Chapter 2 - Aurora's POV

Aurora’s POV

My attention snaps back to the vampires who are now leading us closer to these unruly beasts leading the large wagons. The horse's mostly ignore us, which is a relief.

My eyes fall on the group of wagons I assume we are about to be herded into. They actually don’t look all too bad. The wheels alone are taller than me, and the wagon portion looks big enough to fit ten to fifteen people. They are covered on either side and on top by a shelter made out of some type of thick, heavy cloth. 

The backs of the wagons are open to the night air, except for the doors that only cover the bottom half. Leaving the top half open to take in a breeze. Something I'm sure will be appreciated in the summer heat. 

I scan the area, counting the wagons in front of me. Six. Six wagons. Twelve vampiric horses, and with the addition of the vampires who were waiting for us when we made it up the stairs, twelve vampires. 

The first of the prisoners are led into the closest wagon, the rest of us waiting our turn. I’m taken toward the third wagon, where I notice Everett standing by the horses at the front of the fourth.

He has his arms wrapped around one of the horse's neck, with his head laid into the beast's glossy coat. I watch as he draws his head up and whispers something in the horse's ear. They share a look, then Everett walks behind the horse, and instead of using the stairs, jumps up onto the front of the wagon, settling himself into a very comfy looking seat. 

The vampire leading me stops in front of the third wagon and opens the little door. He motions for me to go inside.

Fuck. This is it. I’m really letting myself get taken by vampires.

Letting myself? It’s not like I have a damn choice. These vampires can easily ruin everything, I have to do what they say so I can stay alive as long as possible.

If I was the real me, the true me, I wouldn’t be in this situation right now – about to get my blood drained – I would be strong. I never would have gone to prison. I never would have suffered like I did. I barely survived this fucking empire. 

No, if I was who I am supposed to be, I would be happy and far away from this wretched place. The powerful me would destroy these vampires easily. She would show no mercy to them, then kill all the useless prisoners as well – most of whom are murderers and rapists.

I just know my wolf would be like me and refuse to give them an easy death. Their screams would pierce the quiet night’s air from the pain I inflict on them with my magic, and they would cower under the power of my wolf.

The vampire holding the door startles me as he grabs the collar of my shirt with one hand and places the other underneath my chin, forcing my head to snap up.

I meet his burning gaze. His eyes are a fascinating shade of green – almost too bright to look directly into, and right now they are staring down at me with repulsion.

“I recognize that look in your eyes, and let me tell you something right now, little girl.” He bends forward, his lips brushing against my ear sending shivers down my spine, “There’s always one who tries to run or fight. It never ends well for them. In fact, we usually make it our mission to gorge ourselves on them just to send a message to the rest of you miserable pieces of shit.”

I try to keep my face neutral, but I feel my eyes widen at his words. The reality of my situation comes crashing down on me. There’s no chance of escaping this, so I’m just going to have to accept my fate, stop complaining, and start focusing on creating a new escape plan.

I give the menacing vampire a small nod, and he lets go of me. His face relaxes and he gives me what seems like a genuine smile, only to then shove me up the stairs and into the wagon.

 I find myself in a spacious and almost welcoming seating area. Along either side of the wagon are long, cushioned benches, facing each other. Each bench has six cushions to sit on, each separated by a plump arm rest, and they all have retractable wooden footrests attached. 

It is also dimly lit by a couple of enclosed lanterns hanging from the rounded ceiling. Overall, it is quite the upgrade from what I am used to. 

I can work with this.

All of the prisoners in my group vehemently avoid the two seats closest to the front. I take this to my advantage and sit myself down in the front seat on the left. 

Maybe I can get some useful information about the vampires who have us. They don’t seem very friendly, but if they haven’t actually killed us yet then they probably have plans for us. I will be able to hear their conversations since there is nothing separating them from us except the fur-lined back of their long bench, and a heavy curtain which is currently draped open, allowing air to flow through easily.

