Chapter 20 - Commit to Memory

Chapter 20 - Commit to Memory
“Gross.”

Calvin cringed as he watched the Vitalis Master walk into his throne after he materialized in the middle of the hall. He expected the same stony face from Cord even at five in the morning. Never had he thought that this would meet him: Cord, in his usual sharp eyes and dapper clothes, but his aura was a little...lighter and he had an interesting grin on his face.

“You look disgustingly happy this early morning, Cord. What happened huh? You got a boner?” Calvin inquired once the Vitalis Master sat with his back too relaxed.

Cord shot him a glare and as if he had just noticed the change within himself, he straightened from his seat and squared his shoulders.

“Hell, Calvin. Please don’t break my good mood,” he growled low.

“Tsk. You did get a boner,” Calvin muttered to himself, grinning widely. He sat on the sofa down the dais and continued once he settled, “Is it finally with Am-”

“What urgent news do you want to tell me?” Cord abruptly cut off. He clenched his jaw and released a long, nasal sigh.

The shadows at the back of the throne shifted, creeping slowly towards Cord’s hand and because of this, Calvin dashed to get the folder placed on top the glass table near him, afraid that the shadows would advance on his poor person.

“Here. Here! Take a look at this.” He stood up and handed the material to Cord with which the latter accepted. The shadows froze back in their original places, too dependent on the anger of their Master.

“You did instruct me to search and refine the residents of this castle by hair color, body built, ability and health,” Calvin stated. He bobbed his head at the direction of the folder and continued, “That there is my result. Five people, all vampires. Two are servants of this castle, one is your cousin in the father’s side and two are family friends.”

Cord’s face turned expressionless. Gone was the merry look earlier.

“Are you sure about this?” he said, looking up at Calvin with a lift of one brow.

“I checked it six times,” Calvin assured. “Six times.”

Glancing back at the folder, Cord opened it and read the list of names he had known by heart through centuries of living together in one roof.

“Mathew Vitalis. Hans Enocian. Radford Christellan. Garett Ferguson. John Laudette.”

All had the youth and vigor, had the propensity for violence or the possibility to go against the rules of the castle.

All were easy to distinguish but hard to pinpoint.

“Do you want me to call them one by one?” Calvin offered. “Interrogate them probably?”

“And risk it?” Cord shook his head. “I know the culprit is still staying in this castle. Protection and unlimited source of blood is the advantage here. He’ll know in an instant that we are making a move if we call them one by one. He might well escape if that happens and I do not want that. I want this pathetic piece of trash beaten at his own game. He thinks I am too lax with regard to his case considering I didn’t do anything over this past three years, and that’s good. We have the element of surprise. We should take advantage of it.”

“But what if the rogue biter has an ability like me and you? Or Pamela, Aunt Mary, Uncle Ron, or Stephanie? In my research, none of those five have any abilities. But what if, the culprit just hid the truth for himself and has the element of surprise too? What then?” Calvin, for the first time, looked worried.

Well, not for the sake of Amanda. It was for the sake of the castle and the certain Vitalis family members he had just enumerated. Most especially Pamela who he had a romantic connection even if they were siblings.

Whatever ability the rogue biter might have, it could cause dire problems for the family. Whatever vendetta he had, he could use it against them. It could mean the discovery of their secret. It could mean the end of their long life of peace. Of grandeur and luxury. Respect and admiration. It could mean the end of their unlimited source of blood and easy protection.

Calvin didn’t want that.

Much so Cord who, especially, had just found his life with Amanda.

“Let him have whatever ability he can use against us, I don’t care. I’ll still have the upper hand,” Cord stated bluntly, oozing with confidence, and somehow Calvin understood it. He was the Vitalis Master after all. He always held the ace card.

“And that’s where that rogue biter failed to see,” he commented, eyeing Cord with new-found respect.

“For the meantime, let us go over the list. Read your report to me, Calvin. I’m too lazy to do that,” Cord stated, relaxing back in his chair and closing his eyes.

Calvin grinned and held his hands up in the air.

“Say no more. I already knew that. You just had the best night of your bountiful life and you had exhausted a lot of your sperm. You’re certainly feeling low on energy right now for trivial things such as reading.”

“And your point is?” Cord cracked one murderous eye at him.

“Nothing. I’m reading. I’m reading.” Calvin hastily snatched the folder out of the Master’s hand, clearing his throat at the same time. “Sheesh, you’re no fun to tease.”

It was exactly six thirty-five when Amanda opened her eyes. Soft morning light filtered through the French glass door of the balcony welcoming her. Normally, the light would have been stopped by the thick curtain Diana would pull before she sleeps, but because of the unexpected events last night, the glass door was left uncovered.

