Sold to the Billionaire Vampire

Missing

Back at the Palace

The Queen turned around and couldn’t find Talia anywhere in the hall. Fear gripped her

"Guards! I can't find the princess. Where is she? I need to see her immediately. Find her!" She ordered.

"Yes, your majesty!" The man snapped a sharp salute and motioned to his guards to fan out to follow the Queen' command.

With the guards searching, Queen Agatha went to look for the King. She found him about to leave the main hall and head toward the stair

“Your Majesty!” Queen Agatha shouted. He paused, turning to look at her, and she rushed toward him immediately.

“You look worried, my dear” he said, noticing the Queen's furrowed brows and sweaty palms.

“Where is our daughter?” she questioned, her voice shrill.

“Why are you bothering the little girl? Today is her wedding. Let her have her day to herself. Go find something else to do,” he spat with disgust.

"You’re talking like you’re not aware she’s missing!”

“Missing? How can she be missing? She’s probably with her husband in their own quiet place. He is an attractive man. ,” he said.

She looked at him in exasperation. “But how are you sure about that?! She was against this marriage. She was scared to death. I doubt she'd go off alone with him before she was forced to.”

“Agatha, let me be. I’ve had a long day, and my old bones need a rest.” He turned and continued his way upstairs.

The Queen rubbed her temples, her worry deepening. She hoped what the king said was true. Maybe Draco had taken their daughter out of the palace, and they were just having some alone time outside.

Soon, the guards who had been searching for Talia came back. One of them made a low bow before speaking.

“My Queen, we were informed that the princess was taken away from the palace by her husband. The guards outside witnessed the man taking her into a vehicle, and he drove her away.”

“What?!” The Queen’s eyes bulged in shock. Her hands flew to her lips. “He has taken my daughter already? They didn’t stop him? What were the guards doing? Sleeping??”

The man looked chagrined. “We don’t know, My Queen.”

“Oh no! No, no, no. Something is wrong. I feel it!” She muttered to herself in a panic and turned her back to the stairs.

Her heart drummed in her chest as she hurriedly took the stairs to find the king and convince him to help her.

*******

After Molly escaped from the palace guards, she walked for hours. Finally, she found a resting spot, a large rock next to another large river. She lowered herself to the rock, dipping her legs into the river.

“I can’t go back to the palace now,” she grumbled to herself. “And I can’t go back home either. What am I saying? I don’t have a home, a family, or a friend.” She snorted and heaved a big sigh.

“Where am I supposed to stay? it'll be dark soon” she continued to mutter.

“I just hope Talia actually listened to me. I hope she refused to marry that man. I just hope... I hope everything is okay at the palace now. I risked everything for her, but I'd do it again,” she sniffed, tears welling up in her eyes.

She tried to laughed through her tears, trying to hold back the flood of emotions. She wiped at her face. "These tears are not going to do you any good, Molly," she chastised herself.

She wiped away her tears and sighed once more, her legs continuing to run freely in the river. Soon, a strange scent filled the air, and her sixth sense quickly awakened. She was gifted with the ability to notice even the slightest changes in her surroundings, especially when danger was near. And right now, she could feel it—danger was approaching.

Despite the pleasantness of the scent, it was unfamiliar, something she had never sensed before. As the scent faded, the feeling should have dissipated but it didn't disappear. She still felt the danger lurking. Molly hesitated, torn between standing up and running for her life or staying still and dismissing her instincts.

With another blink of her eye, a hand grabbed her face. Her scream was muffled by a damp cloth covered her mouth and nose. Molly struggled, not able to see anything for a few seconds as the strong hand squeezed harder, suffocating her. She quickly realized her strength was no match for the person holding her—he was ten times stronger than her, and her struggle seemed pointless.

Soon, her screams grew fainter, her arms and legs became numb, and she passed out in the man’s strong grip.

