Shadows

Rules

 I was abruptly woken up the next morning, stirred by the bright and yellow tinge of the sunlight peeping through the gaps in the curtains… which I did not remember closing. Stretching out the vast and empty bed I began to think about what Seth had said to me the night before, that Anna was going to discuss on whether I was to remain at the house… what other option would there be? Death or imprisonment was going to be the only option out of this that I was positively sure of. I sat up and felt immediately dizzy, probably rose too quickly for my still groggy and tired head to register that I had sat up, placing my hand to my forehead I blinked a few times til my eyesight had returned to its normal state, once it was normal however I decided that I needed a shower… I wasn’t sweaty, smelly or anything like that but I was incredibly cold, did they not own central heating?

  I made my way across the vast room and into the bathroom… it was even colder in here, I began to run the water and ran back In the room to try and find a hairbrush, there were about four of them all lined up neatly on the vanity cabinet… not too surprising really. Running back to the bathroom I stopped the water, stripped down and stepped in… the water was very much welcomed against my cold and sore skin, I allowed myself to sink down…completely submerging my body under the water… allowing myself to relax… slowing my breathing… once I felt short of breathe I lurched forward and gasped. The water quickly grew cold, probably because of this house so as soon as I felt the temperature drop I jumped out and slipped my clothes on, flinching once more as I brushed the lumps on my stomach.

  Faintly in the distance I heard my door being knocked again, I called out for them to come in as I was in the bathroom… I didn’t hear a reply. Once I was fully dressed I ran outside but only to land smack bang into Dante’s arms

“I’m so sorry!” I exclaimed, my eyes sweeping the floor as I backed away, he began to laugh

“You’re presence is requested downstairs” he muttered

“Thanks” I whispered

“Don’t thank me, just follow” he brushed past me and I followed him like an absentminded sheep… which is probably how as I was seen… sheep… food. He led me downstairs and into one of the many living rooms that the house hosted, it was luxurious and I suspected that they used it for entertaining guests… whenever that was. Upon entering the room I was greeting with the glare of burning eyes that watched my every move with caution, there in the corner of the room was an aged man I guessed this was the lord of the house Lord Armand, he wore dated clothing that might as well of labelled him as ancient, his eyes were bright blue and his hair was a dark and shining black, upon seeing me enter the room this man straightened up and his gaze hardened

“Lady Cruz” he spoke with great pride, his voice was not gentle but neither was it hard, just filled with power that made me understand the pride of harbouring the title of lord “We have reached a decision, you are to remain in this house… you will not venture outside unattended, you are not to contact anyone and they will not be informed of your whereabouts … do you understand?”

“I… I understand” I struggled to say “But what is to happen to me?”

“You are to be seen as a guest” I narrowed my gaze and my brow creased into a frown

“A guest? Why am I to be a guest?”

“Because child, we are not the monsters we are made out to be… precides we know very little of you and are afraid you may have had some contact with slayers… these are troubling times my dear and we must take precautions”  I nodded my head,  a little more than confused “But I warn you now, I may be hospitable but that does not mean the many guests we have will share the same opinion, you are still a food source my dear… a very tempting one at that…” I heard Dante clear his throat which seemed to snap him out of the gaze, making him continue “Tell me one thing dear… what were you doing wandering the streets of London alone?” I swallowed the lump that had formed in my throat before attempting an answer