Slave

I swallowed hard not sure what to say to reply the Prince.

I was beyond petrified at this point, preferring to look at the white walls behind his head than at his face that was contoured with naked rage. I’m doomed, that much i knew. There was no way the prince was going to let me go whether am able to offer up a suggestion or not. He had already taken an interest in me, that much I can also tell from the way he was staring at me. It was only a matter of time before i knew my fate.

He grabbed me roughly by the chin, forcing my face to stare back at him. A deep frown cresting his rather handsome face still.

"We don’t have all night, human, speak up and stop wasting both our time." He growled with irritation.

My eyes narrowed to stare at his grey ones before it darted away once again, totally not sure of what to say. My teeth came down hard and met with my lower lip. I almost tasted blood at the impact. It was my only way of not snapping at him. It might get me and my parent killed if i did and say the wrong word. That I’m well aware of.

From the look in his eyes, I knew that ignoring him wasn't going to be an option I could hold on to much longer. It was better i answered him now if i don’t want to loose my own head in return.

"I..I humbly offer myself as a slave to serve the Drakkon palace as deemed fit” I  said finally and heard both my parent gasped with shock at my utterances but i refused to look at the disappointment in their eyes.

I heard him made a funny sound in his throat that was clearly a disapproving growl the moment those words left my mouth and into his ears.

"Your slavery offer is funny I must say. I mean, what makes you different or more valuable than anyone we have taken so far because last time I checked,. You are already a slave and belong to me, so think again" He said with a glare and I shivered, totally short of words. What else can i possibly offer.

“So what is it going to be?”

My hand went to my necklace for a second when a thought crossed my mind but my mother shook her head at me as if she knew what I was about to do next.

I don't want to give up my identity but at this moment, this seem like the only way. I can't let him kill my parent for my foolishness.

“I'm…i'm a vampire"I managed to breath out and then waited for his reaction but none came before I looked up to face him.

Prince Otis had a look of disbelief on his face as he continued to stare at me. "What did you say?"

"I was born a vampire by my real parent but I swear to you that I have never hurt anyone before and have no intention to do so, I swear" I said even more desperately and he came closer and grab me by the neck,and pulled me into his chest, his eyes a shade darker as he sneered back at my face, "Are you lying to me, girl?"

"No, I'm not lying. I can show it to you"

His hold on me released a little, "How?"

"Don't do it Iris, you are going to get yourself killed" I heard my mother voice pleading before I could reach for my necklace.

"Quiet woman" he snapped at my mother before turning to face me. "Show me. Proof to me that you are what you said you are. Do it now"

He released me and I stumbled backward before grabbing at my necklace. The same one I swore to my mother not to take off. With my head bow low and eyes clenched shut, I pull it off my neck.

When I opened my eyes again. They were no longer the usual deep blue. They have bled over into my original crimson red and staring back at the Prince whose eyes were wide and almost poking out of its socket.

"You weren't lying?" He asked and I shook my head before darting my eyes to look back at the floor.

"Well then,I accept your slavery offer Iris, You belong to me now" He said shortly with a rather mischievous grin on his face and I swallowed hard once again.

"What will you do to me?" I couldn't help but ask.

"You will have to wait and find out, Iris. For now, I need you to put your necklace back on. We don't want others to see you  this way. I doubt they have enough restraint in them to keep from driving a dagger to your heart" His voice was light yet heavy with meaning and I did as I was told before more guards troop in and 

he pushed me into the arms of one of his guards standing close by. “put her with the rest and make sure no one is left behind”

“Yes your Highness” The guard bow slightly before he turned and began to drag me along and towards the exit.

I began to struggle in a bit to try and run back to my parent even if it meant hugging them for the last time but I couldn’t break free from the guard clutches no matter how hard i tried. It was like fighting a battle i could never win and obviously, i didn’t.

Several pairs of eyes turned to stare at me the moment i was dragged out of the house and into the main gathering. Some villagers looked surprised to see me as though i was non existence while some began to whisper into each other ears. I was barely paying attention to anyone of them at this point. My thought was more consumed with the thought of my parent. Not sure what their punishment would be for trying to keep me a secret.

My feet scrape painfully against the floor as i stumbled with each step I took while i was forcefully tugged along before being shoved into a cage containing other girls that were picked as well. Another cage sat by the side, containing the selected males as well.

I landed on my butt before i quickly rolled back on my knees and continued to arched my neck in search of my parent through the balcony. Not even a sign of the Prince or my parent could be seen at this point further breaking my heart and bringing more tears to my eyes as I desperately begged one of the guard close to our cell to be let me out for a moment.

“You better wipe your tears and be grateful to the gods for granting you all the privilege of being chosen to serve us. One more tears from those eyes and I will pluck them out. Your choice” he barked at me and everyone flinch in fright before crawling further into the corner.

Another minute went by before the Prince finally emerged from the doorway still with no sign of my parent tugging from behind. He walked past our cell without another glance at my direction before mounting his horse and then roar out orders for everyone to set out for their journey.

More tears flood my cheeks as our carriage start to roll away without me catching a glimpse of my parent. What has he done to them. I couldn’t tell, my already shattered heart was starting to break even more not knowing what to think. Did he kill them or they just decided I wasn’t worth a goodbye after all I put them through tonight.

My head ache with throbbing pain as little children start to run after the riders while most parent stayed back with tears in their eyes watching as their children are being carried away to an unknown land to be made slaves. I cried even more not being given the same opportunity to behold my parent one last time as everyone else. This was too much for me as I crumbled further into the rusted steel beneath my knees.

I have no idea what fate await me but i could tell it was already sealed. What could be worst than getting abandoned by my parent. I saw the disappointment in their eyes before I was dragged away. I cried and reached out for my mother’s hands but she made no move to take my hand in hers. She let me go. She really did.

Another tears slipped down my cheek as the carriage attached to our cell start to move even faster. The more we went, the more my parent house began to fade into the far distance, leaving nothing but only memories behind.

With my head lowered into my hands, I continued to cry even more. More minutes went by before i felt two gentle hands press against my shoulder and i lifted my head to stare back at who it was.