The Vampire's Bride

"Master Orpheus, Master Jillion, Aldo... the food is ready," Mallory called from the other side of the door. She stood there with a small smile. Unable to hear any response, she moved closer to the door and held the handle.

Just as she was about to turn it, she stopped. She heard a soft voice.

"Just saying you are powerful is not enough. Don't get close to Mallory."

Mallory flinched and recognized the owner of the voice. It was Aldo. But why? Why would he say that?

Feeling her heart being crushed by an unknown reason, her smile turned upside down. She took a couple of breaths. Maybe... Aldo was just protective of her... that's right... there's nothing wrong with it...

But deep inside, Mallory knew what Aldo was saying. He was telling them to avoid her... Mallory had known him for quite some time. And even until now, when he's all grown up, he's attitude and habits never changed... but for some reasons, even though she knew what he meant, she just wanted to turn a blind eye...

Putting up a mask, she knocked on the door and called them once more.

...

Aldo's gaze was piercing that it scared Leo for a moment. Hearing Aldo's side, Leo started to waver.

They're not the same... but they're so similar.

Mallory could be the princess he's been looking for...

But she could also be just an image his been waiting for...

Leo said hesitantly, "Give me some time. Until I could confirm that they're not the same..."

Until then... let me hold on for a bit longer...

Aldo watched Leo, "Just don't hurt yourself."

"Yeah." Leo nodded.

Suddenly, a couple of soft knocks were heard followed by a voice, "Excuse me, dinner is ready."

"Yes."

Leo's heart was thumping loud and strong. Looking at Jillion and Aldo, he asked a question to himself,

How long has she been there?

Jillion gulped before asking them, "Did you..."

Aldo shook his heads, "No, I did not feel her presence."

Jillion turned his head, "You, Leo? Umm... Leo? Hey! Where are you- - eh?"

Leo stood up and walked towards the door. He opened it and Mallory was standing there, fidgeting. When a shadow loomed over her, she flinched and then looked at Leo. Her eyes widened and Leo could see himself in her eyes.

"Let's go?" Leo asked.

"Y-Yes," Mallory said, giving a small smile.

That's right! A barrier!

Leo felt like laughing. With the barrier on, normal vampires won't be able to get through — let alone a half-blooded vampire.

Leo looked inside the room and called the others, "Oi! Let's go! I'm hungry!"

Jillion immediately stood up and started walking but stopped after noticing that Aldo did not move. "You coming?"

Smiling a little, Aldo said, "Mallory's... getting better."

"Getting better?" Jillion asked.

With a pained look, Aldo replied as he stood up, "Getting better at hiding the truth that I can no longer distinguish what is real and not with her expressions."

What is real and not...?

"Then, Mallory could have been... listening?" Jillion asked, worried if she really did hear their conversation.

"Wait! We'll come with you!" Jillion called as they exited the room.

...

As they walked, Leo secretly talked to Brian,

"Brian, did you allow her to call us?"

"Yes, Young Master, Was it wrong of me to do so?" Brian asked, following behind the group.

"Not at all... just that, how long have she been there?"

"... She just arrived the moment she knocked," Brian replied.

"Okay... that's good," Leo said cutting the link (telepathy).

Brian watched Mallory's back. Recalling the scene, he remembered seeing Mallory stopping when she was about to knock on the door after her first call. Since he's a loyal butler, he never had any intention on eavesdropping on Leo and his company's conversation. But at that moment, he wished he had because it was the first time that he saw Mallory with a confused expression. It was like she felt pain but felt secured.

Please... please spare me for I did not mean any harm...

Little did they know, it was for the better of all of them that Brian lied.

...

As they were eating dinner, Aldo kept asking Mallory what happened to her.

"And your family? Your sisters?"

"I was able to escape and continued my studies. There's nothing to worry... I think," Mallory's voice trailed off.

Feeling a bit left out, Leo asked a question, "What will happen to the two of you? You know, the fiancé and fiancée thing?"

Mallory looked at Aldo, wanting an answer from him. Aldo nodded, indicating he'll speak, "I think, it's best to stay quiet about it especially since her mother is dead set on getting her married. If she knew I'm alive, she might tell Mallory to get married."

"But the chances are low, Aldo," Mallory butted in.

"Because... in their eyes, you're just 'Aldo' now... and not the old Aldo that they know."

You don't have a family... you don't have the same title you had when you were young...

"I'm the heir of the family... that does not mean I don't have the same title or power I had when I was younger," Aldo said.

"I know... but they don't," Mallory shook her head, "Especially my mother."

Leo turned to Mallory, "What do you want to do?"

"I-I don't know... it's not safe if... the vampires heard about Aldo's appearance especially... the police."

"Because of his death..." Jillion mumbled, remembering that 'Aldo is dead' to the police.

"So, we can't just say that he's alive... What do you plan to do, Aldo?" Leo asked.

"Who knows," Aldo said as he shrugged his shoulders.

As Jillion was about to ask a question, someone started banging on the main gate.

"Let me in! I need to find her! Is the person in there?! You are the key! Please let me talk to that person!"

"W-What's happening?" Jillion asked Leo.

Leo immediately called Brian, "Brian, who's that?"

"Young Master, he requested to see your visitor," Brian replied.

"Visitor? Jillion? Or Aldo?"

"No, Young Master... it's Miss Mallory."

Mallory?

Leo looked at Mallory as he heard Brian's reply in his head. Looking at him, Jillion and Aldo new that the man causing a ruckus outside was looking for Mallory.

"Why... Mallory?"

"Let me see her! I need her to help me find someone! Please!"

Hearing his voice, Mallory felt scared. Not because the man outside might hurt her, but because something bad must have happened. She quickly grabbed the sleeve of Leo's shirt and said, "Master Orpheus, please let me see the person... something bad must have happened!"

The three boys looked at each other. Who was the man outside?