Chapter 9 - Party - Part 1

I changed into a more comfortable and fitting attire for the training soon to be started. I have never really done anything physical in my life so I'm quite sure my body won't hold out for long in this training. Probably around thirty or forty minutes max, I hope.

I went to the training ground Luke told me about and found him waiting for me in the middle of the field. It was a very large open field, with nothing but grass around. A perfect place for the exercise.

"Ready?" He stretched his body side to side, then up and down. I walked closer to him so that we were now facing each other, "Ready," I said with a stern tone to hide the nervousness I felt.

He nodded his head, but did nothing to move his body, "Try hitting me."

"Huh?" I asked, not knowing what I should do right now.

"I want to know the extent of your strength. Hit me with all the power you got in you. I won't move an inch."

I clenched my fist, then punched him on his stomach with all the energy I could possibly muster. Contrary to my expectation, he didn't even budge. Instead, I winced a little because it felt like I just hit an iron wall.

"I think a newborn baby's punch will hurt more than this," he said while laughing, "Is that all?"

I punched him again, this time straight into his face. "Ow!" he ġrȯȧnėd.

I smile a little knowing my punch hurt him, "Does it hurt, sir?"

"Don't get too ċȯċky, Vi." He smirked, "I was not expecting that and besides, I haven't done anything to you."

He lunged forward, then kicked my legs out from underneath me, causing me to fall. But before I hit the ground, he caught me and supported my back with his knee.

"You said you won't move," I frowned and moved my body from his arms.

"Yes, but I didn't say until when." A brash smile appeared on his face, "Now, let's teach you how to fight properly."

He stood up and rooted his feet to the ground, "First, get into a proper fighting stance. Put your non-dominant foot in front and the other in the back. You need to be in a strong stance before throwing any kind of punch."

He moved his body into a fighting stance, and I followed his gesture.

"Second, your thumb goes over the other four fingers on your upper joint. You will most likely break your bones if you punch people the way you did before with larger force. Use your knuckles to punch rather than your fingers."

He smiled after looking at the position I was in, "Now, try hitting me. But with a lot more power than before."

I punched him on his stomach again, but just like before, he didn't flinch, "That's a lot better." He said while ruffling my hair.

"But you didn't even flinch," I said gloomily.

"Baby steps, Vi. It will get better over time." He said while rolling up his sleeves, "Now, try to make me fall."

I thought for a few minutes about how to make him off the ground, but I didn't think I could possibly win over that big body. I looked like a toddler beside his six ft self. I threw myself to him, hoping that I could at least tackle him to the ground. But instead, I went straight to his embrace.

We were both shocked by the outcome of my attempt, "I mean try to make me fall to the ground, not fall for you," he let out a slightly awkward laugh.

I quickly pushed his body away from me, "I-I'm sorry, sir. I don't know that will happen."

"Yeah, it's—"

"Ahem," our conversation was cut off by a smirking Andrew who was leaning on a wall, "I'm sorry to interrupt your lovely date but, you know it's almost time for the party to start."

Luke grimaced after his words, "Ah, right. How much time do we have left?"

"A little more than two hours," Andrew replied still smirking, "Oh! Do you want to come too, Violet?"

"No," Luke refused firmly.

"Aw, why not? It must be boring for her to stay in the house every day. Besides, you need to bring a partner to the party. You won't have to go there alone this time."

Luke frowned a little but then glanced at me, "Do you want to come too, Vi?"

I didn't know what kind of party it is but rather than staying home, might as well come with him, "Sure," I agreed, as it was my first time going to a party. I was pretty excited to know what kind of party we'll be going to.

He nodded his head, but still looked like he didn't like the idea of me coming to the party. He called for a maid, and I was asked to follow the maid back to my room.

Soon, my room was filled with maids and they all helped me to prepare for the party. I refused their help as I was uncomfortable with it but they insisted. I can't stop them from doing what they were doing so I quickly gave up. Luckily, they allowed me to bathe myself without their help. That would be awkward, I didn't want anyone to see me bȧrė.

After two long hours, I was finally finished with the preparations. My body was decorated with a gold evening dress with a bertha neckline, which exposed a lot of my shoulder that I was not really comfortable with. The corset inside almost choked me and it was very hard for me to breathe. Was it normal for women to use such an uncomfortable dress? I was not used to wearing such a beautiful and elegant dress as I used to wear only plain dresses back then. This dress was indeed gorgeous as it was adorned with beautiful embroideries but I would rather not use this twice. I think I will faint if I wore this dress any longer than one hour.

I walked out awkwardly and saw Luke already waiting for me outside the house, leaning on a very luxurious carriage. He was dressed in a suit with his black shirt tucked in. A black colored coat hanged around his shoulder, and leather shoes slipped on to his feet which completed his whole look. His hair was left covering his forehead as usual, but this time, it was less messy. He looked mesmerizing.

Noticing my presence, he turned his body around in my direction. His eyes widen the moment he laid his eyes on me, mouth agape. I must have looked like a clown.

"Do I look weird, sir?" I asked him.

He didn't answer my question, but his gaze was still fixed on me. He stared at me for a few minutes in silence, then snapped out of his focus. "Huh? I'm sorry what did you say?"

"I asked, do I look weird, sir?"

He shook his head and sighed, "No, you look gorgeous. Too gorgeous to my liking." He held out his hand, then lead me to the carriage.

I walked into the carriage and sat on the soft couch, soon followed by Luke who sat in front of me. The carriage was not small, but it was also not big enough for us to keep our distance.

"Violet, remember. Don't wander around too far and stick close to me," Luke said to me in a commanding voice.

"Why?"

