Chapter 11Rose didn't know what to make of what had just happened. One moment sharp claws had been wrapped around her neck and her life seemed like it was about to be drained from her. The next moment, the most ferocious leader she had heard of was fleeing from her. She had a billion questions. Was he reserving her for later? Has he scurried out of the room because of her stench? She hadn't showered for days so maybe that was what had repelled him. It was a bit embarrassing but it wasn't her fault nonetheless. The door to the room opened once more. Another figure emerged from the shadow. Rose thought Grim had returned but it turned out to be Judy. She walked in with a bowl of water and a towel. She crouched in front of Rose and began wiping off Rose's arms and legs. Rose sighed. “Did Grim send you to clean me up?” “No, I'm here because I know you didn't get the chance to have a shower. As for Lord Grim, I haven't seen him since he stormed out of the dining room.”“He just left
Chapter 12Rose stood up on command. It was not revealed to her where he was taking her to but she didn't stop to ask questions. The last time she had asked questions but didn't turn out well for her. Grim took her to his courtyard. He didn't want to be disturbed nor did he want anyone listening in to them and that was the only place he could think of. “Good morning, Lord Grim,” she greeted but Grim ignored her. She had spent the past night going through the rule book. It was stated in one of the pages that she was to address him as Lord Grim. “Sit down!” He ordered and she obeyed. “I have questions for you and you better give me the truth. Otherwise, you are not walking out of this courtyard in one piece.” Rose was confused. This time it wasn't from his sleepy eyes. However, she hadn't said a word. “What kind of sorcery are you practicing?” After his visit to the sorceress, he hadn't been able to get that question. A lot of revelations have been made and he wanted to confirm
Chapter 13 Last night had been a lot for Feria. When she had wanted to retire for the night, Grim was nowhere to be found. The last time she had seen him had been when he was racing after the new guest. There was something about the new werewolf that didn't sit right. Even Rose's scent was confusing. Feria had wanted to ask grim about it that night but he had come back late and had gotten up earlier than he usually did to see the same individual that he had dishes after last night.Something was fishy and Feria could smell it. She stopped him this morning and his reaction has confirmed her fears. “Why haven't you eaten the werewolf yet?” The look on his face had said it all. He had something to hide. “That's none of your business,” he had said. His willingness to dismiss the topic hadn't gone unnoticed by Feria. That could only mean one thing. She was about to make it her business. She had even tried to get answers from Judy but the servant had been reluctant to say anything.
Chapter 14 "She is gone."Those were the words that forced his eyes open. Everything in his life is carefully selected. Including his chambers, the placement of his bed, and the maidens responsible for cleaning but right now those two maidens have given themselves jobs of alarm clocks."Oh, Ash so I've heard! It is thrilling no one has ever attempted such madness."He really truly hates it when people are not focused on their jobs which results in gossiping. It is, even more, an offence that his own servants would gossip of his own kingdom in his room. “I think I just found my next two meals,” he thought to himself. Ash and the other girl whose name he was yet to learn."You call it thrilling?!" The other girl whispers and screams. "She is dead meat. Grim will kill her for sure and I assure you it will not be a pleasant death.""Hmm, you are right. But it still amazes me that she is so bold."Now his interest is piqued. Who was he killing ruthlessly and why?"Do you think Grim will
Chapter 15 "You may be cruel and ruthless, but you will not force your will or be cruel in my presence is that clear?"Grim did not answer. He hates the sorceress and will kill her the second he knows how."Is that clear?" The sorceress hissed, putting more pressure on his hands until bones broke all the up his arms."Yes," he groaned.The sorceress held his hand a second longer before releasing him. She turned to Rose who was watching her with eyes wide with wonder. She offered a small smile. "It was nice meeting you today Rosa, but you must go with him and stay with him. The streets of Nostville are unkind, I may not be able to reach you quickly next time."Rose nodded. "Oh and do not let Grim boss you around, he needs a strong hand."Rose almost laughed out loud. She will be her stand-up to Grim, at least not as this woman who said her name was Mary did. From would only crush her to dust but she didn't say so. She only nodded. "Thank you," she said to Mary.The sorceress winked a
Chapter 16 Rose was startled glancing from the woman at the door to the Remains of the guards on the floor. Feria had no mercy. She has not left any pound of flesh on the guards. She had cleaned them down to their femur. Even their bones are sucked dry.Now she was panting. She has caught a very strong werewolf scent coming from the room. She had immediately found the urge to tear them to pieces. When she had seen Judy she had thought to herself that this was the reason for her uncontrollable thirst. But the pull she was feeling was far too much for one person. Feria looked at Judy with bloodshot eyes. It was like she wanted to devour the latter as soon as she got the chance. But her blood thirst grew more as soon as she saw the only person who was in the room with Judy was the guest that Grim had said was off-bounds. “On your feet, Judy!” Feria's commander and the servant scrambled to her feet. “Here I am, Vampire princess. How can I be of service?” Her tone betrayed fear even
