His Eyes...

Awestriken, and trapped in a daze, Marlowe had her eyes glued to the mystical being in whose arms she found herself.

She was unable to utter a word as she gazed into those eyes that snatched her breath, rendering her dumb for a while.

She was unable to gather her wits, or even think.

She felt hypnotized, enthralled, or worse…compelled.

Her heart pounded against her chest in a rapid rate that got her terrified; but it wasn't from fear…it was from something else, something she could not quite point out, but she was sure this beautiful pair of red eyes had something to do with.

No! It had absolutely everything to do with it.

It took Marlowe some dazed minutes before she got to realize that she was in the arms of a man.

From the masculine woodsy smell that exuded his form, and his firm and strong hand around her thin waist, and the other one placed on the tree right behind her, where she had been pressed against.

She flinched slightly and further pressed herself against the huge tree—trying to maintain appropriate distance.

Yet she was too muddled to catch the look of amusement in the man's eyes.

Just then, it clicked. Marlowe instantly ran to her senses.

Red eyes! Could he…?

Her eyes widened tremondously with palpable fright dazzling in them. She quickly withdrew herself by crouching below his arm and escaping his proximity.

"Vampire," she whispered beneath her breath. But it was loud enough to be heard.

The subject of her words however gazed at her with a hard frown that expressed his displeasure for her word.

Making Marlowe shudder from the look. All sorts of negative thoughts came to her mind that instant.

It wasn't the first time she was seeing a vampire…in fact. She had seen numbers of them. But from a distance, and never for once had she interacted with one.

She wasn't that suicidal.

Besides, they were hard to spot as they blended in naturally with the humans in the Kingdom.

But this one, he's…very obvious.

As if fear could grip her more than it already has, Marlowe stumbled backwards with the thought, 'Could it be that he's thirsty? Is that why he was in the forest?'

'Had he just saved her for her to be served as his meal instead?'

Marlowe's acheing body trembled from the thought with dread clear in her eyes and twisted expression.

"You don't have to remind me," came the reply from the man few steps away from her.

Surprisingly, his voice had a tinge of magnetism in it, and not as she had imagined.

It's deep, alluring and unexpectedly captivating.

More petrified, she further advanced away from him trying not to make it so obvious; but perhaps, she might have forgotten that she's dealing with a Vampire.

The red-eyed man narrowed his eyes at her movement. He didn't make a move, but instead told her, "That's the wrong path,"

Instantly, she stopped.

Is he trying to help her?

She was doubtful.

Seeing her halt, the man realeased a breath. "I'm Lothan, royal guard, of the Royal Castle of Valcresh. You need not be afraid for I have no intentions of harming you," he paused. The was a glitch in his words when his eyes went to her petite figure, a slytherin smile appeared at the corner of his lips. "atleast not yet." he jested.

Marlowe faltered at the end of his sentence, not willing to believe it was a joke.

Her shaky iris were glued on him firmly, as though watching out for any slight movement that may come from his side; so she'll be able to flee immediately.

But, can she outrun a creature such as he?

Lothan, as he'd introduced, took a meticulous step forward; careful not to alarm her. "Lady," he called. "let me take you out of here first. If not, those beast might come running when they get a whiff of your scent." he advised. His expression impenetrable—not giving away any thoughts of his.

Still very much apprehensive, Marlowe stiffly stood at the same spot. Eyeing him nervously. Her bones quivered beneath her flesh, and her heartbeat, which seemed to be drumming for a different reason earlier on, was now in a race with her breath, out of sheer terror of what might unfold next.

"Don't come any closer!" she immediately yelled when she realized that he had slowly began to approach her.

"S—stay th—there," she stuttered with an audible crack in her tone.

Lothan exhaled again. Humans! Even when they're offered helped, they're still always foolish and terrified to accept.

"Please, stay—"

Lothan frowned harder when he heard the choke in her voice and realized that she had already begun to shed tears.

He rolled his eyes and sighed for the umpteenth time.

"Like I said, I really have no intentions of hurting you. So if you'll, please follow me," he said, gesturing the path opposite where he stood with his hand.

Lothan came to the realization that it was his fault.

If he knew she was so faint hearted, he wouldn't have made that expensive joke.

But…he's not going to apologize. He never does.

Yet Marlowe still sheltered immense doubt in her mind.

Her scared gaze, clouded by tears, scrutinized the man in her veneer.

Was he really here to help her?

The more she pondered on it, the more unbelievable it sounded.

Her eyes took in his attires.

He had mentioned that he's a royal guard of the Royal Palace, then why did he not have the uniform on?

Even the aura he emanated told a different tale of his own.

The man was perfectly built, she could see his muscles protruding from his shirt clearly—befitting of a royal guard.

Yet there was this imposing air shrouding him, that made her not what to believe him.

His eyes…

The mysteriousness was too glaring for her to ignore, yet whoever he was…that did not matter—for now.

The most crucial thing at the moment is…can she trust a Vampire?