Bride of the Vampire Lord

CHAPTER II

(THE KIND OF BETRAYAL)

NATALIA’S POV

NATALIA HERERRA. The illegitimate daughter of Carlos Hererra. One of the most influential men in the country with the wealth and power that runs from generation to generation. Daughter of a prostitute, a hostess, and any dirty title that anyone could put on her. The unwanted daughter that no one wanted. A curse and a disgrace that tainted the beautiful reputation and name of her family.

The useless daughter could not be compared to the daughter and heiress of the Hererra. The cruel life of that person, who is me.

“NATALIA!”

I jolted up and awake after a scream of calling for my name and banging hard on the door of my room. A maid’s room, no, just a tiny extension of the room that is intended to be cleaning storage.

“I am coming!”

“Hurry up, you, useless girl!”

The banging and insults never stop, and only start for the day. My wake-up call in the early dust of three am.

“Quickly, or you will be scolded for the day and hard by the head maid!”

“I am, I am getting ready.”

They never fail to remind me. A bit groggy and dizzy from the sudden wake-up call and a bit too early today than the rest of the days that I have been living under the roof of a family who will never accept me. Their pity and consideration only run from letting me stay like a maid, no, a maid, and nothing else but that.

“I’m sorry.” I immediately apologize, opening the door after I quickly fix my bed and tied everything to that tiny room that I can call my sanctuary. “No one told me that I need to wake up early than I always did. So, I didn’t set my alarm clock earlier than I should.”

“Excuses. You do know that it will not bail you out of their clutches and schemes. Let’s go.”

“I know.”

I weakly smile, knowing where I stand in this family. I immediately followed Sandra, one of the oldest maids in the residence and the few who saw me growing up and treated nothing like a common servant.

“You know that the madam will not spare you if she knew that you overslept. The head maid cannot help you either if that happens. You know where we all stand in this mansion.”

“I know and I apologize.”

Words that I learn and adopted for twenty years. The wall and protection that I have built for myself. Aware of my position and life that will never change until I achieve what I needed right now.

“How were your studies? Are you coping enough?”

“I am doing great. Everyone, at least in the University is treating me nicely enough.”

“Remember. No one should know that you are taking a degree different from what the family wants and behind the Master’s back. If anyone in the family knew it, we couldn’t guarantee that we will be able to take your side.”

Sandra’s kind words. Her caring nature despite her strict persona and meticulous nature. One of the two that is on my side at least, and I am thankful enough. The few who believe in me and the light that I have in this life.

“You are smart Natalia, and we know that you will have your time and succeed for yourself. Just bear for this for a little while. You do understand me, right?”

“I do.”

I tightly clench my skirt and followed Sandra to the pantry.

“Bring these necessary ingredients inside the kitchen. We need to finish preparing everything for the dish two nights from now.”

“Tomorrow night?”

The thoughts that I immediately asked. But the way Sandra’s expression draws in front of me. I suddenly felt that my heart is being squished and tight for a few seconds. Then, it beats with the worry and mix of fear that I do not want to think of it that way. Shaking the thoughts that will only bring me anxiety and fear for the worst.

“You do know that the family is expecting a special guess, right?”

“I do. But isn’t it for this coming weekend and not the day after?”

I wanted to confirm something. Thinking of the messages and calls that I receive from him, and the fact that he stops doing so for almost a week now.

“Someone else is coming and their arrival is earlier than scheduled. So, the madam wanted to finish everything of the last things that are needed for the banquet.”

“Sandra. Is there something that I didn’t know?”

“What do you mean?”

“Please!”

I beg as fear is creeping inside of me. Worried and at the same time I am hopeful that the things that I am thinking right now are not the truth.

“Isn’t the banquet for father’s new business partners from abroad? Isn’t it also for Natalie’s pre-graduation party?”

Damn, I hate the worry and fear that is creeping inside of me. The anxiety about the things that I only thought of as I always have to be the usual things in this family. Setting me aside for the things that a legitimate daughter is privileged from. Which is not me. But thinking and suddenly the thoughts of being betrayed by someone I love and believe more than anything. A part of me wanted to die.

“I warn you, didn’t I? We already told you that you shouldn’t trust anyone but yourself. But you still turn out to be naïve Natalia. Right from this moment, you must brace yourself for the worst.”

