~You have to have a good heart and good things will come your way.~ Everything happened so fast. . . One minute Vladimir saw Esmeray coming running towards him and the next minute they got swallowed by a portal, journeying through a black abyss for Moon knew how long. When they finally got out of the portal it was more like the portal spit them out as if they tasted bitter. Vladimir grunted as his back hit the rocky ground taking the impact of the fall. He was sprawled there on the ground with the crazy witch laying on top of him as her body shook violently while he tried to catch his breath. "What had just happened?" Vladimir whispered as he stared up at the Moon that was peeking out of the dark clouds that had gathered in the sky. His heart was racing at an alarming speed as he tried to wrap his mind around the situation. Vladimir didn't know how this night that had started with him attending a simple ball had led him to get knocked out by a witch before he got kidnapped, wakin
Soaked in the rain, when Vladimir traced inside his castle carrying Esmeray in his arms he heard several appalled gasps around him that he choose to ignore. To save time Vladimir had traced into the conference room because he knew his good for nothing subjects would be accumulated there to figure out how to save him or how to use this situation to throw him off his throne. These ignorant fools didn't know that there will be no Kingdom or throne without Vladimir. The throne had value because Vladimir sat on it. Not the other way around. "Isn't she the witch who abducted the King?" Someone said in a hushed whisper. Vladimir glanced at Esmeray as the excruciating pain made her tremble in his arms even in her unconscious state which oddly made Vladimir's heart panic. "My King, why are you carrying the witch and why is she reeking of blood? Is she dead?" The council leader stood up from his seat and inquired in an authoritative tone, trying to display the power he thought he had over
Sitting on the chair beside the sleeping witch Vladimir couldn’t help but think why he was keeping the witch in his chamber, his intimate space. Vladimir was a type of mean calculating backstabbing bastard who didn't keep people around if they didn't benefit him. Yet he couldn't find the heart to throw this witch out. From the conversation between Maeve and Esmeray, he had figured that the witch was banished from the Sacred Land of Witches which had made Vladimir think that the witch had no use to him. Until it had occurred to him that the witch had opened a door of new possibilities for him. Before Esmeray, Vladimir had reached a dead end. He had no lead on the Oracle or his bride. Vladimir had been standing in the middle of nowhere with a loaded gun in his hand but without a target to aim at. But now the witch had given him a target. He could feel it in his gut that he was so close to his bride. Closer than he had even been~ Esmeray was a witch who was banished from the Sacred
"Leave and close my chamber doors on your way out.” Vladimir commanded dismissing Mercy as he saw Esmeray’s eyes twitching as she started to squirm in distress with a pained groan. 'Was she finally going to wake up?' The amount of relief he felt at the thought was appalling. Vladimir held his breath as his heart thudded in his chest while he waited for the witch to open her eyes. The intensity of his own emotions spooked him. Vladimir was too old for such feelings but he can’t do anything about the way this strange woman made him feel.Vladimir stared at her until her hazel eyes snapped open making his heart stop for a moment. Vladimir resisted the urge to rub his hand on his chest to ease the sudden ache in his heart. The Vampire King tried to compose himself while Esmeray was busy peering at her surroundings. Legs tangled with the sheets she seemed so disheveled. She looked so innocent, like a newborn who had woken up from a nap and had no idea where he was or what was he supp
Esmeray woke from her peaceful dreamless slumber with a content smile on her face. For the first time in months, she did not feel any pain in her body or was not woken by any Lost Soul or a nightmare from the past. Esmeray felt fresh and healthy. But above that all she felt happy. The moment that thought crossed her mind her smile fell as all the events of yesterday started coming back to her, from her kidnapping to saving the Vampire King. From her interaction with the Lycan King to her lashing out at Maeve, all of it was hitting her like havoc. Shit! What had she done!! All she wanted at the second was to move to another dimension, change her name and start a new life. Esmeray moaned in distress. What had she done!! She had ended up saving the Vampire? Why had she done that. . .? With a groan when she tried to shift she felt a beefy arm wrapped around her waist. And a rough hand holding her wrist in its tight grip. Her heart sank for a moment before she recalled where she was a
Esmeray was laying on the bed, glaring up at the bottle that was hanging from the IV stand beside her. It had run out of liquid a while ago yet Esmeray couldn't get the needle out of her arm because she didn't know how to. She had never gotten an IV infusion before. Just like she had never fucked up her target before. But it wasn't her fault. The Forest of Wonders was a place that made her sensitive. It was hard to stay calm and collected at a place where you had been the most vulnerable in your life. Mercy's taunts were just the cherry on top that had pushed Esmeray to the edge. Usually, Esmeray avoided conflicts not because she was scared of her opponents. The only person Esmeray was scared of was herself, she was scared of her nasty temper that she didn't know from where she had inherited. She feared losing control of something dark and sinister that lived inside her soul. If it was any other place Esmeray would have pretended that Mercy's nasty taunts didn't bother her. She wou
