Chairs screeched across the marble floor as the mortals dropped to their knees, masters and servants alike.
Still frozen in my spot, I failed to do so, until a matron dragged me down rather unceremoniously, causing me to hit my bony knees on the marble floor.
The impact sent tears to my eyes, but I quickly blinked them away.
The vampire's eyes were on me.
I could feel his scorching line of sight.
"Sir, I assure you that our Charmaine has never once suffered any grievances within our household! She is as dear to me as her elder and younger sister!"
"Hmmm..."
Elijah Blackwood rubbed at his chin lazily as he watched the quivering crowd beneath his boot.
"Are you saying that I am wrong, then?"
My father's face turned as pale as a white paper.
"No, Sir, I wouldn't dare... How could you be wrong? This is all just a misunderstanding... Yes, a misunderstanding."
Everyone held their breath, as if they could avoid the vampire's wrath by doing so. I stared at a particular spot on the gleaming marble floor, wondering what would become of me.
Technically, I didn't do anything wrong.
I had not even said a single word and spoken about the mistreatment that my mother, Shireen, and I had to endure for years.
So I should be safe. Right?
"Lift your head and look at me, wench."
The tension in the air multiplied. Next to me, the matron pinched my lower leg. Still, I kept my head lowered and my eyes trained to the floor.
Until the vampire lost his patience.
"I am speaking to you, wench."
I didn't even know when he moved, but he reached me as fast as lightning. The tip of his boot was lodged under my chin, forcefully tipping my head upward so we would look into each other's eyes.
I could see fury burning in the depth of the purple eyes although his expression remained the same --- cold, detached, with not a single drop of compassion.
"Have you, or have you not been mistreated in this household?"
I wanted to say no. I really did.
But my mouth defied my brain and a single word escaped me.
"Yes."
Afterward, hell broke loose.
A cacophony of screams filled the air as heads rolled.
First my father's, then Lady Calthorpe's, and then the other elders of the family's.
Guards deserted their position when they witnessed the horror, their loyalty ending the moment their master perished.
At last, only two young women remained.
My younger half-sister, Clementine and I.
Clementine was shivering from head to toe. Her face was wet with tears.
She crawled backward, but when she stumbled upon a mutilated corpse, she tossed out a terrified shriek and cried in anguish, "Don't kill me! Please don't kill me! Take me as your blood slave if you want, but please don't kill me!!!"
Elijah Blackwood licked his palm, savoring the taste of blood that ran past his long, slender fingers.
"What makes you think I want you as a blood slave?"
Clementine did not even get to scream before her head was severed from her body. The blond hair, drenched in the blood of her kin, now joined the others on the floor.
My breath hitched as I stared at the face of death, smiling ominously as he gave me his full attention.
"What should I do with you, hm?"
My lips trembled, my voice small as that of a dying bird. But I said the only thing in my mind at that moment.
"Please, Sir. I wish to live."
For once, the vampire's cold eyes gave way to something that bore semblance to warmth.
"And live you shall."
He reached out and caressed my cheek with his bloody hand.
I did not remember anything else that happened afterward, because I passed out soon after.
I woke up some time later to a hand caressing my head.
I opened my eyes and saw that it was my mother. Not the mother I was forced to acknowledge but my actual mother.
"Charmaine..."
She was safe.
Relief flooded my heart.
My mother was safe.
I pushed myself to a sitting position and saw that I was lying in one of the Calthorpe House's chambers, now deserted after the master and his family were slaughtered by Elijah Blackwood.
"Mother, what happened? Did that vampire do anything to you?"
My mother shook her head slowly.
After the massacre, the entire house was vacated. Some serfs were bold enough to loot whatever treasure they could fine. No one was there to watch over me, so I searched for you.
My poor daughter, your father and everyone else are dead. I am so glad that you are still alive."
My mother pulled me into a hug and cried against my shoulder.
"Mother, don't cry. We are finally free. Let us make plans for our future. We will surely be very happy together."
For once, I had some expectations for the future.
For once, I was filled with optimism.
Until we both saw the two tiny holes, lined up neatly at my neck.
It was the mark of a vampire.
And I knew whom the mark belonged to.