Chapter 3:
The Vampire King

~Natalie

Don't panic, Natalie.

You're stronger than this.

I kept repeating myself as I stepped out of the door. A long narrow corridor was the first thing I saw, candles hanging by the walls lit up the path, giving the palace a more bone chilling feeling. I gulp, taking a deep breath as the door behind me closed and I was left alone to walk myself to the king's realm. Cynthia had told me how to get there, but the castle was huge and the chances of me getting lost in the way were high.

I could also try and find the way out of here, but if I bumped into a vampire on the way I would get killed in an instant. Vampires were cruel creatures, they didn't show mercy to anyone, not even their own kind.

Looking behind me at the door I debated with myself, Cynthia would push me back out and force me to get to the king if I stepped a foot in my room again. So I held my head high and started walking slowly, taking hesitant steps. The dark walls and disturbing paintings hanging on the walls gave the castle a ghostly and dangerous charm. As I started approaching the end of the corridor a big painting caught my attention. It was a man, dressed in a crimson cloak, with jewellery in his hands and had a crown on his head. His face was pale and the shadow's done by the painter on his face made sure to show every wrinkle the man had. His lips were pressed together into a thin line, his brows were creased together and he looked angry. Dangerous. He had to be someone important, obviously, maybe the previous king or even the king.

I studied the picture more, but I had never seen that man before. I had read a few books about the vampire history, Vladimir was the name of the first vampire that stepped on earth and he was said to be ruthless, driven by desire for blood. The man on the painting seemed to have that look. Stern and filled will power, that's what his dark eyes showed.

Suddenly a cool breeze hit my body, causing goosebumps to appear on the surface of my skin and I took a step back from the painting. I looked around me, I had to turn to the right corner in order to reach the king's realm. My fist tightened on my side and I was about to turn around when a dark shadow passed from behind me, blowing my hair. I gasped looking behind me, but I didn't have time to react as the shadow now appeared in front of me and pushed my back on the wall, knocking the wind out of my lungs.

"Look what we have here. A pathetic human." The woman in front of me said. She was holding me by the neck, forcing me to keep my head high and look at her as she pressed her long, sharp nails into my skin. I was breathing heavily as I looked at her with wide eyes and she only smiled, showing me her pointy fangs. Her light blue eyes observed me intently, taking in every small detail on my face and then trailed down my neck. I gulped.

"What is she doing here?" Another woman asked, appearing behind the one that was holding me. She played with her blonde curls and averted his dark eyes on me, disgust evident on her face.

"Speak, human." The first one demanded, tightening her grip around me as the blonde one move to her side.

"I'm t-the king's slave. His gift." I managed to say. I was glad I didn't stutter and ruin everything. If I showed fear around them that would only add to their satisfaction and I didn't want them to look at me as weak and pathetic.

"Oh, she's Lucien's little virgin gift. Sorina, don't drink from her." The blonde one said, folding her arms over her chest. She smirked and placed her hand on the other woman's shoulder, pulling her back. Sorina let go of me and took a step back, pressing her red lips together. Pushing her black, long hair behind her back she looked at her friend.

"Josephine, she's lying." She told her codly.

Josephine who hadn't taken her eyes from me, shook her head at her. "She's not." She declared. I didn't have time to react as she lifted my dress and grabbed my thigh, touching the still fresh mark on it that the priest carved. She was now bending down, one hand on the wall as the other held my leg from moving.

"Then why are you wandering around the castle?" Sorina asked me, raising one eyebrow at me.

"I was going to the king's room. He asked for me." I told her truthfully. My eyes moved down as I spoke, Josephine was still holding me and I could feel her hot breath on my inner thigh, causing me tense in alarm. I didn't like how close she was to me, but I didn't want to provoke her so I stayed still. Only when her lips touched my skin I flinched and moved away.

"What are you doing?" I asked her, raising my voice.

She only laughed and stood up straight again, fixing the revealing dress she was wearing. She walked next to Sorina who smiled at her and placed her hand on her shoulder, leaning into her.

"I wish we could taste her. So sweet and innocent." She closed her eyes as she spoke, she had a thick, british accent and her voice was low and smooth. I shallowed the hardness in my throat, feeling uncomfortable by the way she spoke of me. Her words had a double meaning and I knew that. s
She was doing it on purpose.

