The man before her was a vampire. That much she knew from the color of his clothes and the veins that were fast becoming prominent around his darkening eyes. Much like the others of his kind, he looked perfect, every inch of his body from his dark skin to his midnight black hair and the sharp jaws that defined the shape of his face.
Eve was not surprised by it. She was by now immune to the charm of the beasts. The realization that what lay underneath their perfect skin and bones was pure evil had well kept her out of the hands of his kind. She gritted her teeth as an image of her mother's attackers from twelve years ago flashed in her mind.
Rage swelled in her heart. No. There was no way that she was going to let the creatures ruin another life, she thought, stepping forward. She reached out to grab Litty by her arm and tugged, narrowing her eyes at the monster.
"Scram," Eve said, irritated.
The man's glittering eyes widened in surprise. "Did you just-"
"Yes." She interrupted, her grip tightening around the girl's arm in determination. "Now beat it."
The challenge in her tone was obvious. Her words projected power, her shoulders straightening as she stood eye to eye with the vampire in front of her, lighting a spark inside her soul. That spark fell on the years of hatred and nightmares that haunted her, igniting a fire within.
Eve forgot for a moment that she was only human and the creature standing in front of her was probably ten times stronger than her. Rage coursed through her veins, blinding her from the reality that was read only by the shivering tailor's daughter, whose eyes were as wide as the full moon as she stared at her defender in shock.
With a wretched cry, the creature lunged forward, shoving Litty away as it shot towards Eve. In the blink of an eye, the man had his hands wrapped around her neck, his dark brown eyes flashing red for a second as he hissed, baring his fangs at her in threat.
"How dare a mere slave like you say that to me?!" He screamed angrily, his gaze spitting venom as he did. "Do you even know who I am?!"
Eve smirked, unbothered by the tightening talons around her pale neck. "You are but the filth of my shoes you-"
She didn't get to complete the curse when she felt a slight wind to her right, followed by a dangerous, low growl. Ivan's eyes glinted yellow like a cat in the light of the waxing moon that swept through the hall like a warm blanket, making him look more like an animal than a man.
The purple of his coat was adorned with medals and stars, gleaming a bright gold against the lush velvet. Eve frowned, staring at the man who had interrupted her moment of light. But she didn't protest, seeing how his glare was directed at the man who had his fingers wrapped around her neck.
The vampire's eyes grew wide at the sight of the regent's right-hand soldier- the commander of the king's army. Yet, his grip around her neck only tightened maybe out of nervousness or out of his drunken foolishness, Eve couldn't determine.
His face was blank like always as he pointed towards her. "You should let go of her if you value your life. This one was personally taken by the regent." He paused, watching the man's hands loosen around her throat and his eyes sprinting towards a wide-eyed Litty. Ivan then shifted the direction of his finger, aiming it directly at the tailor's daughter. "And that one there is mine."
"Excuse me?!" Eve and Litty exclaimed together, looking at the man as if he had lost his mind.
Ivan ignored them, his threatening gaze pointed towards the two men as they stepped back from the slaves. It was obvious that it was their fear that made them withdraw but, something stronger was at work there. The hunger in them that was driven by the magic in the maddening interplay between the percussion and string instruments.
Ivan stepped forward, standing between the men and the girls with his hand on the hilt of his sword, hanging lightly in its delicately crafted scabbard. Eve looked around in confusion.
Why had the man come to their rescue when the others were left to fend for their own? Who was the one pulling the strings behind him? She wondered. A pair of golden eyes flashed in her mind. Eve shook her head. No. Not the king. She doubted he even knew of her presence. If not him then could it be...
"Stop imagining things, Eve." She muttered under her breath, trying to get a grip over her wildly running thoughts. "I don't think he has the time to stalk you of all people."
Ivan turned towards her with an arched brow. Eve narrowed her eyes at the man. Had he heard that? How good was the man's hearing anyway? She could barely hear her own voice, she thought, grudgingly. Suddenly, she heard a rustle of clothes to her right. Eve turned towards the direction, only to find the matron walking towards them with a slightly annoyed expression painted on her face. She stopped, right next to Litty.
"Sir Ilyich." The witch bowed, pushing the green trail of her dress back in respect. She rose, pressing her lips together in a curt smile as she reached out to grab Litty's hand. Pushing the girl towards the stunned man, she said, "I was just about to take her to you."
Litty gasped as she crashed into Ivan's chest, the soldier's eyes widening as his hands instinctively went to steady her. Eve watched the two stare at each other and then quickly straighten themselves, moving slightly away from the other. She didn't know whether to be shocked or be concerned. She turned to the matron, wanting to question her motive.
Her brows wrinkled in confusion as she watched a ghost of a smile flash on the witch's lips before it vanished. The older woman turned towards the men in red with a forced smile.
"Now, how may I help you, young sirs?" The matron asked, raising her brows.