56IV. The Other World
"Then I began to think that it is very true which is commonly said, that the one-half of the world knoweth not how the other half liveth."
-Francois Rabelias (1494?-1553) Pantagruel
I woke up with a start—in which here means waking up with my eyes still closed.
I yawned, feeling silky satin sheets beneath me. I groaned in pleasure as I snuggled in it. Damn, this is comfortable.
Then I stopped. Silky satin sheets? Mmm…feels good. Obviously not my bed though. My covers on my bed are like rags…
Hm. Didn't Dad and Victoria have satin sheets?
Oh shit.
My eyes snapped open…or at least I think they did. I couldn't see anything. I even blinked to make sure. Then I sat up quickly.
I looked around and saw black. Pure black. I couldn't even see my own hands. But I was pretty sure I was sitting on a bed.
It was a dream, huh.
"Uhh…hello?" I ventured, tentatively, since I could feel someone else in the room. A lamp suddenly turned on from a nightstand that was beside the bed I was on (which was surprisingly queen-sized by the way), revealing a pair of crossed legs, sitting on a chair beside my bed.
The person was leaned back, his face hidden in the darkness that was still surrounding us. All I could see was from his neck down to his crossed legs.
"Abel." The voice came from the figure. The voice. It belonged to that guy I called 'vampire' in my…dream…?
My expression turned confused, but I didn't say anything.
He let out a small impatient noise. "My name's Abel. What's yours?" his tone was patient, but it clearly implied that he thought I was an idiot.
Jerk. Who would immediately get that?!
I really couldn't tell anymore if I was dreaming or not…so I didn't answer.
He growled. "Answer, Demon." He demanded, leaning over, so I could see his face.
It was actually very handsome—his face, I mean. I didn't really look at him when I was still in my own house…since, you know, I was a little busy thinking how surreal it all was.
Abel suddenly took out a gun.
"Don't make me ask again." Abel warned, looking at me with sharp yellow eyes (it was probably because of the yellow lamplight), as he pointed it at me.
"Eve." I told him, blurting out the first name that came to my mind, staring at the gun.
Hey he told me to answer; he didn't tell me to say the truth. Besides, I'm not entitled to give him my real name, seeing that he kidnapped me.
"Eve…" Abel tried out the sound of my name in distaste. What? What's wrong with it? "I hate it." He declared.
My jaw almost dropped at the rude comment. "Well, excuse me! I like it, and no offense, dude, but your name sucks too, you know." I shot back, scoffing, completely forgetting that this guy was currently holding a pistol.
He glared at me, making me shut up and stare innocently at him. "You're only alive because I still don't know what to do with you, so I suggest you keep your mouth shut, before I 'accidentally' pull the trigger." He snapped at me, threateningly, as he not-so-subtly pointed the gun at my temple.
He waited for me to talk again, but I didn't. Hey, if a gun was pointed to your head, and the guy who was holding it was telling you to shut up, you shut up.
He slowly put down the gun, satisfied. "Now, Miss Eve, what were you doing, living amongst humans?"
Ew. Eve does suck. It totally doesn't suit me.
I pretended to think. "Hmm, maybe because of the fact that I'm not a demon? You know, that I'm human? And maybe because you're a mental patient on the loose? Tell you what," I began. "Release me now and go back to your loony bin, and I promise I won't press charges!" then I batted my eyelashes at him, hopefully.
He didn't look happy at all with my calling him a mental patient on the loose though. He scowled. "I'm sorry to tell you this, Miss Eve, but your parents are too busy lying in their own pool of blood to worry about if you're going to come home." His tone was sarcastically polite.
I wasn't at all the least saddened by that. I mean, I knew they were going to get it sooner or later. Who wouldn't want to shoot a bullet through Victoria's head when she's that annoying? And, let's face it, Dad's a dick.
So my expression remained blank. He looked a little disgruntled seeing my unchanging expression, and his scowl deepened. "There's no home to return to, Miss Eve." He pointed out, as if I didn't get it the first time. "And that human girl you call a 'sister'—"
My eyes turned deadly at the mention of Maxy, and I glared at him, acidly. "What did you do to Maxy?" my voice came out low and dark.
Abel didn't look scared at all. Like when he was in my house. Still the same fearless guy. "Well, you're an odd one." He started, a curious look flashed in his eyes. "The woman called you a 'monster' yet you still care deeply about her."
My glare deepened, and my face darkened. The memory of Maxy pointing a gun at me and calling me a 'monster' came back to me in full blast. The dull pain in my heart began, but I showed none of my feelings to Abel, and maintained my glare—not faltering for even a bit. "Watch what you're saying, Abel," I spat, hatefully, or you just might find yourself joining my parents on the floor."
