The day slowly show, the light appearing softly and shinely as alway. In the horizon, the birds sing and the squirels move through the trees, making the leaves make a almost melodic ruffle.
Yet, the inside of the castle was dark and dull as always; the lightly teared courtains cover most of the windows and avoid the sun rays from enter any place at all.
My eyelids were heavy as I tiredly opened them, I was sat on a chair next to Velmira's bed, its wood frame worm-eaten and old, but sturdy; my head was rested on my arms, which were propped on the bed.
"Um..." I barely mumbled as I lazly sat down back in the chair.
My arms raised and I stretched with a yawn before look around... right, I'd forget it. Last night, I'd fall asleep watching Velmira in case she had another of those horrible nightmares. As I low my gaze, I was meet by her sleepy figure, I guess vampires sleep during day time after all.
Now more awake, I stared more in the ceiling and tilt my head as I thought about what would happen now... I didn't felt like going back to my town, it wasn't like someone was waiting for me... dad probably wouldn't even notice if I remain here a little longer either way.
Something was weird in this castle, not in the bad way... it was almost as if something make me feel... complete... or at least, less alone.
My eyelids were heavy as I tiredly opened them, I was sat on a chair next to Velmira's bed, its wood frame worm-eaten and old, but sturdy; my head was rested on my arms, which were propped on the bed.
"Um..." I barely mumbled as I lazly sat down back in the chair.
My arms raised and I stretched with a yawn before look around... right, I'd forget it. Last night, I'd fall asleep watching Velmira in case she had another of those horrible nightmares. As I low my gaze, I was meet by her sleepy figure, I guess vampires sleep during day time after all.
Now more awake, I stared more in the ceiling and tilt my head as I thought about what would happen now... I didn't felt like going back to my town, it wasn't like someone was waiting for me... dad probably wouldn't even notice if I remain here a little longer either way.
Something was weird in this castle, not in the bad way... it was almost as if something make me feel... complete... or at least, less alone.
I move my gaze back to Velmira once again and a faint smile touched my lips, my hand slid gently to her face, aiming to delicate brush a strand of hair that was misplaced. As her breath hitch for a fraction of second, I froze in the place, my eyes wide like saucers as I remained death silent.
Luckily for me, she continued her paceful sleep. A relief sight scape from my lips as I lean backwards in the chair. Mental note: don't approach Velmira while she was asleep.
For the rest of the day, I found myself searching different way of entretain myself. The castle was very old and the ways of achive my goal were almost nonexistent; An expression of exasperation escaped my lips when this became quite evident.
With nothing else to do, no creativity, and above all, no desire to return to my hometown, I started cleaning... the truth is, this place really needed a good cleaning. There were cobwebs in almost every corner, and gloom permeated everything; The books were the worst, most of them were cover in dusk inside the pages and some even have fungus spores. That would also explain why, since I arrived, I've been sneezing from time to time.
I was forced to wear a handkerchief over my nose and mouth for avoid all that, and possibly an infection as well. I take a broom, a dustpan, and a rag before put hands to work. With water, soap and a lot of patience, I manage to slowly make all the dirt and years of abandone disappear from the walls and furniture. I grabbed a broom, dustpan, and rag before getting down to work.
With water, soap, and a lot of patience, I managed to gradually remove all the dirt and years of neglect from the walls and furniture. However, not everyone was so lucky; I had to throw away some books. The mold had reached a point where leaving them there could be a problem in the future for the rest of the books and also for my health.
Before I knew it, night had fallen. Sitting in a chair, my voice heavy and my breath ragged, I finally start to understand how big this place was. I'd barely managed to clean the library, the kitchen, the bathroom, and a couple of bedrooms. Most of the rooms were still filthy, and the attic was a nightmare. I swear I saw a rat the size of my hand. There was no way it was getting there without at least rat poison!
"I never thought you'd be one of those people obsessed with cleanliness," Velmira's voice broke the silence.
"I'm not. I just have common sense." I answered back with a frown.
Luckily for me, she continued her paceful sleep. A relief sight scape from my lips as I lean backwards in the chair. Mental note: don't approach Velmira while she was asleep.
For the rest of the day, I found myself searching different way of entretain myself. The castle was very old and the ways of achive my goal were almost nonexistent; An expression of exasperation escaped my lips when this became quite evident.
With nothing else to do, no creativity, and above all, no desire to return to my hometown, I started cleaning... the truth is, this place really needed a good cleaning. There were cobwebs in almost every corner, and gloom permeated everything; The books were the worst, most of them were cover in dusk inside the pages and some even have fungus spores. That would also explain why, since I arrived, I've been sneezing from time to time.
I was forced to wear a handkerchief over my nose and mouth for avoid all that, and possibly an infection as well. I take a broom, a dustpan, and a rag before put hands to work. With water, soap and a lot of patience, I manage to slowly make all the dirt and years of abandone disappear from the walls and furniture. I grabbed a broom, dustpan, and rag before getting down to work.
