Chapter 76

Lucy crosses her legs beneath her, sitting completely still as i raise her wrist towards my lips, inhaling her sweet scent through my nose. She smells so good. Addictive. Like a drug.

She smells like the warm air of summer and the flowers that grow in the field behind the castle in the small meadow.

She smells of home, and i haven’t felt anything like it since before the last days of my life began. She reminds me of a time that i mourn every day.

My fangs descend and pierce my bottom lip as i try to fight the bloodlust. But it is so hard, it is like an invisible pull is dragging me towards the edge of sanity and there is nothing i can do but go along for the ride.

“It’s ok, princess.” Says Lucy, her voice so soft, so innocent. “I have lived long enough in this world. You can send me to my peace now.”

Tears slide down her cheeks, and i am not surprised when they slide down my own, she is pure and gentle, much like the petals on a rose. And i have to destroy her. I have to make her bleed and crumble.

I have to feed from her.

“Take a deep breath.” i tell her, “This will hurt.”

She nods, inhaling through her nose and blowing it out through her mouth.

“Again.” i say, bringing her wrist to my mouth. “Keep breathing.”

I sink my teeth into the soft flesh of her wrist, the blood, the essence of her life flowing into my mouth, causing me to moan with pleasure. She tastes so good, and it is so warm, just like the summer sunshine.

I drink and drink, the burning in my throat slowly fading away, and the rumble of my stomach no longer fighting with my brain. It is like a wave of calm descends over me, and i can breathe again.

Then, i stop, i pull my mouth from her wrist and lick the wound, making the bleeding stop.

I did it, i drank from her, and i did not kill her.

Lucy looks at me with a mixture of relief and disappointment, she told me it was ok for her to die, and she was ready. She was ready to say goodbye to this world. But she also didn’t want to die by the hand of a vampire. No one does. It is the worst feeling in the world.

But i managed to curve away the bloodlust, and i did not take more than i needed, she’d be dizzy of course, until she is fed. But she will live.

Though, i am not quite sure whether still being alive is a blessing or a curse for Lucy, she will have to do this, over and over again, so that i might live another night of this hell.

Mortem pulls me to my feet, dragging me towards the door without even speaking to me, “Maric get the girl cleaned up, she belongs to Sanctus now.” He commands, slamming the door behind us.

He grabs me along the corridor and back towards my chamber, not speaking a single word to me the entire time, he just drags me.

Have I done something wrong? Is he going to make me feel the agony of the sire bond once again?

I cannot handle it if he does. It will kill me. I’m sure of it.

“I fed from her.” I say, my voice full of desperation, “I did exactly as you commanded.”

He stops, looking down at me. “Yes. You did.”

“So then, why are you so angry?” I ask, my arm burning with pain from his iron grip.

“It’s complicated.” He says, opening the door to my chamber and shoving me inside. “I will be back for you come sunset. Then your training will begin.”

“What training?” I ask, feeling nothing but despair.

He turns to me, his eyes darkening, “You will learn to use your power more effectively, and you will learn to use it against humans and vampires both.” He pauses, “and if you argue, you will go back to the basement, back to the iron maiden, and I will keep you there until you decide to obey.”

I stare at him with wide eyes, but eventually I nod, “I won’t defy you.”

He smirks, “good, now get some sleep. Tomorrow is going to be hard on you, especially as a newborn.”

He closes the door, and I hear the lock click into place, trapping me in my chamber. There is the servant's door, and I have a bell in case I need anything. But I doubt anyone will come.

I was the princess who survived the slaughter, but not anymore, I didn’t survive at all, I became one of them. I am one of the very things I hated so much.

I am one of the creatures I fought to destroy.

I ring the bell, and seconds later, the servants door opens, “how can I help you, princess?” Says the blonde girl.

“Run me a bath.” I say, not caring that my tone was cold.

I don’t care anymore. Who cares about kindness and respect. It brings me nothing but agony in the end.

The servant nods, scurrying away.

At least I know they will listen to me, by now news of what I have become will have spread around the castle. By morning everyone will know what I am.

Will they all hate me? More so than they already did.

I have always been the outcast, the one that no one wanted to be around. The one who was a burden. But not anymore. I have always been stronger, faster. I had black magic on my side, even when I didn’t want it.

Times are changing, and if I don’t change with it then I will be left behind in the dust, doomed to spend this life in constant despair.

I will not let sadness guide me. I will best mortem, even if it takes me a thousand years. I will escape him.

The servant returns, “your bath is ready, princess.”

I nod, waving my hand to dismiss her, I’m not hungry right now, but I don’t want to risk having a human alone around me. I don’t want to hurt them, even if they have hurt me in the past.

I peel the dress from my skin and soak in the hot water, the liquid quickly turning red, the blood peeling from my skin.

I am washing away the physical evidence of what I have done, but it will always have a place in my mind, forever haunting me.

I killed Derrick, and I protected The vampire king. Two things I would have never done as a mortal.

But I am no longer human. I am more. And for better or worse, this is my life now.