Chapter 9 （Elaine）Salvation
Chapter 9 (Elaine)
Salvation
I was excited and anxious to meet the king. Although I met him on a daily basis, he didn’t usually send an official invitation, so I didn’t know what to expect. He must have had something important to tell me. Or maybe it was because of what happened with the vampire a few days ago? I wondered how much the king had been affected by darkness.
I put on a white dress that went just a little lower than my butt over black leggings.
Mitra was still lying in my bed, leaning on his hand on his side. He whistled admiringly. “You look amazing,” he said with the most beautiful smile.
His voice was sincere, and he made me feel like the most beautiful woman in the world. “Thank you,” I replied with a blush.
“The white highlights the mauve of your hair and the green of your eyes. You’re as beautiful as a violet.”
I laughed. “Thanks. Although violets are pretty common flowers.”
He shook his head and stood up, and I couldn’t help staring at his still-naked body and ripped abs. After all these years of friendship, I still found it hard to believe he was my lover, but I was so happy. I’d never imagined he’d look like that under his clothes, but a warmth sprang up in me every time I looked at him. I remembered all those moments when he had been there for me. My heart pounded, and I suddenly wanted to snuggle in his arms and feel the cozy comfort of our newfound romance.
Mitra took my cheek in his hand.
“Violets may be common, but they have a wild, natural beauty that doesn’t need anything to show off, just like you.”
I was speechless at the depth and beauty of his words. He had a way of making me feel like no one else ever had. With him, I was more than a mage. I felt desirable and precious. He sealed his thought with a long kiss, holding me against him by the waist.
“You’d better go and see the king before I bring you back to the bed,” he murmured.
I bit my lower lip. “Maybe that’s what I want.” But I suddenly thought of the king waiting for me and what would happen if I didn’t go. I winced. “It’s probably best if I go see the king.”
Mitra laughed. “Indeed, if we don’t want the royal guards at the door. Go. I’ll meet you at the tower later. ”
I took one last look at the handsome elf standing before me. “Maybe you’d better get dressed before you go.”
He winked. “I’ll consider it.”
I left my room with a light heart. The servants looked at me as I walked toward the throne room. Sylvia, one of the servants, met me and squeezed my hands. She was one of the oldest in the palace and had seen me grow up. Her hair was completely white, and her face showed many wrinkles, but she was still beautiful. All respected her. She was in charge of teaching recruits how to behave in the palace.
“Veneficus dei, I was so worried!”
The castle servants had always called me that, and I’d never understood why. Whenever I asked for an explanation, no one would answer. Over time, I came to ignore the title altogether. I squeezed her hands in return. “Please, Sylvia. I asked you not to call me that. It makes me uncomfortable.”
She shook her head. “Whether you like it or not, you’re the mage of the gods, sent to save us.”
“Save you from what?” I asked for the thousandth time, not expecting an answer.
To my surprise, Sylvia whispered with a frightened look, “Saving us from spiritu vindictae.”
I looked at her in surprise. “The spiritu vindictae?”
She nodded. “We can’t speak his name, but he’s coming to bring death to our race, and only you can stop him from coming.”
I shuddered at her words, a deep sense of duty washing over me. “Who is he? You must tell me more.”
Sylvia came even closer and whispered, “It’s a spirit of vengeance. History has forgotten him. He’s been lurking in the darkness, biding his time. Only a few texts remain about him, and a few families responsible for keeping the memory of this being alive so that he doesn’t fall to oblivion.”
I held my breath at the old servant’s revelation. It was a lot of responsibility. It was too much. I didn’t want such a fate.
“My family comes from a long line of scribes in charge of keeping a record of the history of spiritu vindictae. It was foretold that a mighty mage would come into the world—the mage of the gods.”
My heart clenched at that title. I was just a magically gifted elf, nothing more. I felt overwhelmed by it all.
“I knew when you arrived at the castle that it was you.”
I shook my head and whispered, my lips trembling, “Please, this is a great weight you’re putting on my shoulders.”
The elf shook her head. “I tried to give you time. I’ve waited for you to grow up. But it’s time. He’ll be here soon. You have to be ready.”
I jumped back. I needed space and time. “No. I can’t.”
But Sylvia nodded, still smiling. “This is the hope you carry inside you, darling. It’s a strength that will see you through any challenge.”
I breathed, trying to forget what Sylvia had just said, but I couldn’t because I knew deep down she was right. I already had significant responsibilities as Grand Wizard. Elvish magic was waning, dragons were extinct, and the magical balance was shifting. There was so much responsibility on my shoulders, and now there was the added burden of saving our race from a spirit of vengeance .
I was just a woman, nothing more. It was too much, and a wave of emotion swept over me, threatening to bring tears to my eyes. I just wanted to hide in a hole for days.
Two guards came toward us in the corridor. “There you are.”
I turned to them, wondering how much time had passed. I felt like time itself stopped as I spoke with Sylvia.
