Sitting on the horse, Damon quickly joins me and we swiftly make our way out of the palace and into a bustling village. Carriages and horses fill the streets, but to my surprise, there are no cars in sight. Confused, I turn to Damon and ask, "Damon, why are there no cars here? I mean, this is the twenty-first century, right?"
Damon leans closer, his voice barely above a whisper. "It is the twenty-first century, but King Fedor believes that these technologies are unnecessary in his kingdom. The people here prefer a simpler way of life, and they believe that simplicity is good." His lips gently brush against my earlobe as he adds, "Besides, all those modern inventions can lead to smog, accidents, and other unfortunate incidents."
I shake my head, not entirely convinced. "I don't think that's a valid reasoning."
Before I can say more, Damon interrupts, his tone urgent. "Hold that thought, Ava. Can you wait here for me? Don't move from this spot."
I grab onto his hand, concern evident in my eyes. "Where are you going?"
Damon looks back at me, his gaze filled with determination. "I'll be quick, I promise. Just wait here for me." With that, he disappears into the bustling crowd, leaving me standing there, feeling a mix of uncertainty and worry.
Unwilling to be left alone in an unfamiliar place, I quickly dismount from the horse and tie it securely to a nearby tree. Following Damon's path, I dive into the sea of people, trying my best to keep up with him.
As I navigate through the crowd, I realize that we've arrived at a market. My curiosity was piqued, and I observed the various vendors selling goods I'd never seen before. Meanwhile, on the other side of the market, a group of people is shouting, "Kill the wizard!" They mercilessly pelt stones at an innocent man, and amid the chaos, his eyes meet mine.
The man's hands are bound, and his frail body is covered in bruises. It becomes apparent that he's done nothing wrong, yet because he possesses wizardry skills, the mob seeks to end his life. Despite his suffering, he maintains eye contact with me, his gaze filled with a mix of pain and acceptance.
Suddenly, someone set fire to the wood beneath his feet, and a single tear fell from my eyes as I watched him die.
Horrified by the sight before me, I stand frozen as the man burns to his death. His gaze never wavers from mine, even amid such torment.
Once the murderers disperse, I rush over to the remains and quickly gather the ashes, placing them into a container. Determined to find a river for a proper resting place, I flee into the nearby woods. Despite not being able to give him a proper burial, at least his ashes should find solace in flowing water.
As I reach the river, I kneel and offer a silent prayer before releasing the ash into the water. "People can be cruel, but when you come into the world again, don't harbor hatred towards them. They are merely scared of you." Standing up, I let out a heavy sigh, feeling completely lost in this unfamiliar realm.
Wandering, I take slow steps, observing the trees and flowers around me. In the distance, I hear voices coming from deep within the forest. Curiosity piques, and I cautiously approach, hiding behind a tree to eavesdrop on their conversation.
"The war shouldn't take long. Those dragons are incredibly weak."
"If we ambush them at night, we'll have victory swiftly."
"But wouldn't that be considered cowardly? Vampires don't typically act in such a manner. We will fight in daylight soon, and nothing will stop us from claiming victory. Fedor has grown weaker, and none of his children are as strong as he once was. This is our chance."
I have to warn Damon about this. I need to let him know what's happening.
Turning to leave, someone grabs hold of my hand, and they call out, "We found someone!" Seizing the opportunity, I swiftly strike the man in his vulnerable area and make a run for it. Glancing back, I see three men chasing after me with remarkable speed. Before I can even face forward, I feel someone grab both of my hands, hoisting me over his shoulder.
"Let me go!" I shout, struggling against his hold.
He remains silent, eventually setting me down on the ground. When I meet his gaze, I recognize Alex, and he looks puzzled. "Ava? What are you doing here?"
"Lara, is she back?" I ask, my voice filled with worry and urgency.
"Lord Alex has found her again," I hear the murmurs around me, and I meet Alex's gaze. "Hi," I greet him.
"How did you get here?" he asks, concern lining his face. I swallow nervously.
