"What's a handsome guy like you doing up at this time of the night?" she asked sizing him up. "I was going to ask you the same thing" his voice echoed.
"I'm out here to clear my head, what about you?"
"Uhh...I'm out here to clear my head too" she lied laughing nervously however he seemed to believe her as there was no change in his expression. She couldn't possibly tell him she had followed a string that led her to him by chance, he'd think she was a vampire spy. She couldn't help but wonder what the string meant, was it a curse or a blessing. She had so many questions but no one to answer them. She continued to be lost in thought until she realised something.
" By the way, I've never seen you in the castle before" she inquired squinting her eyes in suspicion.
" Who are you?"
He shuffled nervously, his bright golden eyes darting all around. He was obviously uncomfortable with the question.
"Let's just say I'm here on business" he replied vaguely worrying that he made have just made things worse. She stood frozen in her spot, she was looking at him but her eyes seemed to pass through him making him a bit concerned.
"Miss are you ok?" he asked with his voice laced with worry.
'Oh my goodness! He has a cute side! So cute! So cute! So cute!' she thought.
She was busy fangirling as he gently shook her with worry.
"Miss?"
She jerked awake embarrassed and began to mumble apologies under her breath.
He looked at her for a second before bursting in laughter, her face turned red in embarrassment.
"Ahaha, wow you really are something" he chuckled. "You're so cute"
He patted her head like a child and she enjoyed the sensation of his hand running through her silky hair.
She felt sorry to feel it leave.
"Won't you get into trouble if your superiors find out you're here" he asked.
" Why would I get on trou-" she muttered with confusion and suddenly it hit her.
' Oh Moon Goddess!' she thought ' He thinks I'm a maid.'
She smiled mischieviously and decided to play along.
" Oh it's fine, we're allowed to be in the palace garden as long as the royal family aren't here"
"Aaah" he exclaimed in understanding.
He breathed a sigh of relief, he didn't want her to get into trouble.
" This garden is such a serene place." he said as he closed his eyes." Its a great place to forget about the world and all your worries"
"Yeah you're right" she said agreeing with him.
" You know...." she continued " When I need to clear my head there's a special place in the castle I go to, would you like me to show you?"
His eyebrows raised in curiosity and he agreed to follow her. They ventured deep into the garden as she led the way to this mysterious place.
She stopped suddenly startling him." Ok we're here now" she said as she took of her necklace. A small gold key hung on the shiny golden necklace. He looked around in confusion but decided to hold his tongue. She kneeled on the ground and shoved the key into a barely visible keyhole. A few seconds later, the scenery around them began to change, his eyes widened in amazement as he watched the scene unfold before him. The lovely flowers disappeared and were replaced with gently swaying grass, giant trees sprouted around them and in the middle of it all was a crystal clear lake.
"It's beautiful" he whispered.
"Yeah it really is" she replied. "I found it on one of my trips to the garden, I think the fairies created it as a sanctuary or a safe haven maybe but no one knows about it apart from us....not even my best friend"
She stretched and laid on the soft grass and he decided to joined her.
They sat in silence for what seemed like hours until Luna fell asleep, he turned to look at the woman he had just met just a few hours ago but had found himself drawing closer and closer to her. Her shimmering black eyes were like black holes that drew him in. He moved closer and closer until their faces were just inches apart. Her eyes fluttered open feeling his hot breath on her face, she was startled and joyous to see him so close to her. Unbeknownst to them the red string glowed a bit more. Their moment was however cut short as the scene around them began to distort. An ominous feeling washed over them as they silently agreed to leave the place. Luna hurriedly tried to remove the key from the ground but it wouldn't budge.
" What's going on?" she groaned.
The glitching around them finally stopped but that wasn't enough to halt their worries as the gentle forest had disappeared and replaced by a dark and creepy forest. The branches of the once graceful trees turned black and looked like claws which could reach for them at any moment. The swaying soft grass turned into thorns.
The crystal clear lake turned blood red and shined ominously in the moonlight.
On guard from whatever was happening he grabbed on to Lunas waist tightly
in an effort to protect her from whatever may lurk in the forest and she gladly held on to him as well.
A cloaked figure slowly stepped out of the forest. Its finger nails were long and curved and its skin was pale white. They knew instantly what lay under that cloak.
" A vampire?!"