Artemis sat quietly in the carriage, her hands clenched into fists on her lap. She looked around the luxurious interior, taking in the fine details she never would have dreamed of touching in her past life. And then it hit her—her reality. She was a slave.
She was still trying to process everything when the carriage door opened and Alexander stepped inside, settling into the seat opposite her. The vehicle jerked forward, beginning its journey.
His piercing red eyes locked onto her, unwavering. She swallowed hard. The sound of her heartbeat was embarrassingly loud in her own ears, but she didn't know that he could hear it too. Alexander smirked.
"What is your name?" He crossed one leg over the other, draping an arm over the back of the carriage seat.
"Wh-What?" Artemis stammered, her gaze darting up to meet his. The moment their eyes locked, her heart skipped a beat.
Alexander leaned back, the smirk never leaving his face. "Are you hard of hearing?"
"N-No," she quickly said. "Artemis."
"Artemis…" He repeated her name slowly, as if testing how it felt on his tongue. If she weren't already seated, her knees would have buckled.
"You're not the usual kind of slave girl, are you?" His tone was casual, but his gaze was sharp. "Not that I care, but you'll need to be taught what slaves do in time. And who better to teach you than your new, charming owner, hm?"
Artemis' eyes narrowed slightly. He's a narcissist.
"First of all," Alexander continued, "you must do whatever I tell you, no questions asked. Second, you are forbidden to leave or run. Well…" He tilted his head slightly, his smirk widening. "You can run, but I'll catch you. And when I do…" He let the words hang in the air before flashing his fangs in a slow, deliberate smile. "I can't say what will happen to you."
Artemis shuddered. It was in that moment that she realized—she was done for.
"My name is Alexander Quinn," he went on smoothly. "You may refer to me as Master… or simply Alexander in special situations." His smirk deepened, but Artemis only blinked, confused.
Alexander chuckled, easily reading the cluelessness in her wide blue eyes. She was innocent—he could tell. Too innocent for someone being auctioned off like cattle. His gut told him there was more to her story. Perhaps she had been kidnapped, or maybe she had wandered into the wrong place at the wrong time. Either way, something didn't add up.
She shifted uncomfortably under his scrutinizing stare.
A sudden jolt in the road made her wince. Alexander's eyes narrowed slightly at the sound.
"Let me see your knee," he commanded.
Artemis flinched. She hesitated, but when she saw the expectant arch of his brow, she knew she had no choice. Slowly, she stood and limped toward him.
"Face me."
She obeyed, lifting her knee slightly to show him. But before she could stop him, he grabbed her leg and raised it higher, causing the rough sackcloth of her dress to ride up to her thighs.
A small gasp escaped her as she quickly tried to cover herself, her face burning in embarrassment.
Alexander chuckled. Adorable. He had already seen what she was trying to hide.
His eyes flickered to the small pink mark where the splinter had embedded itself. Without hesitation, he plucked it out. Artemis winced but remained still.
For a moment, he simply stared at the tiny shard between his fingers, then at her.
"Planning on using this?" His lips curled into a smirk.
"I-I… uh… N-No…" she stuttered, unable to explain herself. Her stomach twisted—not only out of fear that she had been caught with what could be considered a weapon, but also because she had no idea how to act around him.
He chuckled, dropping the splinter onto the floor before releasing her leg.
"You're pretty smart," he mused. "You could stab me in my sleep and run." His tone was lighthearted, almost teasing, but when he glanced at her again, her face had gone deathly pale.
His smirk faded slightly. She actually considered it.
His red eyes darkened.
"I dare you to try," he said, voice low and dripping with warning. The smile that followed wasn't friendly—it was a predator's smile, one that bared his fangs.
Artemis immediately averted her gaze, turning to look out the window instead. The air in the carriage had suddenly grown suffocating.
"We've arrived, Young Master," the coachman announced from outside.
Alexander's smirk disappeared.
Artemis' breath caught as she looked ahead. The massive silver gates before them swung open, revealing an estate so grand it almost didn't look real. Her jaw went slack as the carriage rolled to a stop before a sprawling mansion, its intricate architecture and numerous statues making it appear more like a palace.
The door opened, and she stepped out first, still dazed by the sheer size of the place. Alexander followed, his gaze flickering toward her. He noticed the admiration shining in her blue eyes, and for some reason, he felt… pleased.
His moment of satisfaction was shattered by a high-pitched voice.
"Alexander!!!"
Artemis jumped, startled by the sudden shrill call.
Alexander, however, scowled immediately. Without a word, he reached for Artemis' wrist and pulled her forward, making her gasp.
He walked toward the mansion, dragging her along. She stared at his grip on her wrist, her face reddening slightly.
A woman was approaching them—beautiful, elegant, and smiling in a way that made Artemis uneasy.
"Alexander," the woman pouted, her bright red lips forming a perfect little frown. "I waited for you all day in your room, and you couldn't even acknowledge me?"
Artemis observed her closely. She was undeniably stunning, and… human? No. Something was off.
The woman's face flushed in embarrassment when Alexander merely stared at her, his expression unreadable.
She cleared her throat, trying to regain her composure. "Still as cold as ever, I see." She let out a dramatic sigh. "That's why I like you, you devil."
She placed a manicured hand on his chest but suddenly froze when her gaze landed on Artemis. Her eyes narrowed.
Artemis stiffened.
Alexander, noticing the sudden shift in tension, pulled Artemis behind him.
"Who is she?" the woman asked sharply, frowning. "A… slave? And why are you holding her?"
Her frown deepened, and Artemis instinctively tried to pull her hand away. Alexander's grip, however, remained firm.
"Who said you could stay in my room without my permission, Diana?" His voice was cold.
Diana huffed, crossing her arms. "Your sister did. And it's not the first time I've been in your room, you know." She blushed slightly, smiling.
Alexander's brow twitched in irritation. He leaned in slightly, voice dropping to a whisper. "Seems I need to have a talk with my little sister."
With that, he walked past her without another glance.
Diana turned scarlet.
Meanwhile, Artemis groaned internally. How am I supposed to survive living with this shameless vampire? If he doesn't kill me first, I'm sure that Diana woman will!
As they neared the entrance, she couldn't help but sneak another glance at Alexander.
Tall, powerful, and unfairly gorgeous.
Her heart raced.
She was doomed.