I'm unsure how long I was sleeping after the accident I went through when I felt my body twitch and heard flapping wings echoing in the silence of my room. I knew it was my pet, but I'm annoyed over its flap. I groaned, trying to sleep more, but my senses were fully awake now, and I began feeling the aching all over my body. I tried to make it less painful by breathing exercises, but nothing was happening until a familiar, gentle hand was placed on my head. I quickly tensed up and opened my eyes.
"THE F –!" I was horrified because someone was inside my room, towering over me, and a hand covered my mouth.
Surely, I'm frightened and wanted to be freed from whoever this person was. Due to my panic, my mind went insane from thinking too many possible scenarios, making me mad, but I trembled under this mysterious person towering over me while I was asleep.
"Sshh, I meant no harm, but seriously, when you're in a state of panic, your mind runs for miles." A familiar, gentle voice from a woman said calmly, but amused at my panic. I frowned. "Calm down, and I'll let go." She added, making me nod, and carefully, I stared at her silhouette when I heard her say, "I'm just checking on you and didn't mean to startle you."
I arched my eyebrow, attempted to smack her head for the fright she gave, but instead, I softly replied, saying, "That's not the best way to check on someone."
"I know, but I can't help it and check on you." She replied, somehow managing to soothe my erratic heart rate, reminding me of my saviour.
Curiosity got the best out of me, and I reached out for her silhouette face, but she instantly grabbed it. I flinched over the contact because of the wave of familiarity – too much familiarity, like I've known her for years. However, I'm more attracted to knowing what lies behind the silhouette.
I might be recovering, but I insisted on knowing who this person was and softly demanded, "Come closer, and come to the light."
I felt her stillness, and her silence was deafening. I stared at her silhouette, and for a brief moment, I heard a rustling sound, and my bedside lamp illuminated my area partially. Then there she was. She stood intimidatingly tall, although she was around five feet tall. Her presence was way colder than a typical vampire and was pretty much known to me. I narrowed my eyes, carefully studying her features despite the low light around us. I could tell she was a gorgeous vampire with messy, crimson-bloody hair that draped around her blossoms. Her figure was undeniably slim and fit, and damn - her face has a charismatic allure from an angelic but fierce goddess. However, her eyes speak a different story. They are hypnotizing but cold, distant, and longing for something that makes my heart ache. But I knew her, and because I do, my tears fell.
"Those bloody-violet eyes…" I thought, but before I could say something else to her, she spoke.
"If seeing me made you cry like this, I'd better not…" She mumbled, sighing, and quickly, I grabbed the hem of her sleeve, stopping her from finishing her words.
"I know you're my saviour, but..." I said softly, cutting her off before ranting my wonder, "…where have you been? Why are you here? Are you the Knightrose, the person I'm going to marry?"
She wiped my tears, giggling softly. Her soft giggle caused my heart to soar. It was a lovely melody, and I knew what it meant, but I didn't dare to whisper it again - for now.
"I'm here because you needed me." She replied as if it were a normal response to my question. I felt like she was hiding something by acting all mysterious, making me frown. Then she added, saying, "You will know the rest, and won't be able to give me that look." I wanted to argue and correct her, but she continued genuinely, saying, "But for now, focus on healing yourself. You needed it."
Despite my eagerness, my mouth won't form any words, and I just agreed. "Fine…" Grumpily, I sighed in defeat, but subconsciously, I'm playing with my thumb before my stupid mouth rolled out a question that I hadn't thought would embarrass me until it was too late, saying, "Can you stay with me and hold me?"
My question was like a bomb, making the air fill with silence, and it was deafening - suffocating. I wanted to slap myself for how embarrassing I sounded there, asking my saviour directly like I'm a needy weakling.
Heat crept over my face, making me sigh, changing the subject, "F-forget what I said."
I lay down properly, hiding my embarrassment, but she stayed. I felt her heated gaze fixated on me like she was studying me like an open book. But since she was an unreadable person, I sighed and tried to rest.
As I struggled with my wounded situation, I felt the bed shift. I felt another body pressed against my back; it was cold, but it was warming my entire body in the process. Then, her right arm protectively draped around my waist, pulling me closer, and her left was under my pillow, making me relax. I could even feel her breath against my neck before feeling a kiss placed on them. I shivered, but it was a good shiver. But what made me smile was her soft whisper.
"Sleep. I've got you now." She said softly, making me think that somehow the word that caused me pain would be different around her, and I slept like a baby who doesn't care about the world.
However, it didn't last when the sun began knocking on the earth and waking up in the silence filling the room without her presence beside me. I sighed, but running my hand on my empty side, I smiled because it was not a dream.
"I didn't think a second chance, mate, is real even for someone like me," I muttered, smiling sadly, wiping a tear that fell from my eye.
I don't like it, but if it's her, maybe I could try again. However, it won't be easy.
***
As promised, I focused on my health and during my recovery for the entire week; I was strictly not allowed to leave my room until I managed to walk by myself. It was tiringly annoying, but with the help of the assigned maid, Allison, I finally made it.
