The Princess Blood Slave

Prologue

The Princess Blood Slave.

Book #1/6 of The Bloodlust Series.

A Paranormal Fantasy Novel

Written by Periwinkle.

Prologue.

»»—♡—««

“there is madness

in the falling.

even more so

in the catch,

never knowing

if you’ll be destroyed

by hitting rock bottom,

or saved by loving arms

at last.”

— rosemarie baker

»»—♡—««

Showered with a heavy feeling, Arth sucked in a deep breath and then let out a loud gasp.

“What in the bloody hell?” She groaned, finding her voice. Arth gulped down in the midst of her dry throat and croaky voice.

Upon opening her eyes, Arth immediately reached for her throbbing head as she tried to ease the pain. Then reached another free hand to her hammering heart. However, massaging her temple did not even help to subside the soreness that she was feeling nor clenching a hand to her heart made her heart beat at a normal pace, making her halt from her actions.

More so, it seemed like it had only worsened her situation.

Squinting her marble grey orbs to the attire that she was wearing, Arth immediately wondered why she was wearing a villager's clothes and not her usual long dresses that had always filled her wardrobe. Aside from that, her dresses were always colorful and vibrant unlike the one that she’s currently wearing right now, which is in the shade of brown. 

Lifting her hand to her neck, Arth’s eyes widened knowing that it felt bare. A surge of panic hastily settled in her as she found out that she was not wearing any jewelry and accessories in her body. 

Even her beloved shiny tiara was not on her head.

“I will be damned once father finds out about this.” She murmured to herself, still trying to find her voice.

Surely, the day was turning into a rather bizarre one since whenever she is inside their palace, her maids and servants would never overlook that fact. All of her maids never missed latching on jewelries and accessories on her, seemingly like it was a daily look for her.

After all, Arth Margaux Wfauzhle is a princess.

That being said, why is she wearing some common clothes without her knowledge? Did Alyanna, her lady-in-waiting, change her clothes when she was asleep?

No, that would be a difficult task to do and Alyanna is well aware of the fact that Arth did not want to be touched without her permission.

Or did she go to the village again and then pass out when she came back to the palace?

That could be entirely the case. Since Arth had always been fond of going in and out of the palace even without her parent’s knowledge.

Arth could not remember no matter how hard she tried to recall the events before she had woken up but to no avail, all she could remember was the date that she had been waiting for such a long time now. 

What bothered her more was the fact that she was lying on the ground with bundles of grass and meadows scattered on the cold cemented floor to at least provide a soft texture rather than the rough cold ground. Despite that, she still felt uncomfortable so she prompted a hand to raise herself up from where she was lying.

As a princess, Arth was accustomed to the fact that all beds or sofas in the palace were as soft as cotton. Something that her frail body wanted to experience right as of this moment. All the days that she had taken that for granted just to sleep on her bedroom floor automatically made her frown.

“Where am I even?” She whispered to herself, trying to get a hold of the situation.

The mere fact that her body felt weak as of the moment did not help it to be an easier process. Arth stumbled on the ground as she tried to balance herself but just ended up falling on the ground once more causing her to let out a groan.

“Ugh,” She winced as she tried moving her body. “Alyanna, what’s happening?” she called out, trying to summon her lady-in-waiting but no one answered. Then, she tried calling for her personal knight, “Sir Frederick? Are you there? I could use some help right now.” Yet, there was also no response. 

It was as though she was left alone in some dark room that she had no knowledge of.

Feeling defeated as ever, she literally has no other choice but to let the fatigue take control of her body. So instead, she just raised her head as she gazed around the place. Her eyes were welcomed with a dim torch lit place that seemed to look like a dungeon and she could smell something awful as she scrunched up her nose. Moreover, she was inside one of the cells in this dungeon, having no means of escape. Not that she was about to, knowing that her body was even weak to do so.

This place definitely does not look like the dungeon in their kingdom.

“Where am I?” She continued to ask herself as she gazed around the place. With much determination in her system, she prompted herself forcefully to be able to clearly glance at her surroundings. 

As she did, Arth took a mental note of the fact that there were more cells lined up next to her and even in front of her and due to the dimness of the place, she couldn’t see well. The few torches provided in the place did not really give much of a help to her eyes.

What she did not expect was to hear someone answered back, just a cell away from her. Turning her eyes in such a haste towards the owner of the voice.

