Chapter 17 - Sweetly Cruel

Chapter 17 - Sweetly Cruel
Amanda used all of her strength as Cord continued his onslaught. She tried pushing him away, his face the first target and then his chest with both a failure.

He reigned over her. Cord chained her wrists with only one hand, pressed them in between their chests while the other grabbed her head to keep it from moving.

He didn’t encounter any difficulty with these, unlike Amanda who was slowly losing hope.

Mouth on mouth, she couldn’t clearly breathe enough to shout the word stop. A couple of letters managed to escape:

“Co-”

“Cor--”

“--rd”

But never his full name.

How could such a kiss from an enemy feel like this? she thought. The wanton. The craze. The hotness of it. Her one-kiss experience with Matteo could never compare to it. Cord’s kiss was just so, so sweetly cruel.

He moved with skill. The wetness and softness of his lips and the movement of his tongue inside her mouth urging her to reciprocate, his taste, his wild but tender caress - madness.

They were all madness waiting to bring her into forbidden gates but as sure as she was with this, she asked herself what if?

What if she’ll reciprocate him? His kisses?

Would it be worth it?

The answer to that came as a moan from deep in her throat. Cord pressed her face further, steadied her head to suck on her severely swelling bottom lip.

Yes, it will be worth it.

But before she could return his kisses, she gasped when she felt his hand release her wrists and slid under her blouse, contacting their skin and lighting fireworks there.

“Amanda...” Cord whispered whilst leaving wet trails on the corners of her mouth. “Your body is quaking for me, do you feel it?”

Trying to hold herself from losing control, she answered with a shaky breath, “Ye-s...”

Ah, yes, she could most definitely feel it, but not only hers, his too. The carnal desire she could feel throbbing against her abdomen, hardening only for her, was unmistakable.

She clenched her eyes shut, unable to bear the truth in her front.

He wanted her and she wanted him. That was clear. Their desires were compatible. In harmony. Certain and real. Not just a machination of the mind.

“Then lose yourself to me. Kiss me back, ” he urged and his hand glided to cup her left breast, knead it, claimed it - the brassiere she wore somehow felt thin in that very moment.

“Mhmm...” Again, a moan escaped from Amanda, but realizing it wasn’t supposed to be, she clamped her mouth shut and shook her head.

Cord groaned, displeased.

“I can sense it in the beating of your heart that you want to kiss me too. Open your mouth, Amanda, ” he ordered against her cheek.

There was no denying it. Clearly, he was right, but instead of accepting him, she recoiled back.

Why?

Because she felt the sudden light scrape of one fang on her face consequently eliciting pain and drawing blood.

She heard Cord hiss as he extracted himself quickly a good meter away from her.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to, ” he said, eyes casting downward.

Amanda, in reflex, touched her cheek and felt the sticky liquid there. She looked at him with equal parts fear, betrayal and surprise, never expecting that even during such a wondrous intimate moment, his true nature would surface.

But instead of questioning him of his control, she, in her confusion, then asked, “What has happened with your eyes, Cord?”

From a glassy greenish red she normally would see in him when not wearing a blindfold, his eyes now turned to a blue-green. It may be as normal as any other human eyes, but it was the most captivating blue-green orbs she had ever encountered and because of this, the feeling of fear and betrayal that surfaced from inside her disappeared.

Cord lifted his head and for the first time since they met, their gaze locked on each other in full color.

“You can see?” Amanda inquired again.

It was an absurd question, yes, but directed to a vampire who had supernatural abilities, it was understandable.

“Because of your blood, I can, ” he answered, his gaze never leaving hers.

“My blood?” she clarified, still touching the wound in her cheek.

Cord, unable to restrain himself, strode to her front, pulled her hand away and stooped low to lick on the wound he inadvertently caused.

Amanda froze the whole time, her heart jackhammering against her chest. The warmness of his tongue and the firm grip he had on her shoulders did just that.

“Yes, your blood, ” he proceeded after he licked her clean, establishing eye contact once again without blinking. He held her bloodied hand with his and felt the crusts of dried blood there.

“But unfortunately, I don’t know why this is happening. I am hoping you’d be able to explain why, ” he continued.

Amanda blinked thrice, feeling inadequate of herself.

“Huh, I don’t think I can do that Cord. I don’t even know why myself.”

Cord released a defeated sigh then. “I see, ” he said, “but my best guess is, you have a healing ability. That’s why your blood can cure me of my...blindness.”

Amanda shrugged her shoulders. “It could be, but why are you like this in the first place? Vampires aren’t supposed to be blind.”

Cord stepped backward, releasing her hand from his grip. “It’s none of your-” but he paused, seeing how genuinely Amanda wanted to know. Not wanting to rudely cut her off again, he decided to say in the end, “It’s a complicated story to tell, Amanda. Right now, I just wanted to focus on you, and how you look more beautiful in full color.”

He examined her from head to foot and then a little curve of his mouth appeared as a smile. “Damn, I’ll have to register this in my memory.”

With his words, Amanda felt consequently conscious. She had forgotten that they had locked mouths earlier.

