See You In Hell

May I?

The castle was unusually quiet that night.

Too quiet.

Ivanna stood by the tall window of her chambers, staring into the darkness beyond the castle walls. The moon hung high above the kingdom, casting a pale glow over the distant rooftops. Yet instead of admiring the view as she usually did, she found herself searching the horizon.

She was waiting.

Waiting for Giveon.

Hours had passed since he had returned her to the castle and left again to deal with the attack.

She had tried to occupy herself.

She had walked around the chambers.

She had sat on the edge of the bed.

She had even tried reading one of the books placed beside the fireplace.

Nothing worked.

Her mind kept returning to the village.

The screams.

The frightened faces.

The sound of people running.

And most of all, the expression on Giveon's face when his guard had told him that witches were attacking.

He had changed instantly.

The gentle man who had been smiling at her over breakfast had disappeared.

In his place stood the feared prince everyone spoke about in hushed voices.

Cold.

Commanding.

Dangerous.

And yet, before leaving, he had looked at her and told her not to be afraid.

Ivanna sighed.

She pressed her forehead against the cool glass.

"Please be safe."

The words escaped her lips before she could stop herself.

She immediately frowned.

Why was she praying for him?

She had known Giveon for such a short time.

Not long ago, she had been frightened whenever he entered a room. She had believed all the terrible stories she had heard about him.

That he was different.

That he wasn't entirely human.

That even other vampires feared him.

But things were changing.

Slowly.

She didn't know when it had started.

Perhaps it had been the garden.

Perhaps it had been the night she had awakened from her nightmare and found him holding her.

Or perhaps it had been that morning when he had taken her to the village.

He had shown her a side of his kingdom she had never imagined existed.

He had bought her flowers simply because she liked them.

He had watched her with that small smile while she admired everything around her.

And now she was worried about him.

A soft knock sounded at the door.

Ivanna turned quickly.

"Come in."

The door opened.

Giveon stepped inside.

Her heart immediately lifted.

He was back.

But the relief lasted only a moment before she noticed the state of his clothes.

His cloak was torn at the shoulder.

There was dirt across his face.

His hair was slightly disheveled, and a thin line of blood ran down his arm.

Ivanna's eyes widened.

"Giveon."

He looked at her.

"I'm fine."

"You don't look fine."

"It's nothing."

She hurried toward him.

"You're bleeding."

Giveon glanced down at his arm as though he'd forgotten about it.

"It's only a scratch."

Ivanna frowned.

"You said that earlier."

"And I was right."

Before she could argue, the door opened again.

A physician entered with two guards behind him.

"Your Highness, I was told you were injured."

Giveon sighed.

"Ivanna."

She looked at him innocently.

"I didn't say anything."

The physician stepped forward.

"Please, Your Highness."

Giveon reluctantly sat down.

The physician examined the wound while Ivanna stood nearby.

She watched as the physician carefully cleaned the blood away.

"How did this happen?" she asked.

Giveon remained quiet.

The physician glanced at him before answering.

"A witch's blade grazed him."

Ivanna's eyes widened.

"A witch?"

Giveon's expression hardened.

"It's nothing to worry about."

"How can you say that?"

"Because I'm still standing."

The physician wrapped the wound with a clean bandage.

"Try not to strain your arm."

Giveon nodded.

The physician bowed before leaving.

The room became quiet again.

Ivanna looked at Giveon.

"You could have been seriously hurt."

"But I wasn't."

"You don't understand."

"I understand."

"No, you don't."

She folded her arms.

"I was worried."

Giveon's eyes softened.

"You were?"

Ivanna suddenly realized what she had admitted.

Her cheeks warmed.

"I mean..."

She looked away.

"You were gone for hours."

He stood.

"I had things to take care of."

"Because of the witches?"

"Yes."

Ivanna looked at his bandaged arm.

"What did they want?"

Giveon walked toward the fireplace.

"I don't know."

She followed him with her eyes.

"You don't know?"

"No."

"They attacked an entire village for no reason?"

"There was a reason."

He turned toward her.

"They wanted us to know they could reach us."

Ivanna felt a chill.

"Us?"

Giveon nodded.

"They weren't after gold. They weren't after food. They weren't trying to conquer the village."

"Then what were they after?"

"Attention."

He paused.

"And perhaps something more."

Ivanna stared at him.

"What does that mean?"

Giveon didn't answer immediately.

Instead, he walked toward the window.

His gaze moved into the darkness.

"There are things about this kingdom you don't understand yet."

"Then explain them to me."

His jaw tightened.

"You aren't ready."

Ivanna frowned.

"You keep saying that."

"Because it's true."

"You don't get to decide what I'm ready for."

Giveon turned around.

His eyes met hers.

"Ivanna—"

"I am your wife."

The words came out more firmly than she intended.

"And if something is happening in this kingdom, I deserve to know."

Giveon was silent.

She took another step toward him.

"Everyone keeps treating me as though I'm too fragile to understand anything."

His expression softened.

"That's not what I'm doing."

"Then what are you doing?"

"Protecting you."

"From the truth?"

He didn't answer.

Ivanna sighed.

She turned away.

"I hate being kept in the dark."

"I know."

"Then tell me."

For a long moment, neither spoke.

Finally, Giveon walked toward her.

"There are things I can tell you."

She looked up.

"And there are things I cannot."

"Why?"

"Because some truths are dangerous."

His voice was quieter now.

"And I won't put you in danger simply because you want answers."

Ivanna studied him.

There was something different in his expression.

Something she couldn't quite understand.

Was it fear?

Giveon rarely looked afraid of anything.

But now, for the briefest moment, she thought she saw it.

Fear.

Not for himself.

For her.

"Tomorrow," he finally said.

