Chapter 4
"Velkan, please." Anna yelled, trying her hardest to follow behind him. Fuming and frightened out of my wits, I ran ahead, throwing the bloody handkerchief to the ground. Velkan looked back at Anna momentarily, stopping in his tracks.
"Anna…" he said, looking after me. Confusion had overcome him, he had no idea as to whether he should follow me, or listen to his sister. I kept my quick pace, trying my best to hurry away from this gruesome scene.
Tears had begun to flow freely from my cheek, as I felt a trickle of blood run down my neck. With my gloved hand, I reached roughly at it, rubbing the blood away, and leaving a crimson stain on my glove. I stopped in my tracks, turning to face Velkan.
"What did he mean by tomorrow, Anna?" I asked shakily. Anna did not know how to respond. She could only glance at her brother, confusion reigning in her eyes as well. I felt myself flush slightly. Anna slowly turned her clear gaze from her brother, looking to the floor in what appeared to be shame.
"He is a dangerous man." Velkan said simply. I laughed sarcastically in response.
"I think that point was made pretty clear!" I yelled angrily, holding my neck tightly. "Good night to you both." I said simply. Hurrying to the door, I opened it, running out and leaving Anna and Velkan alone.
I ran through down the large hallway, trying so hard to find some sort of exit. It took a few moments before I found myself at the main staircase, leading out towards the main doorway. I hurried down the stairs, hearing the hurried footsteps of them following me. I had just reached the doorway when Velkan caught me. He shut the door just as I opened it, startling me. I could only glare at him in pure hatred.
"It is dark." He said simply. "I hardly think it would be wise to run out into the night, wounded as you are." He continued. I backed away from him, turning to go back up the stairs only to find his sister at my other side.
"Then what do you suggest?" I said simply, holding my hands out and backing away from him. "I have no apartments rented here." He smiled.
"We do. You may stay with Anna, unless you prefer receiving another visit from the Count." He said simply, knowing how I would answer. I looked between the both of them, not understanding at all why they wanted to help me.
"Come, Naiara." She said, holding her hand out for me to take. I stood rooted to the spot, unable to move. "My brother will tend to your wound." She said. He had moved slowly from the door, coming to my side. I turned to face him. He smiled.
"I suppose we haven't met yet." He said simply, holding out his hand for me to take. My eyes widened in confusion as he held out my arm for me to take.
"No, we haven't." I answered. He smiled charmingly.
"My name is Velkan Valerious. It is quite a shame we had to meet under these circumstances." He answered. I looked downwards sourly.
"My name is Christine Naiara Aveire." I answered. "A pleasure to meet you." Anna smiled and laughed.
"I thought your name was Naiara. That is how your cousin introduced you." She said. I looked up and responded.
"That is not my Christian name." I said simply. Velkan smiled. "My cousin calls me by that name. It is a bit of a pet name you could say."
"Well, Christine," he said, taking my arm gently. "Now that the formalities are through. Would you care to join us in our apartments? We have much to discuss, you and I." He said. I resisted for some moments, until he pulled on me firmly, leading me up the stairs. Anna followed behind, I looked back to see her smirk at me.