Chapter 68
I wiped the tears from my eyes with shaky hands as I shifted away from the vampire, fearful of what he would do now that the immortal lords had perished. - Did he blame me for their actions? Believe that I somehow provoked what had happened? - I watched as the twin bites on his wrists began to fade, his immortality quickly healing the self inflicted wounds.
“Why did they attack you, Sanctus? Was it caused by your own doing?” Mortem asked, leaning closer towards me.
“No Your Highness, I did not cause it. At least not directly, they wanted me to help them in removing you from power, and when I refused, they ... They became violent.” I whispered, now knowing better than to disobey the tyrant king or directly lie to him.
“And did they state their reasons for mutiny?” The immortal vampire questioned, raising an eyebrow as he glared down at me; as though continuing to blame me for what had happened.
I nodded, turning my eyes away from Mortem as I held back tears, the sour taste of his blood lingering on my tongue. “Yes Your Highness, they believed that the mortal’s rebellion will destroy them because you are failing to stop them and that once they removed you from power they would put them all in their place.”
The tyrant king shook his head, snarling ferociously as he began to speak; his voice coinciding with his animalistic tendencies. “The mortals do not stand a chance against my army. Do you believe that the mortals can destroy me?”
I turned to stare up at the immortal, knowing that he may punish me for whatever I say next, and yet; quickly following the urge to defy him. “Yes I do believe that they can defeat you, Your Highness, if they had help.”
“And who will come to their aid?” Mortem questioned sharply, rising back towards his feet as he growled; instantly realising my defiance for what it was. Hope. The hope that he could be defeated and that the kingdom will no longer be owned by vampires, setting the people free from his grasp. That is, if the rebels were strong enough to destroy them.
“Perhaps I will, Your Highness.” I whispered, carefully pulling my knees towards my chest as I waited for the explosive reaction that I was sure would come.
“You?! But you are just a child. How will you be able to aid them in battle? You can’t even join the rebellion.” The vampire king bellowed, shaking his head in amusement as he laughed maliciously.
“I will use my ability Your Highness, I have used it against your kind before and I know that I will be able to kill hundreds of your men, if not thousands.” I countered abruptly, barely having time to think my response through as the deep hatred I felt for their kind overwhelmed me, clouding my judgement.
“Don’t be absurd, child! From what I gathered, you only killed six.” The immortal tyrant snarled viciously, glaring at me with lifeless white eyes.
“You are mistaken Your Highness, on the night you invaded my home I fought in the hallway alongside my father’s men, killing over a hundred of your best soldiers.” I smiled slowly, amused by the thought that the vampire king had not been informed of how many of his men I had killed defending my home; my family. Until I could no longer do so. The memory fresh within my mind...
‘I closed my eyes suddenly, a small spark appearing in the corners of my mind, edging me to fight back; the use the gift that cursed me all those months ago. Pushing me into action. I gasped, a deep and searing pain rippling through my frame as I unleashed the thing that I had worked so hard to control, that I had masked behind many smiles and polite waves. Only, that wasn’t who I was meant to be; my small frame built for destruction. Built to kill all those who would do the same to me. I opened my eyes slowly, plastering a small smile on my lips as the vampire released my throat; his eyes widening in shock.
The creature let out a deadly scream as I held up my hand, unleashing my curse upon him in a flush of bravery; the savage power breaking the surface in only seconds. Fighting to keep my arm from trembling, I watched with fearful eyes as a black smoke burst from my palms; engulfing the immortal creature in its deadly grasp. I breathed again, forcing my mind to latch onto the dark magic, controlling its velocity as it ripped through my father’s enemies; leaving those loyal to the crown alive.
My smile grew as an immense power coursed through me, seizing my quivering frame and making it stronger; more adept to move and dodge. Ensuring that I could hold my own in a fight. The hallway erupted in primal screams as the black smoke spread, destroying all those in its path as my father’s men dodged; knowing the brutal and bloodthirsty magic that soared through the air all too well and hoping (if they could) to avoid it. Only this time, I had full control over my curse, quickly snapping it away from anyone who I knew to be a part of my life here; to be loyal...’