A Foreboding Allure

Chapter 6 - Part II

Notes From the Author;; Next section of chapter six! (: Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays my lovely readers.  As always, I love reading your comments and messages, keep sending!

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Antoine's POV

It was time, I thought morbidly as I glanced around the dull, wet darkness of the wine cellar that had been my home for the past several days.  Either no one had been looking for me, or I was just too cleverly hidden to be found, but either way, not a single soul had ventured into the depths of the estate since the incident.  If it wasn't for my admittance to myself as to why I had left my families presence in the first place, I wouldn't have even considered going back.  But I did.  In the days I had spent alone, I had admitted surprisingly human thoughts.  That I had some level of sorrow and regret for ending Lucca's life, though not because the thought of killing disturbed me, but more so because I let my anger get the best of me causing me to hurt my sister and disappoint Liana.  Though, it was doubtful that I would ever admit to either of these two offenses.  I hated, with every gram of negative emotion in my being, that Liana's presence in the house had caused a disturbance all around, whether my parents had noticed it or not.  I hated that I was drawn to her, in a different way that I was drawn to any other woman.  I hated that seeing Lucca with her, in I way that I had yet to experience, had awakened such a deep anger in me that I couldn't function until it was released.  I hated that I was so weak as to have any of these emotions in the first place.  But most of all, I hated the look on Liana's face when I had mercilessly, thoughtlessly, and effortlessly snapped her lover's neck, leaving his dead body on the floor in front of her.  In that moment her eyes lost their sparkle, lost their life as if I had blown out the candle that was her soul.  It was a scene that would haunt me for the rest of eternity.  And I wouldn't apologize, I had concluded.  I hoped that what I was feeling was a phase.  I loved blood, and murder, and trickery, and snide remarks.  I was not loyal, loving, sensitive, or remorseful. No, most certainly those things I was not.  If that was anyone, it was my brother and even he hadn't displayed those levels of extreme.

So I left the wine cellar, as casually as possible, determined to act as though I never left and as though I the feelings I had dealt with for the past week never existed.  My first act upon my return was to find Dante and invite him on a Roman excursion for business, not pleasure.  No weeping sisters, no alluring slave girls, just two bachelors, a full liquor cabinet, and dozens of all-too-willing ladies.  I knew it was exactly what I needed to bring back my old self.

 As a walked through the corridors, all was still and silent, other than the occasional passing of a maid or slave, who looked at me with puzzled yet fearful stares before continuing on.  I met their glances with a sparkling toothy smile; it felt good to be feared.  But the farther I traveled to the house towards Dante's room, the less silent it became.  Scraping, thumping, muffled cries became louder and louder and seemed to be coming from Dante's room.  A smile spread over my face and I found myself grinning from ear to ear.  To my knowledge, it had been several months since Dante had been with a woman sexually, as far as simply for feeding I wasn't sure, but I knew as far as physical pleasure went, he had very high standards for his ladies and he had expressed more than once that none of the blood slaves we kept at the mansion interested him.  I know that he had had his heart set on going with me on my last business trip for that reason (though it wasn't the only one) but mother had father had sent me alone. This was why I had tried to make amends with him by offering a night with Liana of his choosing. I wasn't sure, but unless he had done so without telling me, or took advantage of my offer during my absence (which I somehow doubted); he hadn't used his night yet.

Another cry rang through the hall, and it was then that my attention fully turned to the sounds.  I walked much faster, hurrying to get to Dante's room.  It sounded like Liana, and while I knew I had told my brother he could have a night with her, after the most recent turn of events I wasn't sure how I felt about it.  So, when I reached the partially opened door to Dante's room, I burst in without even really considering what my plan of action was.