****

Talia stirred, a soft moan escaping her lips before her dark lashes fluttered open. Her eyes darted about wildly, a mixture of confusion and fear in their depths as she tried to remember what had happened. Her eyes finally settled on Draco, her body tensing at his nearness. She stifled a cry. Her nightmare was real then.

“Where are we? What happened?” she asked, her voice soft and strained, her head throbbing with pain.

“You passed out. You were being dramatic,” Draco stated matter-of-factly, his words devoid of any concern or compassion.

Talia blushed, embarrassed by her display of weakness. She couldn’t believe how helpless she had become; how she went from a pampered princess to a unwilling bride in just a few short hours.

"Passed out?" she said, her voice filled with disbelief. “I’ve never passed out before.” Her words came out in a weak whisper.

Draco chuckled, the sound low and almost cruel. "Well, there's a first time for everything, isn't there?”

She fell silent and looked away, studying the unfamiliar surroundings through the car's window. The once beautiful green pastures that surrounded her home were now replaced with unfamiliar gray concrete, imposing structures, and the noise of moving objects. She was so out of her element. She couldn't believe she was away from her home. Away from everything she knew.

"Where are we going?" she asked, hoping he’d give her a straight answer this time without deflection.

“You’ll see when we get there,” he replied, his tone again cold and dismissive.

Talia, frustrated with being kept in the dark, looked back at him, anger flaring. "Why are you so mean to me? After all, you're the one who made me marry you." she challenged, trying to sound braver than she felt.

Draco raised a brow, his gaze turning icy. "Mean? Is that what you think?” he asked, his tone laced with a sharpness that made her shudder.

She didn’t answer, keeping her gaze locked on him. The silence settled between them, thick and uncomfortable as she realized she had asked a question that had no answer.

Draco, feeling the first hints of irritation about her, started the car again, pulling back into the road without another word, his focus on the traffic. He hated it when people challenged him, and her questions held a hint of defiance that surprised him.

They drove for several long moments without speaking another word, and eventually, Talia’s curiosity got the better of her; she couldn’t help but stare out of the car window as they exited the gray, and more of her natural surroundings presented itself again.

“What’s that?” she asked, pointing to a particularly odd building as it came into view.

Draco sighed deeply, his patience clearly running thin. "It's a building. A very tall one, at that."

Talia looked back at him, annoyed with his unwillingness to simply answer a question. "I know, but, what is it for?"

“People live there. Many families, all together,” he explained, his voice holding a hint of sarcasm.

“Like the palace?” she asked with renewed interest.

He chuckled in response. “No, nothing like the palace.”

Talia wanted to ask more questions, but she could tell she was irritating him. It felt better, for now, to be silent. She sank back in her seat, her mind racing with questions and fears as she watched her new world fly past her window.

They pulled off the main road and began to travel on smaller, less well-kept streets, the city giving way to wooded areas again. As they passed through a set of tall, black wrought-iron gates, Talia’s eyes grew wide.

“What is this place?” she asked, her voice a mere whisper as if afraid to break the quiet spell that had fallen over them both.

The car stopped within the grounds, in a wide expanse of black rocks. The structure in front of her appeared imposing and cold, nothing like the warmth of her home nor like the concrete building she had seen earlier. It was clearly some sort of castle, but it looked cold, unfriendly, and full of secrets.

“This is our home, Talia. Welcome,” Draco said, his tone a combination of control and coldness, the word 'home' feeling alien and foreign when spoken by him.

Talia wanted to run, all of her senses screaming at her to turn and run for the hills away from this horrible man and his horrible castle. But she knew her perfect princess life and warm, loving home were a distant dream now. Her parents had abandoned her. Sold her off like a prized mare. That was a truth she had to accept.

Draco got out of the car and went around to her side, opening her door with a flourish as if presenting a prized possession to his castle rather than the other way around. Stepping out of the car, she looked up at the huge structure, observing the large black stone blocks, the high, imposing towers, and all the various and windows hiding their unknown watchers.