Chapter 17 “What just happened?” Judy asked as soon as the door got shut. “What's happened is that I was so close to burying my fists in Feria's face. How dare she walk in here and accuse me of trying to snatch Grim, I don't feel anything for the man.” Judy sighed. “I was terrified. After you had escaped from getting killed by Grim, I had thought that you wouldn't get spared by Feria.” “I can't believe my luck too. Is she usually that ferocious.” “If you think that Grim is dangerous, Feria is on another level. She kills and preys without any reason. It depends on her mood. When she starts on a spree, she doesn't stop until she is satisfied.” “Thank heavens she didn't eat both of us.” “No, she could not touch you. The only person who can put her in her place is Grim. The only reason she can't get to you no matter how much she wants to is because Grim had ordered her not to.” “What is the deal between her and Grim anyway?” “Know your limits, Rose. Stay out of their business and
Chapter 18 “What the hell is happening, Judy?” Rose asked in a stranger tone. The hands locked around her throat were strong. She tried to fight the grip but it wouldn't come off. It felt like two iron bars had clasped over her throat. Rose tried to look at the person holding her. It didn't feel like it was her friend there anymore. Every vein on Judy's face was strained, her face had grown pale and her eyes had lost its pupil and every other pigment.Her arms have grown twice in strength and even though she has lifted Rose a couple of inches from the floor, her feet were still resting on the floor. It was like Rose's weight didn't bother her one bit. “Put me down please?” She begged but Judy didn't hear her. Rose had hoped that there was a little bit of her friend left in there but she was wrong. “Who the hell is in there?” “You don't recognize this voice, huh? Or are you just playing dumb?” Rose first thought that the stranger in Judy's body was Feria. That was the only person
Chapter 34It still felt like a dream hearing Grim speak the truth. She would never have taken him to stoop so low to not only say the truth but also apologize for what he did. “He went on his knees and begged for your forgiveness?” Judy repeated just to be sure she heard right. Could you blame Rose for spicing the details? She may have exaggerated some of the details of how it had happened but now that she saw Judy's reaction it was worth it. By now they had returned to Nostville. Lord Grim had specially put Rose in charge of taking care of him. That was the only way he could think of getting her to spend more time with him on the ride back home. As you would expect, Feria wanted to skin Rose alive but the warning from Grim stopped her from making a move. All she could do was stare with evil eyes and keep making plans to finally make Rose flee. “I was just as shocked as you are. I was expecting him to leap and tear me to pieces but instead, he was asking for my forgiveness,” sh
Chapter 33“I can't do it,” Rose told Judy for the umpteenth time. But Judy wasn't giving up on her anytime soon. “I know you're scared, but it's fine.” Her next words were to be for Rose to ‘trust her’ but she knew better than to request for her trust after the way things had ended the last time. “But Lord Grim is personally requesting to see you.” Rose felt like she was in trouble. Maybe he wanted to punish me for walking away from him earlier, she thought to herself. ”Don't worry I'll be by your side this time. I'm not going to let anything happen to you,” Judy assured.Rose mustered the courage to follow Judy into the chambers where Lord Grim was being kept. All eyes were on her when she walked in and the different gazes were for different reasons. If looks could kill, Feria's eyes would have turned Rose into dinner as soon as she walked in. She held onto Grim closely as if just Rose's presence was enough to capture her fiance's heart.Dale didn't bother to give her more th
Chapter 32Grim had felt his world turn blank. He would have screamed for help or at least tried to convince Rose to stay but he had lost his voice. He didn't blame her. He had treated her worse and if she saw this as payback then that was fine. His last wish was for her to at least believe his words because they were the truth. Then she came back. When he thought all hope was gone she came back and took him up. She had risked getting spotted by any vampire and getting hurt. That sacrifice from her meant a lot to him. Literally, he blacked out from the pain before they could get to the shrine.The healer walked out when she heard the commotion outside. She was an elderly woman with her silk white hair fixated with ornaments of sorcery. Bracelets and rings of different shapes and sizes adorned her hand. She was clad in a robe that showered down to her feet. She walked down and collected Grim from Rose. “Thank you for bringing him,” the healer appreciated. “Wait here, I'll take him
