Bound to the Shadow Prince

Chapter 15 - Riots

I vomited into a bush, my stomach revolting against me. Again, I leaned over, pouring out the rest of my lunch. Over the last three days, I had become quite creative about how to hide the contents of my stomach. Especially since I was now accompanied everywhere I went by servants, guards, or Torrin himself. I would have wished for my sister’s company, but she had disappeared and no one would tell me where.

Except today’s vomiting was accompanied by an almost unbearable headache and stomach pains. I was feeling weaker and the craving for blood only intensified with each passing hour.

I tilted my head back, appreciative of the cloudy weather and the coolness that accompanied it.

I glanced back at Sinara and the soldier. I had discovered on my first day of captivity that Sinara had a particular interest in a certain soldier. Now, I requested the pair everywhere. Their distraction with each other was enough to give me space. Space to vomit, space to feel free, and space to think.

Thankfully, they hadn’t noticed anything. Sinara's giggles drifted towards me. I continued down the garden path.

A noise started to rise from the other side of the castle. Curiosity drove me to cut through the grass to the front side of the castle. As I rounded the corner, I froze.

Hundreds of people were crowded by the front, yelling and shouting. Women with children on their hips had tears streaked down their faces. Men with raised mine tools shook them in the air in anger.

The noise became so loud and intense, I couldn’t distinguish any words. In my head it all blurred together. A servant walked by me. I grabbed his arm.

Suddenly, my senses were enveloped in this man. I became instantly intoxicated, not by him-but by his blood. I wanted his blood. I desired and craved it so intensely, it became a need. The servant stared at me. He was in his early twenties with shagging red hair and work clothes. When I looked up into his eyes, he quickly averted his eyes.

Keeping his head respectfully lowered. “Can I help you, Your Highness?”

I couldn’t think, I could only smell him and I wanted him.

The yelling outside the gates brought me back. I quickly removed my hand from his arm.

“Forgive me. I… um… sorry…” I shook my head, trying to remember my purpose. He appeared to have gained confidence in my flustered state. He offered me a charming smile. How I wanted to take him away into a dark corner, alone. I took a step forward.

A rock threw over the castle gate, shattering a marble statue. I took a step away, quickly remembering. I couldn’t hurt this person.

“The crowds, what is happening?”

His smile fell as he glanced at the gate. “Riots, Your Highness. People are becoming homeless and can’t pay for food with the mines going out of commission. The Dark Kingdom took another mine last night. Said to kill nearly a hundred men. The people are mad.”

Erevus took another mine? I looked back at the thundering citizens of Fildira. I knew Erevus’s reasoning, but my people were becoming destitute and desperate.

I mumbled to myself. “There has to be another way.”

“I’d say, Your Highness. Can’t grow a kingdom with happy people if there are no work.”

I closed my eyes momentarily. This was my kingdom to rule in the coming years, and I didn’t even know how to help them. But like the man with red shaggy hair said, they needed jobs, and they needed them now. His smell was still too strong and made me feel drunk.

“You are right, absolutely right. Thank you…”

“Garith.” He flashed me a smile with pride and… was that a bit of flirtation?

“Garith.”

My head was still pounding and all my senses kept going back to him. I took another step towards him. I couldn’t curve it anymore, his blood was mine. That was all that consumed my thoughts, my feelings, my senses.

“Do you… want to…”

Soldiers burst around the corner towards the front gate trying to stop men from climbing over.

Sinara’s soldier came running towards me.

“Your Highness!”

He grabbed my arm and pulled me away from Garith, escorting me quickly back to inside the castle. I quickly glanced back with his fading smell following me, beckoning me to him. He gave me another quick smile before he turned and continued on his way.

Inside the castle, I headed straight for the King’s council room. The doors opened after I was announced in. My father stood at the table with King Torrin, the High Duke, and three other advisors.

I curtsied as they bowed. King Torrin lifted an eyebrow in interest.

I approached the table, ignoring him. King Torrin was the reason why the mines were being attacked. King Torrin came to our kingdom promising wealth and prosperity, but in truth this all began because of him.

“They have taken another mine?”

Father said, “Yes.”

“Why?”

Everyone just stared at me.

“Why have they taken the mines?” I knew the answer. But I couldn’t reveal I had any knowledge of the Dark Kingdom or the way it worked. I needed to pretend I was as ignorant as before, but that didn’t mean I was helpless. “They don’t use them, they seal them off, why?”

All the men around the table glanced at each other.

King Torrin said, “Does it matter why? They are attacking your mines and causing riots in the streets.”

“It does matter, King Torrin. There has to be motivation. Why would the Dark Kingdom want our mines when they have been running since the beginning of this kingdom? Our kingdom was founded on the silver mines. As far as I understand, Vampires have been here just as long. So why now?”

No one said anything.

I said, “Has anyone even tried talking with the Dark Kingdom?”

Father said, “They are vampires. There is no reasoning with them.”

“Have you attempted?” I raised my voice, demanding an answer.

I knew Erevus was not unreasonable. He was a man, real and breathing, not a demon.

King Torrin tilted his head, admiration and fascination entering his countenance. It unnerved me.

He said, “Isadora, they have no souls. They are demons trying to flush us out. You out of everyone here should know that. They want to turn us against ourselves.” He gestured outside. “It is already happening.”

“But we don’t even know what they want? Our land? Our resources? Why risk themselves for these mines they don’t even want?”

Father said, “You do not understand, Isadora. This is beyond words. We are at war.”

“Why does it have to be? Our people want to protect their families and have money to provide. We create more jobs.”

“Mining is our most profitable business. Enough of this nonsense. Leave. You will one day understand after you’ve been properly educated.”

With a wave of his hand, he dismissed me. I pulled my lips together, feeling both humiliated and angry. Even as the next Queen, I was dismissed, unheeded, and treated like a child.

I twirled around and exited the room. King Torrin knows why the Dark Kingdom is taking the mines. I could see it. After my research this morning, Erevus was right. Sixty-three percent of our silver went to the kingdom of Kilgindore, where forty-eight percent of it was used to make weapons.

Torrin knew, and he had effectively convinced my father’s council that the why didn’t matter just the way. Torrin wanted war, that is what he had come for, that is what he wanted.

When I entered my room, I found Miralia on my bed with her arms wrapped around her abdomen.

I ran to her side. “Miralia! Where have you been for the last three days?”

I pulled her into a hug that she did not return.

I said, “I kept asking, but no one would tell me.”

Her eyes immediately filled with moisture. “Father sent me to stay with the High Duke as his guest when you didn’t return.”

I blinked, feeling anger and shock thread through me.

“He did what?” I exclaimed. “But I released you from your obligation! I’m marrying Torrin.” Not sure how that would work while I was a vampire, but that was a later problem.

“When you didn’t return, Father was so livid. He pulled me out of bed and immediately sent me to the Duke.”

Tears streamed down her face. She pulled her arms away and that’s when I saw the bruises across her arms.

I pulled her into my arms.

“I am so sorry, Miralia. I am so sorry.” She sobbed on my shoulder.

I wanted to hang the High Duke for hurting my sister and dimming her beautiful shining rays as he had. But I felt the full punishment for my actions that night. Miralia was the price of my disappearance. I got the message clear. No slip-ups, no loopholes, no leaving or else Miralia would pay the price, and I couldn’t let that happen. Not again, not ever again. She was mine to protect, because if I didn’t, no one else would.