“His Majesty has been expecting you. Seeing that you weren’t coming, he asked that we see if something had happened.”
I realized more time had gone by than I thought. “The king requires your presence,” they added.
Sylvia looked at the guards. “Don’t take it amiss with the mage. I’m the one who kept her here.”
They looked at the old elf and nodded. She was almost considered a mother by all the castle staff.
“I’ll come at once,” I added.
I said bye to Sylvia and continued down the corridor, not giving the guards time to reply anything. The sound of their footsteps could be heard as they followed behind me.
When I arrived at the throne room, the atmosphere was tinged with dark magic, and a shiver ran down my spine. I felt my embedded jewels activate as they protected me from the evil force. No one else could feel it since I was more sensitive than them, but I knew the king was shrouded in dark magic. It emitted from him. I tried to hide my nervousness. The king was waiting for me and smiled at the sight.
“Ah, Elaine. I was wondering if all was well.”
I bowed to the king, trying to keep my tone regular. “I’m better, Your Majesty. I’m sorry for being late.”
“It’s not your habit of being late. I wondered if you had fallen ill again.”
I shook my head. “I’m fine. I was caught in a discussion with Sylvia, Your Majesty.”
He nodded, satisfied. “Ah, yes. She’s such a good servant. Everybody loves her. Well, I’m glad you’re feeling better.”
I studied the king and swallowed my fear. I usually enjoyed seeing the king, was proud to serve him, and was eager to please. However, today, I felt uneasy by the darkness and impatient to leave the room.
“You wished to see me?” I asked.
“Ah, yes.” The king stood up, taking a few steps before his throne as he spoke. “Tonight, I leave for war.”
“War?” I asked in shock. “I haven’t heard of any war.”
Erendriel sat down, his tone shifting unusually cold. “Of course, you haven’t heard of any war. It hasn’t started yet. It will begin when my army and I reach the dwarven city.”
My heart sank. This wasn’t like him. He was normally good and just. I may not like the dwarves that much, but they had done nothing to deserve war. The memories of Dreven talking with the king came back to my mind. Mitra had said the vampire had spent days with the king while I was out. Could he have been manipulated somehow?
I tried voicing my opinion, as Grand Wizard. “With all due respect, Your Majesty. The dwarves are valuable trading partners. The elven people benefit from our relationship with them.”
“Enough!” he snapped with irritation. “I didn’t call to ask for your opinion. Besides, you know how dwarves have taunted us for generations. It’s not like we never had wars with them. They have no respect for culture and nature, always digging mines.”
I stood speechless. My opinion was usually valued; it was part of my role. Plus, the king usually prized gold. It was usually an excellent way to make him see reason. If commercial transactions were no longer enough to change his mind, I didn’t know what would.
“That’s true, but . . .”
The king made a gesture that closed the door to any discussion. This was not like him. He may have valid arguments against the dwarves, but I didn’t recognize him.
He was changed.
The only reasoning I could come up with was that it was due to dark magic. I would need to find a cure for his ailment. Was it possible to remove dark magic from one? I would need to research the books in the library.
The king raised his voice. “That is enough. It is time to restore the honor of our race. I intended to leave you in charge while I was gone. I’m beginning to wonder if it’s an error. ”
My mouth twisted. Being in charge of the kingdom while he was away was an honor I’d never considered possible, generally reserved for the queen. Even though I was against the idea of war with the dwarves, this was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.
“It would be an honor, Your Majesty.”
The king nodded, satisfied with my answer. “Please see to it that you continue your work during my absence. I trust your good judgment for the kingdom.”
“Yes. Of course,” I stammered, still shocked about the war .
“Good.” The king gestured with his hand. “You may leave. I have things to do.”
I bowed slightly and left the room. I walked through the corridors as if in a haze, making my way to the tower. I was still not over the news when I got to the mages’ tower library. Oswald was at the top of a ladder, looking for a book in the upper part of the shelf. A few mages read books, and others were deep in discussion. Mitra was teaching a few of the youngsters. Despite being my favorite place in the castle, I couldn’t shake my uneasy feeling.
“Are you all right?” asked Mitra when I arrived, and I realized I must have had quite a look on my face.
“The king is going to war,” I announced.
Everyone froze and turned to me at these words. They approached quietly, mouth agape.
“What?” asked Mitra softly.
“The king leaves tonight for war. He’s going to attack the dwarven kingdom.”
“But why?” asked Oswald.
I shook my head. “The king said it was to restore our honor. He said something about past wars with the dwarves. There was no way to change his mind. Everything about him felt different. Cold. Harsh. He has been tainted by dark magic. I felt it from the moment I entered the throne room.”
Mitra’s gaze darkened. “You said that Dreven had attacked you. Do you think he’s the source of the king’s ailment?”
I nodded. “Surely.”
“The vampire from the other day,” Oswald whispered .