Their bench is grander than ours. It only supports two cushioned seats but is big enough to seat at least five full grown men. Both of their seats have a malleable, plush headrest attached.

If I lean just slightly forward, I can see right between the two headrests and to the outside, where I am distracted from the comfort of this place and reminded of the terrifying creatures that are leading us. I suppress a shiver, as I stare at the shiny black coats rippling in the slight, warm breeze.

Even the vampires themselves don’t match up to the power these horses seem to exude. I sit back with a sigh; I suppose they are trained good enough or the vampires wouldn't be using them. 

It is not long before all the seats are filled. I look across from me at the unlucky prisoner who unwillingly sat in the other front seat.

Poor guy.

Actually, no. Fuck this guy. Chances are, he’s some psycho rapist who deserves this fate ten times over.

He looks absolutely terrified though; his bottom lip is trembling, and his forehead glistens with sweat. 

I’m scared too; I'm not denying that. But my fear is more about how much harder my escape just became. I don't fear the vampires themselves. Well, I do. But denial seems to be my current coping mechanism.

After a few more minutes of waiting, two vampires climb into the front of the wagon. One of them just happens to be the vampire who first came to my cell. In the dim light I am able to finally get a proper look at him. He is tall and muscular like the rest of them, and his light blonde hair is currently tied back in a loose bun, with some fly-away strands falling into his face. 

When he turns to check on us cargo for a moment, I catch sight of his baby blue eyes. Such innocent looking eyes have no place on the face of a vampire. His lips are plump but not huge, and his fangs peep out when he gives us a maybe friendly smile before turning back to face the front.

Out of the dark dungeon, his guy honestly seems too pretty to be a vicious, blood-sucking monster. His long, blonde eyelashes are mesmerizing, and the softness in his eyes doesn’t match my expectations at all. In the short few seconds I had to take in his appearance, I concluded that he is the most attractive man I've ever seen. 

My eyes wander over to the other vampire sitting beside him. I freeze when I see that he is staring directly at me. I was too swept up in the innocence and beauty of the first vampire's features to feel the green daggers piercing my skull. I can’t comprehend the brightness of his eyes. The unsettling green gaze unnerves me, but I hold it, unblinking.  

"You all might as well get a few hours of sleep before the sun rises. We have about a week's journey ahead, so get comfortable," he says to the occupants of the wagon at large, but without moving his eyes from mine. It feels as if he is searching into my soul, trying to uncover my deepest secrets.

My eyes dart to his full lips as he swipes his tongue across them. I take in the rest of his features; His cheek bones are defined, but not sharp, his dark brown hair is a mess of curls that hang in his face. His skin is light and looks as soft and smooth as porcelain, but it's his intense green eyes that make him such an intriguing beauty.

He notices me taking in his appearance and raises an eyebrow.

Goddess dammit. Why am I falling apart for these vampires? Even the male prisoners around me seem taken aback by their enchanting beauty. 

The green-eyed vampire speaks again, directly at me this time, "Like what you see princess?" he winks at me. His eyes stay glued to me, and I realize he is waiting for me to answer him.

I resist rolling my eyes. First “little girl” and now “princess”? I mean, yeah, “princess” is the technically correct term, but I’ll be fucked if I tell him that. They don’t know that my father is the Werewolf King. They don’t know that I’m the hybrid princess to a kingdom that could rival their own. They don’t know that when I finish enacting my revenge on this pitiful human empire, I will pay them a visit and take pleasure in separating their hearts from their bodies.

No. They can’t know any of that.

I decide to just ignore his question and use this opportunity to ask a question of my own. "Where are you taking us? Will it really take a week to get there?" Ok, two questions. 

I know the blonde said Dema Mortem earlier, but I need to hear it again, just to be sure.