He suddenly began staring intensely into my eyes, so I stared right back. Did he want a staring contest?
I felt this weird, barely noticeable tug in my mind, but ignored it. He immediately stopped looking so intense. He looked confused, and in deep thought. "That's weird. You were supposed to be seduced by now." He muttered.
I raised my eyebrows. "If you got that from a magazine then they're very wrong." I said, looking at him, strangely. Why would he even try to seduce me in the first place?
He rolled his eyes at me, and got off the bed. He clapped two times, and the whole room lit up, and he also turned the lamp off.
Ahh, glorious white light. I hate yellow light.
Wow, they installed the clapper in a chandelier?
Wait a minute...Can you even do that?
When I got a better look of his whole appearance, I suddenly remembered the night of Maxy's birthday. "Ah!" I exclaimed, pointing at him.
Abel looked at me, silently, raising an eyebrow.
"You're that guy I saw standing in front of the Stanton Hotel!" I said, finally remembering why his back looked awfully familiar.
He looked slightly surprised. "You saw me that night?" he asked, his voice toneless again.
I shrugged. "I was getting a drink from the vending machine when I saw you. But you disappeared pretty fast."
He just nodded. "Come with me." He said, turning towards the door.
"To where?" I asked, frowning.
He just repeated what he had said though.
I was about to say 'no', when he 'casually' twirled the intimidating pistol in his hand.
Huh. I had almost forgotten I was supposed to be some kind of prisoner.
"Fine. Lead the way." I said, sighing.
I don't know if it was my just my imagination or not, but I think a small smile just graced his lips.
I couldn't ponder on that for long though, because he suddenly grabbed my wrist—and the world got blurry…
"Lord Alaric, I've brought you the cat demon, Eve." Abel introduced me, bowing to a man with black ebony hair and crimson eyes. He seemed to be in his mid 20's. Nevertheless, the guy was still gorgeous.
Is it just me or am I always surrounded by good-looking guys?
Of course, I'm totally excluding Baldy—or, you know, Atkin. His name also sucks, by the way.
I really don't have any idea how we got here, but right now I'm too busy fuming about these damn chains and shackles. Now I feel like a prisoner. Honestly! As soon as the world went still, Abel did this.
And here I was starting to think that he wasn't so bad.
Do they seriously expect me to run away? I mean, yeah, sure, I had that in mind, but that was before I realized that this castle was in the middle of nowhere (a.k.a. The woods).
Yeah, we're in them middle of nowhere. I saw it just then from this place's window.
I scowled at my shackled wrists. They make it seem like I'm the one who's hostile. Excuse me, but I'm not the one who's holding a loaded gun. (Hint: Abel)
We were currently inside a large library (4 floors, to be specific), and Lord Alaric was sitting on a very comfortable-looking couch while we stood a few feet away from him.
He had been reading before Abel introduced me, but now he put it down and stared at me through his glasses.
The man looked extremely intimidating.
"Cat demon?" Lord Alaric observed me with his red-eyed gaze. His eyes clashed with mine…then I felt something weird again. This time, a barely noticeable push in my mind, as if something was trying to subtly break in. I frowned, then the weird feeling stopped and Lord Alaric smiled. "Cat demon indeed, Abel. Where did you find her? She's a gem. Cat demons are rare these days." He took a leisurely sip of his tea.
"Massachusetts." Abel answered, his voice urgent and professional. "She was living in a house full of sweepers."
"A demon among sweepers! Well, now, how did that happen?" Lord Alaric asked, in a delightedly interested manner, as if digesting gossip.
(Rolls eyes) They're talking about things i don't understand again.
"We don't know yet, but we have the human who we think knows. We've already killed the two people who seemed to have known a lot more before we found out about the demon, so, my most sincere apologies, my Lord." Abel stated, bowing down humbly, and then looking back up at Lord Alaric. "And…Atkin was killed."
I could see it. I looked at Lord Alaric. Abel respected that person very much.
Lord Alaric stopped, and then looked at Abel. "Wait a minute. You mean the sweepers that killed—"
"Yes." Abel answered.
"It's been 3 days, Abel. What took you so long to report this?" Lord Alaric asked, fixing Abel with a hard, intense stare.
Abel's cool gaze slightly faltered. "I was a bit…busy taking care of her." Abel answered, glancing angrily at me for a moment, as if it was my fault that the guy was mad at him.
