Devon's POV.
We ate in silence.
I could feel her gaze on me occasionally but each time I looked up, she averted her gaze immediately. It had happened three times now.
"Do you have something to say to me?" I asked.
She froze Mid-way. Her eyes shot up to me.
"Huh?" I gave her a pointed look.
"I dont--- I don't have anything to say to you" she muttered shakily.
"Do I need to blind you?"
"What?"
"You keep staring at me. Didn't your parents teach you it's rude to stare?"
"I----" she opened and closed her mouth severally but nothing was coming out.
"I'm sorry" she whispered, her eyes facing down.
She didn't look up anymore.
I had taken my time to watch her, trying and failing to read her mind and it was making me angry. I had never encountered a human that I hadn't been able to read their minds. I could read all the minds of my servants, even in the vampire world, there were some weak Vampires that I had the ability to read their minds.
It made me curious about who she was. Wasn't she human? Why couldn't I read her mind?
I didn't know if I wanted her around me anymore. It was a weakness to me if I wasn't able to read her mind. I didn't need such weaknesses around me.
I placed my cutlery down as I stared long and hard at her. From her grey hair that I had never seen on any human girl to her darker skin, I wouldn't deny that the red dress on her made her school look inviting, I had stopped sucking humans a long time ago albeit on few occasions.
She looked like her blood would be different and would taste highly refreshing to me. Since I could not read her mind, I might as well just suck her blood. To use her to satisfy my thirst.
"How old are you?" Her eyes shot up to me, they widened slightly. She wasn't staring up at me with the defiance I knew her with. There was slight fear in her eyes, her posture as well showed that she was afraid of me. I didn't know if I liked it or not.
"I'm 21 my Lord" she replied. Her head was down and I didn't like that.
"Look at me" i instructed.
Her eyes raised and I was soon met with her brown eyes. It had been a while I had seen anyone with such color of eyes. It was common amongst humans but I hadn't seen it in such a long time.
"What can you do around here?" I asked.
She glanced around the hall, her eyes searching everywhere like she could get her answers on the walls.
"I can cook, clean, and uh---"
"You'll be in charge of cleaning my Chambers until I say otherwise. I hardly stay there but when I do, I expect it to be clean at all times. I'd instruct Patricia to let you in on all you need to know. " She widened her eyes before nodding.
"Each time I'm around, I expect you to be waiting for me in my Chambers, until I dismiss you, you are to remain there. You are to dress like this always when it's time for dinner, I don't take breakfast, neither do I take lunch so you can dress however you like when I'm not around. There will be a party coming up in a few months time. You are expected to be in attendance. Once the time is drawing nigh I'll let you know. Is that understood?"
Her eyes were wide just like saucers but she gulped before bowing down.
"Yes my Lord"
"Do you have any questions?"
"What will I be doing in your Chambers? Plus I'm I to stay there even when you are not around?"
"You will be in my Chambers only when I'm around and when I request for you. Anything I ask you to do, you are to do it with no questions asked. Only clean it when I'm not around. No one is to go in there anymore except you. Anything else?"
She swallowed again before shaking her head.
I took a large gulp of my drink, her eyes watching the substance, realization dawning on her. She averted her gaze Immediately and I had the urge to laugh. Something I hardly did.
I placed the flute back on the table and stood up to leave.
She stood up as well.
I heard her breathe a heavy sigh of relief once I was out.
"What the hell was he drinking? Was that blood? Oh my God. Is he going to suck my blood too? Is that why he requested my presence in his Chambers when he is around?"
I almost bursted out laughing at her murmuring but a servant quickly passed me causing me to set my face back into a frown.
I shook my head bemused before walking over to my room.
Alan was already waiting for me outside my Chambers.
"Is the car ready?" I asked walking pass him and getting into my Chambers.
"Yes my Lord. But Lord Edgar is waiting in in your office"
I let out an audible groan.
"Tell him I'll be with him shortly."
He curtseyed and left.
I loosed my tie and unbuttoned my shirt. I had been in this clothes for close to 48 hours, I didn't even find it in me to care. I just wanted to sleep.
I had quickly changed into another set of grey suit similar to the one I just removed, my grey coat in my arm and I was out.
I walked into my office to find Edgar already making himself comfortable like always. His long legs were crossed on my desk and he already had a drink on his hand.
"Get your f*****g feet off my desk" I growled walking over to my sit.
Edgar adjusted immediately. With a grin on his face, he spread his arms open. "There's my best friend" he drawled.
"I'm really not feeling it today Edgar. What do you want?" I asked, I strode over to my liquor stand already pouring myself a glass. I took it in one gulp, the drink causing a light sensation within me. I didn't even grimace before pouring myself another one.
"Whoa! You are really having a bad day huh?" Edgar mused.
I glared at him before taking a sip of my whiskey.
