Chapter 21 Old Vulture
To Valerio, it was all about one thing: loyalty.
One that stays, that holds, that breathes, that withstands.
But for his mother, he lost all respect he'd had for her, it fluttered before his golden eyes like dust in the air
When night came, Valerio returned to his chamber, a place he barely recognized if it were not for the fact that he had instructed Evyths to stay there.
On the other hand, Evyths had waited for the prince knowing fully that the pending situation would make a part of him bleed.
As soon as her greenish gaze landed on the prince’s towering figure, her heart sank, and she picked herself up from where she had been silently sitting.
Valerio shut the door behind him, and a distant and cold expression possessed his features.
Although he had always been expressionless, mostly vacant, this felt worse.
“Your- your highness, are you okay?” Evyths mustered the courage to ask, her fingers fidgeting nervously.
He said nothing to her. He walked into his closet, a large space that contained several outfits and cloaks that could last him years without repeating the cycle.
He picked out a white cloak that looked very feminine. It had gems softly imprinted on it, it smelled like wet sea sand and cinnamon—nothing like Jasmine. The cloak had been lying inside a small chest high up in the compartment.
His fingers rustled over it thoughtfully and the name ‘Kaya’ sat at the tip of his tongue.
A memory of her that he's kept for years. She had everything to him, the best sister that anyone could ask for but she gave her life for him. That was the kind of love and loyalty he knew and not Raven’s selfish affection or his mother’s despicable betrayal.
Forcefully snapping out of his thoughts, he walked back to Evyths, handing the white folded cloak to her.
Evyths carefully took it, her mild gaze splitting between the item and the prince.
Why would he give her a white cloak as snow? Was the first question that crept onto her mind.
“Why—”
“It is frosty outside, and it is going to be a long ride!” he coldly interrupted her words before she could finish.
Evyths asked no further questions as she carefully wore the cloak, the enchanting smell of wet sand and cinnamon claimed her nostrils.
A small smile sat ok Evyths’ lips while she admired the cloak and its details.
Before she could thank him for it, he continued. “Let's go.”
Without a single word added by either of them, he held her wrist vanishing into the thin air with her.
…
Once they materialized in the castle’s stable, Vance dragged the prince’s horse.
A black strong, sturdy horse with a white strip across its face like a mark.
Evyths’ mouth hung open given how tall the animal was, big enough to carry the prince and yet big enough to crush her to death.
“I shall return by sundown! Send word to Duke Octavio to anchor the court’s meeting. Understood?” the prince instructed his guard sternly.
“Yes, my prince!” Vance said, bending a knee.
Valerio said nothing.
He picked Evyths like a mere feather, mounting her on the horse’s sturdy back before he climbed.
The prince grabbed the reins with a commanding flap, and the horse took off as the castle’s gigantic gates parted for them.
It had been some time since Evyths breathed fresh, natural air. One that didn't smell like blood or brutality.
The air was calm and light, caressing her skin a a new fabric on a bride.
Yet, the crescent moon hung high in the sky, casting only her shadow on the lonely road.
It was creepier remembering that the vampires had no reflection, let alone a shadow.
However, they rode in silence. A silence that made noises in Evyths’ ears. Although it was lovely to have a moment of calmness but with the prince straddling behind her like a shield on a war ground, the calmness troubled her.
His freezing face grazed her head lightly, his big hands shielding her petite hands on the reins.
Then, she could feel his dents of manhood perch her back effortlessly yet the horse’s rhythmic gallops was the only noise that impaired the silence that hung between them.
Within her, she contemplated whether to speak or not. Each option sounded like a cruel decision to her but it felt incredibly better to keep her words to herself.
After a long ride, as the prince had stated, a tall gate came into view as they drew nearer and nearer.
“What is this place? Why are we here?” she asked herself, her soft gaze narrowing as if a hint of detail would strike a chord to remember, but none—she knew nothing about where they were.
All she knew was that it was miles and miles away from the castle.
Right before the gate, it opened for them without Valerio speaking or attempting to.
Evyth's eyes wandered from side to side. Her eyes caught tall trees surrounding the manor, the unbeatable coos of crows standing atop the branches, and the rooftop.
The horse stopped like it knew that it was meant to. Valerio climbed down and then helped Evyths down, almost tripping over her dress.
His care was evident, he didn't have to ask if she was okay or not. Evyths gave a small thankful smile and in return his eyes acknowledged.
Valerio rubbed his horse’s back at least twice and said; “I will be right back. Take some rest, Kislev!”
Evyths watched how cautious he was with his horse and the name was foreign, nothing she'd heard before.
Although a part of her longed to ask, but then his impenetrable silence would not let her through.
It was devastating, she thought to herself.
As soon as they reached the foyer, a man in his late thirties, according to a human anatomy expert, stepped out in a loose brown shirt, his mullet hair slightly draped over his face but then had an eye patch.
To Evyths, it made him all the more attractive. Why would a vampire, if he were one, wear an eye patch? She asked herself.
But the man in question was Valerio's half-brother through the father’s old acquaintance. Lorena, the queen’s twin sister.
Lorena was King Bathory’s lover until Queen Elena snuck her way into Bathory’s life.
When Lorena found out that she was with child, by then, Bathory had married Elena.
Although Lorena did not need the king’s wealth after suffering a painful heartbreak and betrayal from King Bathory.
As soon as the king learned about Lorena’s pregnancy, he forcefully gifted her a manor filled with servants and gold, and some lands where their son could live and inherit if she still did not want to live in the palace with him.
Even though it never compensated Lorena for her hurt feelings until the moment she passed by eating from the silver rose’s petals—a rose that had deadly toxins and was an enemy to vampires.
“Welcome home, my prince. We have been expecting you ever since your letter reached us this afternoon,” the man's silky tone filled the air.
“I am here now. How is my old vulture?” Valerio asked as the man moved away from the entrance.
“I wish I could say ‘well’…” the man said. When Evyths attempted to enter, the man blocked her with his arm.
Valerio, noticing what had happened, interrupted.
“She is harmless,” Valerio coldly said.
“Harmless?” the man asked, sniffing Evyths like prey. “I can smell her paws, she couldn't be harmless, Rio!” the man said, a streak of disgust settling on his sharp features.
“Believe me, I know better than to bring in an enemy into my lands let alone your home!” Valerio stated firmly yet calmly as the man finally moved away to let her through.
When Evyths walked right in, the smell of ale and flesh hit her nostrils. The manor was chilly like winter yet homely to the vampires.
Looking down at her feet was a drawing of a woman smiling divinely.
Looking ahead of her was an array of portraits of the same woman who had a striking resemblance to the queen. And it began to add up that the woman in the portrait could be Queen Elena’s sister or close.
“Her twin!” Valerio whispered in Evyths’ ear as soon as he leaned towards her, as he had just read her thoughts.
Caught between shock and surprise, Valerio pulled away, walking towards the man who let them in, leading them to the living room where distant noises held their wit.
When Evyths scurried to catch up with the men, they finally entered the living room where the hearty noises erupted from.
Evyths’ gaze landed on two older men with long gray hair cascading below their necks, sitting by the fireplace, as if enjoying its thrill.
Between them, Evyths recognized one and not the other. Still swamped in surprise while her fingers fiddled behind her, the prince spoke up.
“How are you, my old vulture?” Valerio said to his father, King Bathory, walking towards the old man who had now spread his weak arms to hug his son.