With water, soap, and a lot of patience, I managed to gradually remove all the dirt and years of neglect from the walls and furniture. However, not everyone was so lucky; I had to throw away some books. The mold had reached a point where leaving them there could be a problem in the future for the rest of the books and also for my health.
Before I knew it, night had fallen. Sitting in a chair, my voice heavy and my breath ragged, I finally start to understand how big this place was. I'd barely managed to clean the library, the kitchen, the bathroom, and a couple of bedrooms. Most of the rooms were still filthy, and the attic was a nightmare. I swear I saw a rat the size of my hand. There was no way it was getting there without at least rat poison!
"I never thought you'd be one of those people obsessed with cleanliness," Velmira's voice broke the silence.
"I'm not. I just have common sense." I answered back with a frown.
"Easy, easy, don't get mad, little hamster," she said with a giggle.
I rolled my eyes and sighed before laughing too. I leaned back in the chair and looked around, reviewing my work before smiling proudly at my cleaning accomplishment. A faint smile touched her lips, softer than before, but it slowly faded as she gazed into the dark night.
"Is already night... why are you still here?" she then asked and look at me, intrigued by my presence.
My smile also slowly die as I look down at the floor, my gaze then land on my sweaty hands. I sight and looked back at her eyes before smile slightly.
"I don't want to go back yet... besides... probaly there won't be anyone waiting for me either way"
My words seemed to have a small effect on her, almost imperceptible. She looked at the ceiling and then at me before tilting her head and humming softly.
"Even so... if you want to stay..." she mumble lowly before smile. "then I guess we'd have to add a clause to our contract."
My smile also slowly die as I look down at the floor, my gaze then land on my sweaty hands. I sight and looked back at her eyes before smile slightly.
"I don't want to go back yet... besides... probaly there won't be anyone waiting for me either way"
My words seemed to have a small effect on her, almost imperceptible. She looked at the ceiling and then at me before tilting her head and humming softly.
"Even so... if you want to stay..." she mumble lowly before smile. "then I guess we'd have to add a clause to our contract."
I blinked a few times, confused by her words; in all this time she had never offered to add a clause to the contract, or even mentioned that it was possible. I had thought the contract was immutable from the moment it was signed, but it seems I was wrong.
"A clause, Velmira? and how does that work?" I then asked, now intrigued by the mention of this new possibility.
"A clause, Velmira? and how does that work?" I then asked, now intrigued by the mention of this new possibility.
She nodded and stepped away from the doorway before returning to the library. From the depths of silence, she pulled out a book I recognized.
It was thick and leather-bound; it was the book where we had sealed our pact. She opened it and searched for the agreement before pausing on the page where it was.
"...Only the vampire can alter the contract..."
She said softly as her hand scanned the paper, before she picked up the quill pen that lay nearby. As before, the nib of the pen lightly cut her finger. This time, however, instead of leaving an open wound, she took the pen and began to write on the worn paper.
I could only watch as her hand moved swiftly. Her handwriting was beautiful, delicate like a flower in plane bloom. Last time, I couldn't appreciate it because of fear, but it was neat and elegant... just like her.
"Don't worry, there's no trick on it," she said with a small smile dancing on the corner of the lips, noticing how my gaze was fixed in her writting.
With those words, I snapped back to reality. My cheeks flushed for a moment, embarrassed at being caught red-handed. She laughed and handed me the pen. I slowly took it from her fingers, and as my own touched hers, I turned even redder, if she put me right now to compete against a tomato... I may win!
I glanced at the contract one last time and then back at Velmira. Before a soft smile could also light up my lips, I gently pricked my finger with the pen tip and let a drop fall onto the paper, sealing it.
"So... what does it says?" I then asked.
She said softly as her hand scanned the paper, before she picked up the quill pen that lay nearby. As before, the nib of the pen lightly cut her finger. This time, however, instead of leaving an open wound, she took the pen and began to write on the worn paper.
I could only watch as her hand moved swiftly. Her handwriting was beautiful, delicate like a flower in plane bloom. Last time, I couldn't appreciate it because of fear, but it was neat and elegant... just like her.
"Don't worry, there's no trick on it," she said with a small smile dancing on the corner of the lips, noticing how my gaze was fixed in her writting.
With those words, I snapped back to reality. My cheeks flushed for a moment, embarrassed at being caught red-handed. She laughed and handed me the pen. I slowly took it from her fingers, and as my own touched hers, I turned even redder, if she put me right now to compete against a tomato... I may win!
I glanced at the contract one last time and then back at Velmira. Before a soft smile could also light up my lips, I gently pricked my finger with the pen tip and let a drop fall onto the paper, sealing it.
"So... what does it says?" I then asked.
Velmira blink a couple of times and look at me with a white expression, almost as if she was processing my question. She brought her hand to her temples and frowned as she gently rubbed them.
