84. The Unexpected Gift

"I'm a hybrid, dear. There are a lot of things you don't know about me. It's better that you are left in the dark. The less you know, the better for your safety and mental well-being," Demetria remarked cryptically. "OK." Clarice didn't inquire further. The salty wind was blowing through her hair, caressing her skin. She walked to the edge and grabbed the railing, looking down, studying the rocks below. She wasn't aware that Demetria was standing behind her. "If you are studying rock formation, planning to escape one day, just make sure you do it when I'm around so I can save you. If you do it when I'm out of the house, you might die on the spot and no one can help you," Demetria warned her again in a stern voice. Clarice tore her gaze from the ground and looked at Demetria. "Since you already know that I'm planning on escaping, why would you still leave me alone here? Why don't you bring me along wherever you go?" she asked, suggesting the obvious. Demetria smiled. "I visit dangerous places and bringing a weak person with me will only slow me down. So it's best that you stay here for your own good." "Fine. No need to bring me with you every time you leave the house," Clarice pouted. "By the way, may I know where you get money to buy food for me? You look like you don't have a regular job," she asked, curious where Demetria gets her money. Demetria laughed softly. "You asked too many questions, dear. But it's okay, I want to satisfy your curiosity. I have lots of treasures and money on the 3rd floor of this house that could last ten lifetime. So yeah, I can buy anything I want, anything you want." "Why don't you have a husband, boyfriend or lover? Why do you have to stay alone on this island? Don't you have a family?" Clarice fired out another question. Demetria grinned. "With my immense power and wealth, do I need anyone?" she said sarcastically. "But you look sad and lonely. I can see it in your eyes," Clarice commented. "You need a loving family to make you happy and keep you company," she added. Demetria fell silent. There was sadness and longing flashing in her eyes as she gazed at the horizon. The awkward silence thickened the air and lasted for a few minutes. Demetria looked at her nosy companion and smiled. "I do have a family. I haven't visited them in a long time. You just reminded me of how it feels to have a family. But it was a long time ago. No need to make me remember the past. Let's not talk about my family anymore." "OK, as you wish." Clarice sighed deeply and looked at the three-story house in front of her. The old Victorian house stood in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by ocean water. "How come there is a house here?" she asked. "The owners were already dead. We can no longer ask him why they erected this house. I guess many things have changed since the inception of this house. But I like it here. The place is situated in a secluded area, far from other people. I can enjoy a quiet life here with no one bothering my solitude," Demetria explained. "Ah, I see..." Clarice murmured and shifted her gaze to the vast ocean in front of her. "Enjoy the breathtaking view to your heart's content and don't jump into the water, you will die. I'm going to my private space on the third floor. Don't disturb me, I will come down when I want to." Demetria walked away and entered the house. Clarice remained rooted on the spot, staring at the far distance and wishing she could go home at that instant. Tears of longing and sadness quickly flooded her face. She is desperate to go home. Although her situation now looks hopeless, as long as she is alive there is still a chance she will go home someday. Who knows, Demetria will develop empathy for her situation in the long run and release her. She will just try to be a good girl and avoid causing her problems. Maybe that will do the trick. Fighting Demetria will only make her situation worse. It's good for now: Demetria is not physically hurting her, only sucking her blood. If only this place was not far from the city and there were other houses nearby, she could ask for help, but if others came to help her they might encounter Demetria's wrath. She witnessed first-hand Demetria's power. If anyone comes to get her, they will die in her hands. Then she remembered Kaspar, her blood boiling instantly. If one day she has a chance to get out of this place alive, the first thing she will do is take revenge and kill Kaspar and Aurelia. Kaspar wouldn't kill her the second time without Aurelia's order. Aurelia is the mastermind of her downfall. She just didn't want to dirty her hands and used Kaspar to do the dirty deed on her behalf. The two despicable