The Man that Bit Me

The Fork

    I wait a few seconds, just to make sure he doesn't storm back in here with hell to raise. After a minute or so he never returns so I just shrug my shoulders and consider it a victory won. I feel bad for the way I hurt him, I know I will have to answer for it later, but I just needed space and I didn't want to ask for that. I know he'd wonder why I needed space from him so quickly. This was the only way to get the space I needed immediately and he might even intentionally avoid me, which would hurt me, yes, but I need to focus on why I need this space. I need to think rationally without his influence, and make sure my feelings haven't changed for going back to the Human Kingdom. I mean do I want to stay here, do I want to be the Queen of the Vampires?

     I allow my hair and shirt to dry after brushing and cleaning myself and walk out the door. I see the usual guards in place, but they do nothing to stop me. I smile to myself and instead of taking the direction towards his office and library I head in the opposite direction. The hallway is just like any other and you can hear every step I take. I look down at the shoes I am wearing with the little heels and decide to take them off. If the only way to get around this castle without making a sound is barefoot, then I am more than willing to comply. As I take another few steps forward I see the a chandelier hanging from the ceiling. I walk further until I am standing directly under it and more hallways appear before me. I have been walking for a few minutes and have not run into anybody. I didn't know if that was Caspians doing to lower the chances of anyone running into me, but I am getting super annoyed by it. I decide to take the right path and see the hallway descend downwards, 'Must be stairs', I think to myself. I lightly run down the hall until I am right in front of the staircase. The staircase is massive and could fit twenty people horizontally, I bend down to see what is at the bottom and the wall is too low for me to see. I decide to stir up the courage since I have made it this far and practically run down the stairs. By the time I reach the bottom step I am out of breath and wheezing. I peek around the empty room and see one massive dark wood table inside it and come to the assumption that this must be a dining hall. The table is long and has a silver runner that runs up and down it, which I don't know how since the table is the biggest and longest table I have ever laid my eyes on. There is a chandelier that hangs from the middle of the room right above the table, but other than that there are no decorations aside from the odd candle here and there. I walk towards the table and lay my hand on it. It's soft, yet sturdy, and I walk my way from one end of it to the other. After about 100 steps I make it to the end, to where the head chair is, the chair is massive and is a light gray. It's soft and plush, velvet I believe. This room seems like it hasn't been used in centuries, and I can't fathom a reasonable explanation as to why not. 

    I walk out of the dining hall and back up the stairs I decide to walk back to the forked hallway and instead of the right path I'll go straight. As I walk down this hall I see many doors on either side of me. I try to open a couple, but they are locked. Why is everything in this castle so hidden?! I decide I need a break from all and find a door that is out of sight of anyone who walks down this hall, and slide my back down the door. I shut my eyes tightly and press the back of my head towards the door. I breath in and breath out and catch a scent of vanilla wafting around me. I choose to ignore it and keep my eyes closed until I hear a woman clearing her throat. My eyes pop open in surprise and I see the most beautiful creature I have ever laid my eyes on. She is tall, close to 5'9, has long black wavy hair that reaches her bottom and glistens in the light. Her skin is like clear porcelain, and she has big round light gray eyes. Her lips are round and a warm pink. She smiles at me and I see her sharp, point perfectly ultra-white teeth twinkle at me. Her long, tight fitting, dark blue dress, that grabbed her in all the right places. I hear myself gasp at myself with how stunned I am at her beauty, "Darling, are you okay? You're sitting in front of an admirals room, and I doubt that if he found you hear you'd leave in one piece." Her voice was like silk as well, she was absolutely perfect. I shake my head trying to find something to say to her, but come up empty, "You're a human girl, I can smell you from here. While you do smell mighty appetizing I can't find myself to bite a helpless girl such as yourself. Please take care of yourself, you do realize you're in a castle of vampires right?". I shake my head up and down and shakily reach out my hand as I clear my throat stirring up all the courage I can, "I am Princess Ebony of the Human Kingdom, I am here staying with King Caspian. I wasn't aware of the fact that I was sitting in front of an admirals room, but I was just taking a moment to collect myself. If you wouldn't mind, may I ask who you are?". I hear her chuckle to herself as she looks back towards the wall, she looks down at me and takes a step closer with a evil smirk on her perfect face, "Oh, so you're the King's new pet, how lovely it is to meet you. I am Lyla, a duchess from the English territory. I am here on business representing my family, but I have thought about staying for awhile. You see Caspian and I are mighty close, and I like to make sure all of his needs are met." I can feel the hostility from all the way over here and a shiver runs down my back, "I'm glad he has someone who is willing to bend over backwards to do what he asks, but from what I have seen from him he likes a woman who challenges him. I'm sorry to hear that you're incapable of that." With that I get up and turn my back on her, I hear a scoff and completely ignore the last jeer she throws at me, "I've been here for two years, and he's yet to complain about my flexibility." I feel tears brimming at my eyes and run towards our room, why did I have to run into such a devilish woman? 

