Veil of Blood and Silver

3 - Doing the only thing I can

Harlow

I didn’t have time to clean up the spilled blood. I had more pressing things, like rushing to the changing room and grabbing my spare clothes. I washed the blood off my hands and combed my hair after changing. I am so grateful that Claudette insisted I bring spare clothes to work. We have to change our clothes more often than not.

I made sure to lock the storage room door. No one will enter the room today because they have no reason to. I’ll go back and clean the room when I’m done with the prince.

As usual, the guards outside the prince’s cell don’t even look at me. Not that that’s anything new, they’ve always ignored me. But honestly, I’m grateful they ignore me. It means they won’t notice anything amiss.

I brought a tray with me as I always do, and as always, there’s a cover over what these men would believe is the prince’s bowl of blood. When, in fact, it’s nothing more than an empty bowl. I was nervous because, for a split second, I thought one of the guards would want to check the blood. I don’t know why I thought that when they never have before. But I’m paranoid after what happened in the storage room with Vogue.

The door opens, and I step deeper into the room, looking left and right to ensure no one is watching. Believe me, the Queen has been standing at the entrance to the door on the other end of the room more than once, and I have not noticed until I’ve turned to leave. But as the guard shuts and locks the door, I know I’m alone with the prince.

I take a deep breath because each time that door locks, I panic a little inside. Not because I’m scared to be alone with Prince AJ, but because something in the back of my mind nags at me. It’s like there’s a dark memory hiding from me, something I can’t quite reach. I push the thought away because now isn’t the time to dwell.

I’m stupid because I know I should have gone to the Queen and been honest with her about what happened in the storage room.

But why should I think she would believe me?

Even if she did, the Queen would have my head once Vogue got to her! I can’t think about that right now, I need my attention on Prince AJ.

“Hello, my sweet prince!” I call as I walk toward Prince AJ’s cage.

Instantly, he jumps onto the bars, red eyes staring right at me. I place the tray on the small table against the wall and then make my way over to him.

I smile when the prince reaches his hand out of the cage. I move even closer and allow him to cup my cheek. I close my eyes momentarily, and when I open them again, his eyes look right into mine. I feel so awful that I can’t give him what he needs. But I can’t lie to him either.

I lean into his touch. “I have a confession to make, my prince.” His thumb strokes over my cheek, and I feel emotional. I don’t want to lie to Prince AJ, that’s not what I’m about, so I won’t. “I couldn’t bring your blood supply today.”

The prince’s eyes narrow. Even in his feral state, he understands my words, which further tells me that my prince is still in there. He’s just been hiding for so long he can’t find his way back.

I’m so sorry, my prince. There was an incident in the storage room. I don’t want to tell tales, but I don’t want to lie to you either. I collected the last of this month’s supply and was about to leave and bring it to you. But Vogue appeared,” I bite the inside of my cheek.

I feel childish, but I need to let the truth out to the only person who I know will listen. He won’t judge me, and I hope he keeps his cool.

“She said something that upset me greatly.”

Prince AJ tips his head slightly to the side as if asking me what was said. I can also feel his anger rising, and that is not what we need right now.

I breathe deeply through my nose. “Please, for me, stay calm. Can you do that?” The prince doesn’t answer, but I sense his anger retreating. “She suggested…” I sigh. “That I poison you and put you out of your misery.”

His eyes widen and begin to glow. I shake my head and grab the hand that just fell from my face. His naked chest heaves with anger, and I swallow hard.

“Please, my prince. I yelled at her about it. I would never do anything to hurt you. I care about you too much. Please believe me.”

The prince snarls, showing his razor-sharp teeth. I don’t want to admit that I’m afraid right now, but I am also not a liar. I still haven’t let go of his hand because no matter how scared I am, I will not back away from this man like everyone else.

I begin to hum a tune I know calms the prince. I don’t know why it works, but it does. With his chest still heaving, the prince looks at me, my wordless song penetrating his mind. His eyes stop glowing, and I stop humming.

“Please try to stay calm.” He keeps looking at me, so I continue to talk. “When I told Vogue that I would never do anything to hurt you, she grabbed my throat and lifted me off the ground. Shh…” I soothe when he begins to breathe harshly again. “She cut the bags with her nails and then dropped me to the ground.

“I’m so sorry that I wasn’t strong enough to stop her. I didn’t know what to do because there was no more blood in storage, and the next delivery isn’t until Friday. I know I should have been brave and told your parents. They could have found an emergency supply. But if I had told them what had happened, Vogue would have lied about it, and I would have been punished.

“What would have happened to you then? Please forgive me for being a coward, my prince. But all is not lost. I have thought of a solution.”

This is possibly the most foolish thing I could have come up with. The prince could kill me, and yes, perhaps I’m crazy for trusting a feral Vampire. But this is the only way I can help him without telling tales on a woman just dying to get rid of me.

“I want you to feed from me.” I hope my voice sounded as confident and steady as I think it did.

Quicker than lightning, the prince is pressed against the cage bars, and my face is between his hands. His eyes penetrate my very soul as he shakes his head once.

I gasp because he communicated with me! And it was more than a stare or the touch of his hand. He doesn’t want to feed from me because he doesn’t want to hurt me. I smile because our friendship is something I treasure. I know he does, too, and the fact he doesn’t want to hurt me proves that he’s still in there, just waiting to get out.

“I know you’re afraid that you might lose control and hurt me. But you won’t, Prince AJ. Do you know how I know this?” He continues to stare at me. “Because I trust you. I trust you, AJ.”

He blinks, seemingly shocked that anyone could trust him, but I do. His right-hand falls from my face, and he takes my arm. I bite my lip when he kisses my palm.

Was that supposed to make me tingle?

I have never felt anything like that, or at least, I don’t think I have.

His other hand leaves my face, and he slowly pushes the sleeve of my shirt up my arm, careful not to let his long claws cut me. He strokes his thumb over the pulse point on my wrist, and I bite the inside of my lower lip to stop myself from moaning in pleasure. There is seriously something wrong with me!

Prince AJ looks at me as if asking if I’m sure about this. I give him a reassuring smile and nod. He turns away from me and instantly licks the inside of my wrist. I bite my lip a little harder, feeling hot suddenly, and then I pull back a scream when his sharp fangs pierce my wrist. I can’t tell if this hurts or is pleasurable.

I hold onto the bar with my free hand, trying to hold myself up. My legs feel weak, and my stomach is cramping. Prince AJ holds my wrist closer to his mouth with both hands, sucking my blood like a starving man who finally found water in a desert.

I’m starting to feel lightheaded. I don’t know how much blood he’s taken, but I can’t take much more of this. Time seems to be moving too quickly, but not quick enough at the same time.

“Prince AJ,” I whimper. “You must let go now.”

But he doesn’t let go; he keeps drinking, and I can feel my strength failing me. He will kill me if he doesn’t let go!

I release the cage bar and stroke the back of his head while quietly humming. A tear slips from my eye as he suddenly lets go, his fangs retracting, and I suck in a deep breath. I fall to my knees, and through dazed vision, I see the prince clutching the sides of his head. And then his screams of agony fill the room so loudly, my ears ring!

I don’t have time to think or react before the door bursts open, though no one enters the room for fear of what might happen. I see the King, eyes wide and looking from me to his son and back again. Prince AJ is in agony, and I’m terrified that I’ve hurt him.

“What the hell did you do?!” The King demands, but I’m too weak to answer him.

“I told you!” Vogue yells as she comes into view. “She poisoned the prince!”

Oh shi.t!