"I've been wondering why I haven't heard from you immediately…Don't ever do it again." Lord Alaric suddenly said, in a loud, lordly voice. I looked at him in shock. Now he looked more like a Lord, scolding his servant. "To delay reporting the information you've gathered, it is a very careless thing to do, Abel, and it's something I hadn't expected of you. What if not giving this report to me immediately caused the death of everyone here in this castle?! What would you have done then, Abel?"
Abel calmly stared back at Lord Alaric's crimson orbs. "It was a very big mistake, my Lord, and I'll accept any punishment you will bestow upon me. I will be sure to never make the same mistake again, and I give you my deepest apologies." He bowed again, and did not straighten.
I stared at him. I know somehow that he was a proud person, but he just took Lord Alaric's scolding just like that, and even said such things. He didn't even complain or said anything to defend himself.
Huh. He really must admire Lord Alaric.
I looked at my outfit and saw that I was still in my uniform (which was dreadfully bloody). I smelled myself, then violently jerked away.
Holy Jesus on a pogo stick. I smell like a dead person…which is kind of expected since I'm covered with blood.
Well, it has been 3 days…
Ugh. I need a shower.
"If you were taking care of me, why the hell am I still in these smelly clothes?" I asked Abel, but he only glared at me.
I held up my hands, as if backing away.
Jeez, I was just asking.
Lord Alaric's expression instantly turned back to normal when he noticed me again, as if he hadn't even been angry in the first place.
Talk about bipolar.
"Ah, yes! Miss Eve! Our lovely guest! I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. I am Lord Alaric Mason Valmont, the Lord of this castle. I welcome you to my humble library…" he gestured at the—well; it was anything but humble—library.
Guest? They tie up their guests?
I suddenly laughed. Yes, laughed. Why ever not? These all seemed so ridiculous to me that it made me laugh. I mean, there I was, one moment, thinking my life was so boring. And now here I am, actually conversing with a real live vampire, who, by the way, is a Lord and has his own castle.
Abel gave me this 'shut up, you look crazy' glare, but I ignored him. Abel, seeing that he was pointedly ignored, turned to Lord Alaric. "I'm sorry, she's just a little…" Abel tried to find a word, and came up with, "…problematic." He turned to glare at me again.
Problematic? 'Problematic' your face. I'm not problematic.
"It's fine. She's interesting." Lord Alaric pacified Abel, as he gave me an amused smile. And I saw fangs. Fangs.
It was the first time I saw vampire fangs, since Abel never smiled, I never got the chance to even get a glimpse of them.
"Miss Eve," Lord Alaric called me. "Tell me, what exactly were you doing in a house full of sweepers? How did you manage to live there so long without being killed? What made you come to them?" he asked, looked genuinely interested.
Uhh…what?
A minute passed, without me answering, and Abel shot me yet another glare. Is it just me or does he like glaring at me a lot? "Yet again, I'm giving you my deepest apologies, my Lord…I've experienced firsthand that she's very uncooperative." He said, bowing low again. I'm sure he was silently cursing me with all the bad words he knew.
Lord Alaric calmly waved it off. "Well, I don't blame her. We did keep her captive without her consent." He said, laughing a little.
"SIR! She killed Atkin, and she seems awfully dangerous! And I do believe you don't need to get someone's consent when you're going to keep them captive." Abel retorted, crossing his arms, then, as if he just remembered that he was actually a servant, he bowed again and said, "I'm very sorry, I forgot my place."
I stared at his bent back. Doesn't he get tired of bowing and apologizing?
Lord Alaric looked surprised. "She's the one who killed Atkin?" he asked, then looked at me.
My eyes grew wide, seeing that I would probably get in trouble for that. And I really didn't feel like bowing to the guy. "Well, he was attacking me! I didn't have any other choice. Besides, I couldn't control my body." I said, defensively.
Abel scowled, obviously not satisfied with my explanation.
Lord Alaric just smiled. "Yes, she did kill Atkin, Abel. But remember, she is still a lady." I could tell Abel wanted to snort sarcastically. "We should respect her. Besides, as you heard, she was doing it for self defense." Alaric shrugged. "And I do believe that you, my child, won't even hesitate to chop Atkin's head off if he attacked you."
Abel nodded, grudgingly, knowing fully well that Lord Alaric is indeed right.
"So? What are your answers to my questions?" Lord Alaric suddenly asked me.
I stared at him. "I don't understand your questions. What the hell are sweepers?!" I almost burst out, a bit annoyed that he didn't get the fact that I didn't know what he was talking about when I didn't answer him for a full minute earlier.
