CHAPTER 1

This story is a work of fiction. Names, characters, palces and events are fictitious, unless otherwise stated. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, or actual events are purely coincidental.

- KC Kiera♡

Chapter 1

My head felt heavy as I woke up, still closing my eyes I sat down in the bed, and hanged down my feet at the side, my head hurts, dammit.

The bed was super soft, but as I remember it correctly, mine wasn't this soft.

The strong fragrance filled my nostrils, it smell masculine.

Weird.

I shrugged into my own thoughts, and decided to get a bath.

As I opened my eyes, an unfamiliar room welcomed me, and realized I wasn't at my apartment.

The cream colored room was spacious there's a mini table at the end of the bed, expensive looking furniture's were displayed.

There's a wide window at the right side of the room, but it was covered with dark red curtains.

There's no light from the outside entering this room.

I panicked.

"Where am I?" I asked to myself and got up.

Then memories rushed into my head,

I quickly look for a mirror but failed to find one, what I only found is a door, leading me the bathroom of this room,

I sighed and decided to get a bath before wearing the dress that is left at the side table together with my bag and a note.

Please wear this dress once you wake up, I know you don't want a man to change your clothes

- Marcus

I checked the dress I'm wearing it was in mint green floral ruffle dress, it's beautiful and I must admit look elegant with it, and a small smile was formed in my lips, not until I realized I'm not at my own home.

I went out of the bathroom, sat at the side of the bed and get my bag, I'm thankful I brought my compact mirror that day, I quickly look into my neck through it, I caress it and felt a rough texture on the bitten area. I had 2 pair of bite, maybe that monster bit me two times, before the silver eyed man saved me.

I sighed once more, and closed my compact mirror, I don't have to wear lipstick or any make up on, 'cause my lips are naturally pink, and my eyebrows looks just fine.

I was lost in my own thoughts when I heard a knock, I didn't answer back, I'm in a stranger's house, how can I be sure this stranger won't take advantage of me?

"f*ck" when I didn't answer back, the door was forcedly open,

As the door open roughly, I quickly placed my hair in my shoulder to hide the bitten area, and look down avoiding the strangers gaze.

Surely, I wanted to know why I am here in his house, if it is his.

I wanted to know what happened to me, and why am I still alive,

But I must kept my mouth shut, baka may hidden agenda siya.

If he is a vampire, maybe he kept me here to be his food source.

If he was the one who saved me, maybe it was okay, he saved me twice anyway, and I should have at least something in return for him.

but what If he is a mere human like me? How can he beat that monster that quick? Is he a Halfling? But what does he want from me? Is he a stalker? A stalker really Stef?

I had too much questions in my head I wanted to asked, but I'm too afraid to ask them.

The man in a black suit, stayed silent while standing still at the door,

Maybe he is staring at me, his feet are facing my direction.

I wonder what he looks like.

I heard a deep sigh coming from the man.

He walk towards me, holding a tray elegantly on his left hand, and place it at the side table at my left side.

I stayed still as he sat beside me at the space in my left.

Finally I can have a gaze on him in my peripheral vision while his attention are at the thing he put at the side table, and the only thing that I can finally say is "Silver"

It was him! Di ako pwedeng magkamali.

He was the guy who saved me that night!

"Hmm?" he hummed questioningly.

Slowly I raised my head and to finally met his gazed.

I was even more surprised when I finally saw his silver eyes.

It was really him!

Shocked was written all over my face, but I kept my mouth shut, and cover it with my both hands.

He look at me confusingly,

His brows are curled, while looking at me.

He was wearing a pair of black tuxedo, black pants and cream shirt underneath and black leather shoes and a black socks.

This man surely loves black.

Then those confused look was replaced with a laugh.

Huh? Is he crazy?

Then he laughed hard.

My shock expression was replaced with a confused one

"Huh?" I whispered to myself, still being confused.

"w-why a—" I was about to asked him on why was he laughing at me, but my migraine attacked, I quickly massage my temples wishing it can move away the pain I'm feeling, but it's no use, the pain only got severed,

My vision is blurred,

I feel light-headed,

My surrounding is twirling around,

Then I felt a soft thing underneath my body,

My vision were vivid, but I can clearly read the worry that is written in his face.

Why do you look so worried? I wanted to ask but I'm too tired.

Then darkness welcomed me again.

"Run Keannea!" mom shouted as blood comes out from her mouth.

My body went cold, seeing my mom bathing in her own blood. My brother has been slaughtered and been a food source by the vampires, same goes with my father, and now they raped my mom and slaughtered her too.