Turning her back towards the bathroom mirror Esmeray glanced back at her reflection in the mirror. Esmeray was so glad that during the major part of her healing process she was unconscious. Being unconscious was better than being awake and screaming in anguish because you couldn't take the pain anymore. Esmeray sighed in amazement, she couldn't believe how fast her wounds had healed. She had a feeling that the healers might have used some magic to treat her because a normal treatment would not have cured her. It was impossible for her to completely recover in ten days with her poor healing ability. Esmeray assessed her back closely. Even if her back was healed there were still angry red marks left along her spine from where she was guessing the stitches were removed. Esmeray groaned in annoyance. The marks were going to stay there for the rest of her upcoming eternal life. Any mark or disability caused to a person before freezing into his immortality stayed with him for a lifetim
"Having fun going through my personal belongings?" Vladimir's voice startled Esmeray pulling her out of her little analysis. Taking her glasses off she dropped them in her mystical pouch as she gulped audibly before gazing back at Vladimir who was standing at the doorway staring at her, visibly seething with annoyance. If Esmeray was in his place she would have been annoyed too if she caught someone going through her stuff in her absence. With an awkward cough, Esmeray dusted the nonexistent dust from her shorts as she stood up and faced the Vampire King who looked like he wasn't even going to spit her out after chewing her up. Maybe she should have refrained from giving in to her curiosity but now it was a little late for regrets. Her gaze flicked towards the doors. Maybe this was the right time to leave. . . Vladimir watched the small woman that he wanted to throttle as she shifted her weight nervously from one foot to another, clearly trying to come up with an excuse to leave, b
~Nothing Is Harder On A Soul Than The Smell Of Dreams While They Are Evaporating.~In her desperation, Esmeray looked at Amber. "Save me." Swallowing her pride the broken plea tumbled out of her lips.Amber gave Esmeray an uncertain look as if she wasn't sure how to react. The girl had a bruise forming on her cheek, there was a deep cut on her lower lip that was still bleeding, it was hard not to notice the streaks of drying blood that started from her upper lips and extended to her left cheek, a telltale of a nasty nosebleed. Even with a crown made of the finest gold on her head, the powerless trembling girl looked a world apart from the fierce woman the Vampire King had claimed as his bride and Queen on the altar. "What are you up to Almira?" Amber's voice was visibly startled when her flame-like gaze collided with the Vampire King who was on his knees. The side of his neck was bleeding while he held a sword at his own throat. 'Was the Vampire under an enchantment?' Ignoring the
'When Dreams Turn Into Nightmares.'An icy chill runs down Esmeray's spine. As she took a startled step back but before she could go any further she felt Lord Igor's harsh grip on her arm as he pushed her forward making her stumble into the room. "I kept my word. Here's the witch. Now it's time for you to keep your word and let my cousin go." Igor's words made Almira scoff. "You think I can't see the burning contempt in your soul for this abomination? You would have bought her to me even if I didn't hold the Vampire King hostage." "What do you want?" Esmeray sneered, hating the tremble in her voice. Even if Almira was talking to Igor her eyes were watching Esmeray with such intense curiosity that Esmeray felt like the old witch could see right inside her, see the chaos, the panicked beating of her heart. The fear~ All the sorcerers of the Sacred Land had one thing in common. The sorcerers had seen all the Elders except two. Vincent the Conqueror and Lady Almira. Lady Almira was re
Under the starry sky on the stage set in the middle of the Royal garden Raziel and Amell stared at Esmeray as she had her first dance with the King of Vampires who was now officially her husband. "Do you think we did the right thing?" Raziel asked his brother who was giving him company in the shadows, away from the preying ears and eyes. Raziel swallowed another sip of champagne from the crystal flute that threatened to break in his unforgiving grip, he had too much already but it still was not enough to endure the remaining hours of this ruse. "She is happy." Amell's statement was not enough to push the lingering doubts out of Raziel's mind. "The Vampire is going to admit his trade with Ascian. How do you think it will end up for everyone?" To calm his jittery intuition Raziel disclosed. "He is?" Amell smattered in shock. His eyes bounced between the newlywed couple and his brother. Clasping Raziel's arm in a warning grip Amell hissed under his breath. "Did you force the Vampire
