Under the vampire Lord's protection-Chapter 102: Restraint

The fairies delightedly gave Arabella a full tour of the village. Two of them had even wrapped their little hands around her fingers and refused to let go until it was time to head back home.

When they’d reached the carriage in the woods, the sky was wearing its signature pinkish and orange coat as the sun had already started bidding that side of the world a good night.

Arabella’s eyes never left the window the entire way back, watching the trees slide by, only stealing glances at Silas from time to time.

The vampire had kept quiet since they’d said their goodbyes to the fairies. Well, much quieter than his usual, that was.

Any and all warmth that once lived in him was completely gone. He too started through the window, pensive looking.

Although subtle, the strain around some of his features was showing, earning him an eerie sort of expression.

Whatever had his mind busy, had to have been on the serious end and Arabella believed it had to be that affair that Liriel needed to discuss with him.

"Thank you,"

In a mutter, the words had escaped her. That attempt at shattering the silence, however, barely caused a hair-thin crack.

Silas merely glared at her, eyebrows furrowed faintly, leading her to gather from it that she needed to elaborate.

"Thank you for bringing me out here today. It truly helped me a lot," voice a hint shaky, the young woman did her best to control her tone at the very least.

In response, Silas kept to himself, turning back towards the window after a single nod of acknowledgement her way.

It sent a crushing wave of cold, snuffing every spark in her. Arabella failed to comprehend whether it was due to the weather or as a result of his icy attitude towards her.

No other attempts at lightening the mood were made. They traveled back to the manor in complete muteness.

The young woman resigned to giving him space, thinking he simply needed time to ponder things over.

It had occurred to him, seeing her demeanor that she needed reassurance, but found no will to speak.

His mind mostly preoccupied by the way the fairies kept on gawking at her eyes, wondering why the Mirari did not affect her like it did everyone else.

That remained the unanswered mystery for all. It was as good a time as any to think about it. Perhaps it was genetic on her part. A type of immunity only she lived to enjoy the perks of.

It could not have been him since his previous blood providers had all, without any exception, suffered that curse.

So why her?

Or was she perhaps so repulsed by him that even the Mirari saw no success in changing her feelings towards him?

Was she?

That thought led him to glare at her for a little too long until the gradual spike in her heart rate told him to look elsewhere.

Or was it fear?

It must have been it since the young woman never let disgust transpire on her... Nobody would ever be strong enough to conceal repulsion of such astounding measures.

Right as he’d been about to speak, the memory of her fervently denying any likelihood of them being intimate tied a tight knot around his vocal chords.

Not that Silas wanted it to happen, but the crater between her attitude towards him and Edna’s was of such outrageous proportions it pained him to even spot the other side of it.

Those thoughts tugged at his nerve strings, forcing him to clench his fists yet again in order to keep a lid on the steam brewing beneath the surface.

Only that time around, he wasn’t afraid of cutting through his palms. On the contrary, Silas pressed so hard, the one thing that broke him out of his silent rage had been the sharp gasp Arabella let out.

Realizing he’d bled through his fingers all the way down to his lap and the cushion beneath him, his first resort was the piece of cloth tucked in his vest.

All that was left to do was to wipe his palms, since they’d already healed from the abuse he’d inflicted upon them.

The look of terror in her eyes tossed oil on an already sizzling fire in him. Silas immediately averted his gaze away and listened to the furious drumming of her heart.

To sooth his fervor, he tried to think back at the way her blood had smelled so rich, so devine in the valley when he’d helped clean her wounds, at the way he was so close to her bare skin, but that only reminded him that two weeks had already gone by and that the time to feed drew nigh once more.

How terrible of an idea would it be to feed on her right then and there? He wondered.

Although, he never allowed the idea to fester and chalked it out the instant after considering it, making sure to keep his fangs from peeking. The shame it’d brought him if she were to notice his struggle to show restraint...

The sun had already sunken when they’d finally reached the manor. Arabella booked it for the stairs the moment he’d set her free.

But right as she’d been about to twist the knob of the door to her room, Katherine’s voice stole a jolt out of her, "Arabella!"

"Yes?" she yelped.

"Are... You alright? You are shaking and your heart is beating wildly," Katherine furrowed her eyebrows.

"No... I," she held her breath momentarily, eyes darting round and about, "It was a long day, and I am still just so excited after meeting the fairies," she let out a chuckle, hoping it’d help her words sound more legitimate.

It failed, but Katherine did not press and instead broached a different subject, "Alright then, Let’s get you washed and changed into something cleaner. The Lady has summoned you to the lounge room. There is something very important she means to bring to your attention,"