“You were told that you are under her command on everything but one issue. No one is to take even a drop of her blood,” Lord Randolph growled. “No one includes you.” Arianna winced as he slapped Molina again. Though she couldn’t see him, Arianna could feel the anger in Lord Randolph’s voice. Arianna listened as Devin helped Molina back to her feet. “The next time anyone takes her blood—I don’t care if she offers or is forced, I’ll kill them.”
“Out of my sight,” Lord Randolph ordered. “Just remember, next time I won’t be as lenient.”
“Yes, my Lord,” Molina replied. Arianna listened as the click of Molina’s shoes brought her upstairs and through the kitchen.
“She doesn’t understand the value of her own blood,” Devin said quietly to Lord Randolph.
“She needs to learn it soon. As soon as we let her out of this house, they will all come looking for her.” Lord Randolph’s tone of voice changed as he talked alone with Devin. “I have already received over fifty marriage proposals, and just as many custodian proposals.”
“You expected that much,” Devin replied. “Do any of them look promising?”
“I threw them all in the fire this morning. She’s only sixteen. There’s no way she’s ready to be promised in marriage to someone. She doesn’t even know the value in her own life,” he complained. “As to custodians, she doesn’t need to decide that for a few more years. Besides, she has you.”
“Forever,” Devin replied. “Is everything set with the school?”
“Yes, she can begin tomorrow. You and Molina will accompany her,” Lord Randolph ordered. “I prefer to keep her here, but she might get suspicious if we never let her out of her apartment.”
Arianna tried to continue listening, but realized the words were now starting to sound funny. Arianna giggled as the last bit of blood drained into her arm. For some reason, she felt so warm and happy. Maybe the blood had something in it. The overly-decorated room became amusing to her as she looked from one corner of the room to the next. So much stuff in such a little space, she mused. Arianna giggled more. Everything she just heard sounded so scary, but she just had the urge to giggle. She now was a prisoner in her grandfather’s home. He was going to arrange a marriage for her. Her life was now completely in his control, but for some reason, Arianna found herself not caring. The blood had to be spiked with alcohol.
Devin returned to find Arianna lying upside down, hanging off the couch.
“What are you doing?” he asked as he placed her right side up and took out the IV.
“Eww,” she said plugging her nose as Devin picked up the IV bag and threw it in the fire. “That smells so gross,” she complained. Devin turned to Arianna, and she smiled back at him before giggling. “You look better upside down.” Arianna turned herself around and upside down off the couch again.
Devin sighed. “He really gave you his own blood didn’t he?” Devin asked, knowing Arianna wouldn’t know the difference.
“Grandfather’s blood? Is that why it smelled so badly?” she asked poking his arm with her toes.
“Promise me, that from now on, you’ll only drink my blood?” Devin demanded.
“Devin’s blood is nummy,” Arianna said while bouncing her feet off the back of the couch, refusing to sit up. As Devin made to move and sit her on the couch again, Arianna clumsily rolled off, and hit the floor with a thud. She burst into giggles.
Ignoring her, Devin picked up his papers from the coffee table and began to read over them.
“What’cha doing?” Arianna asked, as she crawled around the couch and hung over the back behind Devin.
“Babysitting,” he replied, not looking up from his papers. Lazily, for her own amusement, she blew the edges of his hair over his ears.
“Babysitting papers?” she asked, confused.
“Babysitting you,” he responded, straightening his hair.
“But I’m not a baby,” she stated. Devin rolled his eyes. “Did you say you would answer all my questions?” Devin nodded but still didn’t look up. “How long have you been stalking me?” she asked, smiling politely.
“Three, maybe four years,” he replied, not taking the bait to argue with her.
“So, that’s how you know things about me. How much do you know about me?” she asked.
“You’re not going to remember most of this conversation tomorrow, so why not save the questions until later?” he wondered.
“So, you don’t know too much then,” she replied as she flopped on the couch, upside down, again.