“But I also think the Shadow Weavers are involved,” I added.
“Why?” asked Oswald.
“They’ve been very active lately and joined with the Mi?onblooders. Plus, they are experts in the art of dark and forbidden magic. There is no doubt in my mind that they are related to this.”
“We’ve got to get to the bottom of this,” said Mitra.
“We should go and confront the king. All of us together,” proposed Oswald.
I shook my head. “He’s still king. He will have us imprisoned.”
“Not if the guards know the king is compromised with dark magic,” countered Oswald, and a few mages nodded.
“Don’t forget mages can sense dark magic more than the other elves. They don’t have the same sensitivity to it as us,” said Mitra. “The higher the magic level, the more sensitive to darkness we are. Thus, the reason why Elaine is the most sensitive here.”
I stopped them. “Please. Let’s not act hastily, or we’d risk losing it all. Let’s take the time to assess the situation and see what we can find about the Shadow Weavers. We’ll devise a plan when we know what we’re facing.”
Oswald and the others nodded. I didn’t lead them with crushing authority like my title could allow me. I wanted them to follow because they trusted me, and I was grateful that they did.
I turned to Mitra. “About the Shadow Weavers,” I started, “I had asked you to find out everything you can about them. Have you got any leads?”
“I have attended tavern meetings, listening in, trying to gather as much information as possible. I enlisted the help of a few mages to find their gathering location, but before I could get any further, you passed out, and I stayed with you.”
I was angry that my condition had slowed us down. If I had been stronger, maybe Mitra could have found out more about Shadow Weavers, though, deep down, I was grateful that he stayed with me.
“I’ve found their lair,” mentioned a mage standing toward the rear. We all turned toward him.
Hope filled me at these words. “Really?”
He nodded. “Yes. I was one of the mages working with Mitra.”
Mitra smiled. “Good work, Jules.”
The mage added, “They’re meeting tonight.”
“Then we should give them a little visit.”
Mitra looked at me, surprised. “Are you sure?”
I nodded. “We need to understand what they want to do before we act.”
“You shouldn’t go,” said Oswald.
I turned to him. “Why is that?”
“You’re filling in for the king. You have authority over the city and the people. If something was to happen to you . . .”
“I appreciate your concern,” I interjected, “but this is something I insist on doing.”
“But,” started Oswald. “You’re all the kingdom has right now. ”
I nodded. “It will be okay. As Grand Wizard, I find keeping the magical balance of things very important. And right now, things feel very unstable with the Shadow Weavers.”
He nodded, looking serious. “I understand.”
I added, “Besides, we’ll go undercover. They won’t recognize us.”
Mitra smiled, giving him a sexy look that I loved.
“Excellent idea, my lovely,” replied Mitra.
? It was agreed that Mitra, Oswald, and I would meet the Shadow Weavers. We cast an illusion spell on ourselves, changing our appearance so that the three of us looked like wood elves. They were the most common, and it was easier to blend in this way.
Concealed, we made our way to the small, winding street indicated by Jules. It had been easy to find the old church in ruins. It was built long ago as a place of worship for the goddess Aerdrie, Queen of the Avariel. A great fire had ravaged it hundreds of years ago, set by heretics. The church had been destroyed, and it was decided to build a new place of worship rather than repair it. Since then, it had fallen even further into disrepair, the lathered stones falling away. Part of the tiled roof was now collapsed.
Of course, it could have been repaired magically, but for some unknown reason, the high priest insisted on building a cathedral, raising suspicions amongst the haters. In any case, it seemed that the Shadow Weavers were now using the old church for their meetings.
Although we were several hours before the meeting, four elves guarded the entrance. Their large hood hid their features, but I could sense they held strong magical force.
“Move along,” they said as we got close.
I locked eyes with the guard that spoke. “We’re looking for the Shadow Weavers.”
“I have no idea what you mean,” the guard answered, gritting his teeth. He dug his hand in his pocket, and I suspected he had a concealed weapon.
Still, I pressed on. “Don’t play with me. I know this is the place.”
The guards looked at each other. My heart hammered in my chest as I waited for them to decide what they would do. I feared they would attack. They finally looked back at us. “What do you want from them?”
I relaxed at his answer. “We want to join.”
“Why?” the same guard challenged. He was probably in charge since the others were only listening.
“We want to gain eternal life,” I answered. I knew it was the Shadow Weavers’ most important goal. It would only make sense that this would be the reason for joining.
The guards hesitated. This was the moment of truth. Then he finally nodded. “Fine. Sergio.” He motioned to one of the guards behind.
The high elf took a step forward. “Before we accept you in our ranks, you must take the oath.”
I relaxed and nodded. The elf continued, his yellow eyes fixed on me, “I am one of the lower priests. I have the required authority to make you take the oath.”