Those green eyes widen slightly, probably at my audacity to ask him anything. He surprises me by answering easily, "You guys are being transferred to a prison location in Dema Mortem, the vampire kingdom." he shrugs his shoulders like it is no big deal. "It's a long trip to the north, we make only one stop to feed the horses, so get used to sitting.”

"Transferred?" I deadpan. This is legal?

Both vampires actually laugh. But it’s the pretty blonde who answers this time, "Yes, once a year our king goes through the Emberi Empire's imprisonment files and picks a handful of you-" he pauses and turns to look me up and down, taking in my petite frame - "more dangerous criminals." 

Then he looks over the rest of the prisoners who are all listening closely, though actively avoiding eye contact with the vampires. "Once he decides who to take, he lets your emperor know, who approves it. After that, it's just a matter of getting here and transferring you all there.”

The blinding green eyes find mine again, “Our king gives your emperor protection and gold. How do you think your empire has always prospered so well? Funded directly by the vampire king himself, in exchange for your worst criminals." 

They both turn to face the front and the wagon starts moving. I ponder what they said, it’s a little unbelievable, yet here I am. Currently being transported by a bunch of vampires. Though, ‘prosperous’ is not how I would describe the empire, most of the people here are barely scraping by, it's only the wealthiest citizens in the bigger cities that have any real quality of life.

But I suppose it makes the emperor rich and that’s all that matters. I guess it makes sense, humans are weak, and vampires need an endless supply of blood. A deal like this ensures the survival of humanity. Sacrificing the worst of them for the best of them. I get it.

But I don’t fucking belong here.

I figure I’m safe for now since they plan to keep us alive for at least the next week and decide to take the advice given to us and get some sleep.

This bench is undoubtedly the comfiest thing I've had to sleep on in years. Once I lean into the soft fabric and close my eyes, the swaying of the wagon lulls me to sleep almost instantly.

***

 I wake to the sun streaming in through the front opening of the covered wagon. It’s hot. My hair sticks uncomfortably to my neck, and I feel a few beads of sweat perspiring on my forehead. 

I rub the sleep out of my eyes and stretch my back out. Then I take in my surroundings. Most of the prisoners are still sleeping, though a few, including the one across from me, are obviously awake, just keeping their eyes pointed downward.

I wonder how long we've been travelling so far. The sun is bright, but seems low in the sky, telling me it’s still early. 

I let out a yawn and my stomach rumbles with hunger. An unpleasant feeling, but one I am quite used to. I decide to test the waters and see if I can get some food. 

Leaning forward, I look into the front area of the wagon. They have leather satchels, and storage bins attached to the inside of the covered walls. They have to feed us. Even if they don't technically need food, we do. 

If they expect us to survive until we reach Dema Mortem they must plan to give us something. I don't know their names, so I clear my throat to get their attention. 

The prisoners who are awake look at me in shock and some with terror in their eyes. The vampires, however, are not really paying attention to anything, both of them are staring off in opposite directions, looking extremely bored.

I try again, "Um... vampires?” I cringe inwardly at the way my voice seems to crack at the end. Clearing my throat again, I speak steadier this time, “Do you plan to feed us?" 

The green-eyed vampire snorts with laughter while the blonde one just turns to his side and grabs a satchel off the covering. He rummages through it for a moment before pulling out several cloth-covered dishes.

The smell of eggs, sausage, and bacon fills the wagon. Those who are still sleeping, start waking up from the glorious smell wafting towards us. 

"Boss had Silas make a quick stop this morning at a cafe on the outskirts of the empire." says the blonde as he passes me one of the square cardboard containers covered with a cloth that is kept in place by a twine string. 

"They should still be warm" he adds, as we all graciously accept the precious food being handed to us. 

My mouth is watering. I rip apart the twine and take off the cloth to find a wooden fork placed to the side of a large serving of scrambled eggs, as well as two sausage links, four slices of bacon, a roll, and even some beans in a molasses sauce. 

