Amethyst was sitting by the window, gazing at the garden when she noticed someone standing in the garden, looking in her direction. The person had red eyes and a handsome face. He wore slinky attire that accentuate his body shape perfectly. Not sure if it was the vampires' fashion but everyone including the king wore tightly fit clothes down to their boots. Also, they seemed to have a penchant for colours as the king loves to wear black clothes and the person she saw wears all navy blue coloured clothes. Amethyst stood abruptly; the chair fell in her wake when she stepped away from the window. She ferreted the wardrobe for something useful to use as a weapon, and she found only a broomstick.Wielding the broomstick in her hands, she stood in the middle of the room. The sun shone down upon her through the skylight and her golden hair glimmered beautifully.The person in the garden walked towards the garden room with a basket but stopped in front of the door. Then, he placed the baske
The palace was once again turned upside down by the frantic attendants, searching for him. The Queen candidates were not informed of all the commotion though. They were given the excuse the king wasn't feeling well and had their stay extended until the king returns to make his choice. The candidates, then, were sent to their respective quarters on the West side of the palace and were told to get enough rest. "Lord Tobeyaz, do you have the slightest idea where the king is?" asked one of the ministers when Tobeyaz just got back into the meeting room.Tobeyaz inhaled deeply. "I am as lost as you, Count Gestain," he said, "but, once the guards find out a clue, everyone will be notified." Then, he went to his chair and sat. He poured a chalice full of blood and glugged it. He was exhausted. Not only was he given the task to protect the elf, but he also had to purse his lips about the king's real intention of foiling all of the ladies grades. If Tobeyaz spilt the truth, the king might tu
Then, Amethyst immediately lifted the blanket and glanced down. Her eyes widened. She was naked. Bare. No clothes. Just plain skin in sight. Although petrified, not a simple gasp came out of her mouth. Cross, she glanced at Luveas, "What happened to my clothes?" Luvead tilted his head. "I took them off."Amethyst felt her heart stop beating. Unexpectedly, fury filled her entire body but, she couldn't express them properly. She only sat on the bed, clenching her jaws."Are you afraid?" asked Luveas when there were no responses from her. His question only got him a sharp glare from the elf. Then, he chuckled, further swelling her heart. Ah, he liked to see her angry face. He had not seen that expression for nearly two weeks, and today his longing was finally paid off. He had so much fun when he was with her compared to when he had to entertain the vampire ladies. The vampire leaned back on the chair. "Last night," he began, "you did something incredible."Amethyst squinted at his cl
"I didn't mean that. I-""You're unhappy about my attachment with the elf. Why? Had she killed any of your family? Had you forgotten what I've asked of you?"Tobeyaz inhaled deeply. "I have no intention to disobey your orders, Your Majesty. I'm worried that you couldn't produce an heir if you choose to dawdle the matter that we try to tackle now. Please, I implore you to pick one so we can send the others home." Luveas tilted his head. "Why are you asking me this?" he asked. "I left that task to you. I gave you the authority to pick one among them all. Have you forgotten about that?""But, I can't decide based on my preference because we're picking a wife for you, My Lord. We want her to be someone that you prefer and someone that you're comfortable with.""There are none that match my preference," revealed the king. "None!" His voice rose. Tobeyaz stayed quiet. Then, he heard the king say, "Just do what I asked from you, Tobeyaz, and enough whining like those useless ministers!"To
"Why?" asked Lady Emia. "Had His Majesty threatened to kill you?"Tobeyaz turned silent. Then, he smiled and said, "He hadn't but, there's no harm done to always stay sharp.""Hmm, it sounds like my fiancé is having problems with his attitude."Tobeyaz chuckled. "Well, everyone has their bad and good sides that outsiders are kept away from."Lady Emia leaned forward, smiling, "I'll keep it in mind, then. Anyway, does he have someone by his side as we speak?" She got back to her initial priority. Tobeyaz inhaled deeply. "I am not-""Who is she?" interrupted the lady. Her eyes shone brightly. "Is she one of the maids in the palace?"Tobeyaz sighed softly. "Emia, please watch over your manners. You could fall into danger if you behave this way around His Majesty."Lady Emia lifted the chalice off the table and took a sip from it. "You're no fun, cousin," she said, "you're always nagging and pointing out my fault.""You should be grateful for I'm doing so to keep you alive," answered Tob
Then, Luveas said, "Also, please be informed, whoever dares to lay a finger on my elf will face my wrath. Remember it well, Tobeyaz." Then, he added, "Ah, I will be going to visit the border soon and I hope you keep her safe at the cost of your and your cousin's life. Do you understand?""I understand, Your Majesty.""By the way, I forgot to mention it but I know what you and Lady Emia spoke about today," said the king in amusement.Tobeyaz flinched in his seat. 'How is that possible?' he thought. How did the king manage to find out about their conversation?Then, he heard the king say with a little chuckle, "So, be careful from now on because if Lady Emia decided to overstep her boundary, I might take the elf as my mistress just as she feared. But, it would be a sweet nightmare, don't you think, Tobeyaz?"Tobeyaz turned paler than he already had. He couldn't react and stayed silent where he sat. Luveas, seeing that the secretary turned to stone at his desk, scoffed. Then, he continu
