I thought he was not going to hurt me, but I was wrong. He ordered someone to bite and suck my blood. He was cruel. He almost died at the hands of his girlfriend.
I should have known...
Eliza gently put a cold, wet towel on my forehead as I silently cried on the bed. I lost my consciousness after Stephanie almost killed me. When I woke up, I was convulsing with a fever. Eliza took me from the basement and helped me. I was thankful to her, but to her cruel master? I don't think so. I hate him. I hate him and his girlfriend.
"How are you feeling, miss Navelle? Feeling better now?" she asked after getting my temperature. I didn't answer her. My fever had died down a bit but my head was still painfully aching, and so was my heart. "I think you should stop crying now. It may be the reason why your head keeps on hurting."
But how could I?
How could I stop crying when I just heard that my parents weren't exactly the people I knew? How could I stop crying when I just learned that they killed lives? Innocent life or not, no one held the right to kill someone.
They showed me no evidence that my parents actually did those things to their loved ones. However, basing on their facial expression and the hatred in the depths of their eyes, I knew they were not lying. What would they get from lying anyways? My mere existence is nothing to them. They could kill me anytime without them telling me the truth. But they did tell me.
And my heart was breaking in betrayal. Betrayal at how I lived such a beautiful life knowing that all those things I've got were from them killing lives. My heart was breaking at the realisation that I didn't deserve all those things my parents had given me. In exchange for my luxurious life, someone has to suffer. It's too unfair.
But even so... I could not hate my parents. I tried to think that what they said was all nothing but a plain lie. They were lying to me. They want me to suffer emotionally. Isn't this what they want? For me to die? Maybe killing me in a less painful death wasn't enough for them. They want me to experience dying slowly yet painfully.
"I'll get some lunch and your med," I heard Eliza said before I heard the door gently open and close.
Tears were flowing down from the corner of my eyes, wetting the pillow. My eyes were closed and I refused to open it, afraid that when I did, everything would be drawn upon me. I'm scared to face the reality.
My parents won't do such horrible things...
...do they?
**
It's been days. I've never seen him since that day, nor his girlfriend. I was relieved. I can't stand seeing their faces right now. I'm still in a stage of denial.
How? How could my parents kill lives?
I closed my eyes as tears streamed down on my cheeks. The fresh wind gently caressed my face as if it was soothing me to calm down. I smiled sadly and opened my eyes again.
I stared at the beautiful rose in front of me. I am tempted to pick it up but I'm afraid it will die when I do so.
So I just made myself content while looking at it. It was so beautiful and healthy.
"Why don't you pick it up?" I heard a voice from behind.
I jumped as I clutched my chest as it leaped due to shock. Looking over my shoulder, I saw a man sitting standing behind me with his hands on his pockets.
My lips parted in astonishment as I looked at him from head to toe. He was wearing a white long sleeve polo, dark jeans, and a white sneakers. His hair was a little bit curly and silver. When I looked at his face, I could immediately tell he's beautiful. He has pale skin, tall and lean body, turquoise blue eyes, dark and thick eyebrows and lashes, sharp nose, and pinkish lips.
He smiled charmingly. "My apologies for startling you, my lady. I was just wondering why aren't you picking up the rose when it's clear you want to hold it."
I opened my mouth to answer him but before I could, he swiftly went beside me and took the rose from its stem. He removed the thorns before giving it to me.
"Anyway, let me introduce myself. I'm Rasheb Akiro Maxwell, nice meeting you...?" he trailed off and looked at me shyly.
"N-Navelle..." I uttered, flabbergasted.
His eyes brightened up. "Oh, well. Nice meeting you, Navelle."
He extended his arm for a handshake. I blinked my eyes as my gaze went down to his extended hand. I reluctantly took his hand and shook it with mine. His hand was cold.
"T-Thank you, s-sir..." I said as I accepted the rose.
He shrugged his shoulders in a nonchalant manner. "You're welcome. Are you afraid to take the rose?"
I shook my head slowly. My body was being cautious about this stranger. He may seem nice and friendly but he's also a vampire like them. He also has fangs and he could kill me any moment.
"N-No..." I replied stiffly.
He noticed my discomfort and his brows furrowed. "Hey, relax, Navelle. I won't bite. Oops, my bad. I do. But I won't do it to you without your consent." He grinned, a blush appearing on his cheeks as he scratched his neck awkwardly.
He looks cute, though.
I'd never thought vampires could blush.
They seem to be lacking blood...
I smiled softly. "Thank you..."
He waved his hand in the air dismissively and smiled kindly at me.
"So, Navelle. You like this place, hmm?"
"This is the only place I like in this house," I said with a smile on my face.
"Hmm, I see. Anyway, why are you crying? A beautiful lady like you should not be crying."
I sighed and lost my smile. "I have a question. I hope you don't mind..."
"Sure, what is it?"
"If..." I took a deep breath and stared at the rose on my hands. "If s-someone told you your loved ones were killing lives, would you believe it? Would you believe it when you knew your loved one since you're a baby? Would you believe it when the people they said to be killing innocent lives have been nothing but a loving and supportive family to you?" I asked.
A long deafening followed my question.
"It has something to do with Traiver and Stephanie, isn't it?" he asked.
At the mention of those two names, I stiffened.
I pursed my lips as my grip on the rose tightened.
"Well, you see. Everything happens for a reason. Maybe they did it, maybe they did not. Either way, there has to be a reason," he answered. "Just like mafias, once you're in, there's no turning back otherwise you'll be executed. The reason why they couldn't stop doing what they're doing is because of that reason. Everything that happens is not always a heart-willed choice. Try to look at the better side, Navelle."
When I thought of his answer, I somehow felt relieved but not totally. My chest was still heavy with guilt and betrayal from my own parents. Thinking back, I actually didn't know what my parents do for a living. All I know is that they've got business which requires travelling from time to time. I actually didn't know anything more than that.
"B-But... What if all they said was true? What should I do? What am I supposed to do? To feel?" my voice cracked and a tear fell upon the petals of rose.
"Try to hear either point of view before coming up with a decision. I know it must be hard for you but I know you'll get over it, trust me." From the corner of my eyes, I saw him scratching his nape once again. "Hehe, that's all I could tell you. I'm not a good speaker and I sucks giving advice." He chuckled awkwardly.
That put a smile on my face. I looked up at him and flashed a grateful smile. I wiped my own tears through the back of my hands. "Thank you, again."
He chuckled and took the rose from my hand before tucking it on my ear. "Well, I won't be accepting your gratitude unless you'll come and have lunch with me. Sounds great, yeah?"