Chapter 9 - A Disturbing Dream

“Here’s the list you ask me, ” stated Calvin right after he swooshed himself into the throne room.

Cord was already waiting for him there. Once again, he couldn’t keep a shuteye when there were still the issues of vampires escaping the mansion.

“Is this complete?” he said, eyeing the white and gray outlines of Calvin through his blindfold.

Calvin bobbed his head.

“Yes. All residents in the North Wing are listed there. They are categorized as alive, escapee, and deceased after the incident days ago. I summarized it all and found out we have four escapees.”

“Four escapees?” Cord parroted.

“Yes, but they don’t pose a threat, Cord. These vampires had not ingested any witch blood so they possess no abilities that would hinder their capture.”

Cord remained silent, leisurely planning on whatever torment he could give these escapees once captured.

“Give Charlie and I four days and we will bring them back here to receive your judgment.”

At the mention of the name, Charlie Roan, a distant cousin of Cord on the father’s side appeared from the open door of the throne room’s kitchen. Jerome was behind her and with a light bob of his head, urged her to approach the base of the dais.

She did so with conviction.

She was one of those North Wing vampires who initially lost trust of her Master, and now, she wanted to redeem herself. Calvin and Jerome, seeing her sincerity, wanted to help her achieve it.

Calvin glanced at her once she settled beside him. As a petite girl with a short bob, he towered her, but that didn’t mean she was one unskilled vampire. She, after all, killed a witch with poison hands, took her ability and claimed it as her own.

Cord didn’t seem to mind her trespassing their private meeting. He just watched her as his shadows danced all over the hall, ready to inflict pain should she disrespect him.

Charlie saw the threat and the omnipotence of her Master and decided to kneel before him.

“I am at your disposal, Master Rexcord.”

It was a minute of silence before Cord replied.

“Very well, ” he said ushering a triumphant grin at the corner of his mouth. “Show me your loyalty.”

Charlie took a deep, relieved breath. “Thank you, Master Rexcord. I will and you will not regret it.”

Cord turned to Calvin and continued.

“Also, bring Heather with you, and I’ll give you two days. Surely, they hadn’t gone that far. If they broke my rules and killed any humans for blood, then take their lives on the spot. But...” Cord paused and seemingly entertained a wild idea. “On the other hand, let me do that. I have punishments fit for these ingrates — or in the modern world, shall we say — fucktards.”

“As you wish, Cord. Everything is clear. I’ll see myself out.” Calvin religiously bowed his head low before teleporting out of the room with Charlie in tow.

Once alone, Jerome entered with a wine glass on a silver tray.

“Master Cord, your drink, ” he informed, lowering his eyes to the floor.

A disgusted look settled on Cord’s face momentarily before taking the drink from his butler. He sensed though that something was bothering the man.

“You have something to say Jerome, what is it?” Cord urged whilst sniffing the crimson content of the glass. Smelling a not-so-fragrant smell thereafter, he scrunched up his nose again.

“I’m just worried about you, Milord, ” Jerome started, still directing his sights on the floor. “You had been abstinent on any blood other than Ms. O’Malley’s for years now. If you drink that, wouldn’t you get any adverse reactions?”

“No, I won’t, ” was Cord’s quick reply. Wherever his butler procured the new blood bag, he didn’t care. He just had to ingest now before his hunger pangs returned with a vengeance. “Blood is blood, Jerome. No matter who the owner is. I just preferred Amanda’s greatly than any other persons. However, I can’t always rely on her to give me nourishment. I have to learn to adjust and accept other blood types for her sake and mine.”

There was definitely a hint there, Jerome thought. For over centuries of serving him, he had come to be intuitive of his master’s needs. He predicted Cord needed a female companion before the beautiful Ms. O’Malley even stepped foot inside the castle. He predicted his Master desiring her and loving her consequently.

Now, as he raised his head and looked straight into the blindfold of his master, he sensed something wasn’t right. Something that Cord was undergoing all by himself and certainly it wasn’t just because of hunger.

“I understand, Milord, ” Jerome stated, but he knew deep inside he was still trying to process the change.

Cord took a taste of the blood. First, it was just a sip. Then, a full gulp. He cringed thereafter, clearly not liking it.

“This is not the same taste as hers but it will do, ” he remarked. “Enough to quell my thirst.”

“Then I’ll take my leave now, Milord, and give you privacy, ” Jerome bowed low again and stepped out of the dais with the silver tray in hand.

Privacy during his meal was always what Cord wanted. But now, it wasn’t the ultimate reason.

He longed for privacy whenever he was with Amanda, wanting to ravage her right then and there and shower her with his passion.

Now, he also longed for privacy whenever the bouts he had been having lately act up which was exactly any second now. He could feel his shadows jackhammering his bones and tightening up the muscles of his body so that all he could feel was pain. Pure pain.

“Urgh...” Cord groaned when not a second later the otherworldly seizure began. The wine glass half-filled with blood fell to the floor and broke. He tightly gripped the lion-shaped tip of the arm-handle of his throne until it broke into splinters.

This bout now was longer and more pronounced. He couldn’t keep himself from grimacing.

“Shit... Shit.”

Cord doubled over as he rode the wave of pain, wondering how soon it will stop.

“Look who I met in the hallway, ” Noman informed once he stepped inside the door of Amanda’s room. He was holding a paperbag of toiletries he had recently bought from a convenience store across the street. Behind him was the Master of the Vitalis Castle wearing another dark colored trench coat with its collar turned up about his neck and an unreadable expression on his face.

“Master Rexcord.”

It was Jonathan who stood swiftly at the sight of him. After performing a bow, he stepped to the side to give his master the leather seat.

