Bound by Blood

Chapter 6: Nightmare

Warning: Triggering content

Prince Raziel was in his study inside his quarters studying, when General Lorenzo entered. The general was the prince's closest subordinate. "Your highness, the king summons you."

"Any idea why?" Raziel asked without raising his head from his book.

"No, your highness."

The prince continued reading his book for a while before he closed it. He then went out with the Lorenzo to find his father.

He was not surprised to find his father sitting on his throne, as it was the only place he sits apart from his bed, just to show his power. The man had dark hair and grey eyes like his son, and he looked not too older than him.

"Father." Raziel bowed in greeting.

"I summoned you here for three reasons. "The king of Morbury have declared war against us." The king said, but Raziel kept looking at him, knowing he was not done with what he was saying. "Bring me his head."

"Consider it done." Raziel said. He then turned to leave.

"Raziel! We are not done here."

The prince turned back to him.

"I also want you to invade Dorborne. I also want the king's head."

"There was no provocation from their side. Invading there would be totally unnecessary." Raziel disagreed with his father.

"Raziel. It is an order." The king demanded.

"You know I don't attack anywhere without a provocation." He insisted.

"You will do that on your king's order."

"What's your third reason, your majesty?" Raziel asked instead, making the king to narrow his gaze at him.

"I want you to pick a wife as soon as possible. I might be giving you the throne soon."

Raziel knew that it was a lie. No one enjoys power more than his father. He only wanted him to get married so he could expand his kingdom and connections. He would prefer that he'd marry a princess.

"And it is for the best interest if you marry a princess." The king said, confirming his thoughts.

"I am not yet ready for marriage." Raziel argued.

"That's what you said ten years ago."

"I have spoken with the King of Baelington, and he said he would be sending his daughter here in three days. You'd be marrying her." The king declared.

Raziel bowed his head. "I don't intend on doing that, father."

"You shall do as I say, Raziel." The king declared as he stood up angrily.

"Shall I go now, father?" Raziel asked, getting impatient.

"You shall marry the princess, and that is final."

Without another word, Raziel walked out of the throne room.

"Your highness, do you need any help in killing the kings?" General Lorenzo asked when they got back to his quarters.

"Yes. Prepare your men. We are attacking Morbury tonight."

"Yes your, highness." Lorenzo said."Your highness, do you intend on taking the princess as a bride?" He asked, but his tone already exposed his doubt.

"No." Was Raziel's short answer, and Lozenzo was not surprised. He then bowed before leaving to do what as he was ordered.

******

Luciana tossed and turned in bed as the nightmares came at her mercilessly. Her breathing was laboured, and she was soaked in her own sweat. The same haunting nightmare tormented her every night, replaying like a never-ending loop, each iteration more agonizing than the last.

Luciana looked around their house which had been decorated for her parents wedding anniversary, but her mind was consumed by a sense of foreboding.

She called her parents attention.

"Mama, papa, do you think we should be celebrating when we still owe Lord Kruger?"

Lord Kruger was a vampire Lord her father used to work for. An incident happened which unfortunately made him to lose a huge sum of money, and he asked all his workers to pay him. The workers were innocent, but they dared not defy the vampire Lord, especially not the humans who lived at his mercy.

"Oh. I got a new job at the Turner's mansion, and I would be paid tomorrow. I already have more than half of the money saved up, and by tomorrow it will be complete. Today is the deadline, so I am guessing he will demand the payment tomorrow, and I will hand it over to him." Her father explained, and she sighed.

"Papa, he's a vampire. When do they ever listen to us?" Luciana asked fearfully. "I still have some money saved up. You should take it."

"No need, Lucy. You should enjoy your money, you have worked very hard for it." Her mother added.

Luciana smiled a little, but her smile was soon replaced with a slight crease in her brows when she heard a scream outside. She listened, and she heard it again. Panic crept in, and her stomach twisted in knots. It was from her sister.

"Mama, Papa. It's Freya. Something's wrong."

Before the couple could process what their daughter had said, the door was burst open, and someone zoomed in with a speed that belonged only to the vampires, holding her sister. He roughly pushed her down, inflicting injuries on her in the process.

