurry. Yes, I'm a little nervous but I am holding what the Craven's said. No one will hurt me. And it's calming me down.

I was drinking the water after taking my medicine when I heard a commotion outside. I put the glass of water on the table and slowly stand up. I want to go outside to see what's happening but I look at my window as I hear the noise coming from there. 

I peek and I realize that I'm residing on the top of the floor. And outside, I saw a pack of werewolves and one of them is the werewolf I saw in the woods, Gideon.

And in front of them is a group of vampires I haven't seen before. The ambience is heavy, what's happening? The vampires move in the sides when someone walks in the middle. It is a woman and just by looking at her, you will see the definition of power.

I looked at the door when I heard someone turn the door lock. It is the woman who gave me the food. She is holding a box that obtained my attention. She walked beside the bed and placed the box on it. She opened it and I saw a yellow dress. I wondered what it was about.

" Please wear this my lady, the Craven's want to see you"

"Huh? No, a woman like me cannot wear such as this beautiful dress"

" You need to look decent in front of the Craven's. Please let me help you"

She said, smiling widely. Is she always smiling? I wish I could smile like that. She picked the yellow dress and put it in front of me. 

"Take a quick bath and wear this"

She said and pushed me slightly to a door. I sigh and take a bath. I groan in pain when the soap slides to one of my bruises. I just shower a little bit after that I dried myself using the towel I found inside the bathroom.

I looked at myself in the half length mirror. It's been a while since I wore a dress. But wearing this dress would not change the fact who I am. It will not cover how unworthy and useless I am. 

I came out and saw how shocked the maiden was in front of me. What happened?

"It looks good on you, you should wear dress more often"

She said leading me to a chair, in front of it is a mirror and below it is different kinds of makeup and hair designs. 

I was startled when she started to comb my hair, she was gentle as a breeze. It did not take a minutes after she finished what she's doing. She also put some color on my lips and eyes and ended it with a powder. I slowly opened my eyes and I didn't know what to say. It looks like I'm a different person. Little did they know that I'm just pretending.

I was astounded when she sat lifting my feet as she put on the white sandals. She also clean my wounds and put some ointment in it. This is wrong. Something is wrong. I have never experienced this kind of treatment before and it is making me nervous.

"It's time, my lady"

She smiled at me looking so proud. I followed her and as I stepped outside, I gasped. It is amazing, although I saw a noble's house before, the Craven's manor is different. It looks like I'm in a different  world. The interior color is the combination of white, black and gold. I was expecting...some red.

“Good day my lady”

I look at the two vampires who bow down before me and greet me with a monotone voice, like it was coming from the bottom .They are standing on both sides of the door where I came from, as if they were guarding it.

I also bow down, lower than them when someone holds my arm, making me stand straight.

“I told you, you don't need to do that”

I look at the person who pulled me, it is the Craven. He held my hand and dragged me away from the maiden and the vampire who greeted me a while ago. We pass through three rooms when he stops in front of a moon door. He opened it using his one hand and pulled me together as he walked inside.

I look around and see that there is a long table in the middle of the room and there, five people are sitting and the two got my attention as they were familiar to me. Gideon the werewolves and the woman who walk in the middle of the vampires as she welcomes the whole packs of werewolves. She is the only woman among the five.

Is these the Craven's?