Bound to the Shadow Prince

Chapter 11 - Hidden Diamonds

A hand caressed the side of my cheek, bringing me out of my deep slumber.

“Isadora.”

I blinked open my heavy eyes. Erevus knelt beside the bed, his thumb rubbed along my cheek.

“It’s time to wake up. We need to leave.”

I took a long slow breath, not wanting to leave the comfort of the bed. My eyes closed, still feeling the alluring call of sleep.

A moment later, I heard his soft whisper, “Isadora, it’s time.”

How I wish I could just sleep. I rolled on my back stretching as I tried to awaken my muscles. As I blinked open my eyes again, I stared at the ceiling and suddenly, remembered everything. It was now completely dark, but surprisingly that did little to affect my vision. It was if someone pulled the blinds down on a sunny day. I could still see everything, it was just slightly darker.

But it was time. I needed to return. Return to the castle that I actually hadn’t been missing, but still feel the responsibility and pull of it. Groggily, I sat up rubbing my eyes.

Erevus stood.

“I have something to show you.”

I removed the covers and threw my legs over the side of the bed. The marble floor was going to be cold against my toes and I wiggled my feet, mentally preparing for it. Slowly, I slid from the bed, but the ground did not feel cold to me. Surprised, I looked up to Erevus.

He held out his hand. I took it as he pulled me towards him and the open balcony of his room. As I stepped outside into the cold air, I gasped. The moon, still a crescent, shined brilliantly before me. It was a pearl against the black velvet of the sky. When I looked up, I gaped. There were more stars than I had ever seen. Now, with vision enhanced, I could see the little hidden diamonds concealed within the stars I had been observing my whole life.

The night was breathtaking. There was now so much more to observe and calculate. I could further distinguish the stars from with the four planets that earlier astronomers had discovered. Quickly, I reached to my side. But when I felt nothing, I realized I had lost my notebook of observations back in the forest where I was attacked.

I lowered my hand, disappointed.

I turned to Erevus, shaking my head in disbelief at the beauty that had been hidden from me before. “This, this is beautiful.”

Erevus glanced back up to the sky. “I have lived so much of my life as a vampire, this feels like a day to me. The moon is my sun, and the stars are my blue sky.”

I took a deep relaxing breath.

When I looked back at Erevus, he was watching me with a soft smile. It warmed and unnerved me.

“Come. There’s more I would like to show you.”

When we entered his room, there was another woman standing in the room patiently waiting. The woman was tall with white hair, but a younger face like she was in her forties.

Erevus said, “This is Lilian. She has been with me for nearly a hundred years. She can help you clean up.”

I brought an embarrassed hand to my face.

Erevus chuckled. “It’s not that. I don’t wish for you to return to your home looking as if we hadn’t taken care of Fildira’s High Princess.”

I quickly glanced towards Lilian, but she had no expression.

“She can be trusted. I’ll meet you outside.”

Lilian turned and exited the room. I glanced around, wondering if I was supposed to follow her. Quickly, I chased after her. She led me down a hallway and opened a door to her right.

It was another room. Dim candlelights flickered around. The large bed, adorned with intricate dark wood carvings, was draped with a deep red canopy that added a touch of luxury. The bedding had rich dark tones to it with subtle detailing. A grand chandelier hung from the ornately designed ceiling, casting soft shadows across the space. The tall arched window was covered with intricate ironwork, allowing the soft moonlight to seep through.

Lilian waited by a metal tub filled with water. She looked at me expectantly. I approached the tub. Lilian grabbed my bandages and took them off. I cringed to see what beheld of my skin underneath, but to my surprise, I was healed. My skin appeared as if it was never touched by light. No burns, no blisters. I stared in surprise.

“It’s all healed.”

Lilian glanced up at me, but silently continued her work. It was obvious Lilian was a vampire. Her skin glimmered like mine, but held a darker undertone.

Without much effort and to my uncomfortable surprise, she literally ripped off my dress.

Lilian gestured to the tub. I slid in, feeling the warm liquid caress my skin. I closed my eyes when suddenly the woman dunked my head underneath the water. Sputtering, I pulled myself up. She immediately started rubbing an ointment into my hair.

Her fingers dug into me. Before I was even ready, she dunked me under again. It was the fastest bath I had ever had.

She helped me out and wrapped a towel around me. Underclothes were quickly put over my head, and I dropped my towel to put my arms through. In a moment, a deep violet dress was brought over my head. Quickly, she pulled the strings of my dress, tightening it around my chest and abdomen.

The dress was higher in the front, extending to just past my knees with the back reaching my ankles. Lilian brought forth what appeared to be black stockings, but there were holes in the end for my feet - almost like pants. The not stockings were soft and thick. She placed black boots on instead of the usual royal slippers I was used to. This was both odd and fascinating.

After yanking a brush through my black hair, she did two braids that went over my shoulders. Lilian gave me a nod, then departed from the room.

I widened my eyes, not totally understanding what just happened. Never in my life had I been bathed and dressed in under ten minutes.

Not sure what else to do, I went to the door and peeked out into the hallway. There was no one, and I wasn’t sure how to leave the castle, but I could feel the subtle breeze of the outside world. I followed it back into Erevus’s room where it was coming from the broken glass of his window. Carefully, I slipped through his window, jumping down onto the grass.

I went around the castle to the front where Erevus was speaking with someone. It was amazing how well I could hear their conversation from my position.

“Scout out the third mine tonight with a small group, no more than three.”

“Yes, my king.”

I took a small gasp. I had forgotten the Dark Kingdom had taken and destroyed two of our mines, and it had left Fildira in a desperate position.

Both the man and Erevus looked around the corner at me. I pulled my lips in. If I could hear them, then they could hear me and any noise I made.

Erevus approached me as the other man disappeared in the trees. His eyes roamed over me, when his eyes went back to mine. I could see a desire within them.

I took a step back.

I said, “You were the one ordering the destruction of the mines.”

There was no remorse or regret on his face. “Yes.”

“But the people, my people, that you killed. Jobs and families you left destitute. Our kingdom you put in peril, leaving us in the hands of King Torrin!”

I shook my head. I didn’t know Erevus, or the type of man he was. But I knew about the Dark Kingdom. I knew of its deeds.

I started to walk away. He grabbed my arm. I turned and shoved him hard away.

“Stay away from me.”

I continued my pursuit into the forest.

Erevus said, “Wouldn’t you like to know why I did?”

I stopped, with my back turned to him.

He approached me from behind, placing his hands on my upper arms. A tingle glided down my arms.

“Let me show you why.”