    I open the door to our bedroom and see Caspian pacing back and forth, sweat beading down the side of his head. As soon as he heard the door open his head popped up and swiveled to see me standing in the doorway. He takes in my appearance for a moment and I see his tousled hair. He has bags from worry under his eyes and I see his lips are in a tight, straight line. I freeze and my breath catches, I feel the need to run into his arms and ask him what the hell was happening between him and Lyla. I also feel the need to hide myself in a small space and never come out, but the side of myself that Caspian sees is me throwing my shoes at him and screaming what a jerk he is. He allows my shoes to hit him and at this point he is staring daggers into me. I feel my body squirm from his gaze and I have to readjust my posture to look as confident as possible. I walk towards him and just stand in front of him never leaving eye contact. His green eyes I can see and feel are burning with anger and are beginning to turn that deep red that screamed 'WARNING!'. I begin to push him and feel him catch my arm as I try to punch him in the stomach. "EBONY! What the hell are you doing?! Where is all this coming from? Where were you? Who did you talk to? Did something happen? If anything I should be the one upset here!". I scoff at him and shake my head, "Leave me alone Caspian! I just want to be alone! I want to never see you again! Do you realize how much easier it would be for me to just be alone for the rest of my life?". I see pain etched into his facial features and his eyes look like I just ripped his heart away from him, "Why would you want to be alone? What happened? What did I do?" I hear the panic in his voice and my heart drops. I gulp my frantic beating heart and feel the tears of frustration and dejection flow freely down my face. 'I need to get away from this man, I would rather have nobody than have someone who will just cause me pain. I can't put myself in the position to get hurt, even though I love him I have to protect myself. I need to run.' I catch my breath and look back up at him, I can sense that he just heard what I was thinking. He rushes towards me and wraps his arms around me solidly. I squirm and try to find an opening to wear I can swivel out of his grasp, but he doesn't give me such an opportunity, "Caspian get the hell off of me! I want to be alone, I want to be free!" My face is red from yelling and I know I look like a complete maniac. I just can't help it, after that conversation with Lyla I don't want to be here anymore. I'm scared of being this happy, only for it to be taken from me. I would rather have nothing, than have somebody I love only for them to leave me with a crushed beyond repair soul. I can feel the adrenaline thrumming through my blood and feel the fight or flight reaction taking course. I want to fly away, "Caspian let me go, this isn't going to work out," I state more calmly, "I met Lyla, and she filled me in on your relationship. I'm not going to fight her for you, if you want her I will not stand in your way. So, please let me go." I feel as if someone stabbed my heart brutally and is now digging it in for the pleasure of it. I let out a small cry and hold my chest, his arms are still wrapped around my chest and I feel his breathing become more erratic. I try to push my arms up to get out of his hold, but still to no avail, "If you're not going to fight then I will. I am not going to deny Lyla and I had a relationship, and one that lasted. But, if you think I would ever choose Lyla over you, then you are clearly delirious. Ebony, you are my very life force. You're the reason I wake up in the morning feeling nothing but happiness, the reason I still live in this damned world, the reason I would kill anyone here for you just to see you smile once more. The only reason I am here is to make you feel wanted, loved, cared for, and secure. Clearly I am failing miserably, but Ebony I am not letting you go. If you feel you haven't the strength to fight for us then I will. Whatever you need me to do to make you feel more secure in our relationship I will. You just say the word baby, if you need space I will give you an entire wing of the castle just for your personal use. If you want Lyla gone she will be on the next ship out of here, and if you need me here more I will make it so. Just tell me what you need." I begin to completely break down, how did I ever get so lucky? My body is shaking from the loud sobs I can no longer hold back. Everything I have been feeling came up and demanded to be felt to the fullest extent. I sobbed into his shirt and grabbed onto his neck. He gently brushed my hair with his hands and just held me until I eventually fell asleep in his arms. The next time I woke up I was alone in my room again with a note left on Caspians pillow.