“Here, wear this,” Stella said as she put on the clasp of a bracelet around my wrist. “I imbibed this charm with magic. It will keep the vampires away from you.”
My eyebrows furrowed. “Why are you giving this? You will stay with me all through the day, won’t you?”
“I plan to, Miraya. But you don’t know Lord Andres. He is pretty stubborn. I am sure he will try….”
A shrill voice calling out from the door interrupted her words, “Stella!”
We both rushed to the door to find Stella’s aunt standing in the doorway. Her expression was glum, and she was panting heavily.
She grabbed Stella’s hand and gasped, “You need to come with me right now! There has been an attack and your parents….” Her words trailed off as she shook her head.
Stella closed her eyes and gulped before turning to face me, “Miraya…”
I had a feeling that this was a part of Andres’s plan to separate us. Even still, I didn’t want to make her choose. I gave her a reassuring smile.
“It’s okay, Stella. You can go.” Raising my hand in the air, I wiggled my wrist. “I have this magical charm. It will keep me safe.”
Her desperate gaze drifted from her aunt to me and she let out a defeated sigh. “My house is protected with magic. As far as you stay inside, you will remain safe.”
Her gaze lingered on me for a moment before she spun around and left with her aunt.
My lips curved in a wry smile as I looked around. It was just me and this lonely house now. One day; I had to keep Andres away for one day and maybe my life would go back to its normal, boring version.
I locked all the doors and windows and retreated to Stella’s bedroom. Sitting on her bed with a thump, my gaze fell on my reflection. I had lost a lot of weight. Dark circles had formed around my eyes and my lips seemed dry like a bark.
My hands moved to my sunken cheeks, and I caressed my jawline. I looked like shit. If I hadn’t dumped Cassius, he would have left me.
There was a sharp knock at the door. My heart plummeted to my throat. Was Lord Andres already here?
I tried to ignore it, but the knocking was incessant. In the end, I walked down the stairs and looked through the eyehole. My heart almost stopped beating when I saw the person outside the door. What in the fucking world was Cassius doing here?
I wrung my fingers and shifted restlessly. I didn’t want to let him in, but I couldn’t risk him bumping into Andres, either. With a defeated sigh, I opened the door and pulled him inside.
Shutting the door quickly, I snapped, “What in the world are you doing here, Cassius?”
“That is what I would like to know as well, Miraya. Why are YOU here? You haven’t gone home in about a month.” He held my shoulders and looked into my eyes. “Your mother had come to meet me. Do you have any idea how worried she is?”
My heart twisted at the mention of Emma. Ignoring the stab, I clenched my teeth and pushed him away. “Why are you being so clingy? Don’t you have anything better to do?”
“No, I don’t,” He snapped, pinning me against the wall. “You can ignore me, torment me with scalding words, but you can’t stop me from loving you; worrying about you.”
He pressed his entire body against mine; trapping me effectively. Then, he started kissing me desperately; his lips firm yet sweet. Tears rolled down my cheeks as a month of longing and desire hit me with full force.
He froze and pulled away. Wiping the tears with the back of his hand, he spoke in a choked voice, “I… I didn’t mean to hurt you, Miraya.” He took a step away, giving me space. “It is just that… I… I missed you so much, I just couldn’t control myself.”
“Oh Cassius,” I croaked as I threw my arms around him; clinging to him like a koala. I couldn’t restrain myself any longer. I buried my head in his chest and burst out sobbing.
I didn’t have the strength to do this anymore. I had to tell him everything. Taking a step back, I cleared my throat, “Cassius…”
“Hmm…”
“I want to tell you something….”
Clank! Shatter! Thud! A stone hurled in through the window, shattering the glass pane.
I gasped as Cassius pulled me away, protecting me from the shards of glass that scattered next to us.
“Darn it! Are these people crazy or something? How can they throw stones like this?” He cursed, pulling me further away; his eyes were ablaze with anger. Anger made Cassius look even more attractive; adding sharpness to his refined features. Almost like a reflex, I leaned towards him. But then my eyes landed on the stone.
A paper was wrapped around it. My eyes widened in horror as I picked up the stone and unwrapped it. The message scrawled across read, ‘Your heartthrob is with you, right?”
