Heart Over Sword-Chapter 325: Vengeance tastes so Sweet (2)

The rest of Killian’s plan unfolded rather rapidly. He didn’t anticipate that. However, returning to the manor after healing a bunch of people and discovering the monster who injured them in their bath being washed by their personal chambermaid quickened everything. Killian didn’t realise Suzie was one of the darling witch’s personal chambermaid, and by using her as his little hypnotised slave, she was predominantly a hostage.

In spite of that, Suzie wasn’t actually under any compulsion after he ordered her not to scream. She seemed happy to do the rest without him asking her to. In fact, she was more than happy to get a little too handsy with him, but the vampire wouldn’t complain. He could relax for a while.

That was until the doors burst open, and in walked the three Benett sisters. Discovering the chambermaid they grew up with ’held hostage’ cleaning blood off Killian’s chest must have been quite a scene for them.

He waited impatiently, tapping his boot as Bree and Brenda contacted the dark witches for help. Rumours had already escalated from this small village. Killian had already forgotten the name, too or, more likely- didn’t bother to remember the name because his memory was impeccable. Those rumours shot out to nearby villages. The hot topics were about the Faceless and another monster that seemed just as bad, leaving bodies, some drained of blood, others left alive to tell the horror they witnessed.

"A vampire?!" Villagers cried. Either laughing or backing away in terror. If these Faceless creatures had spawned from nowhere, then it wouldn’t be impossible for a legend such as a vampire to arrive or return.

"Why are you doing this?" Cici, the youngest of the sisters, was possibly eighteen to twenty, asked. She was the witch Killian saw aiding the villagers with the Faceless earlier. She may be the youngest but the bravest as she stared at him dead in the eye.

"What am I doing exactly?" Killian hummed, playing with a dagger in his hand, ankle crossed over his knee as he sat on the sofa in one of the drawing rooms. They kept the curtains closed even as the day grew dark.

Brenda, the oldest, had already made the mistake of trying to kill him by using sunlight. Killian was too quick and proved his powers by moving out of the way and holding her by the throat against the wall within seconds. Their father fainted, much like the butler. Since they have all been on their best behaviour.

The men of the house seemed utterly useless, and the women weren’t powerful enough to take him on.

"You are holding us all hostage. We have done nothing to you. Sir," Cici added ’Sir’ at the end with a grimace as she realised how rude she was becoming to a creature that could kill them all in seconds.

"It is only for a brief time. Bear with until then, mini duchess," Killian almost crooned, eyes glinting at her before he looked at his dagger.

Bree reentered the room, her eyes scanning anxiously until they found her sisters, her sleeping father, Suzie, and the butler near one of the windows, observing Killian as if anticipating an imminent attack. The panic dissipated as she approached Killian cautiously upon seeing her sisters. "I have contacted who you asked for. Please let my family go," she said, her gaze lowered submissively in contrast to Cici, who continued to watch him with clenched fists.

Cici was a little firecracker from the looks of it. With honey-coloured hair nearly placed back in a plaited bun, a few strays falling down the side, light blue eyes and delicate lips, Cici would be a great wife one day; she was at the right age to start looking for suitors. Her older sisters were also lookers, but their personalities bored or annoyed him. Of course, he wasn’t looking for a wife. Currently, he didn’t even have land or a home to return to nor the mental capacity to look after someone else.

"How old are you, Cici?" He questioned, rudely ignoring the middle sister.

By now, their father was roused from his sleep; it was almost like his youngest was his most precious and Killian’s attention falling on her was greatly unwanted. "Too young for the likes of you!" Her father snapped, then began to cough as he sat up on the sofa.

"I am only making light conversation," Killian replied joyously, using some compulsion on the man to keep him calm. His eyes then returned to Cici once more. "If you plan to marry, I would make sure the man is right for you first-"

"What do you mean?" Cici frowned. "Who are you to suddenly give me advice? Sir?"

Killian smirked. "Women with power gain much attention. I saw your healing abilities. Not everyone is as eager or accepting of a witch. Sorry-" He held his hands up mockingly. "Healer... Some men struggle to accept a woman of exceptional skill. It plays on their minds, their insecurities."

"As riveting as this conversation has been.." The eldest interrupted the vampire and youngest sister from staring at each other. "The Salim witches are on their way."

Killian’s gaze flicked to Brenda. "What did you tell them?"

"That a monster we cannot fight has terrorised our small village. Many are dead," Brenda sneered, glaring at him with hatred.

"Excellent," Killian smirked, clapping his hands, the woman’s behaviour bouncing off him unaffected. Those nearby jumped at the sudden sound. "Did they say anything else?"

"To try and restrain you, keep you in one room entertained until they arrive," Brenda replied instantly, then gasped at her slip of the tongue.

Cici and Bree’s heads whipped to the side, looking at her in surprise.

"Brenda!"

"Do not be too harsh, little one," Killian said smoothly to Cici. "She cannot help but be truthful to me."

A sprinkle of compulsion and none of them could lie to him. These witches were clueless about how to protect themselves from a creature like him. He wondered if the Salim witches were already aware of what had terrorised the town. These Benetts were the first line of defence, and they couldn’t use attack magic, so they were merely pawns to hinder him until they arrived.

The thing about witches was their blood was dangerous. One sip and he could lose his control, succumbing to a fate of blood lust, draining those nearby in search of his next hit to taste a witch’s blood again. That was why he kept his distance from these three.

"Well then, you best show me to your guest room," Killian grinned, revealing his fangs, making mostly everyone gulp.

Suzie was not one of them as she stepped forward, almost in a rush. "I will show you to the guest room," she said eagerly.

Killian rose to his feet, watching the chambermaid as she started towards the doors. He followed the brunette, only pausing at the door to look over his shoulder, his hair swishing back slightly. "When they arrive, I suggest leaving the manor until the morning."

"And we should listen to you because?" Cici tilted her chin higher, glaring at him and not looking away.

’Because it will be a blood bath, little one. I know it is difficult for you, but do as you’re told. This is between them and me and not something the Benetts should get involved in.’

Cici froze at the soft-spoken voice in her head. It was almost dizzying hearing this monster’s voice in her mind. His looks, his behaviour and his voice, were so enchanting... but the bodies she discovered, his powers were frightening.

’Leave tonight and live. I will never return here again. You and your little village will never see me again or deal with my kind. I promise you that.’

Cici gasped at the promise, causing her sisters to rush to her side in concern. But the youngest watched Killian’s back as he gracefully ventured further from the room. He sounded sincere. Did he mean it? Why would he, though?

Updated from fr𝒆ewebnov𝒆l.(c)om