Chapter 37 Getting back at Mirah

Chapter 37 Getting back at Mirah
Rain's POV

"That doesn't give you the right to slap me. I was only trying to help." I said fighting back tears.

"Help by doing what? Killing him"

"How will I kill him? Why will I do that?"

"Do you have an idea of what you almost touched?"

"No I don't. But you could have stopped me without slapping me. Why do I feel like you are hard to me. Have I offend you in any way."

"Maybe you should try stay on your lane. What are you doing here in the first place?"

Smack!

I slapped her right back.

She slowly turned her face back toward me.
She touched the spot I'd slapped.
Then smiled.

"No one," she whispered, "has ever laid a hand on me."

"I won't allow myself to be bullied just because you are a vampire princess or whatever." I responded with tears.

"Rain, Mirah I heard noise, what's going on?" Rosee rushed in, servants behind him.

She leaned in closer, "You filthy thing dare to slap me, in my territory. Do you have an idea of what you just did, I will suck you dry, finish and ruin you..."

"Mirah? Don't you dare touch her! I don't care if we're in your territory. Hurt her and I.."

"I don't need your help Rosee." I interrupted him, moving closer to Mirah.
She stared daggers at me which I reciprocate.

I took off my leather gloves.
"Say one more thing and I burn you into ashes! Threaten me again, and I'll burn every inch of your skin.You might be powerful and all that but don't forget I can end you with just a touch. Get that into your skull and leave me alone!" I hissed, bumped her shoulders and left leaving everyone in the room in awe.

Mirah said nothing. While Rosee smile proudly. The servants dispatched before Mirah could vent her anger on them.

I went into my room, wore my leather gloves back, fell to the floor and cried. I could still feel the sting from the slap she gave me.
I never meant to trespass, I was only worried about Mykel and wanted to check on him. She could have warned me without hitting me.

A knock came in.
"I don't want to talk to anyone." I said but the person opened the door and came in still.

"I just wanted to make sure you are okay. Not my thing but you are my staff and responsibility. Also vampires have been disappearing mysteriously. A guard will be assigned to your room. Remember to always close your window."

"I'm a staff? Is that what you see me as Rosee?" I scoffed at him.

He didn't say anything for a sec before composing himself again.

"You are a nanny for my kids. I brought you here so I feel responsible for your safety."

"I don't want to hear any of that. We went through dangers together, we fought things, spider queen, mirror and lot more. So all this while I'm only a staff to you."

"Nhmm Rain I don't think you are in the right state of mind. What are you insinuating here."

"When you were trapped by the spider queen, I kept on shouting your name outside. You think I did all that just because you are my boss?"

"I'll leave you to calm down. We'll talk later." With that he left.

I pressed a hand against my chest.
It felt as though something inside me was breaking.
And the worst part was I didn't even know when he'd become this important to me.

I stared at the empty doorway for a long time before my legs finally gave out.

"Staff." The word echoed inside my head over and over again.

Was that really all I was to him?

A nanny. An employee.

Someone he was responsible for.

I hugged my knees to my chest, pressing my forehead against them as tears slipped down my cheeks.

Why did that hurt so much?

I hated crying.

Especially over someone who probably didn't even realize he'd hurt me.

After what felt like forever, I wiped my face with the sleeve of my sweater and forced myself to stand.

"I need some air."

Maybe if I walked around, my thoughts would stop suffocating me. I slipped out of my room quietly. The vampire manor was strangely peaceful at evening.

I walked without thinking, letting my feet carry me through unfamiliar hallways.

Then I heard a sniffle.

The sound came from the end of the corridor.

"Hello?"

No answer but another soft sob.

I slowly walked toward it. Standing beneath one of the dim lanterns was a little boy.

His back faced me. His tiny shoulders trembled as he cried quietly.

Relief flooded my chest.

"What's a child doing here all alone?"

I took another step.

The boy slowly turned around. My breath caught.

"Noah?"

His little face was pale.

His eyes were swollen from crying. He didn't say a single word.

Instead, he lifted one tiny hand toward me.

As if asking me to follow him.

"Noah!"

He turned and ran.

"Wait!"

I chased after him.

He disappeared around one corner.

"Noah, stop!"

My heartbeat pounded inside my ears.

"I'm here!"

Every time I thought I'd caught up, he appeared farther ahead.

Looking back at me.

Waiting. Then running again.

"Please don't run!"

He reached the palace gates. The massive doors stood slightly open.

"Noah!"

I rushed toward him but then a strong hand suddenly grabbed my wrist.

"What the hell are you doing?"

I gasped and spun around.

Rosee.

His face was darker than I'd ever seen it.

"I saw Noah!" I pointed desperately toward the gate.

"He was right there!"

Rosee followed my finger.

There was nothing.

"Rain."

"He just ran outside!"

I tried pulling away.

"We have to go after him!"

He didn't let go.

"Rain."

"He needs us!"

"Look again."

I did.

Nothing.

Only the empty road disappearing into the forest.

"No." I whispered.

"He was there."

Rosee looked toward the guards stationed beside the gates.

"Did any of you see a child?"

The guards exchanged confused looks before shaking their heads.

"No, sir."

"No child has entered or left the palace."

I stared at them.

"No."

"I saw him."

"I know what I saw."

Rosee sighed quietly and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"I've had enough for one day."

He suddenly bent down.

"What are you saying"

Before I could finish, he lifted me over his shoulder as if I weighed nothing.

"What?! Rosee!"

I started kicking immediately.

"Put me down!"

"No."

"I saw Noah!"

"I know."

"He needs help!"

"I know."

"Then why aren't you listening to me?"

He didn't answer.

Instead, he carried me all the way back inside while every servant we passed quickly looked away, pretending not to notice.

"This is embarrassing!" I groaned, still kicking. "Put me down!"

"You've caused enough trouble tonight."

"I caused trouble?"

"You nearly wandered outside the palace alone."

"Because Noah was there!"

"You don't know that."

"I do!"

"You don't."

"I do!"

"You don't."

"I hate you!"

"Noted."

"I mean it!"

"So dramatic."

"I'll bite you!"

He let out the smallest sigh.

"I'd like to see you try."

By the time we reached my room, I was too exhausted to keep struggling.
He gently lowered me onto the bed.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

He crouched in front of me so our eyes were level.
His voice softened.

"I believe that you saw something."

I blinked.

"You do?"

"I believe you believe you saw Noah."

My shoulders slumped.

"But whether it was really him..." he continued, "is another matter."

I looked down at my trembling hands.

"What if he was calling for help?"

"What if he wasn't?"

Silence settled between us.

Rosee reached over and pulled the blanket around my shoulders.
"Right now," he said quietly, "your job isn't to save anyone."

His blue eyes met mine.

"It's to stay alive."

He stood and walked toward the door.

Just before leaving, he paused.

"I've assigned two guards outside your room."

"Don't open the door for anyone."

His hand rested on th doorknob.

"And Rain, "

"Until we know what's happening. Don't follow any child you see."

The door closed.

I sat frozen on the bed.

A cold chill crept down my spine.

Then I remembered something.

The guards had said about no child had entered or left the palace.

My heart skipped a beat.

Who had I been chasing?