Seven
1159 Words
“Did you read my letter, love?”
I could not speak. I was sitting next to a vampire. A monster. I just could not talk.
My hands were sweaty and my heart was beating so fast. I felt like I was going to die.
Suddenly, he hit his hands on the table. The loud noise broke the silence.
“Did you read my letter, love?”
He said it very politely, but it was dangerous. He looked like he could kill me while smiling. I nodded my head as if a gun was pointed at me.
He started cutting his food with a knife and fork. He was looking down.
“Since you read it, you know what I said. Do you?”
I nodded again. It was easier to nod than to talk.
Suddenly, his knife was at my throat. He had a deadly smile on his face. I could not breathe.
“What did I say in that letter, love? Remind me.”
“Yo—you—you said... ahh...”
He moved the knife away so I could talk. He started eating again.
“Yo—you s—said: Do not even think of running. If you try to escape, I will find you, and I will break you. But if you obey me... life will be much easier for you.”
He chuckled while he was eating. Then, he looked at me.
“I am so proud!”
I gathered all the courage I had left to speak.
“Ar—are y—you going to kil—kill me?”
He looked at me and spoke.
“You want me to?”
“NO! No, no. I mean, no.”
He put his knife and fork down. With one hand, he pulled my chair close to him. My chair glided easily as if I had no weight. It was his power.
My hands were shaking.
“Love, let me be straight. I am giving you 7 days to fall in love with me. Or, I will burn the whole human world to ashes.”
I looked at his hands, then his eyes, and all I could see was the monster. My breath came in short, sharp gasps. I wanted to scream, to run, to vanish just like he did, but I was frozen.
I gripped the edge of my seat until my knuckles turned white. Every part of me was screaming run, but I couldn't even move an inch. I was trapped by his power and his terrifying words.
I couldn't take it anymore. My heart was hitting my chest so hard it hurt.
I pushed my chair back and it fell on the floor. I didn't look back. I just ran. I ran as fast as my shaking legs could go toward the big doors.
“Help! Please, someone help me!” I screamed.
I grabbed the door handle and pulled. It was locked. It wouldn't move even an inch.
Suddenly, a cold wind blew past my ear. A shadow moved fast on the wall right next to me.
“Where are you going, love?”
I gasped and spun around. He was standing right there. He didn't walk to me. He just appeared, blocking my way.
I turned to run toward the stairs instead. I only took a few steps before he was there again. He was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.
“The doors only open when I tell them to,” he said.
He grabbed my arm. His grip was like iron. He pulled me back until I hit his chest.
“Did I tell you that you could leave, love?”
I shook my head. I couldn't even breathe.
“I am the Lord here. Everything in this castle belongs to me. Including you.”
He dragged me back to my chair. I stumbled, but he didn't care.
“Sit.”
I fell into the chair. He leaned over me, trapping me with his arms.
“You have 7 days. Do not waste my time by running again.”
He leaned closer to my ear. His breath was cold.
“If you run again... I might forget my promise not to hurt you. Do you understand?”
“Ye—yes,” I whispered.
“Good. Now, pick up your fork. You will finish your dinner while I watch.”
“She tried to run, My Lord,” Hazier whispered.
Zaphiton didn't even look at him. His presence was so heavy I felt like I was being crushed.
“I have eyes, Hazier. Do not state the obvious again.”
Hazier flinched. He looked down at his plate. His hands were trembling. Zaphiton’s voice was like ice cracking.
The air in the room turned freezing. I could see my own breath.
“Look at me, love.”
My head moved on its own. A cold, invisible force pulled my chin up. I had no choice but to look at Zaphiton.
“Hazier is my brother, but he exists because I allow it. The world stays alive because I allow it.”
Zaphiton leaned over the table. The shadows behind him grew tall and sharp. They blocked out all the light.
“And you... you will love me because I command it.”
Zaphiton looked at Hazier without turning his head.
“If she leaves this chair again, Hazier... I will show you what true darkness feels like. Do you understand?”
“Yes, My Lord,” Hazier choked out. He was too scared to even look Zaphiton in the eye.
Zaphiton leaned over the table. The air turned so cold I could see my breath. Hazier sat as still as a stone, his eyes glued to the floor.
“Do you know why I chose you, love?”
I shook my head. I was too scared to move.
“Because you are mine. I saw you, and I decided. There is no other reason.”
He reached out. His fingers were like ice against my neck. Hazier flinched just seeing his brother move.
“Everything in this world dies eventually. But not you. I will keep you forever, even if I have to break you to make you stay.”
He looked at Hazier. His voice was a sharp, low growl.
“Tell her, brother. Tell her what happens to things I want to keep.”
“You... you never let them go, My Lord,” Hazier whispered. He was shaking so hard his chair rattled.
Zaphiton turned back to me. His eyes were like two dark pits.
“Correct. I never let go. Seven days is not a choice, love. It is your time to accept that you belong to me.”
He tapped the table with one finger. The sound was like a gunshot in the silent room.
“Now. Eat. I will not have my prize wasting away.”
- Writer
