by Emma Glass
“Two is not enough,” he growled.
“Then what about Asarra?”
Elliott paused. “She is the newest guard in the castle. Why do you choose a novice?”
“Because I liked her,” I answered bluntly. “She was very matter-of-fact when accompanying me, even more than Viktor here. Think of the stellar combination the three of them would be! Worst case scenario, they’d just drive each other insane.”
“You do recall, of course, that she initially captured you,” Elliott spoke flatly. “I feel as if I’m sensing a bit of a pattern here…”
“What, would you rather choose a guard who have never met me?” I shrugged. “I’m a believer in ‘the devil you know’, personally.” I turned to the two guards again, smiling at their stunned faces. “Besides you and Lorelei, those two are the ones I know best. Maybe if they want to keep hanging around, you can put them to work?”
“You know…” My host cut a glance at them, dwelling on the thought. “That’s not as sadistic as I would have liked, but you make good points…”
“Oh, it’s plenty sadistic!” Wilhelm chimed in, regaining some of his cheer. “Viktor, can you just imagine? Being made to follow this awful human around? Protecting her from other bloodthirsty vampires with our lives?” He put on a terribly unconvincing frown. “And then we get ourselves stuck dealing with the new recruit?”
“Sounds terrible,” Viktor noted sardonically.
The vampire lord shook his head. “I’m not convinced. But for now, consider yourselves on very, very thin ice…” He glowered, pointing at the door. “Now, leave us be.”
“Of course!” Wilhelm cheerily smiled. “Well, just let us know what you decide…” Before he had a chance to further anger his boss, Viktor ushered him out the door.
We were both left alone in silence.
Elliott strolled tiredly into the kitchen. I crept up and hugged the doorway as I watched him pull out an archaic bottle from something that looked vaguely like a luxury wine cooler. He then fetched a glass, studied it under the light, and poured a delicious, rich red substance from the bottle.
“Didn’t really take you for a wine drinker,” I noted quietly. I found myself studying the little subtleties of his movements and his posture. The handsome vampire looked so effortlessly cultured in his total confidence with a bottle of wine.
Elliott chuckled. “This isn’t wine.”
My face went white. “Oh.”
He turned to me. “Want something to drink?”
“I don’t know. Do you have any Sprite?”
An eyebrow lifted. “Any what?”
“Oh, right.” This doesn’t look like the kind of world that carries mainstream soft drinks. “What about orange juice?”
“That, I can do,” Elliott noted.
The vampire put the bottle back up, poured me a glass of O.J, and swept into the room. It was a small surprise at this point that it actually looked the same as the stuff from my old world. “Take a seat, Clara,” he motioned to the dining room table, setting my glass down on a coaster.
As I took my chair, he sat down near me with his glass of blood and took a quick whiff of it. “I’ve always wondered if there were anything better out there than this…” He took a thoughtful sip.
“You said you drink animal blood?”
“Of course,” he replied. “There’s nothing else out here for us to drink. The tales tell us of a time where humans walked the world, filled with such tantalizingly delicious blood that it would make our food source languid in comparison, but…”
“But there haven’t been humans until now.”
“Until now, no,” he nodded pensively.
I sighed quietly, shaking my head. “You’re not happy that I’m staying here with you.”
“No,” he replied coolly.
I felt a punch to my heart.
“But let me clarify,” he added quickly. “You’re a tantalizing meal, Clara. Staring into your eyes as I am now, I want nothing more than your blood on my lips. I can barely control myself. But if you were away somewhere else in the castle, then the temptation would be much easier to deal with.”
Tearfully, I dared to meet his conflicted gaze. “Is that why you had me sent away? Because my blood makes it hard for you to control yourself around me?”
“Partly,” he answered dryly.
I slammed my fist down hard on the table, surprising even me. “Why else then, Elliott? Why show me such beautiful things here, only to rip it all away and make me feel like a… like a…”
My shoulders started to bounce. I tried in vain to keep myself together, but the tears welled up in my eyes. I was rapidly losing my composure.
