Lady Brunelle

I quickly cleaned my teary eyes and stood up from the bed. My ruthless demeanor was back on my face. “Come in,” I ordered with a husky voice, my hands in my pockets.

Three women dressed as maids entered and quickly bowed. Her eyes were red, and they kept staring at my…. plaything.

“Milord, lady Litto sent us here,” one of them informed me, their heads still bowed.

“Alright, I leave her in your care. Take good care of her!” I hummed softly, and looked at the strange sleeping woman one more time, before leaving the room.

I gently climbed down the stairs, my hands grasping the cold stone banister and my eyes fixed on the grand hall below.

The chandeliers cast shadows on the walls, making it seem like the shadows themselves were dancing.

I could hear the soft murmur of voices, the clinking of glasses, and the distant sound of a lone violin playing a haunting melody. As I reached the bottom of the stairs, I saw Morgan waiting for me, his black eyes gleaming with a knowing look.

“Ahhh! Argh! Argh!” He laughed hysterically, clapping his huge hands. “The man of the hour is here; tell me it's not true.” He said with a frown on his face when he finally stopped laughing.

“What is it again, Morgan? Who let you in?” I murmured, stressed from all the thoughts that had occupied my mind.

“What do you mean by who let me in? I'm your brother, and I've got every right to come here. Anyway, it was little Brunelle who opened the door for me,” Morgan replied, and his frown dissolved. “.... I can't believe you left the guys and I stranded in the woods, late at night, just to bring a...human to your palace?” He raised his eyebrows and slowly moved around me, a finger on his chin. “Please, tell me this is not true.”

“Hmm, words travel fast.” I sighed and gently pushed him out of the way. “We are night creatures, Morgan. What's so wrong with being alone at night? Moreover, I don't think she's a human; I'm perceiving something else in her, but I still haven't figured it out,” I replied, and placed a hand on my chin, wondering what she was.

Morgan and I were the only one in the hall, but suddenly, I heard a loud terrifying squeal, snapping me out of my thoughts.

“You brought a girl home?!” The voice exclaimed excitedly, and out of nowhere jumped on me.

I held my forehead with my palm while Morgan smirked mischievously. “It's no big deal, little sister,” I informed her, trying to assure her that there was no cause for alarm, but Brunelle was beyond listening, she jumped up and quickly ran to my room.

“Ahh!” I growled and sat down on my throne of gold. “You guys will be the end of me. You might even kill me before the goddess,” I murmured under my breath. It was like drums were being played on my head, because I saw stars and fatigue.

Morgan smirked, obviously enjoying my misfortune, “I have to report back to the warlocks. We'll see later,” he informed me with a smile, and he left the hall.

“Don't bother coming back.” I wanted to tell him, but decided against it. Because telling him would result in me listening to a boring sermon on true friendship.

Just as I was about to relax, Brunelle stormed back down the stairs, her eyes blazing with excitement. "George, you naughty boy!" She exclaimed, wagging her finger at me, “You really brought a girl! You've finally brought a girl home.”

"Brunelle, calm down. It's just a human bird I brought back from the hunt." I rolled my eyes, trying to appear nonchalant.

But Brunelle wasn't having it. She skipped over to me, her long black hair bouncing behind her.

"Oh, no, no, no! This one's different. I can sense it. She's got something in her, George. Something strange, like pain and destruction. Exactly your type,” Brunelle murmured and pouted her mouth.

“Pain and destruction?” My eyes narrowed, and I wondered if my nightmare was happening. I began to worry that my late lover had truly been reborn to seek vengeance. "What are you talking about, Brunelle?" I asked with raised brows.

Brunelle grinned mischievously. "Who else if not the tiny woman upstairs! She's not just any ordinary human, George. She's got a spark in her."

I raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "What type of spark? Be specific!” I demanded desperately.

But Brunelle's grin grew wider. "I mean she might just be the key to your survival. The certain lady you've been searching for.”

“Hum!” I took a deep breath, feeling relieved. “Well, it’s not something that could harm me, right?" I asked, choosing my words carefully.

“Why do you look so worried? You've always been wishing to die,” Brunelle replied absentmindedly, and before I could reply, she remembered something and ran out of the hall to the garden.

Immediately after Brunelle left, Litto entered with a smug smile on her face. "So, Your Majesty," she began, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "What do you plan to do with your bird?"

I sighed, my fangs glinting in the dim light. "Oh, I haven't decided yet. But I think I'll keep her around for a while."

Litto raised an eyebrow, jealousy and envy in her eyes. "But why is that, Your Majesty? She's a liability. A weakness, and weakness causes trouble."

"You don't understand, Litto, so don't question me.” I deadpanned, my eyes narrowing.

Litto looked like she still wanted to argue, but decided to drop the title. "Very well, Your Majesty," she nodded, her voice dripping with resignation. "But don't say I didn't warn you. And trust me, the witches will come for her; they need an urgent escape lab rat.”

I thought about what she had said, and there was indeed truth in her words.

"Your majesty," one of the maids attending to my little bird called out, her voice low and mysterious.

“Yes.” I turned to face her with an authoritative expression, not bothering to spare another thought on Litto's words.

"The young Missy you asked us to watch is awake. She's causing trouble and asking for a strange wolf," the maid informed me with a frightened voice.

My heart skipped a beat. ‘What does she want? And why do I feel a sudden pang of excitement at the thought of seeing her again?’ I asked myself.