The Curse
“Ra…Rafael.”“Hell. You have the prettiest voice, Princess. You should call my name more often.”Their heads grew near, breath mingling in the narrow space and she clamped her eyes shut and parted her lips. Her heart almost exploded in her chest with each second that passed as she braced herself for his lips. But after a minute of waiting for his kiss that never came, she slowly parted her eyes open to look at him.“Your highness?” She whispered. He had his head down and his eyes were shut tight. The plate was now resting on the table beside them. “Your highness, are you okay?” She placed her hand on his shoulder. A shriek escaped her lips when he shot backward almost immediately.Rafael slipped his hands into his pocket, retrieved his handkerchief, and coughed into it.Elora gasped as he lowered the cloth from his lips, stained blood red.Were her eyes playing tricks on her? Blood?Her eyes grew wide, they almost popped out of their sockets. In an instant, she was off the table and moving toward him. “Rafael, are you okay? Why… is that blood?”He stretched a hand forward to put a distance between them. “I’m fine, princess.” His voice was strained and tough, like he was only managing to speak.She rushed to him when he suddenly staggered backward and leaned against a bookshelf for support.“I…I think you need a physician. I’ll call one,” she spoke in panic. But no sooner had she turned before his hands curled around her wrist, drawing her swiftly into his embrace. She stiffened when he hugged her close and sniffled her neck. It was just like that night.Suddenly, he pushed her off him and let out a groan. Fisting his silver strands so tight, he managed. “They’ll be here in a second. Just…stay away from me.”He’d just finished his words when the door forcefully flung open and Adam and Draven stormed in. In a heartbeat, they were right beside Rafael and they helped him straighten.“Your highness.”“Your highness.”Draven threw the prince’s arms around his shoulder and began to lead him out of the library.Elora attempted to follow them only to be stopped by Adam. He stood on her path. “Your highness, please stay put.”“Wh…what is wrong with him?” One moment they were about to kiss and the next moment, he…“Is he unwell? He needs a physician, doesn’t he?”“The prince will be fine. He only needs rest. Please stay here. I’ll send the servants to take you to your chambers,” Adam said in a curt voice.“I’ll go with you.”“Please forgive me. You can’t, your highness.”“But…”“For the sake of everyone, please do as I say. I’ll send the servants.”He hurriedly walked out of the library. Her legs gave way and she leaned against a shelf. What had just happened? Less than a minute later, Lia and Hula hurried in.“My lady.”They rushed to support her on both sides.“My lady, are you okay?”“Did…did you get hurt?”“My lady, please say something.”Elora pulled her body from the hold of her maids. “I’m not hurt.”“We’ll take you to your chambers.”She let them lead her to the bed chambers and once they were in, they helped her sit on the bed. Lia scanned the princess from her head down to her toes and when she confirmed there were indeed no injuries, she let out a breath of relief.“You should have some rest, my lady,” she suggested. “In the morning, everything will be fine.”Elora tapped her foot on the floor and chewed her thumb finger. She tilted her head upward to look at worried Hula. “Is his highness sick?” She asked.Hula shook her head in the negative. “His highness doesn’t fall sick. Plus he’s a half blood. His highness is the strongest vampire existing.”“It’s suspicious.” Really confusing too. There definitely was something going on with her husband that she needed to find out. He must be sick.“Except it…it could be the curse.”All eyes shot upward to Hula. She glanced at the maid, waiting for her to continue her words but when she said nothing and only stared at her feet in silence, she asked.“The curse, Hula. What is it about it?”“Your highness. If I’m caught saying things about his highness, it could cost me my life,” she whispered. “I’m not sure if it is true either.”“No one would punish you, Hula. It’s an order. Speak.”Finally, Hula began. “When his highness returned to the city years ago, his hair suddenly began turning greyish. Silver-grey hair is a sign of a death curse. Everyone said he was cursed for murdering his mother and would die young. His hair has almost turned full silver so it could be the curse.”Elora was starstruck. She stared into space, unable to say a word as her words were stuck in her throat. Her lips trembled slightly as she tried to register Hula’s words in her head.“So…his highness is going to die?”“We don’t know yet.”She bunched her dress tightly. Questions began to twirl in her mind. Why was she suddenly worried about the Prince? Why was her body trembling with the thought of him dying? Wasn’t she the one trying to murder him a few nights ago?She’d tried to kill him for betraying her. She definitely should be happy, right? After all, if he dies sooner, it would save her the trouble of carrying out her mission and return to Yvlies honoured and start afresh.But the insistent pound of her heart against her chest and the shiver that ran across her body at the thought of him dying, one thing was certain.Elora had been sucked into the charm of the Prince.