The baron's brigde

The more he scrubbed the door and window frames, the more he realized that his cleaning time would be delayed. There were at least six huge windows throughout the room, but even so, because of the storm outside, everything was still lit only by the various chandeliers scattered around the edge of the room. Mavka couldn't even imagine what time it would be, because, in addition to all the entrances to the room, she still had to clean every shelf, which seemed to get bigger and bigger as the minutes passed.

She couldn't even count on daylight to tell her how many hours had passed, since everything was so dark outside that it looked like night.

"Don't be silly, Mavka, you've been given a new chance, so get used to it. Better than the other options."

...

"I've already told you that I won't go near her! I promise," Caellun sounded stressed, as this was the fourth time Rowena had insisted on telling him that she didn't want him near the new girl who had just arrived.

"Forgive my insistence, but I'm worried. This girl is very new here and you're still not used to her presence, which could affect your perception, even when it comes to eating. Get used to her presence around the castle from afar first, after which I'll introduce her to you myself, okay?" said the lady who, although small compared to the man in question, seemed to be even more threatening than him.

She held a cup in her hands and her class was, by far, much appreciated.

"Don't worry about it, I'll respect your wishes, Rowena, at least for now, after all, there are still five girls strong enough to satisfy my thirst. And if I don't get my fill, I won't be short of food, considering that lately, many naïve girls have been venturing into the forest at night." Then, with a slight smile on his face, the Baron ran his tongue over his lips, as if he were once again tasting the victims he had made a short while ago.

"Don't you dare!" Rowena shouted, but realized too late that she had crossed the line.

At the same time as she put one of her hands to her mouth, the words rushed across the room and, in a matter of seconds, as if gliding across the red ceramic floor, Caellun stopped beside her, gently resting his hand on the lady's shoulder, which was now tense.

"Rowena, I understand your concern for me, but I need to remind you that I don't like you interfering in my personal affairs. Don't test my boundaries, you of all people know them well. I admire you as a mother, but remember that you are still not mine." As he spoke, his deep voice made the liquid in the cup tremble and some of the books on the large bookshelf shake under the power of the Baron of Pidia's voice. "Then I ask you to kindly leave my chambers right now. I also suggest that you reflect on your actions, even for you, I am still the Baron of these lands." After saying this, Caellun gracefully stepped away from the lady and walked to the door.

As soon as the man stood near the doorknob, it turned and, unexpectedly, Corvina burst into the room, staring at the strange atmosphere that had settled in.

"I beg your pardon, this will no longer happen. I'll go now, I need to see the new girl and give her her instructions." The housekeeper then placed her cup on the table in front of her and, as if nothing had happened, walked through the door, greeting Corvina with a nod.

Even if she was treated like this, she knew the Baron wouldn't hurt her and she was used to his excesses of anger, even if she had felt a few chills over the years.

After Rowena left, Corvina went into Caellun's room, who had already returned to her usual place, her chair behind the office desk.

The girl looked no older than 25, but she had many more years under her belt, having been on earth for more than a century. She was graceful, with fire-red hair and emerald eyes. Whenever she arrived anywhere, she filled her surroundings with a mixed atmosphere of joy and calm. Her dark blue dress sparkled with a few stones and had long sleeves, and her thin shoes were one of the greatest features of her peculiar style. She had a black necklace around her neck and rings encircled her long, agile fingers.

"Caellun, what Rowena said must be taken seriously. People aren't going further into the forest for a trivial reason and you know it. The villagers are after the animal that is killing more and more young girls and leaving them dry inside, without a drop of blood. Do you see how dangerous this is? You need to control yourself!", the girl, who had previously shown an expression of happiness, now had a look of concern on her face for the only friend she had cultivated all her life.

Thanks to Caellun, she wasn't dead, she was saved by him when the villagers, many years ago, condemned her for her gypsy roots and her magical knowledge. She knew that no matter what she did, she couldn't repay the help, so she tried her best to talk some sense into her.

"I understand your concern, but what can I do about it? Should I languish in thirst on account of these useless mortals? Let them come with their scythes and torches, and before they reach the entrance to the mansion, they'll all be dead. For five centuries this has been going on, humans think they can do something, but they always turn a blind eye to the supernatural or treat it as the fruit of the evil one, feeling superior to us" - the Baron had once helped Pidia and so he was always around to observe what would become of that young village, but Leesburg had been nothing for five centuries and now everyone thought they had the right to interfere in the law of order and chaos that governed life. Caellun knew that her friend was right, but she still didn't feel sorry for the hypocritical residents who surrounded her castle.

"So what do you suggest?"

"Why don't you continue feeding only on the castle residents? Any of the girls here you've bitten would give you life thanks to your seductive venom. At least, for now, stay within the confines of your land and don't expose yourself too much. We have a new girl, don't we? Then we have more blood for you to try without having to leave the area."

"Didn't you hear what Rowena said? She wants me away from the girl for a while for that very reason. She's afraid I'll dry her out before the poor girl can even enjoy life here."

"But why would she demand that? The girl has only just arrived, Rowena doesn't even know her", Corvina was confused by the situation, after all, even if it was sensible of the lady to ask for this, confronting Caellun at a time when her thirst was giving ammunition to her most negative feelings would be madness, and she hadn't been transformed yet.

Death surrounds that lady, I'm surprised at her courage..., thought the witch, raising one eyebrow.

"Do you think I know her intentions? This has never happened before and Rowena knows me well enough to know that I wouldn't cross the line with the girls, at least not with the newcomers", Caellun was thoughtful, he didn't understand why the lady who had a mother-like authority over him made such a request, but he decided that he would respect the promise he had made to her, after all, despite everything, Rowena was the only person who made him rethink his actions, his respect for her surpassed the barriers of his pride.

"Caellun, don't think like that. She only wants your protection and she knows that now she's brought a new girl, the people in the village might be even more suspicious. But don't worry, I'll make sure they don't find any evidence, magic is our friend and I'll use it to our advantage", as Corvina spoke, lightning lit up the room more and more, the thunder made them both have to raise their voices so that they could hear each other better, at least to her, and the rain showed even more fury, warning that it would last for a long time.

Then, like a breeze, Caellun felt a sweet scent invade his nose. His senses were sharp enough to be able to perceive any different smell in the mansion, a smell that sent shivers down the back of his neck and reddened his eyes.

"Corvina, I want you to leave now."

"What for? We're talking and I'm still…'

"Corvina, get out!" the man seemed to double his voice and shouted impatiently for his friend to leave. "Cast the spell, make a potion, read a new book, I don't care. I just want you to get out of here now!"

He himself didn't understand his feelings, he didn't understand why all that sudden anger had come over him, but he knew exactly what he wanted, he needed to be alone.

Corvina then begrudgingly left, muttering a few incantations in a low voice, something about letting go and bringing peace, but in a language that only she understood.

As soon as she closed the door, she sighed, intrigued by the new girl who had barely arrived and already caused strong emotions in everyone.

Moments after being left alone, Caellun continued to inhale the scent that entered through his nose, something like the perfume of a rare flower, which seemed to draw him in. Caught up in his thoughts, he could only wonder where this scent came from and why it made him so euphoric.