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
“How about relocating them to the interior of Drizzar? I believe there are many spaces to accommodate them all. They could return to the border again after the place is cleansed from the disease.”Ealyas sighed. “We are currently facing opposition from the permanent dwellers in the interior of Drizzar. Since the vampires near the borders are accustomed to the ways of the humans, it is harder for them to mingle with the interior vampires. We also found out they are having an internal feud among them.”“Internal feud?” Luveas was surprised. "Explain."“The vampires from the interior of Drizzar claimed that the vampires living near the borders are in cahoots with the humans to capture and sell young vampires in exchange for elf’s blood. Some of them said those living near the borders have been doing lots of the dirty jobs for the humans.”Luveas stayed silent. He clenched on the table. The reports in his hands got crumpled.“What other news did you hear from them?” he asked. His voice tur
Tobeyaz placed the pitcher down and dabbed his mouth with a napkin. “Every secretary is bound to work on difficult tasks from their superiors.”Lady Emia smiled. “Then, does he also ask for you to raise an elf in the palace? I have no idea we have one near.”Tobeyaz froze. He lifted his face. “Elf?”What on the earth of Hetonaia was she spouting about? Had she found out about Miss Elf on the East side?Lady Emia smiled and revealed with an excited voice, “Ah, I found out from the maids that you and my fiancé were taking turns sending food to her. I must say, she is a tasty-looking treat. Also, this is the first time I have seen one in the flesh. Where did you get such an expensive elf?” Last week, Lady Emia found out, there was a place within the palace that was ‘abandoned’. Turned out, an elf was residing there, and the ban that refused visitation from even the maids and guards further prove that the elf was a very important entity to the king.“Where is she now?” asked Tobeyaz out
“Mister Tobeyaz is bedridden now because you poisoned him,” she said, coercing Amethyst into admitting to her crime.The elf looked at the vampire with a sharp gaze. “I have never poisoned anyone.” Her tone turned icy. Why would she poison someone when she should save them from the poisoning?“Are you sure?” asked Lady Emia. “How can you explain the claim that Tobeyaz made about you? He said you placed him under a deadly spell.”Amethyst squinted. “I know nothing about poisons or spells as you claimed.” Her voice was colder than before. 'This has gotten outrageous,' she thought, slowly getting angry. Healer Elves had never associated themselves with sorcery because such things were popular among humans only.Lady Emia scoffed. “Then, you had better prepare a better answer in the prison.”“Prison?” Amethyst furrowed her brows. She was flabbergasted by the punishment that had fallen upon her out of the blue. After that, Lady Emia called out for guards.Amethyst took a few steps back a
The next day, Luveas suddenly appeared at the palace ground with Blackie, the black steed. No one knew he had returned from the border for not one guard was seen stationed at the usual guarding posts.‘Where are the guards?’ he pondered as he got down off the exhausted steed and ushered it to the stable. The stable boy, who was busy tending the other horses, was surprised to see him. “Shush, boy.” Luveas lifted his hand, stopping the young vampire from screaming. “Just tend to this tired horse and do me a favour…" he squatted before the child, "...do not tell anyone you’ve seen me or I’ll silence you forever. Your choice?”The young stable boy pursed his lips, terrified. He nodded his head vigorously. Then, Luveas left the stable and slunk to the East side garden. Along the way, he noticed the palace was oddly quiet. Not even a maid was seen tending to the gardens as usual. But, he could see decorations for the wedding were underway.Luveas felt uneasy. He rushed to the garden room, b
Meanwhile…Amethyst sat on the floor of a prison, chained to the wall that was covered in moss. Her fair forearms were bruised and full of bite marks: remnants of sharp fangs. The wounds left a burning sensation on her skin and she was gritting to hold the pain. Her beautiful face was sunken, void of colours and vibrance. She looked even wearier than her first time in Luthien.The prison smelt unpleasant; the smell of decay and sewage combined. Not a word could describe such an appetite-crumpling smell. However, despite all that, Amethyst was very famished and her stomach couldn’t stop grumbling since this morning. Her throat was parched for she was given hard bread a day without water. For some unknown reason, she wasn’t allowed to taste the luxury of water, not even a drop of it.Amidst internally fighting with hunger, the elf could sense a commotion happening outside the prison, where no other prisoners were near as she didn’t see any of them near hers. She could hear a voice talki
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