Punishment

Aselia's POV

I got up from the bed and decided to rummage through the cupboard. As they hadn't allowed me to bring any luggage I needed a change of clothes. To my surprise, the cupboard was filled with various apparel, ranging in different sizes. All were brand new because they had tags intact.

I took out a blue hoodie and black jeans and placed them on the bed. I didn't want to attract any attention to myself so I chose the plainest clothes possible. I stripped myself of my white sundress and threw it on the chair. Then I took off my shoe and removed the block heel. There was a small vial placed carefully inside containing a golden liquid. I took out a few drops and rubbed them between my hands and then spread them all over my body. The function of this liquid was to mask my scent.

I tied my hair in a bun and put on the hoodie and pants and covered my head. There I was all set to head out. I slowly opened the door and took a peek in the corridor, it was empty. Heaving a sigh of relief I tiptoed across the corridor, my heartbeat growing faster every second as my palms began to sweat a bit. I was in a vampire's den, one misstep and I will be in heaps of trouble.

But my determination to find him and seek revenge kept me going. I had reached the end of the corridor, and faint music and murmuring of hundreds of voices could be heard from the other side of the door. Placing my hand on the door handle I took a deep breath and slowly pushed it down and gradually opened the door.

I turned around so I was facing the corridor and with my back toward the door, I slightly pushed it open a bit more. Still, with my back toward the door, I slowly entered the hall so no one would see my face. Music had grown louder but thankfully lights were dimmed so it was difficult to see at long range.

I entered the hall with my head down and slowly walked toward a corner and turned my head to face the hall. It felt like I was in a whole different world. The hall was full of vampires and humans, with the former feasting on the latter. Some of them were dancing others were drinking. From the way, most of them were dressed it was safe to say that I had entered a high-profile party.

I continued to scan the hall, my eyes landed on Xiran. Thankfully, he was facing away from me talking to two vampires in three-piece suits. His long hair flowed behind him, there was no mistaking that hair. I needed to become more inconspicuous before I would get caught so I made my way to the bar and asked for a margarita. I was keeping my head low.

I kept searching the hall for him, he has to be here that's what the information told me that he attends parties like these in this specific city. The bartender served me my drink and I took a sip. Since my scent was masked and I was dressed so plainly with half my face hidden no one paid much heed to me.

Xiran was shaking hands with those two vampires, meaning he was about to move so I quickly turned my face toward the bar. I took my time to turn around but he was nowhere to be seen. Nor I could locate the man I was looking for, I believed he was not there. It would be wise to head back to my room before I was discovered so I gulped down the rest of my drink and got up.

As I turned around to head for the door I bumped into someone. Looking up I found myself staring into those calm grey eyes of Xiran, only to find they were not that calm anymore. There was a raging fire in them as his face exhibited a turmoil between anger and disappointment. My heart skipped a beat, damn he is going to be mad at me now.

He stepped closer to me and whispered: "Breaking rules results in punishment." Then he gently took my right hand and made his way to the door, dragging me behind him. He opened the door with his other hand and we entered the corridor.

Once the door closed behind him I tried to explain: "I...just wanted..."

He glanced toward me with a blank expression: "Shhh..." he placed his finger on his lips making me go all quiet. Once we reached the door to my room he pushed it open and we entered. He let go of my hand and turned around, taking slow steps he approached me like a predator. I stepped back involuntarily and my back was pressed against the door. He placed both his hands on the door, trapping me in his arms.

"What did I tell you about leaving this room?" His eyes bore into mine holding my gaze so I couldn't look away.

"That I am not to leave until you will allow it or will come to fetch me," I replied trying to avoid his sharp gaze, his eyes smouldering me as I could feel my face turning red.

"Hmm, then why did you?" He asked trying to remain calm.

"I was just curious to see a vampire party, I had never seen one before." He closed his eyes for a few seconds as if trying to maintain his composure. When he opened them again he appeared more in control of his emotions.

"There is a reason why I told you to stay in your room, these parties are dangerous especially for your kind. Do you have any idea what could have happened to you out there? Had they gotten your scent? Strangely, no one did maybe because there were lots of scents overlapping each other and yours is really faint right now. Still, you put yourself in danger without any reason. How are you so naive? I thought you were pretty clever." His face was more curious than angrier now.

"I was just intrigued. I apologise and I am sorry." I kept a straight face.

"Your attitude doesn't reflect that you are sorry and I told you if you will break my rules there will be consequences." A slight smile had crawled up on his perfect lips. My heart was fluttering in my chest to see what punishment he was going to endow on me.

"Fine, you can punish me." I sighed.

"Oh! I absolutely will and since it's your first time I will be lenient. Firstly, from now on you will cook my food and serve it to me. Secondly, you cannot sleep for two days. If you will sleep I will wake you up in ways you won't like." That slight smile had taken the form of an evil grin.

"Cook? I can't cook. I hate cooking." I blurted out without thinking. I could go days without sleeping because of my nightmares but cooking was the one thing I hated the most.

"Perfect, then it's a great opportunity to learn something new and improve yourself." He stepped even closer narrowing the gap between us without even touching a single hair on my body, which made me very uncomfortable. Ugggh, I wanted to scream but I just stood there staring into his eyes.

"I thought your punishment will be more physical." I finally replied because that would have been better. I would get a reason to hate him and I could bear physical punishments.

"No, sleeping is very physical in nature. Once you will be tired from all the cooking I am going to have you do. All you wish for will be 'Sleep' which I won't let you have. I am surprised you are not fazed by it but don't worry you will soon." His lips were almost about to touch my ear as he whispered. I closed my eyes in anticipation but he never actually touched me, instead removed his hands freeing me from his arm jail.

"I already told you I don't like sharing my girls and I don't ever put their lives in danger or inflict any kind of physical torture on them. What you did today jeopardised your safety. Don't ever do it again." His voice had suddenly taken a serious tone and I knew he wasn't joking around. I did indeed make a mistake by going out there. I needed to be more discreet in future.

Glancing back at him I caught him watching me softly as if trying to understand whatever was going on in my brain. I was never the one to take orders but I had to play along for a while, so I simply nodded.

"Good girl, time for your punishment." He sauntered over to the bed and took off his shoes and elegantly draped himself over the mattress with his elbow bent and his hand resting under his face supporting it in the air. While the other hand rested on his upright leg as his eyes were fixed on me. "You can't sleep why not have some fun," He eyed me from top to bottom, seductively, as I was rooted to the spot.