“You’re in Kingston's dungeon.” Seemingly a woman in her mid-thirties had answered her question. The woman’s voice was stern and clipped, as if she just answered Arth’s question due to the fact that she was annoyed by her.

Arth also immediately noticed how the woman’s voice sounded hoarse. As if she was either too tired from screaming or her mouth was too dry due to lack of water.

Now, she felt like she needed some too.

Averting her eyes to the owner of the voice, Arth somewhat observed her appearance despite the dimness in the place. The woman had brunette hair that’s about shoulder length. The bags under her eyes were visible even in the dark, like she had not slept for days.

In an instant, Arth’s forehead was knitted together in confusion. “Kingston?” She repeated, trying to remember if the name was familiar. However, seconds passed by and she could not quite grasp if she knew someone with that name.

“Yes, in Kingston Castle.” The woman replied in a matter-of-fact tone as if she was mocking Arth that she did not know who the Kingstons were.

I do not know any Kingston. Why am I even in this kind of place? Arth thought to herself. 

She wanted to blurt it out but suppressed herself since she did not want to start an argument with someone that she had met. Arth released a sigh, not grasping the event that’s taking place right in front of her. 

How did she even end up here? 

All she remembered was she had a date earlier and was to retire in her bedroom but then she suddenly woke up in this sort of place. 

On most days that she does not have any idea of what is going on, Alyanna is always there to help her understand things as she is the one who handles every matter for her as well as her schedule for the day. However, now that Alyanna is nowhere in sight, Arth does not have any idea how she ended up in this dungeon.

“You must be new here.” The woman softly uttered but Arth still managed to hear it. “You are a new face.” She added.

With her words, Arth was uncertain how to reply.

How can she be a newbie in a kingdom that she partly rules? 

Despite the fact that she is said to be in Kingston’s dungeon, she is still in the House of Wfauzhle, right?

“Uhh, this is where I live. Maybe they just changed the whole dungeon’s interior and decided to call it another name without my knowledge.” Arth let out an embarrassed laugh, “I tend not to meddle with such affairs.” She added, quite sternly as if imposing her position in the palace.

Despite the torch that was the only light that was provided in the place, Arth could definitely see the baffled look on the woman’s face after she was done talking. It was either she had no idea what Arth was babbling about or that she thinks Arth must be crazy.

“If you live here, why are you inside a cell in this dungeon?” The woman asked, her eyebrow raised and there was a hint of doubt in her eyes. “Did you do something wrong to end up in this place? Have you sinned?” The brunette queried, causing a swirl of emotion on Arth’s heart.

Of course the woman would be curious. 

If Arth claimed that she lived in the Kingston Castle, would not the last place for her to be is inside a cell in the dungeon? 

Not unless she had the same faith as her.

“I guess you are like me.” This time, Arth noticed how sullen her voice sounded like. “You must be a juice bank too.”

The moment that Arth heard the word, her brows were knitted together and her lips were pursed into a thin line. It was definitely the first time that she even heard of that word. New to her ears, she could not help but ask.

“Juice bank?” She repeated, trying to familiarize with the words. “What is that?” Arth queried.

Letting out a heap of laughter, the woman could not contain her emotions. “You are really new here. I am sure of it.” She muttered with a hint of craziness plastered on her face. She even held a hand to her face as if she was wiping some invisible tears from her eyes because of too much laughter.

“No, you must be mistaken. I should not be here.” Arth answered, now the eerie and creepy atmosphere settled inside her. However, she immediately tried to shake off the feeling.

Arth, there is nothing to be creeped out about. She reminded herself like a mantra so her mind and body would feel comforted. It was a way for her to calm herself down whenever she is in a bad situation.

The woman snorted, “All of us should not be here but look at us now.” Based on the tone of her voice, there was bitterness laced into it. Like she hated being in here. In the first place, who would even want to settle in such a dark and smelly dungeon?

Why is she even here to begin with?

“I… I should call Alyanna, maybe she knows what is happening?” Arth mumbled to herself but enough for the woman to hear. 

Before the woman could answer, another one cleared her throat. Arth averted her eyes toward that particular person. As her eyes settled on her, she took note of the fact that she seemed to be visibly looking younger. The color of her hair is what stood out most for Kara for it was in the hue of red. Arth also assumed that she is the same age as her. 