I nodded and bowed my head slightly. Since he was a priest, I needed to show respect to play my part fully. “Repeat after me,” he said ,
“I vow to follow Shevarash’s words into darkness;
to seek to unlock the secrets of shadow magic;
to gain access to eternal life;
never shall my faith falter;
and to always follow my God’s words.”
We repeated the sentences, and Sergio nodded happily. “Then I hereby declare you members of the Shadow Weavers. Welcome, my children.”
My stress level went down as we were now members of the cult. The meeting occurred when the moon was high in the sky. All we needed to do was to wait for nightfall.
We wandered the town, waiting for the hours to pass by, but a knot formed in my stomach the closer we got to the meeting time. We would throw ourselves into the lion’s den. We would be killed if our real identity was discovered. We may be more powerful, but they probably far outnumbered us.
Mitra put his hand on my shoulder. The dark elf had put on a cloak. Seeing him dressed in black was weird, as he usually preferred lighter colors. Still, his smile warmed my heart as I adjusted my dark black tunic. It was the only tunic I owned.
“Do you think it will be good enough?” I asked, unsure.
He nodded. “It will be perfect. No one will recognize you.”
His dark eyes shone affectionately.
“I’m scared,” I confessed.
“It will go well. I will protect you.”
I stared at him. He looked so confident. “You say that, but I have more mana than you.”
He chuckled. “Then you protect me.”
I rolled my eyes, unable to hide my smile.
Oswald cleared his throat. “Are you guys ready?” he asked. “It’s time to head back.”
I nodded. “Yes. Let’s get this over with.”
We cast the illusion spell on us again so that the effect didn’t end while we were in the meeting. It would be a disaster.
Disguised as wood elves, we returned to the old church. The same guards as earlier were there. A shiver ran in my back when I entered the church. Now that it was night, it had a completely different vibe, and I instinctively grabbed Mitra’s hand for reassurance.
Although I didn’t worship the gods, an eerie feeling came over me at the thought that the church had once been a sacred place and was now being used as a place of worship by the infamous Shadow Weavers . The walls were charred, and remnants of burnt religious objects still lay on the floor, mixed with pieces of broken stained glass, creating a fragmented pattern of colored light on the floor thanks to the moonlight penetrating through the partially collapsed roof. Most of the first floor was unusable and blocked by debris and rocks. Candles were lit and formed a path leading to the basement where faint whispers could be heard.
The basement was filled with people wearing robes and masks. Most of it was in good condition, and I was surprised. I had expected it to be worse, considering what the first floor looked like. Still, the upper part of the walls was charred. Flickering candles were the only light, casting moving shadows on the walls. A makeshift altar that was made using salvaged materials from the church’s artifacts stood in front of the room. People were whispering, but I couldn’t make up what they were saying .
Mitra and Oswald stayed close to me, and I felt grateful to have them with me. Only a few minutes passed before a priest entered the room. People immediately fell silent as he passed to get to the front.
He was tall and slim and wore a long, dark red dress. His skin was gray, and I could make out his white hair, typical of gray elves, hidden by his hood. His eyes glowed red as he spoke. “My faithful, rejoice. Our association with the Mi?onblooders will soon bear fruit.”
I held my breath, waiting impatiently for the priest to say more. Mitra’s hand caught mine and squeezed, and I knew he was as eager as I was. The room was still silent, respectfully waiting for the priest to continue.
“Soon, with the return of Alastor, we will finally obtain immortality.” The priest’s voice was loud and echoed throughout the room.
Applause and cheers echoed throughout the crowd, with the priest smiling at the front. He gestured, and silence returned as two other priests emerged from a hidden room to the side, carrying chalices filled with liquid.
“And now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for. Communion with the great dragon.”
I wondered what he meant as the priest moved to a massive wooden table holding a sizeable obsidian urn. I couldn’t see through the blackness of the stone, but I could feel a tremendous magical force emanating from it, even from where I stood. I concentrated on the energy escaping it and froze when I realized what the urn contained. I didn’t have time to tell Mitra or Oswald before the priest opened the urn and took out its contents.
“Behold, Scorchfire’s heart!”
I held my breath. How had they managed to get their hands on the dragon’s heart? If the dragon’s claw I possessed was powerful, I didn’t dare imagine how much magic was contained in the heart. Disaster scenarios raced through my mind as I thought about what might happen if the Shadow Weavers managed to harness the full magic of the dragon’s heart.
The two priests holding the chalices approached, and the first took the heart, letting three drops of blood fall into each cup before putting the heart back into the urn and on the table.
He bowed slightly to the chalices and recited words in a language I didn’t know.
“O great dragon! Give us your strength. Lengthen our vitality and let the years slow down.”
“They absorb the dragon’s powers by drinking its blood,” Mitra whispered in my ear.
I nodded, not daring to answer anything for fear of being overheard by the other cult members.
“Come, brothers and sisters. Come and drink salvation.”
People lined up to drink from the chalice, and nausea rose in me. I couldn’t let them have such a powerful relic as the dragon’s heart, but there were far too many people to do anything about it.
