Scarlet Rose

Chapter 4 - Trapped

Katherine blinked several times, unable to believe what she was hearing.

- Pardon me? What's that supposed to mean? Why can't I leave this mansion?- she asked, raising her voice. Yes, Katherine wanted to be polite, but what she heard effectively raised her blood pressure.- I knew one shouldn't trust vampires... It does not matter if they are turned or pure blood... You saved me and now want to make your slave out of me... You must have missed human blood a lot, huh?- she sighed heavily.

Wayne's eyes widened when he heard her words and apparently didn't know what to answer, because opened his mouth for a moment, but then closed it, looking at his cousin.

- Let me explain before you judge any of us.- Shiro spoke firmly, but also polite and calm. Additionally, his burgundy eyes stared intently at Kath, forcing to bow her head.

The tone of his voice reminded Katherine of her father's, so she stopped immediately, not even daring to look up. Katherine felt her cheeks sting from burning red with shame that she had spoken so rudely without listening to the end.

- Quickly giving a bitten person the blood of a pure-blooded vampire saves from transformation, but has a side effect.- Shiro continued his statement, seeing that lady O'Sulivan was listening carefully. However, after hearing her earlier words, he doubted if she should be called a lady. Even Margareth had more manners, even though she was a simple country-born woman.- The effect is that such a person cannot go far from where his savior, the pure blooded vampire, lives.- he explained in more detail.

That's impossible. It must be some kind of joke, a lie... I can't stay here.- Katherine finally looked up and jumped off the couch, running towards the exit door. Margareth was about to follow her, but Shiro's gaze stopped her.

- Let this stubborn girl find out for herself.- he said, and dr Stone sat back down.

Katherine went outside, but after reaching the gate, she felt as if had collided with some invisible wall, which caused pain throughout her body, especially in the area of the neck where the bite marks were previously visible. Katherine hissed, then returned to the mansion, resigned. She didn't want to risk checking a second time to see if could get past this invisible barrier. The anger flared up in her again, because did she have reason to trust these vampires? Maybe they imprisoned her here on purpose? They must have created this invisible barrier and made up this story about the side effect of giving her blood. Katherine flung open the door, stepping back into the living room, where both the counts and dr Stone were still seated on the couches.

- How dare imprisoning me here, you monsters!- she yelled at the top of her lungs, feeling tears form in her eyes.

Wayne was visibly shocked this time, and so was Margareth, except that there was something like anger on her face too. Shiro's face, on the other hand, was as unmoving as a stone.

- I'm asking you! Why are you lying?- Katherine continued screaming with fury clearly visible in her navy blue eyes, which now resembled the sea during a storm.- Side effect... It's all a lie! You are vampires, and you have created this invisible barrier so that I cannot escape from here! You want to make a slave!- she added reproachfully, and tears ran down her cheeks.

Before Wayne or Shiro could do anything, Margareth, not able to take it anymore, jumped off the couch, approaching Katherine quickly. When she was next to her, immediately slapped the young lady without even a second of hesitation.

Katherine put a hand on her cheek and looked at the woman with indignation mixed with shock.

- Get a hold of yourself and calm down, you stupid girl, for God's sake!- Margareth scolded her in a raised voice.- How dare you make such accusations... What evidence do you have that count Akira is lying? Do you know anything about vampires?- she attacked her with questions.- No, you don't. Until today you didn't even knew about their existence. You should be grateful for being saved. It's not count Akira's fault that giving his blood, as well as of any pure blood vampire, has side effects like this.- she continued a little calmer, not taking eyes off her.- You'd better go to your room, young lady.- she added at the end, and it didn't sound like a request at all, but an order.

Katherine was not used to listening to the servants, or to anyone lower than her in birth, but Margareth's words, surprisingly, had an immediate effect on her. Without a word, she ran up the stairs.

- Wow, Maggie, you amaze me.- Wayne spoke to Margareth diminishing her name, just the way he liked to do it.

- It was really impressive.- Shiro admitted.- Also, thank you for standing in our defense, although I would be able to answer her.- he added after a moment.

- I have no doubts about that, count Akira, but well, I just couldn't bear her insolence anymore.- Margareth replied modestly.- She's supposed to be a lady from an aristocratic family, but acts more like a spoiled child. And terribly rude at that.- she sighed heavily.

- It's true.- Shiro agreed.- But honestly, she's still a child. Just because family sent her off to marry someone doesn't mean she's mature enough to be a woman, wife, and mother. That is why I do not like how people are marrying off their daughters at a young age.- he pointed out.

- You know what? I even like that character of her.- Wayne interjected.- At least she's not as boring as most ladies from the aristocracy.- he added with a slight smile.

- Wayne, take control of yourself.- Shiro scolded him.- First of all, you are interested in any woman. Secondly, in case you forgot, Katherine O'Sulivan has a fiance that she was supposed to marry. Thirdly, and most importantly, she is human. I don't think I need to remind you how the pure blood vampire community reacts to even a mere romance of our kind with humans.- he said, looking at his cousin.- Besides, did you not mention to me how hopelessly you are in love with our cousin, India, even though she has been married to Paul Merieux for a quite a while now?- Shiro reminded him.

- Of course, I understand.- said Wayne, slightly annoyed that he's being lectured by his cousin.- Relax, I'm just saying, it's not that I'm going to start any romance with lady Katherine.- he assured, making a defensive gesture with his hands.

- Okay, there's no reason to discuss this subject too much.- Margareth interrupted.- I'll go see how she feels, and will try to talk about it with her. Count Akira, count Williams, I wish you a pleasant work.- she bowed gently, then went up the stairs.

