Page 27 of Wicked Thirst
The cold dampness seeped through my dress and into my skin. It didn’t help that I remained sitting on the floor of my cell with my knees pulled into my chest. Tears streamed down my face, and I did not know how to stop them. This night was supposed to be a perfect night with fun and celebration. I might have even met my soulmate among the many vampires attending the ball. Instead, I was trapped here, and I’d endangered both mine and my sister’s lives. How could one night have gone so wrong?
A shiver racked my body and I huddled in closer on myself. I hung my head and pressed my forehead to my arms. This was a disaster of epic proportions. Not since I was turned into a vampire did I feel this low. Atlas was going to kill both my sister and me in one shot. It wasn’t that I enjoyed drinking blood, but I wanted to have more time to live and see the world. Just to be young and see all that this immortal life could offer. Prisha and I had plans. I wasn’t ready to give them up. I sniffed and wiped my nose on the back of my hand.
“Surely there’s no cause for all these tears,” a deep rumbling voice came from just outside the bars.
My head snapped up and I nearly tripped over myself trying to get to my feet. I held my hands behind my back, then I thought that looked suspicious, so I moved them to fold in front of myself. “Your Highness.”
I bobbed a messy curtsy and tried to straighten my dress, but it all seemed so foolish at this point. I stood there in my bare feet covered in whatever grim was on the floor of this cell. My dress was torn and even now my body shook from the shock of it all. I was terrified. I didn’t want to die, and I didn’t want my sister to die, yet here stood King Titus . . . and my body shook even harder. I’d never heard of him sentencing vampires so quickly, but I’d also never heard of such an attack upon the castle. So, tonight could be a first of many things.
He waved his hand and the door slid open. This close he was even taller and more imposing, with broad shoulders, a barrel of a chest, and a very direct gaze that made me feel like I was being studied. I never realized the sheer mass of King Titus, but now that he was so close, I had to lean my head back to look up at him. He looked around the cell and across the way to the body lying on the ground in the other cell. The blood had congealed into a gloppy pool.
“Well, that’s quite a sight.”
“It-it certainly is, Your Highness.” I tried to steady my voice while not looking at that body. I knew I was a vampire, but killing people wasn’t on the menu for me. I drank blood from bags that were donated. I didn’t hide in alleys, hunting people down and taking random bites of them. I didn’t even enjoy killing spiders that invaded my room, even though their invasion was an act of war.
“Atlas?”
I swallowed and nodded. Words were failing me at this moment. Not once had I ever pictured in my mind having a conversation with the King in a cell whilst standing across from a dead vampire. The King sighed. “I fear the tactics he uses are a bit extreme but sadly effective.”
“Indeed, Your Highness.”
“Piper tells me I should set you free, that you aren’t a traitor to the vampires.” He lowered his eyes to meet mine. “Is that true?”
Just hearing her name made me feel like I was able to breathe once more. If Piper had been seen by the King, then Prisha and I would be off the hook. Maybe I won’t die today. I sucked in a deep breath and brushed the tears from my cheeks. “I would never betray you, Your Highness.”
He stepped farther into the cell, seeming to take up all the space. “I would like to believe you.”
“I-I would never cross The House of Shade or you, my lord.” I lowered my eyes, not sure what to do or say. How could I reassure a King who’d been double-crossed only hours ago.
“And yet you were seen fleeing the castle in Marius’ wake. What say you on these charges?” His eyes were intense, like looking into deep pools of honey.
I swallowed and the words just tumbled out of my mouth in a panicked pause. “Everything happened so fast. The attack came in, and I just ducked and hid because it was totally terrifying, and then . . . and then vampires were dying ALL around me. I don’t do blood, I mean, I do, because I am a vampire, but not like that. This huge vampire who I have never seen a day in my life grabs me from my hiding spot and drags me out the door. Or a door . . . I'm not really sure which one. Then I’m in this dark tunnel full of spiders and other things, being dragged along. By the way, you should think about cleaning those out. They’re dreadfully dirty.”
I paused and pressed my lips together, then opened my mouth and closed it once more. “I’m babbling.”
“Please continue.” He snickered. “This is one of the most entertaining conversations I’ve had all night.”
“My apologies.” I pressed my hands over my mouth and held my breath. I shook my head. I couldn’t believe I was doing this in front of a member of the royal family. But I was in it now, so I let my words fly. “Then this meaty vampire picked me up, nearly tearing my arms off, and let me tell you, that was horribly unpleasant. I lost my shoes and then Marius threatened to kill me.”
The King held his hand up, stopping my words. “You saw him?”
“I did.”
“And he threatened you?”
I nodded and tried to imitate his voice. “If you’re not with me, then you’re against me.”
He raised his eyebrows at my words. “And what did you do?”
I sighed and shook my head. “I’m not proud of it, but I pretended to be stupid and said I didn’t know what he meant. But really, Your Highness, I knew exactly what he meant. I just didn’t want to die tonight.”
“Quite the little politician, aren’t we?” He chuckled.
“I find when dealing with ignorance it is always best to play the role of the uneducated person so they feel they have something to teach you, then of course do what I think best anyways.” I shrugged. I found myself getting more comfortable around him with each passing second, which I found to be odd considering he was the King and I was, for lack of a better word, a commoner.
“I can appreciate the genius behind that.” He waved me on.
“Thank you. Well, once he was undecided where my allegiance lies, your soldiers showed up and scared them off, so they just left me there in the tunnel. That’s when Jester took me and brought me here, where Atlas scared the hell out of me. I mean really, Your Majesty, he is an excellent choice to be your trusted enforcer.”