My eyes widened in horror and I staggered back a few steps; the slip of paper slipping through my fingers. Andres knew about Cassius. How was I supposed to protect him now?
I took off my bracelet and handed it to Cassius, “Wear this.”
“But why? What was written on that note?” He made a move to pick it up, but I beat him to it and shredded the paper into as many pieces as possible. “It… It was just a message from a friend of mine.”
I snatched the bracelet from him and clasped it around his wrist. “If you have loved me even for a moment, never take this off.” With this, I bolted for the door.
“Miraya! Where are you going?” he called after me, but I ignored him. Once outside, I locked the door. This was the only way to keep him safe.
My heart strummed like crazy as I walked into the garden. The familiar feeling of wind swooshing past me made my skin crawl. Andres was here, as suspected.
“I didn’t expect you to be so obedient.” His voice sounded as he emerged in front of me. “I thought you would need some more persuasion; something dramatic, like setting the house on fire or killing….”
“Andres, please….” I looked at him and gulped. “I… I will do whatever you want. Just keep him out of this.”
His eyes raked over me with a meaningful look, “You already know what I want.” Brushing his nose along my collarbone, he whispered, “Take off your shirt.”
The tip of my heart trembled, and I stumbled, “I… I thought you wanted to turn me into a vampire… W… Why are you asking...”
He grabbed my hair and drew me closer. “I want you to follow my orders, Miraya; without question.” His eyes drifted to the house. “I can still set this house on fire.”
Releasing me, he reinstated in an icy voice, “Let us try this again. Take off your shirt.”
Gulping the lump that had formed in my throat, I started unbuttoning my shirt. My fingers were shaking so badly that it took an entire minute to open the top button.
Andres grew impatient and ripped off the rest of the buttons. His eyes darkened as his gaze landed on my bare flesh. “I can see why Cassius fell for you. You will look even better after turning into a vampire.”
He lowered his face and licked the sensitive skin right below my collarbone; grazing his sharp canines over them shortly after.
I clasped the fabric of his shirt and closed my eyes; constantly chanting why I was allowing Andres to do this. I had to keep Cassius safe at all costs; silent tears rolled down my cheeks.
With a hiss, Andres bit hard into my soft flesh; his arms wrapping around me in a tight embrace. His canines dug deeper and deeper, making me whimper. I bit the inside of my cheeks to keep myself from screaming. I couldn’t risk Cassius hearing the scream and rushing out.
When Cassius finally released me; blood oozed out of the two small holes made by his canines.
Surprisingly, I couldn’t feel any pain. I was probably numb due to everything that had happened.
Staggering, I leaned against a nearby pillar; pulling the edges of my shirt together and crossing my arms over my chest.
Andres took off his jacket and wrapped it around my shoulders. “Keep this from Stella. I don’t want that witch poking her nose into my business again.”
He was still leaning over me when Cassius emerged from the corner. Hurt flashed in his eyes as his gaze landed over us. He shook his head and stuttered, “You and Andres?” He closed his eyes momentarily. When he opened them again, all I could see in them was indifference.
“You were right. I shouldn’t cling to you.” His words sliced my heart into millions of pieces. The shards dug deeper as I watched him walk away without another glance. My knees gave way, and I dropped to the ground.
Right at that moment, the effect of the venom kicked in and a wave of convulsions hit me. Andres seemed shocked by my body’s reaction. He kneeled down and checked my pulse, “What is happening to you?”
“I… I don’t know… It was like this the last time as well. Stella had said something about my body reacting differently to your venom.” I mumbled between pained gasps.
“I think I might have something for that,” he stated as he took out a vial from his pocket. The burning sensation subsided as he stabbed its contents into my neck.
I picked myself up and staggered inside the house. Once Andres left; throwing his jacket in the bin on the way. Standing under the shower, I burst out into a fit of hysterical sobs.
“Why Cassius? Why did you have to come to meet me today?” I whimpered; pulling myself into a fetal position. If only he had stayed away. I wouldn’t be forced to succumb to Andres.
A sigh of resignation left my lips. I didn’t have it in me to fight Andres anymore. I was just going to give him what he wanted…