Snow in Vampire Romance

Chapter 3

Monster

Theo and I glided to the hallway without uttering a word. I couldn't find a word to speak to him. He's making me feel uncomfortable with his eyes staring at me. Same with his boyish smile that wouldn't fade away.

But he stilled beside me, at a close distance like a dog to his owner. Every time I tried to move fast, he'd increase his pace as well as if he was teasing me. I threw a glare at him, but he just flashed the same smile.

I'm not good with men. Well, I didn't experience any relationships before, but I know these kinds of gestures. My friend, who was a pro, informed me every time about the types of them. And this man? I think he is a playboy.

The way he touched me earlier and said those flowery words, this might be some tactics of the playboys in this time.

I still don't want to accept it, but I think I really did slip in time. This mansion, the view outside and these people are the evidence. I'm...just not yet sure on how this happened.

Is there a connection to that woman that I saw in the Louvre? Or that empty room that I went to? I don't know. But all I know is, I must get out of here and return to the museum. My friend is definitely worried for me now.

"Here, my lady." Theo whispered, in my ear, which brought shock to me.

I took a step away from him and glared. But he just smiled like an angel and effortlessly pushed a huge double door in front. My eyes drifted to it before I saw a long dining table with a lot of tempting and appetizing dishes and desserts. My eyes were glued to the tower of sweets and desserts.

"At last they're finally here." Someone said, which made me realize that on that grand table, there were men, including the child that I saw earlier. My lips parted a bit. They all looked ethereal and unreal. But looks can be deceiving. I shouldn't let my guard down.

My eyes flew to the child. His expression never changed, but he would look at the others occasionally, as if he was expecting something from their reactions. When our eyes met, he rolled his eyes.

He really hates me, huh?

I saw a man with glasses and a blank expression sitting beside him. He was tapping the table. As if something was bothering him, and it seemed he wanted to leave in an instant. And when his eyes met mine, he frustratingly shut his eyes and looked away with the same annoyed expression, just like the child.

What did I do to them? Why do they look so mad?

"Why don't you sit and join us?"

I looked at the man who spoke. He has a serious aura, but his smile brought warmth to me. He looks handsome and captivating in the eyes, especially with his smile. It seems genuine and real, unlike Theo's.

This man looks like someone that I can trust. But still, I won't. No one can trust in this place. Not when that creepy scene is still lingering on my mind.

"Yeah, why don't you sit, my lady?" Theo asked to get my attention. He then patted his hand on the chair beside him. He had already joined them on the more than twelve-seat table.

"Come here." He said again, like I'm some kind of puppy. I glared at him before I sighed. I started to walk towards the table. But I had no intention of joining them. I came to get answers to my questions.

I just froze on my feet when I felt someone staring at me. My heart leaped before I felt the same familiar goosebumps. My eyes slowly turned to the other side of the table. There, a man was sitting with his chin on his palm while intensely watching me like some kind of predator. His other hand was playing on a glass of wine, but it halted when our eyes locked.

He's deep blue ocean eyes looked at me just like the first time. My knees wobbled when I realized that he was the man who bit me at that masquerade party!

"Y-You..."

His lips curled up.

"She seemed to remember now." Theo.

"She looks like a scared cat." Charles.

I looked at them before I shifted my gaze back at the unbothered man. He's still looking at me without any glint of emotion in his face.

"Y-You! You bit me!" I exclaimed with a clear image in my head. I'm a hundred sure that he was that man! That...that creepy blood sucker!

His eyebrows furrowed before I heard Theo laugh, followed by the others. My body shuddered.

I took a step backwards when I realized that it was really real.

"I don't know what's happening, but I need to go back to the Louvre!" My hands gripped as I looked at them with pleading and desperate eyes. "I will forget about everything! I won't tell anyone about t-this and all of what h-happened! Just l-let me go back--"

My words were interrupted when one of the chairs creaked. I looked at the man who had bitten me as he glided towards me. My heartbeats pounded, full of fears.

"D-Don't come near me!" I shouted, but in the blink of an eye, he was already there in front of me, fast like a wind. He swiftly pulled my chin and said, "Why would we trust a mere human like you?"

His sharp eyes moved from my eyes down to my lips. The images of him biting me awakened in me, especially that kind of pleasure and heat that was submerged in my body.

His cold eyes glowed. "Why would we let you leave when we can just eat you?" He added and put his hand on my neck. He has no pity. He's ready to kill me.

I gasped for air as my face whitened. No one stopped him. They are all freaking monsters!

Just like the last time, I couldn't push him. I couldn't bring myself to move an inch and run. As if he has entirely controlled my body. The corner of my eyes heated before it watered. My eyes shut as the liquid flows to my skin. His lips twitched as if he was annoyed. Before he scowled and dropped me in just a snap. And without a word, he turned his back on me.

I heavily sighed while trying to catch my breath. My tears flowed on the carpet before I raised my head up at the man's back. He didn't look back until he disappeared from my eyes.

He is a monster!

