Chapter Two - Daniel

Daniel's P.O.V

It never gets old. Listening to these old geezers fight amongst themselves. Not that I wasn't old but still they are a few hundred fucking thousand years older than me.

Damn it! I need some blood right now.

I turned my head around to look at Petroka who was standing there staring at me with a blank gaze on his face. As soon as he felt my eyes on him, he immediately bent down. "Your Majesty?"

"Get me a glass of blood." I whispered into his ear as he nodded and quickly left the door to get my glass of blood to quench my thirst.

I then, once again returned my undivided attention back to my lovely ministers who were fighting like cats and dogs making me suffer a headache because of their high pitched voices.

"The land was ours to begin with, Mastin!" Viscount Ferris shouted for the hundredth time as he fought for his ancestral land, his son lost in a gamble with Baron Serbin's son.

"I don't give a damn!" Baron Serbin fought back. He was not an easy opponent. Nope. Not when it came to money. This old geezer was a old, greedy, miser.

As, the two continued to fight I remained silent the entire time, just watching them like a hawk waiting for a slight slip of tongue which would change this entire thing into my favour without giving them a chance to blame me.

The Ferris's family land which was gambled was not just a piece of land, it generated three-fifth of the entire Ferris Viscounty's income. If I got it, it would enable me to spare some more money to help the commoners.

"Well, guess what I don't care either! Your Majesty, please make a decision." Viscount spoke as he turned towards me.

Finally!

"Henry." I called out for my lovely cousin who was ready to lay our trump to get the land in our hands.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Henry looked at me as I nodded for him to continue. And, so he did," Do you Viscount Ferris and Baron Serbin agree to indulge in a gamble?"

"Yes." Both of them said in unison making a smirk form on my lips.

Henry's eyes also glinted with mischief but he managed to continue with a poker face," According to Act 679, All gambles including territory between nobles should be done only after a written edict granted by the king. May I dare to ask both of you where is the edict signed by His Majesty?" Henry questioned as their faces paled upon the sudden realization.

I couldn't help but grin as I said," Big mistake. You break the laws and then ask me for justice? Since it's justice that you want. It is justice what you shall have. The land mentioned in the bet shall be confisticated by the Royals. As a punishment for the Viscount. And, as for the Baron. He'll provide the next month's blood supply for commoners instead of royalty. In case, I find that the distribution had not taken place or the supplies are not the same as accounted. Be prepared to lose your head. Effective immediately. Next!" I declared as both of them sank back on their seats, defeated.

Henry just smiled as he took his seat again. And, the next matter was announced by Duke Adervent. "Knife." As soon as the words left his lips, I could feel each vampire noble in the room shiver.

Knife, as the name sounded this person was dangerous. Dangerous but sweet. Somehow, everytime he murdered someone I couldn't help but look into the person's background. And to my shock, the victim would always be corrupt to the core. These people might label him as a threat to the Empire. But, I knew what he did was not easy. He took care of all the dirty work for me. Not that he was one of my knights but he seemed to know my empire better than me. And, what he was was not a threat but a blessing to the Empire as because of him we were able to stop a lot of corrupt practices such as tax manipulation, child trafficking, etc.

"Your Majesty! We have to catch him before he kills each of our kind and burns the Empire to ashes!" Viscount Vista spoke as he slammed his hands on the poor wooden desk.

Here we go again.

"Your Majesty, please do something!" Each of the council ministers started begging when Petroka finally walked into the office with a glass of blood making the room fall silent. I swear you could hear even the feather drop on the ground.

Petroka walked up to me as he handed me the glass and I took a huge gulp wanting to get over with it already. "I'll visit the woods tomorrow to look for clues. Dismissed!" I said as everyone left the room except Adervent, Henry and Petroka.

The room fell silent as I slowly sipped on my blood. After a minute or two, Henry broke it as he looked at me square in the eye.

"You are not doing this!" He said as his statement was followed by my loyal subordinate Duke Teris Adervent.

"Your Majesty, Knife is dangerous. Please think again."

I was hoping for Petroka to say something but he remained silent the entire time. So, I shifted my gaze and asked," What are your opinions, Petroka?"

"Me, Your Majesty?"

"Is there anyone else in the room named Petroka?" I said followed by a large sigh.

"Your Majesty, though Knife might sound dangerous as a citizen of the Empire he's done a lot more for the Empire than the nobles and as a knight, I respect him for everything he has done." One thing about Petroka was that he was always honest to me. He was more honest, loyal and certain to me than the moon which rose every night.

"Then, prepare the horses we are leaving." I said as I got up to get ready to meet this Knife.

"Ah fuck! There goes my sleep." Henry cursed behind me as I left.

Later that night, the four of us entered the Black Woods. It's not that the Empire didn't consist of humans. It very well did. And, humans were also a part of the council and everything but there was just something special about the woods. It was occupied by a tribe named Vampire Hunters. Though, it was only in name most of the people here preferred to leave in peace and not get mixed with our kind or even the Empire.

"The rest of the path we have to cover by foot, Your Majesty." Teris said, as the four of us got off our horses, tied them to trees. I took out the four magical pendants the royal wizard had given me on departure to hide our lust towards blood. I handed one to each one of them keeping one for myself as we all hung it around our necks and decided to moved forward slowly to avoid any sort of attention.

We kept it up for an hour. My throat was so parched that it made me question my entire life choices. But, before I could turn around and ask Henry for some blood. A sweet melody filled my ears.

I walked a little as I hid my presence and watched. And, what I saw made my stone heart beat again as my cold eyes turned warm at the scene in front of me.

There was a woman. The most beautiful of the ones I could have ever seen. Her hair fell down to her waist as a few strands fluttered in the air. She was laughing. Laughing among a load of children who surrounded her. Looking at them with such a gentleness in her eyes as if they were more fragile than glass.I was mesmerized.

She was an angel. An angel that I wanted. I needed her to look at me like that.

As soon as that thought crossed my mind I knew I would go to any lengths to get her to look at me the way she looked at those children. To smile at my words the same way she smiled at their.

Was she my soulmate?