"You are telling me... you didn't read it at all?" she asked.
"You are telling me... you didn't read it at all?" she asked.
I looked away, caught red-handed again. Velmira shot me a withering glare, her brow furrowed; I just shrugged slightly with a small smile, trying to avoid getting scolded.
"That is exactly how idiots get scammed, idiot," she muttered, a slight twitch in her left eye.
"If I'd wanted, I could have made you my servant and you wouldn't have even noticed!" she said, frowning and narrowing her eyes.
I swallowed hard under her gaze. I wouldn't say being her servant would be truly awful, but I refrained from mentioning the possibility, knowing Velmira wasn't in the mood for jokes at that moment. Velmira sighed and shook her head, giving up on me, knowing I wasn't going to change, at least not anytime soon. She closed her book.
"I'm sorry... it won't happen again..." I murmured softly with a sigh.
She nodded and gave me a look that clearly said, 'YOU BETTER' in bold black capitals. I swallowed hard for the second time. She just snorted and took a deep breath before returning the book to the shelf where it had been and placing it back to where it belongs.
"Good," she murmured, glancing at me before looking at me. "I had to add a 'Temporary Coexistence' clause to the contract."
I tilted my head, not quite understanding what she meant. She looked at me and then at the ceiling, as if searching for the patience not to grab a book and smash it in my face, for that, she take a very deep breath before slowly let go. Her gaze returned to me.
"You can stay at the castle for now, Aira... unless I decide otherwise," she finally explained.
A small "ooh" escaped my lips as I finally understood what she meant. She nodded, seeing that I had finally connected the dots. Her gaze then settled on my sweaty body before she shook her head and smiled slightly.
"I think you've made enough for today... the human body need rest. Go take a shower and get some rest... I'll watch over you tonight," she told me softly.
"That is exactly how idiots get scammed, idiot," she muttered, a slight twitch in her left eye.
"If I'd wanted, I could have made you my servant and you wouldn't have even noticed!" she said, frowning and narrowing her eyes.
I swallowed hard under her gaze. I wouldn't say being her servant would be truly awful, but I refrained from mentioning the possibility, knowing Velmira wasn't in the mood for jokes at that moment. Velmira sighed and shook her head, giving up on me, knowing I wasn't going to change, at least not anytime soon. She closed her book.
"I'm sorry... it won't happen again..." I murmured softly with a sigh.
She nodded and gave me a look that clearly said, 'YOU BETTER' in bold black capitals. I swallowed hard for the second time. She just snorted and took a deep breath before returning the book to the shelf where it had been and placing it back to where it belongs.
"Good," she murmured, glancing at me before looking at me. "I had to add a 'Temporary Coexistence' clause to the contract."
I tilted my head, not quite understanding what she meant. She looked at me and then at the ceiling, as if searching for the patience not to grab a book and smash it in my face, for that, she take a very deep breath before slowly let go. Her gaze returned to me.
"You can stay at the castle for now, Aira... unless I decide otherwise," she finally explained.
A small "ooh" escaped my lips as I finally understood what she meant. She nodded, seeing that I had finally connected the dots. Her gaze then settled on my sweaty body before she shook her head and smiled slightly.
"I think you've made enough for today... the human body need rest. Go take a shower and get some rest... I'll watch over you tonight," she told me softly.
I looked at her and raised an eyebrow before smiling mischievously and sighing. I nodded and got up, stretched, and headed to the bathroom. I'd managed to clean it, so it was a relaxing experience... I washed off the sweat, dirt, and dust from my body. I got dressed in the clothes Velmira lent me; they looked very old, but they fit me well. It was a skirt, a simple blouse, and sandals.
I'm not a big fan of skirts, but oh well, it is what it is. I checked my phone and sighed when I saw it was practically dead, with barely 5% battery. Even so, I didn't have any messages, and I wasn't expecting any. It saddened me a little, but I'd gotten used to it over the time. I carefully placed it on the nightstand and sat on the edge of the bed before lying down. My gaze drifted to the ceiling.
Looking at the open door, a smile danced on my lips as I saw Velmira walking down the hall. I didn't even bother putting on my pajamas that night; I just fell asleep without a second thought. All the cleaning had exhausted me both mentally and physically.
I'm not a big fan of skirts, but oh well, it is what it is. I checked my phone and sighed when I saw it was practically dead, with barely 5% battery. Even so, I didn't have any messages, and I wasn't expecting any. It saddened me a little, but I'd gotten used to it over the time. I carefully placed it on the nightstand and sat on the edge of the bed before lying down. My gaze drifted to the ceiling.
Looking at the open door, a smile danced on my lips as I saw Velmira walking down the hall. I didn't even bother putting on my pajamas that night; I just fell asleep without a second thought. All the cleaning had exhausted me both mentally and physically.
Comments (0)
See all