“Who are you talking about?” The girl questioned but before Arth could even utter a reply, the girl continued. “Honey, you have been here for three days, unconscious. I even thought you are already dead.” She added, immediately causing turmoil in Arth’s emotions.

Her hands began to shake when Arth heard the statement, “T-that… that c-can not be right.” She stammered, unable to form words into a sentence.

Arth never felt like this. The emotions surging inside her body is something that she did not ever want  to experience. She had always been the one that controlled her emotions. 

Not the other way around.

The woman who was talking earlier that thought Arth was crazy, was now silent as she looked over the two and eavesdropped on their conversation. She let out a snicker, annoyed at the fact that she was even inside this place.

Shaking her head sideways, the red haired girl implied a disagreement. “It is true, hun. And now that you have awakened, I am certain as hell that you are the next juice bank for the prince.” 

Even though Arth’s mind was on a haywire and her small body shaking in anxiety she still mustered up some courage to ask. “What does that even mean?” Her heart was hammering rapidly inside her chest.

 “Honey, you are a human blood slave for the royal vampires.”

In an instant, Arth let out such a loud laughter that those on the other cells were now looking at her as if she was a crazy person.

The odd one out.

Earlier she was shaking in her tracks but upon hearing such a hilarious comment from the red haired girl, she just could not contain her laughter that erupted in the dungeon. Almost everyone in the cell had woken up by it and there were new people who were now eavesdropping with their conversations.

“Is this some kind of sitcom?” Arth had uttered in between laughs. “This is for sure a gold one. I should give this one to you, Arden. This one is really funny.” She yelled, calling out to her older brother in the crowd as if he will magically appear and told her that he’s just pulling some prank on her.

However a full minute had passed without no one answering back to her and the laughter on her face immediately vanished. “Arden? Alyanna? Frederick?” She screamed, calling out to the people she knew. “This is not funny anymore! Get me out of here!” 

Frantic was an understatement. 

For once in her life she felt unsafe and there was no one she knew that could possibly help her subside the emotions that she was feeling.

“Arden! Father will be mad at you. Come right here this instant!” Arth yelled once again, her voice resonating inside the place and the others were looking at her with a pitiful look on their faces.

A man who had woken up in his cell turned to face the screaming and frantic Arth, “You should lower your voice, child. If the royal guards hear you, they might immediately take you out.” He warned, a fatherly tone lingering in his voice.

In an instant, she had thought of her father. Arth bets that the king is pissed right now because she is away from them doing god knows what.

The moment that Arth averted her gaze to the man, she noticed how pale he was as if there’s no blood left in his system. It gave her an eerie feeling again.

How is that possible?

“No,” Arth mumbled, “No, you must have been mistaken. I am the firstborn daughter of King Anthony Wfauzhle and Queen Margareth Wfauzhle. I am a princess and I have no right to be here!” She barked at everyone, her voice rising in another octave. “For sure my family is looking for me and whoever placed me here will be punished!” Arth added as she was now confident that her family was looking for her.

The same girl who told Arth that she had been here for three days had dared to speak once again. “We had never heard of such names, honey. The King who ruled this place is King Arthur and Queen Jane Kingston.” The brunette woman answered, clipped.

Arth was shaking her head vigorously as if not accepting that she was hearing. “N-no.. no, that can not be right. This is an act of treason! I’m a princess!”

The other humans who were watching in their cells were looking at Arth with confusion. Others were thinking that she is just lunatic and did not bother to join the conversation and just minded their own business even though there is nothing to be even busy inside a cell.

It is like this does not happen everyday.

For those who had been a juice bank for the vampires for quite longer than others, it was not new to their eyes to witness another scene like this. A lot had already begged for their freedom and were still held captive and were still a blood slave as of today.

Just like everyone else in the dungeon, they all experienced the same exact emotions that Arth was feeling right now. And they were all letting her to express her emotions until she calmed down. The screaming will never help her in any way. 

They all knew that.

But still, they are giving her that privilege in order to vent out her emotions. After all, as soon as she meets her vampire master, there is no way in hell she can act like this anymore.

As soon as her cries dried on her face and her voice was hoarse from all the screaming and crying that she had done, a voice called out for her.

“What is your name, honey?” The red-haired girl had asked, trying to show some compassion to the Arth even though she had already taken note of what the newbie’s name was. She had been screaming it for numerous times already, of course it would immediately stick to her mind.

