Chapter 67
Mortem slithered towards me, his eyes locked onto my quivering frame. He knelt in front of me, examining my trembling state as he spoke; his tone low and gravelly. “Sanctus, what did they ask of you?”
“I, erm, well, they.” I stammered, flinching under his deadly gaze as I pushed to clear my mind, unable to fully concentrate.
“What did they ask?” The vampire tyrant repeated, raising his tone slightly as he pushed my head to the side, gently prodding at the twin puncture wounds on my neck.
I winced, anguished pain shifting through the side of my neck as he leaned closer. I shook in fear and apprehension as I chose my words carefully, attempting to remember what the creatures had said. “They, they asked me to aid them in ... In destroying you ... but, I, I refused.”
Mortem froze, slowly turning his attention towards Athos as he spoke; his tone becoming menacing. “To destroy me?”
Athos’ amber eyes widened as he stumbled to his feet, defensively raising his arms. He spoke slowly, his tone filled with seemingly masked anger. “She is lying sovereign, would you believe a mortal over one of your own?”
“She knows the punishment of withholding information from me. Besides, she is my ward; I will always know when she is lying to me.” The immortal king paused, carelessly rising to his feet as he began to glide towards the immortal lord. He smiled vilely, producing his razor-like fangs as he continued; his tone gravelly. “Didn’t I also mention that the princess was to remain unharmed and was out of bounds from everyone’s clutches but my own?”
Athos took a step back, his eyes shifting towards me as he spoke; fear and hatred radiating through his tone. “Do you care for this mortal more than the fate of your own people, Mortem?! Value her short existence over that of those who have been beside you for centuries?!”
“She is no ordinary mortal; she is something that even I am intrigued about. However, I do not value anyone’s existence more than my own. This child is just a pawn for my own benefit and when the time comes; I will either kill her, or turn her. But you disobeyed my wishes and began planning a rebellion against me; do you not think that a mortal rebellion is enough to focus on?” Mortem explained, lunging towards Athos; his towering frame transforming into a blur.
I lowered my head towards my knees, concealing my face as I shook; not wishing to witness the brutality that the tyrant king would force Athos to endure for his betrayal. Wrapping my arms around my legs, I waited in silence; gurgling cries of agony reaching my ears. Utterly terror-stricken, I barely moved, a bone shattering wail erupted from the vampire lord. The screams only increased as I clenched my eyes shut, attempting to block out the deafening sounds as I covered my ears. - What had he meant by I wasn’t ordinary? - Yes, I had strange and unexplainable power that I couldn’t control, nor understand. However, I was still a mortal and that made me loyal to my father, dead or alive. If my people were beginning a rebellion against the immortal beings, then I would aid them, do everything in my power to ensure they survive.
I masked a small smile as a plan began to form within my mind, with the vampires divided, I had a chance. No matter how small, of helping my people and getting word to my grandfather of the attack that loomed in the near future. I had promised myself that I would help the identical sisters out of the castle, free them from the vampires grasp, and perhaps now, I had that opportunity. The ability to help them in return for a small favour, for them to inform my grandfather of the ambush Mortem prepared.
I jumped, crying out as a hand fell upon my shoulder, forcing me away from my rebellious plotting. I slowly turned to gaze up at the immortal king, his eyes shifting over me in curiosity. Taking a long breath, I shifted away from his gaze, curling into a tight ball on the ground in fear. Or at least, that was how I wished it to seem. I winced when the familiar pain shot through my neck, the twin puncture wounds beginning to swell. How much had Athos taken? I wondered suddenly, remembering my weakened state, the urge to drift into a deep sleep returning to my conscious thoughts. - Had I been close to death? To being completely drained by the vampire lord? -
“You must drink, he seems to have taken more than I expected.” Mortem declared, kneeling beside me as he once again examined the wounds on my neck, shaking his head in annoyance.
I cowered back, my eyes widening at his declaration as he tilted his head, prodding at the small wounds of the side of my throat. I snapped my head away from him when he proceeded to bite into his own arm, lifting it towards my mouth. He snarled, causing me to flinch as he grasped me by the hair, pressing his wrist against my lips. Clenching my mouth shut, I trembled, despising the sour and thick tasting liquid that dripped from my chin. The tyrant king repeated his snarl, growing increasingly irritated with my defiance as he pulled his hand away; savagely striking me across the face. I gasped, blinking rapidly as my lips parted, allowing him to once again press his torn flesh into my mouth. Gagging, I struggled, whimpering as he forced me to consume the foul tasting blood; the oozing liquid carefully sliding down my throat.
“Drink, child. You will feel much better.” The immortal creature commanded; his tone once again moulding into an animalistic snarl as he spoke.
Tears slid from my eyes as I did what he commanded, fearful of the consequences for not doing so. Forcing myself not to react, I began to swallow Mortem’s acidic blood, the rich and leathery taste sickly. I gasped, erupting into a violent fit of coughs when he finally tugged his wrist away, allowing me to breathe freely. My instincts took over as I spat what liquid remained in my mouth onto the ground, wheezing slightly as I cried.
Still unable to understand why the immortal creature would not allow me to heal by my own means, I curled into a tight ball; turning away from his deadly glare. I