Dinner

I couldn’t believe my father had ordered me to take care of this human. I left her in the chambers, and headed to the kitchen to make sure dinner was ready. The dining area seemed more alive. Flowers decorated the table, and there was enough food for an army, something that hasn’t happened in a while.

    “What is all this, Mother?” I asked her, as she was giving orders to the staff.

    “Well, this is not a normal dinner, dear. We are welcoming a new member to the village,” she said, fixing the red roses in the middle of our long, wooden table and it looked like they were planning to invite the whole town.

    “What are you talking about? There is nothing special about this girl,” I snarled, but she was not in the least intimidated. She looked at me with a smirk on her face, and shrugged her shoulders.

    “I saw the way you were reacting to her. Even though you didn’t want to see her straight into her eyes, she affected you, didn’t she?” she mentioned. I hated when my mother was right. But I was not going to give her that satisfaction. 

    “I am going to check on her, she is taking too long now,” I said, walking away from the awkward conversation we were having. Me, liking that woman? Impossible.

    On my way to her chambers, I could hear heavy breathing, and the sound of the water moving back and forth with such a rush had me curious as to what she was doing there. I walked in and at the same time she was running out of the washroom. 

    She bumped into me, her naked body was against mine and she was a sobbing mess. If she knew what she was doing, I was sure she wouldn’t be in my arms, crying. I was holding back, until she sobbed harder and I couldn’t hold it, I wrapped my arms around her and put my chin on top of her wet hair.

    “Dinner is ready, so you better get dressed and head down. It looks like my parents have prepared a special dinner for you,” I said, coldly, after pulling away from her, and checking my wet chest. She wiped her tear stained face and when she realized what she did, she covered herself and ran back into the washroom.

    I walked towards my chambers and closed the door, putting my head against it and with small punches, I calmed myself down. That woman was indeed affecting me. She was so delicate, the rose scent on her body was inviting and intoxicating.

I got changed to a white buttoned up shirt, folding my sleeves up to my elbows and a pair of black jeans. I combed my messy hair back and put on some cologne before I walked out and headed back to the dining area. There was still no one, so I decided to take a glass of our thick red liquid, a way to calm my anger.

    “Kieran,” Father called me and I turned around just to see her standing there, with a navy blue dress that fell down to her knees, her hair was down in natural waves and untangled. Her face was all natural, without any makeup at all and she still looked beautiful. She had freckles on her nose and cheeks and her blue eyes were just...hypnotic.

    “Yes, father,” I replied, with indifference. She put her gaze down, embarrassed at my tone of voice. 

    “Could you please guide her to a seat?” he ordered. With a frown on my face I extended my hand to show her the way. I pulled the chair and she sat down, looking tense and afraid still. She was not expecting for me to react this way after she threw herself at me, naked.

    “Do you get the habit of coming out of the bath naked and bumping into strangers to cry on their shoulder?” I asked, bringing my glass to sip the drink once again.

    “That was just a simple accident. I promise you it won’t happen again. As soon as I can, I will go back to my home,” she said, holding back from breaking down. Did she think there was going to be a home left after what she told us? She was living in a fairytale and pretty soon reality will hit her and hard.

    “I am afraid that won’t happen any time soon, darling,” Mom said as she sat to her left, “everything was destroyed, and there were too many deaths, your parents included.”

    Way to break the news, mom. I looked at Illyria to see her reaction. Nothing. Not even a tear or a frown, just….numb. It is like she knew there would be a possibility of that happening. 

    “We sent our men to check on the mansion. No one was alive. I am so sorry,” she said with softness in her eyes. She always had this caring nature towards everyone, and I always admired her.

    “It’s okay. I had hoped they at least escaped, but I am not surprised,” she took a deep breath and looked at the food in front of her, “you shouldn’t have made this much food. It is only me. I doubt you eat any.”

    They laughed at the remark, but I wasn’t in the least amused. She doesn’t know the struggle we go through to have our meal. I finished my drink and walked out of there, thinking about heading to the woods for a long walk. The full moon was giving me the energy I needed to walk a few miles away. 

    She must think I am rude, but being away from her, will calm my senses. I reached the mansion, and decided to take a look myself. I needed to find a clue as to why these beasts attacked. As I entered, I could see the corpses and the stench of blood hit my nostrils. 

    But there was also a distinctive smell that I recognized very well. A smell that I haven’t sensed in a while.

 The Almenian Coven...