100. Caleb - Flashbacks X

Voros sighs. “He is a vampire and was sold to the guards as a slave, claiming he did some….eh…awful things to a female. I trust his word that he did not do anything he is being accused of. Unfortunately, I am the only one who believes him, while the rest are torturing him daily. I don’t know how long he can endure it,  it has been several years since he came here. Four of five, but I might be wrong; as you know, time here passes differently from the Human Realm.”

K must be the vampire from last night.

‘Do you think he is the one Analise was talking about? The one who is hated in the entire Nether Realm?’

The silhouette of a male appears in the kitchen window. ‘Could be,’ I reply to my wolf’s question. Then I say to Voros, ‘I think I have a message for him.’ 

“For K?” 

“It’s from Analise.”

We stop close to the kitchen. Voros scans the area around us, listening for sounds and sniffing the air. “You should not say that name here unless you want to get in trouble.”

Anan told me Analise is evil, while Voros warns me not to say anything about her. Interesting. Regardless of who is right, as long as Analise doesn’t interfere with my training, I don’t have a reason to give her a second thought. 

“How did you meet her?” Voros wants to know. 

“I gave her some water yesterday, and she mentioned a person who is very hated here. Based on what you said, I think she referred to K, but she never mentioned his name.” 

“If Analise gave you a message for K, it is best to give it to him.” 

We quietly enter the kitchen. 

K is cleaning two big stoves, his back to us. 

“Need any help?” Voros asks suddenly, startling K.

The vampire turns around, his gaze fixed on the floor. “I got this.”

He sounds…defeated. Like the life has been sucked out of him.

‘If Voros is right about K and him being here for at least five years, no wonder he sounds like he is dead inside. I would be, too.’

Bruises cover a great part of K’s face. He didn’t have them last night; he probably got beaten up after I left the dining hall, making me wonder what kind of hell he has been living in for the last four or five years. 

Noticing K’s face, Voros asks, “Weren’t the guards asked to make sure nobody touched you? What happened this time?”

K shrugs. “It would be best not to waste your money bribing the guards. They will never lift a finger to help me.” 

“It’s my money to waste,” says Voros. “Anyway, I want you to meet Colt, my new roommate. Trent likes him.”

“Is that your dragon?” I ask, wanting to know who Trent is. 

“Yep.”

K lifts his eyes to me for a moment, but it is enough for me to see they are lifeless. And blue. His eyebrows rise, and he blinks a few times before frowning. 

*‘A Dacian vampire.’* 

Queen Lamia despises Dacian vampires, claiming they plot against her and her people. Maybe that’s why she needs the Sword of Nightmares and sent me here to train? As one of her knights, it is my duty to protect her from any threats. 

K resumes cleaning the stoves. 

“I have a message for you,” I tell him, and he nods, letting me know he is listening. “It’s from the nymph.” I avoid using her name in case someone is listening. K tenses his shoulders, but otherwise, he is quiet. “She said to look behind the waterfall,” I take a second or two to think, “tomorrow night.”

K turns on his heels, and this time, he doesn’t lower his gaze as he asks, “Are you telling me the truth?”

“I don’t have any reason to lie.”

Voros smacks K’s back. “And you said I am wasting my money. The guards are willing to help. Just a little longer, and we will be far away from this hell of a place.” K seems uncomfortable with Voros talking about private matters in front of me. “Don’t worry, Colt will have the same fate as my last roommate if he decides to say a word about what was said there.” 

Voros might like to dye his hair pink and paint his nails green, but he is still a dragon, and I have no doubt he will try to roast me alive if I snitch on him and K. Maybe he did the same to his last roommate.

*‘Or maybe Voros ate him.’*

**‘Maybe.’**

K lets out a breath of relief. He seems to trust Voros a lot. “I used to take water to her until I got caught and…I couldn’t walk for a few months.” His fingers brush against the collar around his neck. “Without this, I would heal much faster. I was so worried about her that I even tried to send Voros a few times to her, but she doesn’t trust him.”

“It was an innocent joke,” Voros defends himself, and K snorts.

Something tells me it wasn’t innocent.

I wonder how dark Voros’ sense of humor is.

“I gave her water yesterday. She seems to like me, so I can take her water when possible.” 

K turns his attention back to the stoves. “Thank you.”

“We should get going. K, are you sure you don’t need help?” Voros asks.

“It would be best if Anan or any of the guards don’t see you here. You might get in unnecessary trouble.”

“Take care,” Voros says before leaving the kitchen and heading to the main gate.