Zenyph and his group arrived safely back inside the shelter. Asura was carrying Zenyph in her arms bridal style while Alice was walking behind them. Her face was flushed bright red with embarrassment. The three of them were completely silent. Not a single word was uttered during the entire trip.
"Now we just have to wait 6 hours before the event is over."
Alice plopped down on a stone and leaned against its cold surface.
"So how are we going to spend these next 6 hours?"
"Sleep." answered Asura.
"I'm not tired." protested Alice.
"You should rest anyway." advised the vampire princess as she placed a blanket over Alice's legs and tucked her into the makeshift bedding.
Alice rolled her eyes and closed her eyelids.
"What's the plan after we get out of this place?" asked the dragon prince. His eyes remained closed and his tone was casual.
"I'll be taking the throne from my mother." replied Asura.
"And then we'll be the royal couple?" joked Zenyph.
"Something like that." confirmed Asura.
"I may not be well-versed in the politics of kingdoms within the empire. But aren't you second in line? And your mother Cordelia Bloodthorne is at the demonic rank? How will you take the throne?"
"I will be the queen, regardless whether I'm first in line or fifth. My strength and intelligence will allow me to claim the throne."
Zenyph's eyebrows twitched involuntarily. He was skeptical. "That's not going to work. Even a fool knows that. There are too many variables to consider. The public opinion, the nobles backing her, the army, the church, the other races. All of this is necessary for a coup."
"Then I'll just have to deal with all of those obstacles." declared the vampire princess.
"Why not let the current queen rule until the end of her reign. It'll save you trouble."
"Because she doesn't deserve the throne." stated Asura.
"Why?" Zenyph pressed further.
"I'm not going to reveal any secrets. So don't bother asking."
"Fine." huffed Zenyph.
He was curious and wanted to ask more questions. However, Zenyph decided not to pursue the matter since he had no desire to get involved with the vampire kingdom.
"I have another question. Who was that Abyssal? You knew them?"
"I did." Asura answered curtly without elaborating.
"Are you going to tell me?" asked Zenyph again.
"No."
"Come on. I saved you and you owe me. Tell me. Please." begged the dragon prince. His eyes opened slightly revealing a pleading look.
"...Fine. But promise that you won't use this knowledge against me. Swear on your dragon soul.
"Sure. Whatever."
"It was a member of the Lakethorne clan."
"Lakethorne?" questioned the prince. "Shadowthorne, Bloodthorne, Lakethorn. You guys must all be connected right?"
"We are. The Bloodthornes, the Shadowthornes and the Lakethornes are three branches of the same tree." said the vampire.
"The main family is the Bloodthorned and the branch families were the Shadows and the Lakethornes"
"The Shadowthorne has long since broken away from us and their Royal blood has practically vanished over the years. They have been reduced to the level of commoners.
"So the Shadowthorne and Lakethorn aren't royalty anymore."
"Yes it's why I dislike your maid. She's a reminder that once the Shadow Thorne had the same status as we do. It's a disgrace to our name."
"But when I was just a child, I was friends with the first princess of the lakethornes. Her name was Eri. We spent most of our childhood playing together.
"One day, my mother decided to visit her sister, who lives in the Lakethorne territory, bringing me and my brother. It was during this period I met the Lakethorne twins."
"Eri's twin was a boy. He looked exactly like her. He had the same face, the same hair, and the same skin. Only their eyes were different. Hers were blue while her brothers were red.
"The first time we met, she was crying."
Asura's expression changed from calm to nostalgic. Her eyes softened slightly and the corners of her mouth curved upwards forming a smile.
"She said she lost the ring which she received from her father and she cried so much she couldn't speak properly."
"I remember thinking she was pathetic. I couldn't imagine how someone could cry over something like that. It made me feel uncomfortable.
"But then her twin brother came up and comforted her. When she was done crying, I gave her the necklace I bought earlier and promised her I would help her find her ring."
"When we were children we were close. We were always playing tag, hide-and-seek, hide the tail and other fun activities. We were inseparable. Until one day." Asura paused. The smile she had on her face disappeared.
"What happened?" asked Zenyph.
"I found out the truth. I saw the real side of the Lakehornes."
Asura's expression became solemn. A hint of sadness flashed across her features. Her eyes clouded over and her voice cracked.
"The Lakethorns were cruel and ruthless, they tortured, raped and murdered innocents for entertainment. They even somehow found a way to make deals with pseudo-gods."
"Pseudo-god?" Zenyph repeated.
"Demi-Gods. They're real, unlike gods. Their power isn't as great as a god. But they are strong and they can be used by mortals."
"How?"
"They can grant wishes and blessings. In exchange, they require a sacrifice."
Zenyph's mind raced. He wondered whether he should ask more or not.
