Under the vampire Lord's protection-Chapter 163: Face to face

Reubon Sterling faced one of the windows that gave view towards the front side of the property, his first glimpse of the vampire upon turning around being mainly the sheathed sword at his hip.

Silas, on the other hand, forced his diamonds to dive into the sea of green that were Reubon’s eyes.

Had that man been the first Sterling to meet his gaze after the war, he’d have avoided those gemstones like the plague, turning his head from that same shade altogether. Under those circumstances, the sight of them would have invoked nothing but memories of the worst day of his life, his lowest times.

But Reubon was not the first. After Arabella entered his world, it sure became a great deal easier to admire that color.

The images of the war relating to those irises that flashed back behind his eyes from time to time, when he least suspected it, subsided significantly, only to be replaced by none other than her, her warm smile, laugh and everything else she offered.

"Such foul creatures you are...," Reubon spat, shattering the remaining hints of serenity that surrounded Silas, "None of this would have happened if you simply reasoned with her and sent her back from whence she came, but it’d make me the most foolish to expect reason from your lot," his features completely twisted, Reubon pressed on every word uttered.

Silas’ patience was running thin as it was, adding Reubon’s scolding onto his plate had the strong potential of cracking the fine ice he already struggled to brave.

In the fraction of a second, the vampire cut the distance between himself and the man until mere inches remained.

Their breaths collided, striking each back in the face and it seemed, that was enough to throw Reubon off balance.

Taken aback, the man attempted to take two steps backwards, "Don’t you stand that close to me, you blood suck-"

However, Reubon never got to bark the end of that insult as Silas gripped him by the collar and held him in place without a hitch.

"Unhand me right this second, you ghoul!" Sterling hissed through gritted teeth.

In response, Silas merely stared down the depth of his soul, going from the left eye over to the right one.

His own features barely reflected any emotion as they returned his customary glare.

"How?" he started, "How could a man like you birth someone like her?"

"Beg your pardon?"

"It is almost impossible," Silas kept gawking at the man’s eyes, "Aside from your eyes, there is nothing of you in her,"

It was at those words that the vampire finally released the grip on the white fabric around Reubon’s neck.

The man stumbled back a little before regaining his balance and indignantly readjusting his clothes "How dare you?"

"Make no mistake, human!" Silas took another step his way, albeit slow that time around, "The only reason you still have a head on your shoulders is the protection granted to you by the syndicate. Well, that and the fact she would never forgive me for it," he stared him up and down as he spoke those words.

"I am even willing to overlook your threats, but such high esteem for a little woman’s opinion... Look where that has gotten all of us!" Reubon raised his voice around the end of his speech.

"Us?" one of Silas’ eyebrows ascended up his forehead, "Do you take me for a fool, Reubon Sterling?"

"Oh, I know you’re a fool, although, I am still curious as to why you’d ask such a question," a scoff escaped the man.

"I’ll have you know that the seven men you’ve hired to collect your daughter are no longer of this world,"

Almost... Silas’ features almost allowed a grin to transpire upon catching the expression on Reubon, but he quickly reeled it back in.

"Whatever that means," the human sneered, standing stiff as a board all the while clearly doing his best to maintain his composure.

"The only regret I have about their death is that I did not get to rip their throats out with my bare hands,"

"Speak, vampire!" Reubon’s traits hardened, "Where is my daughter?"

"Well, thanks to your efforts, she is now in the hands of someone much more dangerous than we ever were. Good luck striking a deal with that one,"

"I demand that you cease with these unfounded accusations this second and tell me what became of my daughter!" Reubon’s voice blared through all of the lounge room, echoing beyond its bounds and out the halls.

"You are in no position to make demands," Silas took yet another step closer to Reubon, "You should also know that before coming to this meeting, I’ve sent a party out to collect the bodies of the kidnappers and bring them back here as we speak," he marked a short pause before continuing, "Should anything found on their bodies link back to you or whoever else had a hand in this affair, not even the syndicate will stand in my way then," Silas shook his head very slowly.

"That is simply absurd, you demon!" Reubon raised his chin when speaking, "Why, in the name of the Lord, would I come face you here if all of this was of my own doing? Have you even thought your words through before blabbering about what goes beyond your understanding?" he chuckled, "Me! Putting my own flesh and blood through such ordeals! These are unspeakable things!"

Silas perceived the sound of grinding teeth coming with those words.

"You’ve done plenty to push her away so what’s kidnapping if not just another means to an end for you?"

"I won’t ask again, vampire!" Reubon brought his index finger up and pointed at Silas sternly, "Where is my daughter?" he enunciated every syllable, making a point of emphasizing each word separately from the previous.

"This is your last chance," Silas turned on his heels and began to walk away, "Cross the border where my hands can’t reach before it’s too late, for when I promise something, I always keep my word,"

This content is taken from (f)reewe(b)novel.𝗰𝗼𝐦