The tone of their expressions was unmistakable; their gaze was intense, and their postures were aggressive, as if they were trying to convey a message of strength and dominance. It was like they were screaming 'POWER' with every fiber of their being, and their brazen faces were enough for anyone to read the intention behind their words.
'DO NOT CROSS OUR WAYS'.
And I have no intention of doing it anytime soon. If only I could uncover the secrets fate had in store for me. Ryan rose from his chair, embracing each one of them warmly. Following their brief exchange of greetings, their attention turned to the elder vampires in the hall. Though I couldn't quite make out their words due to the considerable distance between us, everyone appeared elated at their presence.
"Psst." I couldn't say whether it was the correct way to call a vampire, but it did the trick as she turned her attention towards me.
"You want to know who they are?"
'Well, who would have thought Marg had psychic abilities?'
"Dumbo, it was written all over your face."
Oops, did I just say that out loud? I waved my head slightly and peered at her as if she were Google. Marg was proving to be incredibly helpful at this moment, and she, too, appeared enthusiastic about their arrival.
"They're Ryan's friends. Scratch that; they're his 'hell of friends'. They may appear tough, but trust me when I say that Ryan is the toughest. However, these guys really intimidate us. And I mean a whole lot."
She emphasized her last word, and I nodded in comprehension. Knowing that even the nocturnal creatures of the night had the capacity to embody emotions like intimidation and fear was a reassuring thought. It made me feel less vulnerable, almost as if I wasn't merely prey.
"The blonde with the long hair is Neha. The shorter one is Alice, and the one with brunette hair is Rose. The guy in the leather jacket is Edmund, and the handsome one is Jeril. Isn't he just the cutestttt?"
Margaret, her excitement overflowing, let out a burst of delight that reverberated through the air, causing my temples to throb instantly. The sudden outburst captivated the attention of everyone nearby, including Ryan, as their ears caught her high-pitched shriek. Great! Just great! I pondered seeking refuge beneath the table in an attempt to escape the situation. However, to my dismay, the Edmund guy not only singled me out but also addressed me directly.
"You, come here."
I didn't move an inch from my spot, hopeful that he was referring to Margaret. But that foolish girl nudged my chair slightly and gestured with her eyes for me to obey his commands before he repeated himself. My knees trembled as I stood up, willingly walking towards my own extinction. All thanks to Marg and her incessant whining. Ryan wore a smug expression that irked me to no end, while Sid seemed tense. Adrian maintained an indifferent face, avoiding direct eye contact. Uh-oh! It seems like my approaching death is indeed inescapable. By the time I reached them, I was trembling uncontrollably, and to add to my anxiety, all eyes were fixed on me. I scanned the group of vampires, trying to identify Ryan's mother, but my vision was blurred, making it impossible to distinguish one figure from another. Stay conscious, Atty. If you passed out now, it would be more humiliating than death itself. I can at least die with my head head high.
"So, you are 'that' girl."
It was the short-haired girl. What was her name again? Yeah, Alice. Her eyes were narrowed at me as if I were some bug.
"She doesn't seem worth it."
What did she mean by 'it'? I wanted to inquire, but I stayed quiet. You know what they say about curiosity and cats—it doesn't bode well.
"She's still wet behind the ears."
This time, it was Rose. Since when did she have the right to pass judgment on me?
"And to top it all off, she's a girl—let me rephrase that—a pretty girl who's useless."
Jeril was smirking while he pointed at me. If only they knew the real me. I looked to Sid for support, but he averted his gaze. I realized I was alone in this and clenched my fists to prevent myself from blurting out something foolish.
"Hey, pretty useless girl, do you know how to sing?"
Edmund lifted his head, awaiting my response. I shook my head, softly mumbling 'no'. I felt like a high schooler trapped by a group of bullies.
"Hey, we all know you've got a beautiful voice and that you were a star at singing competitions in school. Remember those days? Well, now it's time for you to show off your talents and sing for us if you want to stay alive."
Alice's expression suddenly turned serious. What on earth have I gotten myself into? And how did they manage to dig up my old school records? The only reason my teachers even knew I existed was because of my singing. But all that stopped when I started my senior year. My grandpa felt it was too much of a hassle to take me to other schools for events. Still, I couldn't resist singing in the shower and while I was busy with my work.
I don't really have a choice here, do I? I sighed, feeling a surge of bravery. I closed my eyes and pictured myself alone in my room. They want a song, so I'll give them a song. And with that, I began to sing 'Pretty Girl' by Maggie Lindemann."
(Please listen to the song on YouTube.)
Once I got the hang of it, there was no stopping me. When the verse "I am not just a pretty girl" came every time, I couldn't help but smirk at them. They underestimated me, thinking I was just a mere girl. Little did they know the kind of person they were dealing with. As I finished, a sense of triumph washed over me, much like a child winning a teddy bear after a challenging game. I didn't anticipate any warm gestures, but that's precisely what I received. It came from Neha, who had remained silent all along. Unlike the others, I noticed that she didn't provoke me or insult me. She hugged me warmly and ruffled my hair.