“Cord, ” Amanda uttered when their eyes met. The same glow of desire and longing filled their gazes. It had been the second day of her stay in the hospital and they were yet to share an intimate night together, let alone a true lovers’ kiss.

“Jonathan, you may take your leave now, ” Cord stated without turning to him.

The former immediately tipped his chin down.

“Thank you Master Cord.”

Jonathan took a few steps to the door before Noman realized what he was doing.

“Wait, ” he stopped him by the elbow. “You’re leaving?”

Amanda clearly saw the disappointment on Noman’s face and the desperate tone roped around his voice. His best friend truly had his sights set on this vampire which to her was both good and bad.

Cord, on the other hand, found the development amusing. He just stood and remained silent as his subordinate spoke.

“I’ll return in the morning Mr. Ashgar, ” Jonathan informed, giving him a quick smile, “and continue guarding Ms. O’Malley.”

“Oh, okay, ” Noman was suddenly feeling cognizant of the attention showered on him. “See---see you tomorrow then.”

Amanda, hearing this, quickly interrupted. “No. No tomorrow please. I’m okay with no bodyguards.”

She looked at Cord and gave him a stern stare, hoping he’d give in.

“It’s out of the question, Amanda, ” was his swift answer, stepping closer to her bed. “You need one to ensure your safety.”

He raised a hand before Amanda could argue and looked at his subject, “You may go now, Jonathan.”

With a nod, Jonathan left, using the main door.

“I don’t need a bodyguard, Cord, ” Amanda stated her case again as soon as the young vampire was out.

“No, Mister Vitalis is right, Cait, ” Noman interjected. He crossed his arms to his chest and gave his best friend a frown. “You need a bodyguard.”

“What? You’re siding with him now?” Amanda complained. She could feel that the weight of the issue had become even heavier now.

“With your recent accident, you can’t just use your witch abilities, ” Noman added before Cord could enter in their conversation again, “thus you can’t protect yourself should there be any danger.”

“I am perfectly fine, ” Amanda lashed, shaking her head and puffing her chest. “Both of you know that. I can use my powers whenever and however I want to.”

“Still...Cait. I think it’s better to be cautious.” Noman turned to Cord and gave him a hopeful expression. “Right Mister Vitalis?”

The latter released a sharp exhale.

“For the first time since we met, Mister Ashgar, you finally agreed with me.”

Noman lifted his chin up. “Well, all for the safety of my best friend.”

Amanda had to inwardly scoff. ‘Safety my ass, ’ she quipped. Failing to convince Cord--no thanks to her best friend--she decided to sit on her bed, face the glass window on her side of the room and stay silent while the two newfound partners-in-crime continued conversing.

“You’re awfully acting like a real human if you don’t teleport Mister Vitalis. That’s new, ” Noman remarked with a grin.

“When outside the mansion, Mister Ashgar, it’s better to blend in with the crowd, ” Cord dutifully answered. “I don’t want to risk my secret just because I want to cut my travel time going here.”

Noman puckered his lips and nodded. “Hmmm, sounds reasonable.” He approached the table nearest the comfort room and picked up his sling bag.

“Well then lovers, I’ll be out of your hair now, ” he informed. “See you tomorrow Cait.”

Amanda shifted her head to look at him. “Wait, I thought you’ll be finishing your papers tomorrow?”

Noman gave him a cheeky smile. “I’ll bring them here and finish it so that I can accompany you.”

With this, Amanda’s eyes turned to slits. “Yeah, right. Are you really sure that’s the reason?”

“Ciao!” Noman cried out, trying his best to avoid the subject.

Amanda huffed when the door closed. She glanced at Cord who slowly neared her.

“Cord, please, ” she said, trying to convince him again. She took his hand, the one that was nearest her, and squeezed it.

“No, the bodyguard stays, Amanda, ” Cord answered whilst looking down on her. “Or...do you want me to stay here until you discharge?”

Quickly, she shook her head. “No! That can’t happen. You’re too much of a high profile.”

Cord tipped her chin up, traced the edges of her jaw back and forth, and then transferred to the corners of her mouth.

Amanda softly released a pleased sound from within her throat. She pulled his hand down just as Cord stooped low to meet her face.

They shared a long kiss then, one that was intense and with a few strokes of Cord’s tongue against hers.

Amanda’s free hand moved to capture his head. She pulled a good mass of his black locks, creating a bit of strain on his scalp.

Cord enjoyed the treatment though. He pushed her forward and they went tumbling down the bed with still their mouths locked.

But with their hurried movements, a certain medical equipment was affected. The intravenous metal pole that accommodated the solution of Amanda’s line fell down. It hit the floor with a loud clinking sound and consequently pulled taut her line.

“Okay, maybe we need to finish this when we get back to the mansion, ” she stated, chuckling.

Cord, silently grinning, moved to stand whilst ushering her to sit.

“Back to the matter, I don’t doubt your capacity to protect yourself, Love, ” he said, lifting her chin up again so that he could see her blushing face. “I’ve seen and tasted what you can do first hand. I just want to double the protection. We don’t know yet who we are dealing with if indeed we have an enemy in hiding.”

Amanda didn’t want to argue anymore. Plus, she understood his point.

“Yes, I understand, ” she nodded and this time, resigned herself to having a bodyguard which she knew, a certain professor would also be happy.

“Good, ” Cord gave her a pleased smile.

That night, he remained in his usual area of the room: the leather chair, and welcomed an offer of a proper sleep.

Amanda was sleeping too, in her bed, and entertained a dream of herself. Seconds later, she gasped loudly and sat straight up. She scanned the room and found that Cord was still in his chair, sleeping like a log.

All was well in reality. Good.

But what wholly disturbed her was remembering her dream.

A dream of herself getting restrained by Cord’s shadows and the fact that her neck was gushing with blood.