Wayne and Shiro went to the study, looking for more locations where the turned vampire's nests could be. Shiro, in addition, as every day, was looking for a way to somehow deprive his blood of the side effect of imprisoning the rescued people in his mansion.

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Katherine burst into the bedroom, closed the door, and collapsed on the bed, hiding her face in the pillow. Now she was crying for good, sobs shaking her body. Katherine was still angry, but also terrified that she couldn't leave this place anytime soon. Even if count Akira and count Williams were good vampires, she didn't want to be in their mansion God knows for how long. Katherine cared little about her fiance, after all she didn't know him, but knew that he would definitely notify her father and brother that she had not reached his house. Katherine didn't want them to worry. She felt that they would organize a search, and maybe they would found some traces along the forest path. If there was still blood there, they might think that something bad had happened. Her heart ached to think that she might cause father and brother such worries. Why must such a misfortune befall her? All she dreamed about now was to turn back time and order the coachman to go around, not through that damned forest and path.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock on the door, followed by the sound of them opening. However, Katherine wasn't going to get up and turn around to see who it was.

- Lady Katherine.- she heard Margareth's voice behind her, and only then did she get up and sit on the bed. Seeing her tearful face, the woman stepped closer and sat down next to Katherine, hugging her gently.

- I'm so sorry that I slapped you, my lady.- Margareth continued in a clearly apologetic tone.- But you were very rude and I had to calm you down somehow.- she explained, then moved away a bit to be able to look at her face, additionally cupping it in her hands.- Believe me, I know what you feel right now.- she assured.

- How can you know? I'm trapped here and don't know if I'll ever be able to get out of this place, see my father and brother...- Katherine replied, sobbing again.

- I know what you feel.- Margareth repeated, still looking at her.- Because I'm in the same situation as you.- she informed her, and Katherine's eyes grew as big as saucers.- Yes, my lady. Five years ago I was living in a small village a few days away from here. I was my parents only daughter, so I took over from my father's job as the doctor in the village. Fortunately, he managed to teach me everything before dying.- she continued.- I was the only doctor in the area, and one day I received a letter from a neighboring village that their doctor was sick and could not take care of patients, so I decided to visit him and help. Unfortunately, while returning to my village, I was attacked by turned vampires on the road. I couldn't escape and was bitten, but luckily count Akira and his cousin were hunting animals in the area and sensed that someone was in trouble. They killed the vampires that attacked me, and then, since I was fully awake, Shiro asked me directly if I agreed with him giving me his blood. He noted, however, that a side effect might be that I would have to live in his residence for an unknown amount of time.- Margareth sighed, slowly releasing Kath's face from the embrace of her hands.- He also added that if I did not agree, I would turn into a vampire and he would have to kill me. I agreed, because despite being scared and my unwillingness to be a 'prisoner' of some strange curse, I preferred to live. After coming here, count Akira used his contacts and provided a new doctor not only for my village, but also helpers for the doctor of the neighboring one.- she finished her speech.

- Sorry, I didn't know...- that was all Katherine managed to say after hearing her story.

- My lady, I understand perfectly how you feel. But I assure you that it is really not the count's fault.- continued Margareth.- Also, he is looking every day for a way to set free me from this 'curse' of his blood. Now that you've come along too, I'm sure he'll be even more motivated. So don't be so hard on him. For neither of them. They just wanted to save you while they had time. I'll leave you alone now, think about it all, okay?- she added, then got up from the bed, walked to the door and left the room.

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As evening approached, Wayne traveled to a neighboring town from where they would receive another report from scouts who informed them of the turned vampire's nests they had spotted while patrolling the various areas. Shiro remained in the mansion, leafing through the books he had received from his friends in the mail today. He looked for any hints on how to get rid of the side effect that accompanied him when he gave his blood to others. As for the turned vampires who worked for him, they had no problem with the fact that couldn't leave his mansion, since they had nowhere to go, and being outside his property, they would either endanger others or be in danger from other turned vampires, who considered them traitors.

Shiro's thoughts were turning to Katherine from time to time. Seeing her name on the luggage, he associated it with a family he had heard about, living in London. Seeing that it was an aristocratic family, he did not expect that a person from it would turn out to be so rude and incoherent. Yes, lady Katherine was still young, but she was certainly learned in good manners. So why was she able to forget about them in anger? He had the feeling that not enough attention was being paid to her and everyone let her do what she wanted too much. Katherine was undoubtedly spoiled and still acting like a child. How could her family marry her off when this girl clearly had a child's mind? It occurred to him that perhaps it was a good thing that she had ended up with him and could not leave his residence for a while. Maybe she'll grow up a bit before he finds a way to free her and Margareth?

In any case, Shiro had to admit one thing - Katherine O'Sullivan was a beautiful young lady with gorgeous golden hair and a perfect figure. The features of her face may not have been as subtle and feminine as of other women he has met on his way, but there was an irresistible charm in it. He was even willing to agree with Wayne that her pouting and angry expression looked kind of adorable. But most of all, her dark blue eyes caught his attention, they were like a stormy sea and you could really drown in them.

However, Shiro knew he should hold back such thoughts. After all, he had recently scolded Wayne for mentioning his crush on this young lady, and now look - he also had his head full of thoughts about her. There was definitely something about her, but Shiro couldn't lose his head. He had to concentrate on his work, and there were way too many arguments against any closer relationship with this human girl. After all, history liked to repeat itself, so everyone's job was to learn from their ancestors mistakes and avoid repeating them.