25th January, 787.
Vanessa's P.O.V
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Dear mother, it's been five months now. Christmas here was quieter than it use to be in the village... As well as the new year.
It was cold.
So cold at times I felt like there was nobody in the world for me, no one cares. I think about you and Nathalie daily, yesterday was her birthday and I promise I'll make it up to her!
The castle? Master Dante hasn't gone away for some time now, each night we share the same bed... But he's never touched me. I'm so free in here that I barely feel like a slave, but when I remember that freedom is just within these walls, I remember my predicament.
The master barely looks at me, although recently I've been trying to get his attention so he would have mercy on me and let me send my letters! I keep writing because it calms me and I need to have proof of my inability to send letters.
I've gotten very good at painting and the castle never seems to get less spooky no matter how many times I walk within the darkness.
I am lonely.
Every day I wake up, a meal is set on the dining table. I'm not sure who prepares it because I've never seen Chadwick cook. I'm not even sure where he sleeps!
There is no chef but the food is served three times a day.
There is no maid but a warm bath is prepared whenever I feel dirty.
There are no servants but clothing is set on the bed whenever I need to change.
Only three people live in this house but after midnight, I hear other voices.
At times I get so frightened I can't think. The master hides his face from me..... is he hideous?
What does he look like? Is he handsome? Does he have a scar?
I get so curious at night I want to hold a lamp to his face. They're going on a journey soon.....
And I'll be seeing you again.
____________________
With a light smile, I slid the lower drawer open before stuffing my paper among the pile of others. "I wonder what Natalie would think after reading this..?", I mumbled to myself.
She'd always been a strong girl... She never cries.
My eyes search both my sides as I pondered on what to do next. I'd already made a plan...
Once word of the day of their departure reached my ear, I would escape a few hours before time. When they realize I'm gone, they'd probably give up on looking..... being in a hurry and all.
Slowly getting off my seat, I moved to the window. From the position of the sun, it was about late noon.
My tummy made a low growling sound. "Oww", my left hand moved to rub it. "I'm so hungry".
With a few strides, I managed to reach the door.
"He's expecting you". It was the voice of a woman.
"You don't have to come here", Lord Dante's voice was calm.
I couldn't help myself from peeping through the slightly opened door.
Before my eyes was a goddess!
She was brown-skinned with golden hair and wore a fitted white gown that split at her thighs.
She was drop dead gorgeous, I couldn't help but feel a bit jealous.
"Who's there?!", the woman queried once our eyes met. "You dare eavesdrop? Come out!". Her voice was so threatening I felt my body freeze for some seconds before my feet moved on their own.
"Ye-yes?", I mumbled leaning on the door to calm my shaky legs. Why did this woman seem more frightening than lord Dante?!
With narrowed eyes, she assessed me.
Master Dante slapped his forehead without turning to face me.
"You have good eyes, Dante", her voice was mocking. "Is she your mistress?"
"If that's all you came to say, you can leave now".
I looked up to see her still staring at me. "Young, beautiful and....", her voice trailed off and before my eyes, she disappeared.
"Quite voluptuous", half startling me from behind, she groped both my breasts.
Speechless I looked down at my feet with embarrassment.
Just who was she? And why was she calling the master by his name?
"Get your hands off her...", his voice was sharp.
"Ohh?", she spun me around and then kissed me.
Kissing?!
I attempted to shove her away but she backed away faster than my hands could reach her. "She's slow. Is she human?"
"She doesn't smell like you". Were her last words before vanishing and appearing in front of the master again. "Don't tell me you haven't tasted her yet?"
When her smile dropped, I knew the master had sent her a warning glance.
"Okay, I'm going". She moved deeper into the left corridor. "Watch your back when you return".
It took me a while to put one and two together. Could she be the sister that he spoke of on the night I overheard them?
When I looked up again, master Dante was gone.
I could feel a huge presence behind me...
Recently, he'd stopped trying to hide his supernatural powers. "My l-lord", I stammered.
"You always freeze up, little mouse".
He'd been calling me that for a while. "My heart is very tender my lord"
I unconsciously gulped at the feeling of his right-hand tracing up my waist. He also teased me once in a while...
"I can see that", his hand stopped under my breasts. "Where did that filthy woman touch you?".
"Isn't she your sister?".
I could tell his lips parted to question me but he hesitated.
If I turned around now..... I would see his face! But what exactly would I see?
He wasn't wearing a mask before his sister left, but I might be punished...
