Chapter 4 May He Be Cursed

Gael was suddenly awakened by the loud horns. He instantly knew what it meant. There was some sort of trouble. Merely throwing off a dark cloak over his black slacks, he ran outside, straight to the main palace ground.

"Father!"

Strangely, King Alejandro was sitting on his throne, like nothing had happened.

"Yes?" He answered, turning to Gael.

"Do you not hear the loud horns? Is there some sort of trouble?"

King Alejandro laughed a little, before he stood up, his cape flowing on the floor. He walked till he was side by side with Gael, and he smiled, then leaned to his son's ear.

"Is the boy dead?"

Gael swallowed. He had gotten rid of the servant boy, and it was partly the reason he was so distraught. He mostly only drank from others, never his own people.

"Yes, father."

Slowly, king Alejandro pulled away from him, then raised a crown to rest on Gael's beautiful hair that curled and fell to the nape of his neck. Black shiny hair was highlighted by the golden crown, and King Alejandro smiled, just as the entire clan of midnight darkness started to emerge, everyone erupting in applause.

"Is this what the loud horns were about?"

King Alejandro laughed and nodded, a glint in his eyes. "I could not think of a better reward than a surprise. Welcome, my prince."

Gael smiled, then gave a small bow. "I am quite under dressed for an occasion like this."

King Alejandro smiled. "Even in your most bare form, you are a prince nonetheless."

He slowly turned Gael to face the crowd. "I present to you, the crown prince of midnight darkness. My only son, Grand prince Gael Sierra."

The applause erupted again, and Gael smiled brightly, his head slightly raised. He felt a little better now, knowing it was not a war like he had thought.

Ezekiel's smile grew as the carriage he was resting on reached the colony of the red witches. It was obvious from the amount of fighters that this was not some declaration of peace, or even negotiation.

"Whom do you seek?" The much older witch standing by the gate asked, her eyes thinning at the men. It did not miss Ezekiel's eyes how she moved her hand under her dress, and he heard the small sound of steel.

He smiled again, then opened up the carriage, stepping out of it. "I intend to meet the head witch here."

"Turn back. I can smell your blood."

He leaned to her. "Of course, little witch. I am my blood."

She took a step back. "You can not come in without our permission, bloodsucker," she said, the knife under her dress erupting in a small fire. She just needed to aim for the heart. One perfect aim. Even if she risked her life doing it.

Ezekiel took a deep breath, then bent his head, his eyes growing darker. "Do you happen to know what I hate the most, little witch?"

She did not reply, but he smiled nonetheless.

"I hate being called a bloodsucker. I am...a vampire."

She pulled the knife in one swift motion and aimed for his heart, but he was faster. She had known he was faster. He will always be. He swiftly turned her to him, so her back was facing him, and he gave a small laugh.

His fingers caressed her hair as he slowly plunged the still burning knife into the side of her waist. His smile grew bigger as she screamed, her blood drenching the white dress she was wearing and the hand he had wrapped around her waist.

The smell of the blood sent his fangs pooping, and he smiled again, bringing his fangs to gently caress her neck, right at her carotid.

"You smell so delicious, little witch. Invite me in."

She breathed in, her hairline drenched in sweat from her pain. She could not move or the knife would too, and the pain would be unimaginable. She managed to turn her head to Ezekiel's blood red eyes, and she spat on his face, right between his eyes.

He closed his eyes at the impact, and he brought his sleeve to wipe it off. "I will take that as a no." he said, then plunged his fangs right into her, bursting open her carotid so the blood rushed fast, hard and fresh.

By the time he leaned away from her, the woman was limp on his hands, the knife still sticking from her side, her neck burst open, her white dress completely drenched.

He licked his fangs again, then walked right to the entrance, the woman still in his hands. With one push, he pushed her over the threshold, so she landed just into the colony.

The first witch to see her let out a guttural scream and went running to alert the others. The head witch, Lila and her daughter ran out from the chambers. They could see Ezekiel outside, his hands and lips still stained with the blood of one of them.

"Vampires. That cursed prince." Mila said through gritted teeth.

Ezekiel chuckled then turned to one of the fighters. "Burn it down."

The witches ran around, trying to cast a spell, but it was too late. There was no longer a threshold protecting them, and the vampires were running in, sinking their teeth into everyone within sight, and killing them.

Mila pushed her daughter away, just as she saw a vampire grab the hapless girl. She only heard the crack of her daughter's neck, and the thud of her body as she fell.

She did not have the time to mourn, she knew she would join her anyway. She ran into her room, and started to hurriedly cast the spell. She brought the sand clock to her chest and chanted incessantly, not stopping even as the door opened.

"Any last words?" Ezekiel asked, his smile small as he forced the woman to her feet by her neck.

She was still hugging the sand clock, and she turned to him, her eyes wide with anger.

"May he be cursed." she said through gritted teeth, and Ezekiel's brows furrowed.

"Who?"

She did not answer, but pushed her foot at the table, setting the curtains around ablaze fron the candles, and she smiled back at Ezekiel. Her spell was complete.

"You will see."

His brows straightened out, and he smiled. "Very well, then."

His fangs reflected in her eyes, along with the fire and the sand clock. She finally let it go as he sank his fangs into her, the glass shattering on the floor, and the sand pouring out.

It colored red with her dropping blood, and she smiled.