The Vampire's Bride

"Why did you waste your energy on him? You know you don't drink blood yet you used your energy? Don't you know you'll die if you lost all of it?" Leo scolded her.

Mallory could not help but widened her eyes as she softly spoke, "Y-You... noticed?"

Sitting down, Leo scratched his head irritatedly, "Of course I will! There would be no way that Zorek will just fall and hit the ground without a fight. Also, you're energy feels weaker than it was earlier."

Mallory also sat up as she listened to him. Feeling slightly nervous, she told him, "Master Orpheus, I'm a halfling. I have been surviving with almost a zero-intake of blood. Using my energy to stop him from moving is alright especially since I drank your blood."

Leo watched her speak. Indeed, as a halfling, she would not be in danger. But why can't he remove the fear in his heart?

"Never mind that. We still need to make sure you have enough energy," Leo said as he got up and got the scissors inside a nearby cabinet.

"Sorry?" Although Mallory tried not to think about it, seeing the sharp object hitting his skin, she knew what he will do.

"Master Orpheus! It's really fine!" She said, raising her hands as Leo went near her.

"Fine?" Leo scrunched his brows, "You may be fine but under my care, I need to make sure you have enough energy... even as a halfling. Now drink before I force you to."

Mallory tried to look away but the scent of blood made her dizzy. She tried to fight back the urges she had inside but Leo's voice kept on interrupting. "P-Please... don't..."

Leo watched the girl as she barely pushed him with two hands. It was obvious that she was weak with the scent of blood. It's not that he wanted to worsen her fear but instead, he wanted to thank her and... keep her by his side.

Knowing that she won't drink it by herself, Leo calmly said, "Consider this as my thanks."

Mallory opened her mouth to ask but before she could pose the question, her mouth was occupied. She tried to push him away but the moment she recognized the familiar taste, she could not help but get addicted to it.

Why... isn't it disgusting?

Leo eyed each and every reaction the girl had. The moment he realized she was in a daze, he took another mouthful of blood and fed it to her with another kiss. He could feel her trembling as her eyes slowly turned red. He wrapped a hand around her waist, stopping only after a moment.

With a smile, he told the dazed girl, "Thank you for saving me."

Mallory was utterly confused. "Wasn't it you who... saved me?"

Laughing, Leo shook his head, "No. YOU saved me, Mallory. You did." Kissing her forehead, Leo sat down. Looking at the blood that trailed down her mouth, he gently wiped it away.

Mallory tried to recall what he meant but was interrupted by another question. "How do you feel now? Was it enough?"

"Y-Yes. I'm better now. Thank you very much," Mallory said as she felt her energy rising. Indeed, a blood of a pure vampire had greater effects than humans.

Patting her head, Leo gently told her, "Stay here and don't go out. Go to sleep before I come back. I just need to finish something."

Leo stood up without waiting for her reply and walked a step away from the bed when he felt the edge of his shirt being tugged. "Master Orpheus..."

"Yes?" Leo's smile froze as he looked at Mallory. He could not help but open his mouth as he saw a fire in her eyes. It was not like what she had earlier or when they first met. It was like she... grew up. Back then, she had the eyes of a child who was afraid of everything, even herself. Afraid of the light and stayed in the dark. Now that he was looking at her once more, he suddenly realized how much she had grown over the past few days. Could it be that she was never in trouble?

No... it was clear in her eyes that she was indeed a damsel in distress. The only difference was that she grew braver and wiser. She was now ready to take on the problems that she will face. Back then, when she said she doesn't need help, it was only her pride but now, if Leo will hear her say that, he knew that she can handle it.

Ah... this could be about that... the more he thought about it, the more it seemed plausible. Turning around, Leo said, "I don't want to hear your answer now. I'll listen to it in the morning. I still need time to prepare if you'll reject the offer, okay? Spare my heart, darling."

With that, Leo left he room leaving a blushing Mallory in the room. Leo smiled at himself as he realized something. Maybe it's not just as simple as curious...

"Young Master, your father has been waiting for you in his office," Brian spoke softly, afraid of destroying the smile Leo had. Leo nodded and immediately headed to where his father was, "Let's go and put an end to this conversation."

"...Yes, Young Master."

...

Three knocks were heard before a voice commanded, "Come in."