"What kind of wishes do you have to offer?" asked Zenyph.
"Anything."
"Anything."
"Yes."
"So if I wish to be the strongest dragon. Then the pseudo-god will help me achieve that?"
"Yes."
"How?"
"I don't know. Anyways the greed and malice of the Lakethornes were their own undoing. They kept sacrificing and sacrificing while my mother did nothing. Until they asked for a new planet to host their sacrifices. That planet was home to a clan of Abyssals called the Abyssal Lords.
"The Abyssals are a race that is known for their hatred. They will destroy everything. They destroyed the Lakethornes. They wiped out every last one of them, except for one."
Asura paused briefly as she took a deep breath and let it out. Her shoulders slumped forward. Her eyes were dull. She looked exhausted.
"Eri." Zenyph said the name softly.
"That's right. The other they killed but they turned her into one of her own. They turned her into an abyssal. She was the one that attacked us."
"So the abyssal was Eri. I see now why you didn't want to talk about it."
"It's not just that. The Abyssals are dangerous and unpredictable, especially the ones created by the Abyssal lords. I didn't want to involve either of you. Especially Alice. I don't want her to die.
"I'm sorry. If I had known. Then..."
Zenyph was unsure of how to react. This information was important but at the same time, he couldn't bring himself to care. He didn't know Eri. He didn't care about her. She was nothing more than a stranger.
He couldn't understand what Asura was feeling, so instead he tried to sympathize with her. But he didn't know what to say.
"Don't feel bad. The past can't be changed." Asura said quietly.
"Still...if I could have done better, maybe you wouldn't have been forced to fight Eri alone." Zenyph replied guiltily.
The room went silent again. Neither person spoke for a few minutes. Both were lost in their thoughts.
Zenyph broke the silence by changing the topic of the conversion, "My mana has started to replenish since you killed that thing. You should get some sleep. I'll keep an eye out. I'll wake you in 6 hours."
"Thanks but no. I'll keep watch. I'm not that sleepy." said Asura.
"No. You've done plenty."
"It's fine. I'm not tired."
"Please. Just rest."
"No."
"Why? Why are you being such a hardhead?"
"Because I'm not letting that thing get the best of me. Not today. Not ever. I won't lose." declared the vampire princess.
Her declaration echoed in the cave, filling the air with confidence.
"Besides I have a question." Asura added.
"Go ahead."
"Why are you so different? Your personality and behavior are completely different then the time we met at the Everglens Royal Party. You seem like a completely different person." asked Asura.
Guilt filled Zenyph. He didn't want to lie to Asura but he's not going to reveal his secret yet.
"That was years ago Asura, people change. You're not the same girl either." assumed Zenyph since he didn't remember what happened back then.
"Zenyph were bonded remember? I can tell if you're lying or telling half-truths."
"It's complicated."
"Then explain it to me."
"I'm trying to. It's difficult." Zenyph admitted.
"Just spit it out. Don't beat around the bush." commanded Asura.
"You're a princess aren't you? Why aren't you a noble? Shouldn't a princess have a higher rank?" asked Zenyph, avoiding the conversation entirely,
"That's none of your concern. Now answer my question or I won't hesitate to rip off your arm.
"Fine. It's a curse." answered Zenyph. His tone was serious as though he was discussing the weather.
"I was cursed by a god to forget my memories."
"A god?" Asura questioned with a hint of curiosity.
"I don't have an answer for that. Maybe the god didn't like what I was doing. Or maybe it just didn't like who I am as a person and decided to punish me. Either way, I have no idea why this happened to me."
"So you can't remember anything about your past?" asked the purple-haired princess.
Her eyes were filled with pity and sympathy. She didn't know the exact details, but she understood the pain Zenyph was suffering from. It reminded her how lucky she was to have the Bloodthorne family.
"Only bits here and there. But most of it is gone. My memories from my 18th birthday and earlier are completely gone. Everything I did, everything I learned, everyone I met. It was just erased."
"That sounds terrible."
"It is."
"Thanks for opening up to me."
"It wasn't a big deal."
"I'll keep your secret. Don't worry. It won't leave the cave. Besides it's not like anyone would believe me anyway."
"Thank you."
"It's not a problem. You saved my life earlier, and besides I can tell you have good intentions."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I trust you, Zenyph."
Zenyph smiled slightly. He didn't know why. But his heart fluttered.
"You should rest. The sooner we get out of here the better."
"Fine."
Asura reluctantly laid down beside Alice and closed her eyes. Soon her breathing slowed. The rhythm of a sleeping person.
"She fell asleep quickly. I guess she was tired. Well, at least both of them will get some sleep."
Zenyph sat crosslegged on the ground watching his two companions sleep.