Chapter 17

Alicia was surprised by the mention of her name that rolled out of Asher's tongue, should she even say she was surprised, she was horrified. How could he say she was the person he has in mind when all he has done was punish her and make her do tedious works, ' was that his way of showing his affections?' Alicia asked herself as she looked over at Asher whose expression was damn serious, she cursed him inwardly.

"Her?" Oswald asked and a light chuckle escaped from his lips, "Don't be stupid Asher, you think I would believe you, this woman is nothing compared to Isabel, although she is beautiful the same couldn't be said if she is smart or as intelligent as Isabel, Asher I want someone who can support your decisions or perhaps if you don't make the right decision she would be able to guide you properly and this one doesn't look qualified" Oswald said and Alicia couldn't help but frown at his derogatory remarks, how dare he say that she was dumb! Ever since she had started knowing how to read and write, she was considered as the smartest so why would anyone simply tell her now that she isn't qualified.

"Alicia what are you doing? do you perhaps want him to get you married to his son? that's not happening in any way!" Alicia said to herself as she smiled at the man who just insulted her, she shouldn't be angry at him instead she should be grateful that he was rejecting her for his son.

She wouldn't want to spend her day in that monster's bedroom, the worst was even sleeping on the same bed with him! she cringed in fear at the thought.

"Father you can't say that about her, how about I give you a week to get to know her, she is-"

Oswald raised his hand in the air like he was tired of listening to his son, he beckoned on Asher to come forward and the arrogant brat did, "The duke's mind still isn't clear that you don't have any hand in the missing gem in that Gerume of a land, Asher if you get married to his daughter, his thoughts would be eradicated completely and think about it, Isabel is a nice and sweet girl, you'll get to like her" Oswald stated.

"What's my business if he thinks I have a hand when I don't actually have"Spat Asher irritably, the fact that he was getting married and especially to the duke's daughter wasn't welcoming to him at all.

"You are quite stubborn aren't you? this would be the last time I'm going to say it, you are getting married to Isabel so get prepared to welcome your new wife!" Reiterated Oswald, "The venue is here and your marriage is taking place in two days time" He said before turning his back against his son who looked bewildered that his father whom he loved and never go against was doing this to him, especially the one that concerns his happiness. How would he live with someone he doesn't even have an iota of love for, for the rest of his lives?

"Don't worry child, there's plenty of time to fall in love after marriage" Said the duke happily that his daughter had gotten what she wanted, all he wanted was his daughter's happiness and he doesn't care if he has to die to obtain it.

Asher glared at the man who made his way out of his house followed by that his daughter whom he was sick and tired of seeing, even if she was all pretty, he didn't and would never like her.

The way the girl walked happily as if she was on top of the world made Asher furious as he grabbed a glass of cup and threw it on the floor to calm his raging self, but still not he wasn't satisfied. He needed to spill blood!.

His eyes slowly started to turn red and Asher was soon losing control over himself, the maids that were cleaning up the mansion saw his present state and quickly hurried to save their lives except for Alicia who stood like she was a statue rooted to the ground, she was unaware of the things changing around her.

Her eyes darted to the side when she saw Asher walked swiftly to grab one of the maids, he slitted the throat with his long fingernail and craned his neck towards where the blood was spilling to start sucking uncontrollably until the person's hand dropped to the side and Alicia knew the person was as good as dead.

The mansion slowly turned into a slaughter house as Asher had grabbed hold of the maids working for him, he separated heads from the bodies, removed arms and drank blood like all his life depended on it, Alicia couldn't bear to watch the sight of people dying so she went to a safe place to hide scared that he might come for her next and suck her dry, the images of head being torn apart flashed in her head, Alicia had to shook her head to get rid of those images pestering her.

Asher was on the seventh round or was it the seventh human that he had killed now but still couldn't stop himself from wanting more blood, and the blood he wanted now was one that was sweeter and fresher. The ones he drank didn't contribute in quenching his taste at all, it was like they fanned the flames of hunger brewing up in him, his red eyes turned darker when he couldn't find anyone, maybe they went to hide for their lives, but that was fine with him, Hide and seek was his favorite game!

Roaming around the mansion, his eyes caught sight of a shadow that hid behind the cupboard and his mouth twisted into a smirk as he walked gently to catch his prey, he could feel the heartbeat palpitating but that didn't stop him from moving forward, it was more like it was calling him.

Asher tilted his head to the side and walked slowly with a devilish smile plastered across his lips, he looked like a zombie who was ready to kill the person he was targeting now, reaching the cupboard, he bent down to whisper, "Hello" and a slight chuckle escaped from his lips when he grabbed the person's hand but what he didn't expect was that he was hit with a vase across his head.

Alicia dropped the piece of the shattered vase from her hand to start running, but she didn't even reach half of the room when she was already caught by the monster, she turned to look at his eyes which was a darker red now and his nails and fangs had elongated, he looked madder than before.