“Let’s get out of here,” whispered Oswald, tugging at my hand.
I nodded, and we took advantage of the movement of people to subtly exit the church. We hadn’t figured out how to help the king, but the information we’d retrieved was the most valuable. I was already trying to figure out our next steps. I had underestimated the Shadow Weavers. It was clear that they were far more dangerous than I had thought.
Chapter 10 (Samantha)
The New Pet
I had signed the parchment announcing that Nathan was a traitor a few days ago. It was only a formality since it had already been announced to the people, but I had taken the time to make another public speech so it would remain engraved in everyone’s memory. There were no protestations. The memories of the disastrous wedding were still fresh on everyone’s mind, and they all blamed Nathan for it.
At the same time, I announced my marriage to Viktor and warned the people that everyone had to be present to celebrate our union. I promised that security would be reinforced and they should fear my reprisals rather than another attack on the palace.
Preparations for the wedding were well underway, and I had left Viktor in charge of all the details. Ultimately, it was just another formality. People already saw him as king at the castle. We only needed the wedding to officialize everything, and I had other things to worry about.
I had sent Amber as my emissary to meet Erendriel a few days ago. She was one of the fastest vampires I knew and could fly for a long time. I’d generally prefer to go there myself, but I had more important things waiting for me here.
I was pleased to receive the king’s reply almost immediately. Amber had called upon the services of an elven mage. It was the first time I’d received a message in this way. The mage would cast a divination spell to locate the recipient of the message, then throw the message directly in front of the person, the glowing words appearing in the air. It was surprising initially, but it was an efficient way of getting the message to me, much quicker than traveling to the city. Erendriel’s positive response meant I would receive Alastor’s dwarven essence—at least one less thing to worry about.
I was pleased with how things were going and decided to celebrate. The morning air was chilly, and I got my royal cloak out. It was navy blue, with a fur trim at the neckline and the bottom. I loved how heavy it felt when I put it on my shoulders.
As I neared the castle entrance, I motioned to two guards. “You two.”
They bowed to me. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
“You are to accompany me in town.”
I didn’t wait for their replies and exited the castle, their footsteps resonating behind me. I rarely visited the town but had heard of the new pet shop that had just opened. The radical vampires hadn’t waited long. Some of them had been waiting for the old vampire laws to be restored for hundreds of years before opening for business. Already, breeding farms had sprung up, along with pet shops and slave stores. The latter two were similar, but pets were there to please and were treated better than slaves, who were reserved for household and menial tasks.
And so, to celebrate my union with Viktor, I decided to get myself a human pet. I knew having a pet could be challenging. I owned a few horses when growing up with my father, but the idea of getting a human pet sounded nice. It had been years since I had fresh human blood, and having my own human sounded like a nice idea.
I scrunched up my nose at the smell of urine as I entered the dimly lit store. Cages lined the wall, each containing a human, some straw, a bowl of water, and food scraps. Some were asleep, and others were clinging to the bars, looking panicked. Their clothes were in a sorry state. There were men and women, but I already knew I wanted a man.
An old vampire came to meet me. He was neatly dressed and bowed to me.
“My Queen. To what honor do I owe your visit?”
“Do you wash the cages? The smell is quite unpleasant.”
“That’s because some of the humans voluntarily urinate outside their cages. I wash every day, but the smell remains.”
I was shocked. “Aren’t they domesticated?”
“They were all caught in the city. It’ll be years before the breeding farms provide us with docile adults.”
That made sense. Humans took years to mature, and the first babies weren’t yet born. It would take around eighteen to twenty years before the first generation was available to pet shops.
“Very well. I’ll see to it that he’ s docile.”
I walked closer to the cages to examine the humans. They looked healthy, and most were in their twenties, a few older.
The first cage contained a frightened woman who hid in the back when I arrived in front of her. She was barely wearing any clothes. The second had a sleeping woman rolled onto herself. In the third was a pot-bellied man. Not to my taste. I quickly moved on to the following cages, all containing women.
“You’ve got a lot of women,” I remarked.
The vampire explained, “That’s because most of the time, vampires prefer to have a woman to . . .”
I winced at the repulsive thought. I knew vampires had intimate relationships with humans, but it didn’t mean I agreed with it. Vampires should only reproduce with one another. Hybrids were nature’s disgrace. Humans were for feeding, made good pets, or were good slaves. That was all there was to it. The fact the store owner spoke about it so openly disgusted me.
The vampire hurried over to a cage.
“This one’s a man. Freshly arrived.”
He had short black hair and dark brown eyes. It wasn’t what I preferred, but it might do. He gripped the bars firmly, trying to open the door.
He yelled aggressively, “Let me out. I’m not a commodity.”
“Well, he’s got quite the energy,” I told the salesman.
The vampire shook his head and warned the man, “Shut up, or you’ll get the whip again.”
The man froze and took a step back.
