17 Vampire Diaries 15: I'll Be Your Escort

The wind blows too cold and frigid. It gives me goosebumps every time it embraces my soul.

I am standing alone on a closed compartment, waiting for Emilia and the man she tells me about earlier.

"Where are you, Emilia? Why did you leave me here?"

I murmur as I watch the goldfish swimming in an aquarium.

The room is quite huge. There's a maidservant who brings me a glass of blood and a slice of raw meat.

I don't know the right thing to do. Either I drink the blood without tasting it or I'll pretend that I'm not yet hungry.

However, my body is urging me to taste the blood. I bite my lips to control myself from reaching for the glass.

"No! Don't drink it!"

I look like a crazy woman who does not even know what to do. I close my eyes as I try to reach for it until the door opens.

I almost fall from my seat when a man in black enters.

"Ahh... I..."

I am astonished and stunned upon seeing him with my naked eyes. Emilia clear her throat shortly which makes me to blink my eyes.

"Ohh! That's too embarrassing!" I murmur.

"You two seems startled! What's wrong?"

Emilia is talking to the two of us but she's looking into my way. There's a mischievous smile on her lips as she walks closer and sits on beside me.

I said, "Umm. I think we should go now! Since I don't have anything to help you!"

I want to walk away from them but I know the man is looking into my way. He's holding a suitcase but later on, he put it on the table.

"Emilia, is she the woman you are talking about since I went onto the other dimensions?"

He asks Emilia as if I am not seating on a chair and gazing at his cold hazel eyes.

"Yes! But, I've expected already that you are familiar with her name, Thalia."

"Thalia? The Vampire King's former girlfriend?"

I stare at him and I feel that he possess a strong energy.

It is too vital but he is vulnerable to something.

Emilia looks at me and murmurs, "Say a word before your saliva smells like a rotten fruit!"

I smile bitterly and said, "I am just thinking what to say! You know that I'm still sleepy but before the sun shines, the Vampire King summons me."

"So, tell us the truth Thalia. My question is maybe personal but I don't want to be entertained by Jack's past lover."

The man walks closer to us. As he getting nearer, he notices that the glass of blood is untouched.

I am nervous at the moment. But I try to be calm and steady despite of the uneasiness I feel. "I don't think discussing about my personal life is out of the picture. If you don't mind, can I as you about something?"

Emilia abruptly turns her head and raise her eyebrows at me. She's trying to stop me but I don't want to.

The man gives me an abrupt, genuine smile. He seems amazing the way I talk with him.

"Of course! Forgive me for asking you about your past life. Emilia talks a lot about you from the moment she went onto my office."

He pauses for a minute and added,  "Go ahead."

"Are you happy?"

Emilia secretly pinch my waist but I still waiting for his answer.

The man is about to utter a word when she interrupted him. "Please do understand that Thalia is tired! I know, she's up to something but–"

"I am. How about you?"

"I am t–"

I don't have the chance to continue when Emilia pull my shirt and whisper, "What are you saying? Can you ask him another question or can you even act like a noblewoman?"

Her voice is too low but it is enough for me to understand.

She's clenching her teeth while lecturing me in front of a jaw-dropping man.

"Anyway, do you want anything else? As what I can see, Thalia did not touch her food."

"Yes!"

"No!"

He narrows his eyes when I and Emilia answer him differently.

But instead of getting angry, he said. "Alright! I know what you need."

"Gray!"

Emilia raises her voice. She is breathing heavily as if there's something happens.

"Don't mind me, Emilia. I know she does not like me, not Jack. She's up into someone's else since that incidents happened."

"What do you mean?"

I look at him intently his eyes, but why do I can't see anything on it.

He's controlling my power!

Gray is manipulating my ability by his cold, soul fetching power.

He stands and steps closer to me. Smiling genuinely that makes my heart beast so fast.

The grim reaper stop behind me. I am trying to hold my breath until he whispers into my ear, "You are once my sunshine, Thalia. But, Jack steal you  from me!" 

"He's an illusionist who owns every woman in this place."

"Wh–what do you mean?"

I ask him with fear in my heart.

Gray rubs his hand and walk back to his seat. He's still looking at me until the playful smile on his lips vanish and replace by a poker face.

"Emilia, what do you want?"

I know that the question he asks is for me. Yet, he uses Emilia to deflect attention to other things.

Emilia looks nervous as she pinches my waist again. She said, "Ah. Gray, I think you should ask Thalia."

"Why me? You are the one who brings me here, so you better face the consequences!" I roll my eyes at her which makes Emilia smile at me bitterly.

If only I am allowed to burst into a peal of loud laughter, I did it.

However, I don't want Emilia to be disappointed. She's the only one who talks to me after knowing that I am a vampire at the moment.

"Forgive me for acting such a spoiled brat but, I don't want to drink that. I... I want a cup of tea if you have Mr Gray."

I tell him that I am not on the mood to taste the nasty smell of blood.

Gray call the maidservant and whispers something.

"Hey! What are you doing? Be nice to Gray or else you..."

"Or else what?"

Emilia gulp and look away. She perhaps sees that Gray is looking into our way silently.

I cross my legs and arms. While waiting for my request, but I feel like going to the comfort room.

"Emilia?"

I call her name shortly but she nods without looking on me.

"Emilia!"

I did not notice that I raised my voice which caught Gray's attention. He said, "You need something else?"

"I... I am just thinking where is the way to the comfort room?"

I smile at him embarrassingly but still, Emilia remains quiet.

Gray stood up and offers his hand. He said, "Please, come with me. I'll accompany you."

"You will accompany me?! But–"

"No buts, Thalia! Hurry up and accept Gray's offer!"

I hate Emilia so much!

I stomp my feet and reach for his cold, soft hand.

He said, "I'll be your escort, Thalia."

Gray stare at me as if he's trying to read my eyes. He's taller than me as I need to look up to see his haze eyes too.

For a moment, I am mystified. I never expected that he possesses a peculiar power of weakening a woman's knees by his beauty.

He said, "Shall we?"

"Yes."

I reply shortly.