Chapter 22
Wine or Blood?
Vampyres are distinguishable by their luminescent blue eyes that shine as bright as the essence of a pure soul-however ironically are without a soul.
The undead, sustained by the blood of the living.
~Best active in shadows, trees, caves and even more active at dusk.
Sunlight is a weakness to their strength, however not lethal.
The following Korovian text has been transcribed by Nebula Earthglow of the Earthglow Witch Coven.
Iremained silent. "She's a vampyre." Colfe blanches with disgust evident in his tone. Serena was consumed by darkness as she stepped into the cave, uninterested or unaware of everyone's shocked faces. However, it made all the more sense to me.
Their eyes... fast reflexes, concealed by shadows up in the trees. The men they had drained of life.
The prince, so trusting in this woman, followed her into the caves which meant that I had to stick close to him.
To protect him.
The thought was not appetising, if he was going to lead himself to his death, it would make my life a whole lot easier.
To finally be rid of him. But I needed to gain his trust, with that in hand, I might actually have a chance at escaping.
So I stuck close, keeping a watchful eye on the darkness of the cave.
Noticing how shadows loomed and dissipated as the prince walked forward.
They re-created as I followed. Whispering and following my every step.
I grit my teeth. There was something about this place that made me feel.
.. Invigorated. It awoke something in the deepest parts of my blood that I had forgotten existed.
The dark was not taxing on my vision, my eyes immediately adapted to it.
A stumbling figure weaved its way from behind me, cutting me from my thoughts.
"Shit," he cursed. It was Red, he was the only person I cared about making it out here alive.
I caught his arm firmly before he could stumble again.
"Be careful," I warned him.
"It’s so dark in here, how am I supposed to avoid tripping," he argued back.
"No... I mean. Be careful. Vampyres can be deceitful.
Stay close to me or even Inanov," I spoke in a hushed voice.
Already knowing it would not make a difference to the vampyre's excellent hearing in these hollow caves which slowly became easier to see—there was light illuminating from the tiled pathways.
Tiles... in a cave under the mountain? It was extravagant.
The architecture was held by brown sculpted pillars.
The walls of the cave held art that seemed to be depicting stories, adventures and maybe even prophecies.
Porcelain gargoyles held lanterns that made the light bloom into a dimmed bronze brilliance across the cave, giving the look as if we were in a grand ancient cathedral.
"It was a shock, I must say. Bumping into you and then finding out you are to be the prince's bodyguard. You must feel grateful to be out of the slum of an arena. Isn't it?" Colfe quickened his steps to match my own.
I clenched my fist. "That was my home."
"Pitiful, however take heed that the prince can be... how can you say it, overbearing at times. If you ever need helpful words of wisdom. Do come see me," he spoke as if he held all the answers. Yet I wasn't that much of a fool to not see the snake he truly was on the inside.
"Your help will not be required." I rolled my eyes and left him.
"You will come running soon enough." I heard his low answer that had goosebumps trailing my arms.
I chose to admire the paintings, hoping for a slight distraction.
There was a woman in the art, with dark onyx hair, holding another dark-haired man's hand as they travelled through the caves we had come in.
They seemed to walk up a flight of stairs—they were in search of something.
A jewel. The red one at the top of the stairs.
"Lovely, isn't it?" his sleek voice asked. I didn't look at him when I stepped away from the painting. Anger filled me when he spoke.
"Come now, are you ignoring me? I thought we were just beginning to understand one another." He reached to tuck a lock of my hair behind my ear. My cheeks reddened and I scoffed.
"I'm just your bodyguard. Am I not? There is no need to talk, and my job is to only protect you. I know my place." I threw back the words he told me earlier.
This seemed to quiet him, until he laughed. "Ah now, are you expecting an apology, my pretty warrior?" I was nearly hoping the caves were dark again so that he was not able to see my blush.
"Flattery, will certainly not get you there." I bit out.
"That same flattery got me into his sheets for two weeks straight." Serena laughed and smirked at me, fishing for a reaction.
