Dark Intent

Chapter 4

The opulence of the bathroom caught her off guard – a vast bath almost the size of her bedroom, and a shower in the corner as spacious as any she had ever seen. Standing before the sink, she stared into the mirror, her green eyes reflecting the internal chaos.

“Why are we like this? He’s just a man, right? I’m not in danger he promised, and he doesn’t seem the kind to lie, if he was going to harm me he would have?” This was a whole set of new questions now “But my god if he took me in his embrace ….. stop it!” She snapped.

She splashed cool water on her face, staring against her pale face, the smattering of freckles, and yet somehow as innocent as she looked the thoughts in her head were anything but innocent. Again she admonished herself, before thinking, she could take a peak in other rooms, but that would be impolite and unprofessional, but just a peek at his bedroom? That wouldn’t hurt, right?

She glanced at her watch; it was nearing 9 pm, leaving her to ponder where the time had vanished. Did he possess a way of making time inconsequential? Gathering her resolve, Sara straightened her shirt and adjusted her skirt before heading towards the door. Placing her hand on the handle, she took a deep breath.

"Okay, Sara, you're a journalist. This is what you do, so let's do it," she mumbled, unsure if her words were meant to calm her mind or reaffirm her chosen path. With another slow breath, she turned the handle, opening the door. Stepping back onto the landing, she observed that the light wasn't overly bright; instead, it was dimmed, casting shadows against the architectural features. Curtains drawn on the higher windows allowed slivers of light to slip through.

Pausing on the landing, she pondered for a moment before deciding on her course. She crossed the landing, ensuring two doors were locked before finding another that opened. The interior decor was not Georgian but Victorian in its presentation. The room featured a huge carved wood four-poster bed with heavy velvet drapes, and the bedding seemed to shimmer in the low light.

Gazing into the room, she observed a carved dresser, as though the wood used in crafting the furniture possessed a life of its own. Her reflection stared back at her from the mirror; this was indeed his room. For a fleeting moment, her mind wandered, imagining the sensation of slipping into that bed with him tucked up behind her. Quickly, she shook off the distracting thoughts, refocusing on the task at hand. The room divulged little, except for his evident good taste in bedroom furniture, which she suspected was as old as the duration his family had resided in the house.

His family? That story had seemed weak to her, if anything she was now certain that somehow this 40-year-old man was indeed the same man he claimed to be his grandfather, how was that possible? Her mind raced. Again she glanced into the mirror.

"It's rather impolite to explore uninvited in someone's home," Her heart froze, and her knees weakened upon hearing his tone. This time, it lacked the warmth and calmness she had previously experienced, carrying instead the authoritative air of someone unwilling to entertain any excuses for her actions.

“I… s**t…. f**k…. Please I….” She tripped over words now.

“You were merely curious about a man who lives alone? And is self-sufficient enough not to require a large staff to keep his home?” Was he mocking her? Wait she quickly glanced at the mirror, how was he even behind her, slowly she turned, he was indeed right behind her, all six foot six just behind causing her to look up, his blue eyes burned a hole through her. It was now that intrigue gave way to panic, a shiver trembling up her spine, she swallowed hard.

“Forgive me, Sir, I … yes I was curious, but I meant no disrespect, I swear to you,” She could beg, but she doubted it would matter, she had rather foolishly crossed a line and was now in trouble.

She could almost hear the thud of her heart once more as it pounded against her chest, she had been afraid but never like this. Humans had an inbuilt response to run from danger but somehow, standing in front of this man Sara wanted nothing than him to forgive her transgression, if she ran she feared the consequences of that action, she doubted she would even make it past that powerful frame, and then she could be in real danger.

“I do not like strangers wandering my home, I gave you the courtesy of allowing you to carry out your interview,”

“Yeah, why was that?” She snapped as her frustration at herself exploded in a snap comment and she quickly felt the heat of embarrassment, what was she thinking he was already angry with her, still might as well go out in a blaze of glory now.

“As you alluded yourself, my family,”

“You?!” She snapped back again pushing her theory he was the same.

“Excuse me?” He stated his voice had dropped now he challenged her to further that thought.

