10

As we walk down the hall, I realise something new.

There are candles designated at different sections, particularly next to paintings.

Old paintings that seemed to have dated back to the 16th century.

And I am thinking...

What if I was right?

What if he really was a vampire?

I mean, I already got the cold hand part down and he reads minds...

Do vampires read minds?

Shut up subconscious.

When we finally reach the end of the hall, I take in the breathtaking span of space that one could call a literal ball room in front of me.

All around, the walls were made of glass, something I had shockingly never noticed, with the floor made of some sort of mosaic tile letting the light coming from outside reflect in it with the walls sky blue, chandeliers hanging from different parts of the ceilings, artefacts strewn nearly all over the place...

And of course, a stairway that seemed to reach the heavens.

I am still staring in awe above me as I hear a voice say "You can't possibly think you could use them"

I turn to the butler who is staring at me like he wished he could slap the local town girl in me while I say "Of course not, could you just.. could you just hand this over to him?"

"No" He says so curtly though it actually sounds like a rebuff "This way Miss" then he is off again.

I stare at his back, then on impulse stick my tongue out at him before I see him turn and I retract my tk bye back in my mouth and hurriedly run after him.

This time we get into an elevator, and I can hear classical music playing in it

Ah, typical.

This boy who I am sure is really a vampire was probably older than this town!

When we finally reach the last flour, which to my shock or maybe not really, the third floor of the house, the door opens and the butler is off again, walking down a hall of rooms with me still seeing different story of paintings here.

Angels and Demons most especially...

And of course...

The picture of a water lily with a black and white background...

"Miss Walker?"

I look away from the painting as the butler who is now standing infront of a door that is opened says "Right this way"

I walk up to him, and stop at the door, peering into the room before slowly entering it.

It is....

Not like anything I had seen.

The walls were white, the right part of it, and the left, black, but the one wall with his bed directly infront of it was ash with black and write spirals, and so was his bed....

And to top it all....

Butterflies...

There were insignias of butterflies at every corner of the room.

"Is it to your taste?"

It is that british voice, this time devoid of any game or humour...

Just a need to please.

I see him standing at a glass wall, wearing a white double coat, though backing me, with black trousers and shoes.

His hair is shining white, and he has his gloves on...

Weird.

"You may leave Simeon"

The butler bows and leaves the room.

I stand there, at the door, knowing he can see my reflection on the wall though I cannot see his before I hear him say "I have a thing for butterflies you know.... Such peculiar creatures. Not a bee, not a bird. Free and beautiful. Always believed to flutter around good people and princesses...."

Then he turns, a small smile on his face as his eyes are slang now "Don't you think so Liliana?"

It is like  the wind is knocked out of me as I hold unto the door.

Now, I knew Pops had been going on and on about how gorgeous this male was.

His hair is all over his face, since it was white, like a veil making his green eyes suddenly shout at me from where I was.

He has cheeks, a bit puffy, but there, something that would make you want to kiss them...

A small nose, like one that could nuzzle into your skin and not make you think of anything else...

Small eyes that looked like almonds...

Skin that seemed to glitter under the gaze of the little light in the room..

That stupid birthmark...

And those lips..

Red....

Small...

He looked like a bloody cherub!

"Are you okay?" There is apparent concern in his face as he begins walking to me as I suddenly shout "No!"

Of course, the outburst freezes him in his step as he is confused, and so am I but I look around the room, for a desk or anything I could keep the basket and be off before I spot one, quicky walking and setting it there before turning and gasping.

He was suddenly standing infront of me, his body just an inch away from mine, as he towers over me again.

Though I am just five feet and some mere inches, his slim build that made him look like some hot ladder was not helping in making my face not redden.

He smells of... Flowers, roses, maybe and mint and something else that made me want to swoon as I feel his fingers brush on my face making my breath hitch from the cool of it as he touches my hair through his gloves hair "I liked it more white... Looked like a little elf"

Elf"

I make some sort of grunt about that comment and his eyes fall on mine.

In that instant, I feel like I am being sucked into a void and on impulse, I shut my eyes close.

I hear him make an 'oh' and say "What are you doing?"

"I won't let you hypnotise me" I blu out.

I hear him chuckle and his minty mouth breath reaches my nose "Why would you think you could do that?"

"Because you're a vampire"

I wait, expecting him to laugh, or maybe throw my rebuff off but I do not hear him anymore, or even hear him and I open my eyes, only to see him sitting on the chair next to desk, his legs crossed as he bites into a cupcake "I am happy to see you awake"

I stare at him, at loss of words and he says "Vampires don't eat human food Liliana, you can let that go"

As if that slaps me back to the present, I say "I don't know what made me say that"

He shrugs, a small smile on his face "You looked cute though"

I feel colour rush into my cheeks immediately, and just like that, I remember Tyler.

Not that I was cheating...

But it felt like I was.

And I knew I had to leave

Fast.

"Thank you... For yesterday" I say.

"Don't say that" He says "I would never get tired of watching you"

I raise my eyebrow at that "Were you being serious though? That you stare at me while I sleep?"

He gives me a small smile "It was a quote from some ripoff of Romeo and Juliet"

"What ripoff?"

"Curious aren't you?" He asks, clearly amused.

I feel my mouth move and for some reason, I can tell this is just a plan for him to make me stay longer so I say with a smile "Thank you, but I would like it if you left me alone"

"No"

Now I am pissed "Why the fuck not?"

He shrugs "You're mine"

I stare at him like he's crazy "What gave you that stupid idea?"

He chuckles "Don't fight it. Even your Pops agrees"

"I am not some dumb thing you and him are allowed to make decisions for"

"You have been given enough time to make decisions for yourself and you made mockery of that free will and nearly killed yourself"

"The fuck are you to judge me?!"

He sighs here, like he is talking to a child that refuses to see sense "You are my lover, the more you realise, the safer for everyone around you"

I stare at him more and come to a conclusion.

He. Is. Sick!

Probably some rich brat that thinks he can walk over us town folk!

"You're crazy" I snap and begin to walk away but I feel my body being pulled into his, and he is suddenly standing next to me, his eyes over mine as he says "I would always be with you... Iana"

The way he says that, makes shivers run over my body and I don't know if it's the good one or bad one but I don't stay to find out.

I just jerk my hand away and storm off.