"I didn't need flattery with you, you wouldn't leave my bed," the prince retorted.
"Aren't you going to introduce me to your consort?" she purred, reaching to hold his arm. My eyes followed her every step, she noticed this too, tightening her arms around him. Vampyres were highly sexual creatures and extremely hard to please when there was no blood to be offered.
I’ll keep watch on her movement for his safety. Nothing else. I tried to convince myself.
The prince, speaking with pride, answered, "This, Serena, is my bodyguard.”
"Hmm, her blades of fire were interesting, but I would hardly call her a bodyguard. She looks soft." She criticised me as if I was not even standing there, her eyes zoning in on my curves. I bit onto my tongue before I could release a string of curses.
"Don't underestimate Mor, she is tougher than she looks." The prince winked at me. My breath crushed into my lungs with the use of my nickname, just like how Ezra and the rest of my friends would. The sentiment seemed to make the vampyre green with envy.
"Well in that case, since she is no consort, I will have you to myself tonight," she urged, pressing closer.
"You forget I have a betrothed," Adrion simply answered and I almost choked in shock. And yet, I shouldn't be. He was to be the future King of Apollo. Of course he was intended for another. He needed a queen to rule at his side and heirs to secure his legacy.
"That did not stop you from doing all those things you did to me when I was last in Apollo." She pouted. The prince just laughed, making it a point to take a look at me. I schooled my emotions. I felt like a fool. An angry one. Why? I did not know exactly.
We came to a sudden stop.
"The king will only speak to two in his throne room." Serena faced us.
King? I thought he was a lord. There is only one king... even I hate to admit it and it's the King of Apollo.
"It will be the prince and I then," Colfe spoke up.
"No. Myself and my bodyguard." Adrion left no room for discussion from his tone, and Colfe sputtered, "You are going to ruin the deal. You know nothing of negotiations."
"This is my mission. And my bodyguard will accompany me.
" Adrion eyed me then glanced at Serena.
"The ladies will take good care of everyone," he answered and then stepped forward to the hall that led to the king.
I looked up to the ceiling and nearly gasped.
Red, Inanov, Colfe, and the rest of the group became paper white as they spotted the she-vampyres clinging to the ceiling, hissing and inspecting us like food.
"I'm going to have a handful to say to the king once I get back," Colfe muttered while I followed the prince. Keeping a hand on my fire blade.
"That is if you make it out alive," Inanov muttered back.
"Do you know anything about their so-called King?" I asked, keeping my attention forward, eyeing the beautiful furniture and paintings scattered across the hall. Most were gruesome bloody paintings. I was grateful that the halls smelled clean and not of metallic blood.
"Talking to me now? Have you forgiven me, my warrior?" I didn't have to look to know that he spoke the words with a sly smile.
"A question in order to protect you, that's all it is," I answered briskly.
"You won't forgive me yet then," he quietly spoke.
"The king is self-proclaimed. You will notice that there are only female vampyres, he is the only male vampyre here, the first vampyre to exist actually, and also the strongest. It is why they refer to him as king, I suppose," he thoughtfully answered.
"And you think, this king, will step down as King of Viridis Aurum, to be a lord under the jurisdiction and command of Apollo." I was flabbergasted.
"Yes, he must."
"And what if he decides he will just eat us for dinner instead. How do you plan to convince him?" I hissed as this royal slowly led us to our death.
"Talking my pretty warrior. That's how."
I stared, mouth wide open. He must have been joking. His pride and ego might have damaged his brain leaving only a pretty face. We came to a stop, by two large dark mahogany doors that stretched to the high sculpted ceiling.
“Once I am King, I will make sure that vampyres have a place in Terran,” the prince spoke.
I lifted an eyebrow. “So that you and Serena can see each other more?” That felt like the true reason.
He chuckled. “No. I believe not all should be doomed an eternity to the shadows.” As admirable as I found it, something dark inside me mocked him because it enjoyed the shadows.
I wondered how the prince would convince a lord, or rather a king of that matter, to fall under Apollo’s rule.
Would he kill the king...? Torture? Ransom?