"I beg your pardon?"Luveas stepped forth, cornering her. "Someone who wants to do something dangerous or plans to leave will apologize out of the blue," he said. "Are you planning to leave me? Perhaps, forever?"Amethyst squinted, flabbergasted. "Had someone said something like this to you before?"She had no idea what had made him say that. She had lost her entire family members and she didn't want to say sad goodbyes to someone like him, who she had just known might have gone through a harsh life, a life that she had not known of.Luveas said nothing as he reverted to his calmness. He glanced to the side and said, "Please, forget I said that."Amethyst paced forward but Luveas flinched and stepped back. "Step back, Amethyst," he said, cautioning her of the danger if she came too close.Amethyst halted. "I'm not going to hurt you.""But I might!" said Luveas and worry permeated his tremulous voice.Amethyst inhaled deeply and then said, "If you truly want to hurt me, you would've do
Amethyst stepped away from the mirror and went to the bow window. She looked at the garden where the flowers bloomed beautifully. Then, she looked at the flowers that grew inside the room, sighing softly.The wisterias hung down and created shades everywhere; the elf had a hard time getting her clothes dry for she left them dry in the room after washing them. She couldn’t step out into the open either.Crash!Amethyst jumped when one of the windows broke and the pieces fell on the floor. She stepped away and gasped inwardly. Then, she noticed a stone painted red and also a letter tied to it.The elf peeked from the window and squinted, searching for the responsible one, but there was no one in sight. After that, she picked the stone and separated it from the letter. The letter was written in the tongue of the humans and she had a hard time trying to read the content.Amethyst said nothing but inhaled deeply. She continued to look around, staying alert.…Tobeyaz came in the evening, b
For the next two days, Luveas spent his day ogling at his reflection in the mirror. He was excited that his appearance varied greatly than he anticipated."Do I look like my father or my mother?" He had been asking that question for two days in a row now. Amethyst smiled and responded, "I have no answer for that but I am certain you do look like them as one."Luveas beamed. He stepped away from the mirror and sat beside her. Then, he snuggled at her."I am glad to hear that..." Ever since he transformed, he became too attached. It wasn't unpleasant because Amethyst knew he had no one else to be with whom he could confide in his happiness but her. Also, she endured the urge to smack him. "Luveas, since your treatment is now done, have you been thinking of returning to Luthien?" she asked, dropping another question at him.Luveas flinched. He went into silence."I have never thought of that..." he answered.His gaze dropped. The time he spent with her made him forget that he was a r
It was yet another night where Luveas was already in bed, sleeping soundly. He was deep into the world of unconsciousness. Nothing could wake him. Amethyst stepped into the room with a bowl of water drawn from the sacred pool. She placed it beside the bed as she took a seat beside him. There, she sat for some time. One had no idea what was in her mind. Her silent gaze ran along the bandages that covered his entire body and face. Her gaze turned tender as time went by. But, sadness was visibly permeating her eyes. A smile, remnants of her courage, appeared on her otherworldly beautiful face. She reached out and caressed his head affectionately."Your wait shall end tonight..." she whispered.Truthfully, she had wanted to prolong his treatment. She wanted to buy more time to create moments for just the two of them that she would remember forever. But, she knew he might not have much time in his account. She knew she would be gambling on her life as soon as he got what he came here
Luthien...Tobeyaz was working on papers related to problems in the territories of Luthien when Ealyas entered."A letter has arrived from Numany," he announced and placed the letter on the table. Tobeyaz, with a haggard-looking face, eyed the letter. His mood wasn't there yet."How did this letter get through the border?" he asked. His tone was sinister. He had handled numerous cases of vampires going against vampires; one blamed the other for being in cahoots with the humans by the border. Well, it was understandable that many cases of missing young vampires led to distress."It was catapulted into our forest." Ealyas' response was simple though sounded funny.Tobeyaz scoffed. "Then, throw it away. This must be one of those pesky humans' stupid games to distract our soldiers.""Are you sure of that?" asked Ealyas and scrutinized the haggard-looking Tobeyaz.Tobeyaz knitted his brows. When the knight asked such a question, it only meant something serious."The emblem on the envelo
Amethyst stayed silent. "You tell me how far you can go. I leave that choice in your hands," she said, trying to lead him. But, her mien stayed the same; no changes in her emotions. She was calm and fixated. Luveas fidgeted. "But, what if I want to take it too far? Would you allow it?"Amethyst smiled. "Of course, I would allow it," she responded. "You are the only person who gets such permission from me."Because of the spousal markings.Luveas eyed her keenly. "I might treat you as someone dear to me.""Treat me as how you like. I am yours, remember?"Luveas stayed silent. He forgot about that. After all of the fiasco during the day, he forgot about the oath.Then, he asked, "But, what if I want us to get intimate tonight? Would that become a problem for you?" He thought he ought to ask that crucial question for he had no idea what she was thinking.Amethyst smiled even more widely. "That would not become a problem. You are my traveling companion and we can get physically close..."
