4 Unexpected Guest

Killian sat at his desk roaming through the endless paperwork that the court had sent him. It seemed the Elders wanted to force his hand, taking him back to the palace against his own intentions to be there. His eyes roamed listlessly through the stack of papers, yet his mind was elsewhere.

Earlier that morning he had stopped at the little human's door, listening as she slept soundly unaware of the dangerous predator that lurked outside her dwelling. He had given into the temptation of entering her room and watching her sleep under the guise of safety, when she was anything but. Killian's piercing gaze memorized the subtle rise and fall of her chest, along with her slight turning, while she slept. A few more moments with his semi-conscious resident before he left, placing a rose against her unoccupied pillow.

The sound of horse hoofs and the steady rock of a carriage caught Killian's ears and in less than a minute, found himself walking towards the front door. The doorman met him along the way as well as two other maids to greet their visitor.

"Killian"

His eyes narrowed on his friend who had recently vacated his carriage and now stood at his door. Killian's eyes narrowed as if in offense, scrutinizing his friend's smirking face and outstretched arm before a small smile crept to his pale lips.

"It seemed I haven't escaped your eye after all."

His friend laughed heartily, turning up his nose at Killian's efforts at being hospitable. Everyone knew this man hadn't a bone of playing host within him.

"Were you trying to hide from me? You should've known better."

"Of course, there's always next time."

"I must be dead then," His friend says taking a few steps into the house, the door closing behind them as the maids wandered off having nothing to do. "In any case, we have a business to attend to and I doubt you'll like it."

"Oh," Killan remarks calmly, his eyes narrowing on his childhood friend once again as his hands folded against his broad chest. "And what is it that has gotten you spooked dear Jeremy?"

" I'm afraid there's lots happening in your absence, my Lord "

"Killian."

Both men turned, finding the young Tesler standing behind them, dressed in a beige dress contrasting her sun-kissed skin and sandals. Her black hair was left to tumble onto her shoulders as if she hadn't bothered to comb it. Ayano's eyes moved between the two men. She had woken up and hastily gotten ready in hopes of meeting her fiance, early this morning but it seemed she might have missed him altogether.

Normally the master of the house would meet his guests at the door, welcoming them to their home, especially when the stranger standing next to Killian was dressed in no ordinary way. He was still wearing his jacket, which either meant he had either just arrived or was about to leave. Ayano frowned, thinking back on the stranger's last words to Killian.

Why did he refer to him as Lord?

"I see you're awake, my lady," Killian says and Ayano averted her eyes taking a few steps towards the men and clearing her throat.

" Ah, yes. I am."

"Did you rest well?" Killian's eyes lingered on her as if he could read her soul. They might have met only last evening but Ayano already figured out there might be more to the silver-haired man.

Ayano twisted her fingers at her side. She had, had trouble falling asleep for the better part of the night, mostly because she was now resting in a strange place and a bed that was not her own. As for the latter, after much struggle with her recurring nightmare, she had fallen into exhausted slumber. But she won't ever tell him that.

"So, so" She responds before turning to the stranger by Killian's side. "Are you here to see the master?"

Jeremy raised a quizzical brow glancing at the human before him, then back at his friend. He wondered why the woman would ask such foolish questions when the Lord of the house stood before them. A minute later, he sighed internally, thinking back at how scheming Killian could be, and wondered what game he was supposedly playing now.

Humans had never managed to infiltrate their estate, as a matter of fact, Killian as well as Jeremy knew about human's prejudices against them. Knowing all too well none would willingly ever socialize with them much more than stay under the same roof.

But then Killian always found exceptions to the rules. As long as the girl doesn't interfere with Killian's day-to-day activities, he thought, maybe she wouldn't be a liability. Killian was already a handful to deal with, he certainly didn't need to babysit this fragile creature.

"Why yes, my good lady and you would be?" Jeremy asked curiously, though he had every intention of berating his childhood friend in his private quarters about this nonsense much later.

"Lady Tesler," Ayano answered with a smile. "Please to meet you Mr....."

" Jeremy. Call me Jeremy. I've never been one for formalities."

"Okay, then Jeremy. Welcome," Ayano responded enthusiastically, before curtsing.

"The young Tesler is the new mistress of the house." Killian spoke up amused at the idea that Ayano had taken on the title of lady to herself.

Hearing this, Jeremy stiffened momentarily, his eyes reverting to the young woman doing a double take. Surely Killian couldn't be serious about courting the girl, he thought to himself somewhat distraught at the turn of events. Even more so that he had not anticipated this happening. He knew the Lord had been quiet recently, more so than usual, but Jeremy would never have guessed that he was plotting his own wedding.

Killian's father would have his head once he got wind of this travesty, but Jeremy knew better than most, that there was no convincing him to do otherwise when he thought of something.

"You don't say," Jeremy drawled attempting to not seem affected by the grave news. "Seems I have my work cut out for me." He nodded once to the lady, walking towards the looming corridor that laid before them. "Shall I wait for you in the study then?"

"Preferably," Killian's response came and Jeremy chuckled, waving him off before continuing.

His eyes roamed the human in silent contemplation, a light complement lingering on his lips. Killian wanted to ask whether she liked the gift but thought better of it, not wanting to implicate himself by entering her room while she slept.

"What business does he have with the Master?" Ayano asked thinking that since she was now in control of her own house, at the very least she should start attending to her duties. Perhaps when her fiance saw that she wasn't being lazy, he would think much more of her.

"Advisor."

"I see. And the Master is in the study as well?" Ayano asks intending to maybe pay him a visit and acquaint herself with him, after all, she thought, what good would it do to them to remain strangers?

