Chapter 4 THREE

MORGIANA'S POV The cold bite of air on my skin was the first thing I noticed the moment I woke up. The next is the single table and the shelf. And the next is Mr. Alaris who was sitting on the chair in front of his table. That's when I realized I was lying on the floor. I immediately got up and realized that my clothes were still wet. I smelled myself and I almost gagged. I looked at Mr. Alaris. He was looking at me and judging from the grimace on his face, I could tell he could smell me too. "Remove your clothes and burn the damned thing," he said. I was about to say something when he jerked his head towards the other chair where I saw a pile of clothes. "Change into that." He then stood and walked towards the window. His back was turned against me and I immediately went to take the clothes. Then I realized he wanted me to change inside his office. "Mr. de Marcel--" Before I could even ask the question, he already answered it. "Change here," he said, still looking at the window. It's uncomfortable removing my clothes in a room with someone else but I don't have a choice. The hallway was already packed with students and if I go out there now, they would find another way to insult me. I've had enough insults for today. With quick hands, I removed my clothes. But when I was left with my underwear, Mr. Alaris suddenly faced me "Oh my god!" My hands were quick to cover my exposed body but Mr. Alaris didn't care. He walked closer to me and I could feel my heart ratcheting into a thunderous beat. "Mr. de Marcel, I am changing--" "I know," he said. His voice was low and the way he looked at me made me feel like I was already stripped naked. I was breathing hard as he walked closer and I couldn't help but sigh the moment I smelled him. God, I want to swim in his scent. "Do you know what you did to those girls?" he asked. His eyes never left mine. I tried to recall what happened before I woke up in his office. I could remember the feel of the water on my skin. The smell of it. The face of Arleigh as I walked closer to her, the sound of broken bones, and muffled screams. Wait. Broken bones and muffled screams? My eyes widened as I looked at Mr. Alaris. He was looking at me as though he knew I figured it out too. "That's right," he said. "Two girls have broken wrists. How did you do it?" "I am actually asking the same question now. I don't know how I did it. Was it me who did it?" For a moment, I forgot that I am naked in front of him but I was more concerned about the fact that I might have broken the bones of Arleigh's cronies earlier. I want to feel good about it but I just can't. Who breaks people's bones? And to think that I didn't have breakfast today to give enough strength to lift a trash bin--how would it be possible for me to break bones? I saw how Mr. Alaris' eyes narrowed in my direction. "You don't know how you did it?" "If I had known I could break bones, I would have broken theirs a long time ago. I don't know what happened," I said but then the look of understanding crossed his face. Then his eyes went down to my chin, to my barely covered chest, to my stomach, and then to my bare legs. My arms did little to cover what needed to be covered. When his eyes went back to mine, I could have sworn his eyes glinted into something...feral. As though he's hungry for something. Whatever it is, I don't know but a deep part of me wanted to find out. I stepped closer to him and his eyes narrowed a bit. As if waiting for my next move. I met his stare barely as I almost buckled to my knees. What on earth is this man doing to me? I dared to reach for his arm and he did not stop me. My eyes went to my fingers as they touched his skin. When I looked up, he was still looking at me but his eyes looked like he was having an internal battle with himself. Before I could even touch him fully, he took his hand away and stepped back. "Get changed and get out," he said and left the room, leaving me dumbfounded. What an idiot you are, Morgiana. *** ALARIS' POV Morgiana Davis has made things difficult for me. Ever since I saw her in the dressing room that day, I couldn't get her off my mind. And earlier today, before I fucked Ms. Mont, Morgiana's face was the only one I could think of. I shook my head and stayed silent. This part of the outskirts is dense with trees so it was easy for me to hide. I stood next to a tree as I watched the house in the distance. The house that I have been watching for a few months. The house where Morgiana Davis lives. I have watched her routine and memorized them in an instant. She doesn't eat dinner with her aunt and uncle. I had the impression that they were not too fond of her. So after they eat, Morgiana eats alone and then goes to bed. But not without reading something before sleeping. At school, she was the subject of bullying too. It's because she doesn't belong in this world. Or any world for that matter. She's an abomination. I watched as the kitchen light disappeared. Then my eyes darted towards the attic where her room is. From the window of her room and with my enhanced eyesight, I could see her removing her clothes and changing into something. I felt the same sensation again and I cursed myself before I turned away. When I think she was done, I started observing her again. Today is her birthday and today is also the day that everything will change. I have waited for so many years to let the vampires pay. And that payment starts tonight. I was about to walk closer to her house when I saw a small light emerging from her room. I stopped walking and realized that she was lighting a candle. And that's when I realized she was celebrating her birthday alone in the dark. *** MORGIANA'S POV I wasn't surprised when no one bothered to greet me happy birthday at home. It was better since I don't want to hear anything from my aunt. Mercifully, she did not say anything to me. That was the closest to a birthday gift she could give me. I sat on the floor and opened the small box I had bought earlier. I lit the small candle and the light illuminated the strawberries on the cake. I closed my eyes and made a wish before I blew the candle. But as soon as I did it, my eyes caught a shadow in the corner of my room. I was quick on my feet but I forgot the bed was behind me and I stumbled upon it. When I looked back, I saw the shadow was already over me and before I could shout, a hand covered my mouth. I thrashed but the man was bigger and stronger. I tried to claw out his arms but it was no use. It was when I slowly stopped thrashing that the man removed his hand from my mouth. And that's when the scent came in. A very familiar one. I fought and tried not to close my eyes but whatever it is he did to me was too strong. I was already losing consciousness when I remembered the scent. It was Mr. de Marcel's.