“You whip your humans?” I asked, surprised .
“They can be noisy. I have no choice.”
I didn’t like the idea as it might harm their skin. This would damage the merchandise. I didn’t want to buy a slave. I wanted a good quality human.
“You,” I said to the man in the cage. He stared at me, his eyes filled with terror. “Take off your sweater.”
He stood there frozen.
“Listen to what the queen commands,” warned the shop owner.
The man snapped out of his glare and removed his sweater. As he removed it, I noticed that the back of the shirt looked like it had blood spots. His chest wasn’t hurt. He was lean, and his ribs were visible.
“Turn around. Let me see your back,” I ordered.
The human obeyed immediately this time. His skin bore fresh whip marks, the blood still on his skin—that’s where the stains on the shirt came from. A little further on, dozens of whip marks adorned his skin. They weren’t bleeding anymore, but the skin wasn’t healed.
“You said this man freshly arrived,” I challenged the owner. The man turned around, and the vampire nodded.
“Yes, My Queen. He’s been here less than two days.”
“Less than two days, and already you whip him that hard?” I questioned. The vampire hesitated, not moving. “You’re going a bit hard on the whip,” I remarked. “Don’t forget these aren’t slaves you’re selling, but pets. A traumatized human doesn’t make a good pet. If I wanted a slave, I would have gotten one.”
The vampire looked terrified at my words. “Yes, My Queen. I’m afraid you’re right. I’ll be more careful.”
I spoke to the man in the cage. “What’s your name?”
He replied in a deep voice, “Jason.”
“Jason, once you’ve recovered and eaten, you must train regularly. I prefer muscular men.”
The man shook his head. “I . . . I don’t want to be a vassal.”
I burst out laughing at his words. “My poor Jason. Vassals are a thing of the past. Today, you’ll be my pet, nothing more.”
I turned to the shop owner. “I’ve decided. I want him.”
“No,” pleaded the man.
I ignored the man’s objection and motioned to my guards, “Make sure he follows and doesn’t make a fuss.”
The man was too weak to do anything, but I wouldn’t want him to run loose on our way back into the castle.
The shop owner asked, “Do you need a collar and a leash?”
Jason joined his hands together. “Please don’t.”
I stared at the man. He posed no threat, and humans ran slowly. He would have no chance of escaping. I looked at the vast array of accessories on display and pointed to a collar. “I trust my guards to make sure he doesn’t get away. I only need a collar. I wouldn’t want another vampire thinking he has no owner.”
The guards picked up the collar and put it around Jason’s neck. “Not too tight,” I warmed them. I wouldn’t want him to suffocate.
We left the store. The vampires turned their heads at the sight of Jason. I looked at him. “Stay close. ”
We started walking, but Jason began to run as soon as we passed a small street. I rolled my eyes. So much for me trying to be friendly to my pet.
“Get him,” I ordered my guards.
They sprinted after the human, their supernatural speed making it effortless to catch up with him. In stark contrast, the man struggled to keep up, running as fast as he could, his breathing erratic.
The man looked terrified as one of the guards pulled him by the shirt while the other held his arm. I scowled.
“Jason, I’m deeply disappointed in your reckless behavior,” I reprimanded.
“I’m sorry,” the man said quickly.
I restrained myself from disciplining the human right now, reminding myself that caring for a pet required a lot of patience. He had been badly treated at the store. He’d need time to understand that he’s in good hands with me.
“Enough,” I replied coldly and turned away. I couldn’t bear to look at his face anymore. I took a few breaths as we resumed our walk, the guards making sure not to let go of the man.
I was calm when we got to the castle. Jason didn’t try to escape again. I quickly explained how to behave with my new pet to the castle servants. They weren’t used to it. They’d only had vassals in the past. But I clarified that pets were not members of the royal family. Jason first had to follow strict rules and be confined to his room. He would be allowed to roam freely around the castle if he was good and demonstrated his loyalty.
He followed me fearfully as I showed him a few rooms. The dining room, where he would come to eat every evening when I sent a valet to fetch him, the bathroom, and a few important rooms. He glanced around curiously and stopped before the castle’s musical room.
I called his name, “Jason.”
He turned, and murmured, “Sorry.”
“If you’re nice, I’ll take you there,” I added before continuing our castle tour. Finally, I arrived outside his room, near the servants’ quarters.
“This is your room,” I announced, opening the door.
The room was modest, with a single bed, a dresser, and a small writing desk.
“For now, you will only be allowed to leave your room accompanied by me or one of the castle servants.”
He nodded, and I continued, “I’ve asked my valet to bring you some clothes. He’ll take you to the baths to wash and change. I want the stench of the pet store to be gone, and you can’t stay in those bloodstained clothes.”
I closed the door, leaving Jason to discover his new home, and returned to my tasks. A few parchments were waiting for me, and I heard the request of a few vampire nobles. It was already late afternoon when I decided to go to the cathedral to check if everything was ready to receive Schorchfire’s remains.
