Chapter 3-Vampire Man
1037 Words
Elora’s POV
Oh no.
The entire family turns to me and I swear I want to die on the spot.
Damien turns to look at me. His dark eyes roam over my person and he drops his fork.
“Why are you dressed like that?” He hisses out. I don't know what to say so my eyes dart around the room as I stutter.
Be the perfect wife… Stepmother had said.
I immediately apologized to him and turned on my heels, going back to dressing more appropriately. How was I to know that the family ate in suits and dresses?!
Was that why Isabelle was smiling like that? She knew I would embarrass myself…
I clench my eyes shut as I close my room door behind me.
If I disgraced myself here, my family would be disappointed. Every action I took here determined how strong Damien's connection with my family would be.
I could not afford to keep being a weakling.
Quickly, I pulled out one of my many dinner dresses— the Matheos were also keen on dinner parties.
It's a sultry wine-colored strapless dress. A high slit runs through both sides, exposing my legs. I don't wear heels; it feels stupid. I put my hair in a ponytail and dust rogue on my lips.
I remember now.
It was not that they all dressed in fancy clothes every night.
They were having a meeting.
I remember Damien screaming in the morning and then crying at myself for being so foolish.
Sighing, I left my room and went back downstairs to the dinner hall.
This time, I raised my head and shoulders, trying to appear unfazed by the embarrassment I went through some minutes ago.
I walk over to the empty chair just beside the head of the table where my husband sits.
He's saying something but pauses to look me over. I see a tiny bit of approval pass through his eyes before he looks away.
Internally, I feel relief. Immediately I sit, my eyes meet those of the stranger opposite me.
It's him.
The man who had called me out. I frowned in displeasure and watched him raise an eyebrow.
Looking more at him; observing his gaunt, chiseled features and knowing expression, I realize why he feels familiar.
The painting.
“So, Damien,” he says. His voice is low, deliberate — like a hissing snake. A shiver goes over my body and I look away from his face.
“Tell us about your new wife. She looks like she's too shy to introduce herself.”
Damien glanced at me, chewing on a piece of meat. “I knew nothing about her. Married her five days ago or so. Don't really care.”
Someone on the table coughs; I feel like there's a huge stone sitting in my throat. The maid setting my plate down smirks a little.
I swallowed the stone. Obedience first. Behave.
The table becomes full of chattering immediately, so I pick up my fork and begin eating. The food tastes like ash and my eyes are burning.
I reach for my glass of water and sip. As I put it down, I notice a pair of green eyes fixed on me.
I don't know his name, but I'm already irritated. He looks like Damien's older brother only— they look nothing alike.
Damien was a general type of handsome; broad shoulders, intense eyes, supple lips and thick hair.
This man though…
He was strange. He looked like a vampire, if they were real. His skin was pale, and his eyes were hollow. The thick black locks on his head was the only sign of health.
He looked like an immortal.
I averted my gaze, very uncomfortable with his stare.
“So my dear, when will we be expecting an heir?” one lady asks. She has a striking resemblance to Fernando, so I assume she's Damien's aunt.
Damien uses his napkin to clean his lips.
I forced myself to take more bites of the pasta on my plate.
“Don't tell me she's for fancy? This was the reason you took a wife, no?” She continues.
I swallowed more pasta.
“Don't worry aunt. We'll get to that,” my husband says coldly.
“Is she giving you any trouble? All these whoring girls! They f**k around outside marriage, but when it comes to their husbands they pretend!” This comes from a man at the far end of the table. He sounds like he's chewing on everything on the table.
Another family member, a cousin perhaps, speaks up. “Perhaps Damien isn't just interested. I mean…she's not all that.” The girl laughs and another follows.
They're talking like I'm not here.
My plate is empty, so I begin drinking water, desperate for nothing at all to do.
“That's enough.”
The table immediately goes silent. I looked up, sweating and trying not to cry on the spot.
It's the vampire man. He didn't touch a single bit of food on his plate.
“Damien, you abruptly called for this meeting. Let's discuss what's important.”
“Yes, stepbrother.”
Stepbrother?
Damien's tone was totally respectful to this man all through. And he seemed to have an effect on everyone else.
Madam Alejandro coughs where she sits.
“Our family's cartel, as you all know, is currently in control of the entirety of Europe's black market. Recently, there has been some very suspicious activity. I have reason to believe there's a spy among us.”
There's a pause. I look at the man opposite me and find he's already staring. I shifted on my seat; reached for my glass.
“For as long as I am searching for this spy, all of you must remain in Spain and live within the villa. I want to keep an eye on everyone,” Damien says with finality.
The vampire man is still looking at me with absolutely no expression. It's enough to make me fluster; I lose my grip on the glass and water spills all over the table.
Some droplets landed on his face. He smirks.
Damien bangs the table.
“What is wrong with you?!”
- Writer
