The Royal Quest

CHAPTER 29. First Kiss

Dahlia returns to the lodge just before sunset after taking her time outside the town, strolling just to fill her mind with other things.

"Where have you been?" Savanna immediately inquired the moment she entered.

Massimo is in there standing beside the window watching the view outside while Baron is on the couch sleeping.

"How is he?" Dahlia inquired.

"Same, he was worried about you and wanted to follow you when you left. That's why I gave him opium to calm his nerves. Luckily, it worked on him and he is still deeply sleeping." Savanna explained.

Dahlia just took a deep breath and took a glance in Massimo's direction, who was already staring at her.

"By the way, can I have a word with you? Alone?" Savanna asked, which Dahlia nodded in response.

Savanna led the lady to her chamber and Dahlia headed straight to the bed and laid on her back.

"What is happening?" Savanna started standing with crossed arms.

"About what?"

"Between Baron and the vampire?"

"Don't mind them, they're always like that ever since their path crossed." Dahlia explained with closed eyes.

"Yes, and I have a feeling that it is because of you."

"Don't involve me with their issues, I have my own problems to solve and I'm tired."

"I have noticed the way they look at you, especially Baron, and I'm sure he has feelings for you."

Dahlia was shocked and feeling anxious as she quickly got up.

"You're talking nonsense." She refused.

"And about the vampire, never in my life have I met such a glorious immortal as him. His eyes are penetrating every time he stares at you, it makes me wonder if it is because he wants your blood or something." Savanna continued.

"Moss just helped put my courage together to continue my goal and there is nothing more than that," Dahlia explained.

"Plus, don't you know that vampires have very sharp hearing?" Dahlia chuckled.

"Wait, what? You mean he can hear us?" Savanna was stunned.

"Yes, and he heard you." Dahlia added, laughing at her cousin before getting up and going back to see Baron again, while Savanna didn't come out anymore as she felt embarrassed because of her words earlier.

Massimo didn't speak a single word as he just watched the lady's every move like how he did when Dahlia ran away and strolled the town

Dahlia pulled a chair and sat beside the sleeping soldier.

"I hope, when you wake up you will not be stubborn anymore, soldier." She whispered, caressing his face before she leaned her back on the chair and closed her eyes.

The next morning, Dahlia woke up with the soft touch of a hand on her face. Her eyes flickered and darted at a smiling soldier. She also notices the cloak that covers her that belongs to the vampire. She looked around and saw him sitting in a corner with his head down, leaning his back against the wall, sleeping soundly.

"How are you feeling?" Dahlia inquired.

"Good, I guess. And I'm sorry about yesterday. I didn't mean to upset you, my princess."

"It's alright. So does this mean that you are coming with Savanna?"

And the soldier nodded with a smile.

"I promise to get well as soon as possible and return to you."

Dahlia smiled, feeling delighted with the news. She then stood up and walked to Massimo's direction to return the cloak when she noticed the golden locket on the floor had already opened. She picks it up and finally sees the angel image inside of it.

'Amaia,' she muttered to herself.

*****

"By the way, here. Return this to Tala for me. And say Thank you and I'm sorry for the trouble as well. " Dahlia handed Tala's cloak that she had sneaked when she ran away.

"She'll be proud of you for coming this far," Baron responded. He was already inside the Savanna carriage that would take them to their place.

"Take care, soldier." Dahlia said and gave the man a warm embrace.

"I may not feel the same emotion you have for me, but I love too, Baron," Dahlia whispered.

"I know, I always know that." Baron said, encircling his arms around the lady too.

"Dahlia, aren't you done saying goodbye yet? We're getting late." Savanna complained, which made the two chuckle and they pulled away from their embrace.

"I need to go now," Dahlia said, and Baron nodded with a smile.

"Are you sure you don't want one of my men to accompany you?" Savanna inquired the moment Dahlia stepped out of the vehicle.

"I'm fine. Don't worry about me, Moss will never hurt me." She assured her cousin with a smile.

