The carriage had already left and there were no other means of conveyance available. So, I had no choice but to keep walking.
Halfway through, a strange kind of compulsion overwhelmed me. I found myself moving in a very different direction. My pace increased exponentially. It was as if I were zip-lining along the woods at the speed of the wind.
Before long, I found myself standing in front of an old castle. The moist walls, overgrown garden, and crumbly walls indicated that the castle had been abandoned for a very long time. The door swung open automatically, startling me.
A gasp escaped my lips as my gaze fell on the scene that unfolded in front of me. The interior of the castle oozed luxury and magnificence; lush carpets, enormous chandeliers, vintage furniture, and exquisite paintings gave it a regal vibe.
I gaped in awe; mesmerized by the sheer luxury. Who would have thought that the musty, old castle could look like this on the inside?
A sudden gust of wind made my hair bristle, making me feel like I was being watched. I spun around to find Andres standing barely a foot behind me.
“Miraya, my sweet honeycomb.” His lips curved in a smirk as he approached me with slow, deliberate steps. “I have been waiting for so long; seems like I used the wrong command to compel you.”
My breath caught in my throat, and I looked around in horror. My eyes scanned the surroundings while I stuttered, “Y… You compelled me to come here? Why do I not remember anything?”
He drew closer and ran his knuckles along my jaws. “I had compelled you to come to this castle the moment you were alone.” He pinched my chin, almost brushing his lips against mine. “Also, I told you to forget that I compelled you.”
A sense of dread and helplessness overwhelmed me. God knows what Andres had in his mind. I had to get out of here as soon as possible.
Drawing in a deep breath, I assessed his position and planned a series of moves. I had beaten him up that day. I could do it again. With a swift blow, I made a move to punch his nose, but before my knuckles could come in contact, he grabbed my hand and twisted my arm behind my back.
He drew me closer, tightening his grip further on my hand. I winced, unable to bear the sudden surge of agony that coursed through me. His other hand snaked its way to my chin, and he tilted my head forcefully so that I could see him.
His expression took on a sinister edge as he spoke in a voice dripping with vehemence, “You were able to defeat me that day because the first kill magnified your powers. That was but a momentary surge. You can never match up to my power. Even if you do, you can never really go against me. You are sired to me, remember? I can always compel you.”
I whimpered as the bones in my wrist cracked under his grip. Clenching my teeth to hold back my scream, I snapped, “What do you want, Andres? Can’t you just leave me alone? Why are you bent on making my life a living hell?”
“Do you want an honest answer?” He grazed his nose against my earlobe before whispering, “I want to tame you and turn you into an obedient slave.”
A frustrated groan escaped my lips, “Why me, Andres? What have I ever done to annoy you?”
Something flickered in his eyes and his expression turned serious. “I will tell you the reason when the time is right.”
“Lord Andres! Your little lamb finally arrived,” a deep sonorous voice sounded as a tall, dark man walked down the stairs.
Andres released me abruptly, causing me to stagger. I stood there rubbing my wrist as I felt the shattered bones joining together. The only thing good about vampirism is that you don’t have to rush to a doctor every time you are injured. You heal really fast.
“Yes, my little lamb is finally here.” Andres’s scornful gaze landed on me. “Turns out I ended up using a wrong criterion for compulsion.”
The man’s eyebrows twitched. “What kind of criteria kept her away for ten days? You almost had me believing that you had failed to turn her.”
“Don’t ask me, David. I had told her to come here once she was alone. That stupid boyfriend of hers stayed with her for ten whole days. So, my compulsion didn’t get activated.”
The man rubbed his chin thoughtfully and his eyes twinkled. “The boyfriend of this new born seems pretty interesting. Why don’t we call him here?”
My heart skipped a beat and a sudden surge of anger coursed through me. I glared at the man and hissed, “Keep him out of it or I swear, I will kill every single one of you.”
The man didn’t seem angry at my words. Instead, he burst into a peal of laughter. “You better get that temper of hers in control before our king arrives, else….”
Andres slammed me against the wall and his icy gaze bore into mine. “If anything goes wrong today, I will snap that boy’s neck in two. So, you better behave yourself!”
My gaze darted to the man standing beside the staircase. Andres was totally insane, but David seemed more sensible. Maybe there were good vampires, too. I just had to bide my time until I found someone who could help me.
