He chuckled. “No. I believe not all should be doomed an eternity to the shadows.” As admirable as I found it, something dark inside me mocked him because it enjoyed the shadows. I wondered how the prince would convince a lord, or rather aking of that matter, to fall under Apollo’s rule. Would he kill the king...? Torture? Ransom?
The prince and I paused before the door. The energy in the air around us seemed to change, something impulsive in my mind led me to reach out for the door. And right before I could open it, the doors opened on its own accord. And stairs... so many stairs, same as the ones in the walls of the paintings I had seen. Above the marble-like steps sat the King of Viridis Aurum, the King of Spies.King of the Vampyres. His eyes shone bluer, brighter than the other vampyres—his skin porcelain and smooth with a tan that was nearly impossible to obtain with no sunlight, his hair...
His hair, obsidian black, nearly like my own.
He looked young, as young as the prince and I. Immortality oozing out of his aura.
The king's blue eyes looked into my own. Not sparing Adrion a second look. It was impossible to understand his emotions as he just stared, looking at me, watching me below all those steps. The air felt colder here, almost comforting. I breathed in and out as subtly as I could. And the king's eyes followed the motion where the air I inhaled and exhaled moved my chest up... and down. His eyes flashed a brighter blue and then it stopped when the prince cleared his throat and did a slight bow of his head to acknowledge the king.
"Adrion,"the king acknowledged curtly.
"I understand that my bodyguard may look far prettier than myself, however, I am here to discuss the future of Terran." The prince picked at an invisible lint on his still new tunic, and I did my best to conceal my embarrassment at his comment to the king.
"Bodyguard you say? Interesting." The king was just staring at me before, now he was intently assessing me. The prince's eyes connected with my own, it was almost as if his eyes said,"Whatis his issue?" I would have laughed if the king wasn't shooting daggers at me.
"I know what you are here for. And my answer isno,"the king said. Well, that was easy. I turned away to leave, and expected blood to be shed until the prince said, "What is it that you need? Whatever it is, Apollo will give. Gold? Easy. Diamonds? Tricky but achievable. Clear access to the Beorg Harbour? Consider it done." I blinked, the prince was bargaining. It was a humane trait to do such when he held so much power in his name. I suddenly respected the prince a bit more than I liked.
"Trades and riches mean nothing to me," the king simply said.
"Your land is the only land closest to Apollo that has not sworn fealty to the Apollon King. It makes your kingdom a target," the prince firmly stated.
"Is that a threat?" the king quipped shortly yet seemingly amused with the prince. A small smile lifted from his lips.
"It is the truth," the prince answered.
"You say I can have anything?" the king asked.
"If it's something Apollo can give, then yes." The prince was weary but didn't show it as he answered.
"I want her," the king swiftly replied, or rather commanded. I stopped breathing.
"No," the prince denied, red eyes flaring.
"You said anything Apollo can offer, what's a guard compared to fealty from my kingdom?"
I grit my teeth, knowing this was an unfair deal on the king's side and that the prince should have easily accepted. "Tempting and easy but she’s mine. Let's discuss different terms," the prince spoke with absolute certainty. The king's eyebrow rose. Amused. As for me... I was shocked that I was not sold to this man like a broodmare.
"My spies get sent on missions daily. I earn enough gold, diamonds and luxuries for their services. The only thing that Iwish could be easier, is obtaining blood," the king thoughtfully answered. Before I could stop myself, I was already speaking.
"Wasn't the blood of the ten soldiers your people killed enough?" My voice came out strong, but after it was said, my throat clamped shut. The prince tensed beside me, as if he had been caught by a devious act.
"Twelve," the king said. "What?" I asked, confusion lacing my thoughts.
"It was twelve soldiers. And your prince here knew all about the tribute that needed to be paid if he requested a meeting with me. It was to be fifteen men, but from what mypeoplesay, someone with fire wielding blades stopped them." The king smiled as my rage burned hot. The disgust in my thoughts ran throughout my body, and I wanted to immediately leave the room. I could not trust the prince, no matter how charming or silver tipped his words were. The king opened his hands to reveal the fire blades I had struck in the forest. My eyes widened in surprise.
"Apologies for the sharp tongue my warrior has—" the prince's eye snapped to mine and then back to the king, "—she is recently new to the job. But blood you say? We can have the Kingdom of Apollo adhering to blood donations, it will be a significant amount every month," the prince negotiated.
"As tempting as it is, Prince, what is the real reason you need my kingdom to be under the Kingdom of Light? It can't possibly be to only report under Apollo.” The king leaned forward, cutting to the chase. He was smart, and something old resided inside him. Something cunning and ambitious. There was no fooling him.
"In all honesty? Your army. Your spies are very skilled. And it will come as a comfort to King Solaire if they were at his disposal through your alliance with him." The prince looked serious. Nolonger his playful and teasing self. He was all business and would stop at nothing to get it sealed.
"And what makes you think; I will ever agree." The king searched for an answer, as if looking through the prince himself.
"You were under the command of the Kingdom of Darkness twelve years ago and swore fealty to King Erebus Achyls. So you have done it before," the prince countered. I stiffened, and I was sure the whole room stilled. The air in the room thinned. I could barely breathe. My body was frozen in time, refusing to breathe at all.
The king's gaze slid to my own, taking me in. "Indeed I did. He was a good king," he answered thoughtfully while he looked at me. "I have conditions," the king then said all while still holding his gaze upon me.
"As expected." The prince's smile was fake as he undoubtedly seemed to grow tired of the king’s interest in me. I stared back into the king's eyes, it surprisingly didn't scare me as much as the prince's eyes did. I could not help but break contact, feeling as though he knew all my secrets and everything about me from one look.
