The Darkest Song (The Eternal Darkness Duet #1)

Chapter 19

Chapter 19

A noise woke me, like the soft click of a door closing. My eyes shot open, but I was alone in the room. It had been the shutters opening. I rushed to the window and looked out. The moon was bright, and the sky was littered with stars. I could see other parts of the building, as it seemed to be shaped like a horseshoe around an enormous manicured garden. The building itself was made of stone, and there was a tower at the far end that looked like part of a castle. Was I in a castle?

I stepped back from the window and looked around the room. To say it was luxurious would be an understatement. I wandered through a door to my left and saw the bathroom, which was enormous. The tub looked like it could hold four people. A second door led to an empty closet, which was nearly the size of my apartment.

I went back into the bedroom, just as Maria was entering. A younger woman followed her, carrying a tray which she set down on the table near the windows.

“Good evening,” Maria said cheerfully. “I hope the room is to your liking.”

I eyed them warily. “Sure.”

“This is Helen.” Maria motioned to the other woman, who smiled shyly at me. “She’ll be your personal maid. She’ll assist you with your clothes, meals, and whatever else you might need.”

I didn’t understand why I was getting a personal maid. Or why I’d been given such a grand bedroom. Julian was a monster, and I was his prisoner. But I didn’t say any of that. Instead I just said, “Hey.”

Helen bobbed her head. “Hello miss.”

I looked at the tray, which held a wine decanter and a crystal glass. But I knew it wasn’t wine.

“I’m sure you’re hungry.” Maria nodded to Helen, who filled the glass and offered it to me. I took it and forced myself to drink slowly.

Maria watched me with a thoughtful expression. “Julian is busy, but he instructed me to show you around. Or you can explore on your own, if you prefer. It's quite safe. No one here will harm you.”

I tried to hide the hope her words gave me. “Um, I’ll explore on my own, thanks.” This would be my chance to escape!

T here was no way I was escaping.

There were guards everywhere outside. They didn’t try to stop me, they only nodded respectfully as I walked by. But I knew I couldn’t escape without them seeing me. Giving up, I headed back inside.

I wandered through the house, which as it turned out was an actual castle. A sprawling medieval structure on the outside, but elegant, modern luxury on the inside. I walked through countless rooms, encountering several servants along the way. They were all in uniform, looking like the maids and footmen from historical movies. Except they were vampires, of course. Some smiled in greeting, but most just bowed their heads. Which was very weird. Why was everyone bowing?

I passed through several living rooms. Most of them were formally decorated, but one looked more modern, with a large sectional sofa and a massive tv on the wall. I found an office, which I assumed was Julian’s, a library with floor to ceiling shelves containing more books than I could possibly count, and a music room, with a piano and a harp. I ran my fingers softly over the harp strings, longing for my violin, before continuing on.

I discovered a long hall of paintings that looked old and priceless, and an actual ballroom, complete with crystal chandeliers. I finally headed back to my room to find piles of boxes scattered all over the place. Some were big, like the kind of boxes you’d store a wedding dress in. I heard a noise coming from the closet so I popped my head in and saw Helen, hanging up clothes.

“Oh hello, Miss,” she said, smiling cheerfully.

“What is this?” I asked, stepping fully into the closet. The shelves that were empty last night were now nearly full.

“Your new wardrobe.”

I frowned. “Where did it come from?”

“Mostly Prada and Dior, I think, but-”

“No.” I held up a hand to stop her. “I meant, who bought all this?”

Helen blinked. “Julian.”

“Why?” I narrowed my eyes at her and she looked down, nervously running her hands down the front of her uniform. I paused. Was she scared of me ? “Nevermind. Thank you for your help.”

She smiled, looking relieved. “It's my job, Miss.” She turned back to the pile of clothes in front of her.

I went back out into the bedroom, making my way through the scattered boxes. I saw labels that read Chanel, Dior, Prada, and Versace. On the bed were several pink boxes tied with black ribbon. I slid the ribbon off one and lifted the lid to see a pile of black lace, nestled in pink tissue paper. It was a bra and panty set, with a matching garter belt.

“I hope it's to your liking,” Julian drawled from behind me.

I yelped and dropped the bra, spinning to face him. He was standing just inside the doorway, with his hands in his pants pockets. He was wearing a black suit again, with a white shirt this time with the top three buttons undone.

We stared at each other. “Why did you buy all this?” I finally asked.

He glanced down at the boxes as he strolled further into the room. “You need clothes. Unless you plan on wearing that every day?” He glanced at me, as I was still in my same clothes from the night before. Point taken.

“But why so much? And why so expensive ?”

He sat down in one of the chairs in front of the window and leaned back casually. “Nothing is expensive to me. I could dress you in diamonds if I wanted to. Which reminds me…”

I clenched my fists at my sides. “You’re wrong, if you think this is going to win me over. I still hate you. I’ll hate you forever.”

He sighed and rubbed a hand over his face. “Forever is a long time. Believe me, I know.” He looked at me. “I am not your enemy. I know you think I am, but I’m not. I did not make you a vampire. I did not capture you and make you stand trial. All I did was volunteer to take you. If I hadn’t, you would have been executed. Which, might I remind you, is what Adam wanted. When they told him you could be saved through metapherus archond, he asked that you be killed instead.”

Julian tilted his head as he looked at me. “Is that what you’d have wanted? Would death be preferable to this?” He gestured to the boxes on the floor.

“Death would be better than being owned by you, ” I snapped. But would it really? I put my hands on my hips. “So what now? Now that you own me, what do you intend to do with me?”

“Nothing.”

I blinked. I hadn’t been expecting that.

“In the eyes of the vampire community, you are my property,” Julian said. “Which means you will reside here with me. It also means you are under my protection, which is no small thing. No one can touch you now.”

I snorted. “No one except you.”

“Correct.” He stood and walked towards me. “I can , but I won't.” He came to a stop in front of me, and I had to tip my head back to look at him. He did that a lot, like he was trying to intimidate me with his size.

“Not until you ask me to,” he said softly.

“I’ll never ask you to!” I said angrily.

His lips slowly curved. “We’ll see.”