"EVE! Bow your head!" Abel barked, angrily, at me. "Wait," he paused, thinking about it. "On second thought, you just keep on being rude so I can kill you later by official orders."
I glared at him. Bastard.
"Abel, Abel…" Lord Alaric called, loudly, to gain Abel's attention. For a moment, I was strangely reminded of Albus Dumbledore. "Obviously the child does not know anything about what we're talking about."
Abel didn't say anything, but he did give me one last glare.
"Sweepers, Miss Eve," Lord Alaric started. I frowned. I'm really starting to hate the name 'Eve'. "Are what we call humans who hunt down creatures like us."
I was confused. "…'us' being…?" I trailed off.
Lord Alaric smiled, gently. "Vampires," he said, motioning to himself and Abel. "Demons," he motioned to me. "Werewolves—Atkin is a good example of that—nymphs, fairies, temptresses, maybe a succubus or two…and other kinds of creatures from the Other World."
"The Other World?" I echoed, in wonder.
"Hm. How can I explain this?" Lord Alaric asked himself, tapping his chin, thoughtfully. "Let's see," he paused. "When you say 'the world', you think of the humans' world… the 'Other World' is kind of like that for creatures like us. Creatures that are different from humans."
"I don't understand, why do they hunt…us?" I asked, a bit hesitantly. "And why are they hunting nymphs and fairies? Aren't those the good guys?"
Lord Alaric looked pleased to see that I was interested. "There are good and bad in any species, my dear. Humans tend to hate and, in the same time, fear what they cannot understand…hence, they hunt us. Some humans want to hunt us down because one of our kind had killed one of their loved ones…so they become sweepers, hating our entire existence and seeking for revenge. Others hunt us, because they are so fascinated and curious about our sometimes abnormal appearance and our unusual strength and power. They'd take us back alive, and use us in experiments, trying to find out how we get our powers, so they might get some for their own. Those are the cruelest kind of sweepers." he looked grim, and paused. "That's why we do not let ourselves known publicly to humans…for our own survival."
Okay. This is pretty overwhelming. First there were vampires and demons, and now there are werewolves, temptresses, nymphs, fairies, a succubus or two and other kinds of creatures from the Other World too?!
"Other humans," Lord Alaric continued, oblivious to what i was currently thinking. "who are ignorant and subservient to denial keep on thinking that we do not exist even though they've encountered us many times. For example, ghosts."
I looked at him, disbelievingly. "Ghosts? Ghosts don't exist…do they?" I asked, unsure.
Lord Alaric smiled. "You just say that because you were raised with the human way of thinking. Ghosts do exist, Miss Eve." He said, chuckling.
"B-but…how? Is that the thing after death? You just turn into ghosts?" I asked, confused. "Have you asked them? How exactly did they become ghosts?"
Lord Alaric continued to smile. "I never thought it would be polite to ask…Oh!" he exclaimed, his face suddenly lighting up. "But young Abellius asked a ghost once—and he was yelled at." Lord Alaric said, stifling a laugh. Abellius? Who's tha—, I began to think, then saw Abel blushing silently. Ohhh. "They probably don't like talking about it."
My God. Abellius? Poor guy. His parents must've really hated him, huh.
"Oh." I said, then gulped, remembering what I was exactly. I wasn't a student learning about Science (which is a subject I'm not exactly fond about, but whatever), I was a prisoner learning about a whole new world. "So," I started, meekly. "What do you plan on doing to me now?"
Lord Alaric looked thoughtful for a moment. "I think…I want to observe you further." He concluded. Gee, you make me sound like I'm some kind of lab experiment. "Now, would you kindly tell me your real name?"
I nearly froze, but I managed to maintain a blank face. "Eve is my real name." I stated, tonelessly.
"Hm, demons have always been good at masking their emotions. How good with it you are!" he praised me. "But you don't look like an Eve to me, and I can tell you don't even like the name. So, tell me, or else it's off with your lovely head."
It amazes me how he can combine a praise and a threat in one sentence. And even if he was smiling (which is creepy), he was obviously dead serious.
Before I could say anything, the double door to the library behind me opened with a slam, and I was suddenly engulfed by an intense aura.
Scary thing was…I found myself unable to breath.
A/N:
Huh! I stayed up writing this until 2am! Well, you might say…I have way too much time in my hands. Yeah, I know. Am I a loser or what? Well, I'm really hoping to get some feedback, you know.
I kind of want to know what you guys liked and you know, anything. If I have mistakes…and stuff. (laughs nervously) Anyway, please review?
PS.
Hey, Seb (smile)
-Jessi