Sweet Aphrodite's POV
　　"You're here."
　　The sarcasm on his voice is evident. He clenched his jaw as he began stepping down the grand staircase. I bit the inside of my cheeks, trying to stop feeling nervous. His intimidating aura is dominating the place. Why does it feel like he is mad?

　　"I a-apologize..." I stuttered.
　　He crossed his arms again and stopped walking when he's already few steps away from me. His biceps are very noticeable in his shorts sleeves. He eyed me as if he's ridiculing me. I blinked consecutively.
　　"You know it is not my loss if I fire you now. Remember, you are the one who needs the money. There are other people who are more than willing to be my maid. I could find your replacement in a snap especially when you are like that," he said then his lips closed in a grim line.
　　My cheeks heated in embarrassment. I know my expression looks constipated now.
　　I shook my head gently. "I am sorry. I thought that I could come anytime as long as I clean here every day. I did not mean to be late."
　　I bit my lips, feeling guilty. That's what the other man told me. There is no exact time as long as I could clean everyday. I can't afford to lose this. This work is very favorable to me and I doubt that I could still find another job like this.

　　"From now on, you are obliged to straightly go here after class. In days that you don't have class, you are required to work for the whole day. There is an increase to your salary during those days," he said in a stern manner.
　　I analyzed what he just said. The first one, I really have no problem. On the second one... I don't have a problem, too. I don't have any other life beside my studies.
　　I nodded after that. He raised his brow to me. "Now, start working, Sweet," he commanded then turned his back to me.
　　"Okay, Sir..." I answered.

