The Queen's Legacy

CHAPTER 6

Samara

Five days had passed and I am still stuck in this place. They might not say it directly to my face but its already evident that Im a prisoner here. Thats what it feels when youre not allowed to go anywhere, I cant even step outside my room.

I only meet Susana and Marizbeth every day. Theyre the maids who change shifts to bring me food, clothes, and necessities. They look about just the same age as me, they cant be more than 25 with those young faces. I wonder if they are studying.

I miss home, I miss my Nanay Indang and Tatay Basilyo. I want to go home but I can't. I am worried about them and my studies as well. I have been absent for so many days, Ive probably failed most of my classes by now. I can't stay like this forever.

It is still too early in the morning but I can't go back to sleep for some reason. The clock reads 6:30 am and I usually wake up around 9:00 am onwards ever since I came to this castle. The maids knock at my door but if I don't open it myself, theyll take the initiative to enter and leave my food at the table.

The meals served to me each day have not once been repeated. A new day means a new set of meals. I don't know if I should be thankful that people here are not starving me. They are giving me delicious foods and also check on my well-being. Guards always patrol at midnight to ensure that everybody is inside. I once saw it when I peeked outside my window.

I took a bath to feel more comfortable. I will just start my day earlier than usual. Since I get bored too often and my room doesnt have many leisure things, to begin with, they decided to give me stuff to be entertained with, even a DVD player. They have technology just like those from where I came from, but this room does not have a TV. I am fine here as long as they let me live, however, keeping me for so many days is not good. Theyre not even benefiting anything from me so I dont understand why they still keep me here instead of setting me free.

I sat in front of the mirror and blew my hair with the hair dryer. My red hair complements my green eyes, thats what many people tell me. Whenever people ask whether my hair is dyed or Im wearing contact lenses, I briefly say that I have foreign blood running through my veins. My Nanay Indang told me that I have European blood from my father. She is not sure if I am half-Swedish or half-German, though.

My brows creased when someone knocked at the door. Luckily, I am already dressed. Theyre knocking too early today. Is there something important or urgent?

When I opened the door Susana smiled at me. I smiled back at her. She handed me the box she is holding. I accepted it and took a peek at whats inside.

A folded black dress is inside. Maybe theres some sort of occasion or the king wants to talk to me. That brightened up my mood. Please, I want to go home. Let it be good news.

"What is this box for?" I asked.

"You will be joining the meeting of the council with the king later, madam. The queen is the one who sent the dress. I also have your breakfast today," Susana answered.

I let her come in. She left the food on my table before leaving. I put the box on the bed and walked to the table to see my meal for today. When I took the cap off, the smell filled the room. Pasta for the morning. I am glad that they have human food here, they are not feeding me blood or something gross.

The creatures around me, these vampires, are finally sinking into my mind. Slowly, Im understanding things. Their existence was beyond my capacity to interfere with so I still find things bizarre. I am peculiar for them but theyre also peculiar for me.

I think that we are from different worlds. That thought made me shiver. When I got here, that was when I felt real fear. Fear for my life and my safety. Fear for those vampires and that Chrollo who tried to kill me.

But I know, from the Samara I used to be when I got here, I will get my self-confidence and bravery back. I will stand on my feet once again. I will do anything to be safe. I will fight when I need to. But in the meantime, I need to cope up with my surrounding. I need to find answers to questions I have and get the clarifications that I want to know.

After eating, I went to the bathroom to brush my teeth. Even though I hate being here, I need to look presentable. They are all dashing creatures. I want to know if they are immortal. Im starting to have an interest in them.

I thought I will not be happy knowing that other creatures exist, but the world is big for all of us. I can't be greedy and not accept that they exist.

Someone knocked at my door again. Just in time because I just finished getting ready. I am wearing a formal black dress. It is a semi-halter dress that has mesh under the skirts.

I wore the sandals and opened the door. I saw Chrollo standing in front of me. I looked down, I cannot stand looking directly into his eyes. The intensity creeps me out.

