A/N: I don't really have much to say.
I said I would update more frequently, so here's the chapter 10!
Enjoy.
I do not own Elsword nor its characters or anything at all.
Coldness, wetness, the quiet motion of the water responding to her somnolent movements as it formed small waves around her body. Ara woke up when the first rays of light started to seep through the big windows of the mansion, but there was nothing more than the darkness of an extinguished candle welcoming her that morning. She felt her skin being extremely sensitive, as if it was just a thin layer of paper, and the water surrounding her exposed body was like ice freezing her up from the inside, numbing her limbs. Taking out the plug retaining the liquid inside of the bathtub, she got out as fast as her heavy body allowed her to.
Shivering, she quickly covered herself up with a towel she had left next to the tub the previous night, rubbing her skin with it in her way back to the bedroom. Ara dried herself up energetically, the contact of the towel against her feeling rough and hurtful, but she didn't mind. She made sure not a single trace of wetness remained in her skin before getting dressed as fast as she could with a simple dress and a black cape that reached slightly below her hips and covered her front and back entirely. Hoping the sun's light would be enough to warm her up a little bit more, she left the house in a hurry, sliding the cape's hood over her head as she closed the big gates behind her. Her mornings had an owner, a name written on them now and she wasn't one to back up with a compromise. That was, at least, the reason she gave to herself to be in such an unnecessary rush.
Her steps were quick and hurried almost without her realizing it. Not even the heat of the morning sun became necessary for an invigorating warmth to spread all over her body the more she walked away from the mansion and soon she had to start paying attention to her own steps to not trip over the skirt of her dress. It was a long walk towards the old castle, probably longer in her mind, but she reached her destination eventually and a strong knot formed instantly in her chest at the sight of the big woodened gates that separated her from its inside. She knocked on the door strongly and, just like the day before, an elderly maid received her and invited her to come in and wait on the lounge.
Sitting down on a big, red velvet sofa she hugged herself tightly, only now remembering the coldness that still lingered under her skin, not even realizing she had started to tremble quietly once again.
"I don't recall turning you into a vampire for you to be that pale" she heard a husky voice from the entrance of the room, not even noticing the steps that preceded his entrance. Her eyes met his once more, an electric sensation running through her spine. She stood up to greet him.
"Is that how you're going to welcome me? What a gentleman" she retorted with a reproachful expression, holding the cape close to her body. A short laugh was heard as a response.
"I figured we were past that sort of courtesy at this point, but alright" he said, making a short pause. "Good morning, Miss Ara, I'm glad you could come to make me company this morning as well. Care to tell me what happened to you?" he added while performing a short bow, a cocky smile displaying on his lips as he lifted his gaze to look at her once again.
She furrowed her brows, imitating his gesture before sitting down again. "I fell asleep while taking a bath" she replied with a deep voice, under her breath, turning to look away from him. It was certainly not something to be proud of. But even from her range of view, she could see the mocking expression forming on the male's face when his eyebrows arched and his smile became wider. Then, the laughter.
"My my, just how reckless are you?" he said, the derisive laughter still shaking his words slightly. She saw him walk in front of her, giving her his back as he approached the fireplace located in front of the coffee table by the velvet sofa, just beside a pair of high backed armchairs. Soon the cracking sound of the burning wood filled the room, the welcoming heat of the fire enveloping her. Suddenly the majestic, inhospitable room became homely, cozy and inviting. For the first time since she had stepped into the castle she felt actually welcomed, delighted to be there.
"You should come closer to the fire to warm yourself up. I will go ask the maids to bring you a cup of tea" he spoke up once again before leaving the room. She complied to his suggestion happily, curling up in one of the armchairs next to the fireplace. The soft light emitted by it charmingly illuminated her, casting shadows that danced on her skin along with the movement of the flames. She closed her eyes softly, enjoying the moment as a lovely warmth invaded her tenderly. The sound of his steps echoing across the lounge indicated his return, but she didn't open her eyes again, trying to lose herself in that embracing moment. She heard the clink of a plate being placed on the coffee table in front of her, then more steps stopping by her side and the sound the weight of a body made against the cushions. He had sat down on the chair next to hers, she could even sense the proximity without needing to see him nor touch him. And it felt alright.
