Irene woke up with a start and looked around her in trepidation. She was sweating profusely and her heart was thumping wildly in fear. She had never felt this scared before, not even when she had been murdered in broad daylight. Her eyes dilated in terror and she frantically looked around her, trying to ensure the man was nowhere in sight.
"Milady," Reyna scrambled to her feet when she saw her Mistress waking up. Her eyelashes were wet with unshed tears. But Irene was too terrified to notice her state.
"Where am I?" She mumbled in a daze. She had completely forgotten where she was and how she had gotten here. All she could remember was the man's devious gaze on her before his teeth pierced her skin and sucked her blood.
Irene touched her skin where the man had bitten and she jumped out of bed, searching for the mirror. To her relief, there were no signs of injury or teeth marks on them and it was only then that she calmed down.
"Are you alright? Do you feel discomfort anywhere? Are you unwell?" Reyna rushed to her, seeing her Mistress's strange behavior. She had been frightened to see her faint when she was well and good. And now that her Lady was behaving weirdly as soon as she woke up, she could not help but worry for her more.
Irene sighed in relief and turned around as soon as she heard Reyna's voice. Only after she saw a familiar face did she recall that she was now in Rothnia, in Sylvaine's body. Even though she was still troubled over this matter, she was glad she was away from her predator who had haunted her dream.
It was the most terrifying dream she had ever had, even more than the ones that haunted her regularly. She still remembered the man's menacing eyes that sent her legs quivering in fear. His eyes held a solemn oath and all she saw in them were his desire to ruin her, destroy her beyond redemption.
Reyna did not miss the way Irene trembled and she wondered if she was feeling cold. Immediately, she ran towards the wardrobe and returned with a shawl. "Milady, please drape this shawl around you. You must be cold."
Even though she requested her, she draped it around her Mistress personally, covering her neck and shoulders completely. Warmth engulfed Irene and her fear reduced as soon as she felt the comfortable and soft clothing around her. She blinked a few times, forcing her predator's face out of her mind before focusing on Reyna, who was still fretting over her well-being.
"I am fine, Reyna. Please do not worry." She hugged her suddenly and rubbed her back to comfort her. It was also to console and assure herself that she was safe, sound, and far away from the man who had attacked her in her dream. "I am fine. Calm down." She continued to coax Reyna and herself, and eventually, both girls calmed down.
"Milady, let me inform His Grace. He has been worrying about you since the time he returned home." Reyna pulled away and even before Irene could nod at her, she had left the room searching for the old Duke.
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Irene faced the mirror again and checked her neck, which was devoid of any injuries or bite marks. Finally, she pressed on the spot where she had felt the man's teeth sink in her dream.
'Why did I dream about him this time and who the hell is he?' She wondered, unable to believe how bizarre her dreams were turning out to be. Since the time she had transmigrated to Rothnia, she was dreaming strange instances and Irene had no idea what to make out of them.
Every dream was more frightening than the previous ones and Irene suddenly started to feel ominous about them. She could not ignore the warning alarms that kept setting off every time in her mind as soon as she thought about her dreams.
'Who are the three men?' She wondered. 'How can I see them when I have not even met them? Moreover, why do they have red eyes?' She could not help but think about one common characteristic of all of them, their red eyes. 'And didn't my predator sink his teeth to drink my blood? Then, is he a vampire?'
Irene did not have the time to dwell more on it, for the door to her room opened and her father entered, his face filled with panic and fright. His eyes had turned red and Irene realized he had been crying all this time.
"Sylvaine," He held her shoulders and observed her thoroughly. It was only when he was sure that she was not hurt that he let her go. "You scared me, dear. What happened to you?"
Seymour was still in the castle as he and his King discussed their next course of action to handle Castiel when his guard informed him about his daughter. Immediately after, he had set out, fearing for her safety. His daughter, who had finally gained consciousness, had fallen sick again. Seymour could not stop the terror from settling in his heart as he wished for her well-being.
An entire day had passed since she lost consciousness and even the royal physician had been futile in finding out what had happened to her this suddenly. It was only when he saw his daughter, standing perfectly alright and in good health, that Seymour sighed in relief.
"You were alright in the morning, dear? What happened to you suddenly?" Seymour led her back to her bed and sat beside her.
"I am not sure either, Father. I saw this man from my balcony when I was talking to Reyna. His intense red eyes were focused on me and he was wearing a black cloak. There was something odd and menacing about him and by the time I got down to meet him, he had vanished into thin air. After this, I became muddled and my head felt heavy."
"What man are you talking about?" Seymour frowned and looked at Reyna for clarification.
"I am not sure, Your Grace. I did not see the man the Lady is referring to." Reyna replied and lowered her head.
"I will speak to the guards and try to find out about him. How do you feel, dear? Do you feel sick? Does your head ache?" Seymour stared at his daughter and held her hands.
"I am fine, Father. Please do not worry." Irene was just about to continue when her eyes fell on the man behind her father. Her eyes widened subtly and she had a sudden urge to whistle at him. She had never seen such a handsome man before, at least not in person.
His slightly tanned skin, light brown hair color and forest green eyes reminded her of James Dean. But the man in front of her was taller and he seemed more gentle than chic.
"Father, who is this gentleman here?" Irene was just about to address him as sexy. But she stopped herself from blurting it out in time.
"This, dear, is Lucian McCoy. He was the one who carried you back to your room after you fainted."