I WAS AWAKENED by the sound of my phone’s alarm clock. I lazily opened my eyes feeling very chilly in my bedroom with the lights off and the curtains closed. I tried so hard to ignore it and just go back to sleep, but I just couldn’t. Maybe the sound would disappear if I just ignored it. Or probably not. That sound was killing every sleeping cell in me.
I reached for my phone from the side table and finally dismissed the annoying sound. I slid my finger to the screen, the brightness of the light almost blinded the life out of me, and today’s schedule bombarded my eyes.
There were phone calls from the management and some fan messages. I heaved a sigh and dropped the phone to the pillow beside me. I would check on those later.
My feet were frozen cold and my thighs were a bit numb with heaviness. I looked down and someone’s arms were wrapped around me and the head was lying on my abdomen. The familiar scent was intoxicating and I felt that my neck was a bit swollen. I extended my arm and started shaking him off, sliding my fingers in his blonde hair.
“Leo, get up!”
He flinched and snuggled more on my leg, sending sensual waves in my body. It was dangerous, but it was nothing new.
“Leo, this is harassment, and for the record, vampires do not sleep,” I lazily stated. I felt the motions of his face. He grinned and chuckled as he got up. He looked at me with his bright crimson red eyes in the darkness.
“Good morning, Selene,” he greeted as he slid the curtains, blinding me with the sunlight before getting my eyes relaxed. Everything seemed to have the desire to blind me.
“Nothing is good in the morning when I could be sleeping peacefully," I complained.
“Your blood is getting sweeter, but your attitude is not.” I rolled my eyes at his remark.
I found the bloodstain sitting by my pillow as remains of what happened last night. He smirked, licking and biting his lower lips. I covered myself with the blanket after seeing I was only in my underwear… again.
“Should you really strip me when you just need my blood and you just keep biting on my neck?”
“Why? Does it bother you to show your body to me? And that it looks like we’re having… sex?” he asked directly.
I rolled my eyes again, hiding a blush. I hate how direct he could say things. But the fact that he was aware of how I do feel was somewhat acceptable.
“Don’t be ridiculous! I’m just afraid of getting anemia since you don’t even put a blanket on me!” It was a typical morning complaint from me. It was his fault anyway for doing unreasonable things.
“Fine. I’m sorry!” He chuckled again.
“Get changed, Leo. You’ve got a shot today for Smile.”
He ran his hands through his hair. That mere movement was so splendid that my eyes did not want to wander off.
“I hate that drama. Why did I even sign that stupid contract?” He walked out of my room. I rolled my eyes again and went to the bathroom covering the wound marks on my neck.
“Stupid Leo drank too much again," I whispered to the wind. I grabbed my jeans and T-shirt, tied my long chestnut hair high, and wore my large framed glasses.
“Which drama was it again?” Leo knocked, peeping inside.
“The Smile. Just wear your casuals,” I replied, finishing up. As soon as I went out the door, Leo was already in his sneakers, shorts, and white fitted shirt. He had his emerald contacts on.
“How is it?” He knew from the beginning which shoot was for today, winking. This gorgeous bastard!
“Not too shabby.” It was a lie. He looked so hot! “Come on! We’re running late because you sip too much blood,” I purred as he chuckled.
“You’re not eating?” A crease was formed on his forehead.
“I’ll grab something to eat while you shoot.”
I grabbed the bag containing his script, change of clothes, water, and some tomato packs which actually contained my blood which he doesn’t always drink. We got in his car and he drove. It was Leo’s decision to bring his own car rather than to have a personal driver.
As silence filled the place, I couldn’t help but remember how things started between a human, like me, and him—a vampire. My parents were murdered by some terrible people.
And as time started ticking on me, Leo’s parents saved me and avenged my parents. According to them, they were their close friends.
I knew vengeance shouldn’t rule our lives, but I was thankful they did it because I may have done it myself. They took me in their custody but did not adopt me. I never understood why. They could have left me to some human families, yet they didn’t. It would have been one less mouth to feed.
I felt special but it made sense when I learned why I was being kept.
At the age of six, they introduced me to their son, Leo, who had been in his grandparents’ manor since he was born. That was when I discovered that vampires existed and a contract was made—I was Leo’s personal food until the day he finds his mate and bears a child where he will only be tied to his mate.
Yes, there were vampires that could reproduce their line, and another vampire lineage who cannot reproduce but inflict their venom to turn a human into their kind, and I… I was under the shelter of the lineage that needed a human as a food until it finds its mate. That was the reason why I was not adopted. The vampires were not allowed to adopt humans into their families even if they changed me to be one of them.
Vampires who could reproduce, also known as the R-clan, were able to walk under the sunlight, while the U-clan were the slaves of darkness.