"Great, you can stand up straight and walk like a baby." With teasing sarcasm, Allison said gently, making me frown.
From what I learned about her, Allison was not just assigned to serve me, but she was also my fiancé's personal maid and assistant whenever she was around the mansion. And since she was a turn one, I could easily talk to her aside from her gentle annoyance, just to get her task done in time. She was doing a great job of doing that, apart from the annoying part of me.
"You're having fun with this." I groaned as I walked like a baby who had been learning to stand and walk for the first time. I was still wobbling, but with careful guidance and practice, I steadied the pace from ten steps to twenty and later, it turned fifty now.
"Well, you might be fragile and weak based on how you look, but your eyes were a fighter." She giggled slightly as she shared what she noticed ever since she began serving me. I frowned at her comment since I don't easily believe those words. I know that I'm not a fighter, and she noticed that before saying, "In case you didn't realise, there's a fire in you. It might be faint, but once it's out, no one can touch you."
I don't know what to say on that except a heavy sigh. "I hope it's true."
I let it slip and continued my practice. However, it resonated deep inside my chest – a hope of something different in me, strength.
"Have faith in yourself." She smiled genuinely when my knees started to tremble, which indicates her limit. She caught me before I lost my balance. "Look not only at the bad ones but also at the good ones in you."
"If I had any," I mumbled before mouthing my thanks to her and guiding me to sit on the couch that I almost reached.
"You're belittling yourself, but look at you; you're walking without any guide or help, although you're still trembling like an old man." She said, but ended up with a tease.
"Very funny." I chuckled as I got used to her way of talking to me.
"To keep you distracted." She admitted, and I noticed that too, which I am thankful for.
"Touché." I chuckled, cutting the conversation, and she gave me my Earl Grey mint tea that I grew to love.
My strict exercises with Allison went on until it was time for my rest. However, I didn't take one. Once I was alone in my spacious room, I carefully sat down on the carpeted area on the floor before calming myself. I took a couple of breaths, slowing it down, which helped me to clear my mind and meditate. I had been doing that ever since I was diagnosed with PTSD. Somehow, it helped me control the rush of thoughts and past incidents from recurring. However, what I didn't realise was that it's also affecting something else deep inside me.
"What is this?" I whispered, feeling not only my surroundings but also a faint flame that began beating like my heart.
At each beat, it spread faintly throughout my body, and the more I continued my meditation, it suddenly burst. My body began to tingle warmly until I felt a brush of the wind around me. It was swirling gently at first, but it became harsh. It was followed by a few sounds of flapping wings, and I know that sound. When I opened my eyes, I was surrounded by a flock of vampire bats.
"What the!" I mumbled in fright, but as these bats flew, centring me, they were not bad at all. I reached out my hand, making them move and magically merging, forming into a certain figure – a black tiger with crimson stripes. I gasped as my hand touched its soft and smooth fur. "What are you?"
My eyes narrowed as I studied the creature before me, and on its forehead, I saw a familiar mark of infinity thorns which reminded me of my pet – Reaper.
"Reaper, is that you?" I guessed, and the black tiger nodded.
I was shocked, but happy, and when I was about to speak more, rushing footsteps began echoing down the hall. Reaper quickly turn into a flock of bats before forming into its usual form and going back to its nest. Then Allison, with her husband, entered my room worriedly.
"Lady Bernila, are you okay?" Allison worriedly asked as she crouched down before me.
"Yes, what's wrong?" I asked confusedly.
"We felt a guardian." My fiancé's vampire butler knight and Allison's husband, Xerxec, answered while checking the room for security.
"I hope they won't notice Reaper." I thought before wondering, "Guardian?"
"Every Knightrose's mates received their guardians before meeting or getting married to each other," Allison answered before helping to stand up and guiding me back to the bed.
"Ohh, there were a flock of bats earlier, but they left. I think they heard you," I answered incompletely. They were sceptical of my answer, but they didn't ask further and just nodded.
"Okay, if you say so," Xerxec said firmly before smiling gently at me. "Rest, my lady."
"I will." I smiled back and watched them leave my room. Then I sighed, thinking, "So, Reaper is my guardian…no wonder he sticks around."
***
I'm finally free and recovered, making me roam around the mansion after my check-ups. However, a sudden twist took place. Due to my curiosity about medicine and medical books, I found myself creating an explosive mixture, causing me to return to bed. I'm covered with healing burns from silver dust while receiving an earful of nagging from my doctor, which amused the family when I was completely back on my feet and joined them for lunch.
"Are you sure that you're the weakest omega?" A good-looking old man and husband of Lady Alysia, Michael Knightrose asked teasingly, although his presence screamed authority whenever he needed to be, but not this time. He was laughing at the ruckus I just committed this morning: "You just caused a lively ruckus in the mansion."
"Dad, don't encourage her when you're not the one who is tending her wounds." Mikyle, my doctor sighed, rolling his eyes at his father's comment.
"I'm just trying to come up with something." I defended quickly, pouting. Honestly, their family felt like home, but I'm still wondering about my fiancée. I haven't met her since I came here. "Where is she anyway?"