Chapter 28 TWENTY-SEVEN

ARLEIGH'S POV The house was small. For someone like me who has lived all my life in the city hall, the house was relatively small and perhaps Laurent saw the grimace on my face that he gave me a look. "It's not much of a space but this space will protect you from the outside world," he said as he went straight to the kitchen to prepare something. "Why did you have a house down here?" asked Morgiana who was busy looking at the pictures on the wall which aren't even interesting. "There has to be someone down here to watch this town," Laurent said as he continued to prepare what I noticed was coffee. "Why do you need to watch this town?" I asked. Laurent turned to face me and he was bringing two cups of coffee. "You really should have listened to your dad's history stories when he was about to tell you." "Cut it out, Laurent. Her mother stopped her. How was she supposed to know Mr. Hawthorne was going to tell her something darker about this town? It's not her fault." I wanted to tell Morgiana to stop standing up for me but I don't know what to say to Laurent. He was right. Maybe I should have been more curious. I know they have some special meetings with the other founding families but I never really got interested in it. My mom was just trying to protect me. It wasn't her fault either. "We need to protect this town from the vampires but what happened last night-well, clearly, we didn't do a good job at it." Morgiana took the cups from Laurent and gave me one. "Does this have cream?" I asked and Laurent gave me a look with a raised brow. I cleared my throat. "I can't drink black coffee." Laurent did not say anything and just turned back to get cream before he gave it to me. I mumble my thanks as I sat down on the sofa. Back at school, he was always smiling and charming in a way that makes the girls at school want to have his attention. Including me. Now, I feel nothing but fear. I sat timidly in the farthest space and Laurent was still looking at me. I don't know what's on his mind and I don't want to find out. Thinking about living with him in this cramped space...I diverted my attention to the coffee I was holding. The mug was old and the coffee sat there, waiting for me to drink it. But my mind was somewhere else--on everything that has happened in a span of fewer than 24 hours. "Why did they do this to me? Did I...Did I do something to them?" I blurted out before I could even stop myself. I looked at Morgiana who was also looking at me. I couldn't read the look on her face but it certainly doesn't look like she was pitying me. The last thing I would want is for someone to pity me. Especially not Morgiana. Laurent, on the other hand, looked at the window that offered a view outside. "You did nothing wrong, Arleigh," said Morgiana, and I couldn't help but let out a humorless laugh. "You say that when all your school life, I was bullying you. Don't tell me that wasn't wrong." "It was wrong but it wasn't enough for you to go through this. Nobody deserved what you had gone through. It is not your fault." The more she says it, the more I want to dig up that bastard's body and slap him left and right. But he was dead. I saw how he was killed by Mr. Alaris using his bare hands. I have so many questions. "Why am I not safe there in the woods? Why are vampires and wolves enemies?" "To make it short, vampires are basically scared of the wolves because even a drop of a wolf's venom could kill them. On the other hand, wolves are also conscious of the vampire's speed and strength. Older vampires are insanely strong and feared." "So you could...kill me if you want to?" I asked as I looked at Laurent. A smirk formed on his lips and if I was still that normal high school student, I would have flipped to be the receiving end of that smirk. The situation's different now. "I could kill you if I want to, that's correct." He tilted his head. "But I won't. You may find this hard to believe but I abide by my words. I promised Alaris I will protect you and I promised myself the same thing. You have nothing to worry about, Arleigh." I swallowed hard and it was strange that I felt assured by his words. "And if you try and kill me, well, I wouldn't have a choice at that, would I?" He was grinning and yet one might think it was a subtle threat but for me, it wasn't. He was straight-up threatening me to keep my killing instincts at bay or else he will be forced to kill me too. I cleared my throat. "What about school?" "Do you want to go to school?" Do I want to? If I want to, that would mean I would see many people. I remembered hearing my father's pulse. I remembered hearing my mom's. And the next thing I knew was...I shook the thought away. "I don't want to," I answered. "At least not yet." For sure, my mother would take over temporarily my dad's duties. I don't want to see her. Not yet. I don't think I would be able to forgive myself for what I had done. "Alright then, I will visit here from time to time. Rest while you can, Arleigh. You'll be safe here," she said and I just nodded. She went out and I remained seated on the couch while Laurent did the same. He was staring at me as though formulating what he wanted to say. I had the sudden urge to call Morgiana back. "I heard you were constantly bullying Morgiana," he said and I wasn't expecting that from him. I looked away. "Why do you seem protective? Do you like her?" "That doesn't answer my question." His voice was calm but I knew better. "That doesn't answer my question, either," I answered. "I don't like her that way. She's mated to someone else." I don't know what he meant by that but I don't want to keep the conversation going so I didn't ask. "I did bully her before and before you tell me I am shameless, I know. I feel so bad for what I did to her after what she had done to me now." Laurent did not say anything and I only heard him sigh. He got up and took my empty cup to the sink. He then faced me from the kitchen. "Since you're going to live here I want to make things clear," he said and I nodded because I couldn't really say anything. "You will have your own bedroom and I will have mine. And of course, it's a given we won't be going into each other's rooms." I furrowed my brows as I looked at him. "I know that. I wouldn't go into your room, don't worry." The corner of his lip quirked up and it made me pissed for some reason. "Unlike your castle, we don't have housemaids here. So you'll have to do everything on your own. Even cooking." I can't cook but that can't be too hard to learn, right? So I nodded at him. "And you will not go out of this house unless you are with me." "What?" I mean I have no plans on going out either but... "What if I have the sudden urge to go out and you're not here?" "Then you'll have to wait for me, sweetie." "I can't do that!" "Yes, you can and you will. If you don't wish to be publicly executed then stay in this house and don't go out if you're not with me." "How often can I go out though? What if I want to meet some of my friends? I can't stay here all the time. People would wonder." He was silent for a moment as though considering what I said. "Fine. You can go out four times a week including weekends. If you wish to go to school then I will be with you too." It doesn't sound so bad. And besides, if I really want to be out, I need someone who would stop me if ever I lose control again. My finger went to touch the ring that Morgiana gave me. I am not sure if this ring is effective but this is all I got now. "Fine," I muttered and he nodded. "That's about it. I will leave you alone so you could get to know the house. And one more thing," he said as he walked to the door. "Don't let anybody in. Even if they are your friends. Vampires can't get in the house uninvited. And they are quite persuasive and so don't let anybody in. Apart from me and you, only Morgiana and Alaris can get inside." I don't know how that works but I just nodded. He smiled before he opened the door. "Be a good girl for now and wait for me." Then he was gone.