Vampire Queen : Fated Love

❦ ❦ ❦

After returning from his long tour, Josh couldn't shake the thought of speaking with Uncle Leo. The decision weighed heavily on him, but he knew it had to be done. He started by freshening up with a long, relaxing bath, letting the warm water wash away the fatigue of his journey.

Feeling a little lighter, he moved to the dining table and enjoyed a hearty lunch, savoring each bite as if to prepare himself for what lay ahead. Now, with his mind set and his body rejuvenated, he stood up, ready to face the conversation with Uncle Leo.

---

The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm orange glow over the William House RTC Garden. The faint scent of blooming jasmine mingled with the earthy aroma of freshly watered plants. Uncle Leo stood near the ancient oak tree, a rusty watering can in hand, carefully tending to the line of flowering shrubs along the garden's edge.

Josh, pacing back and forth on the cobblestone path, struggled to keep his thoughts straight. His chest felt tight, not from exhaustion, but from the nervous energy swirling inside him. He finally stopped, took a deep breath, and called out, though his voice was just loud enough for Uncle Leo to hear.

"Uncle Leo," —he said, urgency lacing his tone.

The old gardener turned, his weathered face softening into a kind smile.

"Yes, Young Master Josh. Can I help you with something?" he asked, setting the watering can aside and wiping his hands on his apron.

Josh glanced nervously around the expansive garden. The last thing he needed was his father overhearing this conversation.

"Can we... talk privately?" he asked, stepping closer to Leo.

Uncle Leo raised an eyebrow, sensing the weight behind Josh's words.

"Of course, young master," he replied, his tone as steady as always. Josh gently placed a hand on his shoulder, steering him toward a quieter corner of the garden, away from the mansion's prying eyes.

The shade of the willow tree provided a semblance of privacy, its drooping branches swaying gently in the evening breeze. Josh hesitated, stuffing his hands into his pockets as he avoided Uncle Leo's gaze. He could feel the gardener's curious eyes on him, waiting patiently for him to speak.

"Uncle," Josh began, his voice softer now, almost a whisper.

"About the party last night... my sister's ring ceremony…"

Uncle Leo nodded.

"You sister ring ceremony, wasn't it? "

Josh nodded absentmindedly, his thoughts clearly elsewhere. He ruffled his hair and exhaled sharply.

"It's not about the ceremony. It's about your daughter, Sarah."

Uncle Leo's eyes narrowed slightly, though his expression remained calm.

"Sarah? What about her, young master?"

Josh swallowed hard, the words catching in his throat. Finally, he spoke.

"Last night, when I saw Sarah, I was... I don't even know how to explain it. I was exhausted from the party, from all the people, the noise, the expectations... but then I saw her."

The older man remained silent, his face unreadable. Josh pressed on.

"Uncle, you know me. I'm not a bad guy, I was just drunk. I don't mess around. But something about her... she stood out. Her smile, the way she carried herself—it was like she was the only person in that whole room who wasn't pretending to be someone else."

Uncle Leo crossed his arms, his expression softening only slightly. "Young master, Sarah is a good girl. But you must understand, she's not accustomed to your world, your status."

Josh shook his head. — "I'm not asking for anything crazy, Uncle. I just... I need to talk to her. I need to understand what I'm feeling. Please, can I have her number?"

The silence stretched between them, the only sound being the rustling of leaves and the distant chirping of crickets. Uncle Leo finally spoke, his voice steady but firm.

"Young master, Sarah has her own dreams, her own path. Giving you her number... it's not something I can decide on my own. Have you thought about what she might feel about this?"

Josh looked down, guilt creeping into his expression.

"I've thought about nothing else since last night. I just need to talk to her, Uncle. I'm not asking for her hand in marriage or anything. I just... I can't let this go without trying."

Uncle Leo studied him for a long moment, then sighed.

"Sarah is my only daughter, young master. I've raised her to be strong, to stand on her own two feet. If you want to talk to her, you'll need to respect her boundaries. I can't give you her number without her permission, but..."

Josh's head snapped up, hope flickering in his eyes.

"But?"

"But," Uncle Leo continued, "I'll tell her what you've said. If she wants to speak with you, she'll let me know. Until then, you need to be patient."

Josh nodded, the weight on his shoulders lifting slightly.

"Thank you, Uncle. That's all I can ask for." 

---

Entropy streets , Celll city

Later that night, the quiet streets of the town gleamed under the silvery light of the full moon. Uncle Leo walked briskly toward his modest home, the rhythmic crunch of his boots on gravel the only sound accompanying him. Despite the calm of the night, his mind churned with the day's events.

As he approached the small cottage nestled at the edge of the woods, a peculiar energy seemed to hum in the air. The moment he stepped onto the threshold, the door creaked open on its own, revealing the dimly lit interior.

"father, you've returned," came a velvety voice from within. Sarah, radiant as ever, lounged on a high-backed chair in the center of the room. Her crimson eyes glowed faintly in the low light, and her lips curled into a mischievous smile.

Leo closed the door behind him, bowing slightly.

"Your Majesty," he said formally, before relaxing into the more familiar tone they shared when alone. "I had an interesting conversation with the young master josh today."

Sarah arched a delicate brow, intrigued. "Oh? Do tell, Father." She always emphasized the word with a playful lilt, knowing how absurd it sounded given her true nature.

Leo sighed, pouring himself a glass of water from the nearby table.

"It's about you. Young Master Josh seems... quite taken with you. He saw you at the party last night and hasn't been able to stop thinking about you since."

Sarah's laugh echoed through the room, melodic and slightly wicked.

"Well, isn't that delightful?"

She leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. "And what does the little human bastard boy want?"

"He asked for your number," Leo replied bluntly, setting his glass down with a faint clink.

Sarah's smile widened, revealing the faintest hint of her fangs. "How bold. I didn't think he had it in him." She stood, her movements smooth and unnaturally graceful, and approached Leo with a commanding presence that made even the sturdy old gardener feel small.

"And what did you say?" she asked, her voice carrying an undercurrent of curiosity.

"I told him I'd talk to you first. The choice, of course, is yours," Leo said, meeting her gaze.

Sarah tapped a finger against her lips thoughtfully, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Hmm. Let's play along, shall we?" She reached into the pocket of her flowing black dress and retrieved a small card, jotting down her number with an elegant flourish.

"Give this to him," she said, handing the card to Leo. "Let's see what he does with it. If he's as interesting as he claims to be, it might be worth entertaining."

Leo hesitated, studying her carefully. "You're serious about this? He's just a human, Your Majesty."

Sarah's smile softened, though the mischievous glint in her eyes remained. "For now, yes. But who knows? I maybe can conquer him." She turned away, her gown swirling around her like liquid shadow, and sank gracefully back into her chair. "You may go, Father."

Leo bowed again, slipping the card into his coat pocket. As he left the room, the faint sound of Sarah's laughter followed him, a haunting melody that echoed in his mind. He shook his head, muttering under his breath.

"Poor boy has no idea what he's getting himself into."