After another meal with Cassius, Lilian felt much more relaxed. His patience was admirable and it proved that he was even-tempered. He was not tempted to pull her into shreds even when she agitated him.
Upon returning to her chamber, Lilian locked the door but didn't bother barricading it. She was tired enough that after a few hours of entertaining herself with a book, she fell asleep again.
Lilian run through the dark forest, tripping over the branches, chased by the vampire with a king and sharp fangs. His red eyes shone in the darkness and his face was twisted into an ugly grimace. He was faster than her or any other human.
"You smell divine." The vampire uttered as he caught her. No matter how much she thrashed, she had no chance of winning against that creature. She screamed as the fangs painfully cut through her flesh and she felt her soul leave her body as the blood was drained from her veins.
The last whine escaped her mouth before the darkness cut off the scene.
Lilian sat up on the bed feeling a layer of sweat all over her body.
"Ma'am, is everything alright?" A knock echoed through the room as Lilian tried to remember where she was. "Ma'am!" The knocking drummed louder. Lilian felt dizzy and the noise only elevated the panic she felt. "I've heard a scream, are you alright?" The maid seemed more and more agitated but Lilian couldn't calm down to utter a coherent word.
The knocking stopped and defeating silence befell after the steps of the maid became distant. As Lilian's heart rate slowed down again, she rushed to the bathroom and rinsed her face, slowly regaining her cool.
Another knock sounded on the door. It was calmer, more calculated.
"Lilian." Cassius voice sounded behind the door. It was quiet and careful. "May you unlock the door? Penelope is rather concerned about you." Lilian drew sharply air into her lungs, rinsing her face once again as if it were to wash away the image from her mind. She wasn't ready to reply to the request. "Lilian, Penelope heard you scream. I'd like to make sure that you are alright to calm Penelope down." Cassius spoke through the door. Lilian dried her face and walked back to the bedroom. She saw a shadow underneath the door. Lilian's heart was still pounding when she approached a door. She placed her head against it and listened to the person in the other side. "I want to know that you are alright." Cassius added in almost a whisper. His voice was so deep and so peaceful. He didn't have those red shining eyes. He was like an ocean: he brought an extensive feeling of tranquility with his presence.
Lilian turned the key in the lock and turned the handle revealing Cassius standing right behind the wooden door. His eyes showed immense worry when they landed on Lilian.
"I did not intend to startle the maid." Lilian admitted. "I… I haven't slept well and I must've not heard the knocking properly when she came to check upon me. My sincerest apology for causing such a concern."
"It is not…" Cassius sighed. "As long as you're well and not hurt."
"I am quite well." Lilian tried to force a smile not realising that the reason Cassius came over was because he felt immense fear even before Penelope run into the throne room where he was receiving vampire visitors from all around the world - mostly from his own kingdom. He felt that feeling ease as he observed Lilian. She did not stand proud in this moment and a light nightdress revealed more bruises that Cassius haven't seen before.
"Well… you should rest." Cassius took a step back awkwardly. He felt so compelled to touch her but he knew that would cause her even more issues.
"I will certainly try." Lilian looked into his eyes and he would give anything to be able to drown in them. She was about to shut the door and he was about to walk away but she parted her lips again before uttering. "Do vampires not sleep at night?" Her brows furrowed inquisitively.
"No." Cassius smiled reassuringly. "We fare better at night and we rest during the day."
"Hmmm…" Lilian seemed to force herself to not ask more questions.
"I do have to return to my duties, but if you cannot sleep, the castle is yours to explore."
"Thank you." Lilian smiled shyly, more genuinely this time.
"I shall see you at dinner… breakfast?" Cassius realised that Lilian's life was exact opposite of his.
"I will see you at breakfast."
Cassius departed, glancing back at an already closed door. The fear eased off and he was keener to return to the throne room.
Lilian walked around the chamber, looking at a painting on the wall. Only now, she realised that the stars of the painting glowed in the dark.
Unsettled, she put on a dark velvet dress and walked out into the corridor, slowly pacing towards the unknown. She froze when she saw the servants, cautiously looking at their shiny fangs when they smiled at her. None had the vicious red eyes that haunted her in her dreams. They bowed in front of her, treating her as another distinguished guest, even if they knew nothing of her background. They did not treat her any less because she was human, but she knew that humans looked down upon vampires back in her home.
She passed by the guards that stood straight in their armour.
She opened the door to rooms, gazing inside at the lavish interiors, rooms full of books and sculpted furniture, until she found herself near the place she recognised. She was outside the throne room, guarded by the finest vampires.
Lilian looked curiously at the door, not daring to open it.
"Uh-hum." The guard coughed with a warning and Lilian looked directly at a vampire.
"I wouldn't have just walked in." Lilian said defensively.
"If you wish, there's a balcony at the back of the throne room. It looks over the entire room and is out of sight of visitors. The door is beside his majesty's sculpture which you will find if you continue following this corridor all around."
Lilian was surprised by the guards encouragement for her to see the throne room.
"Oh, thank you." She said with excitement. "How very thoughtful and kind of you!"
"It is a pleasure, Mi'lady."
Lilian beamed as she continued down the corridor, running her fingers among the walls, not finding much dust or cobwebs. The entire castle was well looked after.
Lilian found a sculpture, which was impossible to miss as it stood as tall as Cassius himself, if not taller.
Breathtakingly sculpted marble perfectly resembled the king of the land in all of his glory, only missing his ruffled hair and blueness of his eyes.
Lilian studied it with utmost intend, admiring the art of it and foremostly, the vampire shown.
Then her heart sunk as she realised something else. The fangs were missing and there was more plumpness to his cheeks. He was sculpted as a man, missing the very essence of the monstrosity he truly was. But yet, she felt he was incomplete. Her hand reached for the cold marble cheek, almost as cold as Cassius' skin which she recalled.
It took immense effort to detach her eyes from the alluring statue.
She opened the door beside it that led to the spiral staircase and climbed them with cautiousness, finding a small balcony at the top that was high up in the large throne room.
Cassius sat on the throne, wearing his regal clothes of dark fabrics and silver thread. There were candles in rows behind him, warmly reflecting of his shiny raven black hair and a crown resting upon it.
Cassius' voice carried with the power that could shatter one's soul if directed against them. His subjects bowed and spoke, listening to Cassius' wisdoms with no objections.
Lilian watched and listened for a while, judging Cassius' rule, realising that he was stern but fair to his subjects.
She was out of immediate sight of him and many others, comfortable on the balcony, for moments forgetting where she was.
And then one of the subjects looked up and locked his vibrant eyes on Lilian who froze. Her heart started to race, reminding her of her nightmare.
Cassius' voice stopped as he noticed one of the vampires in the crowd to stare intensely up above him, and only then he noticed Lilian himself and felt that dread deep within him.
"Lord Gray." Cassius' voice thundered, snapping Lilian back.
Lilian turned around and run down the stairs, breathing shakily as she run down the corridors getting lost in the maze deep within the castle, not knowing the Cassius' questions and Lord Gray's perplexing response, as Lord Gray pointed out that he smelled the observer and their blood was spoiled. Lilian would have been greatly offended to hear her blood being criticised, but Cassius was rather confused. It was rare for vampires to dislike the smell of human blood.
Cassius smoothly steered the conversation away from Lilian but Lord Gray's words remained in his head.