She winced a bit, letting her eyes adjust to the light and letting herself adjust to the little ache that caught her attention once she straightened to sit in bed.

Shit, she taught on impulse as last night’s memories immediately flooded her brain.

“We just did it,” she muttered to herself, blushing and blinking fast. At first, she thought of the memories as just a dream but with her naked under the covers, feeling a little dizzy and seeing kiss marks staining her cleavage, she realized it was real and beyond the point of denying.

She bit her bottom lip and hit the mattress again, touching the part where Cord’s fangs pierced her skin. Quickly, a shiver ran down her spine but it wasn’t because of fear. It was because of excitement. Excited that what his fangs brought wasn’t actually pain but pleasure. Pure pleasure. Totally the opposite of what she believed before they did it.

A knock on the door sounded before Amanda could muse some more. She glanced at the door and saw Arissa enter with a huge smile on her face.

“Good morning, Miss Cait,” the girl greeted, bringing along with her a tray of sumptuous breakfast.

Amanda couldn’t help herself but blush again. She was after all still naked.

“Uh, good morning too Arissa,” she sat up with the bed sheet pressed against her chest.

“I brought your breakfast,” Arissa rushed to the coffee table. “Would you like to eat first or-”

“Shower,” Amanda cut in. “I’d like to shower first.”

If anything, it wasn’t because she wanted to rid of Cord’s traces on her skin. She just wanted to shower and feel fresh, maybe... maybe in preparation for his return. He did say he would return. He whispered it in her ear while she was still in a sleepy state. And along with it was a promise of a blissful heat under the bed covers. Again.

Not that she looked forward to it. But still it was enough to create little bubbles of excitement within her.

“I will prepare the tub then,” said Arissa, walking towards the grand bathroom after she arranged the food on the table.

She said it was a tub, but of course, it wasn’t just a tub. It was a mini jacuzzi fit for two people customized to create a romantic atmosphere.

Unlit candles of different sizes and thickness were all over the place. A glass chandelier hung right above the tub could be seen. There were bronze flower vases that housed long-stemmed tulips that Arissa or Diana usually changes every two days. Creamy white tiles as flooring and pale blue and gold tiles as walls. And lastly, a large glass enclosure for showering.

Noman used to say that the bathroom was fit for a princess. Fit for her. And probably, he was right.

Minutes later, Amanda stepped inside the bathroom, a white towel wrapped around her body. As Arissa had said, everything was ready so she went straight ahead to the tub full of bubbles.

She relaxed there, enjoying the time she had whilst thinking of the memories last night with zero guilt. Maybe it was crazy getting intimate with a vampire. Maybe it was an act of treachery on her kind. And maybe her mother, if she was alive, would even scold her, but it was the right decision. Deep inside her, she knew it was the right decision. Something that her heart and mind both agreed.

And accepting the attraction between them just made Amanda feel lighter, freer than ever before.

“Um, excuse me Miss Cait,” Arissa, who stuck her head on the bathroom door, interrupted Amanda’s musings.

Amanda raised her head a little and looked at Arissa’s way, bubbles popped when her chin lightly touched them.

“What is it Ari?” she asked.

“You have a call, Miss. This had been ringing for quite some time.” Arissa opened the door further and strode to where the tub was. She handed the phone right after Amanda dried her left hand.

“I wonder who this is,” she muttered to herself, but was quick to widen her eyes when she saw who the caller was.

Matteo.

“Uhm, thanks Ari. I will take this call,” she announced after making an uneasy smile.

The servant left with a short bow and closed the bathroom door.

“Hey Matt.” Amanda’s heartbeat quickened when she answered. She pressed her eyes shut and listened intently on the man who absurdly claimed himself as her fiancé.

“Cait, good morning,” Matteo replied, sounding the gentleman that he was.

“Yeah, good morning too.” Amanda smiled a little. Thoughts of her passion with Cord last night came to the surface but she quickly pushed it back.

He mustn’t know, that’s what her subconscious mind had said.

“Happy birthday,” he greeted, his voice soft and warm.

“Thanks,” Amanda replied. Though they were miles apart, she could see him look at her with love in his eyes, could definitely feel the caress of his lips on her cheek.

Could it be then? Could it be that he used his mage power to reach out to her? The question came to her like a blow. She shook her head and inhaled.

Or maybe she was just getting paranoid.

“What are you doing now?” Matteo asked.

“I’m taking a bath.”

“Hmmm.”

There was a pleased hum then.

“Good, because after that, I want you to pack your things.

