Temptation In The Dark

CHAPTER 3

I'd only met him once that snowy day, but i hadn't stopped thinking of him since. Now the sweet scent of spring led me to him.

i saw a cart filled with flowers, and there he was beside it.

Finally!

I walked over to him and his crimson gaze slowly turned towards me.

"I knew you'd find me again." he smile

"What?"

"I'd been hoping to see you again ever since that snowy day. I thought maybe if i keep wishing, I'd find you. Thank you for making my wish come true."

he had such a happy smile on his face, I was speechless for a moment, But then regained my composure.

"I've been searching for you evrr since, too. You gave me that huge bouquet but i never got the chance to thank you."

What can i given him to show my appreciation? hmm.

I looke into my shopping bag and saw a bright red apple.

No, no.... I bought those for Isaac!

After thinking about it for a while, I pulled out a package of strawberries I'd bought earlier.

"Im sorry.. This isn't nearly enough to repay you, but it's al i have for a moment"

He looked stiffened

"Um..?" Did i offend hin by giving such a silly present?

"N-never mind." im about to retreat the strawberries.

"Are you sure i can have them?, Thank you. I love strawberries."

He verry carefully took the package and smiled at me. I felt my heart grow warm and giggled.

"Hehe.."

"What is it? Did i say something amusing?." he look confuse at me.

"Im sorry. You just have such a happy smile on your face. Im glad you like it."

I haven't been able to forget about that sad look on his face the first day i saw him.

That's right-- I wanted to see him again so that he might smile. I felt so content right now. He gently reached out and touched my hand.

"May I take you away with me, then?."

"T-take me away with you?!."

"Yes. It would be a shame to eat these delicious strawberries alone. Come eat them with me. I know a place with beautiful view."

Oh, that's what he meant... I thought hr meant it in a different way.

."Sure, of course! But first--"

"Hm?"

I glance the people lining up to buy flowers.

He smiled softly. "Ahaha. Im sorry, everyone. I got carried away."

"Hey, can you wait a few minutes for me?." I nodded and he gaved me a relieved smile, then reached towards his cart of colorful flowers.

His soft silver hair almost seemed translucent in the sunlight, blown gently by the wind.

Oh, that reminds me!

"There is one thing i need to ask you first."

"Hm?"

"What's your name?" A huge smile across his face.

"Vlad. What's yours?."

"Artizea."

After he was finished selling all his flowers, he took me to the bank of the river Seine.

"Can you believed that?"

"What? Are you serious?"

"Yes!, it really happened! Ahaha. Hilarious, isn't it?"

We sat next to each other eating strawberries while Vlad told me about himself and answered questions i asked.

He told me he live not far from here, in an old castle with two roommates named Faust and Charles.

Apparently he had a garden there, and sold the flowers he grew. I listened intently to every word he said.

It's so strange. He's talking so openly and freely to me, but i still feel like he's a bit elusive.

He's a mysterious person..

On the other hand, everyone had sensitive topic or things they didn't want to talk about.

Take me, for example. There were plenty of things i couldn't tell anyone else. As if i could tell him I'm a time traveler from the future who's living in a house full of vampires!

"Next time tell me about yourself." he said.

"What? Me?"

"Yes. Tell me everything. I want to know everything about you. You just came to Paris a month ago right?"

"Yes... For a trip."

"Oh, thats nice. You should make sure to see all the sights while your here... Hmm, are you staying at a hotel, then?"

Uh-oh, here we go...

I thought about how i should answer the question. I chose my words very carefully as i looked into his eyes.

"No. I met a certain aristocrat and I'm working at their mansion right now."

"Oh, i see. So you're boarding there. That's very brave of you, to be working in an unfamiliar place." I shook my head and he studied my face.

"How long do you plan on staying here?" My heart skipped a beat as i thought back to the other day.

"Everyone, get back!"

"Zea, come here!"

"Well because of certain circumstances.. I can't go home as soon as i thought i could." he looke worried.

"Oh!, But dont worry. I'm just thinking on staying here is also nice. Plus, everyone at the mansion is really nice and--"

Suddenly i stopped short.

Maybe because of how beautiful the town looked bathed in the setting sunlight, or because Vlad was so easy to talk to.

But i suddenly heard the uneasiness in my voice when i thought about that day that the door had closed on the future.

"Anyway, im fine. Sometimes i just feel a little anxious. I know i probably feel better if i just talked to them about my worries, but for some reasons i just can't."

"Why not?"

I picture the kind, and yet strong residents of the mansion.

"Because i realized they mean more to me than i previously thought. I love them."

"I don't want to upset them, so it's difficult to open up to them when I'm having negative thought's."

"...?"

"Basically, i don't want them to be sad, so i don't want them to know I'm sad, if that make sense."

"When i care for someone, all i want is for them to smile." he look stiff or amassed in what i just said.

"Ah, I'm sorry, I'm rambling, arent I?" I apologized guiltily, Vlad's eyes softened.

"There something that bothering me lately."

"Hmm?" The sudden change of subject confused me, but Vlad continued.

"I'm selling my flowers alone, but it's so much work. So i have a favour to ask you."

"Will you help me out with my work?"

"I'd love to, but i have my work at the mansion."

"It would just be one hour per day.."

Wow, if he's so desperate he's willing to get help for just one hour a day, I think i can do it!

"Okey. I'll come help you out on my way back from shopping everyday, then."

"Thanks! I'll be waiting in the same spot we met today, then."

"Okey!"

From that day on, I went to go help Vlad on the way home from shopping, just as promised.

"Hi, Vlad! Um, what should i help you with?"

"Look, Zea! My customer's cat had kittens! see?!"

"Wow, they adorable! Can i hild them?!"

"Of course. Here."

Yesterday all i did was play with kittens with Vlad. So today i have to be useful!.

"Charles told me that this cafe is selling new strawberry pastries today!. I'm so glad you came to see me. Let's order all the new strawberry sweets and share them!" he looks excited telling me that.

"A-all of them?!"

Instead of helping Vlad, it seemed i was just going along for the ride with his whims.

Today we HAVE to work. ....Huh?

"What are you doing, Vlad?"