"I've never had a virgin before. Are they good?" Sorina asked her, playing along.

"Delicious." Josephine replied and placed a kiss on the other woman's lips as she circled her. I just staring at the way she moved and acted in owe. Cynthia told me that vampires were very sexual creatures, but looking at them now made me feel uneasy. I looked down at me feet.

"The human is embarrassed." Josephine laughed.

"We should take her to Lucien. He won't be pleased if his virgin gets late." Sorina stated and immediately she was by my side. She wrapped her fingers around my arm and pulled me closer to her as she started walking towards the other direction. Josephine simply walked ahead of us, swaying her hips seductively with each step she took.

Vampire were so different from human and I was now realising that as I looked at their features carefully. Their complexion was paler, their cheekbones high and pronounced, their lips full and they could captivate you just by the way they moved. They were elegant and seductive creatures. I had never seen them up close until now, I had read only books about them.

I snapped out of my thoughts when we reached two big wooden doors. Josephine was about to knock on the door, but Sorina held her hand, stopping her. The blonde woman smiled, giving her a small nod and stepped away, letting her do it.

"Don't look the king in the eyes, human." Sorina warned me. The icy look she gave me chilled me to the bone and I averted my eyes to the ground, letting my hair cover my face.

Sorina knocked on the door and placed her hands on it, pushing it open. A creaking sound followed and I felt Josephine's presence behind me, her hot breath was hitting my back and I bit my lip to stop myself from gasping in fear. She placed her hand on my lower back and walked in front of me. My eyes trailed up her naked back that the dress she was wearing exposed and then looked back down immediately.

"Lucien." Sorina exclaimed and I heard her footsteps as she stepped inside the room. "Why didn't you attend the party?" She asked him, a hint of annoyance evident in her voice.

Josephine didn't say anything. Instead, she gripped my hand and pulled me forwards, forcing me into the room with her. I was trying to keep my eyes glued on the floor, but my curiosity was getting the best of me. All those years reading about the vampire King and watching the drawings and now I was standing into his room and I couldn't look at him. I wanted to see who this man was. Who was the man that caused so much terror? Who was the man that held our lives in his hands?

"Those kind of parties don't interest me, Sorina. I have more important things to do." He replied to her question harshly. His voice was deep and husky, his accent was strong and quite different from the vampire's I met until now, it sounded Romanian. It also sounded less forgiving.

Without them noticing I lifted my gaze, looking through the open space of my hair. The king was standing by the open window, dressed in all black, matching the dark sky outside. His arms were folded over his chest and he had his back turned to Sorina, which seemed to anger her, judging by the way her eyes were narrowed at him. He was quite tall, with broad shoulders and he looked strong too.

"I did it for you. The least you could do was to show for a little bit and then leave. You made a fool out of me." She said, raising her voice to him. I didn't know what their relationship was or if they were close, but I could see clearly that she looked more interested in him than he did for her.

The king turned around to looked at her and I couldn't help but look at him. He had captivated me. He had a hawk-like face with sharp features- a slightly hooked nose, a strong jawline with a five o'clock shadow and unruly, black hair. This thick, dark brows emphased the colour of his eyes. They were blue, sharp, piercing. They stood in such contrast to his other features that they held you captive for a moment. They seemed to miss nothing.

Sorina backed away as his eyes met hers, she seemed to have regretted her earlier outburst. He smirked at her, a sinister look taking over his handsome face, reminding me of who he really was. A monster.

"Did you just raise your voice at me?" he asked her, his accent becoming thicker. She gulped as he started approaching her and lowed her head.

"Forgive me, my lord." she said. But he didn't accept her apology as he appeared in front of her. He grabbed her by her neck and pushed her against the wall, lifting her off the ground. He bared his fangs at her, but I couldn't see his face properly at that angle. Josephine beside me stiffened, preparing to step in if it was needed.

"Careful how you speak to me, Sorina. I am your king." he warned her and lowered her back down slowly. Her hands came up to his wrists as he was still holding her neck. Her icy eyes became a lighter shade, almost white and she parted her lips, showing her own fangs at him but not in a threatening way.

My heart was beating fast against my chest, I didn't know why, but I was extremely scared at this point. I didn't want to experience anyone's death, it was something I wasn't prepared for.

"What is this?" He asked, lifting his head as he let go of her.

