Bounty

"Tell me the truth, woman. What the hell happened here?" Lord Minir inquired, his voice laced with urgency, as we stood together, observing the soldiers carrying away the peculiar lifeless bodies.

 

I met his gaze, my mind occupied solely by the fabrications I had hastily concocted. "I woke up to find them there. Honestly, master, I have no knowledge of what occurred," I responded, my words a facade masking the truth.

 

One of the soldiers approached us, offering an explanation that occurrences of this nature were not uncommon within the palace. It was suggested that perhaps it was a mere prank orchestrated by the palace children or some trivial matter that had been overlooked. The incident held little significance in their eyes.

 

And why would this  incident had any importance for them? For these vampires, helsings are just something lower than life itself.

 

"The two were impoverished individuals from the southern region. I recognized them by their insignia," the soldier disclosed.

 

It was a stark reminder of how helsings were treated with disregard. Their lives held no value, easily discarded as either sustenance or amusement for those who deemed themselves superior. In the end, helsings never had the privilege of living the lives of their predators.

 

I harbor no resentment towards the mistreatment inflicted upon my kind, nor do I perceive it as a personal affront. It has been the prevailing norm since my birth, rendering it a familiar, almost unremarkable occurrence. However, a newfound sense stirs within me, compelling me to take action, to challenge the status quo.

 

Yet, what power does a mere girl possess in this scenario? I am but a blood bride, bound to an infamous and bloodthirsty vampire. Even my master has been a perpetrator of cruelty towards my kind, recounting tales of the worst experiences endured.

 

In the past, he would subject the blood slaves to a cruel fate, depriving them of sustenance, draining their life force, and ultimately ending their existence. I couldn't help but ponder what caused him to transform upon my arrival. His insatiable thirst for blood had garnered infamy in the streets, and tales of his monstrous nature circulated widely. They deemed it a disease, an affliction that corrupted his very essence.

 

Upon entering the Mansion, his demeanor initially appeared unkind, yet his actions were devoid of cruelty. He nourished me, offered me shelter, and provided for my needs. For this, I felt a deep sense of gratitude. I couldn't perceive him as someone capable of wrongdoing, as he had shown me nothing but kindness. However, I also recognized that my limited perspective should not blind me to the possibility that there may be aspects of him I have yet to witness. While I have no reason to doubt his goodness, I remain open to the notion that there may be facets of him yet to be revealed.

 

My thoughts were abruptly interrupted as Lady Catherine made her way towards us. Her countenance adorned a contrived smile, feigning concern over the recent events. However, beneath that facade, her eyes betrayed a deep-rooted fear, intensifying as she observed the soldiers carrying the lifeless bodies.

 

"What happened, Lord Minir?" Lady Catherine inquired, seeking answers from my master.

 

Lord Minir cast a glance in her direction, choosing silence as his response. It was then that a familiar voice interjected, breaking the tension that had settled between them.

 

"Just playful pranks from the children, Cath," Count Vlad interjected smoothly.

 

As we turned our heads, Count Vlad approached Lady Catherine with an air of familiarity, bestowing a kiss upon the back of her hand before slowly making his way towards us. His gaze shifted from the back of my master's head to meet my eyes, momentarily widening before swiftly regaining composure.

 

"Dear, dear. Lord Minir, my dear student. How are the two of you?" Count Vlad inquired, moving closer with an intent to embrace me warmly. However, Lord Minir swiftly blocked his advance.

 

"She's fine. We're leaving," Lord Minir declared abruptly, pulling me away from the scene and guiding me towards the hallways.

 

"Leaving? Where are you going?" Count Vlad pursued, trailing behind us, leaving Lady Catherine to silently watch with envious eyes, joined by the curious gazes of the courtly women.

 

"Home," Lord Minir stated coldly, dismissing any further engagement as we departed.

 

Count Vlad, known for his playful nature, continued to trail alongside us, walking side by side with my master.

 

"So you brought her here... again," Count Vlad commented, his voice conveying a sense of mockery, implying that Lord Minir's actions were foolish.

 

"The Hara specifically requested to meet her in person, Vlad," Lord Minir explained in response.

