Chapter 13: Why delay

Far away from Mr Carswell's horse farm, where the lands belonged to the most elite and richest people of Dewrest, there stood a manor with the total area around it stretching kilometres in radius. Greenery surrounded the lavish abode of His Grace, Vincent Dominick.

The manor looked nothing less than a castle. A path was carved under the thick foliage with the long branches of the tree forming a hood over. There were walls and stairs that circled outside the manor and a gigantic gate that led inside, in the waiting area. A few steps ahead, stairs ran upwards along the wall, slithering like a snake. These were the only stairs accessing all the three floors of the manor, the rest randomly ascended and descended between any two floors of this four-story manor.

In one of the largest rooms in the manor, Vincent sat near the corner of a king-size bed. A red ruby twirled between his index and the thumb before he kept it back in the box that a maid had opened in front of him. "Ask Drakos to have this checked properly," said Vincent as his eyes turned from the maid to a girl who kneeled on the ground with her hand flat on her thighs.

The maid bowed before leaving the room. Vincent Dominick weaved his finger through the girl's blonde hair, having her gasp. Bunching her locks in his fist, he pulled her head back for her to look at him. His tongue played with his fangs and his lips twisted in a pleased emotion, "You seem very obedient today, Lilian. Tell me what you seek."

The girl bit into her lower lip and spoke in a low voice, "Your Grace, I simply come in your service today." Lilian was in this bed last night, with loud moans of pleasure filled in the room. Vincent hadn't asked her to leave then and Lilian was taking every opportunity to get closer to him. But all the time Vincent spent with her was about fulfilling his desires.

Vincent tilted his head to look at Lilian's face, which was red with desire.

"Up"

His one word had Lilian stand up as fast as she could. Vincent held her chin, making her raise her head. She saw his fangs come out with dark, root-like veins forming below his crimson eyes. Lilian placed her hand over Vincent's chest, "Lord Dominick, let me serve you on the bed." Vincent looked at her with a passive expression and he rather pushed her back till her back was against the small table that was here in the room. "L-Lord Dominick," Lilian was trying to get intimate with Vincent, but he had other plans.

It was not the first time she had come here to serve the man who every girl wanted wound around their fingers, but rather was thrown out of his bed after they fulfilled his desire.

In one swift motion, Vincent titled Lilian's head and sank his fangs into her neck. Lilian gasped at the sudden prick.

As she got used to it, her hands went over Vincent's broad shoulders and slid down over his chest, travelling downwards. She had been trying for years now and knew very well what His Grace liked and how ravishingly his overbearing lust could devour the other girls that touched his bed, but Lilian was ready to give in. A certain masochistic side of her and high ambitions to rule by his side.

Vincent was quick to hold her hand, which travelled down. No matter how much he tried, there was another girl's scent that lingered in his mind. He pulled back, holding Lilian's hand, which had traced his body and turning her wrist to sink his fangs into her forearm when there was a knock on the door.

Lilian held onto Vincent' shirt trying to stop him, "Lord Dominick, let's continue I am sure the matters can wait."

This had happened before as well, when Lilian was busy heating things up and Vincent had dismissed the person outside, saying he was not to be disturbed unless urgent. But today he was quick to pull away from her, which made her ask him to stay.

Vicent stood tall, looking down at Lilian with his daunting crimson eyes. This had Lilian worried whether she had overstepped the line and she immediately lowered her head, "I didn't mean to-"

"Dress up and get out," Vicent said coldly as he walked to the door. He had been waiting for Drakos since the time Mr Thatcher had left Vincent's manor, asking for help with the matter that Prudence had stirred up yesterday. It was funny how Don Sam Murray was searching for the girl everywhere but the exact place she lived in.

Vincent opened the door to see Drakos standing outside, looking at a painting right next to the double door. As the door opened, Drakos bowed, "His Grace"

"What did you find out?" Vincent did not beat around the bush. He knew Sam would be after this girl and so had already ordered Drakos to give some distant job to Sam, while Vincent could peacefully get the information about Prudence and bring her to himself. In many years, there was not once he felt he wanted a girl to himself. Now that there was one, he would have her.