Chapter 31Rose jumped out of the bed she had been placed in and raced to a corner of the room raising both hands in surrender. “Please, don't kill me, please. I'll do everything else you want but please don't kill me,” she begged. There was no escaping this time. Grim looked at her with concern. It was kind of hilarious that the woman who had been making fun of him would be so terrified of him. Meanwhile Rose saw death flash before her eyes. This is not being said metaphorically, poetically, or in any other fancy way. Grim looked like death straight up to her. Only when her back was pinned to the back of the wall did she realize that her dizziness had set in. It came like a wave and she had to place one hand on the wall to avoid slumping from her weak knees. Her first instinct was to look for the best way of exiting the room. The door looked back at her seductively but she knew she wasn't getting to it before Grim, especially in her weakened state. The window was the worst optio
Chapter 30 Rose woke up to the sound of crackling fire and the distant sound of screeching owls. She held her head trying to battle her dizziness. She looked at her legs and all the wounds that she had sustained while running away were cleaned and healed. She turned to see Judy at the other end of the fire. The latter was watching the flames as she brandished a penknife on a rock. “Where the hell are we?” Rose asked, looking around. It felt like they had fallen into a hole.“We are in a cave I spotted on our way coming here. It should give us enough shelter for the time being until we can figure out what is going on.” But her words didn't bring Rose comfort. “What about the guards? Did we lose their trail?” “Yes, we lost them a long time ago. Judy grabbed a cup of freshly brewed tea and handed it over to Rose. “Take this, it should help with the headache.” Rose peered at the drink with a skeptical gaze. Just smiled. “Don't worry I will not try to drug you like you did to me. It
Chapter 29 The only way out seemed to be the window. Rose slung the satchel over her shoulder and walked to the window. It was just a floor down but it looked like she was gazing down a steep bottomless hill. At the end of her view was a trashcan loaded with trash. “Please tell me we are not landing on those bags of trash,” Her wolf said. “We have no choice, Daisy. Either we get out of here now or risk being hanged in front of everyone.” That was the most gruesome death Rose could imagine. “Never!” Daisy rebuked. “Then brace yourself for impact. We are jumping out of here and we are jumping out of here now!” This time the banging on the door has increased. It was so intensified that Rose began to fear that the door would give way. She first dropped the satchel off watching it fall into the bags of trash. One of the trash bags expanded as soon as the satchel landed on the heap. Rose climbed on the window frame looking down at the incinerator hoping that she would make a safe
Chapter 28 Rose stood transfixed staring at the figure leaning on the doorpost. Her first thought was that she was sleepwalking but nothing about those wide-opened eyes said that she was in a slumber. “What are you doing here, Judy?” Rose asked, clearing her throat. She was sure that she had applied the sleeping liquid to the food in enough amounts to knock everyone out. How then did Judy manage to escape being affected? “Nothing, Ma'am. I was just looking for you. When you didn't come back from dinner I was worried. I had just walked out of the room when I found you here.” Her words are calculated and she didn't want to give off her true intentions. Rose was baffled. She couldn't stop wondering if the other woman had seen her take out the poster from Dale's coat. If Judy was awake did that mean that she had noticed her walk into the room before?“Oh, I was just rounding off a few things before I came to rest. I was about to walk past when I noticed Dale's door was open. I wan
Chapter 27By the time Rose returned to the table, the food had been exhausted. Every flesh of meat has been cleared out and the jug of blood has been exhausted. “Too late, Rose. I had quite an appetite today,” Feria sympathized mockingly. “There are some leftover bones in the plate for you.” Feria pointed to the bones in a bowl, the same bones she had conveniently crunched to bits. “But those are already eaten?” Rose muttered shockingly. Her face exuded disbelief but her heart exuded happiness. Feria scoffed. “The way I see it, you either suck on these bones or you stay hungry until the next meal.” She paused to down a cup of blood. When she lowered the glass she stood up. “Also Rose, make sure you clean the table.” Grim stood up and accompanied her as they made their way back to the room they shared. He felt pity for Rose for how she was treated but he stayed out of it. He planned to take her out later in the day and he would get her something to eat. Right now he needs to res
Chapter 26Wanted? Rose couldn't understand why her mother was being wanted. How could a hero be wanted? She couldn't see what was written clearly but there was a list of reasons why Vanessa was wanted. It was confusing. This didn't sound like the Vanessa that she had heard about. Rose walked towards the poster. Right then a pair of telescopes would be highly appreciated but unlucky for her they are not lying around anywhere. She looked around. No long rods were lying around. The only thing that would give her a clear view would be climbing onto one of the buildings, especially the one that overlooked the pole directly. A strong wind swept by brewing up dust and dirt. Rose muttered insults for the breeze until she noticed that it was in her favor.The poster was swaying in the breeze. It was barely hanging on to the pole. One side of the paper was already off the pole while the other half was still stuck. Rose waited under the pole ready to grab it. When it finally came off, it