Moonlight Lovers

Twelve

SILAS was at the Octavius Manor around ten o’clock and was surprised when he found Selene in the parlour sitting prim and proper in one of the room’s upholstered Victorian furniture. “Miss Roseburn?” He asked, crossing his eyebrows. “I’m surprised to see you here.”

When his eyes roamed around the room, he found Godric in front of the table where his precious liquors were sitting on top of. He threw him a short, warning stare and he just slightly nodded.

So, this was why the vampire was so eager to leave his office earlier. He probably could not stand the fact that Selene had said she would think about his offer. He’s used to women immediately saying yes to him. Although, he’s sure that Selene is probably not gonna say no to Godric, either. She’s just taking her time to know about Godric to make sure she is not making the wrong decision.

“Have you had dinner, Miss Roseburn?” He asked, turning to Selene.

“Selene,” she shyly corrected him. “It’s okay. I can eat at home.”

He slightly shook his head. “Nonsense. I’ll have the cook prepare something for you.”

Before she could protest, he was already pulling the door close. He gave Godric a short glance, praying Selene Roseburn wasn’t there tonight to be one of the girls Godric would leave half-conscious in his bed the following morning.

Silas had lost count of how many women Godric took home to have s*x with or simply feed off of in the last fifteen years that he’s been working for the vampire. Most of them usually disregard his presence, wouldn’t even talk to him, and would actually just voluntarily throw themselves at Godric in front of him. When he was twenty-five and started learning more about the legislation of the vampire society than just being a simple assistant for the youngest member of the Octavius coven, he started advising Godric to stop piling up his victims. The blood being just told him that he can look for another employer if he ever gets in trouble with the vampire council. Concerned that he’d be jobless and knowing he’s hopeless in making Godric stop his reckless way of hunting for a source of sustenance, he promised to not let that happen. But just because he said that, Godric really maintained luring more victims, much to his chagrin.

But Selene Roseburn is different. She is the most modest among those women. He’d surely like it if she didn’t become one of Godric’s victims. But she was a spellblood. So maybe that makes a difference.

It makes him wonder, though, just how many spellblood are there in the whole world. Because if this was the first time Godric had told him about it, then it could only mean that he hasn’t encountered a spellblood before in the last fifteen years.

How exactly does one become a spellblood anyway?

But whatever the case is, Silas is just relieved that Selene may possibly put an end to Godric’s impulsiveness. The vampire had told him before, he’s only having intercourse and killing those girls because the heightened pleasure he was getting from doing those acts are the closest to any emotions he could remember from when he was still human. He started seeking that euphoric state of mind all the time, resulting in the string of violations he’d committed which called the attention of the vampire council.

Silas reached the kitchen and asked the cook to prepare dinner for him and their guest.

SELENE followed Godric when he offered to show her around the house.

After his honest declaration, Selene could not find in herself the option to say no to her handsome potential boss. Her heart had already decided to say yes before her mind could weigh in the consequences if there were any.

She would silently exclaim in amazement every time Godric would show her to a different room that was always bigger than the last. The house was mostly decorated with antique pieces and classic décor, although some of the rooms were renovated with a contemporary layout, which was probably the rooms that were mostly used.

There were at least eleven rooms on the second floor that Selene had counted. One of them was an entire room filled with paintings. Another one was mostly empty with only a grand piano sitting in the middle of the room. They say you’d get an idea about a person from the things you’d find in their home. In her case, Selene felt like she had only scratched the surface. So far, what she is certain about Godric is that he is a wealthy man with sophisticated taste in furniture, and a charitable heart to offer a complete stranger like her a position in his multi-million dollar company.

“I think I need a map for my first month if I ever start working for you,” she jested.

“I’ll find the best cartographer in town for you, if you say yes.”

She just chuckled. When they went upstairs to the third floor of the house, she turned the knob on the door of the first room on the left of the hallway.

It was a nursery.

All the furniture inside the room was covered in white cloth. When he looked around to ask Godric why there was a nursery in the house, she found him reaching over her side for the doorknob so he could shut the door close.

