CHAPTER 7

It had been two weeks since their last confrontation. She had barely seen Alessandro in those two weeks, he seemed to come late at night and leave before it was dawn. She hadn’t thought she would have come out unscathed, he seemed furious at her.

She wasn’t blind, she had seen the bewildered expressions on Aunt Marie’s face and the servants. However, to her surprise, he had just walked out on her. It was all for the best, nothing about him was normal, his touch was cold and not to leave out the fact that his overpowering presence caused her to squirm. He gave her the creeps.

She tied her long black hair in a ponytail and gave the large room a once over, the large bed in the room was big enough for 5 grown people, the curtains were a deep maroon, they hung from the four-poster bed, the curtains on the windows were the same colour, the curtains were drawn shut and as usual, the only source of light was the oil lamps.

There was a small walk-in closet and an adjoining bathroom, the bed posts, and nightstands, were all made of deep mahogany wood. A fireplace was located on the far right wall with a huge mirror hanging beside it. It was a typical palace only a much more high standard.

The walls were black and they gave off the masculine feel to it. At the far end of the large room was a large black couch and fluffy pillows, she had used that as a bed, and a small closet was placed near it, containing a few clothes for her.

She kept her activities here to the barest minimum, apart from showers and when she went to sleep, she barely spent time in the room. The rest of her time was spent in the kitchen either reading a book Marie had lent her or helping her prepare meals or sometimes just listening to her talk about everything and nothing.

Marie was the peace amidst the chaos she had found herself and when Cecily was able to get rid of her fears at times, she was the much-needed friend that Isabella so desired.

She had tried to regain her composure for her sanity, she knew if she wanted to leave here alive and unhurt, she had to be strong somehow. She couldn’t think of any way she could escape from this place, she didn’t know her way about the kingdom let alone outside the kingdom.

She knew however that if she ever wanted to flee she needed to gain her captor's trust. Now where was her captor that she was supposed to impress, she mused.

She dropped her hairbrush carefully among the things that Cecily had brought for her and quickly walked towards her haven, the kitchen.

“Aunt Marie".

“Bella", Marie squealed loudly like a little child as she hugged Isabella tightly.

Isabella smiled, the old lady was always a burst of sunshine.

“Come here my dear, I prepared breakfast for you”, she pulled a chair out of Isabella and helped her settle in, “I hope you like it though...”, she trailed off, her eyes fixated at the door, “Where is Cecily?”.

“I’ve not seen her this morning".

“You came here all by yourself?”, Marie asked visibly worried.

Isabella nodded, surprised by her sudden outburst, Marie sensing that she had scared Isabella, quickly took her hands and rubbed them in a bid to soothe her, “It is okay love, don’t worry too much. You should never walk alone here...”.

“Isabella!”, Cecily screamed if her tiny voice could be likened to that, “I was worried, I didn’t see...

Isabella turned to her, “It is okay, I’m fine see?”, She turned to Marie, “Now can I have that lovely breakfast you prepared?, I’m salivating just thinking about it".

Marie smiled broadly, “Of course, of course, you can. I prepared...”.

“King Malcolm needs blood urgently!”, one of the male servants rushed in breathless, chest heaving as he wiped his forehead.

Isabella looked at the man who had rushed in, she turned to look at Marie who for some reason looked like she had seen a ghost. The man on noticing her presence in the room straightened up, “The king is having a fit, apparently he has been skipping meals...”

“Is he dying?”, Isabella could not hide the excitement in her voice, “Does he need blood?”.

“No, he...”.

“Yes”, Cecily interrupted Marie, “He needs blood to survive. They all do". She twirled her fingers around her dress ignoring Marie’s glares, “They drink blood, it’s how they all survive”.

Marie sighed in frustration, she waved her hand, and the servant moved to do as instructed.

Isabella sat rooted on the spot, all her appetite for the sumptuous breakfast she was about to have flew out the window, “I don’t get it, you drink blood?”.

“Bella...”

“Why am I here? is that why my family was killed? I’m I food to you?”

“No Bella...”.

“Oh my God!, oh my God!”, she shrieked in fear and dashed out of the room not looking back.