Chapter 14: Change Of Mind
"Iris, what kind of punishment do you think they deserve?"
She cocked her brow at the arrogant bastard before she fixed her expression and said. "My Lord, I am honored that you are asking me about what to do for your people, however, I am nothing but your next meal, my Lord."
She didn't expect Calixto to ask her how to punish her own family with whatever it was that he asked them and failed to do. She has never been privy to any matter in the family. She had always been treated as an outsider. Hence, despite the urge to get the opportunity to get even with the people she called her family, she stopped herself from taking the chance not because she was being kind but more of, she didn't care enough for them the same that they didn't give any shit about her.
The old vampire huffed and dusted his hands as though they got dirtied when he didn't even touch the three people who were on their knees, begging for his mercy.
"Listen," his eyes were directed to Theo who was shuddering in fear. "You can easily be replaced. Don't ever think that just because Augustus worked for me, your uselessness will be excused!"
Minerva gasped and dropped to the floor. "Please, Milord, have mercy on us!"
Calixto put his hands behind his back, and slowly walked in front of the three people who were sobbing on his feet.
Iris who was watching the scene had to stop herself from rolling her eyes. The way Calixto was doing his thing was too cringy for her taste but she kept her mouth shut. She just wanted this show of power to be over. She wanted to return to the basement.
Ever since the vampire woke up, she never appreciated the basement to the point that now, she no longer wishes to be away from it. She tilted her head to the side and wondered, when did she start thinking that the basement was the only good place for her.
"Iris!"
She got startled and she screamed when she met Calixto's eyes peering at her face.
"Shut up! You're being annoying. Return to the basement!"
"I don't like the basement," she said in a hushed tone but her feet were trodding back to the basement just like what Calixto said.
She heard Monette wail before her mother smacked her on the head. If she wasn't in deep thoughts about what just happened, she would laugh at the scene of Monette being hit at the back of her head by her own mother who catered to her every whim.
Monette was so shocked that she stayed down on the floor, hugging her knees and sobbing. She wanted to die. She wished the vampire would just kill her.
"Starting today, all of you will live outside."
"Milord!" Theo called for Calixto who had already walked away.
"You stay outside or you stay in the basement."
"That's not even a choice," Monette cried harder on the floor. Her mother tried to pacify her but she felt the whole world just feel and swallowed her whole.
Meanwhile, Iris lost all the thoughts of her dislike of the basement the moment she reached the last step of the stairs.
She went directly to her closet, pulled out her fuzzy pajamas, changed her clothes, and sat down in front of her computer. She was already busy surfing the web when Calixto came down and he quietly sat on her pink armchair and watched her work.
They fell into a comfortable silence, with the faint clicking of her computer keys, and the soft humming of the air conditioner.
"Iris, choose any room upstairs as your bedroom."
Her eyes froze over the keyboard as she slowly turned her head to face Calixto who was sitting on the armchair as if it was his throne.
"I like the basement," she heard herself say, and her brows creased when Calixto smiled.
"That's good. But for a while, you stay upstairs because I will have the basement renovated to fit better for our needs."
"Why ours?!"
Calixto stared at her, surprised by her sharp tone. "Hmmm." He stroked his chin and nodded.
"Because Iris, you are not going anywhere without me. If you don't want to leave the basement, it's fine but I'm telling you ahead of time, so you can do something with your things," he waved his hand towards her computer and her bed.
Iris followed his hand and sighed. She opened a folder on her computer and printed them.
"I want this," she said, handing Calixto the printed copy of all the designs that she had dreamed would be done in the basement if her father would agree to have it renovated.
"Hmm, it's fine but you have to change some of it."
She pulled her legs up on her chair and hugged her knees. "What else to add?"
"This is catered to what you want and need," he clicked his tongue, waving the papers in his hand. "It does not include my needs."
Iris grabbed the papers in Calixto's hand. She checked each page and scanned her eyes around. She furrowed her brows when the thought that the basement didn't look gloomy at all crossed her mind.
"What do you need? I'm not a vampire. I don't have any idea about your needs and wants," she said, smirking.
Calixto took the papers back and he grabbed a pencil from her pen holder. He crossed his leg and started drawing.
Iris scoffed but watched. The lines that were etched on her forehead slowly disappeared. She stared at the lines that Calixto ran across the white bond paper shaped into something amazing.
The basement came alive with the piece of paper from his skillful hand and his beautiful drawing. The basement was recognizable because of its staircase but there was a huge door covering the gaping hole in the wall.
"Don't change the staircase. I want you to keep it."
She tilted her head to the side, confused by the words that came out of her mouth. When did she feel any kind of attachment to anything in this basement, she asked herself and found no answer.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone