Eudora's POV
Cold…
Chills ran through my body, but it wasn't the cold air that made me shiver, it was the weight of his gaze, sharp and unyielding, as if it could pierce straight through my very soul and strip me bare from the inside out. I opened my mouth in a desperate attempt to speak, but I failed to utter a single word, as though the words themselves had frozen on my tongue, leaving only a strangled gasp that caught in my throat, my breaths were shallow and ragged, each inhale a struggle as if the air itself refused to enter my lungs. Just being near him was enough to make me weak, to make the skin on my arms crawl and my legs tremble under me, and a cold sweat rolled down my face, this man truly embodied everything I had always feared about vampires.
The sound of chain rattling snapped me from the paralysis of fear that had completely consumed me. I haven't even realized he was connecting another link to my shackles, hadn't noticed the strength in the way his hand gripped the cold metal before pulling hard enough to jerk me to my feet, forcing me to stumble slightly. My hands trembled as he guided me out the cage, my mind raced with horrifying possibilities of what awaited me next.
What will happen to me now… I did break free from being confined, but I just had to fall in the hands of a monster…
I refused to look forward, I kept my eyes locked to the ground but it did nothing to chase away the fear that consumed me. We walked in silence for what felt like an eternity, the increase coldness of the air made me realize that we had finally stepped out of the building. The chill of the night air stinging my exposed skin in a way that was almost comforting. Around me there was no sound except the loud pounding of my own heart, until we stopped abruptly in front of a carriage.
"Get in…"
His voice cut through the silence, low and commanding, and for the first time in what felt like hours, I lifted my eyes to meet his gaze, only to have my courage crumble under his piercing eyes that seemed to see every fear and weakness I had, leaving me with no choice but to lower my gaze again, my eyes widened in terror. My gaze fell on the chain in his hand, held so tightly that I knew I had no chance of escape. I stepped into the carriage as he moved, feeling it rock beneath my feet. The leather seats felt cold as I sat across from him with my hands clasped tightly together.
The journey itself was suffocating, the silence between us was heavy and tense, each second stretching out until it felt like hours, filled only by the sounds of the horses hooves against the road and the creaking of the carriage wheels.
When we finally reached his castle, he pulled me from the carriage with the same firm strength and guided me inside, I had expected a dark, terrifying place full of shadows and cold stone, but to my surprise, it was nothing like I imagined. The interior was beautiful, a grand Victorian palace with sweeping staircases, sparkling chandeliers, walls decorated with detailed tapestries and gilded accents, and every corner carefully designed, almost impossibly elegant, a stark contrast to the terrifying man who had brought me here and whose intentions I could not yet understand.
The beauty of the castle surprisingly calmed my anxiety. While I was distracted, observing the palace's interior in awe, I didn't realize that someone had taken my arm. I flinched, spinning my head to see a beautiful woman standing beside me, her silk robe rich with embroidery flowing around her as she smiled softly at me. Her sudden appearance had caught me completely off guard, and I stared at her, noticing that her skin wasn't pale and her eyes weren't red. A realization struck me with a jolt, she was human, just like me.
"Y-You're human?" I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper.
She returned my gaze with a calm smile and answered gently, "Indeed I am. You can call me by my name, Lilith."
My eyes gleamed with hope as relief washed over me. Seeing another human made me feel like I could finally breathe after hours of suffocating in the weight of fear. Lilith reached for my hands, her touch warm and reassuring, and she unlocked my shackles, releasing me from the confinement that I had endured for days. I stared down at my hands, flexing my fingers, it felt so good to be free from the weight of the heavy metals. The feeling of release was intoxicating.
Lilith gently guided me forward, her voice soft but commanding. "I'm in charge of dressing you. Master wouldn't drink from you if you don't look appetizing."
I blinked in surprise, realizing that I had completely forgotten the vampire's absence. I turned my head, only to find the vampire no longer there. A shaky breath escaped me as dread seeped back in. I was about to become a meal for a bloodthirsty vampire, and there was nothing I could do.
Lilith led me into the bath chamber, and my eyes widened at the size of it. The room was enormous, the marble floors cool beneath my feet, and a massive fountain pool took up most of the space. Before I could even react, she had stripped my clothes from my body, leaving me exposed, and let out a soft, amused chuckle at the shocked expression on my face.
"How cute," she said lightly, "now let me help you out."
As Lilith washed my hair, her hands gentle and skilled, I found myself asking the questions that had been rattling in my mind since I arrived.
"Lilith," I said hesitantly, "I'm curious. You don't show any signs of fear since I saw you earlier. Aren't you afraid of working under a vampire?"
Lilith raised an eyebrow, letting out a soft laugh that made the tension in the room ease slightly. "It seems like you're asking me that because you're afraid of our master. I was just like you when I first stepped foot here myself. But really, there's nothing to worry about. Master may seem scary and unapproachable on the outside, but he's not the kind of man to bring you harm."
I still frowned, unconvinced, and Lilith noticed.
"I guess words won't make you believe me easily," she said softly. "Once you experience being with him, you'll understand what I mean."
Despite her reassurance, it was difficult to imagine a vampire who wouldn't want to drain me dry if given the chance.
___________________________
After my bath, I put on the clothes Lilith had prepared for me. My cheeks burned as I realized they barely covered my body. I glanced at Lilith, my face flushed red.
"L-Lilith, isn't this too much?" I asked.
Lilith shook her head gently. "If Master is going to feed on you, you have to at least expose your shoulders. You can cover up once he's had his fill."
She had a point, I thought about it, and reluctantly concluded it would be okay for just a few minutes. Lilith then guided me to the master's chambers. When we arrived in front of the massive doors, she touched my shoulder lightly. "Refer to him as Master or My Lord, it's up to you." With that, she turned and walked away, leaving me alone.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady the pounding of my heart in my chest. Lilith had told me he wasn't dangerous. That should be enough.
I gripped the door handle, twisting it slowly until I heard the click of it unlocking. I hesitated, standing there with my knuckles tight around the cold metal, heart racing faster with every second. Suddenly, something cold pressed against me, and a deep, smooth voice followed.
"What took you so long? I was waiting for you…"