Luveas began, "During my childhood, my parents were killed. Humans ambushed us when we were picnicking in the palace backyard..."Melancholy danced in Luveas' weary eye when he revisited the painful memory lane. Humans appeared out of nowhere and killed his parents. Strangely, on the day of the former king and queen's assassination, not a single guard appeared on the scene. That moment was still a mystery to him until today."I was too young to understand anything and the one thing I knew was humans took me in as something they studied," he added painfully. His voice bore pure hatred when he mentioned 'studied'. Amethyst knitted her brows. "Something they studied?" She had no idea Humans would do such a thing to other races.Luveas nodded. "Humans studied the endurance of young vampires to estimate the strength of adult vampires. They wanted to find the best weapon to kill us if they could find our weaknesses,” he paused again, seemingly inhaling a deep breath although it wasn’t cert
Amethyst nodded. "Yes, and please repeat after me...""Wait, wait..." Luveas stopped her. "What Oath are we talking about now?"Amethyst eyed him piercingly. "Are you doubting me?"Luveas shook. The elf nodded. "Then, since you have nothing else to say, then follow what I say. From today onward and until death do us part, say my name, is mine and I, say your name, am hers. I shall be granted freedom to roam Ancea just as her."Luveas hesitated. "Uh, that sounds so strange for an oath...""Just do it!" snapped the elf. She was getting impatient for she wanted to end the process soon. Luveas, despite his wariness, said, "From today onward and until death do us part...""Say my name, is mine and I, say your name, am hers.""...Amethyst Elan is mine and I, Luveas Dayn, am hers. I shall be granted freedom to roam Ancea just as her."Amethyst beamed in satisfaction. Then, she glanced at his chest which was h
On the other hand, Amethyst pursed her lips and followed Luveas to the burial site. There, she saw mounds everywhere. Each mound was showered with flower petals.Again, the elf found her composure slipping away slowly. Her chest tighten as she got emotional. All of her people were lying there, resting in eternal slumber. She couldn't believe she'd be one among the elves in Ancea who mourned the loss of her entire tribe; she hoped some survived and hid in the woods...She glanced at Luveas. He was busy placing the bones in the holes that he had dug out. Her heart ached, but it wasn't because of anger. It was more like she was touched deeply by his unexpectedly humble side.Tears filled her eyes. "Thank you, Luveas..." she said faintly. 'Now, I'm glad I marked you as my husband...' she added inwardly....After burying all the bones, Luveas went into the woods. "I want to find a flower that suits your sister," he said before he went fo
Luveas nodded and stayed silent throughout the journey. Their journey took another countless hours before they arrived at a village, a deserted village. There were cottages but, the buildings collapsed to the ground. The wild grasses grew abundantly, covering nearly half of them. The walking trails were all covered by dirt, remnants of the explosion, and moss took over some of the places. The smell of decay and burnt wood lingered in the air for there were lots of dried-up skeletons covered in clothes lying around; some still held swords and arrows. Some got arrows piercing their skulls and bodies.Amethyst froze where she stood. Her chest tightened. The memories of the horrendous day flashed in her mind. She could vividly hear the screams and cries of her kin floating around as if she had stepped back to the past; to the day when humans ambushed her, once peaceful and thriving, village.The elf covered her ears when their voices only grew loude
Luveas looked at her. "I'm not unhappy. I'm speechless. I've never asked anyone their age before..."He had no one close to share and ask such things. He had always been lonely since his childhood because he trusted no one after the passing of his parents. Amethyst said nothing when Luveas fell into a trance. She ate silently and after she was done, she went to lie down near the fire."Are you not worried that I might attack you?" asked Luveas after he placed the empty plate away. He noticed she didn't seem to be as wary as their first encounter.Amethyst fluttered her eyes open. "I'm not worried.""Why?"She inhaled deeply and responded, "...because the moment I die, Nature would have properly dealt with you, and you might need to go bid farewell to Ancea forever."Luveas looked around, eyeing the flora around them, fearing that something might smack him."Hmm, that's disheartening..." he replied.Ame