Candela

“Have you been to a ball before, Candela?” It was Primo who asked beside her. They two are in the field, walking under the sunlight that’s not so hot. Men are scattered in the field. Doing the usual combat training as said by Lord Magnus so that everyone in the castle can be protected.

Lord Magnus also tripled the number of guards. Based on what she’s heard in the maids’ quarter, Magnus hired lots of skilled vampires for security purposes. It funny for her. How could be a ruthless lord like Magnus cared for his constituents? The last time she checked, Lord Magnus is nothing but a merciless Lord of their town. He is also the vampire who killed her parents without showing any mercy.

“Candelita?” She made stopped walking as she heard Primo’s voice again. And when she looked down beside her, there’s no Primo she could find. Not until she turned back. There, she saw Primo with his arms cross around his small chest.

All along, she’s been walking leaving Primo alone at her back? Impolite of her as his maid.© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

She quickly runs back to Primo’s place and then forces a smile. “I’m sorry for leaving you, My Lord. I’m just thinking of something that-”

“That cause you to space out.” Primo cut her words. “I’ve been talking to you but since you’re spacing out, looks like I am talking to myself.”

“My sorry…”

“Forget it.” They continued to walk again. “By the way, for my question… you haven’t answered it yet.”

“What question?” Is there any other question he’s asked her while she’s busy thinking about her lord’s father?

“Well, I’m just asking you if you have been in a ball before?” Primo chuckled while shaking his head.

“Ahm… when I was in the city, I’ve been in a party but not a kind of party that will hold here in your palace, My Lord. Sort of simple party and not a so elegant one.”

“Then the upcoming ball would be the first elegant party you’ll attend to?” She quickly shook her head. Attending on that party. She? Hell no.

“I wasn’t planning to attend to besides, I am still your maid. I’m not allow to socialize with those upper class vampires. Specially to you because I am just your personal maid-”

“But for me, you weren’t just a my personal maid. For me, you’re my best friend so I need you to be there.” She shook her head again. It wasn’t her plan and that’s final.

“But, My Lord… I am a maid in your castle. I am maybe your personal maid but all in all, I am still a maid. And maids are only allowed to help organizing the ball. I am just allowed to assist visitors and to serve foods. To wash plates and to cook dishes. So, my answer is still no.”

“But Candelita-”

“Ah, uh, uh… no buts, Young Master. You maybe my master or lord but I am still having my rights to say no whenever I want to. I won’t participate in the upcoming ball whether you agree or not. So, if you don’t have anything to ask, may I excuse myself?” Primo released deep breath as sign of defeat.

Using her vampire speed which she rarely use, she head back inside the castle. Just like yesterday, since the announcement, the whole palace was crowded. Busy just like a busy market of the city. And speaking of city, when will she able to visit Owen again?

She couldn’t call that man even she wanted to. She has no phone with her since the head pf maids comfiscated their phones. For security and work issue base on her. So now, she has no way to talk to Owen at least via phone. The pretense is stressing the hell out of her. Draining her every seconds, minutes and days. Good thing she able to to survive for being in the Crimson Palace for almost three months. The heck! She’s tired to hell but she can’t stop just because she’s tired or drained. Just thinking of how her parents were brutally killed by Magnus Crimson, it’s enough reason for her not to lose this battle. The battle that have started years ago, since she’ve witnessed that horrible incident. Since she saw the vivid scene of how her parents died while soaking on their own blood.

For her, it was a nightmare from her past. A nightmare that never leaves her since that noght happened. The nightmare that cause her to be this strong. To be like this now. She was the innocent vampire girl back then but when that happens, everything turns opposite. Who she is now is totally the opposite of she before.

Everytime she’ll look at her own reflection, she saw nothing but a Candela Rio who builds by that horrible nightmare. She can’t see the Candela Rio before who’s always wearing such dazzling smile just like how her father sees on her.

She just wish that whenever she’s done with her revenge, she could smile again like before. Even she misses those smiles and for her, she’ll be able to smile again like that when everything turned according to her plan.

When night came, Primo ordered her to bring food in his room and fed him. They eat together just like how they used to since the day they’ve been closed to each other. And now that she’s laying on her bed, she couldn’t help but to think of Primo.

He’s been nice to her and whether she admit it or not, her conscience’s hunting her. Everytime that she’ll think of killing Magnus, Primo suddenly appeared on her mind. The jolly face of Primo stopping her to work on her plan but now, she have decided to set it aside.

Her revenge first before her conscience. For goodness sake, Owen trained her in this kind of situation. Her best friend trained her to control her own conscience and manage it according to their plan. She’s been numb before, she felt nothing but pain ang hatred inside but whenever Primo gets closer and closer to her, her present state suddenly faded.

It was wrong, of course she knew it. From the very beginning, she knew that having sympathy to a child who’s destined to lost his father is not right. She shouldn’t feel guilty about what she’ll do right? She shouldn’t…

In the middle of her insane thoughts, she immediately got allerted when she heard the grating sounds coming from her window’s direction. It was dark, her room was so dark to the point that only her sense of smell and instinct are only capable to know who or what is around her. And to this point, she knew that someone’s eyes are drinking from her.

‘But why does it feels like I was so familiar on that stares?’

“Who are you?” She’s sitting in the middle of her bed while her hands are in front of her, ready to blow jobs.

She was answered by a chimes. Chimes coming from the only vampire who she knew that owns that voice. And what the hell is he doing inside her room? Can someone make her to understand?

“What are you doing here, Lord Blade?” she asked then the chime stopped. “What are you doing in my room in the middle of the night?” she asked again but all knew is, by the sharp movement of the boastful lord, she was pinned on her own bed.

Should she screamed or should she remain silent?