Two
974 Words
My hands clasped behind my back, I marched through the dimly lit corridors, the servants behind me following closely, very alert in case I needed their service. In my dark robe and my hair tied up in a bun, held in place with a dagger, I moved slowly but steadily forward, leaving the royal chambers and heading toward the northern wing, the place where I had ordered the human girl to be kept.
The sound of my boots echoed against the cold stone floor. Torches flickered along the walls, their flames dancing as shadows stretched and shrank across the corridor.
As I walked, I heard distant cries.
I knew, and I was certain, they were from the humans being feasted on.
I inhaled sharply, the scent of fresh blood faintly filling the air. My expression remained unreadable as I continued forward.
We stopped before a large wooden door reinforced with iron chains.
I waited for one of the servants to open the lock. The servant stepped forward quickly, his hands trembling slightly as he unlocked the door. His eyes lifted briefly to my face before dropping again, fear clearly written in them.
I nodded gently.
I saw that all the time.
I was ruthless and showed no mercy.
Even the time I punished the vampire I discovered had sold the secrets of my clan to smaller kingdoms. I had tied him up in chains while the entire kingdom gathered to watch. I ordered the execution machine to lift him into the air before the burning chains slowly pulled his head off.
Amid his tears and cries of repentance, I showed no mercy.
Things like that were meant to teach others never to betray me.
Once forgiven, twice bitten.
And I valued loyalty and respect more than anything else.
The door creaked open.
I stepped inside.
The scent of dust filled my nostrils. The dungeon was dark, damp, and silent except for the faint dripping of water.
Then I turned my neck slightly.
I saw her.
Tied up just as I had instructed.
Her hands stretched above her head, chains wrapped around her wrists and fastened to the wall. Her legs were chained as well.
She looked weak.
Fragile.
Tired.
I walked slowly toward her.
My eyes traveled over her figure, and I noticed the cracks on her lips. She looked almost unconscious. Her head hung low, her mass of brown hair falling forward, partially covering her face.
But I could still see her.
And I felt a small tinge in my chest when I noticed the redness across her cheek.
She had been slapped.
Probably while she tried to act tough like the night before.
I sighed softly and looked away… but my gaze returned to her again.
Then I spoke to the servants behind me.
“Has she had anything to eat?”
My voice came out softer than expected.
Even I was surprised.
The servants exchanged glances, surprise creasing their foreheads. They had probably expected something else, words like take her out or give me her blood.
One cleared his throat.
“We have no human food here, my lord. And we weren’t instructed to… unless you order for it to be made.”
His head remained bowed.
Of course.
We were vampires.
We fed on blood.
Human blood.
Like the one standing before me.
I slowly lifted my hand and placed my fingers beneath her chin. Gently, I lifted her face upward.
Her eyelids trembled.
She was truly weak.
I let my hand drop.
“Get her water. Wine. Hunt for meat. Find a cook in the villages and make her prepare it… or kidnap one. We will need the cook for the meantime. Do as I say. Immediately.”
I spoke without turning.
Two servants nodded quickly.
“Right away, Lord Lucas.”
Their voices shook as they rushed out.
My hand returned to her face.
Then, as if sensing my presence, her eyelids slowly lifted.
Golden eyes.
The same eyes from that night.
Eyes I would admit… I could stare at forever.
But those eyes filled with irritation and disapproval as they met mine.
Her voice came out croaked and weak.
“What do you want?”
I still held her cheek, then slowly lowered my hand. I didn’t speak at first, just stared at her.
Minutes passed.
Then I spoke.
“I’m the reason you’re tied up in chains… hurting you.”
“To hell with all of you,” she cried weakly, tears sliding down her cheeks.
I continued like she hadn’t spoken.
“You’re in my possession now. That means… I own you. Your life is in my hands. I could suck you dry right now.”
She flinched.
Fear flickered in her golden eyes.
“Go ahead… do it,” she whispered, her voice dim. Her eyes watered. It looked like she had already accepted her fate.
“But I wouldn’t. Not now,” I continued.
“Sooner or later.”
My eyes dropped briefly to her dress before returning to her face.
“Food and drink will be made available to you soon. Eat it to regain strength. Until then… we will talk. You look like you would faint any time soon.”
I didn’t want that.
But I didn’t say it aloud.
“To hell with your food,” she spoke, pain evident in her voice.
“You will eat the food… then we will talk,” I repeated.
I turned away.
This feeling in my chest…
It wasn’t real.
Her pain made something inside me boil.
I stopped when I heard her quiet voice.
“I would kill you.”
I slowly turned my head back toward her, chained, weak, barely standing.
“If you don’t die first,” I replied calmly.
Our eyes locked.
Then I turned…
And left the room.
- Writer