“No family, YOU, somehow you’re the same guy that bought this place in 1902, which shouldn’t be possible, but nothing else adds up, no birth or death records, just a change in banking records every few decades not regular enough to draw suspicion, especially in this day and age when everything is monitored. You have a mobile, and there's a landline, as well as I’m, guessing a high-speed line, which means you're not as dumb as you’ve been playing,” the words came rapid fire and without thought as her thoughts spilt from her mouth “You are solitary because somehow you do not need women, and those that do come here are never quite right after, your mother,” She stopped now wondering if she should finish her sentence. As her eyes met hers his eyes flashed dangerously.

“Go on, let us see how brave you are” He stated, the lack of inclination or tone to his words sent another shudder of terror through her.

“She drowned, and from any record never gave birth, but mysteriously the case was buried and the coroner wrote childbirth without explanation, even in the 80’s that took some doing, but I suppose when you have money to burn, bribing the law isn’t all that uncommon,”

“It’s a rather flimsy theory, is it not? How could I possibly be over a hundred years old?” He pressed her now, he was daring her, she swallowed that was when she noted she had suddenly gotten rather warm, again her mind drowned in him before she shoved it aside and forced her words out.

“You could be a f*****g vampire for all I know? They live for ages, and I don’t see any garlic around,” Humor! Make a joke, deflect, disarm him, anything to get him to take a step back so she could think straight.

“I cook with garlic,” He shot back, his tone on the other hand was as dry as he had been since he had found snooping.

“I’m truly sorry, I’ll just… go and I'll do my piece and people will be happy for now,” Time to extract herself she thought, head for the hills and make a strategic retreat before things got any worse for her.

Once more, a dizzying sensation enveloped her head, and this time, she attributed it to him. Her body shuddered with an internal conflict — the logical choice was to leave before matters escalated, yet an inexplicable desire lingered. There was a strange curiosity, a yearning for him to mete out consequences for invading his private space. "What the f**k!" she scolded herself, shaking her head in disbelief. Stepping back, her mind raced, her body felt tense, her heart pounded, and each breath became jagged and strained.

“Are you alright?” He almost sounded concerned, like you don’t f*****g know her mind screamed at him, and fear surged through her as she realized he somehow infiltrated her mind. She couldn't comprehend how. She knew now there was no way out of this and she’d just backed further into his bedroom and he now blocked the door so there had gone her chance for escape in any form.

"I... um... No..." Her breath hitched as her back met the post of the bed. Despite the distance between them, his gaze remained fixed on hers, as if delving into her soul. The sensation was a blend of terror and excitement, surpassing the fleeting infatuations she'd experienced before. Puppy love might burn bright and fade, but this was an intensity that left her yearning for more, a craving she couldn't quite comprehend.

“You were incorrect,” He stated again his tone had shifted, and now it was clear he was taunting her.

“What?” She managed, her hair was matted with sweat with whatever was now flooding through her.

"Regarding my nature, I'm not a vampire," he responded, his tone still taunting, but his gaze remained fixed on her as he narrowed the distance between them. She had the opportunity to escape, yet an inexplicable reluctance held her back. Her heart raced, and her body trembled, signalling the intensity of the moment. This was the decisive moment.

“I said could be…” She breathed in response as he once again stood before her, this time his hand traced her cheek and her mind exploded in a shower of pleasure as if his mere touch was all she needed.

“That’s very true, but I am not about to engage in something as disgusting as feeding upon blood, that is for lesser more desperate creatures,” His words came as he dipped his head to kiss at her neck.

When the hell did she consent to this, and yet she made no move to stop him, his words sent a shudder of pleasure down her spine, the fear mixed with excitement, and she felt herself growing wetter as his lips graced her pale flesh.

“I ….” She whimpered softly in protest.

“You what?” His words were deliberate now.

“I can't think, please, let me go,” She breathed, the moment the words left her mouth she felt her head scream that’s not what she wanted.

“You’re free to leave, Miss Reynolds,” He replied, the way her name rolled off his tongue sent another shudder through her. Just f*****g take me she thought as she swallowed again.

“I….please” The moment the words left her lips his mouth met hers, and there was an explosion in her head as her senses fell away instantly she kissed back her whole body trembling, her knees weakened as if he knew his arm caught her waist pinning her into him between himself and then slid frame of the bed.