Chapter 3

I shiver, tightening my arms against my chest to try to warm myself. At the same time, I contemplate the decor. The huge staircase in front of me takes my breath away.

Everything is admirable: the steps are covered with burgundy velvet, the bannisters solid oak, the draperies, the marble floor, the paintings …

What a refinement! No doubt about it... This family has means! I quickly pull myself together. They don't need to know that I've never seen anything like it.

I don't want to look like an uneducated peasant who's just arrived from the country. 

Once again my eyes catch those of this strange man. He's staring at me with a disturbing insistence.

What is it?

I'm really going to end up thinking something's wrong.

Have I got food on my face? Or worse, between my teeth?

Great! I can feel my self-confidence ebbing away with every second... These kind of thoughts aren't helping.

I try to put on an attitude as indifferent as his. I don't succeed. The shivers running up and down my back and my worried look doesn't help.

I untie my scarf, just to give myself something to do, and a strange gleam lights up his eyes. I don't quite know what to make of it.

Is it lust? Anger? Disgust. I don't know what to do. I am both troubled and anxious. He's been completely indifferent until now and suddenly he seems to spring to life.

I shudder at his insistent look. My instinct tells me to stay alert. As if there were some kind of danger.

I try to look away but it feels equally captivating. At the same time I don't want him to know he scared me. I hope the rest of the family are less intimidating. 

So, if somebody could just turn up, now, that would be great!

Let's just hope they have better manners than him.

Everything aside, he is rather seductive ... I'm immediately annoyed with myself for thinking such things!

Not only because he's unpleasant and disturbing... But also because I refuse to give time to people who have so little consideration for me!

He still doesn't make a move. He just stands there in the middle of the hall staring at me.

Is it a habit of his!?

Now, I start losing patience. What kind of welcome is this? I fold my arms and tap the floor with my foot.

"Well, excuse me, I haven't got all day... I'm supposed to be meeting Mr Bathory about the vacant position... I would really like to …”

Once again, he just leaves me standing there with no explanation.

It is so rude!

In the distance, I hear him talking to someone else. "Draven, the little thing for Laura is here …”

Little thing?

No, Seriously! Who does he think he is!! He may come from a rich family and live in a castle, but he shouldn't be allowed to treat people like this!

I try to stay calm, but it's not easy. This guy is really unpleasant! He could do with a good hiding! Is the little girl I'm here to take care of going to be the same?

Now, I'm really starting to lose patience. I can wait a few more minutes… But if the situation doesn't sort itself out quickly, I'll go back to the sordid motel. I just manage to keep myself from snarling.

At last a young man comes towards me. Nothing like the one who "welcomed" me. His face is softer, his very, long hair darker, and his eyes hazel. Yet, a certain darkness emanates from him.

I stay on my guard, not knowing how he'll behave. I'm gobsmacked, stupefied, he gives me a bow, it's like something from a different century.

"Good evening, forgive me, I was supposed to greet you, but when I'm with Laura, time just flies past!”

Even his way of speaking is strange. What with the house and its occupants, I feel like I've landed in a place that's completely out of touch with reality.

Who is this family? Are they all beautiful and creepy here ?!

I smile at him. This demands a superhuman effort from me, but I do know how to show good manners.

He smiles back and my heart leaps. 

When I'm in contact with them, I feel like I'm somebody else. I really have to stop behaving like this. I suppose that my exhaustion has something to do with it.

"I am Draven, the eldest son of the Bathory family.”

He holds my hand a little longer than necessary, which troubles me slightly. The touch of his hand disconcerts me.

"Pleased to meet you, I'm Celeste.” I give a more relaxed smile. At least Draven seems friendly.

"I'm sorry about Lucian's lack of courtesy. Don't take any notice of him.”

“Lucian?”

"My younger brother, whom you've just met.”

I knew they were related! Although I'm still having a hard time recovering from the confrontation, I shrug my shoulders.

"No problem, your family really has a beautiful home.”

"Yes, we tend to take it for granted, living here all the time and it will be yours too after a few weeks with us…”

"Oh ... The position is still vacant, then?”

He's surprised by my question. "Of course, it's never been otherwise.”

Despite everything I've just been through, I'm relieved. For a moment I was worried I'd missed out on the opportunity. I'd have been back at square one.

I need this job, I know it. And it doesn't matter if these people are a little weird. I just need to get used to it. I'm sure it's only a matter of few days …

"I was supposed to meet Mr Bathory to discuss my duties.”

"My father's away.”

How could he be absent? I was supposed to be meeting him! Even so, it's not very polite! 

I stay quiet and look left and right not knowing what to do. Draven eases my pain.

Don't worry, I know perfectly well what you have to do. I'll be delighted to enlighten you if you have any questions.”

I nod. "So Laura is your younger sister?”

“Ah, that's right.”

"And you also have a brother…”

"In truth, I have two. Lucian, whom you have already met, and Peter.”