House of Vampires: The New Wife

Chapter Four

I sat on the bedroom floor with my back against the bed, my knees pulled up to my chest as I stared at the carpet in front of me. My mind was racing with fear and desperation, wondering if there was any way out of this predicament. I was lost in thought when I heard a knock at the door. My heart skipped a beat as I wondered who could possibly be on the other side and if they could help me escape. I hesitantly got up off the floor, slowly tiptoeing towards the door. My heart was pounding in my chest with a mixture of fear and hope. For a brief moment, I entertained the possibility that it could be my family or friends.

"Who's there?" I asked meekly, my voice cracking slightly.

"My name is Tate," the voice said, "May I come in?"

"It's not like I have a choice," I spat.

"I won't come in if you don't want me to," He said kindly.

I stood there quietly for a moment, contemplating.

"I brought you some lunch, if that helps." His voice was lower, but soft.

As if on queue, my stomach began to rumble. I sighed with disappointment at my own body before allowing him to come in.

As I opened the door, I realized that it was one of Elias' sons, and my heart immediately began to race with fear once again. But then I noticed that he was speaking in a soft tone, almost as if he was trying to reassure me.

"I know this might be hard for you," he said in a low voice, "but I promise you, we won't hurt you if you cooperate with us."

I couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope at his words, but my fear quickly squashed it. I didn't trust any of them, and I had no reason to. As I stared at Tate, my mind raced with thoughts of escape, hoping desperately that I could find a way out of this situation.

Tate closed the door carefully behind him, moving over to the table near the door and setting the tray of food down.

"I know this isn't the best situation," he said, turning to face me. "And I know you must have a lot of questions, but I want you to know that you're safe here. All we want is your cooperation."

I eyed him warily, unsure of whether I could trust him or not. But there was something about the way he spoke that hinted at a genuine concern for my well-being. As he moved closer to me, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of fear. But then he surprised me by placing a gentle hand on mine, trying to offer some measure of comfort even in this trying time. Tate smiled at me before sitting down in front of the door, facing me. Then an awkward silence filled the room.

I couldn't help but break the silence.

"What's going to happen to me?" I asked, my voice shaking with fear.

I held my breath, waiting for Tate's answer. But he only let out a soft sigh and avoided my question.

"You must be hungry," he said, gesturing to the tray of food. "Do you like the sandwiches? I made a ham and cheese sandwich with mayo, I hope that's okay."

His change of subject caught me off guard, and for a moment I simply stared at him in disbelief. But then, as I looked down at the food, my stomach growled in response. Perhaps it was a strategy to change the mood, but Tate's gesture was welcome. With a small nod, I took a bite of the sandwich and was surprised to find that it was actually quite good. Despite the situation, it was a small comfort to have something to eat.

Tate watched as I ate, his eyes leaving me for a moment as he studied my surroundings.

"Is the room to your liking?" he asked, his voice soft as if afraid to disturb me.

I swallowed, setting the sandwich down on the plate.

"No," I replied tersely, "I'd rather be in my own room at home, thank you very much.

"Tate looked at me, his eyes expressing his concern. "I understand that this is difficult for you," he said carefully, "But you need to understand that staying here with us... it's necessary. For the safety of your father and everyone else you love."

I tensed at his words, my fear intensifying.

"What are you trying to protect them from?" I demanded, my voice rising, "And why do I need to be here if they are in trouble?"

Tate hesitated, looking down at the floor before meeting my gaze again, "I can't tell you everything right now... but trust me, you'll understand soon enough."

I continued eating my sandwich in silence, not sure how to respond to Tate's words.

"I don't understand why everyone keeps telling me that," I finally spoke up after a few moments, "What kind of danger could possibly require me to be here?"

Tate shook his head, "I wish I could tell you more, but for now, you have to trust me," he said.

"I know none of this makes sense and that you are confused, but I promise you, no harm will come to you."

I let out a sigh, not convinced but not wanting to argue anymore.

"Okay," I finally relented, "I'll trust you... for now."

Little did I know, trusting him would be the only option I had.