Chapter 5 Blood

ELYSIA'S POV

I woke up, and for the first few minutes, I did not know where I was. I sat up on the bed entirely too fast, making my head swarm with sudden dizziness. Panic flared in my chest until my hands immediately went to my pocket, finding the iron key, before pressing against my heart to feel if the lingering warmth of my parents' blessing was still there. Finding both, I relaxed, letting out a long breath.

Against my own will, I realized that that was the best sleep I had had in forever. I immediately berated myself for thinking such a thing, knowing how hard my parents had always worked, trying their very best at hustling and giving me the finest life they could manage to squeeze out of our poor village.

I sat up fully on the bed, looking around the unfamiliar space and wondering what I should do now. Should I remain in my room, or should I leave? I quickly decided against leaving. This was a vampire kingdom, not a human one; anyone who saw me wandering around would assume I was just a normal maid, and they wouldn't hesitate to sink their fangs deep into my skin. I shuddered at the terrifying thought.

As I took in the room properly, I noticed how big it was, filled with intricately designed stone and velvety furniture. There was a balcony at the far end, framed by a beautifully carved door. I stood up, aching to go out and see what the Vampire Kingdom looked like in the morning light.

Before I could reach the glass, a sharp knock sounded upon my door. I halted in my tracks, waiting for the person to enter, before I suddenly remembered I had locked it from the inside.

"I'll be there!" I called out.

I hurried over and opened the door, letting the visitor inside. It was the same maid from yesterday. She looked down her nose at me with an icy, critical stare. She was a bit older than the other servants I had briefly seen, and I knew right then that she did not like me. I stepped aside, moving to let the lady step into the room.

She took a sharp breath, her eyes scanning me. "How old are you, girl?"

"Twenty-one," I answered, keeping my voice level.

She snorted, clearly unimpressed. She gestured toward a door on the left side of the room. "The faucet is running. Open it and use it. And know that the room offers only cold water."

I shuddered. Cold water in an already freezing kingdom. I would just have to manage; I didn't have any other choice here. "Thank you," I murmured, keeping my thoughts to myself.

I collected the fine gown from the lady’s arms and dropped it onto the bed. I looked down at the dress, admiring the rich fabric and beautiful stitching even if I didn’t want to. Once the maid left, I quickly took off my ruined, ash-stained dress, leaving myself in only my thin chemise before going into the bathroom to wash. The water was honestly ice against my skin, but it cleared the remaining fog from my mind.

When I came out, I dressed in the new gown, smoothing the skirts down and offering a small, involuntary twirl. I liked it. I liked how I looked in it.

My eyes fell back to the table where I had placed the key and the rumpled map. Seeing them brought the crushing weight of my parents' faces back to the front of my mind. I wondered if I would ever be able to retrieve their bodies, or if the Daggers had already tampered with them, leaving them to rot in the ruins of Murea.

I sighed heavily, forcing the grief down, and walked to the balcony like I had initially wanted to do. I pushed the doors open. This part of the castle opened up to a large, sprawling garden field. I wondered at first if it was a farm, but as I looked closer, I noticed there were no crops or plants growing there—just perfectly trimmed, topiary hedges and empty earth. Down on the ground floor, guardsmen moved in disciplined patterns, some patrolling the perimeter while others stood like stone statues. I looked out ahead; I could see the massive mountains rising on this side of the realm, with small houses dotted along the cliffs, though it was too far to see any actual people moving about.

Another knock dragged me away from the balcony view. I hurried back inside and opened the door to find a different maid standing there.

"The King has asked of you to join him for breakfast," she announced formally.

My heart immediately began to beat fast against my ribs. 'This is it,' I thought. 'The decision making.' I left my room, following the girl through the twisting halls of the castle. We walked through many winding corridors and climbed down several grand flights of stairs until we reached the final staircase leading toward the ground floor. As we walked, the maid explained in passing, "This is the West Wing. It belongs totally to the King. The East Wing is smaller; it belongs to the King's uncle, a few of his cousins, and some of the more important nobles."

I kept that in mind, even though I saw no use for it.

When we finally reached the grand dining hall, the maid led me inside, immediately turning back and closing the double doors firmly behind her.

I stood near the entrance, rooted to the spot, not knowing if I should sit down or remain standing by the door. My eyes immediately adjusted to the room, tracking a servant who was currently pouring a thick, dark liquid into a golden cup beside the King's plate. I knew exactly what it was. Blood.

I looked toward the King. He was staring intently at the liquid being poured into his cup, a dark, primal hunger pooling in his crimson eyes. When the maidservant finished her task and stepped away, he finally looked up, his gaze locking directly onto mine.

My breath caught in my throat. He was even more handsome in the harsh morning light than he had been under the moon. His long black hair was packed neatly behind his head, accentuating the sharp, flawless lines of his jaw and pale face.

He raised his dark eyebrows at me, his voice smooth and echoing in the silent dining chamber. "I am fairly certain you are not about to eat whilst standing by the door."

I gulped, forcing my legs to move, and walked toward the massive table. He gave a brief, elegant gesture with his hand, pointing to the chair directly beside him on his right. The maids remained standing along the walls, with two armed guardsmen posted by the exit.

I took my seat beside him, and the warm aroma of the food immediately hit my nose. I let my gaze sweep over the spread—there were so many sumptuous meats, fresh breads, and delicacies laid out before us. I wondered if he was seriously planning on eating all of this alone. I inhaled the scent deeply, and my treacherous human stomach let out a loud, echoing grumble.

The King shifted his gaze to me, his expression unreadable. "Eat," he ordered.

He picked up his own utensils and started eating, completely unbothered by my presence. I didn't need to be told twice. I picked up my cutlery and started eating away, the rich flavors exploding on my tongue after hours of starving and running. I had to actively stop myself from eating almost everything off that table, forcing my hands to settle after I had had my fill.

"I am full," I told him, setting my fork down.

The King dropped his cutlery as well. I watched as he raised the golden cup filled with the dark liquid, bringing it to his pale lips, and drank from it with slow, deliberate swallows. When he finally pulled the cup away, I noticed a smear of dark blood staining his bottom lip. He held my gaze, his red eyes completely unblinking.

Slowly, his tongue darted out, licking the blood from his lips before he spoke.

"We have unfinished business, little keeper."