Memory Fragment

The banquet went on well as Renzo talked to his friends with Asari never leaving his side. As he spoke with his friends, he engaged Asari in their small talks like a good partner as he was. It brought envy from other women who also wanted to be with him.

Suddenly, a youngish lady with a pair of ruby eyes approached the small crowd. A glass of wine in hand she sashayed her figure which attracted most of the men in the hall.

"Oh! Renzo you're here? I thought you wouldn't come after breaking up our engagement, it seems you're doing well," said the female, deliberately casting a provocative glance at Asari.

Her glance said, I was with him first but deep down she was still jealous after all how could she give up a perfect man like Renzo on her own will? On the other hand, Asari who'd been too deep in thought didn't hear anything as her eyes focused on the glass in her hand expressionlessly.

Most of Renzo's friends and Renzo himself darted their eyes towards Asari expecting a reaction. However, the expected reaction didn't come and suddenly, one of his friends burst out laughing. The red eyed female felt embarrassed and annoyed at the fact that her words didn't affect Asari at all. She'd simply ignored her.

Renzo felt himself sigh with relief as Asari didn't seem bothered. He didn't know what to explain if she had asked him. The tremendous laughter jolted Asari back to reality as she turned to face Renzo with a confused look.

'How can she be so adorable?!' Renzo thought inwardly and raised his other hand to pat her hair.

"It's ok, nothing much but are you ok?" Renzo asked.

Asari nodded her head curtly and their small interaction didn't go unnoticed. The red eyed female witnessed this and the grip on her wine glass subconsciously tightened, she was jealous.

'I am the one supposed to be beside Renzo,' she mumbled inwardly with a twisted expression.

Renzo's extra care for Asari was so natural that it astonished the people surrounding him. Renzo had never been in contact with any women apart from apart from Sally Hansen who'd been his childhood friend. His engagement with Sally was due to his family's wish and tradition, however, since he couldn't accept the traditions, he broke the engagement forcefully in which he got banished from the kingdom. He was stripped off his title as an heir.

He had always loved one woman since his childhood but sadly he didn't have the power to conquer her heart by that time. The next moment he decided to find, she had vanished like she'd never existed in the first place. Those were the most devastating days he'd experienced.

He felt like a part of his life was forced down the drain and yet he could do nothing. Renzo hadn't realised that his thoughts had drifted away with his gaze all along cast on one person, Asari.

"Hey, Renzo, are you okay?" A voice called out to him but he didn't seem to hear it. He looked lost somewhere. Asari gently placed her hand on his forehead, jolting Renzo back to reality.

Her hand was shockingly cold and Renzo couldn't help but tremble a little from the cold. He slowly removed the hand on his forehead and held it in his. The two seemed to be lost in a world of their own as they had completely forgotten the presence of the others.

Renzo's friends saw how gentle and affectionate he looked at the companion he came with. They also had to accept that she was a drop dead beauty. However, she seemed cold and distant as she spoke less.

Their small interaction was interrupted by a cough. Renzo turned his head to the person who'd just cleared his throat and raised an eyebrow at him. He still kept Asari's hand in his warming it up. On the other hand Asari let him do as he wished after all she was a slave. Those were her thoughts after all.

Eventually, it was time the banquet ended. Since most of the creatures in the banquet were of vampire calibre, the ceremony ended at half past midnight. Most of them had to talk to their acquaintances and catch up, have fun and drinking blood was out of question.

On the other hand, Asari who wasn't used to the scent of blood simply felt nauseous. However, she who didn't know that she was a vampire hybrid realised she could control her system and for a moment she realised she can withstand the metallic scent.

Soon the hour hand struck 1am and it was time to depart the venue. Just as the two were about to exit the venue, Asari thought she saw something. To satisfy her curiosity she halted her movements, darting her eyes to a portrait hanging on the right side wall.

At a lightning speed, a series of strange memories flashed into her mind but what captured her mind was a familiar backside of a teenage boy with white hair. She suddenly felt the silhouette looked similar. Her eyes stared at the portrait for a long time before a husky voice tickled her ears.

"Do you like the painting? I can get it for you," Renzo huffed in her ears. Despite the mask covering his face, his warm breath reached her ears.

Asari turned to face him and came face to face with his mesmerising black ebony eyes. There was something about his eyes that pulled her into them. No matter how she tried not to get lost into them, she couldn't. His eyes were like an abyss, a maze that forced a person want to venture the darkness.

'He's sweet darkness,' Asari thought inwardly, breaking her gaze away from him.

She already knew of the brewing desires for him but she didn't want to think it further. The thought of desiring someone once again bothered her so much and yet her traitorous heart seemed eager to embrace the thought warmly.

On the other hand Renzo hadn't received a single response from her. However, the deep frown etched in between her pallied brows showed that her thoughts weren't good at all. Renzo didn't feel good about the frown on her face and he couldn't help but tap her forehead twice.

The small action brought Asari back to reality. She didn't realize that they had been standing at the same spot for a long time. However, her partner seemed to be very patient with her; something beyond a master-slave relationship and on top of that he wasn't annoyed even for a bit.

"Let's head back home, I bet you're tired," he said, gently embracing her slender waist as though it was natural. The word home had an impact in her heart...she felt so warm inside that she raised her eyes to meet his.

Asari has complicated feelings however, she quickly shoved the thoughts away. She silently exited the banquet manor with Renzo. Somewhere at a certain balcony, a pair of brown eyes seemed to be watching the couple beneath. His muscular arms tightened the grip on the balcony rail.

A glint of hurt and rage flashed in his eyes as he murmured, "I still can't forget you, you know?"

.......