Alpha Lucas
I stood before the mirror, my black cloak falling heavily over my shoulders. My left hand rested behind my back, while my other hand twirled slowly, dark smoke curling from my fingers.
The tall mirror reflected me perfectly. The frame was crafted from polished human bones, one of the rarest possessions in my empire. My pale face stared back at me, unsmiling, emotionless.
I was Alpha Lucas, the king of the most powerful vampire empire in the history of vampirekind.
After defeating the Twelve Deadly Empires, I had gained powers no other vampire possessed. Shape-shifting into mist. Reading minds. Commanding forbidden magic. Even the proud vampire clan Outrous — the highest of all vampire clans, had no choice but to crown me their king.
I had it all.
For more than three hundred years, I had risen from nothing, a mere immortal, conquering them all.
Flashes of my deadly battles crossed my mind. Blood. Fire. Screams. Kingdoms falling at my feet.
Slowly, I opened my eyes again and stared into the mirror.
Eyes dark like charcoal. The same as my hair, long, wavy black strands falling over my shoulders, which I had let loose moments ago.
My lips were red. So red, as though I had just feasted on human blood.
My gaze dropped to them before lifting again to meet my own reflection. My fingers still twirled, dark mist dancing around them.
I could cause a volcano to erupt at will if I wanted to.
That was how powerful I had become. There was no magic I couldn’t summon from nothing. No magic I couldn’t escape.
Then I paused.
Voices.
They entered my mind before they even reached my door.
“Would he be in?”
“We need to suck them dry.”
“Oh, how I crave the blood in my fangs.”
“Do you think he’s in?”
Another voice followed.
Three of them.
Juke. Bon. Zeus.
I allowed myself to continue reading their minds.
I stood in my chamber, the king’s chamber. The largest room in the palace.
A large bed I rarely slept on. Tall windows overlooking dark, swirling clouds. Massive wardrobes filled with royal black cloaks bearing my insignia. The room was magnificent, elegant in a very dark way.
I changed its furnishings every week. I grew bored too quickly looking at the same things.
The chamber of a powerful ruler.
I stopped twirling my fingers and clasped my hands behind my back, awaiting their presence. My eyes remained fixed on my reflection.
My face showed no laughter.
I couldn’t remember the last time I had smiled. Or laughed.
Nothing amused me.
Nothing ever would.
A knock sounded.
The door opened.
Footsteps followed.
I inhaled slowly before turning toward the three immortal men staring carefully at me, as though unsure whether their presence was welcomed.
The moment our eyes met, they bowed immediately. Fear laced their expressions. Of course they feared me.
Their king.
“Lord Lucas,” Zeus began. He stood at the front, his black coat flowing to the ground. Slowly, he lifted his head to meet my gaze.
“We came with a message.”
I read his mind. He wondered if I already knew of their arrival. I did.
But I remained silent.
I was patient enough to let him finish.
“The humans we took into possession are yet to be sucked dry. We await your orders, Alpha Lucas, after yesterday’s hunt. The blood bank is almost empty. We need fresh blood.”
He was the only one brave enough to raise the matter after I had ordered them not to feast on the captured humans, one hundred and seventy-two villagers from the western town.
Juke spoke next, his posture rigid.
“Especially the young lady that shouted at you, our king. She had the nerve to disrespect you. She would taste great. It would be our pleasure to suck her dry. Just give the order, my lord.”
Bon added quickly,
“We need to act fast and kill her. If word reaches the lower clans that an ordinary human girl spat on our lord, we would be mocked. None of us wants that. It is best they hear of her painful death.”
“I can’t wait to tear her skin with my fangs and watch her cry,” Zeus added, his voice filled with hatred.
He had been shocked when I ordered her chained in the royal prison instead of killing her. That was unlike me. I was quick to punish wrongdoers.
The human girl had spent only one day in the vampire kingdom, weak, chained, and forbidden to be touched.
He despised humans.
Mere mortals.
I looked at Zeus, then Bon, then Juke. I read their minds before finally speaking.
“Go ahead. Suck them dry. All of them. Fill the blood banks. Bring some to me. I’m hungry.”
Excitement flashed across their faces.
“But…”
They waited.
“Do not touch the girl in chains.”
Juke blinked in disbelief. He glanced at the others before speaking.
“Pardon me, my lord, but she should be the first to be sucked dry. She shouldn’t still have life in her.”
“Not after what she did to you,” he continued. “She called you names no one dares utter. Even vampires would die instantly.”
His body trembled slightly. He was not used to holding himself back. Especially when he wanted to kill.
And I remembered.
Last night.
The village.
My men feasting on humans. Screams filling the air. Bodies dragged into trucks.
Then her.
White dress. Brown hair. Golden eyes. Caramel skin.
She almost fell when she was dragged, but I caught her.
When I stared into her face, the world shifted.
Something unfamiliar stirred within me.
“Oh, to hell with you, demon!” she shouted. “Let me go! You’re despicable, all of you!”
She spat on my face.
My men froze.
No one had ever done that.
I remembered wiping my face slowly, still staring at her.
But what I felt…
Was different.
“Do as I command,” I said slowly. “Feast on all the humans. But leave the girl.”
My gaze hardened on Juke.
He quickly bowed.
“Yes, Lord Lucas.”
The others followed.
They exchanged glances before turning and leaving my chamber.
And once the door closed, I found myself staring back at the mirror again…
Still thinking about the human girl who dared to spit on a king… and lived.