"My lady--" Theo said and was about to help me, but I slapped his hand away. I stood up and dashed out of that room with nothing but fear and rage inside.

No one stopped me as I ran down the hallway, even when I finally found the exit to that mansion. I successfully continued to the outside without any obstacles. I trembled as I pushed the gate, still with tears.

My eyes flew back to the mansion for the last time. My eyes instantly saw that same wicked monster. He was staring at me from the third floor, he was on the balcony, along with the four men. They just watched me with their blank expressions. Cold shivers covered my body. It felt suffocating and terrifying. Their stares feel like my upcoming death. A warning.

I wiped my tears and hastily turned my back on them.

__

My feet reached the busy market. Was it minutes or hours? I don't know. I just ran like in a marathon until I reached this street. As I roamed the place, I realized that everything was real. I'm alive and this isn't a dream.

My eyes flew to the shops and stores, and the people walking down the streets on their normal day. I may not have learned a lot about the old Paris, but the description from the books and the internet were all exactly the same as what my eyes would have landed on.

Time travelers haven't proved real yet, but if it wasn't, what about my case? How did I do that?

I tried to remember the place where I found myself first. It's a balcony and inside was a grand hall where there was a masquerade party. I saw myself there after I went inside that empty room. But where can I find that party hall?

Wait...don't tell me it's the mansion?

"Great! So I need to go back to that mansion to confirm it?!" I bent down my knees and frustratingly disheveled my hair, never minding the eyes that would look at me as if I was going crazy. "How could I go back? I can't and I won't! I would rather die in this street than submit myself to those monsters again!"

I shoved my face down my knees while trembling in both fear and frustration. I just lifted my eyes when I remembered my camera and small handy bag. I was sure that it was with me when I saw myself at that party.

But where is it now? Did I mistakenly left it at the mansion? s**t.

I saw a cart of fruit in the corner of my eye while trying to calm myself down. My stomach growled when I saw a child take a bit on one of the fresh picked apples. I realized that I still hadn't eaten anything.

I neared the cart. But I stopped as I realized I had no money in me. Not to mention, the appearance of money is way different from present times. Now, how can I survive?

"Hey you! If you don't have money, go away!" said by the vendor as he saw me just staring at the apple. I sneered at him before I painfully looked and drooled at the apple for the last time. That was the first time that I felt so hungry and pity for myself.

"Do you want some?" A middle-aged man beside me spoke before I could leave. He kindly smiled at me and handed me one of his apples.

"B-But I don't think I can accept this." I replied.

I still believe in the saying that we should never accept anything from strangers. Although I want to forget about it just this once and accept the man's concern for my stomach.

The man stared and tapped my shoulder. "Don't worry, it's for free." He said and paid before turning his back on me. I blurted the two words, but he didn't eye me anymore. I looked at the apple in my hand. It was delicious when I took a bite.

Wait with his kindness, maybe he can help me too with my problem?

I hurriedly tried to find him. Thankfully, he still wasn't that far. I followed him as he turned left and entered an empty alley. I glanced at the busy street, torn if I should continue because the alley was too dark and gloomy.

"Ah, maybe I should just...wait outside." I mumbled and took a step backwards, but before I could, I heard a voice of a woman calling for help from the distance. It was coming from the alley.

"Help!" The weak voice shouted again.

My hesitation faded. Without further ado, I rushed towards inside. It was too dark but I strongly continued. I can't just leave a woman begging and shouting for help.

My eyes widened when I reached a bit of light at the end of the alley and saw a woman lying on the floor. My feet automatically advanced towards her with concern.

"Hey are you okay?" I asked.

The woman was too pale. I saw no injury or anything that might cause her pain but she was unconscious. "H-Hey wake up." I gently pat her cheeks but still, no response. I bit my lips, nervous, until I saw something on her neck. There's two small holes in it.

A gasp leaked out of my mouth as my heartbeats stopped.

"W-What is this?" I was about to touch it when her hand grasped mine. She weakly opened her eyes on me and said, "Run..."

But it was too late. I heard a chuckle behind me. "Are you here to pay for the apple?" A low voice asked from behind. I jumped away before I saw the man who gave me the apple. His eyes were glowing in red and his teeth were sharp as knife. There's a blood on his mouth as he wiped it while grinning at me. He looks different from before.

My body shakened in horror. I couldn't believe me eyes.

"I have no idea that I can eat more than once today. Thank you for coming." He said while still grinning and looking at me with his sharp and red eyes. He took a step and I couldn't run. I was so scared.

Tears formed in my eyes again with a heavy breathe. I shut my eyes while praying for my safety. When I didn't felt anything, I slowly lifted my eyes again. My lips parted when the man wasn't there anymore but a dust in the wind.

"I guess you still haven't informed." my eyes followed the voice. Even with tears, I saw an image from the dark corner. He then slowly appeared and walked out of the dimmed. With the same cold expression, he craned his neck and looked at me as if I'm some stupid thing in his blue eyes.

"You can't run away. That's the major rule."