The vast gardens were illuminated with beautiful, soft candlelight, the round tables were covered in white cloth. Arrangements of roses in the darkest shade of red decorate each one, their scent thick in the humid night. The Vampire Kingdom's most prestigious allys and subjects were seated around the long aisle. Standing at the entrance of the royal garden Esmeray could make out the familiar figures of the Queen and King of Wastelands along with the Fey King seated at the front, closest to the altar. Her grandfather Aric King was missing and given his history with Vladimir Esmeray wasn't surprised at his absence. Esmeray belonged to their bloodline but they were nothing more than numerous strangers surrounding her tonight. "I wish Daddy was here. I miss him." Esmeray's voice was barely above a whisper as she felt a pang of longing in her heart. "Who said he is not here? Maybe he is among the stars staring down at you with a smile. He must be proud to see how far his little food fa
"I can't feel my fingers." Esmeray's whining was accompanied by Amell's pained moan. "My back is killing me." After dealing with their end of the trade with the Dragon King the first thing they did was to transfer all the Dragon Gold from Esmeray’s old mansion to the Vampire Castle's secure Walt because it wasn't safe to leave the Gold out there after the Dragon King discovered that Esmeray had it in her possession. You can never trust a Dragon when it comes to Red Gold, they bloody protect it as their firstborn. Esmeray Raziel and Amell were sure once Aidan Draco was done dealing with his Mad Oracle he was going to come after Esmeray. "Did Aidan Draco find his bride?" Vladimir couldn't hold back his curiosity. "We don't know." Amell gave a careless shrug. "How could you not know? It was your trade to help the Dragon King find his bride." Vladimir asked instead of leaving the topic. And if there was anyone else in his place he would have done the same. Dragons were a specie th
Vladimir stared at the Royal attire he had never worn before with a slight curve of his lips. Two hours ago when Esmeray left with the two wizards it occurred to Vladimir that he couldn't just show up at his wedding in his typical formal black dress. So the first thing he did was to call the royal couturier to alter the royal attire that he had never worn in his life. The news of his marriage was made public just an hour ago. His subjects and Kingdom were in uproar at discovering that their King was finally seizing a Queen. Esmeray will be the first woman who will sit on the Vampire Queen's throne after Vladimir's mother's death. Vladimir had chosen the garden as a venue. The preparations outside the castle were on full swings. Vladimir could feel a mix of excitement and eagerness thrumming through his veins as everything started to fall into place on its own. "You are truly marrying her." The mocking sneer followed by the sound of throaty, gruff laughter filling the air pulled V
Esmeray stirred at the feel of the faint touch of cold fingers against her skin. Despite her mind being covered in the thick fog of sleep she moaned at the sparks going off on her skin at a familiar touch. The pointed tips of her ears twitched at the sound of muffled sobs coming from her left, bringing her out of her sleep-hazed state. Esmeray opened her eyes, blinking them rapidly to adjust to the room's low light. The moment her sight focused her eyes fell on Vladimir's face. She frowned at the tears rolling down his face as he stared at her legs. Despair settled at the pit of her stomach as she realized Vladimir was examining her scars. It almost felt like a dream seeing the Vampire King in a trance as his fingers gently traced over the thick scared tissues hidden beneath the ink on her legs. "Do they still hurt?" Esmeray’s heart twisted in knots at hearing the tremble in his voice. Somehow Esmeray knew he was not talking about physical pain. Her wounds had healed a long time
The Fey King was the only Monarch Esmeray hadn't managed to piss off or taunted probably because he was not hostile towards her. By blood, the Fey King was Amber’s grandfather but the man had long ago banished his daughter who was the Rightful Hier to his throne when she had abandoned the Fey Throne by marrying the King of Beasts. But Esmeray didn't know how much of that information was true. "If you know her origin why don't you share it with all of us?" Aric reasoned. The beast residing in his soul wanted to know if the pull it felt towards Esmeray was by blood or because of compulsion. Esmeray exhaled a tiny breath, her chest twisted as she waited for the Fey King to disclose her secret but his next words surprised her. "Knowledge and secret hold power and a wise King never reveals information of his allies." The Fey King offered Esmeray a mischievous smile. "And you are allied with her, darling grandfather." Amber couldn't help but mock the Fey King. She couldn't believe that
"If anyone has a problem with my appearance then they are welcome not to look my way. We are not here to fit in or seek any validation from anyone. So kindly refrain from telling me where I belong or not. The three of us are here just to keep an eye on my groom for protection purposes." Esmeray spoke unfazed by her mother's taunt. "Why do you think the Vampire King needs your protection?" Aric King asked with genuine confusion. It was hardly believable that a man of Vladimir's reputation would need someone's protection. The Vampire was a walking unhinged hazard. "What can I say? It's heartbreaking to admit it out loud that the Vampire won't sleep with me before our marriage so I am forced to protect his dee dee till our wedding night." Esmeray let out with a rueful shake of her head making Aric bit back a smile. "You are making it sound like you are marrying me for my body." Even though his tone was bored Vladimir's cheeks turned flaming red at his little brat's words who was dete