I Thirst for You — Chapter 9 - The First Dinner

While sitting in the head chair, he sipped on an aged wine in a flute, colored like the blood of Amanda’s, and waited for his right-hand to answer. Since he had already finished the two blood bags, the aged wine became an inadequate replacement - something that he had learned to accept for years.

The one questioned - Calvin - shook his head once. “Nothing, but worry not cousin. I am doing my hardest to get to the bottom of this murder.”

“Then why are you here?” Cord, setting his jaw firm, asked. He didn’t actually need to know where his cousin stood. Prior experiences told him he was leaning against the door frame just a few feet away from his back — the opening where Cord expected Amanda would soon emerge.

Unlike any of Cord’s relatives, Calvin was the only one who had the audacity to interrupt what was supposed to be a peaceful dinner. He had done this many times, but this time he had a better reason.

“Nothing, I just want to check out who this lady is that you seem fascinated with, ” he answered, to which awarded a quirk in the corner of Cord’s mouth.

“Leave. Now.”

“Oh?” Calvin raised a brow and straightened from leaning, “Aren’t you gonna introduce us? From what I could gather she’d be staying with us for quite some time.”

“She is none of your concern Calvin. Just finish what I asked you to finish.”

“She’s that woman right? The one whose blood—”

“Yes, ” Cord interrupted. He scrunched up his nose, not liking the way his cousin blabbered.

Calvin smirked. “What’s this? Is destiny messing with you?” he said, pertaining to the gradual interweaving of events.

The wine flute that Cord held cracked from the handle up to the rim. “I’m going to rip the head of that biter for putting me in this position.” It was just a tiny displacement of his anger — an anger he wanted released so much but chose not to.

“Oh, say no more.” Calvin immediately held his hands up. “I’m going to find the culprit for you. Relax and enjoy your dinner date.”

Cord hauled a deep breath upon hearing the ridiculous word.

“Go. I can hear her heartbeat approaching.”

With a nod, Calvin did, walking out of the corridor and then past the grand stairs just as Amanda descended it narrowly missing him.

She was accompanied by a young maidservant of ebony black hair and pale skin especially ordered by the Head Majordomo to attend to her needs.

“This is the dinner room Milady, ” the servant informed, bowing her head low as she stopped right in the threshold.

“Thank you Dayana, ” Amanda placed a hand on her shoulder. “Go, you are excused. I don’t really need a personal maid.”

The servant vehemently shook her head. “No Milady. Sir Jerome said I should always stay by your side. I can’t break that rule.”

Amanda sighed. She certainly understood that. “Well then, if that’s the case, go and relax while I dine. I can sense that you do not like to step into a room with your Master in it.”

The girl’s eyes lit up. “Oh? Is-is my trembling shoulders that— oh, I’m sorry Milady, ” she paused and lowered her head in embarrassment. “If-if that’s your wish, I will.” She curtsied and then walked out of the corridor without looking back.

It had been just a few minutes past since Amanda met the maidservant, but she already knew the girl was either afraid or intimidated by the Master of the House. Her trembling shoulders and unsteady, hesitant gait was clear to see when they managed the second floor hallways. Though Amanda wondered about the reason behind it, she still understood the girl’s feelings since Cord really was a man who had a perpetual gloomy look.

She’d wondered how he would look like if he smiled a genuine smile, not the sly or mischievous smirk he had been throwing at her lately on their abrupt meetings.

“Come in Amanda.”

She jerked with a start when she heard his voice inside the room. Sticking her head in the door frame, she saw him already sitting in the center chair, his back to her, and various courses were laid in the rectangular table together with lighted candelabras, utensils, and plates in his and a vacant chair in his right.

“You already know that I arrived?” Amanda stated once she stepped inside, her heart punching out of her rib cage.

“You backbiting me could be heard all the way here, ” Cord answered, sharply listening to her nearing footfalls. “You should choose your words carefully Amanda. I should warn you, the walls here aren’t friendly.”

A stray thought crossed her mind, a memory with Noman and her the morning after the Vitalis anniversary party, and how she expressed her litany of reasons why she hated the man. Surely, no one heard her confession right?

Shaking that thought away and hoping that it still remained a secret, Amanda shrugged and bluntly replied, “I’m just stating the obvious Mr. Vitalis. The girl is clearly uncomfortable with your presence.”

“I make everyone uncomfortable. It is a known fact to all those who reside in the castle, ” he quickly answered, “including you.”

Amanda’s skin hair rose. From looking at the vacant chair, she shot him a guilty, surprised look.

Shit. She’s caught.

