Blood Bound

Chapter 4: The Other Side

Chapter Four:

The Other Side

The castle was quiet.

Too quiet.

Devon stood in front of the large window in his room, watching the city below.

There were lights scattered across the streets, but none of them were bright enough to make the darkness disappear.

A knock came at the door.

Devon didn't turn.

"Come in."

The door opened.

A guard stepped inside.

"Prince Devon."

"What?"

"The king wants you in the throne room."

Devon glanced at the clock.

"Now?"

"Yes."

Devon sighed.

"Did he say why?"

"No."

"Of course he didn't."

The guard said nothing.

Devon picked up the black jacket lying across his chair.

As he passed the guard, he stopped.

"Did he look angry?"

The guard hesitated.

"Your father always looks angry."

Devon looked at him.

The guard immediately straightened.

"I mean—"

"I know what you meant."

Devon walked past him.

The throne room doors opened before Devon reached them.

He stepped inside.

His father was standing beside the throne instead of sitting on it.

That alone made Devon slow down.

"You wanted me?"

The king turned.

"Close the doors."

Devon did.

Then he walked toward him.

"What happened?"

"Nothing happened."

"Then why am I here?"

His father looked at him for a moment.

"How much do you know about the first royal bloodline?"

Devon frowned.

"The first?"

"Answer me."

"I know the stories."

"What stories?"

Devon shrugged.

"The original vampires. The first rulers. The bloodline that supposedly had powers stronger than ours."

"Supposedly?"

"Most people think they're dead."

His father said nothing.

Devon looked at him.

"They're not."

The king's expression remained unreadable.

"You're right."

Devon stared at him.

"So they're real?"

"They were."

"Were?"

His father walked toward the window.

"The bloodline was hunted."

"By who?"

"Does that matter?"

"It does if you're asking me about them."

The king turned.

"You're becoming too comfortable questioning me."

Devon gave a small smile.

"You called me here."

His father's eyes narrowed.

Devon's smile disappeared.

"What happened?"

The king walked to a table beside the window and picked up a small photograph.

He held it out.

"Take this."

Devon took it.

He looked at the photograph.

A man.

A woman.

A house.

Nothing unusual.

"Who are they?"

"Her parents."

Devon looked at his father.

"Whose parents?"

The king didn't answer immediately.

Then he said,

"The girl we're looking for."

Devon looked back at the photograph.

"Girl?"

"She's eighteen."

Something in Devon's expression changed.

"She's alive?"

"We believe so."

"After eighteen years?"

"Yes."

Devon turned the photograph over.

There was a name written on the back.

Athena Ludent.

He read it twice.

"Athena."

"That's what she was called."

"What happened to her parents?"

"They were killed."

"By us?"

The king's silence answered the question.

Devon slowly looked up.

"You sent people after them."

"Years ago."

"And they didn't find her?"

"They thought they did."

Devon stared at the photograph.

"So the child survived."

"Apparently."

"Where?"

"Rome."

Devon looked at him.

"Human Rome?"

"How many Romes do you know?"

Devon ignored the comment.

"What does she know?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing?"

"Her parents made sure of that."

Devon looked at the photograph again.

An eighteen-year-old girl.

Living among humans.

Completely unaware that an entire kingdom wanted her dead.

"What exactly am I supposed to do?"

His father stepped closer.

"Find her."

Devon waited.

"And?"

"Kill her."

The room went quiet.

Devon looked down at the photograph.

"Why me?"

"Because you're my heir."

"That's not an answer."

"It is."

"No."

His father stared at him.

Devon held his gaze.

"If she's really as dangerous as you say, send someone experienced."

"I am sending someone experienced."

Devon almost laughed.

"I'm twenty-two."

"And you've been trained for this your entire life."

Devon looked away.

There it was again.

Your entire life.

Every time his father said those words, Devon heard the same thing.

Not you.

Not my son.

The heir.

The future king.

The person who would one day take his place.

Never simply Devon.

His father spoke again.

"Your coronation is approaching."

"I know."

"You need to understand what you're protecting."

"My kingdom."

"Our kingdom."

Devon looked at him.

His father stepped closer.

"If that girl is truly the last descendant of the ancient bloodline, she cannot be allowed to live."

"Why?"

"Because her blood gives her a claim."

"To the throne?"

"To more than the throne."

Devon frowned.

His father lowered his voice.

"That bloodline created this kingdom."

Devon said nothing.

"If she survives long enough to awaken what is inside her, everything we've built could change."

"And you don't want that."

"I won't allow it."

Devon looked at the photograph again.

"She doesn't even know what she is."

"That doesn't make her less dangerous."

Devon looked up.

"Or does it make her easier to kill?"

His father's expression hardened.

"Don't question the order."

Devon slipped the photograph into his jacket.

"When do I leave?"

"Tonight."

Devon raised an eyebrow.

"Tonight?"

"You'll travel with two guards."

"I don't need guards."

"I didn't ask what you need."

Devon nodded slowly.

"Of course."

His father walked away.

Then stopped.

"Devon."

He turned.

"If you find her, don't hesitate."

Devon didn't answer.

His father looked at him.

"Do you understand?"

Devon held his gaze.

"Yes."

"Say it."

Devon's jaw tightened.

"I'll kill her."

The king nodded.

"Good."

Devon turned toward the doors.

"One more thing."

He stopped.

"Yes?"

"Don't trust anyone in Rome."

Devon looked over his shoulder.

"Why?"

"Because if the bloodline has survived this long, someone has been protecting it."

Devon thought about that.

Then he left.

The moment the doors closed behind him, Devon pulled the photograph from his jacket.

He looked at it again.

Athena Ludent.

He knew nothing about her.

He didn't know what she looked like now.

Didn't know where she lived.

Didn't know who had raised her.

Didn't know if she had any idea what was waiting for her.

He folded the photograph and put it away.

A voice came from behind him.

"You're going?"

Devon turned.

A young man was leaning against one of the pillars.

He had been waiting there.

"Apparently."

"Where?"

"Rome."

The man's expression changed.

"Human territory?"

"Yes."

"For how long?"

"Until I find someone."

"Who?"

Devon started walking.

The man followed.

"Devon."

"What?"

"You know you're allowed to tell me."

"I know."

"And?"

"And I'm not going to."

The man sighed.

"You've become impossible."

"I've always been impossible."

"True."

Devon almost smiled.

Almost.

They continued down the hallway.

After a few seconds, the man spoke again.

"Is it dangerous?"

Devon stopped.

He looked at him.

"Probably."

"Then take me with you."

"No."

"Why?"

"Because I said no."

"That's not a reason."

"It's the only one you're getting."

The man rolled his eyes.

"Fine."

Devon started walking again.

Behind them, the castle doors opened as servants began preparing for his departure.

Rome was waiting.

And somewhere in that city, Athena was still living her ordinary life.

She was probably worrying about school.

Maybe talking to Sofia.

Maybe planning the trip.

Maybe sitting in her room with the photograph of her parents.

She had no idea someone was coming for her.

Devon didn't know what he would find when he reached Rome.

He only knew his father's order.

Find Athena Ludent.

Kill her.

He had followed his father's orders his entire life.

This one should have been no different.

But as Devon walked toward the entrance of the castle, he found himself looking back at the photograph one more time.

For the first time, he wondered what kind of person he was being sent to kill.

Then he pushed the thought away.

It didn't matter.

At least, that was what he told himself.