Chapter 3

When Kaleen saw the large numbers of vampires just outside the gate by the stairs, she stood in one of the steps in momentary shock. There would be no way that the Vel would be able to overthrow such a  population even in full force. 

Marcus might have changed his course of action indeed.

Even where she stood, she could tell how strong the armies of vampires were. By mere quick deduction,  the population were as twice the number of the knights and warriors of Vel. 

Their blue flags waved at the wind and it was enough intimidation for the people to flee in hurry.

All of the sudden, Kaleen felt angry as she snapped out of her own momentary faze and ran down the  stairs so fast that one would thought that she had wings.

"Princess, it is dangerous to be running in a dress!" Clarin called out from behind while Joleen exclaimed  something that Kaleen no longer heard.

All she knew was to confront Marcus at the gate and if she was ever lucky enough, she would persuade  that cunning vampire to retreat back to his kingdom. 

Yeah, right. As if he would listen to her at all. She mulled over as she sprinted so fast to the gate. Wind  blades caressed her cheeks though it was only softly gliding on the tree branches. It was her running that seemed to have made it quite a sting to her skin.

When she reached there with a sword firm on her hold, she saw Marcus' smiled at her direction. No. It  wasn't a one that sent a message of pleasantries. Rather, it was filled with malice. Like he was up to something...not good.

"Ah, just in time, princess. I brought you a gift." Marcus spoken. "I'm certain you would like them as a  wedding offering."

Kaleen felt a bit taken aback by his choice of words. Did he just say wedding offering? There might be a  deal but a wedding never came across to such a deal between them. He abhorred it and she didn't also  want to be wed by the likes of him forever. An heir was all he wanted from his hunter--her.

"W-wedding?" Kaleen's hand holding the sword fell to her side, looking for any ounce of humor on Marcus  face. She didn't want to be fooled by him. Not in front of the warriors and knight who respected her as their leader. They all eyed her confusion. Obviously, the deal she made with the enemy never yet spread all around in large part of the Vel's army.

"Why? Didn't you come over my palace, unannounced and begged me to marry you?"

Kaleen felt a little aggravated over his words. Certainly she was on her knees but he implied that she was  lovesick kind of woman desperate for a little ounce of his attentions.

"I made a deal with you." Kaleen corrected.

"Same thing." Marcus smirked.

"I don't think bringing such an army to our gates was part of the deal." 

"It is. Now for my gift." Marcus looked to his left side, nodded subtly to the horseman who then issued a  command to the other horsemen in the back.

Kaleen felt nervous upon seeing that the vampires prepared to volley something to their direction. She  hastily turned behind her in panic.

"Incoming!" she screamed and the knights and warriors started to cover themselves with shields while  some protected the king and brought him farther from the enemy.

One by one, the shields clanged heavily in contact with the volleyed weapons towards them.

As Kaleen tried to pry away from the protection of one knight to see what it was, she expected to see a  ball of explosives or huge metal balls which could potentially kill anyone in one hit.

Her eyes widened in horror and was pretty sure wasn't alone to exclaim in the same manner as everyone  realized what were thrown at their directions.

Furry and huge heads of beasts which seemed to be undefeated by anyone in such full grown form.  Werewolves. With their severed heads and bloods painting the evergreen ground of the palace as those landed on their feet. 

People looked around those and were surely terrified to even looked at those yellowed but dead eyes  of the one causing havoc around the Vel.

Kaleen then looked at Marcus' direction and in that exact moment, she saw his cold sneer to her. An  arrogancy that Kaleen desperately wished to wipe out his face that very instant. Though it was already too late to redeem her display of fright before him, she tried to composed herself before him and masked her face with anger.

"I'm sorry if I startle everyone. I didn't know the decorated warriors and knights of Vel were fainthearted.  I should have wrapped it nicely in a fancy box." The mockery on his voice made everyone pulled themselves together as they stood up straight again before the vampires' gazes.

"Are you expecting a thank you over this gifts of yours, your highness?" Kaleen asked. "Perhaps, you  have a twisted idea of what a wedding gifts would look like?"

"I don't think you understand my intention, princess. I'm not here to impress you but to show you  that I keep my word. My armies will disperse in all directions of Vel to rid more of these pests around your lands. I expect that you will keep yours."

"I don't intend to back out." she glared at him.

"No, you are not marrying my daughter." King Herod interjected which seemed to have displeased Marcus. 

"This is not between you and I, Herod. So, shut up." Marcus hissed.

"You dare disrespect the king of this land!" One loyal knight of the king exclaimed.

"So, I don't want to waste more of my time here. You will come with me and these armies will do  their job. Or spend more time here and more towns shall be overtaken by werewolves at night." Marcus looked directly at Kaleen, clearly challenging her.

Kaleen looked at his father with a determined expression on her face. "I'm doing this for Vel." she then  stepped towards the gate. 

"Kaleen, if you stepped out of this gate. You will no longer be a princess of Vel." The king warned.

Kaleen watched at the severed heads of those werewolves on their feet and thought dryly how those  seemed to be easily killed by the fragile looking vampire armies of Marcus. It took them roughly fifteen warriors to take down even one of these large dogs. 

If Kaleen didn't fail to miscount, there were a total of fifty severed heads thrown at them. A number  which took them six months to reach with rather large casualties on their part.

With a decision on her mind, she sheath her sword back and stepped towards in front. It was obvious  what the people needed. Her honor as a princess wouldn't merit anything to the people's safety at this time.

"Open the gate." Kaleen told to the gatekeeper instead who hesitated for a bit before he complied and  opened it for her.

When Kaleen stepped outside the gate, she heard it closed behind her, with a loud bang, a sign of being  disowned by her own father at that very moment. 

Kaleen saw Marcus snickering towards Herod as if entertained at the display of drama between her and  her father.

"I'm ready to leave." She said, wanting to deny herself from any emotions that might come to her if she  ever stayed long there.

"Good." Marcus just said and nodded to his horseman again. 

Kaleen expected to be ushered to a horse that she will ride on for traveling. However, she watched her  chained wrists and feet with heavy set of metals instead. It was directly connected to Marcus' horse. She gave him a questioning look but the young king wasn't paying him any attention at all. 

Instead, he had his eyes to king Herod, unsmiling. "Looks familiar, Herod? Now, watch it unfold before you again."

Kaleen watched her father in shock as Marcus' horse turned around and she was forcibly pulled by it.

"I hope you're in for a long travel, princess." Marcus only said, mindless that she was literally had to  sprint along with every gallop of his horse...