My Vampire Professor Chapter 20

Tessa’s POV

I didn’t give Joseph a direct answer.

I only stared at him before I found the courage to turn away and go back into the bathroom. Joseph waited in the study a little longer while I washed my hands, acting as if I was actually using the bathroom.

I opened the bathroom door and saw Morgan waiting.

She looked at me curiously and then did a wiggle in her spot, indicating that she really had to use the bathroom. I apologized for taking so long before stepping aside for her to run inside. Soon, she slammed the door shut.

I looked at Jospeh’s office door to see that it was still sealed tightly. He must be waiting for me to return to the group before exiting. I made my way back into the living room and froze when I saw Joseph sitting on the couch with his leg crossed.

It was like he had never moved.

I was stunned.

“Welcome back, Tessa,” he said coolly. “I was just telling the others about one of my favorite books that I just grabbed from my study.”

Ruby waved me over, but I feared my legs wouldn’t work if I tried to walk.

How did he get back so quickly?

I sat beside Ruby just as Joseph started explaining the setting of the book.

As he continued talking, I found it difficult to pay attention to what he was saying. I couldn’t stop thinking about our recent interaction. He basically admitted that he could potentially be dangerous.

My heart ached in my chest at the very thought of it. If Joseph really was Christopher, that would mean that my writing idol was a criminal.

How could he do something so cruel such as going on a killing spree and then hosting a normal dinner party?

It was chilling just thinking about it.

“Earth to Tessa, are you okay?” Ruby asked, eyeing me carefully with her worried eyes.

I realized everyone else was back to talking amongst themselves and Joseph had disappeared.

“I’m sorry, what were you saying?” I said, trying to recover my mind, but truth be told, I was absent-minded.

“I was just saying I wonder what we are having for dinner,” Ruby said, putting her hand on her stomach. “I’m starving.”

“You’re always hungry,” I chuckled.

Ruby was a foodie and loved anything to do with delicious foods. She was also incredibly thin, so I wasn’t sure where she put it when she eats. I always admired the fact that she can eat so much without gaining a single pound.

“I hired someone professional tonight, so you don’t have to eat my own cooking. They should be ready shortly,” Joseph replied once he returned. He must have gone into the kitchen to check on dinner.

He soon sat down to resume his conversations.

Ruby grew excited at the thought of food. My stomach was growling too.

Soon, a short and stocky man was leaving the kitchen area. He looked to be a much older gentleman and significantly smaller than Joseph in every way possible. He made his way across the living room, ignoring everyone in his path, and walked straight toward Joseph.

He stopped once he reached Joseph and spoke in a low tone for only Joseph to hear. Joseph gave him a head nod and said, “Thank you.”

The man went back to the kitchen without another word.

Joseph soon stood from his seat.

“If you will all join me in the dining room. Dinner is being served,” he announced.

We followed closely behind Joseph as he led us into the dining room. I have been in this dining room before. This was where I found out Joseph wasn’t a callboy.

I glanced at Joseph who had taken his seat at the head of the table while everyone else sat in whatever seat was available. Everybody wanted to sit close to Joseph so they could ask him more questions.

Everybody except for me that is.

I wanted to sit in the furthest seat possible from him. This man wasn’t who he’s claiming to be. I have no doubt in my mind that he killed those people. Others have died recently in the same way those gang members died.

I swallowed the lump that formed in my throat just as a server placed a plate of food in front of me. It looked mouth-watering and delicious. It was salmon with couscous and fresh salad. Some white wine was poured into the wine glass and some water with a lemon was poured into the more standard glass cup.

Everyone seemed to be in awe of the scenery.

Once everyone was served, Joseph said, “Enjoy your meal,” before he started eating.

Joseph continued a casual conversation while eating his meal and I was seriously wondering how he was able to act so casually, especially after our conversation.

“Try not to make a mess out of the couscous again, Tessa,” Joseph said with a glimmer of a smile on his lips.

