3. Near death

When I realized the door wouldn't open, I leaned against the door and slowly descended. I hugged my knees to my chest and cried. I didn't come this far just to die. I had taken all the precautions, followed all the rules, and isolated myself. It was so unfair that all that was happening. Someone had locked me from the outside. Someone with a vendetta against me. But why? I didn't even know anyone and no one even knew my name.

There was only one person who I knew that I could think of. It explained the staring at the dinner table. But why did she want me dead? I hadn't done anything to her. If anything, I had been kind and comforted her when she lost her best friend.

I wanted nothing more than to put my hands around her neck and watch as her eyes lost the life and the fight in her. I was becoming dark and I didn't like it. It wasn't who I was. I shouldn't have been fantasizing about taking someone's life.

There was that rush of wind again and I pulled myself to my feet. I walked to the window to double-check that I had closed it. I had. Before I could dwell on it any longer, the door opened. The relief in my chest was one I had never felt before. I hurried out of the room to see who my savior was but there was no one outside.

The halls were empty which meant people were in their rooms. I tried running, ignoring the pain in my ankle. I reached the servant quarters and entered. There were guards everywhere and they looked at me in anticipation, waiting for the clock to strike 7 so they could have their way with me.

From the look on their faces, I guessed that it was near. I hurried, not caring that there was a limp in my run. I made it into my room and heaved a sigh of relief. I panted as I leaned on my door. My hands were shaking and my adrenaline had come down. It gave me a chance to feel the pain in my ankle.

I limped and sat down on my bed. When I lifted my dress and looked at the ankle, I gasped. The spot had turned purple. It would be hard to walk the next day. I just hoped that I would manage with all the chores ahead the next day.

My stomach growled reminding me that I hadn't eaten. I was hungry and I had to wait the next day for breakfast. I sighed and convinced myself that if I slept, the hunger would be long forgotten. I changed into my nightdress and got into bed. I was going to confront the girl the next day. With that in mind, I slipped into a deep sleep.

***

" Leela…Leela.."

I heard and jerked awake. Sweat was trickling down my body and my heart was beating very fast. I couldn't remember what my dream was about but I knew that it was a nightmare. It felt surreal. I clutched my chest in an effort to calm myself.

There was the scent again. The metallic and musky scent was lingering in the air. This time, it wasn't faint. It was so strong that it overpowered my senses. The tingling on my skin was stronger than before and my center ached with desire. What was happening?

I stood up and went to see if my door was still locked and it was. If at all there had been someone in the room, they would have had to break down the door to get in. I knew that someone couldn't fit in the ventilation holes. They were sealed with mesh wire anyway.

I sighed and put my hands on my head. It was aching for all the thinking I was doing that early in the morning. I got in bed and closed my eyes to try and sleep. A thought crossed my mind and I opened them very fast.

I got out of my sheets and lifted my leg to look at my ankle. It was completely healed. There were no signs of bruising from the previous day. My eyes widened in surprise. I wiggled it around to see if pain would shoot through but it didn't. If I hadn't felt the pain, I would have said the bruising was just a figment of my imagination.

There had been someone in the room. Who was it? A guard? All I knew was that it was a vampire. Their abilities were the only explanation for all that was happening. Whoever it was had potentially saved my life.

I looked at the top of the drawer and I saw something I hadn't seen before. I picked the paper and read the contents. The dim light that came from the night light that they kept on to illuminate all the rooms enabled me to see.

I'm watching over you

~ your secret admirer

I read out loud. My heart started beating fast again. Secret admirer? How could I have a secret admirer when I was a slave in a castle full of vampires? It must have been one of the guards. There was no other explanation for it. I tried to master the faces of the guards to figure out who it could be but I came up with nothing. I should have noticed someone's lingering gaze. I was very observant and that was a trait of mine that I really loved.

There were blood stains on the paper. I guessed that it was my blood. A feeling in my gut told me that it was my blood. I should have been scared but I was deeply intrigued. The person had such a weird way of showing that they fancied me.

I looked under my bed to see if there was anyone but it was empty. I sighed and got into bed but I couldn't sleep. I tossed and turned until the signature bang on the door of my room reverberated through the room.

I got out of bed and got ready. My stomach kept growling and I couldn't wait to eat breakfast. It wasn't exactly a buffet but it would hold my stomach until lunch. At least that's what I hoped. I got out of my room and stood outside my door.

Madam Athena came as usual and gave us instructions. I hurried to the kitchen after she left, eager to put something in my stomach. I was among the first ones there. I picked a slice of bread and tea and sat in my usual seat.

Soon, the table was filled with people. I kept glancing at each person, waiting for the girl I wanted so badly to hurt. She came to the table with a satisfied smile on her face. When she saw me, the smile was wiped off her face and she started looking nervous.

I gave her a deathly glare that indicated that she wouldn't get away with what she did. She hurriedly ate her breakfast and stood up. I downed the remaining food and followed after her.

I caught up with her and grabbed her arm painfully.

" What is wrong with you? I could have died yesterday. " I said in an angry tone.

" I don't know what you are talking about, " she tried to defend but her eyes were not on me.

She was clearly lying.

" Why did you try to get me killed? I was nice to you. "

" Help! Help me! Help me! " She screamed, and I let her go immediately.

She looked at me with a smug smile on her face. Before I could run, people had already arrived. She contorted her face to that of panic.

" She tried to kill me. She is having an affair with a guard. I threatened to expose her and she wanted to kill me. She said soon she'll be one of them." She lied.

" She's lying-'' I started to defend myself but I was cut off.

" She has bite marks on her neck. Look! "

I touched the spot on my neck that she had pointed and sure enough, there were two bite marks. Panic bubbled in my chest.

" What's going on here? " Madam Athena showed up and asked.

I knew then that my days in that castle and on this earth were over. The punishment for unauthorized association with a vampire was death.