17 A Devilish Glint

The sweet violin's melody flowed gracefully inside the room as she started eating. She knew it came from somewhere but could not seem to figure out where it was.

Eve looked at the man leisurely drinking a glass of wine in front of her. She was pretty sure that he could not taste the wine and was only doing it out of habit or just to avoid the awkwardness of her eating on her own.

Luckily, she was able to finish her food in a timely manner. Perhaps it was also because she had missed eating such delicious food.

"How was it?" he asked.

"It was good."

"I heard you did not like the Quail that they prepared."

She said nothing. She was not exactly surprised to hear him say that. "I did not."

"I made sure to teach the chef a lesson," he said.

Her mouth hung open. "Did you—"

"Tell me about the food now…"

"It was good."

"Good is not enough and we both know that."

What is wrong with this man?

"Well… the appetizer was delectable. The Foie gras pate was smooth, and velvety. I love the brioche as well. Of course, the hint of truffle and the port wine made it even more tantalizing. The white wine that accompanied it enhanced the flavors. The main course… the filet mignon was so tender and juicy that it practically melted on my tongue. I also love the truffle mashed potatoes. It was creamy but it blended perfectly with the rich flavors of the meat."

"Knowledgeable as ever…" The corner of his lips lifted. Then he used a napkin, and dabbed it on his lips before he got up and held a hand towards her.

"Shall we dance?"

"I've been gone for an extended period. The others—"

"Oh, please the spawn will keep them busy."

"You—"

"I did not intend for it to create havoc, if that's what you were thinking," he gave her a smile of assurance. However, she did not miss the danger that came along with it. It felt calm but one would immediately notice the darkness that lurked beneath his smiling facade.

She made a conscious decision to avoid provoking him.

This unexpected rendezvous caught her completely off guard.

At present, his motives remained uncertain, so she chose not to take any rash actions.

She placed her hand on his and let him guide her toward the small space.

The room was modest in size, it was not particularly spacious to start with. It had a circular layout and the table was positioned at the center, which further diminished the available space.

Soon enough, they started moving on the dance floor. His touch was cold yet it did not hide his graceful movements that almost felt unnatural. She immediately reminded herself that he was a vampire, he must have been alive for a long time, and that his experience in dancing was better than hers.

"Look at me," he ordered. This time, Eve complied without saying a word.

Their gazes locked.

Almost immediately, his piercing blue eyes draw her in. His brown hair which almost looked like red under the lighting inside the room only added to his already captivating appeal.

The two of them started dancing, their movements in perfect sync with each other. He led with confident yet gentle touch, guiding her effortlessly as their eyes remained locked on each other.

An invisible pull seemed to lull her deeper into the depths of his eyes.

This was a dance of contradictions, she thought inwardly. The clear attraction and intrigue mixed with caution and fear. She was clearly drawn to him but she was also aware of the dangers lurking beneath the surface.

As if woken up by a dream, Eve's senses sharpened. She narrowed her eyes at him.

Did he just...

Her lips thinned.

This time, she was determined not to succumb to the allure of his gaze.

Eve was not a fool. She knew that this man was dangerous. His exterior might be perfect, but she refused to let him ensnare her even further.

She held her ground until the music stopped. Then she broke eye contact and took a step back, creating a physical distance between them.

The palpable tension crackled in the air as she resisted the urge to move closer to him.

"Perhaps it's time to confront the elephant in the room," she said. "Why did you take me here?"

"Isn't this—"

"What friendship?" she snorted. How could someone like him become her friend?

Did he really believe that his previous ploy would be effective in making her do his bidding?

He chuckled, a devilish glint appeared in his eyes.

"Just when I thought I had captured your heart…" He took a single step back and gave her a shallow bow before he waltzed back in his seat.

He filled his glass with wine, twirling it gently as he stared at the crimson hue, his expression devoid of any emotions.

"Sit," he uttered. "I always believe that talking business is second only to a good meal."

"What is it that you want?"

"Well… Evelynn, I want you to kill everyone else."

"What?"

He flashed a smile. "Did you expect me to say that?"

"You really are…" Just what was this man doing? He was only making her more and more confused!

"You are right. You have been gone for far too long. The others will surely notice your absence." He got up and nonchalantly lifted her up before he started running again.

The next thing she knew, she was already back in the hallway, standing on her own.

He was gone.

How could he just leave her in this place?

She looked to her left and right and realized that she was once again back in the hallway where he took her. At least he had the courtesy to bring her back to this spot, otherwise, she would have been lost in the complex corridors.

Still, the fact that he just left without saying a single word of goodbye left her irritated.

"Just you wait…" she muttered.

The next encounter with him will surely result in a swift kick to his shin. Or maybe she'd threaten him with fireballs to intimidate him.

The thought of it made her smirk.