Chapter 45: The other side of him- Part 1

Nicholas spoke to the young woman named Katherine in the main hall where the Hallow took place at the Delcorv’s mansion, spending his time with her as she stood alone but her gaze transfixed on someone else. She was rare. Even after going through the pain of losing her family to the black witches, her behavior was kind and pure to the people around her. As if she was unaffected after the grief and frankly, he found it to be strange. But then this whole ordeal of world was strange.

The dimple on his cheek deepened when his eyes met Lord Alexander’s eyes whose jaw was set firmly after seeing him talk to the woman. It was amusing to see the Lord send a small glare which went unnoticed by people but Nicholas was quite an observant just like the Valerian Lord. He enjoyed studying people, to see if they could entertain him for the passing time.

It was evident with the way her eyes kept darting towards the Lord and the Lord glaring at him there was something brewing here. Curious, he probed the girl with personnel questions to see her blush.

“There must be someone. Is he in the room?” he asked.

“No no!” Katherine spluttered, looking down to avoid his eyes.

A servant who was walking by with a tray of drinks stopped in front of them and Nicholas picked the wine and before Katherine could pick one of them, he waved his hand for the servant to leave. Seeing the woman look at him with a questionable look he smiled, “I don’t think it would still well if you tried drinking alcohols which are meant for vampires.”

“I forgot. Corey mentioned that,” she muttered under her breath, “How different are they?” she asked curious like a child would ask the father about the stars that shined at night.

“I don’t think they are much different once you drink, especially with their after effects. Humans and vampires function differently due to which a normal alcohol would have no affect on the vampires but it is not the same the other way round. A human might loose consciousness or might have an erased memory.”

“Erased memory?” she asked, facing him to see him nod.

“Yes. I think one to four glass of diluted alcohol can be drunk by an average human but if it’s something strong like this,” he lifted his glass, ” It might turn into poison. Too much of anything is not good. Don’t you agree?”

He saw her look at the Lord, who had his arms around another woman as they danced. She then looked away, a dejected expression taking over her face. In his regular routine he would have enjoyed taking her away from the crowd to seduce and take a bite from the girl, but he wouldn’t do it. As much as he would love to sink his fangs, he wasn’t someone foolish to not know when a woman was claimed by a pure blooded vampire. Alexander and Nicholas weren’t friends in particular but they weren’t foes either. It was an odd balance of undefined relationship that had formed over the growing years. Nicholas was fond of the Valerian Lord, he was the kind of man who appreciated people with good class and clever brains.

He teased the young woman to see her blush and he then said, “You won’t know, unless you try,” he encouraged sipping his wine from the glass.

“I don’t think it would do any good,” she muttered but he heard her clearly even with the music that played in the main hall. How troublesome, he thought to himself. She was in love with the Lord and he wondered if the glare Alexander was sending him silently meant the same.

Looking down at his pocket watch, he noticed it was time for him to leave. His visit to Valeria wasn’t to attend the celebration of Hallow but to meet someone who could provide him certain information on the black market.

“It it time for me to leave, dear Katie. A happy Hallow to you,” he wished, looking at the Lord and deciding to give it a little push, he leaned forward to leave a kiss on her cheek, “Goodnight,” he whispered, a soft smile on his lips when he saw Alexander narrow his eyes at the action.

After dinner, Heidi had gone back to her room and she now sat at the edge of the bed, playing with her toes on the floor. She sighed with a dazed look.

She had been excited to come back home but since she arrived she felt nothing more than an outsider. Not that she didn’t feel it before but their behavior towards her was quite clear that she was a no one here. The thought brought tears in her eyes and a single lone tear broke away to fall on her pale skin. All this while she wanted a family, a family who would love her, care for her. She knew the truth and understood it well but somewhere deep down she hoped. After all hope was the only thing she could rely on. Raising her hand, she wiped tears away from her eyes. May be that is why God had sent her to empire of Bonelake, to meet Mr. Lawson so that she could build a family of her own. It was a political marriage but they would love each other eventually right? thought Heidi to herself. She hoped again. But that didn’t stop the doubt that crept into her heart of what if’s.

Warren, who came from a pure blooded lineage of vampires had accepted to take her as his wife in the future. They didn’t spend much time as he was always busy with work but he was a man whom she noticed kept his word. And even with everything, no love had bloomed from either side of them. With other details and issues, it worried her slightly. Instead, the Lord spent more time with her, teasing and attacking her with words. He would always have a certain to twist her with his clever words, leaving her speechless.

As mean he tended to be with her, Heidi had noticed the rare kind moments with him. Like when he had helped her with her hair. His long fingers weaving through her hair with gentleness. Thinking about it brought heat to her cheeks and she placed her hands on her cheek before shaking her head.

The day before Heidi was about to leave for Bonelake, she was invited to the Sctahlok’s mansion along with her uncle Raymond who came by their house. Heidi sat on one of the plush mahogany chairs, her hands on her lap while they waited for the Duke who was yet to make an appearance.

“Look who is here,” the Duke stepped into the room with a pleasant smile on his face, “I am glad you could make it Heidi. Frankly, I was doubtful if they could let you come after all you haven’t completed the given time. But it is good to see you,” both Raymond and Heidi got up to bow their head at his entrance.

“How could she not, your word is our command sire,” her uncle Raymond responded, “We did just as you asked.”

“Of course, you did,” the man murmured coming to sit in front of them, his eyes on the young woman, “Looks like Lawson has taken an interest in you for letting you go to your beloved family. It is good to know that you have been doing so well,” he then turned towards her uncle to talk. Half an hour passed which then turned to an hour and Heidi still sat quietly in her place listening to both the men talk about the massacres that took place in the empires. Though she didn’t understand most of the things she kept her mouth shut. The Duke then asked her uncle to go with the servant as he had few business papers that needed to be read before being signed.