"Alright if you say so. Just be careful."

"I will."

Then Savanna also gets inside the carriage, and signals the coachman to start their journey already.

Dahlia's eyes never leave them as they gradually vanish from her sight while praying that their journey will be safe. Once she couldn't reach their sight anymore, she decided to go back to the lodge, but the moment she entered Dahlia was horrified to see the vampire flinching in pain while holding on to the wall while his other hand gripped his stomach.

"Moss?" She asked for his attention and ran quickly to help him.

"What happened?" She asked.

"No-nothing." He hardly answered with a forced smile, but Dahlia felt irritated about his answer, knowing that he was trying to hide the real situation.

"Show me your stomach." She demands.

"Princess, it is inappropriate to ask that kind of demand from a man, especially since it is just the two of us here now." The vampire teases Dahlia.

"Show me," Dahlia just ignored him and asked again.

"There is nothing serious really, sweetblood. I told you before that animal blood can't provide enough nutrients for our bodies. That is why the wounds didn't heal fast and I think there is still an injury inside my body that hasn't healed yet but it will eventually. Don't worry." Massimo explained to ease whatever was bothering the princess.

"What really happened back there in the forest?"

"Well, you know it's tough to fight in the sunlight. But I'm lucky enough to make it before I turn myself to ashes." He said with soft chuckles.

Suddenly, Dahlia pulled out a small dagger.

"Dahlia? What are-"

But before Massimo could finish his words Dahlia sliced her own finger. She gasped with the pain but suppressed it until blood started to come out and stretched her hand forward to the vampire. Massimo sniffs deeply into the air, smelling her sweet blood, swallowing hard to resist himself.

"Are you going to let the others smell it and attack me again?" Dahlia suddenly uttered, but Massimo stood still, fighting his thoughts.

"Moss, take my blood. Let me save you." Dahlia said with her welling eyes.

"Dahlia, you have no idea what you are doing to me," Massimo said, looking back into her eyes.

"Please," She begged.

And when Massimo slowly reaches her hand and brings her finger into his mouth, he starts licking every drop of blood that comes out. Dahlia feels an unfamiliar sensation when he touches his lips and tongue to her skin, but keeps her focus as she doesn't want to embarrass herself in front of the vampire.

Massimo continued on consuming her blood with groans that made Dahlia bite her lower lips while watching him. Also, her heart started to throb differently, faster and louder.

The vampire didn't stop, until he felt content, but he hadn't withdrawn her hand yet.

"A-are you done?" Dahlia stammered, looking up to the vampire who was also staring back at her eyes.

But the world suddenly stopped around them when Massimo unexpectedly claimed her lips. Dahlia's eyes widen in shock as her body shivers with the unknown feeling, especially when he starts to move his lips against hers.

Holding the back of her neck, Massimo deepened the kiss even though he got no response from the lady. Until a few moments later, he finally came back to his senses and stepped back, panting heavily.

While Dahlia was still in shock and couldn't believe that she had just had her first kiss to a vampire.

"I'm sorry. I just got carried away, I didn't mean to do that." Massimo quickly explained and moved to get a bandage, then quickly wrapped her cut, still standing on the same spot.

"Did you suddenly mistake me as Amaia?" Suddenly Dahlia asked out of nowhere while watching him treat her wound.

"No." He shortly denied it.

"Then why did you kiss me?" Massimo halted for a moment and looked into her eyes.

"Perhaps it was something that I wanted to do a long time ago. But you know, let's just forget about it."

“Forget? That was my very first kiss. How can I do that?”

“I told you, you shouldn’t have tempted me with your blood.”

Dahlia felt like crying at the moment, didn't know if she had to regret what she had done or because the kiss didn’t mean anything to the vampire and just wanted to forget what happened, which for her was a big deal.

She heaved a deep breath and ran inside the chamber to be alone.

While Massimo starts to get confused and worried that Dahlia might push him away from the very moment.