Finally, after all these years, it was time to bring back the dragon’s body. My pulse was racing as I walked eagerly to the cathedral. I was already imagining what it would be like when we brought back Scorchfire’s remains. It would be incredible! The culmination of years of work. Alastor would be happy with me.
I grinned with contentment as I finally reached the cathedral, pushing open the two heavy doors. The pews had been moved to make more room. The dragon was at least fifteen meters long, and we’d taken steps to ensure that it could fit inside the cathedral and that we’d still have room to commune with Alastor.
Of course, we’d try to keep it as secret as possible—I didn’t want to risk attracting everyone’s attention. After all, Scorchfire was Alastor’s draconic essence. I needed him to fulfill the Great Prophecy.
We were so close. I would wait until I had all the information I needed before repatriating the body.
“Is everything ready?” I asked Dreven.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” the vampire answered excitedly. “We’ve already sent the wagon to the lair. We think the hardest part will be putting the dragon’s body on the wagon. Our best mages have started preparing spells to help us lift it onto the platform. Once that’s done, all left is to head back.”
I nodded, satisfied. The Shadow Weavers were going to help us with this operation too. I knew they would succeed, even if it took them several days.
“And the relic?” I asked.
“It’s being brought as we speak.”
“That’s good. Let’s wait and see how the relic works. We’ll bring the dragon back when we have it all figured out. I want to be able to use the Rod of Origins as soon as the body is in the cathedral. Any delay could allow the news to get out and the curious to try and come and see the carcass.”
I left the cathedral. I hoped we could quickly figure out how to use the Rod of Origins. It was vital that we do that before we get the dragon’s corpse in the cathedral.
All those thoughts about blood made me thirsty. I wondered if Jason was clean and ready for his first feeding. Just thinking about the warm blood coursing through his veins got my fangs out.
When I opened the door, Jason was wearing a clean shirt. He eyed me warily and flinched, retreating to the back of his room.
“Don’t be scared. You’ll get used to being here, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy being a pet.”
His Adam’s apple rolled as he swallowed. “I . . . don’t want to be a pet.”
“I know you don’t want to,” I said, moving closer to him. He backed up until he was leaning against the wall, and I ran my index finger over his jugular, my nail sliding over his skin as I removed his collar to free his neck. “But you see, Jason. The laws have changed. You’re a human, and vampires rule now.”
“I should have fled with the other humans.”
I scoffed. “Well, it’s too late.”
I inhaled the scent of his skin mixed with fear. “So, Jason, I take it you’ve never had your blood drunk?”
He shook his head nervously. “It’s not something I’m looking forward to.”
I snarled, “It’s not something you can choose.”
I could feel his pulse quickening even more. He put his hands against my shoulders, trying to push me away, but I used my vampiric powers to keep control, pinning him against the wall easily. Jason screamed, and his fingers clutched my shoulders as I sank my teeth into his neck, hot blood running into my mouth.
I hadn’t drunk fresh blood in years. It had a taste that nothing could replace, but it wasn’t like I remembered. I expected better. Something was off. Still, I knew that I’d never settle for blood wine again .
The man’s grip loosened as I continued to drink, and he let out a moan. I smiled, remembering how much feeding aroused humans. When I’d had enough, I laid the panting man on his bed.
“That was . . . I never imagined,” he babbled.
“You’ll have to get used to it,” I said as I turned on my heel.
“Is that all?” he asked, surprised.
My eyes fell on the bulge in his pants. “You’ll just have to take care of that yourself. And put your collar back on afterward,” I added before leaving the room and closing the door.
I didn’t mind caring for my pet, ensuring he had food and clothing, but I had no intention of caring for those lowly human needs.
I met Viktor on my way to the dining hall. “Good evening, my lovely queen.”
He grabbed my hand and landed a kiss on top of it, his lips lingering on my skin. “So, I’ve heard you got yourself a pet.”
I nodded. “Yes, I was just coming from his room.”
Viktor arched an eyebrow. “How was it?”
I grimaced, pensive. “Nothing compares to fresh blood, but it tasted bland, and I expected . . .” I took a few seconds to put my finger on what to add but couldn’t find it. “Something more.”
Viktor smirked. “From his blood or from sex?”
“I didn’t have sex with him,” I exclaimed as Viktor burst into laughter.
“Why not?” he asked candidly. “All vampires I know do it with their pets.”
“This is a human we’re talking about.”
“Didn’t you know the more a human is happy, the better his blood tastes? Forcing the feeding gives an unpleasant taste to the blood.”
I stared blankly at him, my mouth falling open. “How would you know that?”
He grinned. “I’ve always loved learning about different races, people, and creatures. Humans, particularly, because of our relationship with them for feeding. I spent years studying humans and the dynamics of our two races. It’s fascinating to learn all about them. Did you know vampires emit a hormone specially adapted to humans, luring and attracting them? It’s not just during the feeding. Years of evolution have conditioned our race to become the perfect predator toward them.”