When she finally opened her eyes she could easily find his, staring intently at her. The very same sensation that had crossed her so intensely the first time their gazes had met, that night at the ball, spread through her body like fire, bringing her to an invisible, heated embrace. She felt in awe once again, remembering just what was that had her mesmerized by him since the first day, that intense and scrutinizing look that seemed to draw her to him, threatening to drown her. She instinctively bit her lower lip, holding his stare for what seemed like an eternity. And then his face came closer and closer, making the distance between them disappear as she was unable, unwilling to move an inch. He leaned his body towards her, and she felt his strong arms surrounding her back tightly, a deep sigh escaped her lips from the bottom of her chest, her eyes closed again. The soft touch of his lips on her neck made her shiver, grazing her skin delicately. She perceived a faint hint of hesitation in those lips that barely touched her, that breath that tickled her neck slightly, delaying the inevitable pain of piercing fangs that came afterwards. An electrifying sensation shaking her only for a brief moment, then the pleasant wave of feelings that followed, flooding her. She couldn't help it, her arms instantly clung to his back, holding him tightly.
It was short, shorter than she had expected. She felt her body going weaker, but it wasn't nearly as bad as it had been the first time. He didn't move away nor backed up an inch; she didn't open her eyes or released him from her embrace, even now that his fangs had dug out of her flesh. There certainly was, to her, some sort of magic enchanting those minutes they spent like that, something that froze time and made it hard to break away, forcing her to hold her breath even if there was no reason to do so. There was no real reason for any of this whatsoever, but none of that really mattered. A heavy atmosphere had settled down in that room, only the crackling fire disturbing the silence that had accompanied their meetings so well until that point, the heat of the fireplace embracing them, the coldness of his hands burning her, the touch of his breath keeping her rooted to her spot.
Deep down she knew that after he had fed off her there wouldn't be any reasons for her to stay, the briefness of the task almost disappointed her.
"It's early" she caught herself saying in a whisper, not wanting her own voice to disturb the air between them.
"Yes" he muttered.
"You should have asked"
"I know. You didn't move"
"I couldn't"
The silence once more. Of course she knew it, of course she knew he was going to go for her blood. He liked it, he said it was sweet and last night it looked like he craved it. Of course he was going to get close and bite her neck, even holding her the way he did was something she could understand, he even did it the first time he bit her. But her? What reason did she have to hug him like that? And even more, to not let him go. Was it the hypnotizing charm of vampires that books talked about what made her cling to him that way? Accept his approach and keep him close? Was it? How unfair. She felt suddenly frustrated at herself for being so helplessly drawn to him every time he wanted her to, for being so defenseless against his supernatural powers.
"It's not fair" the words slipped out of her tongue once more, her confusion spilling out of her without filter.
"What isn't?" he questioned her quietly, both of them keeping their voices low.
"We already agreed on this. I told you I would give you blood. There is no need for you to use such tricks on me only to get what you want, no need for you to cast such a spell" she blurted out under her breath, burying her face against his shoulder even more. "It only takes you one look to have me completely surrendered to your will, you have so much power. It's unfair you get to take what you want while I get hypnotized like that" she said, trying to control her voice and keep her frustration from showing in her tone.
"Is it really like that?" he asked once again.
"Of course it is. Why else would I be unable to move a muscle when you do it? Why else would my stomach become a tight knot and my body go weak like that? Why else would I get rooted to my spot every time you give me one of those looks if it isn't because of that supernatural skill to hypnotize people at your will and for your will? I told you I was going to do this, you shouldn't do that to me" she explained, talking as if she was out of herself, letting the words come out in an unstoppable wave.
He remained silent for a full minute, the seconds passing by tortuously slow. Only then she realized her mistake.
"I was…unaware of that" he replied calmly, hesitantly. "I have never done that purposely".
