Chapter 4

• Following his statement was silence. His words had left me utterly speechless and also increased the pace and rhythm of heart, it was almost deafening like it would rip out through my chest.
• "Your name is Leilani right?" He broke the silence after a while, this time his eyes remained fixed on the road.
• "Ye... Yes," I stuttered. My hands which I had placed on top my thighs fidgeted with each other.
• "What a nice name for a strange human girl like you. By the way my name is Cardan Alexander Coleman."
• His name was uttered with absolute pride and confidence and also a hint of arrogance.
• Cardan!
• I repeated his name in my head, feeling It was such a name, perfectly suited for a man like him, nevertheless, I was curious as to why he still addressed me in that weird manner even though he was now aware of my name before I could stop myself, curiosity has gotten the better of me.
• "Wh... Why do you still address me as such, when you know my name?"
• He turn to look at me as he spoke.
• "I love to address my prey with the special name I give to them. Besides, aren't you a strange human girl? I know nothing about you afterall," his intense golden eyes had lingered on me for more than a second at the same time, the corner of his lips curved into a wicked smirk before he returned his gaze to the road.
• For the rest of the ride, we had both remained in silence but my senses had been on high alert. We drove for more than two hours and although I was tired and even sleepy, I couldn't bring myself to fall asleep for fear of what this man could do me. I watched as we drove through a forest, surrounded by large trees of different kinds, before arriving in front of a huge black gate which automatic opened, allowing us to pass through before closing again. I didn't caught sight of any guard, but then again the wall had been so high up.
• This was the second thing that increased my panicked state. The first been the fact that the place was so deep inside a forest in an isolated place. Not just that, it was as though we drove through a maze, it was impossible to understand and keep track of the direction we were going.
• After passing through the first gate, we drove for a few minutes again before reaching another gate which parted open just like the first one before a very huge castle-like building came into view.
• I had momentarily forgotten my fears and worries as I stare in awe at the building. I've never seen anything like it. It had this ancient yet exquisite and expensive design. It was as though I had entered another world. A new world, leaving me in both utter fear and curiousity.
• 'Mom, dad, you must ask God to protect me now,' I made a silent prayer because for some reason, I felt like this world was going to be very different from mine. I couldn't help but think that this place had more strange people just like this man_ Cardan.
• "Come out," Cardan's voice pulled me out of my trance. Turning to his side, I saw that he had already left the car, and was walking toward the building which appeared to be even much bigger up close that it was impossible to even catch a glimpse of the top of it.
• Heaving a deep sigh, I quickly left the car, jogging to catch up with Cardan. At the entrance, we were greeted by several tall and good looking men who briefly gave me a curious and somewhat pitiful look before taking their gaze to Cardan. What was that about?
• "Welcome back your majesty," they chorused, bowing their head and I couldn't help but raise my brow at the way they addressed him. But then again, my curiosity was soon brushed off, by the sight that welcomed me, a huge beautiful hall.
• If I thought the outside was beautiful, then the inside was heavenly. Glancing up, I saw beautiful golden chandeliers with white crystal lights hung above the ceiling and on the white and grey walls, hung exquisite and intricate paintings and art pieces. There was also carvings and inscription that I couldn't understand boldly written on the walls.
• "There'll be enough time to see all this, as it is quite late, I'll let you rest for today," Cardan announced, turning to look at me. "Come, let us go to my quarters."
• I felt my heart racing as we walked through a large corridor and just like the huge hall downstairs, this corridor also had war paintings and art pieces hanging on the wall. While Cardan and me walked through, several maids had turn to greet us, also giving me a curious look.
• "This will be your room from now on_ right next to mine," he flashed me a weird smile that was accompanied by a glint of mischief across his gaze.
• "Your dinner will be sent to your room. Enjoy your night human girl, tomorrow is going to be a long and interesting day.
• ***
• That night I kept tossing and turning, my mind kept replaying all the incidents that had occured in my life. It felt like a dream. I still couldn't believe that my parents were dead without a meaningful explanation, but that my father had opposed the wrong people. It didn't make any sense that so many people had to be killed along with him, my relations, my mother, my little brother who was still a child and unaware of how the world works. It didn't make any sense that I had been the one to be spared, why me?
