Chapter 4 Opportunity

LEILA CROSS

Tilting my head, I shrug my shoulder and stand up from my seat as I put my hands on top of the table.

Lowering my head to see his face at such a distance, I say the things that come up in my mind to make an excuse for that.

"I don't know why you're that interested when in fact it's just my luck that you've witnessed. Maybe because the God and Goddesses don't want me 'dead' yet," emphasizing the word 'dead'.

His eyes glint with something I am familiar with when a person has something in secret that concerns the main issue.

"It's not what I have seen. I mean the way you move your body, the way your reflexes come in hand in just a second, it seems like a Vampire hunter's moves," I blink once because twice is too much and I'm afraid he'll get to know something behind my actions.

"Vampire Hunter?" I pretend like I don't know what he's talking about. Considering the fact that I don't know how Iris acts in this kind of situation, I need to be careful with my actions, words, and behaviors.

"Almost all Vampires in this world know them. It's such a surprise that you don't know that one," though the surprise is evident in his voice, his eyes remain blank. Like he can fool anyone with his conniving acts but not with my keen eyes towards everything suspicious.

That behavior of his adds with the mysterious vibes around him. He's too mysterious that somehow I think it's too dangerous for me to act carelessly. Even in a short time, I know that he's that kind of person.

And I'm doomed once everything is out of my control anymore.

"I mean, how can you say that I move like a Vampire hunter? Do you know? That time, I can't think of anything but think of how could I survived and escaped from their hands. I don't know what I did. It's like someone possessed me that I was able to fight them. That entire time, my mind was blank. It's as if I was shut off from my senses. If you think that I move like them, then, maybe it's just a coincidence that I survived. A luck per se," too long for me to say. I don't even know where did I take those words just to deny his accusations, or whatsoever.

Silence came in between that I can already hear how fast my heart is beating. This kind of silence is killing me.

"Maybe you're right. But the coincidence is just a word. It doesn't suffice what I saw that night," he's being hard-headed that my mind went blank for a moment.

"Think what you want to think, then. I already explained myself," 'and I wonder why do I need to explain it to you?' I ask in my head.

"Hmm...," I watch him put his hand under his chin. He seems to be thinking of something I can't comprehend.

Finally, when he looks straight into my eyes, he says something.

"You can go back to your room," I glance at his back when the servant who first assisted me on my first day here appears.

I don't know when she's there waiting for his order.

I look at him once again before walking my way towards my room. But before I can take another step, he raises his hand for me to stop.

"What is it?" I ask and slightly face him. We side to side and I can only see his side view profile. I can see his pointed nose clearly than when every time I face him.

"The wedding is three days for now. The servants will assist and help you. See you, wife...," I stand there, dumbfounded.

My nose scrunches as my brows furrow in irritation. I look around to find him but he's nowhere to be found. He just disappears right after he said those words.

I glance at the servant in front of me and ask her something stupid.

"Hey, am I the Vampire's Bride?" She looks confused at first but nods her head after a second.

"Yes, Ms. Iris. This way," she gestures the way towards the Castle because we're still at the Garden.

She assists me into my room which is on the second floor of the Castle. I don't know how's the structure of it as I didn't take the tour seriously last time.

"Hey, Miss. Am I really going to be his Bride?" I ask because I can't still process everything inside my head. There are too many things that have happened after I woke up inside this body.

"Yes, Ms. Iris," I force a smile at her when that's the only thing she says. Isn't she going to elaborate more?

I shake my head and I am about to open the door of my room when the servant blocks me from it.

"What are you doing?" I ask.

"I'm sorry for my action, Ms. Iris. But I was told to tour you around. If you want to, we can now proceed but if you don't it--,"

"No, no!" I hurriedly cut her off before she finishes what she's saying.

"I mean, I also want to be familiar with the place. You know, it'll become my home too three days from now," I hide my hands at my back.

I am hoping she can't read what is inside my head. She timidly smiles at me and bows her head. I almost grimace at what she did. I am not used to this kind of treatment. Not to mention, they are all vampires.

I am a Vampire Hunter, and here I am interacting with them like I am also like them. Well, this body of Iris is one.

"Then, let me tour you around Ms. Iris," I follow her after she says that.

We pass by the main hall of the Castle where visitors reside once they are inside of the Castle. After that is the huge door like the one you're seeing in a movie.

After walking out from that door, she leads me into the front corridor before reaching the Castle and my eyes glow when I see a fountain in the middle of the wide space.

The water over it is in the mixed color of blue and green. It looks magical.

I nearly smack my head because of what I think. Of course, it will really look magical as this world is full of it. How stupid of me.

"You know already what is this, Ms. Iris. This is the Garden of Life," my lips form an 'o' when I hear the name of this Garden.

Even though I was here earlier, I have yet to observe and take a clear look at it.

"If you don't mind. I want to be alone first here. Don't worry, I'll just look around in peace," the servant looks hesitant at first but soon agrees with what I ask her.

I smile at her and watch her leave me alone in the Garden.

I walk past the table and chair wherein Wyatt and I talked earlier. No one knows that my favorite place is a garden full of flowers and the beautiful creations of the one who's above us.

My hands trail the leaves and petals of the flowers that I pass by. A sweet smile escapes my lips as admiration is etched in my eyes.

I just love the view of it. It's calming and it's truly a treasure.

I find a red rose mixed with blue and pinkish rose. There's also a lily. My eyes have been showered with too many treasures.?

The sunlight hits my eyes that's why I raise my hand to prevent its light to go through my eyes because it's blinding me a bit to look at the beauty in front of me.

As soon as my eyes get a clearer view of the different kinds of flowers, something catches my attention.

That something makes me want to shout and jump feeling like I've won a match in a fight. The victory of finding one thing that can help me with my current situation right now.

The thing that can help me escape from my fate, Iris's fate that was put on me just because I woke up inside her body. Her fate that she left.

I still don't know the explanation behind what happened to me. I just want to know why did I die or that am I was killed by someone?

I slowly take a step near it.

The sweet yet captivating smell of the flower really excites me the most. This...

This kind of fragrance can make you feel like you're in a wide space feeling calm and it's as if its scent is pulling you to sleep and rest.

I know this flower too much because when I was a child, I accidentally discovered its use to Vampires. I still clearly remember it. Even though it'll just make them sleep, it's enough time for me to escape from this place.

Opportunity is pproaching me and do I have the will to decline it?

Nah, I don't think so.