See You In Hell

The Castle

The carriage came to a slow stop.

Ivanna lifted her head from the window.

For the first time since they had entered Garcia, she was close enough to see the castle clearly.

It was enormous.

The castle stood behind tall stone walls, its towers reaching high into the snowy night. Warm golden light shone through hundreds of windows, making the massive structure look less frightening than she had expected.

Still, her heart beat faster.

This was it.

The place she would live now.

Giveon's home.

Her new home.

The carriage door opened.

A guard stepped aside.

"Your Highness."

Ivanna gathered her cloak around herself and stepped down.

Her shoes touched the cold stone of the courtyard.

Snowflakes landed softly against her hair and shoulders.

She looked around.

The courtyard was beautiful.

Tall iron lanterns lined the path leading toward the castle entrance. Guards stood on either side, their dark uniforms contrasting against the white snow.

Several servants waited near the large doors.

And all of them were looking at her.

Ivanna suddenly became aware of the ring on her finger.

She was no longer simply Ivanna, the human noblewoman.

She was the wife of the vampire prince.

Giveon stepped down from the carriage.

He walked toward her.

"Are you cold?"

"A little."

He looked at her cloak.

"It isn't thick enough."

Before she could answer, he removed his own heavy outer coat and placed it over her shoulders.

Ivanna looked at him in surprise.

"Giveon—"

"Keep it."

"But you'll be cold."

"I'm fine."

He said it so simply that she couldn't argue.

She pulled the coat closer around herself.

It was warm.

And it smelled faintly like him.

Ivanna quickly looked away.

"Thank you."

Giveon nodded.

Then he turned toward the castle.

"Come."

Ivanna followed.

The enormous doors opened before them.

Warmth immediately surrounded her.

Ivanna stepped inside.

She stopped.

The entrance hall was breathtaking.

A massive crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, illuminating the polished marble floors beneath it.

Tall pillars stretched toward the ceiling, decorated with intricate silver designs.

Paintings covered parts of the walls.

Some showed generations of Garcia's royal family.

Others showed landscapes of the kingdom.

The castle was elegant.

Grand.

But surprisingly warm.

Ivanna slowly looked around.

She had expected something darker.

Something frightening.

Instead, she saw servants walking through the halls, carrying books, clothes, food, and flowers.

The castle was alive.

Giveon noticed her staring.

"It's different from what you imagined."

Ivanna looked at him.

"Very."

"What did you imagine?"

She hesitated.

"Something darker."

His lips almost curved.

"Most humans do."

Before Ivanna could respond, footsteps echoed through the hall.

An elderly man dressed in an immaculate black suit approached them.

His silver hair was neatly combed, and his posture was straight despite his age.

He stopped several feet away and bowed deeply.

"Welcome home, Your Highness."

Giveon nodded.

"Elvis."

The butler straightened.

His eyes moved toward Ivanna.

For a brief moment, surprise flickered across his face before his expression returned to its usual calm.

He bowed again.

"And welcome to Garcia, Your Highness."

Ivanna returned the gesture politely.

"Thank you."

Elvis smiled faintly.

"It is an honor to finally meet you."

"Finally?"

Ivanna asked before she could stop herself.

Elvis glanced at Giveon.

"His Highness has been expecting your arrival."

Giveon gave him a quiet look.

Elvis cleared his throat.

"I mean, the entire household has."

Ivanna looked at Giveon.

He said nothing.

Elvis turned toward the servants.

"Take the princess's belongings to her chambers."

Several servants immediately moved toward the carriage.

"Her chambers have been prepared as instructed."

Ivanna looked at Giveon.

"As instructed?"

Elvis answered before Giveon could.

"His Highness personally made sure everything was ready."

Giveon looked away.

Ivanna couldn't help but notice.

Again.

He had done it again.

The little things.

Things she hadn't asked for.

Things he didn't need to do.

Elvis gestured toward the staircase.

"Allow me to show you to your chambers, Your Highness."

Ivanna nodded.

"Thank you."

She began walking.

After a few steps, she realized Giveon wasn't following.

She turned.

He was still standing near the entrance.

His eyes met hers.

"Go."

Ivanna frowned slightly.

"Aren't you coming?"

"I'll be there later."

She nodded slowly.

"Alright."

She turned back toward Elvis.

The butler led her through the enormous castle.

Ivanna couldn't help looking around as they walked.

There were tall windows overlooking the gardens, long corridors decorated with portraits, marble statues, and beautifully carved wooden doors.

Everything seemed to tell a story.

She noticed that many of the paintings were of people she didn't recognize.

"Who are they?"

Elvis followed her gaze.

"Members of the royal family."

Ivanna looked at the paintings again.

She noticed one of them was a younger version of Giveon.

He looked different.

Younger.

Less guarded.

Ivanna stared at the painting for a moment longer.

"How old was he?"

"Very young."

Elvis smiled faintly.

"His Highness has changed considerably since then."

Ivanna looked at him.

"You've known him for a long time?"

"Since he was a child."

There was something in the way Elvis said it that made Ivanna curious.

"What was he like?"

Elvis paused.

Then smiled.

