Chapter 15: 15__Royalty Revealed

“What’s going on?” Maia asked Rogan who was currently too busy dragging her back towards the Kingdom.

“Something came up,” he said simply.

She frowned, trying to get a glimpse at his face. “The King called. Is it urgent? Is it about me? Is it time for me—”

“Stop talking!”

Maia snarled. “Jackass.”

Rogan stopped and threw a look at her over his shoulder. “What?!”

Maia raised her shoulders, attempting to disappear into his jacket like a tortoise into its shell. “Nothing.”

With a disbelieving scoff, he turned around and kept walking. “One of these day… that mouth of yours...”

He said nothing more and Maia was left wondering just what he planned to do to her mouth.

The thought immediately brought to mind what happened in the bathroom earlier and Maia felt her face flush. She cringed. She hated when she blushed.

The heroines in her novels always had a pretty flush on the cheekbones, making them look innocent and yet alluring. In Maia’s case it was a full face of red that brought nothing to mind except one thing. Tomato.

Gritting her teeth, she furiously began to fan her face with her free hand as Rogan tugged her along through the backstreets. She had to get rid of this blush before he turned around—

“What are you doing?”

Maia’s hand froze in the air, halfway through fanning her face.

Rogan raised a brow, looking at her. “Why’re you red again?”

“Ughnnn, God!” Maia groaned, lowering her head into the jacket.

Rogan made a face. “What? What’s wrong with you?”

She raised only her gaze, keeping her head down so that it looked like she was a minion from hell glaring up at him. “None of your business.”

Rogan closed his eyes for two whole seconds and then popped them back open in a very shocked blink. With two fingers, he lowered his glasses to the tip of his nose and gave her a look. “You… you’re no longer scared of me, are you?”

She looked at his shocked expression and shrugged a shoulder. “I thought your eyes were scary, but they’re pretty, so… I don’t have much to be afraid of.” She’d even managed to slam him to the ground in the forest. Surely, if they fought, she could take him. With a smile, Maia gave him a confident nod.

Slowly and dangerously, Rogan’s eyes narrowed on her. What? *Pretty?!* His *eyes*? Now she was just insulting him!

She didn’t have much to be afraid of? She didn’t even know who he was. The things he’d done!

What a troublesome brat! It was his rotten luck that he’d had to come across her in the forest. Well. Now that Aiden had gotten Trojan’s, Rogan didn’t think he needed to keep the forest rabbit around any longer.

That was good. It was excellent. He wouldn’t have to bother with her anymore. He could… forget about her and die in peace as he’d been planning to do.

Maia blinked. “Why’re you staring at me?”

The top corner of his mouth quirked up in a scowl and Rogan flicked a hand towards The Hostel. “Just go inside!! Wait there till I come and get you.”

God, she was infuriating. How dare she not be afraid of him?

Rolling her eyes, Maia trudged off to the front gate of the Hostel and knocked on the black doors, preparing herself for anything startling.

Rogan watched her walk off with a shake of his head. He suddenly felt like he was the father of a petulant teenager. And she says she learnt it from him? Impossible. Rogan was bred from the most royal of bloodlines.

It was in him to be the epitome of sophistication and etiquette, as his darling mother had taught him before she was killed. Scoffing at Maia’s simple-mindedness, he ran an aristocratic hand down the lapels of his royally expensive coat.

Suddenly, a cart rammed into the back of his legs and Rogan jumped, startled. Furious, he spun around to see a little old man, looking up at him with frightened, weary brown eyes.

“Won’t you fucking look where you’re going, you reckless moron?!” Rogan barked, class and etiquette forgotten and tossed out the window.

The old man flinched. “So sorry, M-master, it’s h-heavy, this cart. So sorry…”

Rogan glared down at him as the old man bowed over and over in apology, attempting to pull back the heavy cart and change directions.

Rogan watched him struggle with a snarl. Damn weak people.

Discreetly stepping behind the old man’s cart, he touched it. “*Isca cruthes la mē fordia*,” Rogan muttered and drawing forth his power, set it on the cart.

“Oh!” said the old man with wide eyes as he suddenly drew the cart forward with as much ease as he would a ball of fur.

Rogan stepped away, slipping his hands into his pockets as he watched the old man push the cart back and forth on the street, gaping in shock at the now feather-light trolley.

“By Gemini!” gasped the old man, pulling off his hat to scratch his bald head in puzzlement.

Rolling his eyes at the old man’s amazement at a bit of simple magic, Rogan turned on his heel and started in the direction of the king’s castle. He glanced at The Hostel. She’d already gone in.

That girl. How would she feel if she knew that he would be dying soon?

Rogan shrugged. Who cared how she felt? What was important was that Rogan had nothing to live for and would no longer torture himself this way.

Stalking past a dark alley, Rogan thought he caught sight of a ghoulish being, watching from the shadows.

Clenching his jaw, he only slowed down a little. Those bastards were still on his tail.

He’d deal with them later. Ignoring the ghost following him, Rogan walked on, comforting himself with the promised treat of destroying another ghost later.

*************

“So what?! I’m still a rock star! I got my rock moves! And I don’t *neeeeed yooouuu*!!!” Clover was screaming at the top of her lungs, hopping about the spacious living room with the remote clutched in her hands as a microphone and a loud but tiny set of air pods blasting music into her ears.

Claudia shook her head at the sight and glanced at the dramatic music video flashing silently on the TV as Clover matched the dance moves she was watching on the large flat screen. “What an old song she’s singing. Geez.”