Direct, cruel, but the truth. Words that make me gasp for air and pants for it like I’ve been running for miles for hours. My chest aches and my tears fall. Thinking of the possibility that it turns out to be the truth.

“We already told you. Love is not the way for you to escape this place and life and Natalia. You should have listened.”

“I will be back. When that time comes, you will be the one that I will be looking for first.”

“I understand.”

The door closes, leaving me inside with the hang-up thoughts and facts that I do not want to believe, yet is knocking on all the possibility that it is all there to it.

“Focus Natalia, focus!”

I slap myself twice on both cheeks to wake myself up and focus on what is currently in front of me. For I need to compose myself no matter what and at every time. I shouldn’t be thinking of the possibilities right now, for I still trust him.

“You need to believe him, as you always been, Natalia.”

I convince myself behind the back of Sandra, the one of the two who keeps on reminding me that in this world. I could only trust myself and nothing more, than myself.

But.

“NO.”

My protest, denial, and my pride that is screaming right at me that what I have been thinking for a while now is not the truth and will never be the truth.

“One thing is for sure I will always be by your side. I will be your man who will take care of you. So, wait for me, Natalia.”

“He will never betray me.”

I convince myself, holding back my tears and swallowing the fear and worry from deep inside my heart. With my head up, I walk fast and didn’t care for anyone. For I need to see him, I need to make sure that what I am thinking is not the truth.

“If you do not believe me. If you are still holding on to that jerk's promise. Then, go to this place. You will find the answer that you are looking for.”

Lea’s words and firm tone. Slapping me with the reality that she knows and warns me about. But I couldn’t just believe it to be the truth. Even though the one who just told me that the man I’ve been waiting for is nothing but a liar and a jerk, is my only friend.

“Lea, you were just being fooled by someone. I do not know who it was, but I believe in him. I will forever believe, Lucas.”

Lucas Villafuerte. The only son of a tycoon and heir to the richness of the Villafuertes. The only person who looks at me and help me back then. My savior, my hero, and the one I love. For even though we are worlds apart and everyone is telling me that I am not right for him. He is the one who made me believe in love, and the love is what I’ve been holding on to for years now.

“Lucas, I know that they only wanted for us to be apart. I know that---”

My world stops, my eyes widen and my lips curl from pain and anger. Facing the slightly opened door, entering the hotel room suite, and walking right in front of the open door of the room. My heart sinks and cold rushes down my body.

“Faster, harder, give it to me!”

“S***! You are so good, Natalie. I love you, babe.”

“I love you too.”

Am I hearing things? Am I seeing this dirty and cruel thing right in front of me? Damn, I wanted to vomit everything that I have ate this morning. But will it change anything from this truth? No, it will never be.”

“LOVE? Tsk! Do not make me laugh. The past is just a past. We were only teens then, and do you expect me to keep those words after all these years? You are dead wrong, Natalia.”

My world crumbled, and I felt like I have nothing to hold on to. Worst I am in the sea with nothing else but the pain and the burden of what it brings to me.

“No, you are lying. Tell me that you are only lying.”

I tried to hold on, looking pathetic and desperate. But how could I let go of something that I am holding for years now?”

“Tell me that this is only a joke. You are just fooling around with me, right?”

“Fooling around? Just who do you think you are? You are nothing, Natalia. Do you think that someone like me will take you as my woman if the perfect one is already by my side?”

“Wake up Natalia. This is not a fairytale and you are not a princess.”

Natalie’s words. Her smile and his grin. Their embrace unto each other and the intimate scene broke everything of what I hoped for and was holding. Sandra was right. They are right. I should have listened to them yet.

“I was stupid, really naïve to believe in something such as love.”

I broke into a burst of laughter, a bit crazy to their eyes. But I am too broken to care for the moment.

“Such a crazy bitch.”

“Now that everything turns out this way, I hope that you wouldn’t break the thing that I have, Natalia.”

Damn! I wanted to punch him straight in his face. Teach him a lesson or two and finally pour all the hate and pain that they both just cause me right now. Putting me in a place where I became a fool for years. Believing in something that was not true. Yet, I couldn’t. I do not have the strength to do such.

“For right now, I was betrayed. Utterly betrayed by the one I love.”