"The king is not here," the prince replied.
"Your Highness, he can be dealt with later." Inanov may have just saved Colfe's life because the prince dropped Colfe's wrist and continued walking.
"Come now, Serena, I know it's you. Did you think I wouldn't have recognized you? The sun has begun to set, no need to hide behind masks," the prince teasingly said to the spy.
Serena?
The spy dropped the covering that coveredherblonde hair and beautiful face. It was a woman... a sickeningly pretty woman. "Consider it a test, Your Highness," she winked at him. They looked as though they had known each other for ages with how easily she spoke to him.
"It has been too long." He smiled. A smile that looked so rare and different on him. She came up to him and hugged him, putting a firm kiss onto his lips. Then continued walking ahead, her hips swaying, showing off her slim figure. I burned red, hot with embarrassment. Confusion laced my thoughts as to why I was feeling this way. She was pretty enough to be a princess. So it could be very possible thattheyhad been lovers.The thought was so sudden, that I almost hit myself for thinking it. Why would I care about a royal like him being lovers with this spy? Curiosity and another emotion I couldn't help nicked at me.
"We are here." Serena smiled, sharp fangs went over her lips as she stood before a cave opening. Serena was not only a pretty spy...
She was a damned vampyre.
Chapter 22
Wine or Blood?
Vampyres are distinguishable by their luminescent blue eyes that shine as bright as the essence of a pure soul-however ironically are without a soul. The undead, sustained by the blood of the living. ~Best active in shadows, trees, caves and even more active at dusk. Sunlight is a weakness to their strength, however not lethal.
The following Korovian text has been transcribed by Nebula Earthglow of the Earthglow Witch Coven.
Iremained silent. "She's a vampyre." Colfe blanches with disgust evident in his tone. Serena was consumed by darkness as she stepped into the cave, uninterested or unaware of everyone's shocked faces. However, it made all the more sense to me.
Their eyes... fast reflexes, concealed by shadows up in the trees. The men they had drained of life.
The prince, so trusting in this woman, followed her into the caves which meant that I had to stick close to him.
To protect him.
The thought was not appetising, if he was going to lead himself to his death, it would make my life a whole lot easier. To finally be rid of him. But I needed to gain his trust, with that in hand, I might actually have a chance at escaping. So I stuck close, keeping a watchful eye on the darkness of the cave. Noticing how shadows loomed and dissipated as the prince walked forward. They re-created as I followed. Whispering and following my every step. I grit my teeth. There was something about this place that made me feel...Invigorated.It awoke something in the deepest parts of my blood that I had forgotten existed. The dark was not taxing on my vision, my eyes immediately adapted to it. A stumbling figure weaved its way from behind me, cutting me from my thoughts."Shit,"he cursed. It was Red, he was the only person I cared about making it out here alive. I caught his arm firmly before he could stumble again.
"Be careful," I warned him.
"It’s so dark in here, how am I supposed to avoid tripping," he argued back.
"No... I mean.Be careful. Vampyres can be deceitful. Stay close to me or even Inanov," I spoke in a hushed voice. Already knowing it would not make a difference to the vampyre's excellent hearing in these hollow caves which slowly became easier to see—there was light illuminating from thetiled pathways.Tiles... in a cave under the mountain? It was extravagant. The architecture was held by brown sculpted pillars. The walls of the cave held art that seemed to be depicting stories, adventures and maybe even prophecies. Porcelain gargoyles held lanterns that made the light bloom into a dimmed bronze brilliance across the cave, giving the look as if we were in a grand ancient cathedral.
"It was a shock, I must say. Bumping into you and then finding out you are to be the prince's bodyguard. You must feel grateful to be out of the slum of an arena. Isn't it?" Colfe quickened his steps to match my own.
I clenched my fist. "That was my home."
"Pitiful, however take heed that the prince can be... how can you say it, overbearing at times. If you ever need helpful words of wisdom. Do come see me," he spoke as if he held all the answers. Yet I wasn't that much of a fool to not see the snake he truly was on the inside.
"Your help will not be required." I rolled my eyes and left him.
"You will come running soon enough." I heard his low answer that had goosebumps trailing my arms.
I chose to admire the paintings, hoping for a slight distraction. There was a woman in the art, with dark onyx hair, holding another dark-haired man's hand as they travelled through the caves we had come in. They seemed to walk up a flight of stairs—they were in search of something.A jewel. The red one at the top of the stairs.
"Lovely, isn't it?" his sleek voice asked. I didn't look at him when I stepped away from the painting. Anger filled me when he spoke.
"Come now, are you ignoring me? I thought we were just beginning to understand one another." He reached to tuck a lock of my hair behind my ear. My cheeks reddened and I scoffed.
"I'm just your bodyguard. Am I not? There is no need to talk, and my job is to only protect you. I know my place." I threw back the words he told me earlier.
This seemed to quiet him, until he laughed. "Ah now, are you expecting an apology, my pretty warrior?" I was nearly hoping the caves were dark again so that he was not able to see my blush.