“She never gets tired,” Cassie murmured, wiping the bar where they sat.

Maia leaned forward. “How come there are never any customers here?”

“Cause it’s a brothel, remember?” said Claudia, reaching for a wine glass.

“All associated with this place will be outcasts,” added Cecile, bringing a bottle of wine and more glasses.

Maia scratched her chin. “And the Sorcerer? Rogan…? He’s an outcast?”

Cassidy leaned back and crossed her arms with a sigh. “No. They worship him here in Geminor because he’s the only one around who can heal. And he’s royalty.”

Maia choked on air. Coughing, she clutched her throat as Claudia rubbed her back.

“Easy,” said Cecile, handing her a glass. “Here, drink this.”

Taking the glass, Maia took a big gulp of what looked like cranberry juice. “Arckk!” she gagged, forcing herself to swallow. “What is this? Wine?”

“The best for after dinner,” said Claudia, rubbing her back. “It’s made by my Gemini half who’s amazing at making wine. You okay?”

Maia nodded, setting the glass down carefully. “Yes, th-thank you.”

Cassie was watching her with narrowed eyes. “What? You didn’t know Rogan was a prince? His mother was in line to be Queen of Cassius after her father, meaning Rogan was the rightful heir to that throne.”

The words startled Maia all over again and she stared at Cassie, her eyes showing all the shock she felt. “I had no clue! He didn’t tell me!” she said in a fierce whisper.

“His father,” said Claudia, leaning in secretively. “Is the late Vampire King of Onyx. His mother was a powerful Enchantress, a Princess of the Kingdom of Cassius.”

Maia’s mouth dropped open.

Cecile cocked her head. “You weren’t overly rude to him, were you?”

Maia pursed her lips tightly, her eyes darting to the side as she thought of how she’d slammed him to the ground in the forest, how she’d leaped onto his back and worst of all… dear God, she’d accused him of bewitching her! She’d called him a jackass too!

“Ugghhh!!” Maia groaned, burying her face in her hands.

The women laughed like Maia wasn’t deep in trouble and she looked at them. “It’s not funny! I said a lot to him. What if he decides to rid himself of me in the middle of the night and lets his Vampire army carry me off to my death?! What if he sends me off to his other kingdom to be used as an ingredient for a magic spell?”

Cassie waved a hand. “Ridiculous! Rogan would never do that.”

Maia looked hopeful. “Really? Why? He’s too nice?”

Claudia snorted. “Hell no. He’s not on speaking terms with either of his home kingdoms. That’s why he’s here.”

Intrigued by the stories, Maia listened attentively, finding herself more and more drawn into the subject of Rogan. Who exactly was he? She wanted to know.

She looked at the women and took a sip from her wine glass before quickly lowering it when she was reminded that the beverage tasted too strong. “So…” Maia began, wiping her mouth. “What do you guys think is more powerful in him? His Vampire half or his Sorcerer half?”

“In terms of power, definitely his Sorcerer side,” said Claudia with a nod.

“But that’s only because he gives all the training and nurturing to his Sorcerer side, ignoring his Vampire powers and never enhancing them,” said Cecile.

Maia bit her lip in worry. She’d repeatedly offended a very powerful man. She finally understood why the Zoar guards who’d been chasing her had ran away at the sight of Rogan. “I think his Vampire side’s more powerful…” Maia said softly, distracted by her thoughts.

Claudia raised a brow. “Why? Did he seduce you?”

Maia gasped. “W-what?”

All three of the woman gaped at her. “He seduced you?!” they demanded in unison.

Maia shook her head wildly, her hands waving back and forth. “N-no! No, of course not! He didn’t even kiss me!”

“He almost kissed you?!” Claudia yelled in shock, her mouth curving in a mischievous grin.

They leaned towards her, ears itching to hear details. “What happened?! Tell us!”

Maia deflated with a huge sigh. “Please drop it. I promise nothing happened…”

They studied her with huge grins, their expressions resembling that of predators who already had their claws sunk into prey and had no intention of letting go.

“Well, little Maia,” said Claudia with a toss of her golden hair. “I assure you that, if something hasn’t happened yet…”

“It’s only a matter of time,” completed Cecile.

Maia blinked, her heart clutching in her chest. She looked around at them in worry. “W-what? What do you mean? Nothing’s going to happen!”

Claudia laughed. “Oh, you innocent little thing! He’s a Vampire, okay? It won’t be long before you give in to his lure.”

Maia raised her hands. “You’ve got the wrong idea. He doesn’t like me like that. Once he gets his plants, he’s sending me away.”

“He wants you,” said Claudia, ignoring Maia’s words. “And when a Vampire wants you, whether you like it or not, you’ll end up wanting them. That’s the power they have.”

Claudia smiled, her red lips quirking up a way that surely did seduce men. The smile only frightened Maia.

Her fear doubled when the front door suddenly crashed open and loud footsteps marched into the home.

The women all scrambled out of their chairs, ready to fight and Maia quickly rose, standing with them.

“W-what’s going on?” she asked, holding up fists.

Clover yanked her earphones out and shoved them into her pockets. “Oh, God,” she muttered, joining them.

Cleo slowly came down the stairs, her battle face on, sharp green eyes fierce with anger. “Is that who I think it is?”

An icy wind suddenly howled into the house and Cassie growled towards the front hall.

“Yup. That cold bitch is here.”