NOVEL NEXT Chapter 4: Chapter 4
The car's spacious interior and luxurious design spoke of its extravagant value. The driver, focused intently on the road, had pale skin, indicating he was a vampire like Vaughn.
Vaughn glared at the human beside him before retrieving a chain and locking it around her neck. The metal constricted tightly, but she remained silent, intimidated by his past actions. Vaughn reclined, shutting his eyes as he spoke, "Conserve your energy for tomorrow." His voice was low and menacing. She was uncertain if he was sleeping or pretending to, but escape was impossible. The tinted windows blocked her view, and the chain held her captive. She gently rested her head against the seat, careful not to rattle the chain, and closed her eyes tightly.
The car soon came to a halt after a night's journey. Vaughn untied the chains and stepped out of the vehicle, Layla following closely behind.
The building was huge and seemed it had been there for centuries, but it still looked magnificent and enchanting. She followed behind Vaughn, her stomach grumbling with hunger as she hadn't had a meal for a day. She didn't dare complain, knowing her status as a slave.
Vaughn climbed the stairs, Layla trailing behind, her legs wobbling as a result of lack of strength. She pressed forth, determined to keep going, until she fell, creating a loud noise. Her hands held around her gown, and she tried to stand, but her weakness hindered her. Vaughn turned back, his gaze on the slave he had brought home. She looked weak and pale, and he bent towards her, taking a key from his pocket and unlocking the chain that bound her. Layla looked into his eyes, her eyes met with a pair of green ones that seemed to pierce through her soul. She bent back as he unlocked the chain, losing the only restraint that held her captive. She pushed herself forward, trying to stand up, but before she could, the vampire carried her, her body freezing in his arms.
"Be still," he commanded, his voice firm but calm.
Layla remained still, shocked by what happened. Vaughn carried her, taking different routes, and other vampires and slaves stared at her, their eyes filled with curiosity and suspicion. He stopped in a room, pressing a code before the door finally opened, revealing the large room that could contain thousands of people.
The large bed lay at the extreme adjacent to the window, beside it a desk was placed with a candle and a lamp. A sofa was by the corner, and when they came in, a cage could be seen by the corner, a stark reminder of her new reality. Her heart quivered as she realized she was a slave, a piece of property owned by the vampire who carried her. Vaughn dropped her on the sofa, taking off his shirt not caring if she was there or not, his actions were a clear indication of his disdain for her humanity, she looked down, staring at her legs, before finally finding her voice.
The silence in the room had been deafening, and she was surprised that she was able to utter a sound.
"Go have your bath, and get changed," Vaughn said, his voice firm but calm. He was standing by the sofa, his shirt back on, and his eyes fixed on her.
Layla looked up to see the man who had been shirtless just moments before, now fully dressed. She gulped, feeling a mix of emotions as he stared at her. His eyes seemed to bore into her soul, and she felt a shiver run down her spine.
"Didn't you hear what I said?" he asked, his eyebrows raised. His tone was impatient, and Layla felt a surge of fear.
Layla shook her head, bending low. "No, I didn't," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. Vaughn walked towards her, his movements fluid and graceful. He raised her face up to meet his gaze, and Layla felt her heart skip a beat. She looked into those piercing green eyes, feeling like she was drowning in their depths." Are you scared of me?" he asked, his voice low and husky. His breath was warm against her skin, and Layla felt a tremor run through her body. She clutched her hands tightly, trying to hide her trembling. "No," she said firmly, trying to sound braver than she felt. Her voice was shaking, and she knew that Vaughn could see the fear in her eyes.
Vaughn stood up, pointing to the clothes laid out on his bed. "Go have a bath and get changed," he repeated, his tone brooking no argument. Layla quickly took the clothes and hurried to the bathroom, slamming the door shut behind her and locking it swiftly. She felt a sense of relief at being alone, and she leaned against the door, trying to calm her racing heart. She dropped the clothes and climbed into the tub, letting the warm water envelop her. She washed herself clean, using her old cloth to wipe the water droplets from her skin. Then, she picked up the new gown, a beautiful white and black dress, and saw that it came with a bra and undies. She put them on, feeling a sense of relief that they fit perfectly. Finally, she let her hair down, feeling a sense of freedom. When she walked out of the bathroom, Vaughn was standing there, looking like he had been waiting for her. She walked up to him, standing a few inches away, and feeling a sense of trepidation.
"Your food is on the table," he said, his voice firm. "You can eat, and I won't be back early. I have something to handle. If you feel sleepy, you can sleep on the couch, but don't do anything stupid or try to escape."His eyes seemed to bore into her soul, and Layla felt a shiver run down her spine. She nodded, feeling a sense of fear. With that, he turned and walked away, shutting the door behind him. Layla was left standing there, feeling confused and scared. She hadn't expected Vaughn to be so nice, and she didn't know what to make of his actions. She walked over to the table and saw that there was a spread of food laid out before her. She was hungry, and she dug in, savoring the taste of the food. She savored each bite of the food, chewing quickly as it was delicious and satisfying. Before she knew it, she was finished with the meal, feeling grateful for the nourishment. With her hunger satiated, Layla made her way towards the couch, feeling a wave of fatigue wash over her. She sank into the soft cushions, letting out a deep sigh as she settled in. As she lay there, her eyelids grew heavy, and she couldn't fight the exhaustion any longer. She dozed off, her body relaxing into the comfort of the couch, her mind drifting into a much-needed rest.