Chapter 8. About Beautiful Lies

The man with bright bronze eyes carefully scrutinized the beautiful woman beside him. After he said who he was, he was afraid that Shada would immediately move away. He didn't want that to happen.

The confession finally came freely out of Demian's mouth. He was both relieved and frantic, not really prepared for how the woman beside him would respond.

Shada, on the other hand, just stood still. Her face paled. She was not too sure about what Demian had just revealed.

Vampire? Does that mean he is a murderer? Her mind roared in question.

Now Shada did not know what to do. After hearing the awaited answer, she was afraid that her reaction would offend Demian.

Shada's legs trembled. Demian glanced at Shada's legs and laughed.

"Are you scared, Shada?" Demian asked as gently as possible so that the woman next to him wouldn't suddenly run away screaming.

"Have you ever killed a human being?" said Shada after managing to regather the pieces of courage that had previously collapsed.

"I did. But now I won't kill humans. At least not without a reason." Demian's grin reappeared, making Shada's hair stand on end again.

"So... if there's a reason, you'll kill?" said Shada to ensure her safety tonight. She kept an eye on Demian in case he suddenly killed her. Demian remained unmoved. There was a regular sigh from the handsome man.

"You don't have to be afraid of me, Shada. Seriously." Demian whispered. He wanted Shada to trust him immediately. If necessary, to remember who he was.

Shada studied Demian's expression and intentions. She also needed proof to believe him, especially after Demian claimed to have killed humans.

"What is the proof? Proof so I won't be afraid of you anymore." Shada asked, piercing her interlocutor with her eyes.

"I don't drink human blood. I'm a vegetarian." Demian said casually. Then, chuckling, he observed Shada's increasingly confused look.

"Huh, you're a vegetarian? What does that mean?" Shada gaped in incomprehension. More and more, Shada couldn't understand Demian, it was too complicated for her. Shada realized that the world she was living in was vast.

"Instead of human blood, I drink animal blood." Demian explained with a grin that showed his rows of neat white teeth.

However, his face was still handsome, even too handsome. At first glance, Shada was surprised that the man's teeth did not show long, sharp canines like some of the movies she had watched.

"Then... where are your canines?" Shada pointed at her own teeth then pointed at Demian's mouth.

"Oh, hahaha... my fangs only appear when I bite." Demian couldn't help but laugh.

How funny that humans often equated him with the scary figure of vampires in movies and most books. Although very strong, most vampires who have known animal blood will not take human blood again.

Human blood for them is indeed priceless like a luxury food that is quite exclusive. They have the principle of not drinking human blood because after getting to know humans more closely, they sympathize so that they can no longer kill humans. Except, because it is urgent and forced to do so.

However, today there are still some vampires who do not hesitate to suck human blood. Like new vampires or vampires who are truly selfish and have no conscience. Hearing Demian's explanation, made Shada immediately splutter.

"You look like a normal human, but you're even creepier." Shada grumbled, then her body shuddered in horror.

Demian frowned briefly at Shada's curse, then laughed again. He found it very funny that Shada was acting like that.

"But... you're beautiful, Shada." Demian teased for the umpteenth time. Demian's eyes couldn't take his eyes off the woman. Shada just didn't move, she became mischievous. The red tinge on her cheeks appeared again.

Slowly but surely, Demian brought his face closer. They were now less than 10 centimeters apart. Demian looked closely at Shada's face who had closed her eyes. He briefly considered if Shada was actually scared. However, he did not want to delay it.

Demian finally landed his kiss softly. They enjoyed each other's embrace, especially Shada. She always wanted Demian. Even though she now knew that he was a vampire. Her breathing was getting labored. Shada's consciousness plunged so far beyond her desires that she didn't know her cell phone had rung five times.

Meanwhile, Max was down there, in his car. Max was now in front of Shada's house. He is on the phone with her without looking away from the curtains of Shada's room that reflect her image with someone kissing. Max lowered his cell phone limply. Then tightened his grip on the steering wheel.

♡♡♡

The noisy yet melodious chirping of birds can be heard from behind the house, a sign that morning has come. Shada prepared to leave for the office. For some reason, her mind was filled with Demian's kiss last night.

Shada remembers that after Demian left, she looked at her cell phone and frowned when she saw a notification that Max had called her five times. Shada had the urge to call Max back. But after seeing the numbers on the wall clock, she decided against it. It was already 1 a.m. at that time.

When she arrived at the office, Shada once again saw Richard at Ruth's desk. The two of them were talking. Ruth and Richard were almost the same height. The only difference was the color of their skin, which looked very contrasting when they were together. Ruth had pale white skin, while Richard had sweet dark skin typical of the Negroid race, his hair was jet black with small waves.

They continued talking until they realized Shada's presence. Then Ruth seemed to give a code about Shada's presence to Richard. Richard was suddenly staring at Shada, waiting for her to reach the table.

After getting close enough, Richard raised his hand to Shada, asking for the document that Shada had been working on with Ruth yesterday. He examined it briefly, nodded his head in agreement and then led her away.

Shada and Ruth glanced at each other as Shada began to sit on the chair while putting down the bag that had been draped over her arm. Ruth cleared her throat softly, then spoke first.

"Shada, Richard told me just now that he has finished the recruitment process." Ruth said, opening the conversation to avoid awkwardness.

"Oh, already finished? Isn't it still a few months away?" rebutted Shada who wasn't too interested in the topic. But since Ruth was the one who asked her to talk, she responded in kind.

"It's strange, isn't it? I don't like it when the person Richard chooses turns out to be incompetent." Ruth grumbled with a chuckle.

"It's predictable, Ruth. The chosen candidate must be a girl." Shada laughed. But deep down, she was also upset if the chosen one was a woman. Especially one who didn't know how to work hard, it would be very troublesome.

"That's right! It would be better if a male employee was chosen later. But it doesn't seem possible. Right, Shada?" Ruth added irritably, then continued, "I heard that the new employee will be coming in today." Ruth was almost whispering as she finished her last sentence, full of emphasis.

Shada chuckled in agreement. She had observed the change in Ruth's eye color. They started out bright brown and then darkened as Ruth excitedly talked about the new employee.

"Are you wearing contact lenses, Ruth?" asked Shada squinting her eyes, examining Ruth's eyes more closely.

Ruth paused then her gaze drifted to Max who came into their room, his steps firmly toward Shada. Ruth saw the fire in Max's eyes.

"Shada, I called you last night. Where have you been?!" Max snapped at Shada.

Shada looked panicked and part of her was confused. Shada got up from her seat in a daze. Ruth just stared at the two of them. After understanding the situation, she turned away and finished her work.

"I'm already asleep, Max. I just saw your notification this morning." Shada lied.

Max stared at Shada's glare, then bluffed a little.

"What's sleeping, huh?! I was in front of your house last night and your room was still on! And who is that guy?!"