　　"Lennox. Call me Sir Lennox," he said while walking away.
　　I watched him disappear as he ascended on the grand staircase.
　　How did he know my name?
　　I tried recalling if I was able to give my resume to his assistant. My brows furrowed when my memory is already vague. I shook my head and started cleaning.
　　Yeah, probably.
　　I stopped from to time, curious about him. I glanced at the grand staircase for the nth time. It has been two hours but he has not come down yet. Isn't he going to eat his dinner?
　　I sighed before I scanned my surrounding. It is already clean but I am still not satisfied. I want it to be perfectly polished. I'll go here tomorrow morning to clean again then on Sunday, I'll clean the front yard. Wild grasses and mosses are destroying the beautiful view of the mansion.
　　I am still curious why did they let it come to this point? Why did they fail to maintain the cleanliness of the mansion. Maybe my boss left the country and neglected this property.
　　Feeling the thirst, I walked towards the kitchen. I almost jumped in shock when I saw Sir Lennox leaning at the sink while biting on the apple that he's holding. I blinked then glanced at the way to the living room. I did not see him walking in here. Is there another way here to the kitchen?
　　He just stared at me emotionless while chewing. I bowed my head a bit then walked towards the refrigerator. I picked a glass then got a pitcher of cold water from the refrigerator.
　　I feel like choking when he's suddenly behind me. His chest brushed my back a bit. I tried concentrating in drinking while he's scanning the inside of the refrigerator.
　　I held my breath as I watch him reaching for another apple inside. I almost sighed in relief when he stepped away from my back.
　　"Here, this apple is yours. It's already late, you need to go home now, Sweet," he said.
　　Before I can even glance at him, he's already walking away. I stared on the apple at the top pf the sink. I sighed and washed it before I bit on it.
　　My strides are big while I am walking in the village. It is scarier here because of the fact that there are few residents left. It not called old village for nothing. It is so silent that I can almost hear the beating of my heart. The cold wind blew, disturbing the deafening silence.
　　I feel like something is wrong.
　　I realized what is it when I noticed a built few steps from me. The low growls are familiar. My breathing slowed down. I slowly stepped back then turned to where I came from but there is another two.
　　I teared up when they began running towards me. I have no choice but to take the small path on the side. I ran and ran while screaming for help. They just laughed manically.
　　A huge wall made me stop, taking away all my hopes. I turned my back on it then my situation began to sink in. Hopeless.
　　I can't stop myself from looking at the spine-chilling creatures in front of me. I helplessly hugged myself when the cold wind blew and kissed my skin. Tears are streaming down from my eyes. I am horrified.
　　How I wish that things would go back to normal. When I was still an ordinary student, a scholar at Ruther University. A normal girl that works at night to feed herself. An ordinary woman, living in this world. But now, everything has changed. Dangers lurk around me, waiting for its perfect time. Fatal dangers personified as these monsters in front of me.
　　The vampires.
　　My heart leaped when one of the vampires smirked at me. He closed his eyes as he inhaled sharply, feasting on whatever he smelled. Then he grinned widely. I feel like I am gonna choke in fear when I saw him salivate. His now dilated eyes intensified my fear.
　　"What a very sweet-scented blood..." his raspy voice uttered. "It's addicting."
　　A shiver ran down my spine. I stepped backward, thinking of escaping. But then I remembered how impossible is that. Like a scene in a cliche movie, I am cornered with the towering wall behind and three famished vampires in front of me.
　　I sobbed when I realized that I could die any seconds from now.
　　Is this my end? Am I going to meet my death? Where is he? Why isn't he here to save me? And why am I this stupid to expect that he will always come whenever I need him?
　　"Don't expect him to save you again, lady. Because tonight, you are for us to devour," the vampire in the middle said.
　　I croaked when they move forward to me. I tightened my hug for myself as I stepped backward. I started to try accepting my coming death when my back touched the firm wall.
　　But it's not easy when I am still looking forward to my future. It is never easy. I still want to do a lot of things. I still want to meet my parents and maybe ask them, why did they leave me. I still want to have my own family, so I can feel how to love and to be loved.
　　I slowly slid down against the wall and hugged my knees when they are already a few steps away from me. I heard their blood-curdling growls.
　　"Goodbye..." I heard one of them said with a mocking tone and it was followed with demonic laughs.
　　I shut my eyes tightly as my last resort. I buried my face between my knees. I wish I could die without feeling even an ounce of pain. Please, let me die peacefully. Don't let me experience excruciating torture.
　　I shouted in terror when someone grabbed my neck and forced me to stand. His sharp nails pierced my skin, cutting my flesh. I felt the pain and fear in my gut. They groaned loudly as my blood gushed out. I saw their crimson eyes looking at me with so much hunger.
　　The vampire let me go for a second but he grabbed my neck again with his other hand. Then he licked my blood on his nails and as he tasted it, the redness of his eyes intensified.
　　He insanely growled and raised his hand, ready to rip off my face with his deadly nails but he suddenly stopped midway when the other vampires cried in pain. I kicked him when his attention diverted. It is not enough to hurt him but when he saw who caused the death of the other vampires, he immediately released me.
　　I gasped for air and watched the vampire who held me falling to the ground because of the wobbling of his knees. I smiled weakly when I realized who saved me once again. The mere sight of him gave so much relief to me and wrecking fear to the vampire who almost killed me.
　　The mysterious man glanced at me for a second, and in a flash, his gray eyes turned to the darkest shade of red. He knocked the begging vampire, throwing him against the wall, causing it to collapse. In a snap, he's already near him again and he forcefully stepped on the vampire's neck. The cracking of his bone is very distinct that it made me flinch.
　　"Wait..." he asked with a faint voice. "I j-just want to k-know something."
　　Dark blood gushed out from his mouth. I looked away, unable to take the gore scene.
　　"I w-want to know, why are you protecting her?" He struggled just to utter his question. "Is it because she's your other half? Is she your mate?" he added.
　　My forehead creased, confused with his question. I want to look at them but I can't take to watch the vampire's situation.
　　Long silence dominated the air that I could hear my heart pounding, waiting for his answer. But I am just even more confused when I heard his answer.
　　"It's more than that. Now, die..."