Leo entered the room after Brian and sat at a nearby chair. "Yes, father?"

Without glancing at his son, Rayner asked, "Why are you late?"

Leo did not bother to give an answer and asked once more, "Why did you call me?"

Scoffing, Rayner proceeded to hand a folder to Leo, introducing the person in the picture. "This is Haley, the daughter of Mister Reiz. Although they are not at the top, they still have high standings. You'll be meeting with her four days from now. If she agrees on the day of the date, the marriage will be pushed through. She's a high class vam—"

"Do you still remember what you asked me last time?" Leo interrupted.

"Last time?" Rayner was confused.

Nodding, Leo continued, "Yes. You asked me why I was protecting her. You asked me if it was because... she looked like her."

"Her?" It took a moment before Rayner realized who he meant. He lifted his head to look at Leo, "What about it?"

"What do you think about it?" Leo asked, keeping eye contact with him.

"I've seen her face and I can say that she does look like her." After a few seconds of silence, Rayner continued with the file on his hand, "Anyway, it doesn't matter. Within the next three days, throw her out of the ho—"

"It's true that she looks like her but!" Leo spoke louder, interrupting Rayner once more, "But... it's not because of that. You are my father yet you can't even save me. She's just a girl yet she... saved me. She's shy, sometimes brave, sometimes scared... she tries to do and take on everything even the pain and hides her fear and wounds. She's really... an idiot."

At the end, Leo could not help but feel warm. He could not help but think of the times he spent with Mallory. Even if it was just for a couple of days, he still had fun. Standing up, he said, "I have learned a lot from her these past few days and I plan on learning even more with the rest of my time."

Rest of my time?! Scrunching his eyebrows, Rayner tightened the grip on his pen, "Don't tell me you plan to marry her?!"

In the end, Leo gathered his courage and looked at his father, replying only with silence. Rayner knew what his son meant by that. Slamming the pen on the table, he shouted, "Nonsense! You will throw her out tomorrow and meet with Miss Haley! I have arranged the meetings and will be speaking with Mister Reiz later."

"No need. I won't be meeting her four days from now nor in the future," Leo firmly rejected. "If that is all, then I will leave." Leo turned around and started heading towards the door.

As Leo got closer to the door, Rayner warned him, "You think you can escape? Even if you reject this girl don't forget that your grandfather already chose a partner for you months ago. A life-long partner! You have no way out!"

"That's where you're wrong, father. Even if you think I don't, I do. Even if there's none..." Leo said as he stopped on his tracks just before the door. Remembering Mallory's sleeping face, he could not help but smile.

"I'll make my own way out. I will not marry anyone except her nor will I make the same mistake as I did back then."

Bam!

There was a moment of silence as Rayner stared at the door. "Did Leo just... smile?" His voice turned out weak and was trembling. It was hard to determine what he was feeling right now.

Brian looked at his master then at the door before nodding. He gave a small smile to Rayner, "Yes, Master. Ever since Young Master's guest arrived, the house became lively once more and Young Master started smiling more often. It is all thanks to his guest."

Rayner felt like talking to his son took a year off of him. Sighing, he let his body sink on his comfy chair. Holding his head, he only had one thought...

It was as if they were back in the time when... 'she' was still alive. Rayner shook his head. "Make sure that he does not regret anything. Just because a lookalike came to his life doesn't mean that they're the same. I'm sure he regrets not being able to stay by her side and protect her. That's why he's keeping that human. Make sure that he realizes that before it is too late."

Young Master fully realizes that...

Brian wanted to speak on behalf of Leo but stopped. Clenching his fist, he said, "Understood, Master. I will take my leave now. Please excuse me." He bowed before heading towards the door. Taking one last glance at the man who have returned to work, Brian closed the door behind him and immediately went to retire from the night.

…

Meanwhile...

In the middle of the night, a person was peacefully sleeping suddenly woke up due to a familiar feeling that she could feel in her heart. Looking at the sky outside her window, her eyes glistened as if she could feel it was real.

No... it had to be real. Her vision started to blur as tears formed in her eyes. With a soft voice, she barely whispered, "Master is... finally back..."

A tear escaped her eye and slowly formed a trail down her cheek. It was barely hanging on her face until it fell on the blanket.

The moment it fell, a piercing cry could be heard in another house.