Chapter 16 Sorrowful Lament

**Valerie**

I had no idea where did this strange feeling came from but when I saw him stood there alone staring at the statue in sorrow, my heart flinched in pain. It seemed like he was going to disappear from my vision in a few seconds.

And I, for some reason, didn’t want him to go.

I held his hand tightly and leant forward, trying to get closer.

Mr. Lang turned his head to me in confusion. When he saw the soft smile on my face, he stiffened. His eyes darkened immediately with a trace of redness.

A signal of craving blood.

I realized what a stupid mistake I could have made.

We had been warned that some vampires had the ability to imitate human beings, mimicking our countenance, our demeanors, and even our emotions to delude their preys and snap their neck when they were off-guard.

The image of that little puppy being ripped open suddenly appeared in my mind.

I clenched the other hand into a fist as my body became more alert, though I knew any defense would be void to a strong vampire.

To my surprise, he didn’t embark on an attack.

Jerking off his hand, he retreated back in a flash of second to keep in distance from me.

With his back towards me, Mr. Lang crouched slightly and warned, “Stay away.”

His voice sounded raspy and desperate in agony.

“A…are you alright, Mr. Lang?” I hesitated before asking.

“Don’t speak.” He hissed with a shaky voice forced from gritted teeth.

Though I could see his countenance, I could feel his pain vividly as his shoulders rose and fell while he was panting violently. One of his hands covered on his forehead and the other balled into a fist, nails digging into his flesh.

I was wondering if this moment, this scene could possibly contradict those claims saying that vampires had no emotions or feelings.

I didn’t change my position or let out any sounds as I beheld him silently. The entire garden fell into a stillness. It was until my legs started to aching in their stiffness that I realized how long it had passed.

Mr. Lang had regained his calmness, though he didn’t approach or turn around to look at me.

Hands in his pocket, he finally spoke, with a voice sounded remote even untraceable.

“Sorry, I lost control.” He apologized to me.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, not sure what to say. I wanted to comfort him but I was also afraid that no matter what I said, it would sound like a hypocrisy.

And before I could actually form a reply, Mr. Lang returned to my side. He had reverted back to his insouciant demeanor.

He held my hand to his lips and placed a kiss on it, whispering softly, “Hope I didn’t scare you out.”

Then he turned to look at that statue before staring into my eyes, lip corners curling into a smile and asking, “Do you know why I brought you here?”

I contemplated thoughtfully before shaking my head.

“You looked like her.” He said

I frowned slightly in confusion. Initially, I didn’t quite understand what he was talking about. Then as I bemusedly followed his gaze to that statue, I realized he was referring to the statue girl.

I was baffled.

There’s no way that anything on me could possibly resemble this girl, neither appearances nor characteristics. I wasn’t trying to be self-effacing but I was literally not comparable with her at all. She looked tough, strong and independent, while none of these words could ever be used on me. I was timid, cowardly and unassertive.

She was a gallant fighter and I was a faint-hearted slave.

“No…that’s not possible...Mr. Lang” I mumbled lowly with a lugubrious air in my tone.

“Yes, you are.” He said firmly before letting out a heavy sigh.

His eyes were staring vacantly at somewhere in far distance as he continued in a bitter tone, “It’s her death anniversary. 200 years. It is quite a long time for you humans, isn’t it? You don’t even have such things as cameras to record her profile. So even the best sculptor was unable to depict her beauty.”

His voice sounded distant, as if he wasn’t actually talking to me but to those remote memories he had kept with him for so many years. Then He gave me a faint smile while leant forward to touch the girl’s face.

“She died right in front of me. A sliver bullet shot though her chest. Right here.” He closed his eyes, pointing at his own chest sorrowfully. His jaw tightened as the veins on his neck became visibly clear.

Then he took a deep breath before opening his eyes again.

He trailed his fingers from her cheek down to the pistol grabbed tightly in her hand, rubbing over its floral motif.

“Why didn’t you shoot it? If you shot it, I would have been the one to die. Not you.” His voice sounded extremely gentle but miserable.

He wasn’t talking to me anymore.

I had the impulse to ask about that girl but something was stuck in my throat. I opened my mouth but no voice came out.

Mr. Lang turned his head to look at me, narrowing his eyes and pursing his lips. His brows furrowed slightly as though being in contemplation. Then he walked to me and lifted my chin in his palm, our eyes locked together. Those golden orbs filled up with intoxicating tenderness. Those long lashes winged quietly with uncontrollable emotions. My heart flinched seeing him like this.

“Did you regret?” He asked.

I knew exactly that the answer he was craving for should not be given by me and the tenderness in his eyes didn’t belong to me, but…my sensibility seemed not to function by an afflatus of my own senses.

I didn’t want to let him down.

Feeling the heart pumping violently in my chest, I shook my head.

“No.” I replied.

He grinned, his eyes narrowed and his lips parted. He looked like a kid who had just gotten a gift he had been expecting for such a long time.

“I want to kiss you.” He said, thumb brushing over my lips

And I knew his plea wasn’t addressed to me. If he had the desire to kiss Valerie Davis, he would just do it without requests.

Despite all of those evident hints in his behavior, I shut my eyes and raised my head higher to comply.

His lips felt cold but soft against mine. There wasn’t any trace of lusts or sexual desires in this kiss. He kissed me as if he was kissing someone he so valued, loved and cherished that he was afraid of scaring her away.

Our chests pressed tightly together that I was pretty sure he could feel my heart was racing frantically with a strong emotion erupting from there before dashing into all directions in my body. Tears dropped down unconsciously from my eye corners.

This chaste kiss was interrupted by a sudden roar behind us.

It was such a loudness being filled with rage and dominance that broke the tranquility of this place completely. I turned my head fearfully to the inhuman sound.

My eyes widened as I saw the creature landing on all fours. It was a huge black wolf, baring his canines and hissing menacingly at us. His claws dug deeply into the soil and his eyes were dark hooded. His body tensed up and leant forward, ready to launching an attack.

He growled in frenzy as Mr. Lang grabbed my wrist and pulled me behind him protectively.