"I won't ask again Edgar" I said sharply.
I took a seat on my chair facing him. He simply grinned his usual genial smile. I wished I could be as easy going as he was sometimes, but he didn't have the whole world sitting on his shoulders. He didn't have people threatening him and his position left and right.
I did, so I could never be like he was. Maybe that was why we were so close. I might act cold him or like I didn't care but Edgar knew me so well. He knew how to poke my buttons.
"I met with Beatrice" he grinned.
I let out a heavy groan, relaxing in my chair and shutting my eyes tightly.
"Did you cast a spell of love on her or something?" Edgar continued his taunting.
"I really wished I did. That would mean I could always revoke it." I rolled my eyes at him.
"Well she told me something that came as a shock to me because you didn't mention anything about it" he have me a pointed look.
"What did she say now?"
Edgar relaxed back into his chair, his brows raised as he watched me. "She said it seems like you got yourself a pet"
I didn't give him any emotion, my face was as impassive as ever but Edgar wasn't fazed by that. I would find out how Beatrice knew about that.
"I don't see what you are talking about Edgar"
"You know you can't lie to me right? I actually have my informant in here" he teased.
"If you mean Penelope, you better be joking. Leave her alone" I barked.
"C'mon. Where's the fun in that. I like the young lady" he grinned.
"No. You don't like her, you just like the attention she gives you. I don't even know what she sees in your ugly face anyways" I huffed.
"It's not everyone that has a pretty face like you Devon. Besides, you are deviating!" He hissed jokingly.
"And what if I am?" I bit back.
"So you did get a pet" he smirked.
"I don't know if she could be classified as one yet" I said.
"What the hell does that mean?" He frowned.
"I can't read her mind Edgar" I leaned in to whisper.
"What?" He whispered as well.
I sighed. "I've been trying since yesterday that she arrived, but each time I tried, nothing. Not even a twitch or something"
"Isn't she a human? You know you can't use any other creatures apart from them right!"
"Are you telling me?" I scoffed. "Of course I know that. Which is why I am confused. She is a human, she's supposed to be"
"You aren't sure?" He asked staring at me incredulously.
" Of course I'm not sure. She just came yesterday for f**k sake. I'm a vampire not God" I harrumphed.
Edgar sighed.
"This is bad"
"You know you can't tell anyone right?" "I'm still figuring it out. I'll do that once I know.----"
"I'm your best friend Devon. Of course I'm not telling anyone" he replied firmly.
I nodded, sending him a grateful glance as we remained quiet.
"I never said you are my best friend anyway" I said after a moment.
"Oh f**k off" I barked out laughing, Edgar following me afterwards.
____
Edgar and I had soon arrived at the Lord's and lady's meeting that was taking place. We had arrived late because Edgar made us do more shots afterwards. I felt a little tired so I dozed off, I wasn't drunk in the slightest. I never did, but I was indeed tired.
Vampires were nocturnal but sometimes I just wanted to shut my eyes and forget myself for a second.
"- having pet as servants is soon getting old. Why do we even need it during our time. It's ancient and should be abolished" Ruger, one amongst the curmudgeonly members of the vampires court.
"We can't simply abolish a tradition of several decades just because one Lord said so" lady Palmer refuted. She and Ruger were always at loggerheads with each other. One might think they are attracted to each other but won't say so.
She was a firm holder of all vampires laws and would be caught dead before she broke any one. She had married a total of 500 times and still counting. All her husband's were rumoured to leave her because she always forced them to go to the woods and offer sacrifices to our ancestors.
She was sick but she didn't know it.
"Every Lord here ought to have at least one pet before the next gathering. We all know about the party coming up in a few months. We should submit our pets by then" Lord Durian was saying.
Everyone nodding to his words.
I felt all eyes turn to me, I lifted my gaze from where I had been playing with my ring to be met with the whole room silent and waiting for me to speak.
"Yeah. We should" I chipped I absentmindedly.
"That reminds me" I knew that voice anywhere but I refused to stare In his direction. "Lord Devon is yet to submit his pet to us. We had given him two weeks to find one, and all that is left of that week is two days"
Sylvester my stupid cousin spoke up.
I didn't look up at him, my fingers and rings looked more appealing than his wrinkled face.
I didn't let my anger at him show, I didn't let him know that he had somehow managed to cause me discomfort.
Every eye turned to me again causing me to let out a sigh and stare up them.
I was the richest and most powerful in here but I knew that in here were people still waiting for my downfall. A lot of them actually.
I stared at Sylvester, a smirk on his lips, a triumphant one, he must have thought he had me in a tight spot. He should have known that I was always one step ahead. I averted my gaze away to stare at the rest of the court.
"We have a party to present our pets. Be rest assured that I'll present mine by then" I didn't wait for their response before walking away.
They knew better than to stop me.