Chapter 8
1478 Words
In the mansion's kitchen, lailani sat on the stool with a plate on her lap that had freshly baked bread in it. She tore the bread into small
pieces before putting it in her mouth. She had been scared to go out after what had happened last night at the main hall and therefore she
insisted on staying in the kitchen. The kitchen was busy as they were preparing for the gathering that was going to be held in the evening. It
was filed with the clink of utensils, men, and women shouting to get things done quickly while a few of them were seen laughing and talking to
each other.
"Seriously what are you people doing there standing idle when there is so much of work to be done! Start moving now. Chop chop chop,"
plump woman commanded looking at the girls standing there and they scurried away from their spot.
When the woman's eyes fell upon lailani she asked, "Why are you only having a piece of bread? Boy get a glass of milk here," she called
someone from the far end.
"Yes, Ms Martha!" was the quick reply as a boy came with a warm glass of milk. He handed over the milk to lailani and then looked at the
maid in-charge. "Is it alright to allow a guest to enter the kitchen? Moreover, to eat here rather than the main hall?" he asked her.
This one is a human so it should be alright," Mrs Martha replied and then went to check on the others.
Maya had been busy and so had Sel due to which lailani stayed in the kitchen looking at the people work. At times lailani followed Ms
Martha all around like a little cat as the woman ordered others around. During that time she met a boy named Josh who was four years older to
her. He was now showing her how to make paper boats from the newspaper.
"This is where you need to fold and then turn it around," he said, turning it around slowly while the girl watched it curiously. "See it's all done!"
the boy exclaimed holding the boat in his hands and that's when Maya came in search of lailani.
"There you are. We need to get you ready for the gathering dear. You can play with Josh later." she said to lailani holding up her hand for
the girl to take it. lailani seemed reluctant to go from the comfort zone she had built but nevertheless took hold of Maya's hand. Waving a smalI
bye to the boy she left the kitchen.
Reaching up to the room she was made to wear expensive clothes and once the maid had finished assisting her, the girl looked no less than
a high-class vampire. Her black dress touched just above the floor and a ribbon of satin was tied around her waist. Maya led her to the hall
where the gathering was taking place. It was a gathering that was held for the high-class vampires and humans who worked for them or the
alliances they had formed. Soft music was played to liven up the place as men and woman spoke
"Do come visit our place, it would be an honor..."
.well you know how she is after all. I mean how. " they passed the crowd while they headed straight to where Ralphia stood.
"And who might this young girl be? asked a man who stood in front of Ralphia with a buff body.
"This is lailani, an acquaintance of mine," Ralphia introduced her.
"Hello Miss lailani," the man bowed as he greeted her. She went to bow her head to greet in return but fet the hand on her shoulder
tighten. The man gave a hearty laugh while Ralphia smiled.
lailani stood there quietly as the others chatted about things she didn't understand. After sometime she pulled Maya's arm, asking her if
she could go outside to which the woman nodded before telling the young one to stay close by and not to wander off. When she stepped out of
the mansion she was greeted with a soft breeze and the nustling of trees. Eager to look at the garden she had seen previously she took a few
steps to only be stopped by Ann.
"And where might you be going. human?
Ann came to stand in front of lailani folding her hands.
"You're a human so stay where you belong without crossing lines. Didn't your parents teach you that? Ann snapped at her as she glared
at lailani hatefully. "Go back to where you belong." she said, scaring the poor girl.
When lailani took a step towards the castle the woman blocked her way.
"Not the castle you human. Out now-"
"That isn't beautiful at all Miss Ann," a voice interrupted her before she could say anything more. Ashyn Hayes was one of the Lords
of the Kingdom who had only stepped out of the mansion for some air to see the woman terrorizing a young girl. He was a tall man with broad
shoulders, his brown hair combed to allow one to show his proud red eyes.
"L-Lord Hayes," Ann stammered as her face paled looking at the man, “We were just playing."she laughed nervously
"Sure you were. I believe you have to go back to the gathering now?" He smiled before his expression turned serious.
"Y-yes, see you later" she said quickly and went inside. The man bent down to the meet the girl's eye level and saw her sniffle softly.
"Are you alright sweetheart? He asked her softly and she was quick to nod, "Do you want to go back to the gathering? He saw her looking
towards the garden. Catching her drift they went to look at the garden.
He slowed his footsteps so that the girl could catch up with him. Just as they were walking, he found her looking at the flowers in interest.
He wondered which guest's daughter she was as he hadn't seen her before. it was very rare for the guests to bring their children to a vampire's mansion knowing how much a vampire enjoyed fresh blood. How long had it been since he had blood from a child? He smiled to himself at the
thought, it had been only a week. If The girl isn't associated with a high family it would only mean that she was the rumored child Ralphia
had taken in.
"By the way, my name is Hayes, what's yours? He asked her to see her purse her lips.
"lailani," she replied.
"Which ones did you like here? The flowers I mean," he asked her.
"That one," she pointed at a small red flower. Taking a few steps, Hayes pulled the flower from its stem and placed it in the girl's hand.
"Here." he smiled at her gently.
"Thank you," lailani said in her small voice looking at the flower in her hand.
Hayes and lailani became friends quickly as they chatted about small things. Half an hour had passed and they rested for a while by
sitting under a tree.
Ralphia who was in the gathering excused himself from the people who were surrounding him and went to look for lailani as she was
nowhere to be seen in the hall. When he was about to cross the large corridor he saw Lord Hayes holding a sleeping lailani in his arms.
Without a word, Ralphia took her in his arms.
Thank you for carrying her, Hayes," the Xeridian Lord said curtly.
"That was no trouble at all. She seems stressed out with the new environment and happened to fall asleep when we sat in the garden,"
Hayes said, looking at Ralphia.
"Explains the flower." Ralphia muttered under his breath, looking at lailani's hand that was clasped around the flower.
"I plucked it out," Hayes said smiling at the girl and then looked at his watch, “My. time did fly by soon. I will take my leave now. Have a
good night.”
"Good night," Ralphia wished and then went up to tuck lailani in her bed. He sighed looking at her. He hadn't tucked his own cat when it
was a kitten but here this one was making him do things. As he pulled up the blanket, he stopped to look at the flower she held in her hand.
Taking it gently from her hand he covered her carefully with the blanket.
Both Ralphia and Hayes weren't exactly friends nor were they foes. They kept themselves out of each other's business and life
knowing what the other was capable of. Having taken the little girl under his wing, he didn't want the influence of the East Lord.
Once he was out, he stopped near the large open window to throw the flower before going back to the gathering.
- Writer