"What?"

"I'll tell you everything I can."

Ivanna searched his eyes.

"Promise?"

Giveon nodded.

"Promise."

Something inside her relaxed.

"Alright."

He smiled faintly.

Then he opened his arms.

Ivanna stared at him for a moment before stepping forward.

He pulled her into his embrace.

She rested her head against his chest.

His arms wrapped around her securely, but there was nothing possessive about the gesture.

It felt protective.

Comforting.

Familiar.

Ivanna closed her eyes.

She could hear his heartbeat.

The same steady rhythm she had heard the night she woke from her nightmare.

She remembered how frightened she had been.

How he had held her until she calmed down.

How safe she had felt despite everything she had once believed about him.

Without realizing it, her arms tightened around him.

Giveon noticed.

He said nothing.

He simply held her closer.

"I'm glad you're back," she whispered.

His chin rested lightly against the top of her head.

"I'm glad to be back."

They remained that way for several moments.

The fire crackled softly behind them.

Outside, the wind moved through the castle grounds.

Everything felt peaceful.

Almost too peaceful.

Eventually, Ivanna slowly pulled away.

Giveon's arms loosened.

But neither of them moved completely apart.

His hands remained gently at her waist.

Ivanna looked up.

Their eyes met.

And something changed.

Giveon's gaze moved across her face.

He noticed the slight flush in her cheeks.

The softness in her eyes.

The loose strands of hair framing her face.

He had seen her many times before.

Yet somehow, she looked different tonight.

Or perhaps he was simply looking at her differently.

His eyes slowly lowered.

To her lips.

Ivanna noticed.

Her breath caught.

She should have looked away.

She didn't.

Instead, her eyes followed his.

For one quiet moment, they simply stared at each other.

Neither spoke.

Neither moved.

There was an unspoken question between them.

Giveon's hand slowly rose.

He cupped her cheek.

His thumb brushed gently against her skin.

Ivanna's heart began beating faster.

"Ivanna..."

Her eyes met his.

"Yes?"

He hesitated.

His usual confidence seemed to disappear.

"May I?"

She knew what he meant.

Her heart raced.

She could have moved away.

She didn't.

Instead, after a few seconds, she gave him a slow nod.

Giveon leaned toward her.

His lips touched hers.

Softly.

Carefully.

For a moment, neither of them moved.

It was almost as though they were both trying to understand the feeling.

Ivanna's eyes fluttered shut.

She had imagined this before.

She had wondered what it would feel like.

But nothing could have prepared her for the warmth that spread through her chest.

Giveon pulled back slightly.

His forehead almost touched hers.

He searched her face.

She opened her eyes.

Neither spoke.

Then Ivanna gave him the smallest smile.

It was enough.

Giveon leaned toward her again.

Their lips met once more.

This time, the kiss lasted longer.

Still gentle.

Still careful.

But there was more emotion behind it.

Ivanna slowly placed her hands on his shoulders.

She wasn't entirely sure what she was doing.

Giveon seemed to understand.

He slowed down, allowing her to follow his lead.

Her arms eventually slipped around his neck.

The simple gesture caught him off guard.

He released a quiet breath against her lips.

Ivanna's heart fluttered.

She had spent so long being afraid of this man.

Now she was standing in his arms, willingly kissing him.

The realization made her cheeks burn.

She pulled back slightly.

Giveon looked at her.

"Are you alright?"

She nodded.

"Yes."

He smiled.

A real smile this time.

It made him look younger.

Less like the feared prince.

More like the man she had slowly begun discovering beneath the rumors.

Ivanna couldn't help smiling back.

Giveon brushed his thumb across her cheek.

"You should sleep."

She nodded.

But neither moved.

They simply stood there.

Looking at one another.

The tension between them was no longer frightening.

It was warm.

Exciting.

New.

Giveon leaned closer once again.

Ivanna closed her eyes.

Their lips met for another gentle kiss.

And for those few quiet moments, the war disappeared.

The witches disappeared.

The kingdom disappeared.

There was only them.

Giveon and Ivanna.

A prince and his wife.

Two people who had entered this marriage as strangers, both uncertain of what the future held.

Yet somehow, somewhere between fear and trust, something had begun to grow.

Something neither of them had expected.

When they finally pulled apart, Ivanna rested her forehead against his chest.

Giveon wrapped his arms around her again.

Neither wanted to speak.

Perhaps words would ruin the moment.

So they simply stayed there.

Holding each other.

Outside the castle, however, the darkness was not as peaceful as it seemed.

Far beyond the walls, deep within the forest, a woman stood beneath the trees.

Her dark cloak moved gently in the wind.

Her eyes glowed faintly.

She stared toward the castle.

Another figure stood behind her.

"Did you see them?" the figure asked.

The woman smiled.

"Yes."

"And?"

Her smile widened.

"The prince has grown attached."

"To the girl?"

"More than attached."

She turned her gaze toward the distant castle.

"She is his weakness."

The second figure remained silent.

The woman lifted one hand.

A strange black mark appeared faintly against her palm.

"The attack today was only the beginning."

"And the girl?"

The woman laughed softly.

"We don't need to touch her."

She looked toward the castle one last time.

"Not yet."

Back inside, Ivanna remained completely unaware.

She was still in Giveon's arms.

For the first time since arriving at the castle, she felt as though she truly belonged somewhere.

She didn't know what tomorrow would bring.

She didn't know what Giveon was hiding.

She didn't know why witches had returned after decades of silence.

And she certainly didn't know that someone had already marked her as the most important piece in a dangerous game.

All she knew was that when Giveon's arms tightened around her, she felt safe.

And perhaps that was exactly what made her so dangerous to those who wanted to destroy him.