Page 26 of Unkindness of Crimson Ravens
“Wearehigher beings, Princess, despite what you wish to believe.” Francis took a step closer. “Besides, when did you hear aboutgoodgods? They’re all just as gruesome as we are. Might as well call ourselves ones.”
I shook my head in disbelief. “Your arrogance has no limits.”
“So you’ve said.” Francis took out a pipe from his jacket, covering it with his hand from the rain. “Do you mind?” He pointed at the pipe he’d already lit.
“Why just not give them gold? You have plenty.” I gestured back towards the castle. “This is cruel.”
“Again, we need to feed, Princess. It is what it is.” The air filled with the smell of tobacco as Francis inhaled it. “It is very hypocritical, hearing it from a royal. How is this any different than people coming to court withgifts, offering their last goods? What about those knights who put their lives for your family’s well-being?” Francis’ eyebrows shot up.
“This is different!” I screamed in disbelief. How could he have compared the two? “We are not ending the lives of those who supply the castle.” I added. “As for the knights, they protect the whole Kingdom, not just Royals. Moreover, they are paid to do so.”
Francis laughed so hard, it made my blood boil. The urge to hit him just increased with new power. “When’s the last time you’ve seen a knight beyond the royal grounds. Those humans you saw,” he said through his laughter. “No knights protect them. Their villages are too poor for your crown to care about.” He added seriously, “And we do not kill them either, not all of them at least.” He shrugged. “Only those who broke the law and were sentenced to death. Anyone here on their own accord may leave this castle whenever they please.
“They know the risk of entering our castle, but no one is dragging them down here against their will. We offer safety to their children, we give them gold, and they give us just enough blood for us to survive without giving up their lives.” Francis paused, filling his lungs with tobacco. “It is a simple transaction. We have a treaty. No innocent soul gets hurt if they act upon their part of the deal.”
“They will turn into vampires!” I screamed at him again, disgusted by his calmness.
“Do they not teach you about our kind in your realm anymore?” Francis shook his head, taking a deep breath before continuing. “They will not turn from a bite unless that is what their souls wish to happen; they certainly will not turn from simply giving us blood.”
My lungs refused to work as though someone hit my chest, forcing the air out. What in the Kingdom was he saying?If they wish for it to happen.
There was only one book I’d found in the library that had any kind of information besides the brief history we were givenin our lessons. Of course, everyone at the castle knew the basics, but no one bothered to study the topic deeper. Nothing about the choice had been mentioned in the book.
“What—” My brows furrowed. “What are you saying?”
Francis grinned, as he let the tobacco escape his mouth. “Unless you are a reborn vampire, in order to turn, a bite has to be presented as a gift. Nothing should be taken in return: no blood.”
I held onto the wall of the castle, steadying myself as the rain hardened, making my gown soaking wet. The lightning interrupted our conversation, dividing the starlit sky into two.
“Then,” Francis continued quietly as I held my breath, dreading his next words. “The one who got bitten will only turn if they aren’t willing to fight for their human nature. Someone who is unhappy with their being, per se.” I shook my head at his words, not believing in them. “Otherwise the bite will heal on its own, as any animal bite would.” Francis said, watching my reaction carefully. “Odd they don’t teach you that at the royal palace, don’t you think? Sounds pretty important to me. Every human at this village knows it.” He took another inhale from his pipe.
It couldn’t be true. He had to be lying to me. My whole body shook in unison with the thunder. My mind traveled, unable to comprehend the words Francis threw at me.
Surely I had not wished to become my greatest enemy.
I stared at the ceiling of my new room, deep in my thoughts.
A whole week had passed since my conversation with Francis, yet his words were still loud and clear in my mind, taking the ability to rest from me.The one who got bitten willturn only if they aren’t willing to fight for their human nature.Had he told me the lie to redeem his choice of creating me—blaming me perhaps?
The bite has to be presented as a gift, nothing should be taken in return. A gift. What kind of gift was that, where your life is taken from you? Had my human life truly been so disastrous that my consciousness chose a different form?
A week in the room with all the questions floating above me like a heavy cloud, yet I still hadn’t found any answers. The walls narrowed down on me with every passing second. My thoughts slowly drove me mad. Everytime I lost the battle of staying awake, my mind was invaded by dozens of humans bleeding dry before me.
I understood the extremes and necessities of such a treaty, although my heart refused to accept it. How could I participate in such gruesomeness?
No innocent soul gets hurt, if they act upon their part of the deal.What kind of hardship had one faced to be willing to put their lives at the mercy of whomever had gold and safety? How could the crown allow this?
I’d always known my mother only gave time to those she deemed worthy, but as a ruler, how could she allow innocent people—her people—to take such risks to feed their own children.
Could I really take the lives of those who were forced to come here because of a broken law?
Darkness slowly creeped into my vision, making my eyelids heavy. No matter my best attempts at staying awake, my consciousness abandoned me.
“What are you doing?” My whisper echoed through the hall of the Royal palace. “Someone will see.”
“No one is here,” he rolled his eyes. “Stop being so prude, Cordelia.”
My chest squeezed tight. My trembling hands caught his, forcing them away.
