His Family

"Your mother?" She asked in sheer bewilderment. "How old is your mother now?"

Calixto was taken aback by Iris' question. He had no idea of his mother's age. He grew up seeing his mother as young, beautiful, and full of life. Not to mention, she didn't like telling people her age. She loves acting childish and she could pull it off since she has the look of a young girl.

Iris' puzzlement deepened when she saw the flash of confusion in the vampire's eyes.

"If you want me to look for your mother, you're going to tell me information about your mother, you, and your family. But, that's going to be a problem when you don't even want to tell me—us, your name."

"Calixto Stocker."

"What?"

She gave him a blank stare which he replied with a snort.

"Don't act stupid, Iris. You're not the same with those critters upstairs that you call family."

His mocking felt like a personal attack that Iris could not help but retorted, "you're asking me to help you find your family. Don't talk about mine!"

He scoffed. "You're naive if you think that those people care about you. You are nothing but an assurance to this family from mine."

Iris felt the cruelty of his words like kerosene that ignites the bitterness in her heart. He didn't have to tell her that she was nothing to those people upstairs. She knew because they made sure that she would not forget.

Now, this stupid vampire has to pick on her pain. He was asking her a favor and yet it seemed like it was a fight that he wanted.

She clenched her hands into a fist on either of her sides and narrowed her eyes at Calixto.

"Listen here, young master, I know my place in this house as well as with you. I am your meal that they had prepared for you so that you won't eat them."

Calixto stared at the young woman standing proud in front of him with a defiant stance. Her words were devoid of any emotion and he could not help but respect her. She's young but wasn't shackled with superficial things in this world. He approved of her attitude. She would be an excellent companion.

"Good. Now get to what I told you to do."

Iris pulled her mouth into a thin line as she narrowed her eyes towards Calixto. He's so annoying! But just like what she told Calixto, she knew her place. Thus, she went to her computer to do what she was told despite her unwillingness to do what she was asked to do.

She opened her desktop computer, waited for a few minutes, and typed in the search bar the vampire's name. Just like she was expecting, there was no Calixto Stocker that fits his description. However, she was surprised to find out that a Stocker that originated from North America owned a lot of businesses across the country and abroad.

She glanced over her slender shoulder and looked at Calixto who was now peering over her shoulder without her noticing that when she turned her face, her lips almost touched his sharp jawline.

Iris swallowed the saliva that pooled on her throat when she saw Calixto's long lashes, kissing his prominent cheekbones. His eyes were hollowed like he hadn't been sleeping for days but the green irises on his eyes were so mesmerizing that Iris found herself staring at his face in amazement.

Now, she understands the way Monette acts every time she sees Calixto. He has this mesmerizing charm. His face with its perpetual scowl can be called beautiful even when he's a man.

"Stop looking at me, Iris. Find more information about this corporation." He said without taking his eyes from the computer screen. He didn't really have to tear his eyes away from the screen to know that Iris was on him. He could feel her heated gazes. They were like a soft breeze in the summertime.

Iris blushed and tore her gaze away from Calixto. She saw the name that he was pointing at on the computer screen—Stocker Corporation.

When Iris clicked the link, she was directed to a familiar site. It's the same name and logo that was etched on her microscope. The Stocker Corporation is a well-known name in medical equipment.

"You think they are your family?" She asked in a hushed tone of voice. If Calixto is indeed part of the Stocker Corporation, it only means one thing. He's filthy rich! Then, she remembered the duffel bag overflowing with cash that her mother was counting and she scolded herself for even doubting.

Calixto didn't answer Iris' question. Instead, he pulled a chair and sat down. "Find everything that you can find about the company and its owners."

"You know," she said as her fingers danced over the keyboard. "This kind of company won't be easy to find personal information."

"Stop complaining. Just find out what you can find next and wait for my next order."

Iris rolled her eyes inwardly, thinking how this old vampire can be so annoying. She kept her mouth shut and started searching for all the information that she deemed of importance, downloading them as she combed the internet so she could print the information and give it to Calixto.

She didn't know until when she could control herself with how close Calixto was to her. She noticed a musky scent coming from him. It smelled of fresh rain and a bit of forest scent. She remembered the scent of a bamboo forest when she went to a zoo when she was in eighth grade. Her school had a school trip to see the koalas and she got fascinated that koalas can only eat a specific variety of bamboo.

She lowered her lashes and stole a glance over her shoulder and realized that Calixto was like a koala. He could only eat a certain type of blood—hers!

She didn't know if she should worry or be glad that for the first time in her life, she has a purpose and importance. Even if her purpose is to be a blood donor.