One week had passed since I arrived at Velmont, staying within the confines of my room. Cora never failed in keeping me company. She would bring books to read, wool to knit into whatever I wished, and trays of food so delicious I almost forgot I was living in the kingdom of vampires.
My injuries had fully healed, with just a few scars. The physician was also nice and attentive towards me. Her gentle care made it easy to forget that she was also one of them, though the color of her eyes still reminded me I was not among humans.
I often sat by the window, discreetly watching the courtyard below. Guards patrolled in slow and precise movements. I also saw carriages frequently moving in and out of the gate. This was a castle after all, it was meant to be busy with the kingdom affairs.
Though I didn't have an idea of what the castle looked like, the exterior view seemed gothic. The castle grounds were tiled with dark cobblestones bearing unreadable markings.
There were also statues of angels, saints, and mysterious creatures I had no clue of, placed at the castle's fountain.
That evening, I sat quietly in the corner of the room, my hands busy with the soft wool I had been knitting while listening to the birds chirping a melody as fresh air breezed in constantly.
The soothing silence was broken when Cora entered the room. Her usually calm expression was replaced by an urgent look. She moved quickly across the room, her eyes darting toward me as if measuring what my reaction would be if she spoke.
"Milady," she began, hesitating a bit, "your presence has been requested in the dining room."
My hands subconsciously loosened on the wool I was knitting, like a bucket of ice had been poured on me.
She said softly, "It is customary to dine with the household in the morning and evenings. It was due to your injuries that you were exempted from the table, but now that you're fully healed, you have been asked to start having your meals in the royal dining room."
I had grown so comfortable with my room that I hadn't thought about the possibility of leaving it.
I had forgotten the reason I was here in the first place. The king of Velmont.
My breath turned shaky at the thought of him.
I was not mentally prepared to see his red eyes… his horns… his wings. How could I even stand the sight of those? What if he decided to grab me by the throat and plunge his sharp canine into me?
What if I were to end up becoming the dinner instead?
The comfort I had felt all the while vanished in a moment.
Seeing my hesitation, Cora gave a reassuring smile. "Do not worry, milady, everything will be fine. I will prepare you."
Before I could protest, she guided me to the dressing area. She had laid out an evening silk gown, brown in colour. It was simple but elegant. As she helped me into my dress, her hands moved with the skill of someone who had done it a hundred times, smoothing the fabric and adjusting it to fall perfectly on me. She dabbed a faint perfume on my wrists and my nape. It smelled like roses.
She then combed my hair, weaving it into loose waves, tucking stray strands of my hair behind my ears so that they would not fall into my eyes.
Finally, Cora offered an arm. "Shall we go?"
I took her arm as my heart pounded with a mix of anxiety and trepidation. With cautious steps, I followed her out of the room.
The moment I stepped outside the room, it felt like I had entered another world. It seemed like my room had been purposely designed to look soft and dreamy, because outside was far more gothic than I ever expected.
Instead of the soft golden chandeliers that adorned my room, polished jeweled skulls hung from the high ceilings, strung together with chains. Candlelight burned within them, revealing the flickering flames through their hollow eyes and their open jaws.
Rather than wood, the ceilings looked like they had been built with the bones of animals. The walls were painted red and gold, decorated by black vines that clung to them in a spiral pattern. The floors were laced with black marble that reflected light as the corridor stretched endlessly.
It was scary to me… but it had this kind of haunting beauty, I could not deny. But the flames cast ominous shadows that made me wary.
My grip on Cora's arm tightened.
Our steps were soft against the stone floor as we walked in silence. The air around seemed different. It was cooler and heavier and carried a certain metallic scent mixed with burning wax.
Occasionally, we passed people whom I took to be servants because of their clothing. They turned their gazes at me, but not for too long. Some of their eyes faintly glowed as they looked at me.
A chill crept up my spine.
"You should try not to look at them if you feel uncomfortable, milady," Cora murmured gently, sensing my unease. "But, don't worry, you will grow accustomed to it."
Accustomed? I wasn't sure I wanted to be.
After what felt like an eternity, we turned down another corridor. This one was wider and grander.
Tall windows lined the walls, though sunlight entered, only the glowing evening light in the sky. Heavy velvet curtains were draped on each window.
At the far end, a pair of towering doors stood.
My steps slowed down, sighting the door. They were carved from blackwood with an intricate design. Vines like from earlier snaked around it. But the most unnerving part was the winged creatures that spiraled across the doors' surface.
All of them formed a circle pointing towards a figure in the center. A crowned being with black, outstretched wings.
My breath felt shaky. It was him.
Even in the carving, he was true like the rumours had stated.
Two guards stood on both sides of the doors, rigid like statues. As we approached, they straightened slightly. Their sharp eyes flicked toward me before one of them pushed the doors open.
The door groaned like a living creature.
My heart began to pound so loudly, I was certain everyone inside would hear it.
"Have a pleasant dinner, milady," Cora whispered, giving my arm a gentle squeeze before letting go. It felt like her words carried a heavy amount of irony, and as soon as I stepped in, I heard the door close behind me with a heavy thud, trapping me inside.