And being under them had its perks because all my living and daily expenses were paid full and I received my own condominium. I finished my studies until year 12 privately when I reached thirteen. Basically, to be the deserving assistant, I was trained and harnessed secretly under Leo Heathly’s name.
“Remember your lines?” I asked as he parked in a reserved area.
“That’s a silly question, Selene. You know I’m the best.” There he goes boasting about his greatness above others.
“Cocky much?”
He laughed getting out of the car. I soon realized that there were girls starting to approach him. Three girls actually.
Here we go again. I sighed and got out of the car.
“I’ll go ahead now. Be there in five, Leo.” I grabbed the other bags in both arms. This is so heavy for me.
“Is she your P.A., Leo?” I heard one flirt around him ask. I could feel heated gazes from those girls.
“Did you hire her because she looks… old-fashioned?” They all laughed and I didn't care much about what they said. I only lived in the present time to serve Leo.
I suddenly felt my arms lighten up. "Leo!" I called out, not realizing he was in front of me.
“You sluts are wasting my time.” I looked up and Leo grabbed three of the bags from my arms. He then pulled and linked my hands with his, making my heart flutter.
“Let's go, Selene.”
My heart squeezed more with his cold touch. I looked behind and the girls were all speechless with jaw-dropped expressions. It was inevitable to see. Leo could be rude at times regardless if they were fans or not when they stepped on his bomb.
I turned back to Leo and the sunlight stroke on each strand of his hair and gave more definition to his manly face. I pulled my hand from his grip, looking at the side as he placed the bags on the table.
“You shouldn’t have done that, Leo. They’re your fans," I stated seriously.
“And let them step on your identity? You know I wouldn’t allow that.” Dismay cascaded on his face.
“I can handle it, Leo.” I sighed.
Silence filled the air around us as we stared at each other’s eyes. And I would admit that I loved staring at him—because I get to see both his almond eyes and his crimson red orbs. And both were adoringly perfect as if they were magnets trying to pull me closer than ever.
He sighed and went to greet the director and his other colleagues. It was another world he ruled—the entertainment world.
Leo was such an amazing actor and was in high demand. Rumors said that if they could get Leo as their leading man, then they would immediately get famous with awards. I could agree with the famous part but awards? Not so much.
Acting and their other talents depended on them and not on Leo. It was evident that they were using Leo’s professional acting to boost the show’s popularity. And I couldn’t blame them. This was the reality of the entertainment world.
I sat on the bench away from everyone. The bright lights of the entertainment world nor the vampire world were not something I was welcomed into. This was where I belong—a place where no eyes would be laid upon.
“Selene.” He caught my attention.
“Are you guys starting already?” He nodded. I suddenly had an ill-feeling as I looked into his face. He immediately seemed distressed. “What is it?” I calmly asked, standing up though not meeting his height. He was way taller than me.
“I… I need a bite," he whispered, resting his forehead on my shoulder. As always, he never minded the looms that would get thrown in our direction.
“What’s wrong? Didn’t you have enough last night? And you got the tomato packs for supply. I’ll get it for you," I replied, making sure no one was listening around us. There were people around and it would be bad if other humans heard me saying it.
“Scene 39 characters! Get ready in five!” the director shouted from a distance.
“Selene… please…”
A long sigh escaped my lips. There was no choice. This guy was so demanding!
Besides, whenever he needed to be fed, he would use the ‘Please’ card making it difficult for me to resist. It was bad, but I could not imagine a master asking—almost begging—to be fed.
“Fine.”
I entered the bathroom making sure he was following me and locked the door once he got inside.
“Four minutes only, Leo. Don’t make a mess, please.”
His eyes sparkled red, slipping his fingers to remove the bandage I placed on my neck. He soon wrapped his cold frozen arms around my waist. I wrapped my arms around his neck as the distance between our bodies was getting smaller. I closed my eyes, pleasing myself with this weird feeling in my chest.
I felt his lips touch my skin sending shivers. He was wetting my flesh with his saliva and the pain pierced me as his sharp fangs lingered and his throat gulped my blood. Then I realized that I haven’t eaten breakfast. This is bad!
I immediately gave a moan scratching his shirt as he squeezed my small frame more, pulling me closer.
“Le-Leo… that’s… enough…” Yet I could not feel him stopping at all!
A big rush of blood flowed into my head as his bite got deeper and his arms wrapped tighter pushing me to the wall, removing every space we had from each other. I was trapped between the wall and Leo, and his arms were securely wrapped around me.
And I would be lying if I said it did not give my whole system the shivers of desire. It was bad because it did.
I bit my lip as I tried to suppress that sensation lingering on my whole sensitivity. My heart was racing and my head was throbbing hard.
“L-Leo!” I groaned as everything turned black.