KEILAH
As my eyes landed on Ralph and Damien standing in the living room, my heart plummeted, and a chill crawled up my spine. The sight of them made my blood feel as though it were draining from my veins, leaving me cold and vulnerable. I instinctively moved closer to my aunt, a protective instinct kicking in, as if they were a threat to her safety.
But amidst my shock and fear, a surge of questions flooded my mind. What are they doing at my aunt’s house? More importantly, how did the vampire… How did he find out about my aunt? What is he doing here?
The vampire’s gaze locked onto mine, his eyes glinting with amusement, and I felt something pulling me towards him. It was a magnetic force, unsettling and irresistible, like a moth drawn to a flame. His presence exuded danger, yet there was an undeniable allure that sent shivers down my spine.
I swept my gaze over to Ralph, unable to ignore the complex array of emotions playing across his features. Anger simmered just beneath the surface, evident in the tightness of his jaw and the tension in his stance. But alongside the anger, there was something else-a flicker of protectiveness that softened the hard edges of his expression.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” he mindlinked with me, his tone grave, his mental voice carrying the weight of his concern and frustration.”I told you not to go anywhere from the packhouse.”
Before I could reply to him, my aunt’s cheerful voice interrupted the tense silence. “What a lovely surprise baby! I didn’t expect to see you here,” she exclaimed. I quickly composed myself, forcing a tight smile as I stepped forward, shielding her from whatever intentions Damien and Ralph harbored.
“Auntie, do you mind if we have a private word?” I asked, my voice steady despite the turmoil raging inside me.
She glanced between us, a hint of confusion flashing across her features before she nodded, her smile faltering slightly. “Of course, baby. Let’s step into the kitchen,” she suggested. In the bedroom, aunt, I said, leading the way.
As we moved away from the living room, an uneasy feeling lingered in the air, a product of Damien and Ralph’s unexpected appearance. Their sudden intrusion had thrown me off balance, leaving me grappling with questions and fears I wasn’t prepared to confront.
“Please, Aunt, tell me how those two ended up in the house,” I pleaded, unable to shake off my bewilderment. “And why did you invite them in? Do you realize how dangerous they are?”
“Are you crazy or what?” she asked, her tone tinged with frustration. “Aren’t you the one who sent them?”
“What? Me?” I asked, utterly perplexed. “What are you saying?” Did they tell you I had sent them?
“That tall man in white claimed to be a doctor and sent the nurses away. Soon after, the other one in black showed up,” she recounted, her expression troubled. “Is there a problem? Why are you acting like you don’t know them?”
“It’s not that, Aunt…” I began, my confusion deepening. “Are you telling me you don’t remember Ralph?”
“Who’s Ralph?” she responded, her tone tinged with genuine confusion. “The man in black,” I explained. “I’ve never seen him before.”
Before I could process her words fully, she dashed off, muttering something about checking the puffs, leaving me to ponder in her wake.
“There’s a vampire in the house,” I blurted out, the realization hitting me like a punch to the gut. The mere thought of the vampire harming her sent shivers down my spine, propelling me into action as I hurried after her, calling out desperately.
But before I could reach her in the kitchen, Ralph’s voice halted me in my tracks saying, she’s safe,” I spun around frantically. Yet, there was only him. The vampire was nowhere to be seen.
“D-Damien is gone,” he added, his words hanging heavy in the air. Relief washed over me as I darted into the kitchen, where I found my aunt unharmed, alone.
Fear still gripped me, but seeing her safe brought a measure of solace. The vampire may have vanished, but the memory of his presence lingered, a chilling reminder of the dangers lurking in the shadows.
As my aunt’s attention became absorbed in her baked pastries, I approached Ralph tentatively. His gaze bore into me with an intensity that made my skin crawl. “I’m sorry I had to come without letting you know,” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper, the weight of my worry evident in every syllable. “I was so worried about her.”
“It’s alright,” he said, settling onto the couch. I followed suit and turned to face him.
“I’m scared, Ralph,” I confessed slowly. “Something’s not right with my aunt. She’s behaving strangely, as if she doesn’t remember you or what happened just a few weeks ago.”
“It’s Damien’s doing,” he explained, his voice low. “He erased her previous memories.
“But… why? Why would he do that? How did he find out about my aunt?” I asked, my mind racing with questions and fear.
“He definitely delved into your background,” Ralph replied, his tone grave.
I fell silent, absorbing his words. “My aunt isn’t safe anymore. I need to find her a new place,” I declared, my voice tinged with urgency. “And as for you, why-” I began, but he cut me off.
