Bride To His Darkness
Chapter 76: Behind Closed Doors

Chapter 76: Behind Closed Doors

"Lucy would have been a better option." The head maid candidly suggested, "I’ll be needing a lot more hands by tomorrow morning, but have you seen the list of stocks needed? Half of the servants here are presently useless and clumsy once they step out of the Palace. Thanks to my ill-luck, I have no choice but to choose from one of them since Crystalline has chosen to be under the weather." She irked.

Albert, who silently listened to the head maids complaint, rolled his eyes in a ’whatever’ kind of manner and didn’t respond to her criticism concerning the servants. Samantha could tell that the head maid would be a bossy one, the air around her already felt pompous, which wasn’t to Samantha’s liking at all, but nevertheless, her likes or dislikes never really mattered, and this was her only chance to flee from the Palace without Lord Ivan catching up on her.

’you can do this.’ She mentally encouraged herself.

"Ahem..!"

Clearing her throat soundly, seemingly making it sound unintentional to the ears, the young maid successfully gained the attention of the head maid, including the butler as both heads turned to look in her direction. Stepping out from the corner where she stood waiting to be found, she approached the head maid and bowed her head as a sign of greeting, same with Albert who was rather stunned to find her lingering around this part of the Palace quarters.

"I know you, aren’t you supposed to be at the main quarters of the Palace?" Questioned Albert, but Samantha serenely glanced at the sunbeams that filtered through the arches, stunningly creating a play of light and dark patterns on the smooth floor, whilst she found the shadows rather strange. Her eyebrows creased inquisitively when her green gaze naturally moved to the vibrant green ivy that clung to the walls, adding a touch of nature’s wildness to the cloisters’ ancient charm, and her pupils momentarily dilated.

"Green Ivy’s are growing against the walls." She pointed at the Ivy’s that crawled in delicate tendrils, accentuating the arches and latticed windows with its vibrant hues. Without the mystic orb, didn’t they say nature could not return to EmptyHollow, so where was the widely spread ivy coming from??? Thought Samantha who was still trapped in awe.

"How long have you been in the Palace?" Questioned the head maid after she was done taking full note of the genuine surprise written in the servants eyes. "Those are not real Ivy’s, the royals of the Palace tend to decorate the place with replicas of the Ivy, the craftsmanship is just that great." The head maid curtly corrected her misconceptions, and Samantha, who was still skeptical about it while marveling at the craftsmanship, nodded either way.

"Yes, you are right."

"That’s not important, why are you here?" The head maid asked after eyeing the unfamiliar green-eyed lady from head to toe, sensing the servant had something to say to her. "You’re from the main quarters of the Palace which means you serve one of the royalties. Are you in need of something?"

"Yes... actually, no...but yes." Samantha nodded politely to her inference, "I had gone to see Crystalline, she is not in a good condition to step out of the Palace, and.... she requested I fill her spot tomorrow since you would be needing help refilling stocks from the capital." Samantha informed the head maid with all honesty, hoping she would believe her lie and take her along, but Albert was the first to quickly decline the request, his hollowed eyes narrowing suspiciously at her.

"You have made several attempts to escape from the Palace, I think everyone is aware of your guileful stunts." He said, "before you leave the Palace, we’ll need to seek Lord Ivan’s approval before deciding on that note, rather, I insist the head maid picks someone else. Weren’t you going to pick Lucy to go with you?" Albert asked the head maid, but before the head maid could give her response, Samantha quickly added.

"Lucy and I are very much compatible when it comes to working together. The more hands you get, the faster we can finish and head back." Samantha suggested to the head maid before glancing at Albert, "and please don’t try to paint me as someone untrustworthy, I was new to the Palace and brought against my own will, I was frightened, any normal human would have taken the same measures as me but I can assure you it’s nothing like that this time around."

"And you’re sure Crystalline sent you?" The head maid questioned Samantha with folded arms, watching her intently for any signs of hesitation, but the human girl nodded her head in response without giving off the slightest reluctancy.