The way he spoke showed how passionate he was about the subject.
“Well, mister I know enough about humans to be a human doctor . What do you suggest then?”
He laughed. “I guess I could be.” Then he shrugged. “Find out what he loves, what makes him happy. And you could always be intimate with him.”
He said it so simply that I wondered if I should. “Surely, a human doesn’t have the stamina to take on a vampire all the way.”
Viktor’s laughter filled the empty corridor once more. His voice was flirty and lustful when he answered, “Well, in that case, my hungry lovely queen, I will gladly quench your thirst after, making sure you come so many times that you can’t scream anymore.”
“You’d better be up to the challenge then. ”
He looked me straight in the eye, stopping to walk, and the tone of his voice let me see how serious he was when he replied, “You know I will.”
A shiver ran through my body at these words, and I wanted to check right then and there whether he was up to the challenge, but we reached the dining room. The servants were already indicating that we should sit down.
“Will he join us tonight?” asked Viktor as he held my chair for me to sit.
“Of course,” I answered.
He kissed my lips softly before pushing my chair in place. Lysander was in the room waiting for an order. Even if I was marrying his son, he was still a staff member of the castle, but I found it awkward to kiss Viktor in front of his father.
“Please fetch my pet,” I ordered.
The chancellor nodded and left the room. I discussed our wedding preparations with Viktor. Our wedding was only a few days away. Viktor was very eager and passionate about it. I let him choose the decorations. Jason entered the room. His collar was on, and he was neatly dressed, but he looked scared and fragile.
“Ah, welcome, Jason,” said Viktor warmly.
I remembered what Viktor had said about human blood tasting better when the human was happy, so I decided to try my best to make Jason feel well. I smiled warmly at the human.
“It’s so nice of you to join us.”
Jason stared, clearly unsure of what to say. It’s not like he had a choice in being here, but I hoped he would grow to enjoy it, especially because I wanted to see if it would make a difference in his blood.
“Thank you,” he replied shyly before sitting before Viktor and me.
Viktor seemed very happy and talked with Jason throughout the meal. He was curious to learn more about the human and asked many questions. Jason was a carpenter. He also collected instruments. He was particularly fond of guitars and enjoyed playing them. I suddenly remembered his interest in the music room when we’d walked past earlier.
“If you’d like, I can take you to the music room after supper.”
His eyes sparkled, and he smiled for the first time since I’d met him.
“That would be fantastic,” he replied.
Viktor’s plate was empty. He gave me a knowing look. I understood that he wanted to help me with my pet.
“Well, I’ll leave you to it,” he said before standing.
He placed a long kiss on my lips, and I wanted him to stay, but I knew I needed to see this through before. I breathed, “I’ll find you soon.”
When Jason was done eating, I got up. The man followed me, and we walked silently to the music room. I watched the man stand, mouth agape, staring at all the instruments, not daring to move.
“Go ahead,” I told him.
Pleased, he observed each instrument, gently running his hand over some of them, plucking a string here and there. He seemed very much in his element. He stopped for a long time in front of a guitar .
“Do you like it?” I asked, approaching him. I tried to put my hand on his shoulder, but he jumped and stepped slightly to the side.
His eyes met mine, and I could still read fear in them. “Sorry,” he mumbled.
I kept a smile anyway, trying to make him feel at ease, and put my hand firmly on his shoulder.
“Do you know how to play it?” I asked.
The man nodded, and I took the guitar from its stand, holding it out to him.
“Go ahead,” I insisted, sitting on a bench a little further away.
Jason looked at me, surprised at first. He began plucking a few strings, checking if the instrument was in tune, before launching into a song I didn’t know. His eyes stared into the void before him, lost in the melody, as he passionately strummed the notes, carried away by the rhythm. I closed my eyes and let myself be transported, far from the worries of the castle.
I opened my eyes again when the song ended. My gaze met Jason’s. There was no longer any fear in his eyes but rather a look of complicity at having traveled together in a faraway story.
“Keep it,” I said with a warm voice.
His eyes widened in surprise. “What?”
“You can’t move around the castle on your own. I want you to be able to play. Take the guitar to your room.”
“Really?” the man asked, and I could hear his heart quicken with excitement.
“Yes,” I replied simply.
The man clutched the guitar in his arms as if it were the greatest treasure, and I motioned for him to follow me, walking him back to his room.
Viktor was waiting for me in our room when I returned. He had a smirk on his face. “Well?”
I laughed. “I’m one step closer to tasting better blood.”
“You can thank me,” he added cockily.
I straddled him, kissing his oh-so-delicious lips as his hands roamed my body, grazing my most sensitive parts. My panties were already wet as I whispered, “No more words. Take me.”
A guttural laugh erupted from Viktor’s chest as he prepared to carry out my command.