Not only were her lips still swollen with his stolen kisses, she was also breathing hard - her chest rising and falling so clearly that she’d bet he can count them, and not to mention her face, so flushed up because of him, he’d probably deem her a relative of a baboon’s ass.

What a great picture to show indeed.

“You are cleverly changing the subject Cord, ” she stated, focusing on this fact instead of her body’s traitorous response. She moved away, towards the bathroom and continued, “Well, if there isn’t anything else you want to say. You can see yourself out, now.”

Instead of feeling offended, Cord just grinned and walked towards the door. “Indeed, ” he said, looking at her for one last time, “Good night, Amanda.”

“Good night Cord, ” she replied and just like that, she saw him vanish, leaving a thin trail of black smoke in the spot where he stood.

Sighing, she dropped in the bed and touched her lips. Everything would have turned out normal if it wasn’t for that Pamela-woman’s sudden appearance. Amanda would have buried the attraction she had for Cord, and he wouldn’t ever know of it. Ever.

It was hard for her to realize that she was attracted to the man. It was pretty much a sin against their kind. But it was even harder now realizing that with his absence, her blood, body and all of her screamed for more.

More of him.

She truly desired him.

The next day, Amanda occupied herself inside the library with Arissa. She may have been reading quite meticulously with her chosen book, but in reality she felt sleepy, and it was all because of having a sleepless night. The thoughts of Cord and their shared kiss mostly did that, and the feeling that he was watching her from somewhere. Somewhere in the dark of her room.

She dismissed it at first as creations of her mind, but with her inside a vampire lair and with him able to teleport wherever and whenever, she realized that it could be possible.

“Are you trying to protect me from another attack Cord?” she asked one time when she couldn’t control herself anymore. She straightened from the bed and stared directly at one dark corner. She waited and waited, but his answer never came.

Amanda pulled a disappointed face and went to lay back, covering her body from the bed sheet as much as possible. “Hmf, sure! Suit yourself. Be silent. But I can sense you, you know.”

Again, there was no answer.

Not a single sound of his breathing.

Amanda closed her eyes and after straining her ears for more than an hour, she finally fell asleep.

“Madame O’Malley, Mr. Threvelli is waiting for you in the drawing room, ” informed the Head Butler after he waltzed inside the first floor library some time later in the evening.

“Yes, thank you for informing me Jerome, ” Amanda answered whilst shutting the book and putting it on the coffee table. “I also received his text that he just arrived.”

“Dayana here will accompany you to the room, Madame, ” Jerome gestured behind him where the maid obediently stood. She smiled at Amanda and the latter smiled back at her.

“Refreshments and your dinner will be served there, ” he continued.

“Yes, I’ll take note of that Jerome, but before I go, I need to get it now.” Amanda stood up and opened her palm in front of him.

“It?” Jerome lifted a brow, acting innocent.

“Yes, it, ” she echoed back. “The amethyst necklace. Where is it? I thought your Master would return it to me.”

“Ah, I thought you’d forget about it Madame, ” the Head Majordomo replied. He smiled rather sheepishly and pulled out the object in his coat pocket.

Amanda tsk’d. “I imagine your Master would be pleased if I do. Now hand it to me Jerome.”

And he did, placing it in her palms, pendant first.

“Thank you, ” she stated, but right after her hand contacted the necklace, something inside her sparked briefly.

Of a negative emotion: anger. Intense anger. Her eyes changed from its normal color to a bright violet.

Jerome noted it and stepped backward, suddenly feeling afraid. His Master warned him about this and instructed to call him immediately.

“Is something wrong?” Amanda asked, looking at the butler with confusion.

Jerome found that in a blink, the color of her eyes returned to normal.

“No...ahh, nothing Madame. Everything is fine, ” he replied with a shaky voice.

“Right.” She smiled, looking a lot friendlier than earlier. “Now, I think I should go.” She walked past him and tucked the necklace in her jeans pocket as if nothing happened.

“You are on time, ” Amanda announced as she walked inside the drawing room. “As always.”

“Cait, ” Matteo turned from the fireplace, smiling widely, and quickly crossed the room to embrace her. “I missed you.”

“Matteo...” She embraced him back, feeling no malice at all after sharing a kiss with him many days back. “You look different now. Have you?” She withdrew and stared straight into his face. “Oh, your hair is a lot longer now. Odd. How have it grown so long in just a matter of days?”

From a short cut, Matteo’s copper hair grew three inches longer, with soft waves coming out from its edges. It was a new look that she found attractive and sexy. His stance too changed. That of a man holding so much power similar to the Vitalis Master - well, not like she was trying to compare them in the first place.

Matteo observed her with adoration. His smile, Amanda found, was like that of a man looking at his soon-to-be-wife.

“I figured that I should show my real self to you now, Cait. It is time, ” he said.

Amanda narrowed her eyes at him and crossed her arms over her chest. “You are so cryptic. Mind if you explain more?”

Matteo chuckled. “Let’s go out into the balcony first, shall we?”

“Right.”

They strode past the fireplace side by side. Amanda observed some personal distance between them, but Matteo closed in, brushed his elbow against hers and hooked an arm around her waist.