Drakos walked with Vincent as they left the front of that room, "Prudence Warrier, lives with her mother at ink road and works at Mr Carswell's horse farm. I heard she stirred some trouble for Weasley's daughter, who was trying to take a horse that was owned by Prudence."

A smirk plastered Vincent's lips. His judgement wasn't wrong and now he wanted the girl by his side even more. He couldn't forget the way her waist fitted perfectly in his arm and how her heart raced in an exact melody that he loved.

"What about her father?" Vincent asked. Both the men descended the long stairs while having the conversation.

"The girl grew up with a single parent and it seems her mother is a sprinter. I tried to look for her origin but there was nothing that people here knew." Drakos had traced back on everything, but there was nothing he could obtain about who Prudence's father was or was she adopted. "The Lady grew up under the care of the Thatcher family as well. They made sure she learned everything that their own daughter did. Lady Abiona and Lady Prudence have been good friends from a tender age."

"I see," the smile on Vincent's face twisted. He was right about the girl. Yesterday, when he held Prudence in his arms, he knew already that it wasn't the fact that Prudence was scared, but there was so much restricting her. Like her body was on full alert.

A girl who grew up without a father was sure to be on alert and protective of her people. There were a lot of girls that tried to get close to Vincent, only a few got through. But this time, he was the one who wanted someone by his side, and when Vincent Dominick wanted something, he got it.

"Drakos," Vincent said with a commanding tone, "How much time does it take for a carriage to travel from here till ink road and back?"

"Approximately an hour. Do you want me to go and bring the Lady here?" Drakos always knew what Vincent wanted. When Vincent had stepped in front of Sam Murray yesterday, it was evident for Drakos that His Grace had subtly made the girl his. And possessiveness came first for Vincent Dominick. Even if others did not ask for it, he held what he wanted firmly and domineeringly.

Vincent did not reply, but walked to the main door of his lavish manor, where a long coat and hat always hung on the stand. The head maid was quick to see His Grace and rushed to put the coat and hat on Vincent.

Drakos did not understand where Vincent was headed at this time. It was still evening and the hour of the night was when the clocks turned for the night creatures as well as the mafia. But Drakos did not ask. He was close to Vincent, but that never led to him not treating the mafia king with all due respect, which everyone had to. If not, Drakos himself made sure the people found a good predator in the jungles behind the manor.

Vincent corrected his collar and spoke to the head maid, "Get the room next to my chamber cleaned and prepared for an important person. Do it within an hour."

The maid bowed deep and left to get the job done fast. That room had been closed for a long time and never had His Grace allowed anyone in the manor's wing where his chambers were located, much less the room right next to his. She was quick to gather the servants and get to the job.

Vincent and Drakos stepped out of the manor where the carriage that Drakos had used previously on trip to investigate Prudence was already waiting.

"Let's take your carriage. I doubt mine will fit through on the streets of ink road," Vincent walked ahead and Drakos was a little baffled by the thought that Vincent himself was going to bring a girl home. That too in the lower parts of the town.

Drakos scampered ahead to him, "Lord Dominick, if you want I will bring the Lady here. Why do you bother going yourself?"

Vincent turned to see Drakos with a smile. If it was someone else who questioned Vincent's actions, his head would be rolling on the ground right now. "Drakos, my friend. Some things need to be taken care of personally."

There was no answer that Drakos had for that statement. He did not understand why it was so important for His Grace to himself go retrieve the girl. Nearly the whole mafia serves him, and anyone would do it for him, just the way he would ask it. Vincent got into the carriage, and Drakos followed. It was no use in pondering over it for Drakos, as Vincent had decided, so Drakos will always stand by it.

Drakos opened the window slit and informed the coachman, "To ink road, make it fast"