The Night Prince
1294 Words
Two thousand years ago…
Before the world knew him as the Night Prince, Alaric was already feared.
His name was whispered in villages after sunset as the blood beast. Mothers warned their children never to wander into the forest after dark. Men who traveled through his territory carried weapons they knew would never be enough if one of his minions found them.
But Alaric didn't care,Humans were food, Play things for his own pleasure and amusement,Nothing more.
He sat on his throne inside the ancient stone castle, one leg crossed over the other, listening to his council argue over a human settlement that had been discovered near the northern border.
“They've built too close to our territory,” My Lord one of the vampires said.
“Then remove them,” Alaric replied.
The room fell silent,no one questioned him,no one could dare talk back.
A younger vampire stepped forward.
“ My Lord, How many should we take?”
Alaric's eyes lifted slowly, his lips curled into a menacing smile then he responded
“All of them.”
The younger vampire bowed his head.
“Yes, My Lord.”
“Bring them here before dawn.”
“As you command.”
The council member turned and hurried from the room.
Alaric leaned back against his throne, already losing interest in the conversation.
He didn't need to see the settlement himself.
His minions knew exactly what to do.
They would surround the humans after dark, cut off every escape route, and drag them from their homes.
Some would be taken for feeding,some would become servants,some would be turned
And a few would be kept for the vampires' entertainment.
It had been done countless times before.
No human had ever been foolish enough to build so close to his territory and live long enough to regret it,or so Alaric believed.
By midnight, the castle gates opened.
The sound of chains echoed through the courtyard.
Alaric remained on his throne.
He could hear the frightened voices before he saw the prisoners.
His minions marched into the great hall, bringing dozens of humans with them.
Some were crying, some were injured and others were too terrified to make a sound.
The vampires looked pleased with themselves,
they had returned with a successful hunt.
Alaric watched without emotion as the humans were forced to kneel.
“Separate them,” he ordered.
The vampires immediately began sorting the prisoners.
Those chosen for feeding were pushed toward one side of the hall.
Those who would become servants were taken toward another.
And those who had been bitten during the raid were brought forward to be inspected.
Among them were several newly turned vampires.
Most were already struggling with their hunger.
Their eyes were red,their fangs had descended.
They could smell the blood surrounding them.
A servant brought a trembling human forward.
“Feed.” He ordered and then, the newly turned vampires stared at the human,they hesitated.
but then the room erupted in laughter.
“What are you waiting for?”
“Drink!”
The vampires finally attacked,the human screamed.
Alaric watched for only a moment before his attention shifted, something had caught his eye.
A young woman stood among the newly turned.
but she wasn't drinking.
A silver cup filled with fresh blood was placed in her hands.
She stared at it as though it disgusted her and one of the vampires noticed.
“What is wrong with you?”
She didn't answer.
“Drink.”
She shook her head.
The vampire grabbed her chin.
“I said drink.”
She pulled away.
“No.”
The vampire's expression hardened.
“You're a vampire now.”
“I didn't ask to be.”
Several vampires laughed.
The woman looked around the room.
Her eyes were frightened, but there was something else there.
Defiance.
The vampire shoved the cup against her mouth.
She knocked it away.
The cup hit the floor.
Blood splattered across the stone.
The laughter stopped.
The vampire stared at her in disbelief.
“You foolish little thing.”
He raised his hand.
“Enough.”
Alaric's voice cut through the hall.
The vampire froze.
Everyone turned toward the throne.
Alaric's gaze was fixed on the woman.
“Bring her to me.”
The vampire bowed immediately.
“Yes, My Lord.”
He grabbed the woman's arm and pulled her forward.
She stumbled but refused to lower her eyes.
That caught Alaric's attention even more.
Most humans couldn't even look at him without shaking.
This one had just refused to drink blood in front of the entire court.She was terrified, and He could see it.But she was still standing.
She stopped a few feet from his throne.
Alaric studied her,she was beautiful, But it wasn't her beauty that interested him, It was the stubbornness in her eyes.
“What is your name?” He asked.
She hesitated, but then responded.
“Isabel.”
The name lingered in the air.
“Isabel,” Alaric repeated like a sweetness on his tongue.
She looked directly at him and said “Are you going to kill me?”
A faint smile touched his lips.
“Perhaps i would.”
Instead of trembling, she frowned.
“Then stop wasting my time and do it.”
Silence filled the hall.
Several vampires exchanged nervous glances.
No one spoke to Alaric like that, no one dared.
Alaric rose from his throne.
The entire hall seemed to hold its breath.
He walked toward her slowly.
“You aren't afraid of me?”
“I am terrified.” She responded.
Her honesty surprised him.“But you're still standing.” He said
She swallowed.
“I don't see the point in begging.”
Alaric studied her for another moment.
Then his eyes moved toward the vampire who had brought her forward.
“Who turned her?”
The vampire pointed toward the back of the hall.
“Cade, My Lord.”
Alaric's eyes shifted.
His second-in-command stood near one of the pillars, watching quietly.
Cade stepped forward.
“I did, My Lord” He said
Alaric looked at him.“And why did you turn her?”
Cade's eyes briefly moved toward Isabel.
“ I thought she would make a strong addition to our kind.”
Alaric said nothing.
There was something in Cade's expression he didn't like.
But he couldn't quite place it.
His attention returned to Isabel.
“Why won't you drink?”
She looked toward the humans who were being prepared as food.
“Because they are afraid.”
Alaric's expression remained cold.
“They are food.” He snapped at her
“They're people not food.”
The words were spoken so simply that they almost sounded absurd.
Alaric stared at her.
For the first time in centuries, someone had made him pause.
He stepped closer.
“You think you can refuse me?”
“No.” She said
“Then why do you?”
Isabel looked into his amber eyes.
“Because I don't want to become a monster.”
Something shifted inside Alaric.
He should have been angry.
Instead, he was intrigued, Very intrigued.
He turned toward the servants.
“Take the others away.”
The vampires obeyed immediately.
“And her?” someone asked.
Alaric looked at Isabel.
“Take her to my chambers.”
Cade's expression changed for the briefest moment.
Alaric noticed,but before he could question it, Cade lowered his eyes.
“Yes, My Lord.”
The hall slowly emptied.
Alaric returned to his chambers.
A few moments later, the doors opened.
Isabel stepped inside.
She stood silently before him, wondering what would become of her.
Neither of them knew it yet, but the moment she crossed that threshold, the fate of the vampire kingdom had changed forever.
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