"Samara Ivy Saxon, you need to come with me. The second meeting with the council will happen within a minute. You need to be there because it is all about you. Come with me if you don't want to be dragged," he said.

He walked away from me. I followed him and let a deep breath out. He is really a jerk. He does not even know how to greet in the morning. If he is a human and shows this attitude to the elderly, they will surely beat him to death because of his rough attitude.

After walking and climbing steps up to the highest floor of this castle, we reached the meeting room. I was exhausted even though the meeting is not starting yet.

When we entered the room everyone's head looked at my way. They scanned me and whispered to each other's ears. Maybe I am a hot topic of the town. My existence here shouldnt have happened in the first place. I don't belong here.

"Have a seat, Samara Ivy. The meeting is about to start," the king said.

A maid escorted me to my seat. It was the chair in front of the king. There are no chairs beside me. All of them are sitting in front.

"So what can you say about her?" the king asked the council.

"She smells ordinary but her beauty is beyond acceptable. If she is a mortal, how can a mortal be this beautiful?" a woman in her middle age asked.

I stopped myself from smirking. Madam, you made me flutter. I know that I am beautiful, no need to say that out loud.

"Well, I don't have a say about that. She looks like a goddess summoned to that black pool. She even caught my eldest son's attention," the king said and eyed Chrollo.

"Never, father. Don't even think about that," the jerk said.

Members of the council kept their stares at me. It makes me uncomfortable but I can't do anything about that.

"Even if I am the one with the best sense of smell, I can't smell anything peculiar from her. But she looks peculiar to me. Aside from her beauty, she can't die, right? Some spells are surely hiding her true nature. Maybe she is something big to hide about. She doesn't even who know her real parents are," a man wearing a robe said.

"But this woman needs to be executed. What if she is from the enemy? They wiped off her memories and when it all comes back, she will do mass destruction to your kingdom. She is no biggie. We can do anything to her," the old man said.

He said it coldly. Like he does not feel any mercy from what he said. Do all vampires act like this? Authoritative and merciless?

They can't kill me, I can't die. I have dreams to reach! I have my own family to feed and take care of!

"We can't do that, Truloco. She is destined to be here, don't you feel it? She died in the mortal world and was then summoned to be here. That can't really happen. Rather, there is a spell cast on her. Also, she appeared in the black pool that used to be the Black Imperial a hundred years back. She is something, my friends. I am suggesting to let her live the life of a vampire. Teach her our culture and when the witches have finally completed studying how to unleash the cast spells, that will be her freedom," the woman in her middle age said.

I don't understand anything. My mind is on a battlefield. It was like my thoughts are killing each other, I dont know who or what Ill believe. Im also starting to ponder whether I am a human, or I am a vampire they are claiming me to be.

"I see. We will let her live. My decision is final for now. Let me write and sum it up all for you to be heard," the king said.

The king wrote on the paper in front of him. I am looking at all of them. The council has six members and not all of them are talking. Some do look like they are not interested and some are only listening. I guess they already have their votes for me from their previous meeting.

"I, Festan Bloodtear, the king of Mezmarat Kingdom, will let Samara Ivy Saxon live. This woman will study at Mezmarat Academy and will learn the culture of the Creature's World as well as our history. We will help her deal with her problems in coming out from her locked-up self. She will also stay in the royal castle under monitoring. Suspicions are circulating about her. The witches wanted to conduct a test on her for the following months. I will notify the vampire council of the updates. I will also hold another meeting soon," the king stated.

The council members stood up. The only woman in the council eyed me and winked. She looks playful. I can't smile nor wave at her because of confusion. I don't know what to say, what to feel, or what to do as of the moment. I can't take everything deep into my mind to process.

"Her mind is floating, father. Should I snap her out again?" Chrollo asked the king.

"Stop being brutal, Chrollo. From now on she will stay here. Try to be nice to her," the king replied.

They all disappeared within a second. I am the only one left in this big, empty room. What should I do now? My mind is still in chaos.