Gulping down the scream that wanted to erupt from her mouth, Arth managed to calm down her mind. “My n-name is Arth Margaux Wfauzhle, I’m the firstborn princess in the Zeindall Kingdom.” She uttered, voice still wavering but still, managed to finish her words.

The red-haired girl offered a soft smile in her direction, “Hello there, Princess Arth. I’m Minari Dyer but you can call me Mina for short.” The smile never left her face. It was sincere though, something that Arth had immediately taken note of.

It is not like she will meet a kind and genuine person everyday in her life.

“Where am I, Mina?” Arth dared to ask even though the answer might cause another turmoil in her head and in her heart.

For she had never been away from their kingdom. 

Sure, her parents let her wander off in the city and socialize with the villagers but aside from that; she never ventured outside their kingdom. Moreover, she was always accompanied by Alyanna, her lady-in-waiting, Sir Frederick, her personal knight, and along with other royal knights to keep her safe.

But now, she is all alone in a place she is not familiar with.

“In Kingston’s Castle, honey.” Minari answered and the second she noticed that Arth’s forehead was knitted together, she spoke once again. “We’re in the Vladyn Kingdom, the land of the vampires.”

She tried to ransack her brains if she was aware of such a place but to no avail, Arth knew that she had never heard of such a place before. Not even in the books that she had read or in the map of the Zeindall Kingdom.

One thing for sure, Arth is aware that everyone in here is a human. Aside from that, Arth does not believe in anything paranormal. So she was wondering whose kingdom had dared to kidnap her out of the Zeindall Kingdom. As far as she can remember, there are a lot of other royalties in their land that considered the House of Wfauzhle as a rival and had always wanted to take them down. It was something that had always been present even before she was born.

War ensues when power is involved.

Since Zeindall Kingdom is the whole ruler of all in the Mortal Realm, a lot considered them as an enemy.

But this is the first time that Arth’s life was put in danger.

Her parents made sure that every one of their children was very well protected and safe. She had lived twenty years of her life without any threat in her way.

Not until today.

“Vampires are not real.” Arth was quick to answer, shrugging off Minari’s words.

Minari sighed and then showed Arth her neck. There were two holes on her neck and just by the look of it, the wound still hurts as there’s small patches of blood lingering around the area. 

A bite mark.

“I am afraid that in this realm, they are real.” She trailed, remembering the creatures that had always been the reason why she can’t sleep at night. “They are evil and they suck humans for blood as their source of food and energy.  We can not escape this place, Arth… I have been here for a week now.” She paused as her heart clenched in pain. “And I do not  think I will have much time left.” The red-haired girl added.

Arth shivered in her place and then hugged herself while still on the ground as if it would produce enough heat for her body. “Maybe there are good ones, they could help us escape.” She muttered not losing any ounce of hope.

She needed to get out of here badly. 

Wherever she is currently being held captive, Arth is determined to get out of this place alive.

One way or another.

“Honey, in this place; no one makes it out alive.”

Looking around the place, Arth was seeing if anyone had another different opinion than Minari but when they met Arth’s eyes, all of them were looking away. It was a clear indication from them that what Minari uttered was nothing but a fact. She could feel it even in the lingering eerie atmosphere in the room.

“Just to warn you, Arth. You need to avoid the Vampire Prince at all costs.” Minari softly muttered, afraid that someone outside would hear them.

Princess Arth gulped, “Why is that?” She asked, completely getting nervous of what Minari was going to say. “Is he going to kill me?” Arth added, seemingly impatient to hear Minari’s warning.

“His last juice bank did not even last a day for him. He is known to be an evil vampire. The scariest of them all, even the Vampire King can not sustain him for being a demon.” Minari had continued, informing Arth of what dangers it would lead her if the Vampire Prince is his master.

As if on cue, the huge metal door opened and revealed two guards and almost immediately both of their eyes landed on Arth’s cell and the moment that they saw her now conscious, they both exchanged smiles on their faces, their fangs showing in display.

Both vampire guards walked towards Arth’s cell and then stopped in front of the door. Looking at the both of them, Arth immediately noticed how the two of them looked so pale. 

Like there is no blood circulating in their systems. 

“You are finally awake. Prince Jaeden has been waiting for his juice bank all day.”