Lord Motte's Vampire Bride - Version 1

Dinner Begins

I come to with him supporting the back of my neck and gently lifting my head to drink water. The cool, refreshing liquid rushes down my throat, giving me the instant relief I needed. 

The relief was short lived as I remembered where I was. 

"Don't worry, girl. I would never kill you without giving you a chance." His deep voice rang in my ears as my body shook with worry. I can't sass my way out of this if he truly is who he appears to be. 

"But, you do deserve some sort of proof. Otherwise, this very well could just be some sort of sick game a maniac could be playing with you. You deserve to know that I am who I say I am." He stands beside me as I stare up at him. This time, I found that I was indeed shackled down once again with similar, but gentler chains. 

I let out a quivering breath and shake my head, chanting at myself to not burst into tears no matter what. "It's fine. You do not need to prove anything to me. I was a fool to think you were anything else." 

It was true. The mere close proximity was unfairly pounding my heart at a million miles an hour. My head spun like a twister, and my stomach was in knots. Just looking at the monster drives me into panic mode. 

I don't see how any human could have that effect on me. 

 "You're right. The mansion is exactly as I knew it would be." I breathe out in a hushed whisper. 

Lord Motte sits down beside me quietly and looks at me, almost sympathetically, and turns my chin towards him. "Don't fret. Everyone gets their fair chance." 

"And in all the years you've been doing this, none have succeeded. I don't see how that is fair." I try to force down my whimper and speak as confidently as possible. "Either...every girl that's walked in here is a useless airhead who would get on anyone's nerves, or you're painfully, and unreasonably picky." 

The corner of his mouth lifts in amusement. 

"I'm guessing it is the latter," I growl, leaning forward menacingly.  

"You wouldn't be wrong. If you've been looking for as long as I have, you wouldn't just settle for the girl just like the last pitiful one, now would you?" He remarks smartly.

"And why did such an endless task come to be? Why slaughter those that aren't worthy enough to be your bride? Why corner them in your grotesque mansion and force them to seduce you when they have no reason to even think you worth seducing?" I'm nearly shouting by the end. "You think you're some sort of prize when really if you ever do decide to choose your bride, your marriage will be nothing but a sadistic ruse and she'll try to murder you in her sleep for forcing her to marry you."

He narrows his eyes curiously and leans closer. "Those are some good questions and accusations that I've certainly never heard before." He replies, thick with sarcasm. "Though, I haven't had my mansion called grotesque before. I'll give you that one." He gestures to me in amusement.

"You're nothing but an impossible to please monster. Vain, and vengeful that he never had a bride who would willingly marry him." I have to stop the urge to spit on his feet.

"Nasty words, but very heartfelt. I can tell you everything eventually, dear, but in the meantime...do you wish to save your own life, or not?" He slightly smirks and waits for my answer.

I want to slap his pale face into next week.

"Is it even worth trying? When there's not even a 0.2 percent chance I'll be any different than every other girl who's walked in here?" I hiss. I can feel the hopelessness sinking in once again past the anger currently compelling me to talk back so viciously.

"Oh, not unless you think yourself not worth saving. Dear girl, I hope that isn't the case! You're entertaining." He grins. "Also, impressive math. Is that an educated guess?" 

I scoff and look to the other side of the room, absolutely repulsed by his mere glance at me. 

Lord Motte remains silent and stands to exit the room just as silently. He returns with a full plate of food, concealed by a steel cover. I watched hungrily as he sets it in front of me. "Thought you might be famished. Have some." He tucks himself back into his chair and whips out a napkin for me. He sets it in his lap and another in mine. I watch closely, equally surprised, and disgusted that he was brushing against me, but also focused entirely on the food. 

"May I have my hands untied to eat?" I whispered, worried that if I used a harsh tone he would refuse. 

"No problem, since you asked so politely." He dares to flash a genuine smile my way. 

I gulp, swallowing my fear for a second. He unlocks the chains delicately and sits once again alongside me. 

"Now, let's eat, while you tell me about yourself. Anything you deem worth mentioning." He says casually, not even looking towards me as he pulls out a wine glass for each of us. "Wine for you, and blood for me." He chuckles, popping the cork of a clearly ancient bottle of red wine. 

I watch in a daze as the red liquid glugs into my glass. It is perfect, I can tell. 

"I assume you like wine?" He inquires.

"Of course." I instantly reply, nearly letting a smile slip. 

He smiles back, and takes off the lid, revealing my food. 

I nearly choke in horror at the odd choice. "The burger from the diner? A-and fries?" 

"Isn't that what you like?" He raises his left eyebrow quizzically. "I'd want your potential last meal to be a good one, don't you agree?" 

I'm flabbergasted. "How d-did you get this? When did you go there? Y-you, leave the mansion?" 

"No, but I have my ways of getting what I want. You think my existence consists of just waiting around for you girls? That I don't know what is beyond my mansion?" He snickers, shaking his head. To my astonishment, he is having my burger as well. While I watch with my mouth agape, he pours his own wine too...though I doubt it is wine. 

I frown deeply, showing my disapproval. He catches my glare and shrugs. "You can't help what you are, can you? You of all people should know that." He sets down his food and wipes his mouth carefully. "So, tell me, what can't you help about yourself?"