Crimson Moon
Chapter 16

I woke up by falling sideways, my pillow moving away. I opened my eyes and Tiberius gave me an apologetic smile.

“Sorry Calla, I didn’t mean to wake you.” I smiled up at him and yawned.

I threw my arms in the air and stretched.

“No worries. How long was I out?” I asked him.

“About two hours.” He responded.

“Two hours?!” I jumped up and looked at the clock. Sure enough, he was right. It was already about 8 o’clock at night.

Tiberius laughed, “don’t worry I fell asleep for about an hour as well, you really needed it. And may I add that you look adorable while you sleep.” I blushed and looked away from him.

“Thanks,” I said while looking towards the floor.

“Come on,” Tiberius said while grabbing my hand. “Let’s go replace something to eat, I’m starving.”

As soon as he finished talking my stomach rumbled in agreement. Tiberius gave out a small chuckle, “and apparently so are you.”

“Very well,” I said. “Where are we going?” I questioned him.

“That’s for me to know and for you to replace out.” He flashed me a curved smile. I simply shook my head and followed him out the door.

He stopped in front of a large door, one that I recognized. “Isn’t this the same room we were in with your parents?” I asked him tilting my head sideways.

“Yep.” He said as he extended his arm out to open the door.

“Wait!” I yelled out in nervousness.

Tiberius dropped his hand and looked at me puzzled. “Is something wrong?” He asked me.

“I’m not dressed for a meeting!” I exclaimed looking down at myself.

I was in jeans and a t-shirt, which was nowhere near the standards of fancy. Nothing near dressy enough to be in the presence of a king and queen.

“You look beautiful Calla, and besides, it will just be the two of us.”

“In that huge room?” I questioned him puzzled.

“Do you want to go somewhere else?” He asked me starting to move his body away from the room.

“No, it’s perfect here. Sorry just on edge today.”

“It’s alright, I understand. You know I’m here for you if you need me right?” He said looking me deep in the eyes.

“Always,” I answered immediately.

I did not doubt in my mind that Tiberius would be here for me any minute of any day that I needed him.

“Good,” he said then went back to the large door. He opened it and held it for me.

“Thank you,” I said and walked right in.

Just as before the room was gorgeous. I had to stop and re-catch my breath since the room took it away. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling and candles filled the room. They gave off the only source of light available. The walls were crimson to match the castle.

“It’s beautiful,” I said in complete awe.

“I’m glad you like it,” Tiberius responded leading me towards the table.

He pulled one of the seats out for me and I slid in. I flashed him a thankful smile. He pulled out a seat to my right and sat next to me.

“Nobody else is coming in here to eat?” I asked him confused why it would just be the two of us.

“Nope, usually just my parents eat here by themselves as long as there is no meeting going on. They are out for tonight so they said that we could use it if we wanted to.”

“That was kind of them,” I said as a looked towards the ceiling paying attention to all the beauty the room had to offer.

“It was, wasn’t it,” Tiberius said looking at me.

I looked down from the ceiling and towards him. “Sorry,” I apologized for being rude.

“Don’t be,” Tiberius said to me looking straight at me with kind eyes. “I love seeing you smile. You look so peaceful.”

I smiled at him and looked towards the table embarrassed. Just then a group of waiters came in with a ton of food on platters. I looked towards Tiberius with wide eyes. He just chuckled as they placed the food in front of us. He thanked them for the food as they asked “would you like anything to drink?”

“Umm,” I said not knowing what to say. “Just water please,” I said as I finally concluded.

“Same for me,” Tiberius told them.

As they turned around I looked back towards them and said, “thank you!” They all smiled, bowed, and then left the room.

I dropped my jaw baffled by what just happened. I kept turning my head from where they came from to Tiberius and then back again. Tiberius laughed his broad chest moving.

“What? You didn’t expect to have to get your food yourself did you?”

“Umm maybe,” I responded.

Tiberius rolled his eyes in amusement. “You’re so naïve, Calla. This is where my parents eat. Do you really think they dish up their own food?”

“Umm, I guess not,” I answered shrugging.