What sort of punishment would it be? Did I care?
I suddenly spun around to meet his eyes.
My eyes widened, when did he put the mask on?!
"Chadwick went through the rules with you, didn't he?", lord Dante arched a brow with a grim expression on his face.
I bowed in annoyance, "Yes my lord. But I-"
"You nothing", he closed the gap between us by slamming his palm on the wall behind me.
He wasn't touching me, but I could feel my body heating up for some reason... Just from being this close to a man whose face was a mystery to me!
"May I...", I choked on the words before forcing them back out. "May I please see your face, my lord!".
Anyone could tell he had a mocking grin under his mask, it was hard not to know. "I've been here for months, I beg of you!"
He let out a raspy laugh before tracing his fingers about the skin of my cheeks. "Oww?", from the look in his eyes... I could tell his fingers on my skin were affecting him as much as it was me.
"If you see my face....", he lowered his head to whisper into my ear. "You'll be stuck by my side for all eternity"
Unconsciously, I gulped knowing that either way I'd be stuck in this castle for the rest of my life!
"I...". My hand slowly moved to the mask on his face. "I'll take my chances!"
He backed up before I could take it off.
I frowned in disappointment.
"Don't worry", he moved to hold my waist. Both our bodies were pressed against each other and my eyes widened when I felt his hardness pressing at my stomach.
My tummy growled back. "You're hungry?", he moved away from me. "Go and eat".
I couldn't deny the fact that he was right... But why did I feel so disappointed when he let go? And why did his sister kiss me?
Shaking my head in contempt, I decided not to think about it. Overthinking in this household could lead to madness!
After bowing, I made my way downstairs and to the dining area. Chadwick didn't come to talk with me today.....
I spent some time in the library.
When returning, I heard the master tell Chadwick they'd be leaving the following day.....
"Hhhhh", I yawned loudly so they'd know I was around and stop talking.
They did.
I didn't want to eat... Tonight would be my last day in this horror house!
A mischievous smile formed on my lips and that night I stayed up till the master returned. I wasn't waiting... Just thinking.....
He was a strange person.
Barely making a sound, he climbed onto the other edge of the king-sized bed.
'I want to touch him once more....'
My mind beckoned.
In some minutes, my body began to move on its own. "Just a little...", I whispered under my breath as my left arm wrapped around his chest.
His chest muscles were so firm...
Although I couldn't feel his heart pounding like mine was...
I took my hand away knowing he was awake, but he turned to face me. It was so dark and all I could see were those perfect scarlet eyes...
Once my lips parted, he kissed me...
His lips were firm and warm on mine...
His hand moved to the back of my head and I gripped his strong shoulders.
Was I kissing him right? I'd only ever kissed a boy when I was thirteen.
"More....", he broke the kiss to whisper as our noses touched.
We were both breathing heavily, could he have been wanting me as much as I'd been longing for him?
He raised me to his chest and continued kissing me, letting out a soft groan. When he'd begun to knead my butt, I moaned instinctively pressing my body harder on his.
"My lord...", I broke the kiss knowing what would happen if we were to go on..... the point of no return...
"I won't...", he cupped my chin with his free hand.
I nodded with a slight smile, although I could feel a wanting between my legs.
Time went by and we fell asleep in each other's arms.
The next time my eyes opened, I was all alone!
It wasn't fully day break because the sun hadn't risen, I waited for a while but the master didn't return.....
When I gathered the courage to check the bathroom, it was just empty. I was too scared to peep through the door when it was dark.
"This might be my chance...", I snapped my fingers before looking towards the window. I'd tied some sheets together to make a rope and stuck it to the wooden bed frame. Why was I trying to get attached to a demon?!
Who was to say he wouldn't attempt to kill me again?
Slowly lowering myself, the joy of being free made my heart skip. "Ahh!", I didn't have time to scream when the sheet I was holding onto loosened.
I wasn't that far from the ground..... but when I landed, something snapped. It was my left arm that'd broken my fall.
My eyes were blurry and my head was aching like hell.
'Get away!', those words were stuck in my head when I forcibly got to my feet. Although I couldn't feel my left arm, the rest of my body was moving on its own accord before I felt a wall ahead of me.
It was still quite dark and I could barely see.....
"You there!", I heard the voice of a male. "Whose servant are you?"
'Servant?'
He approached me even though his face was all a blur.
"Answer me?", his voice was sharper now.
"My head... it hurts...", my eyes tightened in pain right before my body went numb.
Then I felt nothing.....