Chapter 29 Vesper
Vesper
“Don’t hurt him,” I forced out through my closing throat.
How did this happen? How did everything go from hopeful to over in less than a day?
“I won’t… if you behave. After all, you’re the one I need to worry about, right? The one with poison for blood.”
He picked up the sword from the ground and pointed it right at the side of my neck. The one that used to have the snake tattoo.
My eyes shot to Tate behind him. He was hurt. Blood coated his skin, and there were multiple cuts on his face and body. His right eye had started swelling.
Where the hell was Gabriel when they took him?
“Let’s stop pretending,” I said. “Yes, I am the one who was sent to kill Aurelia.”
I had forgotten we had an audience until there were gasps behind me.
Right. Not everyone knew my first goal here was to kill the princess.
“But not her anymore, right? She doesn’t belong to this family, so now I am the singular Castle bloodline. You’re here to kill me, aren’t you?”
I stayed silent, unsure if answering would make him more crazed. I could see it in his eyes, in the way he looked over me in fast, jerky movements. He wanted me to react so he could kill me.
I gritted my teeth.
I couldn’t let him. He separated me from the people I loved and took my brother as insurance. I had no choice but to appeal to him.
He pushed the sword against my neck. I winced as it sliced the skin and drew blood.
“I asked you a question.”
“If you knew it all, why did you accept to marry her off?”
He laughed. “Because there is no pawn more powerful than a woman with Krae blood. Come on, let’s not be stupid here. I’m not the only head of family wanting to take advantage of it. One other was even in your ranks.”
I snapped my head behind me, my eyes looking for the one sick lowlife I knew was no good.
Solei. He was there, right at the front, dressed proudly in a royal coat, his head held high.
But my anger dissipated when I started to look at the crowd. People were scared. The Castle family members were on the left, none of them looking pleased at this outcome, especially after seeing their queen rise from the dead and their last hope being taken away by the guards.
The royals were better at keeping their facial expressions in check, but I could read them from a mile away. They didn’t like where this was heading, no doubt some of them now realizing how badly they’d fucked up.
“And you were going to sell her right back to Solei, weren’t you?” I asked, turning back to him.
“Cunning snake, aren’t you?”
Something was telling me to stall. I just needed to keep him going, and if I couldn’t, at the very least try to keep the murders to a minimum.
“What do you want from me?”
His eyes lit up, and he dropped his sword.
“I want to see how far you’re willing to go for the people who love you,” he said, turning back to ascend the steps to his throne. “Apologies for the outburst! You all know my sister can have quite the temper, but don’t let it spoil your mood. I have an announcement!”
Confusion gathered among the group, but no one dared to even whisper.
I narrowed my eyes at Adrian. Something didn't feel right. I had been feeling a sinking dread all day, but even now, as everything fell apart, it was still there. Meaning this was far from over.
He smiled and lifted his arms.
“Everything you heard is true, but let me explain.” He walked back and forth, making sure to look every vampire in the eye. “My predecessor was focused on being the most powerful vampire so he could rule over all vampire families and clans. He didn't want anyone to be more powerful than him.”
He slammed his hand against his chest.
“But I am going to write these wrongs.” His voice echoed through the silent throne room, and light fell in through the stained-glass window behind him, making him look like a god.
But I could see how insane he was. “I am here to bring the vampires together so we can focus on the real issue. Does anyone know what that is?”
He looked around, thinking someone would actually answer him.
“The humans. The humans! The council has long since forgotten who holds the most power. They have been working with the human authority and the hunters to give us arbitrary rules we have to follow. I'm tired of it, aren't you?”
There was a moment of silence before some of the royal family started to echo him.
His eyes were wide as he looked at them, and his features slowly started to change, becoming sharper. More animalistic. When he smiled, this time there were two sets of sharp canines.
He's going to start a war.
My eyes met Tate’s, both of us starting to understand what was really happening here. The prophecy was bigger than all of us. If this vampire, the last of the Castle bloodline, was allowed to rule, war would ensue.
A war that could end all of us.
“So that is why, for my birthday present this year, I am declaring war on the humans. War on the hunters. And war on the council.”
Murmurs broke out from the royal family’s side. The rest of the vampires were so scared I could smell it.
He stared at them, anger twisting his expression.
“Clap! Why aren't you clapping?”
As some hesitantly started clapping, he took a step back, a lazy smile spreading across his face.
“Trust me, and I will do this for you. For all of us.” He let it sink in, enjoying the cheers and reluctant claps. Then he clapped himself, silencing the entire throne room. “And now… Let's celebrate!”
Music started playing. Human feeders started filtering in. The suddenness of it all caught everyone off guard, but Adrian didn't notice. He was grabbing his feeders and laughing joyfully.
People started moving and acting like this was just a normal day while Tate and I stayed in our places. It felt… surreal.
Until Adrian caught my eye. He took a seat on his throne and pointed at his feet, the command obvious. I was scared. More scared than I’d ever been in my existence.
He wasn't a normal vampire anymore. Whatever he was doing had changed him, and rules didn’t apply to him anymore.
I need to survive. For Cedar. For Aurelia. For Tate.
With one last glance at my brother, I walked up the steps, coming to stand next to the Castle king. Power radiated off him, and it took everything in me to stay there.
He wanted me to degrade myself. To show everyone he had a vampire at his beck and call. One of his sister’s, no less.
I have to do it.
I lowered myself to the floor.
He let out a small huff of a laugh, his hand coming to pat my head. I was keenly aware of how his fingers were sharp and elongated as he ran them across my face and head threateningly.
One of his claws nicked my face.
“Good dog.”