Amanda felt cognizant with this, but truly not as much as the effect the Master gave on her.

“I didn’t expect you’d be staying here Cait, ” he said when they stood near the balustrade.

She shrugged her shoulders, “Well, Chief’s orders, ” she said and then glanced at the east scenery ahead that showed trees blanketed by the early evening darkness.

“But in the Vitalis mansion?” Matteo drew his brow up. “They are rich people, Cait. You should suspect something fishy going on here.”

Amanda’s heart skipped a beat. Could it be he knew that the Vitalis Family members are vampires?

“Wha-what are you talking about, Matt?” she asked, shifting her eyes from him and back to the scenery, trying her best to keep calm.

“I’m talking about politics. You think the Vitalis Master wants to control the whole country?”

Politics. Amanda felt relieved. It seemed he doesn’t know.

“That’s a weird idea Matt, but a possible one, ” she smiled at him briefly. “Anyway, why are you stalling?”

“Stalling?” Matteo feigned innocence. “Me?”

“You do know why I invited you here Matt.” She crossed her arms over her chest again. “And also, you need to explain to me those cryptic words you said earlier.”

Matteo paused and stared at her before answering, “Hmm, just as I thought, nothing gets past you Cait.”

Amanda pulled out the necklace from her pocket, chain first and then showed it to Matteo, the stone swinging like a pendulum.

“Tell me Matt, what do you know about this necklace? And how did you possess this?”

Matteo leaned back on the balustrade, sighing.

“It was given to me by your mother.”

“My mother?” Amanda’s brows twisted. “But-”

“We met a long way back Cait, ” he cut in. “A long, long way back. You didn’t exist then.”

“I’m confused, ” she said, wrinkling her forehead.

Matteo released a throaty chuckle. “Don’t be, please.” He took out the necklace from her hand and stared at the stone resting in his palms. “Your mother, the day she gave birth to you, entrusted your safety to me.” He gazed back at her with longing and her lips, with desire, before continuing, “She is one of the most powerful in your kind, but with her life energy already drawing to a close, she requested me to protect you and along with a promise, she left me this necklace to give you on your twenty-fifth year of life.”

The corner of Amanda’s mouth twitched, drawing her eyes to the stone whilst recalling her mother’s words before she died.

‘I’ve lived too many lives, my darling. You, however, haven’t. You deserve to live normally. Love normally. Make friends. Be merry. Free of worries and fear. But with vampires still in this world, I can’t just leave you alone. That man is going to protect you, Amanda. He will be your guardian for the rest of your life and possibly even more...’

Could it be that she was talking about Matteo?

“She says it is a special amulet, ” Matteo’s voice pulled her out of her recollection. She blinked twice and looked at him again.

“It holds the many memories of your ancestors: their feelings, experiences, and yearnings. It will guide and help you see the truth, ” he added.

“Feelings? Experiences?” This time, Amanda couldn’t contain herself anymore. “No wonder I felt so much hatred during that time...”

“That time?” Matteo quickly parroted to which she, in haste, shook her head.

“Ah, nothing Matt. It is just that the first time I wore it, I felt a surge of anger filling up inside me.”

And nearly killed the Master because of it, she added in her thoughts in a huff.

“I see, ” Matteo replied, seemingly calculating her every word. “And, oh yeah, this necklace boosts up your abilities too.”

He handed the jewelry back to her with which Amanda immediately took.

“I don’t even know if I have abilities myself, Matt, ” she said, “But besides that, with all of these things you tell me now, I’m curious, who are you exactly? For two years, I thought of you as a friend and the Vice President of my step-father’s company.” She squeezed the pendant and looked at Matteo now with serious eyes. “It seems you know what I am and it seems you know so many things that I don’t, so tell me, who are you honestly?”

Matteo took her free hand, kissed the knuckles before he interlaced their fingers tightly.

“Yes, you’re right. I know who you are Cait. I know you have a blood of a witch.”

Amanda’s chin lifted as if a thorn lodged in her person was just pulled out.

Witches, because of their spells, lived for vast amounts of years. Sometimes centuries. Along with it though, they needed to keep their true nature a secret from the humans to safeguard their kind and to hide themselves from the vampires that haunted them.

They used spells to hide their true age from the attention of humans. They used spells too to avoid unnecessary questions and curiosity.

Amanda, apart from Noman, kept this as a secret from everybody, even to her stepfather. She grew up with witch blood in her veins. But now, for the first time ever, someone slapped this truth on her face.

“And yes, I know a lot of things you don’t, Cait, ” Matteo continued, still holding her hand. “Because I’ve lived for hundreds of years together with your kind.”

He bowed his head regally in front of her. Amanda just watched him with calculating eyes, wondering what he would do next.

When Matteo straightened, he extended his other hand and produced a beautiful crystalline white rose out of nowhere.

This surprised Amanda greatly.

“I am Lord Mage Nikos, at your service. Your guardian. Your protector. And like your mother promised, ” he paused and smiled serenely at her, “You, my beautiful Cait, will be my bride.”