“Because you intrigue me,” he said.
As I felt myself relaxing, I glanced up again, quietly wiping my eyes. The vampire lord was watching me with a deeply pained expression.
“You are a paradox here, Clara Blackwell. Your life is in constant danger from my kingdom; yet, you yourself are my kingdom’s constant danger. I struggle not only to keep from feasting on you, but to determine where you fall in my priorities.”
“Your priorities?” I sniffled.
“I’ve been an outright fool to think I can fight it,” he turned away and sipped his blood.
“Fight what?” I asked. “Your bloodlust?”
“No,” he shook his head. “At least that, I know I can control.” Elliott turned back to me, his face cloudy and distant. “What I’m talking about is my complete and utter fascination with you.”
“I…” I was stunned. “I didn’t think you…”
“Think back to what I said before, when we first met,” he whispered. “I said that we needed to trust one another. No lies. No secrets. No deceits.” Elliott set his wine down. “Do you remember?”
All of a sudden, I could see his face over that flickering flame again; it felt like the entire world was just the two of us, two strangers struggling to put our faith in one another.
“Yes,” I replied. “I remember.”
Elliott gravely nodded, his eyes on the table. “If you have told me any lies before now, I forgive you.” He looked up. “But right now, I need you to tell me the truth – do you know how to return to your world?”
“No,” I answered truthfully. “Whatever that gypsy woman did, I don’t know how to reverse it.”
He watched my eyes. “Okay. I believe you. So, as far as you’re aware, you’re stuck here?”
The thought of escape hadn’t even crossed my mind, not since first arriving here. It wasn’t like I had been torn away from some life that I wanted back, not particularly. Selfishly, in the short time I’d been in this vampire world, I’d already experienced far more lavish treatment and wonder than I’d ever even dreamed for.
Why on Earth – his or mine – would I want to give any of that up?
Although, I realized sadly, staying here means really, truly giving up on Peter forever. The truth of the matter was that I didn’t know if I’d ever get to see him again anyway.
“I’m stuck here,” I replied. “As far as I know.”
Elliott nodded thoughtfully.
“Why is this all coming up now?” I asked.
He took another sip of the blood before finally answering. “If you are honestly staying here, then I really don’t need any of my other staff exiled or executed. One is enough…” Elliott shook his head. “I’m not guilt-tripping you. You were a victim in that, but that incident can’t happen again. That’s why I’m going to instate private guards for you… and I’ll give your ‘suggestions’ some thought.”
I lit up with a smile. “You mean it?”
“Wilhelm and Viktor must face punishment. As for Asarra, well… she could use the guidance.” Elliott grinned lightly. “I will have to think on it. I’m not convinced they’re the best choice, but it’s true that they’re the only guards who have had any real contact with you. Perhaps it’s best for all parties to keep things… consistent.”
“I can
’t thank you enough, Elliott.”
“One other thing.” He lifted his glass and took another swig of blood, savoring the taste. Licking a few drops off of his lips, he looked me square in the eyes. “If you are staying in our world…”
He lowered the glass with a wicked grin.
“…Then I think it’s high time you got around to learning it.”
19
Clara
Less than a week until my seventeenth birthday, all our lives were fundamentally changed forever.
As days passed in Stonehold Castle, things started to truly shift for the better. Faithful to his word, Elliott formally appointed Wilhelm, Viktor, and Asarra as my personal guardians. Given the task of defending my safety with their lives, they were severed from the royal guard and now answered directly to the vampire lord.
I even had fresh clothes made. Asarra had to help me with the measurements, but it wasn’t too long before the exiled tailor’s apprentice whipped up a week’s worth of beautiful clothes for me.
No more school uniform for me!
But there was something even more exciting than the clothes. With the vigilant company of my three protectors, whom I affectionately came to call the ‘Knightly Trio’, my freedom expanded to let me wander Craven Keep – instead of being kept holed up in Elliott’s suite.