“You know you could have had absolutely anything to drink. You didn’t have to settle for water.”

“I didn’t settle, I just had no idea what to ask for,” I said while sticking my tongue out at him.

Tiberius shook his head in amusement. “Do you want something else?” He asked me.

“No, I’m fine,” I said trying to convince him that I was indeed okay.

He squinted at me trying to read me. “Are you sure? I know you don’t like asking others for things. If you want I can ask for you.”

“I’m positive,” I replied once more.

The doors opened up behind me and I spun around to see who it was. The waiters were back with our glasses of water. They first gently sat a glass next to Tiberius. Then they went over towards me. As he was setting the glass down a droplet of water hit the table.

“I’m so sorry!” He exclaimed jumping at what just occurred.

“No worries,” I responded calmly. “Let me go get something to wipe it up!”

“It’s fine really,” I insisted. “I’ll just use my napkin to wipe it up.”

“Are you sure?” He asked concerned.

“Of course, it’s the least I could do. Thank you for bringing the glass of water to me.” I said to him sincerely.

“You are quite welcome, mam.” With that, he bowed to me.

“Oh, you don’t need to bow,” I said to him gently touching his arm. I used my other hand to wave it off. “I’m not very special.” I flashed him a smile.

“Of course you are! You’re Calla! But if you excuse me I better get back into the kitchen before I get in trouble.”

As he walked away I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. I shook my head to clear the memory that just happened away.

“Calla, Calla, Calla,” Tiberius said. I looked at him and gave him a puzzled look.

“What?” I asked.

“You really don’t know how special you are.”

“What do you mean?” I asked him.

“Never mind, we should eat before the food gets cold."

“Sounds good to me,” I replied and began to enjoy the feast that was laid out for us.

Once we finished eating the waiters came back out and gathered our dishes and the extra food.

“Would you like something else to drink?” One of the waiters asked me before taking my glass.

“I think I’m good thank you very much. It was delicious.” I said smiling.

“You are very welcome. I am glad that you enjoyed it.” He responded.

As they were grabbing Tiberius’s plate they asked him the same question.

“Hmm, bring us a bottle of wine.” He told the waiter.

“Of course. Just one glass?” They asked him.

“Bring us two,” Tiberius responded back looking at me.

I gave him a puzzled look. “Of course sir.” They answered him and bowed. Tiberius thanked them for the service as they went back into the kitchen.

“Why did you want two glasses?” I asked him confused.

“I’m not having TWO glasses,” Tiberius emphasized the two even showing me with his fingers. “I’m having one and you’re having one.”

“I am?” I challenged him.

“Uh-huh.” He responded back to me.

“I don’t drink though.” I gave him a puzzled look trying to figure out what he was getting at.

“Come on Calla, a few sips won’t hurt you. Won’t you come have a few drinks with little old me?” Tiberius pouted by sticking out his bottom lip.

I laughed out loud and shook my head.

“You’re a little big to pout. It kind of looks ridiculous on you.”

Tiberius faked hurt by putting a hand over his heart. “Ouch, that hurts Calla.” I simply shook my head smiling from ear to ear.

“Now you have to have a drink with me tonight.”

“Hmm alright, not because I have to but because I think it’ll be fun.”

“Hey, I’ll take anything I can get.” Tiberius agreed putting his hands in the air in surrender.

The waiter brought back a wine bottle that looked very expensive.

“Thank you,” I said to the waiter as he opened the bottle and poured two drinks for us.

He began to take the bottle back into the kitchen when Tiberius said, “you can just leave it on the table. We can pour our own if we want anymore.”

The waiter bowed his head, put the drink on the table, and left.

“How expensive is that bottle?” I said just staring at it. The name was written on the front of the bottle. The name said, Araujo Vineyard.

“Ehh around $1,300,” Tiberius said and shrugged.

I coughed and said, “you paid 1,300 dollars for a bottle of wine?”

My eyes went huge by just the thought.

“We have more expensive wine if that’s what you want.” Tiberius cocked his head sideways in confusion.

