Chapter 71 Chapter Seventy-one

Chapter 71 Chapter Seventy-one
Ivy was running late. She could already hear the ceremonial bells ringing, signaling the arrival of her parents. Where were her handmaids? Not one of them showed up to help her prepare. She adjusted her crown on the top of her head, preparing to leave when the door burst open, her stranger standing at the entrance.

Her eyes widened. “What are you doing here?”

He strode in. “I'm here to get you out. You'll die if you stay five more minutes in this castle.” 

“What? What are you even talking about?”

He took hold of her wrist, pulling her but Ivy didn't budge. 

“Are you not listening to me?” he hissed. “Someone has been sent to kill the Royal family. Follow me if you want to live.”

Her breath caught in her throat. He looked and sounded so harsh unlike the way he treated her generally with soft words and light caresses. “How can I even believe you? I don't even know your name.”

“It's Severin,”he said quickly. “We don't have time Ivy, let's go.”

Severin

She turned the name over in her head, loving it already. It suited him. She noticed that he also called her Ivy and not ‘princess’. Maybe he was telling the truth. 

“If someone is going to kill my parents, I have to save them then. I can't abandon them.”

Severin shook his head. “They're already dead. You can't save them and neither can I. Let me at least save you.”

Ivy scowled. “What do you mean? I'll tell the guards. Guards!” she called. 

He rolled his eyes and scooped her up in one smooth motion. “This isn't up for debate.”

“Severin, put me down!”

Severin didn't listen though. He carried her out of the room and into the hallways which were suspiciously empty. “Where are the guards?”

“Let's just say they suddenly developed an interest in the circus going on outside.”

Huh?

She struggled in his grip but he was too strong. “Let me go!”

“Fine. If you don't believe me then I'll show you.”

Ivy could not have been prepared for what happened next. He moved like lightning, too fast for her eyes to comprehend, everything going past them in a blur of motion. By the time he stopped, she felt dizzy and wanted to throw up. 

“How did you do that?”

Severin jerked his head. “Just look.”

They were in one of the halls overlooking the throneroom, the highest one. No one was really allowed to come here. How Severin even had access, she didn't know. She placed her hand on the railing and looked down below. The Great Hall was filled with people. Her parents were seated on the raised dais, looking regal in their attire. She could see her mother looking around subtly, probably for her. 

“This is ridiculous, Severin. They're perfectly safe. I should be down there.”

“Wait for it.”

“Wait for…”

She watched as her father stood, preparing to give his speech only for blood to pour out of his mouth and for him to slump to the ground. Hushed gasps rang through the room. Her mother screamed and stood, shaking the body of my father as if she could somehow will him to wake up. 

It was as if the same thing that affected him, came upon her too. Blood pouted from her mouth and she clutched her chest, falling dead on top of her  father's dead body. The entire hall was stunned into silence. 

Then someone screamed and the whole place was thrown into chaos. People stood from the chairs and began running towards the exit, pushing one another. 

Severin's strong hands dragged her back. “Now do you believe me? We need to get out of here.”

Ivy didn't argue. She let him carry her, using that inhuman speed of his. Surprisingly, he stopped at their usual spot, setting her down on the daybed. 

“You okay?”

She wanted to scream at him. She took a deep breath instead to rein in her temper. 

“Who. Are. You? How did you know my parents were going to be killed? How can you move…so fast?!”

He blinked. “You just have to trust me…”

Ivy stood and took a step back. “Hell no. Enough with this. I've been letting you get away with your secrets because you were a nice little escape and I didn't want to hear what I wouldn't like. So I let it slip. But now? My parents are dead. For all I know it could be because of you! I want an explanation.”

He scoffed lightly. “Fine then.”

In that moment, it was like a veil had been lifted from her eyes. He looked transformed. His face became deathly pale, unnaturally beautiful and smooth. His height increased and his teeth…his teeth were longer now and sharpened like fangs. 

“I’m a vampire.”

“No shit.” she deadpanned.

“As you can clearly see, I'm serious.” His tone was equally dry. 

“You're a vampire? Like you feed on…blood?” The last word came out as a whisper. This couldn't be possible. If Severin was a vampire, that meant…

“Have you been feeding from me?”

He said nothing but nothing was an answer. Ivy didn't know how that was possible. She had no recollection of it. 

“We should get going. The whole of Diamond Ridge will be looking for you and the killer won't rest until they find a body.”

“I'm not going anywhere with you.”

“You don't have a choice,” he snapped. “We can do this the easy way or the hard way.”

Ivy swallowed. The possibility that he might actually hurt her was beginning to get real. He held out his hand, an impatient look on his face. She could hear the footsteps and shouts of the guards nearby. 

She placed her hand in his, having no other choice. 

"Just trust me."he said, his eyes softening a little.

"How can I trust someone I barely even know?"

"You didn't seem to have a problem trusting me for the last two months."

He had a point.

She sighed. What the hell had she gotten herself into with him?