"The people who attend this party are not exactly... " he stopped mid-way, "Kind," his voice coming out firmer than usual.

"What kind of party will we be going to?" I questioned him.

"It's an annual party that I usually attend. A party to deepen the connection of my... people," he said.

Hm? What did he mean by his people? He looked like an upper-class person from the first time I met him, but I didn't know he had followers. Was he famous?

"Your people?" I asked him again.

He smiled at me and nodded, but didn't give me the answer to my question. We stayed quiet for the rest of the journey, as we were both busy with our own minds.

After roughly forty-five minutes on the road, we arrived at a huge mansion. Many people with fancy attire roamed around the area. Luke went out first, then helped me get off the carriage. He offered his hand, and I reluctantly linked our arms together because I was his partner for the night.

We went inside the mansion and were immediately welcomed by the servants standing at the front door. Luke nodded curtly to the servants, then we went straight to the hall where the party was held.

Everyone in the room turned their attention to both of us the moment Luke's presence was announced. Most people look astonished by Luke's dashing appearance, but some also glanced at me with a questioning look on their faces.

"My, my, my. Isn't it you Sir William? You look dazzling as usual." A woman with a glamorous dress greeted him. She sent me a cynical look but quickly went back to her flirtatious smile when Luke replied.

"Thank you, Miss Lilian. You look fine yourself as well," he replied curtly, then walked away to greet another guest without glancing back to the woman.

Several women greeted him but to my surprise, he didn't greet them back and passed by them as if he didn't hear their greetings at all. This made the women's smiling face turned crestfallen. However, not one of them complained. It was like they were used to his demeanor.

I followed Luke quietly, not daring to look back at the women sending daggers my way. It seems that the man beside me was someone who had authority over most people here. The way they all bowed their head as he passed them showed that he was someone who deemed respect.

I stayed quiet while Luke spoke with the guests. He replied to them with a cold and sarcastic manner which he had never shown to me before. Did he perhaps have a split personality? He always talked to me kindly, so it was pretty surprising for me to hear him talk in such an aloof tone.

"Mr. William, may I ask who this beautiful woman is?" One of the men who flocked around us asked, I had noticed how he kept glancing at me the whole time they were talking.

"Someone whom you should not poke your nose at," he smiled, but it was more like a threatening smile, "I heard your business is doing very well these days. Mind telling me your tricks?" he quickly changed the topic to not let the people's attention wander on me.

The man laughed loudly, not minding the shift of the topic, "Thank you for your kind compliment. But my skill is still far below you, sir."

Luke looked around the room and settled his eyes on a brown-haired man, who was sipping on a glass of wine, "Excuse me," he said then walked to the man he stared at before.

"It's been such a long time since I last saw you, Kiel."

The brown-haired man turned his attention to Luke, then placed the glass of wine he was holding before on the table.

"Ah, my brother, Luke. It indeed has been such a long time. I was too busy these last few months that I never really had the chance to come back here." He raised his eyebrows as he glanced at me, "You finally brought yourself a partner."

Luke's face beamed with pride, "Meet Violet Quinn," he smiled, "Violet, meet my proud friend, Kiel Cassius."

We both shook our hands, "Lovely to meet you, Miss Quinn," I smiled and bowed a little to him.

"What about the things I asked you before, Kiel?" Luke asked in a lower voice than his previous tone.

"Shall we move to somewhere more private?" Kiel suggested while sending a glance at me and his surroundings.

Perceiving the signs he gave, Luke said to me, "Violet, can you stay here for a moment? I won't take long."

I nodded at him and the two buddies walked away. I ate a cake served on the table while waiting for them to finish their conversation. I was eating alone at the side of the hall away from people's attention, suddenly, someone tapped on my shoulder,

"Miss, are you busy right now?" A man with neatly combed hair asked. He was wearing an expensive suit, showing that he was a man with high status.

"What can I help you with, sir?" I asked him politely.

"My mother is very sick right now, and she is waiting for our carriage outside. Will you mind if I ask you to help look after her for a little while? I need to bid my farewell to the owner of this mansion before leaving."

I was a little doubtful on whether or not I should agree to help him but soon agreed as he was so persistent. He kept on saying that he couldn't find anyone who was not busy mingling and finally found me standing alone so he decided to ask me for help.

I went outside of the mansion to look after his mom, searching around for the woman but I couldn't seem to find anyone outside of the mansion. It was very dark as it was night time so I couldn't really see clearly. What if she left already?

I decided to just go back inside, but someone grabbed my wrist and stopped me from moving any further. I turned around and saw a tall man with a hood covering his face towers over me.

"Violet... I have been waiting for so long to meet you," he said as he raised his hand to ċȧrėss my cheek.

I slapped his hand and struggled to release my hand from his grasp, "Who are you?"

He laughed creepily and said, "I am your husband. And you are my wife. Now, let us go to our home."

"No! What are you talking about?! You are not my husband!" I retorted loudly, causing him to snap.

"YOU ARE MY WIFE!! STOP TALKING OTHERWISE!!" He screamed with a monstrous voice and dragged me with force.

"No! Stop!" I tried to stop my body from being pulled away by him but my strength was nothing compared to him. I kicked his calf with my pointed heels and he ġrȯȧnėd loudly.

"YOU!! WHO TOLD YOU TO DISRESPECT YOUR HUSBAND?!" He growled, "I WILL SHOW YOU WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF YOU DARE TO DEFY ME!!

Suddenly, his tall body became even more gigantic than before, shaped into an inhuman form. Brown fur crawled out from under his skin and covered his whole body with it. Sharp canine appeared on his mouth, nails turned into long knife-like claws.

He turned into a werewolf. A fuċkɨnġ. Werewolf.