Naturally, my walks were confined to times in which there were far fewer servants running about, for both their sakes and mine. The staff and I always regarded each other with mutual curiosity, but my guardians always pushed me along quickly in case of rising bloodlust.
My friends were more than mere bodyguards. They became substitute teachers, guiding me and entertaining my various questions. In all our time together, they began to slowly teach me bits and pieces about this strange, wondrous world into which I’d fallen.
And so, days passed; I fell into routine.
The day that turned all our lives upside down started as normally as any other. When I awoke, Elliott’s side of the bed was just as empty and stone-cold to the touch as ever. It would have actually been a lot more surprising if he were still asleep. Always up with the dawn, I reminded myself. Vampire lords are busy people...
Begrudgingly, I climbed out of bed and went to let the Knightly Trio know that I was awake. Just as I’d come to expect, they were all playing cards in the parlor, gambling over coins.
“If it isn’t our little lady, come to grace us…” By the smug look on his face, Wilhelm was likely crushing the others at cards – again. Viktor and Asarra glanced up, less than pleased about it as he set his hand down. “So, Little Miss ‘The Only Thing Keeping Us Alive At This Point’, what are we in the mood for today?”
Asarra turned to him, as serious as ever. “You might remember that I didn’t do anything to put her in danger. If you screw this up, I’m not going to the execution block with you.”
“Sure you are!” He chuckled merrily. “Maybe not to lose your head, though. I’d want you to be my executioner, you feisty little minx. The last thing I want to see before my head lops off is that beautiful face of yours!”
Asarra rolled her eyes. “For the satisfaction of never hearing your voice again, it’s worth it.”
Undeterred, Wilhelm grinned over at Viktor. “I say, old friend, I think I’m starting to win her over! What do you think?”
The quiet knight heavily sighed. “If that’s a legitimate question, I think your unnatural luck with gambling is trouncing your chances.”
Wilhelm grinned wider. “So you’re saying I do have a chance then. Wonderful!” He glanced back to Asarra, who narrowed her eyes in irritation. “Full transparency here: me and old Lady Luck, we kind of already have a thing going on. But if you’re cool with that, I’m sure we can fit you in!”
She turned to me with a sour look. “I don’t know what I did to slight you, but I’m very sorry. Please rescue me from this hell.” Her face only fell harder when she saw me stifling laughter.
Viktor glanced briefly at his cards and threw them down in total disgust. “Surprisingly literally nobody, you win again.” He glanced up at me and shook his head. “So anyway, about breakfast… what would you like?”
I pondered for a moment. Half the time, the suggestions I made didn’t exist on this world. We’d gotten used to a few ‘cultural differences’ by now. “Do you guys know what pancakes are?”
“Yes,” Viktor replied.
“Awesome. Could I get some of those?”
“Coming right up,” Asarra tossed her cards on the table and rose from her seat. With a scowl, she glared at Wilhelm. “Take your twenty gold.”
“Maybe I will,” the knight smiled, scooping up the pot into his pocket. “Maybe I’ll spend it on a pretty dress for you to wear to our dinner date.”
“Buy me a dress and I’ll lop off a finger.”
Wilhelm frowned, looking up at her annoyed expression. “To be fair, I did say ‘maybe’…”
Asarra rolled her eyes and left for the kitchen. I covered my face to hide my laughter; even in just a few days, I had really grown to love these three and their banter.
While the other two chatted in the parlor, I returned to Elliott’s bedroom to start my morning ritual. As I stepped into the shower, it dawned on me that I hadn’t had the endless nightmare since arriving on this vampiric Earth. Try as I might, I could only barely remember the dream; it was almost as if I’d left it behind on my own world.
After drying my hair and brushing my teeth with the bizarre vampiric answer to a toothbrush, the scent of fresh pancakes slowly wafted into the room. I beamed with pleasure.
