Chapter 13 Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Thirteen
⚓️⚓️⚓️
Zeke
A pair of twinkling eyes met mine. I arched my brow, trying to place who the skimpily dressed lady was.
“You don't seem to remember me. Darcel Ragnarok.” Her grin widened into a full blown smile, as she pointed at the seat opposite mine, and added, “May I?”
I nodded absentmindedly. Damnit.
Darcel Ragnarok, daughter of Master Ragnarok, and one of the important members of The Prestigious Royal Circle. Darcel Ragnarok, my fiancèe whom I'd met only once.
Darcel fucking Ragnarok. And of all places I could meet my fiancèe, it had to be at a bar while I was trying to drink myself to stupor. Great.
“Why is the Prince out here at a bar, all by himself?” She asked, taking a sip of the wine she'd grabbed from a waitress.
I didn't answer. It'd been years since I saw Darcel. And she'd grown from the little girl I remembered, to a full blown adult lady with curves at the right places. Getting engaged to her hadn't been my decision, but my father's.
But I'd thought it was no loss on my end. Master Ragnarok wielded a huge influence on appointing the next king.
Who'd have thought things would escalate so quickly? Now, I couldn't help but wish I could turn back the tides of time.
She was still staring at me, her cheeks tinting a pale shade of red, when I forcefully broke out of my thoughts.
“Just some alone time.” I managed a little smile, and downed the last contents of my glass.
“Oh.” She murmured and an awkward silence ensued.
“How have you been? I heard you own a beauty salon now?” I asked, in an attempt to make small talk. I hated it.
“Yes, Your Highness. And it's moving great.” When she flashed me her set of dentitions again, I couldn't help but notice how beautiful she was. Her cheeks dimpled, as she raised her glass at me in a toast.
Her oval face accentuated her subtle beauty. But it couldn't compare with Mirah's fiery beauty-
I caught myself in time. Even in a fucking bar filled with noise and people, she managed to dominate my mind. Convinced I was losing it, I massaged my temple.
“Good.” I simply said, and turned my head to the side.
She rose to her feet, and came over to stand beside me. “So, are you doing anything else?” She asked, barely patting my shoulders.
I gave no reaction, but I was repulsed. Anything else?- Can we go somewhere private?
Her meaning was clear.
“I want to be alone.” I turned her down. It was the most polite I'd been in my entire nine centuries.
“Oh.” I didn't miss the shadow of anger and disappointment which covered her face. She straightened, and smoothened her dress with her left hand.
“I'll head over to the castle, then.” She moved away, but my reflexes were faster. I caught her hand, and pulled her back.
“What do you think you're doing?” I asked in a voice so low that I barely recognized it as mine.
Amusement flickered in her eyes. “Going over to my fiancè's house.” Her lips curved and she bent low, exposing her cleavage.
I wasn't moved. “Don't.” I said, my eyes narrowed into slits.
Her face closed up. “Prince Zeke, I'm going over to the castle right now. You can't stop me.” She snickered.
“Oh, you bet I would. Don't you dare.” My eyes glowed a hideous shade of red, and she paled.
“Y-you.” She stuttered, struggling to breathe. She was two centuries old, way younger than me. Pressuring her into doing my will was a piece of cake.
I couldn't remember the last time I bared my fangs at anyone, aside from my stepbrother. I knew I'd regret scaring the daughter of Master Ragnarok. But I was way past caring. I'd been making so many bad decisions ever since Mirabella Aurel crashed into my life. Adding one more to it made no difference.
When I let her go, she stumbled backwards. “You'll pay for this.” She hissed, and staggered out of the bar.
I crossed my leg over the other, watching as the others walked into the large high ceiling hall in an orderly manner. The large and expansive hall had glass windows, and blue lights shone down from the chandeliers hanging from the high ceiling.
I counted in my mind, till I thought I'd lose it.
Master Vignar. Master Killian. Master Ragnarok. Master–
“May the members rise?” A loud voice boomed. Several cloaked figures rose to their feets, myself included. Golden cups filled with blood were placed in front of each member.
We went through the beginning ritual, while I tried to calm my racing nerves.
The founders of The Prestigious Royal Circle had decided that a gothic and eerie atmosphere would add to the prestige of the Circle. And here we were, with cloaked figures like some wizards.
“Let the meeting begin.” Master Killian, the vampire in charge of keeping order said.
A ram of a golden staff on the large oak table which stretched down to the end of the room, kicked the meeting to a start.
Master Vignar rose to his feet, and pulled back the hood of his cloak. White-bearded, the old vampire was two millennium years old. Known for his wits and calm nature, he could pass off as the most wise person in the Circle.
“It's a good thing we're all gathered here again, after a decade. We welcome us all back. Before we begin, we'd like to address some issues,” He flashed me a brief look, and I tensed.
‘Here it comes.’
“Master Damien has reported another member for misconduct. But before we pass judgment, let's hear from both sides. May we know what the problem is again, Master Damien?” With that, he sat down.
I ignored the furious look Master Damien gave me, when he rose to his feet. He pulled off his hood.
“We've stayed away from the human world, for as long as we can remember. But a certain person thinks the law is above him, and he bends the law to conform to his wishes.” His low voice was a contrast to his biting words, but I wasn't bothered.