"Then I would have to confirm from Crystalline." Albert said, but before he could head towards the direction of Crystalline’s room, the head maid had stopped him. "Have you seen the servant? Going near her would only leave you infected with whatever sickness she’s suddenly caught, and that is not a risk I want any of us to take, it will be better if we let the sick girl be."

"Are you taking the new maid then?"

"It’s not like I have a choice, I need all the help I can get, be it Lord Ivan’s servant." The head maid shuddered inwardly before glancing at Samantha, "we leave in the morning tomorrow, failure to arrive on time and you will not be pleased with me. Where is Lucy? I need to inform her before she escapes from my grasp like last time." Ending the conversation there, the head maid walked past Albert and Samantha to go find Lucy.

When both of them finally dismissed from the cloister, the vibrant green Ivy’s mysteriously stretched.

Returning to the main Palace and confirming the coast was clear, Samantha couldn’t stop herself from hopping with delight. Her delicate round face had brightened with inner thrill, and she couldn’t wait for tomorrow morning because by then, this Palace and everything within it would be out of her hair for good. She won’t have to face Lord Ivan anymore and she can finally flee from his intense gaze.

Locating the slave establishment wouldn’t be difficult since she has the location written beneath her palm, but her only worry was finding her brother. Certainly, the entrance will be heavily guarded by those rogues but one thing was for sure, she was going to free her brother and get him out of there, regardless of the consequences. Being his elder sister, it’s her duty to look out for him, and she doesn’t mind at all if it would cost her her life, but she needed to make sure he was happy and safe.

She desperately hoped he was fine.

Smiling to herself as she strolled along the corridor, the sweet smile on her lips instantly vanished at the sight of the princess coming ahead with her personal maid. Not to talk of the devil’s twin, but Samantha didn’t have the strength to face the evil Vampiress and quickly slipped into a room at her left without thinking.

Closing the door shut before her presence could be spotted, she leaned back against the door, her hands pressed against the cool surface. Samantha could hear the Vampiress’s footfalls halt at the passageway, as if she had stopped walking, and her voice was audible when she heard the Vampiress speak.

"Did you hear something?"

"I don’t...think I heard, Princess Claire." Answered the maid, and the Vampiress scowled within. Her eyes couldn’t possibly be mistaken, she knew she saw someone coming ahead, but now there’s no one here.

"How strange."

Samantha, who prayed silently that the Vampiress doesn’t walk in on her, could feel her breath hitch in fear when she noticed a distinct change in the atmosphere she presently hid herself in. Something stirring, something electrifying,it was something that sent shivers down her spine.

She couldn’t quite comprehend it, but she could feel his presence looming behind her.

"Little Lamb." The Vampire Lord whispered in a sultry voice, and Samantha’s heart raced faster as she caught a faint whiff of the familiar intoxicating scent that she only perceived around Ivan.

She was tempted to turn around and look at him, but what was the use? She was trapped with the devil in his den, and outside awaited the devil’s sister. Their proximity was so close, she could feel his breath, warm and alluring over the back of her neck, and it sent shivers of anticipation down her spine.

"Should I open the door? I figured getting chased happens to be one of your favorite games." Ivan’s hand already reached for the door knob, but Samantha immediately stopped him by covering her own delicate palms around his, and she shook her head, pleading for him not to open the door and feed her raw to his evil sister.

Ivan’s gaze dropped to the dainty hand that clutched against his bigger hands, and a subtle smirk graced his lips. His crimson eyes had been observing her the moment she stepped into his study, unwelcomed, and like a moth to a flame, he was inexplicably drawn to her and was tempted to make her pulse shoot up.

"Don’t forget, this was ’your’ choice." He leaned closer, his mouth grazing her sensitive earlobe, the softest of touches that sent a shudder coursing through her body.

His fangs retracted forward as he whispered, "don’t make a sound." And then he sank his fangs into the same spot where he had once bit her. A whimpering sound left Samantha’s lips, but she slapped her mouth with her palm to stop herself from making anymore noises, unfortunately, the Vampiress already heard.