Luciana and her mother quickly rushed to help Freya, while her father went to speak with the man. Just then, another vampire entered with her brother, throwing him on the floor unceremoniously too.

"Stop doing that. You are hurting him." Luciana didn't know when she yelled at the vampire guard. "Who are you, and what are you doing here?"

"Shut up, human!"

A few seconds later, a bulky looking man with a scowl on his face stepped in. He looked angry. He had a dagger in his hand. One look at him, his intentions were clear.

Luciana's face turned pale. Her worry came true. It was Lord Kruger!

"I got an insight from someone that you are having a party, and I came to find out for myself." Lord Kruger drawled, looking displeased. "Where is the money you owe me?" He demanded.

"My lord, I have most of the amount and I assure you, the rest will be delivered to you by tomorrow," Luciana's father pleaded, trying to appease him.

Lord Kruger's expression remained unyielding. "Today is the deadline, Wallace. Not tomorrow. I'm afraid I'm not a man known for his patience." His tone held a subtle yet ominous warning. "I expect the full amount. Now."

"I have one hundred and eighty gold coins with me." Wallace pleaded.

"I can add a hundred." Luciana quickly chimed in. It was all the money she had saved up. She spent most of them, trying to educate herself.

"That's still not enough. If you don't give me the money now, don't blame me for what I will do next." He lifted the dagger he was holding a little, enough to cause fear in the family.

"It will only be twenty remaining." Luciana suddenly yelled. "We will give you two hundred and eighty, only twenty will remain. We will give you that tomorrow. Please spare my father." She went on her knees, something she hated to do. These creatures always treated them like they were inferior, and kneeling in front of them only confirms it, but she had to save her father. "I beg you please."

Lord Kruger's eyes travelled the length of her body, and his lips curved up in a nauseating smile as he assessed her. Luciana's stomach churned as she already knew what he was thinking.

"What a beauty you have here, Wallace. Are you married?" He asked her, his gaze raking her body hungrily. "That doesn't matter anyway."

Luciana looked up at him.

"My Lord?"

He crouched down to her level, his grimy hands cupping her face. Luciana's stomach roiled with revulsion, and it took every ounce of willpower not to gag. "I'll spare your father," he sneered, his closeness making her want to escape her own skin. "I'll forget about the debt he owes me." His tongue darted out, licking his lips, and Luciana's gut churned with disgust. "If you let me have you," he finished, his eyes gleaming with lust.

Luciana's revulsion boiled over. She didn't mean to, but she slapped his hand away from her face with a strength she didn't know she possessed. The sudden movement caught him off guard, and he stumbled backward, almost landing on his rear.

She could hear her parents pleading on her behalf, but she could not make out their words. She just knew that she had worsen the situation.

Lord Kruger's face twisted in rage as he grasped Luciana's hair, yanking her upward with a cruel jerk. She winced in pain, convinced that he would kill her on the spot.

But instead, he bellowed, gesturing at Luciana's mother, "Get rid of the woman!" Luciana's heart sank, and she let out a blood-curdling scream.

"No, no! Leave my mother alone. Take me instead, have me please." She cried, regretting her previous defiance.

Lord Kruger held her, while the others held her father and siblings. Even her aunty that had come to join them. They were also pleading. Her father looked horrified.

"I am sorry." Luciana cried. "Please let her go. Have me." She begged.

The vampire lord paid deaf ears to the family's pleas, and he had the woman killed while the family watched.

"Noooo!" Luciana let out a bone-chilling scream. "Get away from me." She kicked, wanting to get to her mother, but her reaction seemed to amuse the vampire Lord.

"Get rid of the man too. And the young woman. And the boy." Lord Kruger ordered.

"No. Please no!" She cried at the top of her voice. "Take me. Use me." She felt like she was going to die. He wanted to murder her whole family and make her watch.

But her pleas were like water being poured on rock. It had no effect. And before she could think, the people she held dear were taken from her.

"Luciana wake up! Wake up." Annalise's voice cut through her nightmare. "You are opening your wounds again."

Luciana sprang up from the bed, her heart beating wildly in her chest. She looked at her wrists, she had injured both of them, but it wasn't enough. She got up, took the knife and left the room in a hurry.