She silently cleared her throat and thanked the Gods that he couldn’t see the trouble in her eyes. “I don’t reside here. I’m just a guest, ” she pointed out whilst pulling the cushioned chair out and sitting, trying to keep her shoulders squared.

Cord softly grumbled. From there, he produced a faint smirk and rebutted, “Point taken, but still... I know I make you uncomfortable.”

Amanda blinked a couple of times. She did not expect he would be this insistent!

“You can’t even see me, how are you that sure?” Consciously, she made her voice a little bit sterner to hide the trembling in it.

It was an epic fail though because she saw the corner of Cord’s lip tug upward to give a soundless answer.

She slowly gulped, unnerved by it.

“Please. Eat Amanda. Before the food runs cold.” He flipped a hand midair. “And once again, to remind you, call me by my first name. I’m not old. I don’t like being addressed as a Mister.”

“Thank you, but I would have to decline.” Amanda took a fork from her table set-up, momentarily admired the intricate designs carved in it, and continued, “Is there any other way to address you than your first name?”

“Master Cord would do, ” he suggested quickly but to Amanda, it was a dare.

“I’ll think about that, ” she replied, taking her eyes off of him and into the heavily prepared feast in her front.

She started eating. Cord did the same. And their dinner went on for about twenty minutes silent, awkward, and a torture.

Cord didn’t touch much of his food. It wasn’t because he couldn’t basically see the courses in his front, but because what for?

What’s the use of eating human food when the one he wanted to eat was sitting near him?

Amanda was enjoying her share though and by the time she drank empty her glass of water, Cord voiced out as if on cue, “Was the food to your liking?”

Amanda nodded at him. “Yes, your chef cooks delicious grub.”

“That pleases me.” He brought his elbows up the table and interconnected his hands against his chin. “How do you find your room? Is it to your liking too?” he furthered.

Amanda gave him a neutral look. “It’s the same room my friend got when you let us sleep here.”

“Yes, it is. Do you like it?”

“It’s fine. Thank you.”

“I figured it would make you feel comfortable since basically you made a mark on that room.”

Amanda suppressed a laugh - a sarcastic laugh. “Funny of you to say that.” She thought he’d continue but he changed the subject all too suddenly.

“Now, on to business, ” he said, shifting in his seat to sit upright against the back cushions, his arms on each side of the armrests.

“Business?” Amanda arched a brow.

Cord lifted a hand near his mouth and ran a slender finger through the bottom lip.

“Can you recount to me everything you saw that night of the murder?”

His voice now, to Amanda, sounded odd. It had a ring of sleep in it. Like a hush and an echo. She blinked many times, feeling her eyes burn as if she had watched a marathon of movies.

“As to my understanding, you are not a police officer, ” she answered initially, refusing to look at him. “You are just the benefactor of my witness protection case, why do you need to know?”

“Did you see anything abnormal to this culprit perhaps?” Cord went on, disregarding her question.

The same lulling effect hit Amanda through a wave of dizziness, but she successfully shook it away.

“Check on the police files if you want to know. I will have to refrain from answering you since I’ve been told by Chief Moretti to keep my mouth shut about it, ” she replied, this time feeling vexed by his constant pestering.

“Tell me everything, Aman...dahhh...”

And another wave of dizziness came. Cord, this time, used the full force of his beguiling ability — the same ability he had used to coax the Chief to place Amanda in his custody.

Surely, the stubborn woman would relent, but to his surprise and utter disappointment, Amanda didn’t.

“No.” She stood up, slapping a hand on the table. “Why are you so damn rude? You make a conversation one-sided. You’re cutting me off and you order me as if I’m a servant. I understand you are the Master and all but hey, a little bit of respect wouldn’t hurt right? I’m a special guest am I not?”

Cord shifted again and clenched his fists from under the table.

Fuck. The woman had an iron backbone. But no bother...

He raised his head directly to where Amanda’s face was beautifully highlighted with the candelabra.

This simple action once again made her feet ran cold.

He was staring at her as if he could see.

“You baffle me, woman, ” he announced whilst easing his clenched fists. “I apologize for my...rude behavior. It will not happen again.”

“See to it that it won’t, ” she advised. “Respect begets respect Mister Vitalis. You may be my landlord but you still need to earn my trust.”

“Indeed, ” Cord replied.

“I’ll go back to my room. Thank you for the meal.”

“You’re welcome.”

Amanda walked out as soon as he said that. There were so many emotions that whirled inside her. She wanted them expressed, but as of this time, it was better she retreat to her room. It was after all her ‘day one’ inside the castle. She believed this interaction with the Vitalis Master wouldn’t be her last.