Chapter 3 Bloodsucker!

Stacy looked at me for a good minute, something unreadable on her face before disappearing into a room around the corner.

She reappeared with a knife in her hands. “Jesus!” slipped out of my mouth before I can stop it.

I weighed my options. I could tell she was a vampire, if I tried to run, the probability she would catch up to me was extremely high.

I twisted my hands in its restraints. It won’t be easy but if I was quick I could use my ability on her before she was able to harm me.

She turns the knife back and forth in her arms, striding to where I’m planted to the floor.

When she reached me. She stared at me intently. There are specks of red in her eyes. I had to aim for her heart if I want this to be quick.

She raised her hand-the one holding the knife and stroked down once. At that same moment I stretched out my hands and-slice!!

The tearing sounds echo through the silence. But I’m still in one piece. And so is Stacy. Meaning she didn’t stab me and I didn’t touch her, fortunately.

She beamed at me. A saccharine smile gracing her lips. She had freed my wrists. “My name is Stacy .., Head maid and personal attendant to Master Lukas.” She did a little mock courtesy. “Welcome to The Morningstar Mansion”

If I hadn’t spent so long learning control, I might have burst into laughter there and then.

I had been antsy for nothing. I mirrored her curtsey, adding a little bow to it. “Nice to meet you Stacy. My name is Louise”

Her smile grew brighter, a pair of fangs peeking from her mouth. She pulled out her hand for a handshake and I smiled politely at her before she dropped it.

She led me into another room where a bath had been drawn for me. The scent of lavender wafts through the air.

“I wonder how dirty you must be for Master Lukas to warn me not to touch you” Stacy laments.

If only she knew.

“I’ll give you privacy now.” She added and closed the door to the bath house behind her.

I peeled myself out of my grimy clothes and drop into the bath. The water is scorching hot and a scream ripped out of my throat.

That bitch!

Acting all nice and innocent and sweet earlier. But she had this planned all along. But maybe she wasn’t the one who drew the bath.

I wait for a few minutes for the water to cool a little. I’m shivering when I drop back into the bath. The hot water is now a delight on my cool skin.

I began rubbing my skin with my palms. Washing the grime and sweat off my epidermis. A bar of soap lies on a platform beside the bath.

It would be nice to get some soap on my skin. I decide to risk it, if I’m careful enough, I’m bound to be successful.

This was what I discovered about my curse after several casualties. The touched object will only decay if I use all five fingers. No harm will be done if as little as a finger is absent.

That was how I picked up the bar soap, with my little finger sticking out to a different direction. Lathering it up, I scrubbed my skin for the second time.

Ah! Much better.

When I stepped out of the bath, I smelled of lavender. A contrast to my previous smell of sweat and flour.

I bent to return the soap and pause. I picked it up with all five fingers this time and watch it crumple into a heap of dust on the ground.

Good. That's pay back for trying to turn me into molten goo.

My stomach grumbled again, reminding me that I have not eaten for two days now.

I picked up my clothes and tried to put them back on when I spot a pair of fresh clothes hanging on a railing.

Contemplating if the dress was for me, I decided to risk it and put it on.

When I cracked the door open, I see that Master Lukas is done with his bath and seems to be speaking to Stacy about something. The sun has risen now and the rays cast a subtle glow on his perfect face.

His eyes slid over to where I was and the force at which I’m startled almost knocks me over. Stacy turns to see what he is looking at, and frowns when she sees me.

She quickly covered it up with one of her fake smiles and approached me. “What do I do with my old clothes?” I asked when she does. “I’ll take them. They are to be burnt” Stacy answered and took the clothes from me.

Lukas was no longer standing where he was when she leaves. Another maid approached me. She had short black hair that she wears in a Bob. Unlike Stacy’s uniform, this new maid had hers touching her knees .

A prominent feature about her was her eyes. They had no specks of red in them but there was no debate that she was a vampire.

She leads me into the dining room where the founding vampire is already seated. He seemed to be reading a newspaper but his expression couldn’t be more bored.

He lifted his eyes once I entered the room and they followed me from the door to the end of the table where I’m expected to sit. That was until Lukas lifted two fingers and made a gesture before pointing to the seat beside him.

Dragging my feet. I walked up to the designated chair and plopped on the seat. The maid left only to return with a tray of assorted dishes.

The aroma had my stomach grumbling and mouth watering. I am shocked when all the food is placed in front of me and none in front of Lukas.

Am I expected to eat while he watched. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s toying with me again.

A chuckle escapes Lukas “Don’t be humble now. You can go ahead. My meal is already here”

On cue a tall slender woman walked into the dining room. She didn’t acknowledge me once, eyes trained on the vampire at the head of the table.

He said his meal is here but she isn’t carrying any food.

When the strange woman got to where he sat. She plopped herself in his lap and bares her neck to him.

I watch, mortified, as Lukas sank his fangs into her neck and fed from her. I visibly witnessed her go from warm skinned to ash pale.

“Stop!” I blurted out, but he didn’t listen. All I did was turn his attention to me. His eyes were hooded  The lady’s eyes fluttered close and her hands dropped limp by her side.

Terror washed over me. It wasn’t my first time of seeing a dead body but I wasn’t desensitized to it like the monster beside me.

“Relax” He drawled, retreating his hands and leaving her body to collapse on the ground. “She’s not dead yet”

He lapped the blood off his lower lip with his tongue. “Now she’s dead”

Bile rose up my throat as the stench of blood filled the air. I tried to keep it down but I couldn’t and that was how I emptied my guts on the table of one of the most deadly men alive.

My head spun. I tried to calm myself down. I was doing this for my mother. I had to remain strong for her. My vision blurred and I felt myself slipping off my sit as unconsciousness washed over me. But not before I felt a pair of strong arms envelop my waist.