I have no earthly idea how I’d have coped if this world didn’t have pancakes…
After breakfast, the guards accompanied me on a waltz down to Craven Keep’s private library.
I loved delving into vampiric literature. After nearly a week of study, I’d gotten through the fictional hardback that had first caught my eye, Witterson of West Warsonne. It turned out to be a sprawling poetic epic of hundreds of pages, filled with epic clashes and mighty emotional turns.
But the most compelling takeaway turned out to be the poetry itself. The fact that it still rhymed in iambic pentameter proved to me that the text wasn’t conforming to my English; I had grown an innate, instant understanding of their language.
I asked the three about this, but they didn’t seem to have any answers. “That might be one for the Sage of Stonehold,” Viktor decided after some thought. “He is far more versed in mystical arts and knowledge than us.”
“Well, how about I go pay that sage a visit?”
They shared an unsure glance. “Convince Lord Elliott that’s a good idea and we’ll take you,” Wilhelm replied sheepishly.
“But he’ll never let me leave the Keep!”
Viktor shrugged. “Perhaps he’ll change his mind. I can’t imagine Lord Elliott will want you locked up here forever. Give him time.”
I knew it was unreasonable to expect more so quickly, so I sighed and shelved the thought. They had all already done so much for me, both Elliott and his guards. Asking so quickly for more just didn’t sit right with me.
While they hung around reading books too, I spent some time learning more of the geography of the world – particularly these holds that they all kept mentioning. Fundamentally, the world was divided up somewhat the same as my own…
Stonehold was Europe: a varied mining hold, generally cold and filled with ancient architecture and varied historical cities. This is where the vast majority of chrysm was found and unearthed; the hold was known for its proud heritage, stunning architecture, and hard working class. Yet, in what would have been Southeastern Europe (or in this world’s terms the area unofficially referred to as the ‘outer reaches’) there remained a strong and untamed wilderness. It was dominated by the presence of mystical tribes and settlements, and I felt compelled to wonder what was out there.
Next up was Africa, known on this world as the Falvian Badlands. The top third was dedicated to arid,
blistering deserts; the center was a nearly inhospitable jungle; the bottom was covered with a dark and vicious swamp, about which almost nothing was known. Up the hold ran a stark and looming mountain range, known for its constant storms and lurking, malicious threats. Previously, Elliott had painted me a gloomy picture of the place; it seemed he hadn’t exaggerated.
Asia, curiously, was divided in three. As he’d told me before, the Middle East was a place called the Drenchlands – a mysterious place somewhere between a small sea and a large wetland. Highly secretive and deeply scientific, the hold proper sat far below the water’s waves. The kingdom largely kept to itself and stayed out of inter-hold affairs, but traded scientific advancements for resources from the others.
Here, Russia and its surrounding territories were called The Wastes. There wasn’t a lot I could learn about it. The dark, unforgiving hold was the largest kingdom on Earth, although also the most sparsely populated. It seemed to be a bitter frozen wasteland that thrived on hostility.
In contrast, humid and tropical Alevorra took up all of Southeast Asia and China. From what it sounded like, the Khmer Empire never fell in this alternate Earth; a large and thriving temple city dominated the kingdom, and its people were very spiritual in their beliefs. Alevorra was home to many island settlers, and its people were the closest dwellers of the ocean surface; the kingdom seemed to be the oldest civilization on the planet.
Australia, strangely, had no presence. I wasn’t convinced that they’d properly scoped it out, but Elliott sounded resolute that there was nothing there. This world has a thriving Middle East at the bottom of the ocean; maybe there’s no Australia.
Across what I’d always known as the Atlantic Ocean, the Americas were similarly divided into three holds.
The kingdom of Bleakwood filled the top half of North America. Predominantly thick forest, mountains, and spacious tundra, it was widely thought that the sun never rose there. Despite the sinister name, Bleakwood seemed just as normal as any other hold; their main economy was based on magic advancements, and they were far better at sharing tundra resources than their sister hold, The Wastes.