My Long Lost Mate

Even on the coldest day, the sun shone brightly upon the earth, giving warmth in the midst of the wintry air. The soft flakes came falling harsher as the weather grew colder, kissing the earth white in every part it touched. 

In every step I took, footprints of mine formed on the lumpy snow beneath. And with every word I said, there followed a mist coming from my mouth. Though the weather was cold, I stayed warm under the thick clothing I wore, and also because of the warmness of the hand that held me close.

We were on our way to the dining room, walking ever so slowly for our journey to last longer. The size of the manor did a great job in extending our walk, and I soon found myself wishing for a clone of my own to meet the vampiress in my stead. Or better yet, for us to head to another destination instead of meeting the woman who calls herself Kiera. 

As I let a sigh out of my lips, the man whose hand was holding mine quizzed, "Why the long face?"

"I don't really want to meet her," I said, kicking the snow a little as I walked. Though it was my first time meeting her, I just knew that we wouldn't be good together. Should I call this a woman's intuition?

"Should we not go then?" 

"That would be rude," I shook my head, giving him a bitter smile. I didn't want to anger the woman despite my unwillingness to meet her. "But maybe we can just eat a little and leave faster." 

"Let's do that then," he chuckled, "Why don't you like her? I don't think she is all that bad."

I halted my pace, glancing at Luke, "Do you like her?"

"No, I don't mean that," Luke also stopped in his tracks, hurriedly denying my question, "I just mean that she is not a bad person. I don't particularly like her, nor do I hate her."

"She is just the sister of my friend," he replied, smiling before saying, "While you, my mate. So you don't need to worry about her—or any other woman. I only have eyes for you." 

"I'm not worried," I mumbled. The sister of his friend, he said. I doubt Kiera thought the same about him. I continued to walk, pulling his hand to follow behind, "Hurry, we have kept her waiting for too long."

After a few minutes of walking, we finally arrived at the promised place. It was the second time I stepped into the dining room, the first being when Luke showed me around the house earlier this morning. 

When the door to the dining room opened, a room of the color gold appeared in sight. The carpeted floor beneath our feet made our steps to be lighter and comfortable, and the fire set ablaze in the fireplace made the whole room to be engulfed in warmth. The long mahogany table stood in the middle of the room, completed with a number of chairs on either side of it. Two huge chandeliers hung right on top of both ends of the long table, lighting the whole room with a soft yellowish light. Several servants and maids stood quietly by the side of the room, ready to provide services when asked.

There were two people already seated, one being a man who took the seat by the head of the table, and to his right was the very same woman who had invited us to this wonderful lunch. 

"Ah, you are finally here," Kiera greeted, sending us her beautiful smile, "I thought you had lost your way. Come, please be seated." 

Stepping closer, I had just realized the man was Sir Cassius, the owner of this luxurious manor. Luke took the seat by the left of the Lord, and I took the one right next to him. Looking at both of the vampires seated next to each other, I noticed how their features looked very similar, like they were twins.

"It is a pŀėȧsurė to meet you again, Miss Quinn," said the sir, bowing his head a little to greet me, "I'm glad you appear to be in a better condition than the last time I see you." 

Not knowing when did he meant by the last time he saw me, I returned his greeting with a smile and a little bow, "Likewise, sir. Thank you for allowing me to stay in this beautiful manor of yours."

"You shouldn't get too comfortable with my mate, Kiel," Luke interrupted, not liking his offer. I noticed the look on Kiera's face when Luke addressed me as his mate, a little irked by it. 

"I'm simply befriending her, nothing more," Kiel chuckled, shrugging his shoulders, "Well?"

"Please do as you wish, Kiel," I said, smiling at the man. If he was a friend of Luke, then he wouldn't be a bad person, right? They wouldn't be friends for many years if he was someone of bad influence to him. But what if Luke was the bad one between the two? 

"It seems that I have yet to introduce myself to you," Kiera chimed, standing up to hold her hand out for a handshake, "My name is Kiera Cassius, a pŀėȧsurė to meet you."

"A pŀėȧsurė to meet you too," I lied, also standing up to shook her hand, "I'm Violet Quinn."

When I released her hand, her sharp nails accidentally grazed my skin, causing blood to ooze out from under it, "Ow!" I hissed.

"Heavens," she clasped her mouth, shocked to see what she had done, "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to do that."

She hurriedly handed me a kerchief to wipe the blood away, but it was too late. The whiff of blood had roamed freely in the air, causing the vampires—the servants and maids, to show their fangs and ready to pierce into me. The smell of my blood must have awakened their ŀust for blood. 

"Back off," Luke stood up and pulled me into his arms, protecting me from the hungry vampires. His eyes turned a few shades lighter, showing the color of bright red.

"Do you want me to cut off your hands?" Luke turned to Kiera, madden by what she had done to me. His body was tensed with anger, his eyes glaring sharply at the woman. 

She was stunned by what she had just heard, like it was the very first time she had received such harsh words from the man. "I... I'm sorry. It was a mistake, really."

Luke ignored her reasonings and focused on the cut on my palm, bringing his lips close to it before ŀɨċkɨnġ my wound. I winced at the sharp pain and the wetness of his lips. In a matter of seconds, the cut was no more. 

"Does it hurt?" he asked, his voice much softer than the minute before when he had threatened Kiera. 

"It doesn't anymore," I shook my head, smiling at him, "Thank you."

Kiera, upset by how Luke had treated her, shed her tears and left the room in a hurry. Her brother who witnessed the scene she had made only sighed, as if he was used to her demeanor.

"Please don't mind her," he said, before pointing at the food on the table and started to eat, "The food is getting cold."

Well, this was awkward. I didn't know shedding a little blood could make things this awkward. Not only did I made the servants leave, but I also made the woman who had invited me to this lunch leave the room too. I didn't expect this lunch to be a good one, but I also didn't expect it to be this bad. 

Luke followed Kiel's words and started to dig in, adding some food to my plate from time to time. It was hard to swallow, considering the atmosphere around the room. I wouldn't be surprised to know that I have an upset stomach by the end of this lunch.

"It's fine," I replied, waving my hand, "It was an accident."

"It's not fine," Luke grumbled, "Those vampires almost made a feast out of you. If that happened when I was not around," he glared at Kiel, "I might start a war."

"I ȧssure you that will not happen under my watch, dear friend," he smiled, patting on Luke's shoulders, "Well, will you still come to the ball after this? It's right around the corner." 

Ball? 

Looking at the confused look on my face, Kiel explained, "It's a ball made to celebrate my birthday, and Kiera's. Luke always made some time to come every year. I'm tired of it, but Kiera insisted on having it because we didn't hold any last year," with the confusion still on my face, he added, "We are twins."

So I was right. That was what I thought when I saw them together. Their similarities were impeccable. 

Instead of answering Kiel's question, Luke asked me, "Do you want to?"

Surprised by his sudden question, I returned it with another, "What will happen if you don't come?"

"People will start a rumor, saying that our friendship is no more," Kiel answered casually, "Don't mind it though, it is normal for people to spread false things. They love to do that." 

"I would love to go," I smiled, "What about you?" 

"Not really," Luke sighed, "I'm afraid people might start falling for your beauty when they see you at the ball."