"Quiet."

Ivanna almost laughed.

"He's still quiet."

"Very."

They continued walking.

After several moments, Elvis spoke again.

"His Highness doesn't easily allow people close to him."

Ivanna looked at him.

"I noticed."

"But he trusts very few people."

She didn't know why Elvis was telling her this.

Before she could ask, they stopped in front of a pair of tall wooden doors.

Elvis opened them.

"This is your chamber, Your Highness."

Ivanna stepped inside.

Her breath caught.

The chamber was beautiful.

A large four-poster bed stood in the center, covered with soft ivory blankets.

A fireplace burned against the far wall.

Tall windows overlooked the castle gardens and the city beyond.

There was a sitting area beside the fire, a large wardrobe, a dressing room, and even a small private balcony.

Ivanna walked slowly toward the window.

From here, Garcia looked even more beautiful.

The city lights glowed beneath the snow.

She could see the stone bridges crossing the streams.

People still moved through the streets despite the late hour.

Vampires.

Humans.

Living together.

She had expected to feel trapped.

Instead, she felt strangely calm.

Elvis stood near the door.

"Everything you need has been prepared."

Ivanna turned.

"Did Giveon arrange all of this?"

"His Highness gave the instructions himself."

Ivanna looked toward the wardrobe.

Elvis opened it.

Inside were dozens of dresses.

Some were elegant.

Others were simple.

There were coats, shoes, nightgowns, and even several pieces of jewelry.

Ivanna stared.

"He chose these?"

"He asked about your preferences."

"When?"

"Before you arrived."

Ivanna didn't know what to say.

Giveon had barely spoken to her during the journey.

Yet he had somehow thought about what she might need.

She looked toward the fireplace.

There was a small table beside it.

A tray of food had been placed there.

Elvis noticed her staring.

"His Highness also requested that you be served dinner."

"I told him I wasn't hungry."

A small smile appeared on Elvis's face.

"He anticipated that."

Ivanna blinked.

"He did?"

"His exact words were, 'She'll say she's not hungry. Make sure she eats anyway.'"

Ivanna stared at him.

A strange warmth filled her chest.

She didn't understand the man.

He barely spoke.

He didn't smile often.

He rarely explained himself.

Yet he noticed everything.

Elvis bowed.

"I shall leave you to rest, Your Highness."

Ivanna nodded.

"Thank you, Elvis."

He smiled.

"You are most welcome."

He closed the door behind him.

Silence filled the room.

Ivanna walked toward the tray.

There was warm soup, bread, roasted vegetables, fruit, and tea.

She sat beside the fire.

For a while, she simply stared at the flames.

She was married.

She was in a vampire kingdom.

And she was alone in the room of a castle she had never seen before.

Yet somehow, she wasn't terrified.

There was a knock.

Ivanna looked toward the door.

"Come in."

The door opened.

Giveon stepped inside.

He had changed his clothes.

He wore a simple black shirt with dark trousers, his sleeves rolled slightly up his arms.

Ivanna looked at him.

"You came."

"I wanted to make sure you're comfortable."

"I am."

He glanced around the room.

"Good."

His eyes landed on the untouched food.

"You haven't eaten."

Ivanna looked at the tray.

"I was about to."

Giveon stared at her.

She sighed.

"I was."

He walked toward the table.

He pulled out a chair.

"Then eat."

Ivanna sat down.

Giveon remained standing.

She looked up at him.

"Aren't you going to sit?"

"No."

"Why?"

"You should rest."

She picked up the spoon.

"You make it sound like I'm ill."

"You're exhausted."

"I'm fine."

His eyes narrowed slightly.

"You're starting to sound like me."

Ivanna paused.

Then, unexpectedly, she smiled.

It was small.

Barely there.

But Giveon noticed.

His expression softened.

"Eat."

She did.

He waited until she had finished some of the food before leaving.

At the door, he stopped.

"Ivanna."

She looked up.

"Yes?"

"If you need anything..."

He paused.

"Tell me."

She nodded.

"I will."

He left.

Ivanna watched the door close.

She looked down at her wedding ring.

Then toward the door again.

She still didn't know what to think of her husband.

But one thing was becoming clear.

Giveon wasn't the monster she had been taught to fear.

And somehow...

That frightened her more.

Because if he had been cruel, she would have known how to protect herself.

But kindness?

Kindness was much harder to defend against.

Outside her chamber, Giveon walked slowly down the corridor.

He stopped.

For a moment, he looked back at her door.

Then he heard something.

A voice.

A whisper.

"She's here."

Giveon turned.

One of the guards stood at the end of the hallway.

"Who?"

The guard lowered his voice.

"The human princess."

Giveon's expression hardened.

"I know."

The guard hesitated.

"Someone was asking about her."

Giveon's eyes became cold.

"Who?"

"We don't know."

Silence.

Snow continued falling outside the windows.

Giveon looked toward Ivanna's chamber.

"Find out."

"Yes, Your Highness."

The guard hurried away.

Giveon remained in the corridor.

His jaw tightened.

Ivanna had been in Garcia for less than an hour.

And already...

Someone was looking for her.