“No, that won’t be necessary. I can’t even imagine spending that much money on a bottle of wine.” Tiberius shook his head.

“Calla dear, look around you. This is a castle; do you really expect us to not have a lot of money?”

“Well no but I never imagined that the wine would cost so much.” I tried to argue my point.

Tiberius shook his large head, his hair falling in his eyes.

“Please just take a sip of it and tell me what you think.”

It was obvious Tiberius was trying to refrain from laughing as he took a sip of his own glass. I slowly picked up the clear, fancy, wine glass and pressed it ever so slowly to my lips. Not before I gave it a good smell though. In reality, it smelt like heaven and made my taste buds try to jump out at it. Now Tiberius really couldn’t contain his laughter anymore. He barked as he retorted, “what do you think they did to it? Poison it? Just take a sip, Calla.”

I stuck my tongue out at him and did just that. Boy did the wine taste good. Smelling it did no justice as tasting it did. It was probably the best-tasting thing I have ever tried. I looked down at the glass shocked by how good it was.

“Good isn’t it?” Tiberius asked me already knowing the answer.

I shook my head in response to his question.

“Good doesn’t even begin to explain it,” I said surprised.

“I’m glad you enjoy it,” Tiberius said. We talked about random things as the night was coming to an end.

After about two glasses of wine, I decided that I have had enough. Tiberius drank the same amount that I did. Once we were all finished Tiberius scooted his chair away from the table and stood up.

“Are you ready to head back Calla?” He asked me.

“Sure,” I said and was about to stand but Tiberius held up his hand in a stop position.

Gentlemanly, he pulled my chair away from the table and extended his hand out to me. I gratefully took it and stood up as Tiberius helped me.

“Thank you,” I whispered to him.

“You are very welcome,” Tiberius said to me.

He began walking towards the door but I stopped and looked at our empty glasses.

“Is something wrong?” He questioned me.

“What about the glasses?” I asked him.

“Someone will be here shortly to come pick them up. Let’s head back, I can tell that you are tired.” I shook my head in disagreement.

“We should take it back for them, it is the least we could do after everything that they did for us.”

“Calla, it is their job to do that,” Tiberius explained wrinkling his forehead in confusion.

“I beg to differ.” I retorted back at him as I reached for the glasses.

“Calla.” Tiberius started before I abruptly cut him off.

“Please,” I begged Tiberius.

He huffed and muttered “alright.”

We both picked up our own glasses and walked to the kitchen door. As I approached the door, I realized I had no idea what to do. Do I walk in or wait for someone to show up? I did what I thought was the best option and knocked. Someone came to the door with a confused look on their face.

“Oh, Calla! You didn’t have to bring that to us. We would have come and got it in a few minutes.” The waiter said while taking the glasses from Tiberius and myself.

“It was no problem at all. I thought we could at least do this for the excellent service you gave us tonight.”

“Well thank you!”

“You are most welcome and thank you as well. You have a wonderful night.” I told him as I waved and turned around.

“You as well!” He called after me.

Tiberius grabbed my hand and said, “now we must go back because I can definitely tell that you are tired.” I nodded in agreement and followed Tiberius out the door.

I really was tired, so much had happened within the last few days that I felt like I was on overdrive. I was too exhausted for my own good. The only good sleep I’ve had since the incident of my sister getting bitten was when I fell asleep on Tiberius’s chest. Only then did I really feel safe.

Tiberius walked me back to my room but didn’t enter.

“Goodnight dear sweet Calla. Please rest, your body needs it.” I shook my head in agreement and even yawned.

“Ya, you’re probably right,” I responded back to him.

“Probably?” Tiberius flashed me an adorable smile.

I teasingly hit him on the chest. He caught my arm and pulled me closer to him.

“Come here,” he said to me right before his lips met mine.

Instinctively, my body relaxed into him as our lips connected. His warm lips felt good against mine. I fought the urge to make any noise. Before I was ready Tiberius pulled away and removed his arm from mine. I couldn’t help giving him a pouty face. His laughter filled the hallway.

“If we keep this up, none of us is getting any sleep tonight.”