"He's busy." Comes Killian's short reply that gave her no information whatsoever on his whereabouts.

Ayano clenched her fists then. That's all she ever heard. It was probably better if she was a consort to a King, at least then she could understand him being busy. But her husband-to-be was just a regular business man, wasn't he? All she asked was just to see him. For him to spare her a minute of his time.

Finding the white rose on her pillow this morning, she had taken it as a sign of him acknowledging her and attempting to make amends. Only it was just a facade.

How long would she be able to live like this?

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Ayano bit out before regretting her chaste words. She glanced up finding Killian's steel grey eyes seemingly warm and understanding. "I'm sorry. I'm fine, thank you."

"You're frustrated with his absence."

" I'm a lot of things but maybe that would better suit my emotions. Yes," Ayano says taking a deep breath. "You know him better than I ever will what is he like?"

Killian's eyes gazed over at the door as he sensed an approaching figure and immediately he bristled, walking away from Ayano abruptly before tugging the large grey door open revealing his unwelcomed intruder.

"Elder Sato," He practically growled seeing the old vampire.

"Lord Killian. It is a pleasure, especially knowing you never greet guests at the door." The old vampire spoke up pushing his way inside before wrinkling up his nose.

"What do you want?" Killian's voice had lost its normal low timbre that Ayano had gotten accustomed to and glancing at the man it was begrudgingly aimed at, she could only surmise that Killian disliked the man.

"My Lord need only relax. I see your lapdog is here as well. No matter witnesses are welcomed."

"Um, I'm sorry sir," Ayano spoke up taking a step toward where the lean-looking man stood. "I think you're mistaken. He isn't the master, why are you calling him Lord?"

The man turned then and Ayano's eyes immediately widened to saucers as she took timid steps back from the creature, her hands trembling in fear. She couldn't believe what she was actually witnessing. They were actually real. The man's eyes were red like blood and glowing bright, while he looked at her beneath his lashes. She was actually staring at a creature of the night.

"You're a Vampire," Ayano finally mumbled as she blinked rapidly, her head spinning.

"And you're an awful human. What are you doing in a place like this?"

" I.....I...I" Ayano's brain felt as if it was turning into mush. She couldn't make coherent sentences and her body felt so light.

"Throw her out at once! I will not tolerate this place being soiled with the lowly likes of a dirty human." The Elder spat turning to Killian. "I'm highly disappointed."

"This is my home! You can not throw me out." Ayano argued before the room spun with her once more.

Shock.

She was going into shock.

"This is preposterous! No filthy human can live in this place."

Killian moved to steady Ayano, catching her in time before she lost her balance. He stood four feet taller than she was and three over his elder, resulting in him looking down on most of the populous around him. His day had started out so well and the thought of having to soil his hand so early in the day disturbed him, especially since Ayano was now present. He relished torturing his victims and making them scream for all their evil deeds. Foul voices like those Ayano need not hear, not to see the demon which he could be.

"You will not come here to insult and impose your selfish ambitions on this household nor its inhabitants, Elder Sato." Killian rebuked. "I think you've forgotten that this is not the court, nor does your voice hold any importance here." Killian smiled closing his eyes, the fangs of his true nature on display for only the elder to see. "And to think it disappointing that you've spoken ill to the mistress of the manor."

Elder Sato stood seething, truly incensed at being chided by the young Lord, more so before a mere human.

"What is this abomination?" Sato remarked watching as the girl lay in the young Lord's arm like some toy or hand ornament. How dare Killian do such dishonor to his clan and family?! The Elder purposed in his heart that he would most definitely report this infidelity to his father once he had reached the Palace again. He will never allow this.

"Shut up!" Killian commanded barely holding his anger at bay. "If you want to see the master without fail, you do as I say. Jeremy is already at the study. You will go and wait for my return."

This said, Killian took hold of Ayano's hand leading her across the large foyer, taking her into the kitchen. It irked him to no end that the little devil would show up unannounced and even more so attempt to command him in his house. Perhaps if he took his head and sent it back in a bag, they'd heed his warning about turning up uninvited.

When they reached the kitchen, all the host paused their work seeing their Lord and lady at the door.

"Good morning Sir, my lady" they sang together and Ayano forced a thin smile. She was still recovering from the shock that the man back then was a vampire.

It only made sense then why Killian was so upset to see him, though she wouldn't have expected the authority that Killian waved over his head as if he was some sort of king. The pleasant smell of fresh baked bread and spices made Ayano forget about the small incident, her eyes appreciating how the house had taken on a much more lively vibration than the weary one she saw coming in last evening.

"Stella, give the lady something to eat." Killian spoke up pulling Ayano from her thoughts.

She glanced at him, finding him staring through the window his gaze hard, as if he was still incensed about what had happened.

"Thank you for defending me." Ayano whispered. At first, she thought he hadn't heard, but then his grey eyes molded to hers, his eyes lighting up a little.

"There's no need to thank me. I hate uninvited guests."

Ayano chuckled. "Shouldn't the master be the one that this bothers the most?"

Killian's lips twitched into a smile. "We all have our burdens, my lady." He replied walking away.

"Wait!" Ayano called out to him and Killian paused his footsteps but kept his gaze forward. "Are you going back to the men? "

"What do you think?" He asked

"Then let me come along. In the absence of my husband, I'll do what should be done."

"Your husband huh?" Killian replied chuckling amused with her choice of words. "You're only engaged, my lady. And in retrospect, there are some things your innocent eyes shouldn't see. Don't worry I'll tell the master how disappointed you are with him."

Ayano watched as Killian walked away disappearing down the hall from her sight, feeling once more disappointed that again she had yet to see or learn anything about her mysterious husband.