"KEANNEAAAA! RUUUUUUUUUUUUN!" my mom's shout made my body quivered,

Reluctantly I run away from her, I went to my room in the second floor of our home, put everything I'll be needing in a small backpack, the money I saved for 3 years straight, that I was about to use for my college entrance exam this year, my bible, and the necklace and ring my brother gave me on my 17th birthday.

After readying everything, I ran out of my room,

I was about to take my turn to the staircase, when a lady in black dress appeared just in front of me.

"Running away sweetheart?" she asked mischievously while walking towards me

I stepped back, holding my bag tight and trying to grab anything I can use to protect myself from her.

When she saw, fear in my face, she laughed evilly, and showed me her fangs.

"No, please!" I pleaded her, as I continue to step back.

I step back once more, I look around me, trying to find anything silver, but can't find one.

'My necklace'

But it was a gift from my brother to keep this monster away from me, so that they cannot touch nor drink my blood through my neck.

And the ring to protect my wrist.

But I have no choice. While biting my lips as I tremble getting my necklace in my back pocket. Once I had it in my hand, I wear my backpack just like how you are supposed to wear it.

Holding it tightly in my hand, I ran through her, not thinking of what might happen.

I screamed loudly, as if my energy depends on how loud it can be. I made a twirl in the air, hold the two ends of the necklace in my both hands, and strangled her with it.

I am now on her back, strangling her neck.

'Sorry brother' and a tear fell down.

She was trying to save herself

She was undeniably strong but it's no use this necklace is made of silver, one of their weaknesses are silver.

I strangled her even more and put all my energy in my necklace.

Then she vanished, she became dust.

I fell down on my knees, and cried.

Then I felt a sting of pain in my neck.

It was too late, when I realized I was being bitten.

I felt even weaker, as I already am.

I can't die yet.

I don't want to die.

Then I fell to the ground, and saw a man in silver hair and eyes, in an all-black suit and a half mask hiding the lower half of his face starting from the bridge of his nose, as he kill the guy whom I assumed the one who bit me.

Am I going to die? Is this my really my end?

"You won't die, he only had a drop of your blood." The silver eyed man told me, while carrying me in his arms.

"Thank you." I tried my best to say it to him but it only comes out as a whisper, and lose my consciousness.

The next morning, I woke up in a hospital room

I woke up in a quick manner, while tears are falling down from my eyes.

"Mom" I whispered, I curled up my legs and hug them.

I cried silently.

"You miss 'em?"

I nodded as a response.

I know it's him. The silver eyed man who saved me 5 years ago.

And he saved me again.

"You saved me again" I whispered just enough for him to hear me.

I wanted to ask him badly, not that I'm not thankful for his saving, but I'm really confused why did he saved me?

"Why?" I asked still hugging my knees,

But what he answered made me look at him and confused me more, he was at the other side of the bed, reading a book while the only light that gives him is the lampshade on his side on where the side table was placed.

"Cause your special"

Am I?

"Anyway, you we're unconscious for four days in total, I know you are hungry, here is a meal for you, and it's already past 8 in the evening" he said then closed the book and handed me a tray filled with delicious food.

Now that made my tummy grumble.

I thanked him and started to eat the food quietly.

The moment I finish my food, I laid my back at the headboard and sighed in contentment. Then a smile was finally formed through my lips, I haven't tasted such food for the last five years of my life.

"Why am I unconscious for four days? How did it happen?" I asked him.

"Actually before you went unconscious last time, you were asleep for a day when I entered here, I was about to check on you, and your neck, I was shocked to see you conscious so I just stared at you for a moment, when I sat beside you, I know you haven't gain you energy yet and you look pale, then you whispered something..."

"Silver" I continued.

"Yeah it was silver, then you went unconscious again and woke up 3 days after." He explained and chuckled

"You were unconscious because of too much blood lost" he seriously added

"I transferred blood in you yesterday." He added again and get the tray out of the bed and place it in the side table near him.

Transferred me blood? Alam niya blood type ko? How?

"I tested your blood" he answered the question in my head, as if he can read them.

I nod at him then silence.

"I'm Marcus Alexander Lusica by the way"

Lusica? There are only one clan that is known. It can't be him. I mean yes this room is huge and all, but that's not possible right? Why would a count save me?

"Lusica? Are you from the royalty?" I asked out of confusion,

"A count" he said as if it wasn't a big deal.

My eyes widened in disbelief.

He look at me confusingly.

"Don't give me that face, it's not as if it's a big deal, that's just a title" he said.