“Hmm, I suppose your right. Goodnight and thank you for walking me back.” I said to Tiberius.

“Anytime and goodnight to you as well.” With that, I was once again watching him walk away from me, out of sight, and back to his own corridor.

I started walking in the direction of my bedroom before coming to a halt. Being that Kat wasn’t here anymore, nobody was taking care of my mother. I walked over to her bedroom and saw that her door was slightly ajar. I peeked inside and noticed that she was asleep. I exhaled a sigh of relief. I wasn’t in the mood for getting screamed at, nor would I be able to tell her where Kat was. I continued on my way back to my bedroom and went straight into the bathroom to change into my pajamas. I settled for black shorts and a dark blue tank top. Once I was completely dressed I went into my bed and cuddled under the sheets. I closed my eyes and waited for the darkness to come forth. Unfortunately, my body had other plans. I tossed and turned for what seemed like hours. I couldn’t calm my mind about what Adolph said.

“Come on Calla, you have to sleep.” I tried telling myself to no avail.

Eventually, I gave up and crawled out of my comfy bed. Without even knowing what I was doing, I found myself in front of Tiberius’s door. I checked my phone to see what time it was. It read 3:30 a.m. I hesitated on whether I should knock or leave. I didn’t want to wake him at such an early hour. He was more than likely asleep. I started to walk back to my room when his door opened.

“Calla?” Tiberius said while rubbing the sleep from his eyes. “What’s the matter?” He asked me concerned.

“Sorry! I didn’t mean to wake you.” I apologized to him.

It was then that I noticed that he was only in shorts with no shirt on. Usually, I probably would have blushed, but I was too tired.

“Nonsense, come on in.” He said to me as he opened his door wider for me to go in.

I hesitated for only a minute before reluctantly agreeing. As soon as I was fully in the room I turned around to face him as he closed the door.

“What’s wrong Calla?” Tiberius asked me again wrapping his arms around me in a hug.

I returned the favor and pressed my head against his bare chest.

“I can’t sleep,” I admitted to him. “I’ve been trying to but all I have succeeded in is tossing and turning.”

“Here give me a minute, you stay here,” Tiberius said to me.

“Go ahead and make yourself at home.” He said as he walked out of the room.

I went over to his bed and curled inside it, the smell alone relaxing me. It smelt just like Tiberius, which I loved. His bed was huge and was the comfiest thing that I have ever laid in. I was so intrigued by his bed that I didn’t even notice Tiberius return. He let out a small chuckle and walked over to me. He had something in his hand that was in a coffee mug.

“What’s this?” I asked him as I looked in his hand.

“It’s for you, I thought it may help you sleep.”

I looked inside the mug and realized it was hot chocolate.

“Thank you, Tiberius,” I said and then began to drink the hot, warm, chocolatey drink.

It lit up the taste buds inside my mouth, craving more. There was foam that got stuck on top of my top lip that I had to lick in order to remove. As I drank the liquid, Tiberius sat next to me and played with my hair. It was quite soothing. As soon as I was finished, Tiberius took the crimson cup away from me and set it on his nightstand. For the first time that night, I felt like I could finally fall asleep. My eyes fluttered and felt like they weighed a hundred pounds. I began to stand up, having every intention of going back to my own room. To my surprise, Tiberius grasped my arm and looked up at me.

“If you want you can sleep with me tonight.”

My cheeks flushed a dark shade of red. “Are you sure?” I asked him.

“Of course, I would love to sleep with you.” He said to me in an honest tone.

“Hmm alright then,” I said as I crawled back in bed and tucked myself in.

Tiberius crawled in beside me and wrapped his arm around my waist.

“What about the lights?” I asked yawning.

Tiberius clasped his hands together and they immediately shut off.

“Wait?! They do that!” I said amazed.

Tiberius laughed and said, “I am amazed that you haven’t figured that out by now.”

“Hey! Where I am from, we manually shut the lights off.” I said defensively.

“Shh, Calla. Sleep.”

I didn’t need any more encouragement. Before I could even comprehend how tired I really was, I fell asleep in Tiberius’s arms.