Lady Dracula (CURRENTLY EDITING)

Chapter 4

"Again. Slowly this time." Standing under an engrave of blinding red, the verdant-eyed man relished in his inhalation as he shut his eyes. The air shuddered with ancient magic, its unseen tendrils threatening to tear reality apart as they surged through its mortal owner's veins. The air crackled as it collided against anything standing against it, amidst the smoke it bellowed, a transparent ruby globe shimmered with tiny showers of thousands of diamonds, shielding the breathless man who could only stared wide-eyed and mouth agape.

"Well now," I grinned, leaning my weight on my other foot as I regarded him. "I wasn't expecting you to get that in your first week of training!" The force-field faltered, he fell to the tiled floors as the shield came undone. Sweat cascading down his forehead as he struggled to catch his breath. "Can you stand?" I came over to him, heels echoing. He took my extended hand, his knees shaking as he willed himself up. I caught him in time when gave out, giggling at him as he shot me a shy smile. "This, medallion it's uh, quite draining." He said in between pants, slowly catching his breath as he held on to my hands for dear life.

"Yves, could you prepare some tea for us? I think he ought to be rewarded." My ever-loyal canine friend yipped happily as he sauntered off, head held high. Ethereal blue candles near those two tall double doors flickered when Yves willed them open, a thunderous echo resounding in the vast training hall as they shut themselves. I led Louis to the red velvet chair lounge, and he slumped on the cushions, sighing as he buried his face on the soft pillows.

"I can't feel my legs." He said with a chuckle, all muffled.

"Would you like a restoration spell for that? I could teach you how to cast it."

"Won't it be faster if you'd cast it yourself?"

"Why would I do that?"

Louis faked an offended look as he pouted, brows furrowed as he let out a staccato of cries. "Why are you so mean!?" He dragged on, chuckling when I raised a brow at his antics.

Ah, what a strange man.

Following some random vampire, not caring for his own safety...I swear, it's like he doesn't even care for himself.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

"Pardon me?"

"You look like you're in deep thought, something wrong?"

"Well..." I cleared my throat, thoughts racing as I glared at the floor. Louis blinked expectantly as he perched himself on his elbows, hands pressing on his cheeks, making him look like my brother who would do the same when he waited for something. "I was wondering... why did you decide to come with me?"

His blank expression brought immediate panic to my core. I felt my heart thunder for a different reason for the first time these days, I felt terrified. Thoughts ate away and most of them proclaimed my fears, I could do nothing to listen to them echo in as he closed his eyes and spoke.

"I guess...it was just something to do." He replied quite cryptically. Averting his gaze, his earlier antics and joviality fizzling into nothingness as his eyes grew...distant.

"Penny for your thoughts?" I blurted, wanting the silence to go away. He turned back with a blank expression on his face.

It sent an uncomfortable bolt to my heart.

"Er, well, you don't have to if—"

He put his hand on mine.

It...it's so warm.

My throat gulped harshly, but when his words impaled through my skull. Something tugged at the very bottom of my heart. "For as long as I remember, I've always been alone. The kids at the orphanage weren't exactly welcoming to someone who frequently buries himself in books."