“I obtained the information from one of the nurses,” he interjected, anticipating my question. Before I could voice any further concerns, the door creaked open, and three women stepped inside.
“They will be taking care of your aunt.” They’ll ensure she’s safe,” he explained calmly. My heart sank as I realized the gravity of the situation. “But I want to stay with her, look out for her myself,” I pleaded, desperation creeping into my tone.
Ralph’s expression softened momentarily, but then his features hardened. “No,” he said firmly, his tone authoritative. “You’re coming with me. We need to go.” She’ll be safe with them and you will be more safe with me.
Desperation rose in my chest as I realized I couldn’t argue with him. “But-” I began, but he interrupted me.
“Say goodbye to your aunt,” he ordered, his tone brooking no argument. “We’re leaving.”
With a heavy heart, I reluctantly strode into the kitchen where my aunt was tidying up after her baking. I approached her quietly and wrapped my arms around her from behind, holding her tightly for a moment.
“I have to go back to work immediately,” I lied, the words tasting bitter on my tongue.
My aunt turned to me, her gentle eyes filled with a mix of sadness and understanding. “Already?” she asked, her voice tinged with disappointment. “I’m sad that you’re leaving so soon after you’ve arrived, but it’s okay.”
She reached for a tiffin box on the counter and began to fill it with freshly baked cookies and chocolate puffs. “Have these on your way,” she insisted, pressing the container into my hands. Tears threatened to spill from my eyes as I hugged her tightly, trying to memorize the feel of her embrace. “I’ll miss you,” I whispered, my voice choked with emotion.
“I’ll miss you too, honey,” she replied softly, patting my hand affectionately.
With a heavy heart, I tore myself away from her embrace, knowing that I had to follow Ralph’s orders, whatever they may lead.
As I turned to leave the kitchen, she called out to me, her voice tinged with concern. “Oh, before you go, how is Cora doing?” she asked, her brow furrowed with worry.
My heart sank at the mention of Cora. She had been my closest friend for years, but lately, she had been distant ever since my aunt’s arrest scandal.
“I… I haven’t heard from her in a while,” I admitted, my voice heavy with guilt. “But I’ll go check up on her.”
My aunt nodded understandingly, but the worry in her eyes didn’t fade. “Please do,” she urged gently. “I have a feeling something might be wrong, and I’d hate for her to be going through anything alone.”
Promising to keep an eye out for Cora, I forced a small smile before finally leaving the kitchen. As I walked out towards the waiting Ralph, the weight of my friend only added to the burden of worries weighing heavily on my mind.
As Ralph started the car, I couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that I needed to see Cora, to ensure she was alright. Gathering my courage, I mustered the words to ask Ralph to make a detour.
“Ralph, can we make a quick stop? I need to see someone,” I requested, my voice tentative.
His response was immediate and firm. “No, we don’t have time for detours,” he stated flatly, his eyes fixed on the road ahead.
For a moment, I simply glared at him, unable to comprehend his callousness. But then, the simmering anger boiled over, and I couldn’t hold back any longer.
“Who do you think you are, big man?” I snapped, my voice rising in anger. “Can’t you do me a little favor? I obey every word of yours, enduring pain and hardship, but whenever I ask you for a little favor, you refuse. Who do you think you are, Ralph? Being your mate doesn’t mean I’m your slave.”
My words hung in the air between us, thick with tension and frustration. I needed to see what was going on with my friend, and I refused to let Ralph stand in my way any longer.
“If you don’t take me there, I’ll jump out of this car right now,” I declared.
“Suits you,” he replied dismissively, his tone cold and indifferent.
I clenched my jaw, fighting back tears of frustration and hurt. “Alright then,” I muttered, my voice trembling with anger and determination. With a trembling hand, I reached for the door handle and flung the door open, ignoring his startled shout. Without a second thought, I threw myself out of the car, the wind whipping against my face as I hit the ground with a painful thud.
I cried out in agony as I rolled off the road, the sharp rocks and gravel scraping against my skin. Tears mingled with the dirt on my cheeks as I struggled to catch my breath, the pain radiating through every fiber of my being.
In the distance, I heard the screech of tires as he brought the car to a sudden halt. His face was deadly serious as he got out of the car, his footsteps echoing ominously against the empty road.
As he reached me, he grabbed me by the neck with a force that made my head spin, his grip like a vice around my throat as he pulled me up. With a cruel slap, he struck me hard across the face, the impact sending shockwaves of pain through my already battered body. I tasted blood as my lips split open, the metallic tang filling my mouth as I crumpled to the ground, helpless against his rage.