With a sigh of resignation, I agreed to follow Andres’s commands. “I will do as you say but you have to promise that you won’t harm Cassius.”
His eyes narrowed. “I promise that I will never lay my hands on your boy so far as you follow my commands.”
A few minutes later, a group of men turned up at the castle. When I say they turned up, I literally mean that. One minute there was nobody and the next a group of five men just appeared in the room; as if the wind carried in them.
The man dressed in a black suit seemed the oldest. His skin was smooth and his physical features were no different from the others. It was his gaze that made him seem ancient. He walked up to the head of the table and sat down, motioning the others to follow.
Andres held my hand and led me to the front of the table. He bowed to the people gathered before speaking. “I have turned her successfully. She is mine now.”
My jaws clenched together. What the fuck did he mean by I was his? If he hadn’t threatened me with Cassius, I wouldn’t even be standing here.
The man in the black coat gave me a discerning stare while the man next to him spoke up, “For your claim to be accepted, she has to drink in front of the council.” Turning to David, he added, “Bring him here.”
David walked over, supporting an unconscious young boy. All their gazes turned towards me with expectation. I raised my eyebrows in confusion, taking a step back involuntarily.
Andres increased his grip and stated through gritted teeth, “Go and drink from him just like you did in the groove.”
My eyes widened in horror and I shook my head vehemently. His gaze immediately lit up in warning.
Drawing in a deep breath, I took a step towards the boy. I had to do this for the sake of Cassius.
David gave the boy a shove, and he landed against me. I grappled to hold him quickly. His body went limp in my arms. They probably drugged him with some paralyzing substance.
My gaze landed on his pure, innocent face, making my heart constrict in grief. I lowered my face to his neck, but pulled away almost instantly.
Shaking my head, I stuttered in a choked voice, “I can’t Andres. I just can’t.” I looked at him, pleading silently to let the boy go.
Andres glared at me; his expression taking a sinister edge. “Miraya!”
“I am sorry, Andres. Please don’t make me do this. I… I can’t take one more life.”
“Are you sure?” David taunted as he took a step towards us. He straightened the boy and unbuttoned his shirt. Stroking the bare skin next to his collarbone, he teased, “Do you really not want to feed, Miraya?”
My throat constricted and that familiar feeling of thirst flared up. My gaze fixated on the vein pulsating on his neck; everything else faded into the surroundings. Soon, I had lowered my face to the crook of his neck.
My canines elongated, and my mouth watered. Something dangling from his neck caught the glint of the candlelight, blinding me.
That moment was enough to pierce through the haze of bloodlust. I forced myself to take a step away from the boy and stated in a firm voice, “I don’t care what you threaten me with, Andres, I won’t drink from him.”
The man in the black suit seemed amused. He got up and walked over to the cabinet, pulling out a bottle and a goblet. Pouring out its contents into the goblet, he handed it to me, “I wonder what you will do now…”
I gasped the moment I realized it was blood too. I handed it back to him quickly. “I am not interested in whatever gross stuff you like to drink. I am happy with my diet.”
His eyebrows twitched and his eyes narrowed. “What does this diet consist of?”
“Bread, rice, vegetables, eggs; anything that doesn’t involve killing others.” I was so grossed out by them that I couldn’t keep it out of my voice.
“What did you eat for breakfast, Miraya?”
“Cassius was in a hurry. So, he made some sandwiches for us.”
All of a sudden, he drew closer and cupped my face; running the pad of his thumb over my skin. “Interesting.”
The frown on my forehead deepened. “What is interesting?”
“Nothing.” Turning to Andres, he stated, “It is evident to the council that you have failed. Let her go now.”
“But, My Liège….”
“I have made the decision, Lord Andres. You are not allowed to interfere now.”
“You can’t do that to me, not after everything I have done.”
The vampire king turned to the other men and commanded, “Take him away.”
Four of the men who accompanied the King grabbed Andres by his arms and led him inside the castle.
The death stare that Andres gave as they walked past me made my blood run cold. Licking my dry lips, I stuttered, “Can I really leave?”
“Of course, you can. Just make sure to be present whenever you are called upon by the council.”
I nodded in agreement and rushed out of the castle. I didn’t know what the vampire king had on his mind, but for now, I was happy to get out of that damned place.