As the candle flickered, shadows danced across the walls, casting a haunting glow in the dimly lit room. Cedric stood at the bar, his face half-hidden in the darkness. He poured a generous measure of liquor into a crystal glass, the amber liquid gleaming like blood in the flickering light. He lifted the glass to his lips, savoring the sharp, smoky flavor as it burned its way down his throat. He ran his tongue over his elongated canines, a shiver of pleasure running through him as he relished the faint coppery tang of blood on his tongue.
The room was a hidden corner of his vast, opulent royal chamber, far from the prying eyes of his servants and guards. Here, he could be alone with his thoughts, away from the stifling etiquette and endless demands of courtly life. It was here, in this private sanctuary, that he could truly be himself – or rather, the monster he had become. In this room, there was no need to hide the sharpness of his fangs or the hunger that raged within him.
He tilted the glass, bringing it closer to his lips, his tough tongue touching the cool liquid, and then he took another sip.
"Ahh..." his breath came in shallow gasps, the heat of the moment overwhelming his senses. The cool sensation of the glass in his hand was the only thing keeping him grounded. He could feel the beating of his own heart, the scent of his own blood pulsing through his veins.
The only sound in the room was the ticking of the clock, the monotonous rhythm echoing through the silence. Cedric took another sip of the burning liquid, savoring the sensation of the heat coursing through his body. The thoughts in his mind swirled, a chaotic jumble of images and emotions. Suddenly, a faint click shattered the silence, a hint of movement somewhere in the darkness.
"You called." A deep, resonant voice emerged from the shadows, one that belonged to Roland. Unlike the others, Cedric had forged a deep bond with Sir Roland, having shared similar experiences of loss and trauma. This connection granted him access to a side of the king that remained hidden from everyone else. However, despite their closeness, certain secrets were destined to remain veiled.
Cedric didn't turn around; instead, he took a few steps to the side. Cedric's footsteps echoed in the silence as he slowly made his way to the towering bookshelf. The books seemed to loom over him.
He had always loved the feel of books in his hands and the musty smell of pages. There was something comforting about it, but things aren't always as they seem.
With his gentle fingers, he caressed the books until he found the one he sought. As he pulled it, the bookshelf shifted and slid open, revealing a hidden door secured by a key lock. He reached into the pocket of his robe, withdrew a key, and inserted it into the lock. The door yielded with a soft click, unveiling rows of the mysterious liquid-filled bottles, and behind them was a small box. Cedric extended his hand and retrieved the box, while Roland observed intently from a distance.
Opening the box, a radiant, gleaming orb illuminated its interior, and a subtle grin played at the corner of Cedric's lips as an image of a woman with eyes aglow in blue briefly flashed through his mind. He closed the box, extinguishing the light, and returned it to its place beside the bottles. Locking the door, he secured the key, attached to a rope around his neck. The bookshelves smoothly slid back to their original position, leaving no trace of a hidden door.
Finally, Cedric turned around, his gaze meeting Roland's, who remained concealed in the shadows. Raising his glass, he remarked, "It has been a while since we shared a drink, Sir Roland," King Cedric mentioned, heading back to his bar. Just as he was about to pour the liquor into another glass, Roland politely declined, saying, "Your Majesty, I appreciate the offer, but I am afraid I must respectfully decline as I have an early shift tomorrow. Perhaps another time."
Cedric continued to pour the liquor into the glass and refilled his own. With two glasses in hand, he walked over to where Roland stood and extended one, saying, "I understand your dedication to your duties, but I must insist. It has been far too long since we relaxed together."
Roland reluctantly accepted the glass, his fingers lightly gripping the stem. He raised it to his lips but didn't take a sip. Cedric gave Roland's shoulder a brief pat before he turned away. Observing this, Roland discreetly lowered the untouched glass to his side.
As Cedric continued walking, he suddenly paused and asked, "That girl we encountered in the village, the one with very pale skin, hazel eyes, and striking golden hair. Do you happen to know who she is?"
Roland furrowed his brow, taking a moment to recollect the girl he was talking about. He recalled the king getting off his horse and helping a girl with features that resembled this description. Roland
shook his head slowly, although Cedric couldn't see him as he had his back facing him. He replied, "I'm sorry, Your Highness, but I don't have any information about her."
Cedric made a curious humming sound and sidestepped a bit. He took another sip from his glass, and his tongue unconsciously touched his elongated canines. The girl from the village, with her pale skin, hazel eyes, and golden hair, felt oddly familiar, like a character from a story he couldn't quite remember. But from where? He thought to himself. "I need you to find out more about her. Talk to the villagers discreetly, gather any information you can, and report back to me," he said in a commanding tone.
Roland nodded in agreement, his loyalty unwavering. "Of course, Your Majesty. I'll discreetly gather what I can." He couldn't shake the thought that the king's keen interest in the village girl might lead to her sharing the same fate as so many other young girls in the past – used as another one of his concubines, only to be dismissed like old rags.
Roland stood patiently, awaiting the king's orders to depart. Instead, Cedric abruptly turned to face him, his expression stern as his gaze shifted from Roland's face to the glass clutched tightly in his slender fingers. "Are you going to drink that?" Cedric inquired, his tone carrying a command even though it was a request.
Roland, ever composed and showing no hint of fear, gulped down nothing, even as the king's intense gaze bore into him. Slowly, he raised the glass to his lips and took a tiny, almost symbolic sip.
Cedric's eyes remained locked onto Roland's, and with a sly grin, he commanded, "More."
In response, Roland brought the glass to his lips again, this time taking a larger, more substantial gulp. As he lowered the glass, he could see a faint satisfaction in Cedric's expression as the smile on his face spread wider.
In the dimly lit confines of Aurora's bedroom, she lay exposed in a bathtub, her eyes tightly shut as she fully immersed herself in the water. Her face disappeared beneath the surface, and she held her breath, her body tensing with the memory of the vampire's piercing red eyes and that eerie, malevolent smile. It was staring deep directly at her, blood dripping down its canines.
Her breathing became tense, her chest quickly rising and falling. As she struggled with the haunting images, trying to break free from the hypnotizing stare, her brows furrowed even deeper. In the midst of this inner battle, her hair started to shift gradually, turning into a brilliant shade of green. It flowed softly, casting an otherworldly, ethereal light beneath the water's surface.
Aurora's mental struggle reached its peak, and with a jolt, she snapped out of it. She pushed herself up from the bathtub's watery depths, her chest heaving as she gasped for air. Coughing and sputtering, she fought to regain her composure. As she blinked her eyes open, they momentarily shimmered with an otherworldly green hue before swiftly returning to their natural hazel color. Her once-glowing green hair, which had framed her face, reverted to its familiar ginger shade.