"I knew you were a hard nut to crack and special."
There goes the special thing yet again. I was received with surprising warmth and admiration when I expected criticism and hatred from the others. Their smiles and comments dazzled me and left me perplexed. Edward, who had always been brash and dismissive, surprised me the most. He not only apologized for his previous rudeness but also confessed to being a fan of my talent. Are vampires insane? I believe so. Ryan's face lit up with an evident sense of pride as I turned to face him. Was I the source of this pride? But why? It's strange to even consider that. My mind was roused by conflicting thoughts, and it was adding to my already prominent headache.
The rest of the evening was rather quiet as the hours passed, with Marg's persistent requests for me to teach her the song serving as the only real interruption. She professed her unwavering allegiance to me, solemnly vowing to be my loyal partner in crime until the end of time. However, my desire for the day to draw to a close overwhelmed me, leaving me dozing off on multiple occasions. Despite my intermittent slumber, Marg's incessant prattle continued, undeterred by my somnolent state.
After the gathering came to an end, I found myself overcome with a sense of relief and contentment. I literally ran away from Marg when she suggested that I hang out with her for some time before retiring to my bedroom. Completely drained from the day's exhilarating adventures, I eagerly retreated to bed, even though the rest of the family members were still leaving or lingering here and there. To my defense, I wasn't a vampire with so much energy. Besides, tomorrow I am planning to get some answers to why I have been kidnapped. My intention is to seek assistance from Elizabeth, someone I have a special affection for, in the hopes that she can lend me a hand.
'Knock' 'Knock'.
'Knock' 'Knock' 'Knock'
I couldn't believe how unfair things were when I groggily opened my eyes and stretched my limbs. "Is it morning already?" I mumbled to myself while hastily attempting to shake off the last bits of my sleep. It felt as though I had been asleep for only two hours, but a quick peek at the time dispelled that notion. I cursed under my breath in frustration, realizing that I had actually slept for a meager one and a half hours, not even two. One and a half hours! Who in their right mind had the audacity to disturb my precious slumber at such an ungodly hour? Or perhaps it was already early morning? Frankly, I didn't care at that moment. All I knew was that I was going to chase after anyone who had the audacity to disturb me from my sweet oblivion and annihilate them.
I staggered in the direction of my bedroom door, which had just been fixed an hour and a half earlier, summoning every ounce of will and strength I could muster. I grabbed the doorknob firmly and threw it open, ready to let out my bottled-up rage on the unwary invader. Ryan was standing there, unaware of the grave danger he was going to deal with. The nerve of this guy! Perhaps I should teach him a lesson about the sacredness of rest, which he so clearly lacks.
I noticed he was dressed in simple black jeans and a casual blue t-shirt, his disheveled hair confirming my suspicion that he had just crawled out of bed himself. A mixture of confusion and irritation flooded my mind. What in the world was he doing here?
"Why do you always have to drool at me?"
I was contemplating saying the words, 'Because you always look delicious'. However, overcome by weariness and annoyance, I dismissed the idea with a mere shrug. He gave me a pensive nod as if he didn't anticipate a reaction from me anyway. Then, to my utter astonishment, he entered the privacy of my chamber without any consideration for my personal space. I stood frozen near the door, expecting an explanation from him for barging into my room at this goddamn hour. However, he just kept sauntering around, his fingers caressing the dressing table as he walked aimlessly.
After completing an entire round inside the room, he settled himself comfortably on the expanse of my bed, sprawled out as if he had exclusive ownership of it. Admittedly, it technically does belong to him, but for the time being, it is my freaking space. I cleared my throat to discreetly capture his attention, but my attempts were met with absolute indifference. A frustrated cough followed suit, and still, no response. Finally, uttering a simple "hello" provoked him to lift his head and glower at me in annoyance. Pardon me, but if anyone should be wearing that expression right now, it should be me.
"Could you please leave my room so I can get some sleep?"
I muttered between clenched teeth, attempting to maintain my last vestiges of resilience. I was really starting to grow tired of this guy, and I don't know how long I can hold onto my thin thread of patience.
"Are you seriously telling me to leave my own room?"
He seemed taken aback at first, but quickly tried to mask it.
"I suppose?" My response came across more as a question than a statement, which brought a smug smirk to his face.
"Make me."
As he closed his eyes and a mischievous grin spread across his face, I couldn't help but think what a huge mistake Ryan was making. Oh, he would soon regret his foolish decision. No one, whether human or vampire, messes with me or my sleep. He was about to learn that lesson the hard way. I would make sure he ran back to his room, tail between his legs.
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