 

"Oh, really? I can't help but wonder why. The power-hungry queen once threatened to eradicate the entire Doria clan. Why would she suddenly show kindness towards us?" Count Vlad scoffed, clearly skeptical of the Hara's intentions.

 

"The Hara Mistress is a genuinely kind person, Vlad," Lord Minir defended.

 

"Coming from you, that's quite surprising," Count Vlad chuckled, his tone tinged with sarcasm.

 

Suddenly, Lord Minir halted his steps, swiftly pushing Count Vlad against the wall. Count Vlad hissed, baring his fangs in a display of aggression toward the closest person he had ever come to attacking.

 

"If you have something to tell me, speak now. Don't test my patience," Lord Minir warned sternly.

 

Feeling uneasy about the situation, I took a few steps back, not wanting to intrude upon their confrontation.

 

"There's a bounty on her head, posted throughout the streets," Count Vlad disclosed, causing my eyes to widen in shock. A bounty for my head? The very notion felt cruel, terrifying, and utterly dreadful.

 

"Now I have no clue who issued that bounty, but it appears to be worth more than what you paid to acquire her," Count Vlad stated, his tone laced with a hint of intrigue.

 

In a fit of anger, Lord Minir forcefully slammed his hand against the table in the hallway, causing it to shatter into pieces.

 

"Calm yourself, Corvinus! At this moment, there could be bounty hunters hot on her trail, searching for her," Count Vlad urged, attempting to diffuse the escalating situation.

 

"I will kill them all," Lord Minir declared, his voice seething with fury and menace. "Secure a carriage for us. No one must discover our escape, Vlad. Otherwise, I will hold your head in my grasp."

 

A bounty placed on my head, valued higher than the prized Dorian Gold—what a dreadful reality to face. As Lord Minir led the way, I followed closely behind him, traversing the dimly lit tunnels hidden beneath the palace. When we reached the exit, however, he emerged alone, leaving me concealed within the shadows. My life teetered on the edge of a knife, vulnerable to anyone who may seek to claim the bounty. In this perilous moment, it would take but one swift stroke of a sharp weapon to sever my head from my body.

 

Whoever had instigated this bounty was truly devoid of humanity. Just last night, Lady Catherine had nearly ended my life, and now, I found myself pursued and hunted by individuals whom I had not wronged. It was all driven by a craving for wealth and material gain, reducing me to nothing more than a commodity in their eyes.

 

"Come," he beckoned to me, his arm extending as the black carriage steadily approached.

 

With a sense of urgency, he urged me inside before following suit. Count Vlad loomed in the shadows of the surrounding woods, bidding his companion a final farewell with a nod before vanishing into the night.

 

Cowering in my seat, I attempted to conceal myself from prying eyes as we swiftly passed the small village, finally escaping the city in an eerie silence.

 

Suddenly, Lord Minir startled me by draping his cloak over my trembling figure.

 

"I'm not cold," I protested, but he insisted, his voice filled with a hint of annoyance.

 

"Just wear it, woman," he hissed.

 

Glancing at him, I noticed his gaze fixed upon the window, likely still displeased by the fact that there was now a bounty on my head. As we disembarked from the carriage, an overwhelming urge compelled me to recount the events preceding the issuance of the bounty.

 

Hastening my pace to catch up with him, I raised my voice to convey the message.

 

"It was... Lady Catherine," I confessed, causing him to abruptly halt in his tracks and regard me with a perplexed expression, surprised by my unguarded honesty.

 

"She entered the room... accompanied by two men. They attempted to harm me, and I... I inadvertently retaliated." Frustration evident in his actions, Lord Minir ran his hands through his hair.

 

"I couldn't inform you while we were still in the palace... I apologize, master." He stared at me as though I were the most delicate entity he could ever possess.

 

Taking a slow step towards me, he closed the distance gradually, ultimately embracing me and pressing a kiss upon my fragile, quivering lips. I anticipated a bite, but instead, he kissed me—a gesture so tender and romantic that it nearly caused my legs to give way beneath me. He supported me, his hands securely placed on my waist, as I succumbed to the weakening sensation within me.

 

Master...

 

Master kissed me.