I have to stop myself from drooling over it. I’m about to dig when the curly haired vampire speaks. 

He turns to look at me with an amused expression, those green eyes are still so intriguing to me. "Just to clarify, he's Adrian, I'm Dimitri. Ok, Human?" 

I actually chuckle. Human I technically am not. "Yeah, good to know. Thanks." I reply.

"Do you have a name, princess?" Dimitri asks, his green eyes burning holes into me. That’s the second time he’s called me princess and it tugs at something in my heart. My mom always called me her little hybrid princess

"Does it even matter?" I ask. I wonder how long they keep the transferred prisoners alive before just taking all our blood and disposing of us. 

They both stay silent, so I continue, "I mean, will I even live past next week? You're taking us for our blood, right?" I have to reel in my aggressive tone a bit. I don’t want them to think I feel anything but fear.

"You ask too many questions princess." says Dimitri with mock annoyance. 

It’s Adrian who answers me, speaking loud enough for the rest of the prisoners to hear, "All of your sentences in the empire were for life. You would have died of old age in those cells. In Dema Mortem you still have to serve life sentences, in addition, we take blood from you twice a season. But I assure you, the living arrangements are much nicer than those disgusting dungeons your emperor throws you all in.” The prisoners look terrified at this, but I feel a rush of excitement.

"So, you don't just drain us all at once?" I had assumed it was the equivalent to a slaughterhouse and we’d be run through some kind of cruel death that drains all our blood.

"What would be the point of that? We would run out within a week." replies Dimitri with a deadly glint to his eyes.  

Hm... I guess that makes sense. It’s not really wise to use up your entire food supply all at once. This way, they have an endless supply of blood flowing into the kingdom.

I'll have to wait and see exactly what I'll be dealing with and plan my escape from there.

Dimitri turns to face me again, "So you got a name? Or would you prefer Princess?" 

“Aurora." I reply. 

The two vampires accept my answer and turn to face the road again. Why do they even care?

I focus back down on my food and immediately began shoveling forkfuls of it into my mouth. I almost moan when the taste hits my tongue. 

I haven’t had a decent meal in so long, I have to hold back an onslaught of tears from the pure joy of eating real food. I wiggle into my seat and get myself comfortable to enjoy this delicious breakfast. 

When we are all finished eating, Adrian collects the paper dishes and throws them back into his bag. "We have more packaged food, just let me know if any of you get hungry."

"When will we be stopping?" I decide to ask. Even in my dungeon I was able to pace and stretch my muscles. If only I had my wolf; this stop would be the perfect situation for escaping. 

"We’ll stop for five minutes every night so you can all relieve yourselves, but other than that, not for a couple days. The horses can go a long time before needing a break." Adrian says.

"Ever seen a witch before?" Dimitri asks jovially. In fact, his whole demeanour has changed. He looks… excited.

I just tilt my head. Not trusting my voice to not give away my amusement at his question. I am literally half witch.

Adrian speaks up, "We usually stop in the Eternal Flame Coven territory. The Ember Field has a good spot to stop and eat. Stretch your legs a bit. And we can tend to the horses.”

The Ember Field!

Excitement blooms in my chest. My mom had told me all about that enchanted field of flames. 

The flowers that cover the field have flames in place of a stamen and when the petals wilt, they turn to smoke and disappear. I am eager to see this place with my own eyes.

Worry soon overtakes my excitement however, when I realize I could be coming into close contact with witches. 

They could possibly be able to sense my mother's spell disguising me, or in her words ‘protecting me’. I guess I can tell the vampires I'd prefer to stay in the wagon.

And just not get to see the Ember Field...

Maybe I can come back to see it someday. 

I sigh. At least I have some decent food and a soft space to curl up on for now. 

I get myself into a position where I can be relaxed and also see through Adrian and Dimitri’s heads to watch the passing scenery outside.

As long and boring as this trip will be, at least it will be long and boring in comfort.