Eleanor followed Lucian through the garden, she couldn't help but notice the way he moved with confidence and purpose. They walked in silence, the only sound being the crunch of gravel beneath their feet.
After a while, Lucian stopped at a small arbor covered in vines. "This is one of my favorite spots," he said, his eyes gazing out at the surrounding flowers.
Eleanor smiled, feeling a sense of peace wash over her. "It's beautiful," she said, sitting down beside him on the bench.
Lucian turned to her, his eyes locking onto hers. "I'm glad you like it," he said, his voice low and smooth.
As they sat there, Eleanor felt a sense of connection with Lucian she hadn't experienced before. It was as if they were sharing a secret, hidden away from the rest of the world.
As I sat beside Eleanor in the darkness, I couldn't help but notice the way the moonlight danced across her features. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity as she turned to me, her voice barely above a whisper. "Lucian, may I ask you something?"
I met her gaze, my eyes locking onto hers. "Of course, Eleanor. What is it?"
"Why did you employ me?" she asked, her brow furrowed slightly. "I mean, the salary you're offering is...generous, to say the least. What's the real reason you wanted me to work here?"
I smiled, my voice low and smooth. "You'll find out soon," I said, trying to deflect her question.
Eleanor nodded, her eyes never leaving mine. I could sense her skepticism, but I wasn't willing to reveal the truth just yet.
As we sat there, the silence between us grew, and Eleanor shivered slightly. I noticed it immediately, my eyes narrowing slightly. "Perhaps we should go inside," I suggested, standing up and offering my hand to help her up.
As Eleanor tried to stand up, her shawl got caught on the thorn of a nearby flower. She reached out to pull it free, but in her haste, her fingers brushed against the sharp thorn. She winced in pain as the thorn pierced her skin.
My gaze snapped to her, my senses heightened as I perceived the most tantalizing scent I had ever known - the scent of her blood. My eyes locked onto hers, and I asked, "Eleanor, are you okay?" my voice tinged with concern, as I gently took her hand in mine.
As I examined her hand, my eyes scanned the small wound, and when I saw the tiny droplet of blood, my fangs threatened to descend. My eye color changed momentarily to a deep, piercing red, a reflex I couldn't control. I caught myself quickly, restoring my normal gaze before Eleanor could notice... or so I thought. For a moment, I thought she might have seen it, but her expression remained concerned, not fearful.
"We should clean that right away," I said, my voice smooth and controlled, as I gently guided her toward the house. I couldn't let my true nature slip. Not yet.
As Lucian guided me toward the house, I couldn't shake off the feeling that I had seen something unusual in his eyes. I could have sworn I saw his eyes change color, but maybe it was just a reflection of the moon. I pushed the thought aside, attributing it to my imagination.
"Lucian, don't worry about it," I said, stopping him as we reached the entrance hall. "It's just a small prick, nothing serious. I can take care of it myself."
Lucian's expression remained concerned, but I smiled reassuringly. "Really, it's fine. Thank you for your concern, though."
Lucian's gaze lingered on mine for a moment before he nodded slightly. "Very well. If you're sure..."
"I'm positive," I said, bidding him goodnight. "Goodnight, Lucian."
With that, I turned and headed toward my room, leaving Lucian standing alone in the entrance hall. As I walked, I couldn't help but wonder if I had really seen something strange in his eyes, or if it was just my imagination playing tricks on me.
As I reached my room, I closed the door behind me and leaned against it, letting out a deep breath. The events of the evening replayed in my mind, and that fleeting glimpse of Lucian's eyes changing color lingered. I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off about him.
As I stood there, a thought suddenly occurred to me. I had read about creatures of the night once, myths and legends that seemed too fantastical to be true. But what if they were real? What if Lucian...?
I pushed the thought aside, chuckling to myself. I was being ridiculous. Vampires and werewolves were just fiction, after all. But the image of Lucian's eyes changing color persisted, refusing to be dismissed.
I walked over to the mirror and examined my hand, where the thorn had pricked me. It was just a small scratch, but it seemed to be throbbing in time with my racing heart. I cleaned and bandaged it, my mind still wandering back to Lucian.
Who was he, really? What secrets was he hiding behind those piercing eyes? And what had I gotten myself into by coming to work for him?
The next day, I found out that I was assigned to the laundry room,I trudged to the laundry room, the scent of fresh linens and detergent greeting me like an old friend. As I entered, I spotted Nadia sorting clothes with a rhythmic efficiency. Her chatter filled the room, and I smiled, glad for a familiar face.
"Hey, girl!" Nadia exclaimed, noticing me. "How's it going?"
I shrugged, folding a towel. "It's going. Just trying to get used to this place."
Nadia nodded sympathetically. "I know, right? It's a lot to take in. But you'll get the hang of it."
As we worked, Nadia chattered on about the previous day's events and the night's festivities. I listened intently, my mind wandering to Lucian and our conversation.
Suddenly, I blurted out, "Nadia, do you believe in supernatural beings? You know, like vampires and witches?"
The room fell silent. The sound of dripping water from the washing machine seemed amplified. Everyone's eyes snapped to me, their expressions unreadable, it was as if they were waiting for something but I didn't know what.
Nadia's expression turned guarded, her voice barely above a whisper. "What makes you ask that?"
I felt a shiver run down my spine. "Just wondering, I guess. I've been reading some weird stuff lately."
The air seemed thick with tension. The other staff members exchanged glances, their faces unreadable. I sensed I had stumbled into something, but I wasn't sure what.
Nadia's eyes darted around the room before focusing on me and laughing out loud, a bit too loud, "come on Eleanor, Vampires? Witches?, That's just myths and legends, there's no truth to it. She smiled and continued folding her clothes but I felt a bit of unease underneath her voice.
The others turned around and continued what they were doing, their faces still expressionless. I couldn't help but feel that I've touched on something sensitive, something that wasn't talked about openly.
I glanced at Nadia wondering if she was just trying to brush it off or if she really believes what she's saying.
I nodded, feeling a sense of unease. What had I just gotten myself into?