“What?” Immediately, Amanda popped her eyes open and blinked fast.

“Cait, like I said last night, it’s time for you to leave that place. You don’t fit there.”

In response, she clenched her teeth. “Matt, I’m not just someone you could order around. You can’t honestly expect me to break the Chief’s rules.”

Matteo groaned over the phone. Amanda could easily visualize a scowl marring his face.

“Screw the Chief,” he said,“I want you by my side, Cait.”

“Matt, you’re acting stubborn. Are all mages like that?” she herself now produced a frown.

“Only to their mates,” Matteo replied pointblank.

“I am not your mate,” and Amanda did the same.

“Yet,” he corrected.

With this, she heaved a deep sigh and massaged her temple.

“Look, let’s keep things slow. It’s my birthday today and I don’t want any arguments between us. Why not just come here, visit me again, bring Noman along, and let’s eat dinner just like the old times.”

There was a pause.

Amanda heard a shuffling of clothes first before Matteo replied with a defeated voice.

“You really are good with bargaining huh?”

“You know it’s my specialty.” She grinned knowing very well she won, but that grin just plummeted down when the bathroom door flung open revealing the Vitalis Master with only his black pants on.

Amanda cleared her throat feeling as if her breathing had stopped. Her eyes, after dueling with his glassy ones for ten long seconds, raked every bit of him, from the head, to his torso of ripped muscles and a lovely V, down to his bare feet whilst trying her best to listen to Matteo’s answer.

“Okay. I’ll do what you asked, but know this. I am not letting go of my plans. You will come with me whether the case is solved or not.”

Shit. She couldn’t even process his words right as her attention was magnificently cut in two and so, the only thing that she could make out as a reply was, “Matt...”

Hell, that one word didn’t even help her case when Cord’s mouth thinned into a displeased line. She saw him advance like a predator to his prey and all she could do was wait and be as still as possible. She was naked under the water for crying out loud and to top it all, under the bright yellow chandelier light!

“I’ll see you later Cait.” Matteo voiced out, unknowing of Amanda’s dilemma.

“Yeah.”

When Cord stood directly above her, Amanda thought he would continue on giving her death glares but she was wrong. She hurried to gather her feet, almost to the point of jumping out of water and squealing when Cord, in silence, joined her inside the tub.

“What time is dinner?” she heard Matteo ask.

“Huh?”

This time, with desire-filled eyes, Cord closed in on her and went straight for her earlobe. He licked it first and then nibbled it, the sensual gesture making Amanda stifle a gasp.

“I said what time is the dinner?” Matteo asked again.

“H...uh?”

Cord hit another pleasure spot when he ran his tongue along her neck to her jaw. Amanda, shaking her head, pushed him aside with her free hand but this only fueled the vampire master more. He sucked at her skin, just right below her ear and this made Amanda close her eyes to silently pray for the heavens.

“Cait, the time. Dinner. When is it? What’s wrong with you? You suddenly spaced out.”

Under the bubbles, Cord’s hands now cupped her breasts and massaged them with vigor. Amanda arched her back in attention.

“Ahh, I’m....ah...I’m sorry, I’m...in bath remember? Seven! Ah, seven. You can come here at seven, Matt.”

“Noted. See you there then,” Matteo replied, sounding a little worried.

“Yeah, bye,” Amanda voiced out as still as possible.

“Wait, Cait-”

But it was already too late. Cord’s patience was at its limit. He took the phone out of her hand, pressed the off button and dropped the gadget without care. A dull thud was heard when it hit the cushioned side of the tub.

“I expected to find you dressed, ready to hit me for taking your virginity away last night, but it never crossed my mind that I would find you here, bathing, naked, with a cellphone in one hand talking to another man other than me.” He tsked. “Don’t waste time with nonsense calls, Amanda.”

“Cord,” Amanda whispered, heat filling up her face even more. She dragged her butt into a higher part of the tub and Cord followed. Her nipples that were submerged in water earlier now came into better view. Cord’s mouth showed a pleased grin then.

“You are already in heat. Shall I proceed?” he said, his hands making contact with her waist.

Amanda’s attention fell on his thick leg under the water pressing against her groin. It was teasing her, making her remember how powerful his thighs moved last night. “You are torturing me,” she declared in a low, aroused voice.

“Hmmm...” he simply chuckled. “I find that that is what I’m good at, Amanda.”

He bent low to kiss her forehead and then proceeded to caressing every inch of her neck.

Amanda, with all thoughts of Matteo gone, offered herself to Cord’s ministrations.

“Now, answer me, my witch,” he spoke against her ear, “Shall I proceed?”