When I went to the main hall there was a man who I assume was the butler waiting for me. He led me to the dinning room, which was huge and spacious like other things I noticed in this mansion. The room held two doors each on the longer side and curtains to adorn them. The room wasn’t bright but a little darker than the other rooms, giving off vintage feeling.
Canrart and a woman were the only ones in the room, sitting and talking. The women looked to be not more that forty. His arm was still wrapped in bandages and I felt bad. When I entered the room Canrart looked towards me with a bright smile on his face.
"Lilly," he greeted, "Take a seat."
I walked towards the other side of the room, carefully pulling the chair so as to not to create unnecessary noise.
"Lilly this is Luke’s and my mom, Heather," he introduced me to the women. She had her straight blonde hair let down that reached to her shoulders.
"Hello," I said awkwardly with a smile.
"It’s good to finally meet you, Lilly. I hope you found the room comfortable," she said her eyes crinkling lightly and smiling.
"Yes, thank you," I replied gratefully that they had taken me in, especially after what my father said through the phone. I wanted to ask about the whole marriage situation but it would be better to ask the main person.
"Where are the others? They are always left when we have a guest," she said furrowing her brows while looking at the wall clock.
"They are here," I heard Canrart say and in came a girl running, who looked no more than seven years; a boy of the same age trailed behind her. Behind them, a couple entered with their hands linked. The woman was lean and tall, her bleached hair tied into a messy bun.
"Julie, stop running in the dinning hall," the women scolded the little girl with a hint of affection in her voice, "It’s a bad habit, Edmond-Oh you must be Lilly," she said suddenly looking at me, her blue eyes looking at me intently. It felt like I had seen her somewhere but I couldn’t point.
My confusion and question on my face must have been evident for Canrart to say who she was,
"This is Elvis’s twin sister Elise," he said and I made an internal oh in my mind. Both the twins had bleached hair, "That’s her husband, Edmond aka our cousin. Those two adorable minions there are their kids."
"Uncle Canrart!" the little girl whined making all of us laugh.
"Just adorable. Okay?" he asked her making her smile wide.
All of them took their seats and then came Luke, entering the room as his scanned the place. Out of all the seats that were empty, Luke took a seat right next to me. The whole time during dinner all of them bombarded me with questions of what I liked, where I studied, what candy I liked which was asked by Julie. I was glad that no one took out the topic of what happened during the weekend. Julie was a cute kid and so was her twin Paul, both of them were bickering about a cartoon while they had dinner. Once I was done having dinner, I excused myself to go up to the room.
I waited for Luke to come up to the room while I sat at the edge of the bed. I felt a little jittery as time passed.
"You seem tense," I heard Luke say as he entered through the door.
"I know about the whole keeper and fiance," I told and saw him stare at me for some while.
"Good," he answered walking across the room, "I believe you also know the reasons for it?"
"Yeah, I do," I nodded, "But making me your fiance...I’m not ready for it. I don’t feel that way," I tried explaining to him. A slow smile graced his lips, it wasn’t sweet but devils smile.
"Don’t worry, Lillian as time passes by you’ll fall in love with me and be ready what I have to offer you. You might feel frustrated and trap but this is how it is and is set," he stated walking towards me slowly.
"This is not the seventeenth century to do that!" I argued and I felt him close the distance, hovering on top.
"I have watched you grow all these years and gave you a chance. A chance to fall in love and make your destiny instead of being chosen but you picked the wrong person. I can’t let that happen again, Lillian," he said his dark green eyes boring into mine, keeping me fixated, "Don’t even think of escaping because I won’t let that happen. Sleep now."
Is this how it’s going to be from now? Should I just go with the wind without questioning it?
"I’m not sleeping in the same room," I said to which he frowned.
"Darling I won’t touch you while you fall asleep," he said chuckling, "Moreover, you need me to be close to you. Whose going to chase away your nightmares?"
"I don’t have any-"
"You don’t have now but you will start having soon," he said seriously now and my eyebrows drew closer in confusion not understanding what he meant, "Lilly, you didn’t have any past dreams because I gave my blood to you meaning a fraction of my blood runs in your veins. Elvis had put up the bind and it would have stayed until you didn’t see anyone die. But the problem is you did and my blood is not going to be enough to keep the memories away anymore. My presence is required at the time night for preventing and toning down the memories."
"Let’s try for a week. If nothing happens I’ll change the room," he offered, his eyes taking in my slightest reactions, "Only till we get married that is," he concluded. I bit my inner cheek thinking what to do.
"Okay," I answered softly.
When the time came to sleep, I took one side of the bed while Luke took another side to sleep. It took me sometime before I could actually sleep as the place was new. I was sleeping peacefully until I heard a shrill voice of a girl screaming. The voice was agonizing and I covered my ears but it was of no use.
"Lilly?" I heard a voice that I knew. When I turned, it was like a cold bucket of ice thrown at me.
"A-Ace?" my voice croaked. I was happy to see him but he looked sad.
"How could you?" I heard him speak, "You let him kill me and you are going to marry my killer?" he asked and I shook my head.
"No, Ace," tears filled my eyes and I couldn’t speak, feeling a lump in my throat. He was the one who broke my trust.
"How could you?" he repeated now angry with no hint of the person I knew.
Suddenly his chest formed a hollow hole and blood started spluttering on the floor. He screamed in pain and I couldn’t take it. Someone make it stop! His voice was filled with pain and it was agonizing to see what was happening. Stop. Stop.
"Lillian!" I heard a distant voice, "Darling, snap out of it!"
Focussing my eyes, I saw a concerned Luke’s face. I felt him wipe my tears from my cheek. He pulled me into his arms, rubbing my back soothingly and murmured soothing words. It calmed me down and I was able to breath normally. Before I fell asleep I heard him mutter to himself,
"I don’t think a week is necessary."