Suddenly he turned his head and our eyes met, my heart dropped. A soft gasp escaped my lips, but I couldn't look away from him. Instead of lowering my head, I tilted my chin up, not breaking eye contact. I know that I was disobeying the order's, but I didn't care. He blue in his eyes was mesmerising me. He frowned and stepped away from Sorina, who leaned her back on the wall for support.

I was in trace until Josephine slapped me hard across the face, causing me to fall on the ground on my knees with my palms pressed against the floor for support. Vampires were stronger than humans and she made sure to show me that. I could feel my cheek heating up and throbbing. I clenched my jaw and didn't make a sound.

"Don't look the king in the eyes, human." she told me angrily.

A pair of black boots appeared in front of me, causing me to bite my lip. I didn't like that he was so close to me now. I could hear my blood rushing through my veins. I was scared, I couldn't deny it.

"Who is she?" he asked them.

"She's your gift, my lord. The virgin." Josephine replied to him.

I dared to look up at him through my lashes, his cold eyes were already looking down at me. His nose was flaring, he seemed like he was about to lose control. I bet he could hear my fast heartbeat and the blood rushing through my veins. I was tempting him and he was about to lash out. His eyes had become bluer, if that was even possible.

"Out!" he shouted.

Josephine flinched and gave him a small nod as she look at Sorina before disappearing from the room. The other woman approached him, placing her hand on his shoulder and leaving in closer to him, trying to catch his attention. Her other hand trailed up his chest, feeling him but he stopped her by grabbing her wrist. The veins in his hands popped out, making me understand just how tightly he was holding her. If it hurt her she didn't show it.

"My love, please forgive me." she whispered to him, her lips almost touching his neck. His expression, though, remained cold and unreadable.

"Get out, Sorina!" he yelled at her. She pressed her lips together, anger taking over her feature once again. She looked at me for one last time and then left the room in vampire speed, slamming the room behind her.

I was still on the ground, not daring to move or do anything until he spoke again.

"Stand up, human." he commanded.

My trembling hands were struggling to support my weight as I placed a steady foot beneath me. Taking a deep breath I stood up slowly, gripping the sides of my dress tightly. I didn't know were I was supposed to look, I was avoiding to look into his eyes again because I knew that I would get lost in them again.

In a flash he was behind me and I tensed, lifting my head when I felt his breath on top of my head. I was quite short and in front of him I looked so fragile. He could break me so easily if he wanted. I was breathing heavily, trying to calm myself but it was impossible to do. He started circling me, his eyes taking in my appearance, wandering over my body.

"So you're the chosen one?" he questioned and I gave him a small nod. If I spoke I would stutter and I didn't want that. "You're different." he stated.

His hands came up to my face and caressed my cheeks before taking my hair and pushing them behind my back, exposing my neck and chest to him. Suddenly the dress I was wearing felt way too tight, I couldn't breath anymore. My lips parted as his fingers trailed down my jaw, to my neck, to my collarbones and stopped right above my breasts.

I still wasn't looking at him.

"You're terrified, human. I can hear your heartbeat from miles away, your heart is about to burst." he said in a low voice and took my chin in his hand, applying just enough pressure to force my head up. Our eyes met again, his were a darker shade of blue now. It was now that I realised that their eyes changed colour with their emotions. I didn't know what he was feeling now though. "Yet, you are not showing your fear." he stated, seeming surprised. I knew he was expecting me to scream and beg him but I was not going to do that, not now, not ever. I wasn't going to beg a monster for my life. Maybe that's what he was used to, but I wasn't going to give him that satisfaction.

"What's your name, human?" he asked me, narrowing his eyes at me.

"Natalie." I responded calmly.

He smiled at me, that sinister smile of his, and brought his face down to my neck, inhaling deeply. I held my breath as his lips touched my exposed skin, right were my vein was and I felt his lips move as he spoke. "Well, Natalie, you are mine now. And until I decide to get rid of you, you are to obey and serve me like a good slave would." he told me.

His words angered me and I couldn't hold back the words that left my mouth next. "I am no one's slave and especially not a monster's like yourself... my lord."

He tensed at my words and pulled away. A dark shadow had fallen over his face and this time I knew what he was feeling as his eyes darkened. He was furious that someone like me dared to insult him.

My big mouth was going to get me in so much trouble.

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