"I came with a friend," I reply.
"A dragon friend?" he questions.
"No, he's not a dragon," I quickly clarify, scanning the surroundings. "You're a vampire?" He nods, and my throat feels dry. "Can I go now? He must be worried about my location."
"Let's talk, Ava," Alex insists, a slight desperation in his voice.
"Alex, we can talk another time," I argue, trying to find an escape from this situation.
"Ava, please, stop arguing with me. Let's talk," he runs a hand through his hair. "You know I won't hurt you." Nodding reluctantly, he helps me up and leads me into a nearby tent. As soon as he steps in, he pulls me into a tight hug. "God, I miss you," he whispers.
"Alex?" I say, my voice catching in my throat.
He backs off slightly and kisses me. It's not a quick, peck-like kiss that he usually gives. Instead, it's slow and lingering. But I feel nothing, nothing like how I feel when Damon kisses me. Something feels completely wrong, and my anger begins to rise, my blood boiling within me.
My body rejects this.
"Alex, stop!" I pull away, covering my mouth. "I'm sorry, but I can't do this." I can see the hurt flicker in his eyes.
"Why not, Ava? Why won't you let me touch you?" he growls, frustration etched on his face. "I can smell someone else's scent all over you. Who is this man you allow to touch you? Why can he touch you and I can't?"
"I don't know!" I yell, my voice filled with confusion and frustration.
"I am not accepting 'no' today, Ava. Let me touch you," he insists, gripping my hands tightly and pulling me closer to his body as I struggle against his hold. "Ava, stop struggling. You are mine."
"Let me go!" I slap his face, watching his red eyes darken even more. Expecting him to retaliate, I brace myself, but instead, he withdraws, closing his eyes and exhaling deeply.
"Forgive me, Ava," he mumbles. "I lost control for a moment. It won't happen again."
"I want to leave," I assert firmly.
"The woods are a dangerous place, Ava. I can't let you go," he replies, his voice filled with concern.
"What do you mean, Alex?"
"Stay, Ava, please." I look into his face and reluctantly nod my head. His eyes return to their usual cheerful state. "Come, let me introduce you to my loyal men."
"Okay," I agree reluctantly.
Damon catches a glimpse of green hair before disappearing into this part of the village. Zulu is known for her love of wandering in the forest, but this time she's in the village, hiding from someone. "Zulu?" I step inside the abandoned house, moving into the room. I find her eating a live chicken.
"Mr. D."
"What have I told you about eating a live chicken?" I scold her.
"Cook it first," she grins widely before rushing into my arms. She still looks so young. "You came back!"
"I heard a war is starting, and you're here. I had to come and get you. Harm should never come your way." I tuck her hair behind her ear, and her green eyes gaze up at me. She begins to cry. "Happy birthday, Zulu. I came right on your birthday, didn't I?"
She nods. "Thank you, Mr. D." She hugs me tightly, and my smile widens. "I'm two hundred years old now."
"I know, Zulu," I wipe away her tears and smile. "Come, let's go back to the palace."
"Fedor will drive me out again. When you left last time, he did the same," she murmurs sadly.
"Wherever I go, you will come with me," I pat her head affectionately. "But first, I want you to meet someone."
"Who is that?"
"Her name is Ava, and I will marry her someday," I explain. I notice Zulu's face darken, and I quickly address her concerns. "I know, Zulu, but you have to see her first."
"If she hurts you, I will kill her," Zulu frowns. "I do not like seeing women getting close to you after what happened." Her long hair has grown down to her waist, and even at two hundred years old, she still looks like a sixteen-year-old girl.
She possesses a petite figure and her dress clings to her like a second skin. "Your chest doesn't have plans to grow, does it?" I tease.
"Zulu!" she covers her chest with her hand, laughing. "Your sense of humor hasn't changed. But, yes, my followers did betray me," she confess, watching her gaze drop. "But don't worry. they'll grow."
Her eyes light up, and she reaches out to hold my hand. "Ava must be tired of waiting," she remarks.