THE BRIDE OF THE MORTAL VAMPIRE

Chapter One

“You should not be here,” I mumbled to myself as I walked further into the territory. This was the deserted territory between the Witch Kingdom of Lunara and the Vampire Dominion of Noctis. Not a soul found its way here but trouble seekers. But I needed the moonflowers. They just flourished here, between our worlds where magic was free and unconstrained. Without them, my healing potion would not work.

My eyes were on the ground, and I was searching among the dead grass for the silver petals that shone faintly in the afternoon light.

“ One dozen more," I swallowed the tensing words as a twig snapped behind me.

I stood still, and my hand instinctively reached to the dagger at my belt. Slowly, I turned around.

There were three figures on the fringe of the trees. However, they were not witches. Their eyes were flushed red rather than the normal dark brown. They moved in an unnatural , predatory way. Rogue vampires. The type that had gone mad and fed on anyone they saw.

I put my basket down, and lifted my hands, and called my magic to my fingers.

Stay back, I said, and my voice was steadier than I was.

The rogues didn't listen. They were scattered round and round, circling me. Hunting. I was prey to them. Nothing more.

The largest one lunged first.

I hurled a torrent of magic at it and hurled it round a tree. But the other two continued to come—one on the left, one on the right.

I spun and threw more magic. I hit one but missed the other. The claws of the rogue tore a hole in my arm, through my sleeve. I shrieked, and the pain ran through me. Blood soaked into my dress.

The first of the rogues was already rising again. Once more, all three circled round, a little tighter. My magic was good; however, three rogue vampires I could not fight on my own. I was going to die here.

Then a giant thing crashed into the biggest rogue on the side. Another vampire. Taller, more imposing. Its mantle fell like darkness, and eyes were flashing with silver in the shadows.

The black man tore down the villain with savage effectiveness. The ruffian had no chance. In a few seconds it was on the ground, dead.

The other two attempted to outnumber the newcomer. Nevertheless, the vampire was swifter than I had ever seen before. Rapid. Deadly. Elegant in a terrifying way. It avoided their attacks and retaliated with accuracy. One of the rogues was killed, and its throat was cut. The latter attempted to escape but was apprehended before it could escape.

There was a silence in the clearing. There were three corpses of the rogues on the ground. And in the midst of them stood the dark vampire, heaving slowly, with his silver eyes piercing the dark light.

I should have run. But I couldn't move. Couldn't look away.

The vampire turned to face me.

Our eyes met.

Silver eyes stared into mine. Not the thoughtless red of the rogues. These eyes were intelligent. Aware. And they looked at me as my breath stopped.

I felt it then. A pull. As strings that are invisible, tie my heart to this creature. Awareness of something I did not comprehend. A feeling that made no sense. Something to be afraid of. Something I couldn't name.

“Thank you,” I whispered. My words stumbled out, and I could not hold them back.

The vampire tilted its head slightly as though it were surprised that I had talked to it. It took a step toward me.

I made a step backward, lifting my hands up.

“Don't come any closer.”

The vampire stopped. We stared at each other. My heartbeat did not stop altogether, but not with fear anymore.

Then I heard shouting. Voices calling my name. The border guards couldn't have missed the fight.

The ears of the vampire were flicked at the sound. One more time it stared at me, with the silver eyes gazing at me, and then it slipped back into the woods of Noctis.

“Aria!” Guards ran into the clearing with weapons in hand. They beheld the corpses of the rogues, and their faces turned pale.

“What happened? Are you hurt?”

I gazed at my bleeding arm.

“Rogues attacked me.”

“How did you survive?” There was one guard looking at the bodies.

“These are vicious kills. What did this?”

I opened my mouth. Closed it. I ought to inform them that a vampire had entered the Neutral Territory. But something stopped me.

“My magic,” I lied.

“I managed to fight them off.”

The sentinels seemed to be suspicious but made no objection. They took me back to Lunara and lectured me all the way on the hazards of going close to the border. I barely heard them.

I could only think about those silver eyes. The way they'd looked at me. The strange pull I'd felt.

I had the wound on my arm cleaned in my chambers and bandaged. The cuts weren't deep. They'd heal quickly.

Nevertheless, I could not forget the way it happened.

I went to my window and stared at the forest. Out of those trees somewhere was Noctis. And somewhere there, out there, was the vampire with silver eyes.

I swore to myself I would never see it again. The fact that I should forget the event.

However, this night I saw in my dream silver eyes that stared at me in the dark. And, when I awoke, my heart was racing like a runner.

Three weeks passed. I attempted to concentrate on my tasks, magic studies, service at the healing ward, anything to wring the memory out of my head.

One morning, then, a scroll came to my door.

I opened it with trembling hands, and I already knew what it would be. The official invitation to the Choosing Ceremony.

At twenty-one, each witch maiden was to select a mate. All the rules were recorded in the scroll. Delegates of the adjacent magic kingdoms would arrive. My choice would be made at the end.

A knock interrupted my thoughts.

“Come in,” I called.

Some servant came in with a wooden box.

This, my lady, was left at the gate. No name. No message.

She put the box upon my table and went.

I approached it slowly. Curiosity got the better of me. I lifted the lid.

Moonflowers. At least half a dozen, fresh and flawless, their petals shimmering with magic.

My breath caught. There was no note. No explanation. But in some way, an impossible way, I knew.

They were from him. The vampire with silver eyes.

But why? Why would a vampire send me flowers?