I looked at him, confused, as did everyone else.

“When Tessa and I first became pen pals, we met here for a meal. Not like today, we ordered takeout instead. It was while we discussed her writing. But she accidentally spilled the plate of couscous on the ground. It took a week for there to be no more couscous in the corners of this dining room,” Joseph said, shaking his head. “That’s why I hired someone for us to cook and clean just in case.”

The other students chuckled at the tale.

It wasn’t a real story, but I still felt the embarrassment that came with it. My face instantly grew warm, and I started to get annoyed by him. He was acting all innocent, but I knew he was anything but innocent.

I stared down at my fish. I was hungry moments ago, but now I started to feel sick.

“Do you not like fish?” Joseph asked, eyeing me carefully.

Everyone was too busy stuffing their faces to notice Joseph’s concern over my lack of eating.

“The fish is fine,” I answered. “I’m just not feeling all that well.”

“A stomach bug?”

“Maybe,” I lied.

“I have some home remedies that might help. I can give them to you afterward once everyone leaves.”

I raised my brow. This was the excuse I was going to use to keep me here longer? I wasn’t even sure I wanted to stay to talk to him alone.

If he truly was dangerous, it would probably be a bad idea.

Still, I couldn’t help but be curious about what I’m about to find out.

Most of the other students had left shortly after dinner, except for Ruby and me. Ruby stood at the doorway with a worried frown when I told her I wasn’t going to come home right away and to head there without me.

“How are you going to get home? It’s dangerous walking around at night,” she said, folding her arms across her chest. “Plus, it’s too far.”

“I’m sure Professor Evergreen can help me with that,” I said to her, but I wasn’t sure how willing he would be to help me.

She sighed and then eventually nodded.

“Call if you need me for anything,” she demanded. I nodded in response as she turned away and left the Villa, leaving only Joseph and me.

He stood a distance behind me and then turned away to go back to the living room. After a brief hesitation, I followed him.

By the time I reached the living room, he was already seated on the couch. I stood at the doorway, staring down at my feet.

“Are you going to sit?” He asked, glancing at the empty spot beside him.

My heart picked up speed and as I got closer to him, I worried he might be able to hear it. I sat beside him but kept my distance from him on the couch.

“So, what questions do you have for me?” He finally asked, breaking the silence that formed between us.

The word “vampire” was on the tip of my tongue, and I thought about asking him straight-up if he was a vampire, but I stopped myself. I didn’t want to face the harsh truth that my writing idol could potentially be more dangerous than I could ever imagine.

“I only have one question,” I finally said, after a long silence.

“I’m listening.”

“Did you kill those hooligans?” I asked, fearing what the answer might be.

“No. Their deaths had nothing to do with me,” he answered, and I could see just how serious he was. Or maybe he was just a master at lying. I couldn’t tell.

“But they had the same marks that you left on my neck,” I said, pointing at the now nothingness on my neckline.

“That was accidental,” Joseph explained. “I lost control when I saw you that day. You had some kind of special attraction and I found it difficult to resist.”

I looked at him questionably, unsure if I believed him or not.

“If you believe me to be dangerous, then why did you stay here alone?” He then asked after assessing my face of doubt.

He was right. If I found him to be that dangerous, then why stay with him in his home after everyone else had already left?

Maybe because there was a part of me that wanted to prove that I was wrong.

“Christopher’s books are important to me. It’s just hard for me to believe that someone who can construct such beautiful pieces of literature could turn out to be a villain.”

Joseph only stared at me with a serious expression for a long while. Then, he finally sighed.

“If you must know, I’m not a murderer,” he said, his gaze holding mine. “But that’s not the question you really wanted to ask me. So go ahead and ask the real question that’s on your mind.”

“Are you a vampire?” I found myself asking, my voice sounding distant.

He didn’t look surprised by my question. He only held my gaze for a moment when he answered, “Yes. I am indeed a vampire.”