{22} I bought a Vampire from an Auction ° What have i Gotten Myself into!

Dreadful Folders

We stayed frozen staring at each other. No one wanted to make the first move. My mind was nothing but a jumble of thoughts; I was thinking about all the different reasons why they would act this way.

As far as I knew Mrs. Ashford and Alexandre hadn’t met; at least not in the mansion. I couldn’t find a reason why I saw fear in Mrs. Ashford eyes but that maybe she was afraid of vampires but that didn’t explain the intense glare Alexandre was giving her.

My curiosity was killing me but I didn’t dare to speak up. It seemed like everything was resting on a delicate balance that would be broken with the smallest movement or sound. So I decided just to watch and try to find out the most I could by their expressions.

Their postures were quite the opposite. Alexandre stood straight and tall; His shoulders were back and his face was tilted a little upwards. His silky brown hair casted a shadow over his eyes, making his sea blue eyes look menacing.

On the other side Ms. Ashford looked scared a feeble. Her body was shaking slightly and her icy blue eyes darted wildly from place to place as if to look for an escape route.

Finally Alexandre broke the silence.

“Who are you?” Alexandre said staring at her. She didn’t answer so I did it for her.

“She’s my governess. She’s going to teach us the etiquette rules we need to know to receive my fiancé.” Alexandre inspected her and then turned once again towards me.

“I didn’t know that there were more vampires in the mansion besides Zara and me.” He said. Ms. Ashford stilled and I turned to look at her.

“What?” I said shocked. 'It can't be'

“Miss Emily there are some things we need to discuss I am going to the kitchens to order some breakfast for us. I will be right back.” Ms Ashford said nervously before she left the room in a hurry before I could answer.

I felt numb and shocked. I sat down on a chair and stared at the floor. It was hard to accept that someone you knew and trusted was a different person or in this case, vampire.

I looked up when I felt someone shift on the chair beside me. Alexandre was sitting stiffly next to me, looking into my eyes.

“You didn’t know she was a vampire.” Alexandre stated. I nodded.

“She is different but it never came to my mind that she could be a vampire. I thought that all vampires were either slaves or in hiding. Who would have thought that a vampire would be here, in this mansion? It is the most unsafe place for a free vampire in the world” I said quietly. Suddenly an idea occurred to me.

“Alexandre, but, if she is a vampire why isn’t she dead? Vampires need blood to survive right? And I don’t think that she gets blood packets…”

Alexandre looked at me like he was wondering whether to answer me or not finally he sighed almost inaudibly.

“She does feed but she isn’t completely healthy. She probably looked younger but her body has been deteriorating, just making it look like she was aging like a human. She looks weak; she probably feeds off animals and not often.”

I stared at him trying to process everything.

“It sounds like the most rational way to act and the best way to stay undetected from the humans.” Alexandre added.

I had only one more question.

“Then why did you react that way when you saw her?” I asked. It didn’t make sense at all. If they are both vampires, then they should like each other or something…

Alexandre leaned on the back of his chair and smiled a little, the corners of his lips twitched a little almost like he did it against his better judgment. He leaned back in; his face was getting closer to me, this time I was the one leaning back trying to back away from those hauntingly sea blue eyes but he trapped me. Suddenly he was there. He was sranding and his hands were resting on each side of the armchair and his face was in front of me.

I could see the pointy end of his sparkling white fangs peeking under his small mischievous grin. I gulped and looked up into his eyes. I could see that he was amused with something I did or said because I could see laughter in his eyes.

“You are such a curious little human” he said.

“Uhh…” I said awkwardly trying to push myself away from him; I looked into his eyes once again and he looked back at me with the same condescending amused stare. I looked around looking for a way of escaping even though deep down I knew it would be futile. Even in his weak state he was stronger and faster than me. It made me feel irritated so I looked away from his eyes fixed my stare on my lap.

Suddenly a deep throaty sound emanated from him. I looked up startled. My eyes widened and I’m pretty sure my pupils were dilated. Alexandre was laughing and it bothered me that it was such a beautiful sound. It was masculine and virile. I hadn’t quite heard a laugh like that but it could be due to the fact that I didn’t interact with boys my age.

‘Boys my age’ I repeated in my mind and I looked back at Alexandre. ‘Alexandre is a vampire. How old is he?’ I wondered. It surprised me that for a second I was thinking about Alexandre like a human instead of a vampire.

I opened my mouth to ask him how old he was but, perhaps that was something intimate that I shouldn’t ask so I asked something else instead.

“Why are you laughing at me?” I asked feeling irritated. He sobered up and backed away a little but not enough for me to escape him.

“I apologize.” he said eloquently “I saw you pouting and I found myself compelled to laugh.”

“It’s alright but, you didn’t answer my question. Why did you react like that? Do you know each other?” I asked feeling curious.

“No, we do not know each other.” The answer hadn’t come from Alexandre but from Ms. Ashford who was standing by the door with a big tray with our breakfast.

Alexandre who was still pressing me against the chair jumped back and released me. My cheeks flushed red with embarrassment and I looked away.

Ms. Ashford looked more composed and less nervous now but her cheeks looked paler than usual. She walked inside the room and set the tray on the breakfast table.

“Please come and sit. We’ll discuss things over breakfast” she said.

This morning the breakfast consisted of warm scones with jam, some fruit, fresh orange juice and coffee. My mother always insisted that I should eat healthy to keep my body slim so I was used to eating small portions of food.

We ate our breakfast quietly; once again it was an awkward silence. The only one who didn’t seem bothered by it was Alexandre. He sat at ease enjoying his breakfast not bothering to look at anyone or anything but his plate with large portions of food. I could have sworn that he was making small sounds of delight.

“So, umm; you don’t know each other…” I trailed off waiting for one of them to answer my question.

“No.” Alexandre answered after drinking a gulp of black coffee and looking up from his buttered scone. “But we knew we were the same species and that’s enough to put your guard up.”

“oh.” It was a simple answer, nothing dramatic like what I had imagined. “Ms. Ashford, do my parents know?” I asked. I knew it was a dim question but I had to be sure. If my parents didn’t know from the beginning and suddenly found out there would be a lot of trouble for Ms Ashford. ‘She could be sentenced to death.’ I thought worriedly. Ms. Ashford paled and her hands started shaking again.

“No, they do not know; and I would really appreciate it if you do not mention it.” She said nervously and looking scared. It seemed out of character of her to acting this way.

Alexandre looked up from his plate and looked curiously at me, waiting for my answer. I didn’t have to think it twice; I knew what my answer would be.

“I won- will not tell anyone, I promise.” I said with a serious tone looking at her in the eye. She immediately relaxed and let out the breath she was holding.

“Why did you do it?” Alexandre asked. His intense stare was fixed on Ms. Ashford. “Why did you get a job in here of all places?”

“I did not choose this place, in a way they chose me. I was living pretending to be a human and I knew that I needed a job to earn my living. One day a woman came to the city looking for a governess; they interviewed me for the job and I had the experience so they hired me. By the time that I found out who I was working for it was too late, I couldn’t go back on my word” she answered calmly.

“Have you been feeding off animals the whole time?” Alexandre asked curiously. Ms Ashford glanced at me, she seemed uncomfortable about answering that question but she answered.

“Yes I have. I know it sounds strange but it wasn’t that much of a change for me. I have never quite enjoyed feeding off humans.” Alexandre nodded in understanding.

“I understand. It usually happens with the young ones. How old are you?” he asked.

“I’m 149. I was reborn in the Victorian era, in 1860. I was 22 years old” She answered. My eyes widened and I stared at her in shock. ‘She’s 149 years old’ I repeated in my mind. Another thing that surprised me was her human age; she was supposed to be in her twenties but she seemed to be around her thirties.

“Are all vampires reborn?” I asked.

“No.” Alexandre answered “most vampires are reborn; which means that they were born human and then turned into an immortal. A few others, who are mostly vampires of royal blood, procreate and the child is born a vampire. At least one of the parents must be alive to be able to procreate. This is used in royalty to create heirs.” Alexandre said. His face lost his small grin and his eyes hardened. His thoughts seemed to be elsewhere, in a somber place.

There was a knock on the door that startled the three of us. The door opened and the head servant came into the drawing room and bowed. He was a tall, middle aged man with brown hair and serious eyes.

“There is news about the Bramwell’s and I was told to bring them to you” He said standing straight. He had a black folder in his hands and he handed it to Ms. Ashford. She thanked him, he bowed again and left.

I looked anxiously at the folder as Ms. Ashford opened it.

My future was written in that simple, thin. rectangle piece of white paper. I could feel the dread finding its way into my heart.