“This house was built over three hundred years ago. Some of the rooms have not been redecorated yet for the last few decades.” He simply said. “This must be the nursery room for one of the original owners of the house—my ancestors.”

Selene nodded and decided not to inquire any further.

“You are free to choose whichever room you like. You may redecorate it, too, if you wish. It’s up to you. You can feel right at home here, Selene.”

She thought about it for a second. She remembered Silas. He was Godric’s assistant and Selene thought there was no way better to learn about the work she’s supposed to do in The Orchid than getting it from the man who knows how it’s done. “I’d like a room next to Silas if that’s okay.”

Selene almost bumped at Godric’s if she had not caught herself and stopped walking as soon as she noticed him stopping and turning around to look at her. “You could have picked a room near mine.”

Selene blushed again. She wanted to kick herself for blushing too often around Godric Octavius. “I just thought it’s efficient to be near someone who can mentor me about the job.”

He shrugged. “I can train you, too. Anything and everything that you need to know, Selene. All the things you’re curious about.”

Selene could not help but blush again when she interpreted what he said with a different meaning. When she saw Godric’s playful smiles, she decided to walk and continue the house tour, touching her cheeks hoping they’d stop burning.

Why did he have to say it like that?

CALEB stepped out of the shower, drying his hair with a small towel over his head. He walked over to his fridge to get a can of beer then went and sat down on his couch, sighing deeply.

The night surely didn’t turn out how he wanted it to. It was very disappointing how Selene chose to go with Godric Octavius. He was planning to do a lot of things with Selene tonight so they could have a great time together, and make the evening a very special night they both won’t forget.

It turned out it would be unforgettable and heartbreaking. At least to him.

He now understood why he was so bad-tempered towards Godric when he first saw the guy. He didn’t know that he would actually be his rival against Selene’s attention.

What attention, i***t? She’s never even looked at you how you want to. His mind countered.

Caleb pushed his head back on the couch until his nape was touching the headrest. Suddenly, his phone buzzed. A text came in.

He stood up from the couch to grab the device that was sitting in the middle of his bed. His jaw tightened when he saw the content of the text message.

Dad’s always asking when are you coming home. – Mom

Caleb pressed the power button and the screen went black. He tossed the phone back on the bed.

Ever since he turned twenty-one, three months ago, his parents had been practically begging him to come home. He had only moved out from Clessau to Clairhill a year ago. He thought the reason for the request was just because his parents were not used to their youngest son being away for too long from them. They were such a close-knit family. And it came as no surprise when his mom sent him a text saying how much she missed him just a month after moving to Clairhill. But soon the messages started to become too imposing. Like it is imperative that he return. That something bad is going to happen if he didn’t. And he just could not understand how that could be the case.

Clessau is probably the quaintest town they had ever lived in. Ever since he was young his family has been moving from city to city, town to town, and everyone in his family just accepts it. No one asked why they kept moving like they’re running away or something. That’s why he’s never made a lot of friends. Because before he’d even make one, it’s almost time to pack their stuff and move again. It was probably the motivation behind leaving Clessau. Because when their family moved there about five years ago, something about the quiet rural town created a difference in his family’s routine. They never talked about moving again. They seemed to have found the perfect place to settle in. But Caleb did not like the steady, laid-back life in Clessau. So he left.

He started worrying, though, was there something his family was actually running away from all these years? And was it the reason his parents are asking him to come back? Are they going to return to their nomadic life?

Two days ago, his mom called and asked if he’s ever going to visit Clessau soon. He immediately told her he’s not coming back to Clessau, but that they can always visit him in Clairhill. Caleb could sense the sadness in his mother’s voice when she told him she hoped he would change his mind soon. He told her he’s sure that he’s staying in Clairhill for now. As the days passed by, her mom kept sending him messages telling him how much his family missed him and that they are waiting for him to go back to Clessau.

But he was sure he’s not going to do that anytime soon. He’s got his own life now here at Clairhill. His own little world. His people. Or maybe, for now, at least a person.

Even though it looks like that person already has their own person in their own little world, too.