• I tried to shrug these thoughts aside, but it was instead replaced with another disturbing one.
• How I had offered myself to a mysterious man to save myself_ but did I really save myself?
• When this question arose, I also recalled the dark glint in Cardan's eyes when I'd offered to be his prey in exchange for his help and I felt cold shivers run down my spine.
• Later that night, I was finally able to fall asleep, a sleep that was filled with endless nightmares. I woke up the next morning with a throbbing head ache, drenched in sweat and tears, by now the sun was already high above it's horizon, peeking through the cracks of the white chiffon curtains.
• Dabbing my hand over my eyes, I glanced around my environment_agony and disappointed immediately washed over me as the painful memories came rushing in like waves. Why? Why hadn't it been a nightmare? Why this harsh reality again? Tears trickled down my eyes and I felt my heart clenched in pain. All my loved ones where gone and I was left alone. Why had I not died with them? I had thought of that, however, when I also thought about how the ones who sent my family to their early grave were still living and enjoying their lives, I knew I couldn't die yet, not yet.
• Heaving a disappointed sigh, I wiped my tears before taking my gaze to the golden wall clock that hung above the wall near a huge dressing mirror. The time was 8am. After checking the time, my gaze goes around again to take a proper look at my environment, since I had been so caught up in my misery last night to do so.
• The room was large, painted in bright yellow and white, matching the white chiffon curtains. There were also two doors, which I guessed were the bathroom and closet. There was also this queen size bed I laid on. The decor of the room was simple yet elegant and refined. It was also feminine. This looked like a woman's room. Upon this realization, I couldn't help but wonder who the room belonged to because everything had been in place when Cardan brought me here last night.
• "Rise and shine human girl, it's morning," came Cardan's voice as the door swung open pulling me out of my thought and revealing the devil himself. It was morning yet he was already dressed in a fitted black suit and a black botton down long sleeve shirt which had a few of the top bottom undone, revealing a bit of his muscular chest. he paired it with a shinny black shoe while his hair was styled neatly in a low bun like before.
• Glancing up, I felt fear crept into my mind as he slowly strolled toward my bed like the apex predator he was, all the while his golden orb never left mine, pinning me with an intense stare.
• "I hope you slept well. Pardon me if the room isn't to your liking, or if you were hunted by the ghost of my late wife but then you were unexpected, there's was no time to prepare another room," he announced.
• "Yo... Your wife," my eyes widened at his revelation. I was right, the room belonged to a woman but I wasn't expecting that the room would belong to his late wife.
• "Ar... Are you okay with me staying in here?" I couldn't help but ask, after all the room used to belong to his late wife. Not everyone appreciated having someone else, a stranger at that occupy what belonged to their dear ones, however, Cardan shrugged, giving me a nonchalantly reply. "It doesn't matter as long as you don't mind."
• I did mind, but didn't dare to voice it out, deciding it was best to keep my mouth shut. I had no right to be picky, that too, to the man who was now my master. Or should I say my owner, since I had given myself to him.
• "Anyway, I'll give you time to freshen up, I'll send two maids to assist you."
• Before I could decline he was already out of the room and like he said two maid came in to assist me.
• ***
• As I walked behind Cardan, my heartbeat matched the fast pace of our steps. We were currently walking through the hallway, leading downstairs, since Cardan wanted me to have breakfast with himself and his family. I didn't want to but I couldn't decline.
• Soon we reached a huge dining hall after walking for several minutes. I was momentarily amazed by how huge and beautiful it was. Until I felt the gaze of the several people who sat around the large dining table at the center of the hall. Slowly, my gaze moved to their direction, there were about three people who were seated. My gaze first travelled to the older man who sat at the end of the table, going to the woman beside him, then finally, my gaze met with a captivating pair of emerald green eyes, staring back at me with such great intensity that sent goosebumps all over my body. At that moment it felt like only the two of us had been left. However the trance soon broke when he stood up in a swift motion, uttering the word "Mate."