She separated herself from him, breaking the atmosphere that just a few minutes ago she had been so afraid to destroy. Ara looked at his face, waiting for their eyes to meet again, but that moment never came. She realized how much he was trying to avoid her gaze, and a subtle feeling of guilt overwhelmed her from the core. Not knowing what else to do she stood up, fixing her slightly wrinkled skirt, and moved away from the armchairs.
"Could you please indicate me where the bathroom is?" she asked him curtly. She could clearly feel the new distance settled between them.
"Go upstairs. In the right side of the corridor, the fourth door" he said, his head down, staring at the floor.
Ara took a last glance at the male before leaving for the stairs, her chest weighing with uneasiness. For some reason she felt like something precious had been broken, but wouldn't even be able to point out what it was that pained her so much. What exactly had been destroyed?
Once in the corridor she spotted the indicated door. She didn't really have anything to do in the bathroom, but out of sheer instinct she had blurted out something to get more time. More time for what? It wasn't even clear to her. But just when she was about to push the door open, she saw the very same room that had caught her attention last time. Its entrance wide open, visible from her spot was a reading desk with a thick, clearly old book opened by its half, a dim, purple glow shinning around it.
She abandoned her original task and headed towards the open room, her body moving almost by itself, her gaze stuck at that mysterious book. After checking her surroundings and making sure no one could be seen or heard near she quickly went inside, approaching the bookrest as if its light were pulling her with an unknown force. The words written down on its yellowish pages belonged to an unfamiliar language that she couldn't decipher, but the words were distributed in a way that made it look as if they were incantations, songs or poems, something to recite. The page in which it was opened was marked by a silken lace. She examined it a little bit further, trying to find something she could actually read, but it was of no use. Though it was clear to her that it held some sort of magic in its words, for it to be glowing that way.
The sound of steps took her out of her focused state, causing her alarm. Moving swiftly, she managed to get out of the room before the head of her host appeared at the end of the stairs, but she couldn't make it back to where she was supposed to be before his eyes laid down upon her. She cursed under her breath.
"I am certain that is not the room I indicated before" he told her, approaching her slowly. "What were you doing there, Miss Ara?" he questioned her with a deep, calm voice. It was soft, yet it held a grim tone that made her stomach contract.
She didn't answer and held his stare instead, knowing perfectly well that any excuse she could give would be foolish. He got even closer, staring intensely at her until the distance between them wasn't more than a few inches, slamming his hand against the wall behind her, trapping her between it and him. She didn't move a muscle.
"What is it that you wanted from that room?" he questioned her once again, closing the distance between their faces.
"Nothing in particular" she answered merely, looking right back at him.
"It is not a very courteous thing to do to be snooping around other people's houses" he said, talking calmly still.
"I apologize for my rudeness" she said, not being able to move. Immobilized by his presence once again.
"Good" he said before taking a set of keys out of his pockets, closing the door behind them and locking It. "Just make sure it doesn't happen again".
He moved away from her, giving her space to move freely now that the book's room had been securely protected from intruders. But she couldn't take her eyes off him, there was something hidden beneath his gaze that gave her mixed feelings. His attitude, his tone right now had been as threatening as if he had daggers coming out of his eyes, but there was something more in them that made her doubt of the seriousness of his precautions. There was something she intuited that made her feel as if he were somewhat reluctant to act the way he did, a certain hesitation showing on the way his tone remained soft, and how he had abandoned the questioning without nothing more than a mediocre apology. It made her feel as if, even when he was the owner of the mysterious book, she could trust him.
"You didn't even touch the tea I had you prepared" he told her, starting to walk back to the stairs. But before he could advance too much she caught his arm, holding him tightly, retaining him. He turned back to give her a questioning look.
"What is that book, Add?" she asked him with transparency, staring right at him with a determined look shining on her eyes, tightening her grip on his arm.
She held his scrutinizing stare with a strong determination, already convinced that she wasn't going to back up no matter what, ready to face him. The moment he made their eyes meet was extended for several minutes, but she could have sworn it had been hours of a dense silence. Only when he finally answered she released him of her grip.
"Care to join me in the library?".
A/N: Hope you enjoyed!
Until next time.