"well it is, your highness" I answered him with courtesy, he is a count! I must act how I should have acted, I can be put behind bars if I didn't acknowledge him and his position in this country.

I move out of the bed.

I can't be near him, I must keep my distance from him.

"Please, I'm tired being called and treated like that" he said as he reached for my hand.

My heart went wild the moment our skin touched.

I froze.

How can he have such an effect in me like this?

"I don't want you to treat me as a member of the royal hierarchy, I want you to treat me just like an ordinary person." He pleaded again, that made me look into his eyes.

And here I am, thinking all royalties are the same, cocky, thick-faced, and ill-mannered.

I guess not all birds, have the same feathers

I came back sitting at the bed and hugged my legs again, and he finally let go of my hand

"I'm Estefania Keannea Balthazar-Grecian, the daughter of the deceased Estefan Minrod Grecian, and Kassandra Nina Balthazar, your highness" I introduce myself to him, feeling awkward.

Who wouldn't be? I'm alone with the Count in a room, and for a fact, that he is too close to me, in the bed. alone. with him.

What does he want from me?

Will he sell me, like what other nobles do?

Am I going to be a slave to pay his kindness to me?

Or will I be his blood-slave?

"What does a Count want from me? I'm no longer a noble" I asked him still not looking at him.

"Those monster took everything from me, my family and my wealth, I don't have anything to repay your kindness to me, your higness" I added bitterly, still hugging my knees.

"You will stay a noble as long as you have the Balthazar-Grecian in your blood and in your name."

It was just a name now, "I'm the last Balthazar-Grecian here in Astrid, and it's not possible." I said, and laid my back at the headboard and stared at the ceiling of the room.

I've been living with my own for 5 years straight, with no contact to any of my relatives.

I waited for them to take me, but no one did.

I live alone and live like a commoner now, way too far from being a noble

With my savings, I was able to apply for college, buy myself foods, and pay my bills.

But the money wasn't enough to support me for a year

I have to sell our mansion in Romanda, and move here in Hope city, trying my luck here, I transferred school in Astrid Kingdom University waaaaaay to different from my Elite University back then.

School at morning till 2pm and work from 2:30 till 8:15 in the evening, after my shift, I have to walk my way home from my work to save money.

4 years later, I graduated finally, and months after my graduation I am able to get a stable job in a publishing company.

1 year of working, I am now able to feed myself 3 times a day, unlike before, I can't even eat 2 full meals in a day.

People would constantly asked me what happened to me, and why I am not a noble anymore, and would laugh at me because of my social standing now.

It's humiliating of course, but I have to ignore them, and focus on my career.

I sighed as I remember what I've been through after that horrible night.

I am able to stand on my own now.

"Yes, you are the last Balthazar-Grecian here, but not in the entire world." He said after a long silence between us.

"If you are giving me false hope, your highness, please I'm begging you, stop. It's been years and no Balthazar nor Grecian knocked on my door after what happened 5 years ago, after you saved me" my voice cracked as I say those words.

I look at his silver eyes, and saw pity in them, then a tear fell down.

Please don't pity me.

I admit, I still hope that one day, someone will come to my house and told me they are my family.

I closed my eyes trying to step the tears from falling, but they won't stop.

Then I felt something soft in my cheeks.

I opened my eyes and saw the man beside me wiping my tears away with his thumb.

"Let go of the past Fania, it's not healthy." he said with a low masculine voice contradicting to his baby face.

I look at him confusingly.

Why is he doing all of this?

"It's all in the past now, you have to move on."

Maybe he's right,

Maybe I should have move on,

Maybe I should let my family, have their peaceful rest.

I stared at his beautiful face, examining every feature he has,

From his thick black eyebrows,

To his round silver eyes,

To his straight lashes,

To his small cute nose,

Up to his pink kissable lips.

He is indeed handsome.

I smiled a little, held his hand which is still in my cheeks, and say my outmost gratitude to the man who saved me.

"Thank you for saving me 5 years ago, if it wasn't because of you, I might not be able to be here, surviving. And thank you for saving me again that night. You have saved my life twice, and yet, I have nothing to return for your kindness, I'm lucky you were the one who's there, if it wasn't you, I might be a dead meat by now being savoured by vampires."

"y-you remember me?" he asked, he look shocked.

I nodded.

"How can I forgot those silver eyes, and hair of the same man who saved me 5 years ago and 4 days ago?" I answered him chuckling.

How can I forgot those eyes that captured my heart that night?

Then those confused face, lit.

He smiled at me.

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