people will do anything to silence her. They must die in her hands one day! The only way to stop their wickedness is to end their lives so she can finally be safe. She took a deep breath. Going home is now a distant dream. She might as well get used to her current life. Time to return to the house, clean her new room, get her stuff from the second floor and explore the house. Clarice spent the rest of her afternoon cleaning her room, cleaning the kitchen and the dining room. Tomorrow she will clean the rest of the first floor. It's better to get busy than to keep thinking about her hopeless situation. She might go crazy before she can escape the place. The afternoon went by. Clarice ate the rest of the leftover food and spent the rest of the evening lying on the bed in her room, thinking about her situation. She fell asleep a few hours later. Demetria entered Clarice's room, froze the sleeping woman and sank her sharp fangs into her neck, sucking her blood. She only stopped sucking Clarice's blood after her hunger was met with satisfaction, then she healed the puncture in Clarice's neck with the healing power of her hand. She prefers doing things this way. She enjoyed sucking Clarice's blood when the woman was in a deep sleep. She wouldn't be distracted by her annoying whimpering. Satisfied with the amount of blood she sucked from Clarice's neck, she stood up and disappeared from the room. She returned to her room upstairs to have a good night's sleep. Hours passed by. The following day, Clarice woke up to a bright new day. She smiled as she glanced at the window. She liked this room better. It has a nice window, giving her a great view of the blue sky throughout the day. She rose to her feet, folded the blanket and used the bathroom for a few minutes, then left the room. She went straight to the kitchen and boiled some water for her coffee. There was still some bread left, she ate it along with her coffee. While sipping her coffee, she was waiting for Demetria to join her, but the vampire was a no-show the whole morning. Demetria appeared in the house at 1:00 in the afternoon holding a take-out bag and grocery bags. "Here's your lunch and dinner, dear," she said, handing over the bags to her. "I also bought you some noodles, canned foods, crackers, bread and sandwich spread. The mini-fridge will arrive tonight," she added. "Thank you," Clarice said. Demetria walked to the staircase and proceeded to her room on the third floor. Clarice put the take-out bag onto the table and put the rest of the groceries into the cupboard. She was delighted because she now had many options when it came to food. She no longer has to worry about Demetria coming home early or late. She can now eat instantly every time she feels hungry. Hours passed by. Clarice was sweeping the floor in the living room when Demetria appeared in the house. This time she brought with her a mini fridge. "Dear, your mini fridge is here," Demetria said, smiling. Clarice gushed in delight and opened the fridge. Inside the freezer were chicken meat, pork, beef and frozen fish. And there are also some leafy vegetables inside, as well as milk and fresh fruit juice. "Do you like my gift?" Demetria asked. Clarice smiled. "Yes, very much!" "Where do you want to put it?" Demetria asked. "Near the kitchen," Clarice replied. Demetria lifted the fridge effortlessly and placed it near the kitchen. Clarice pushed the plug into the socket. Clarice looked at Demetria. "Thank you for the fridge and the groceries," she said in a tone filled with gratitude. "Don't mention it," Demetria replied with a smile. "By the way, are you lonely here? Do you want company?" Clarice's forehead creased for a moment, confused why all of a sudden the vampire asked about her feelings. "Why did you ask me that question when you already know how I feel about my current situation?" she said bitterly. Demetria shrugged. "I will ask you again, do you want some company aside from me?" Clarice's confusion intensified. "What do you mean?" "I can get your husband and son for you. I will bring them here to live with you in this house so that you won't feel sad and lonely anymore. How about that?" Demetria said, smirking. She knew that Clarice would say yes right away because it'd been her wish to be reunited with her beloved family. Stunned, Clarice looked at Demetria with her mouth hanging open. An expression of shock and surprise marred her pretty face. She was deeply surprised by Demetria's offer. How should she answer? How should she react? Demetria's suggestion is very appealing. Yet... something is not right with the offer. Should she say yes? Her heart said yes, but her mind didn't agree. Things are not that easy...