The castle looked ancient and terrifying, and she couldn’t help but imagine the horrors she would find inside. It was nothing like her beautiful palace, surrounded by stunning gardens, smiling courtiers, people she knew.

She looked over at him...her husband. The word made her cringe. “I don’t like it here,” she declared, trying to mask her fear by filling her voice with defiance.

Draco flashed her the semblance of a smile, his eyes glinting like obsidian as he looked over at her. "That's unfortunate, but that’s quite alright. You don't have to like it. It's your new home anyway." His words were like a sharp blow, reminding her that her feelings had no validity.

He extended his hand, his gloved fingers hovering in the air as he waited for her to take it, his intention clear; she had no choice but to obey. Talia stood her ground, her gaze steady as she refused to move. She wanted to push him, to make him feel guilt for what he was doing but she knew it was hopeless. He was huge and ancient and she was just a small, weak girl. Her defiance, for all its bravery and fire, was meaningless.

He took a step closer, and she finally gave up. She reluctantly placed her hand in his, the touch sending a strange flutter of nervous anticipation down her spine.

He gripped her hand tightly and pulled her closer as if he could feel her fear, their bodies so close that he could feel her trembling. It was like he fed off that fear. "Let's go inside, shall we?"

Draco led her toward the heavy wooden doors, two imposing guards on either side, opening them with a creak that sounded like a bad omen. The foyer was vast and dark, with tall ceilings and marble floors, the cold reflecting the feeling in her heart back at her. It was decorated with dark tapestries, intricate carvings, and strange-looking furniture which left her feeling overwhelmed.

As her new husband led her further into the castle, Talia felt as if the darkness itself was swallowing her whole.

“Where are my rooms?” Talia asked, her voice coming out shaky and full of a new fear.

Draco turned to face her. His touch, which had felt like a burning fire, now felt like ice. "Your rooms? No, my love, we will be sharing a bedroom."

Talia’s eyes widened with shock. “Sharing a bedroom?” she sputtered, feeling almost sick at the unexpected reveal.

“What, you thought you’d have your own rooms? This isn’t your little life anymore. Not now, that you’re mine.” he moved even closer, their bodies nearly touching as he looked down again, forcing her to look up to meet his gaze. If this wasn't going to be the docile princess he had expected, it was going to make things more interesting.

Talia's heart hammered in her chest, her thoughts a jumbled mix of anger and fear. She didn’t know how she could survive living under this man’s oppressive power. Her breaths came in quicker pants, her chest rising and falling. Her world had officially crashed and burned.

“You have no right!” she protested, her voice rising in a desperate attempt to assert that she wasn't just an item to be possessed.

Draco chuckled, the sound cold and devoid of humor. “I have every right. You’re my wife, now. You belong to me.” His words were like the click of a lock, sealing her fate in his hands.

She tried to slow her breathing, feeling the panic rising in her. She did not want to pass out in front of this man again. She had hoped that this was all a terrible nightmare that she could wake up from, but now, the reality of her horrible fate began to settle in, and she wanted to be anywhere else.

"I’m not yours, I don’t belong to anyone but myself," Talia said, her voice stronger than expected.

Draco stared down at her, a strange look in his eyes, his lips turned up in a slight smirk.

“Oh, you do belong to someone, little princess. Me. You are my wife," he said, and then his expression changed. "And the quicker you realize that the better it will go for you. I am your master.”

With that declaration out of the way he released her hand. “Let’s go see our room now.” Draco turned and walked away, leaving Talia standing alone in the foyer, assuming she would follow.

She stood for a few more moments, completely stunned as she absorbed his words. Her body was shaking from fear and indignation, her heart pounding in her chest so hard she was seeing dark spots at the edges of her vision. Her life was over.

She knew that there was no hope for her left with this man, and she should began to accept her fate. With one last breath, she followed after him, into the darkness of her new home.