He's home.

    I turned away, not wanting to see his face as I left. The last thing I need is for him to look at me like I’m an animal who needs to be taught at something. But then he called my name and pulled me back into the room. “What’s wrong? ”

I shake my head. It took me too long to realize that I looked like a grumpy kid.  

    “Nothing,” I say.

    

He doesn't leave it alone. In fact, he presses closer to me until our bodies are almost touching and leans against me. “It doesn’t take a genius to tell when you’re lying to me,” he says. I look up at him.

    

 The corner of his lips are quirked in a slight smile, but his eyes don’t give anything away. I know he sees right through me.

    

“Fine,” I mutter. I don’t want to talk about it though. 

    

"Was it because of what I said?" 

He says slowly. When I don't answer immediately he sighs and pulls me closer still so that we're both leaning against each other. “Sol?”

He nudges my shoulder, trying to get me to acknowledge him. He's looking at me expectantly when I turn to face him. 

"Look at me."

Reluctantly, I glance up at him. His brown eyes are gentle and sincere and they hold a hint of worry behind them. 

"How did you know I was a helsing?" 

"It just came from you. No one asks about helsings unless they are one. " 

I nod slowly, understanding the logic. Helsings have a way of changing how you think about things. Some people might become religious or religious zealots for a while, but most people don't. I haven't been able to meet any helsings in my life. We're extinct. 

Helsings are not monsters or evil witches. They're human beings with abilities and lives and feelings and dreams and worries, no matter what anyone else says.

"Do you want.. to meet one of them?" He asks cautiously. I guess this conversation really wasn't what I expected. 

Why? Is this... for real? Will he even allow me? Maybe. Maybe. Hopefully.

    My mouth opened, ready to give an answer to what he just offered to me.

    

    " Vlad..." a familiar voice crept between our conversation. He continued, "It's nice to see you here." 

    

    My face lit up, flinching to where the voice came from just to find a grumpy Lord Minir by the exit of the bookshelves. Count Vlad pulled himself away from me, creating a big gap between us as a respect to my master. I smiled at Lord Minir. I was dismayed when he gave me a dry glance and glared at Count Vlad. 

    "Leave. I need to speak to my blood slave."

    My eyebrows furrowed when he emphasized the last words. I nodded at Count Vlad to affirm him that it's okay to leave. 

    

    "Atlas, kindly escort Count Vlad to his carriage." Lord Minir commanded as Count Vlad left from our sight. 

     We listened to the retreating footsteps as it disappeared just as the victorian doors closed. I clasped my hands altogether behind me, waiting for my master to say something. I lifted my eyes to see the expression on his face only to find him solemnly staring at the old books. 

    What is he thinking? If I still know nothing about him, I would be shrinking in my position right now. He's intimidating. That alone radiated power, dominating my whole existence. 

     My fingers curled as I anticipated to hear him say something, atleast something to lighten up the mood or so, or a gesture to let me know that he's aware of my presence.  

    "So, do you like him?"

    My eyes widened at the sudden question. I stuttered, "W-What?"

    "Do you like Vlad?"

     I paused... and answered straightly, "Yes... he's a good mentor."

    He smirked as if he just won the lottery, or he was just literally mocking me. 

    "Why?"

    What does that even mean? 

    "Do you like him as a man?"

    I shook my head and he pondered on my reaction. 

    "Hm, I wonder why."

    "Why wonder? Am I supposed to like him, master?"

    " No. Don't even try to, darling." He looked at me. I smiled so he glared at me while saying, "I see that you have been getting closer with each other lately. Being touchy. "

     I thought about it for a few seconds, not moving my head as if it were going to make me remember something about it. Is he mad? Since when was I getting touchy with Count Vlad? 

    "So? He's not married yet and so am I."

    I swear. Books have a bad influence into me. Just look how I answered back at him! And worse of it all, it was a line from a romance book I just read! Oh god! 

    "Sol." His voice sounded threatening. 

    " M-Master—"

    "Are you thinking of marrying that bastard?"

    " S-Sometimes. I don't think there's something wrong with that. I even tried thinking about Atlas getting married to you..."

    " Rubbish!" He turned to me, " Enough with that, woman. I don't want to hear any rubbish coming from those kissable lips of yours. "

    With just one step, he enclosed the space between us, filling the gap of my empty soul. I breathed in to his perfume that covered me as he got closer. 

    "God, I missed your lips. "

    My eyes widened when his lips devoured me, gloriously pushing his tongue inside my mouth. Slowly, I shut my eyes close and let myself feel the sweetness , the romance that was radiating from him. 

     His eyes roamed my body, traveling to my curves and places no one has ever touched before except for him. Lord Minir placed his hand behind my head, gripping my hair as if he was putting me into place, making me steady and move into sync with him. 

    He let go. Breathing heavily. Almost suffocating from the kiss that we both shared. Lord Minir lifted my chin and placed the last kiss he was going to give to me. 

    I savored it and waited for him to say something when he moved away. 

    Finally, he spoke. 

    "I came home right away when Atlas sent me a message saying...there was fire in your room. "

    " I-I don't know w-where it came from... "

    " It doesn't matter what happened. All that matters is you're safe. I'm sorry. I was away for too long. "

    " I-It's okay, M-Master. " 

    He smirked, " Hm... I always go crazy with those eyes of yours. "

    I bit my lower lip. 

    "I'm a little thirsty, darling. Shall we? "