Bride To His Darkness
Chapter 144: Significance Of The Blood Moon

Chapter 144: Significance Of The Blood Moon

The day got sunnier as it approached noon. Samantha had returned to her chamber after her attempts on finding the hunter had turned futile, and whenever she questioned each guard about which cell the hunter had been moved into, no one uttered a word, as if they had been strictly ordered not to say a word about it to her. Although she knew she shouldn’t doubt Lord Ivan’s intention at all, she couldn’t stop herself from feeling worried about what might happen, to make it worse, she hadn’t seen him after their discussion last night, and then this morning, she hears that he got the hunter moved from the dungeon.

"No no," Samantha slapped her cheeks lightly, whilst trying to shake off the veil of doubts from her mind. In order to clear her head so she wouldn’t harbor any more intrusive thoughts, she got out of bed and stepped out of the room, quietly heading towards the main hall where she knew of the one person who was capable of cheering her up and distracting her mind from everything that’s going on in her complicated life.

Upon entering the main hall, the whole place was bursting with decorations to Samantha’s awe, and she could see Albert holding a list as he instructed each servant on how they were supposed to set up the place before tomorrow night. The ebony-black curtains had been changed to a crimson red, outshining the room itself and symbolizing a regal appearance, and Samantha was careful not to bump into the busy servants who scurried past in haste, holding all sorts of tools and trays as though they were running out of time.

Scanning the room, she eventually found Lucy who was delicately adjusting the deep red tapestry on the wall. When she was done, she noticed the way her friend sighed and stretched her working limbs. Lucy was too busy to even notice her presence, because in the next few seconds another maid had approached where Lucy stood, handing her the tools that were required to make sure the tapestries hung firmly in place so they wouldn’t come off– even Albert stepped in between them as he uttered something she couldn’t hear to Lucy, and Lucy’s firm nod was the only thing that assured Albert about something before he turned to monitor the rest servants.

Understanding that her friend must feel drained since the preparations began in the morning, Samantha quickly headed to the table that was placed at the side of the room. She carried a small water jug that rested on the table, and immediately filled the empty cup beside it with water. She returned to Lucy who had turned around to continue what she had been doing, but the weary look in her eyes snapped into surprise at the sight of Samantha who was generously handing her a cup of water.

"Sam?"

"Drink this." She gestured with her eyes, indicating Lucy to take the water which she did, and she was gazing at it like it was some kind of fresh wine. In one go, Lucy had emptied the cup, and when she was done, she released a satisfied sigh before casting a gaze of gratitude at Samantha’s way. "You have no idea how much I needed that strength, you are a lifesaver."

"Are all Coronations so bustling?" Samantha asked, noticing the dilemma etched on everyone’s faces as they hurried about, whilst Lucy nodded with her lips thinned.

"It is but tomorrow night is going to be special since it is the night of the blood moon." Lucy reminded her, "my excitement is the fact that even servants get to attend the Coronation, even though we’ll be there only to serve but it is still the same thing."

"The blood moon... What do you know about the blood moon that’s supposed to happen during the Coronation?" Samantha’s brow knitted inquisitively as she’s only hearing about such for the first time, and she noticed how Lucy paused at her question, her gaze steely as if she was searching for the right word to express an ancient knowledge.

"Frankly speaking, this is going to be my first time witnessing a blood moon." Lucy said before dropping her tools, a mixture of awe and caution evident in her expression, and then she said. "The blood moon, from what I’ve heard, or eavesdropped on, I heard it’s a moment of significance in the vampire world, probably Vesunard. It’s a celestial phenomenon that occurs rarely, usually marking a significant event or so. I vaguely remember the details since I wasn’t paying much attention to the late Queen Mother’s chattering."

Glancing at the ornate chandelier above where a male servant was busy arranging the candles, Lucy hummed softly and swiftly continued with her duty, gently pulling at the tapestries to ensure they weren’t going to come off, then she said. "I also heard that the blood moon is said to possess a potent energy– a convergence of power and destiny. For King Ivan, it signifies the acceptance of his reigns by the spirits and realms. It’s more of a blessing and a reminder of the darkness that binds our existence."

"So it’s not just a beautiful sight in the night sky?"

In the distance, the sounds of trumpets and whispered commands echo through the walls, reminding them of the urgency around them. Samantha had been meaning to ask more about what the blood moon entails, but she couldn’t do that anymore since Lucy was forced to return to work. The rest of the day had been the same, except for some of the servants she was hardly familiar with that had stopped to apologize to her considering the rumors they had spread about her and Herbert. If it was done from the heart, she hardly knew, but what she knew was the fact that being Lord Ivan’s bride had given her quite the privilege, and merely mentioning his name had her thinking about how they ended their conversation last night.

It was nighttime, yet there had been no signs of Lord Ivan, not even the vampire brothers were present in the Palace today. Samantha was worriedly pacing back and forth in her Chamber, wondering if Lord Ivan was alright since he hadn’t returned, and knowing she had to do something to at least confirm if he was fine, she reached for the doorknob, making an attempt to open it when someone else opened it from the outside. With a soft gasp, her eyes met the familiar ones of Ivan as they had inadvertently locked gazes.

Samantha’s heart trembled under his tender gaze as he scanned her worried face. "You’re still awake? The day is almost–"

"How can I not be?" Samantha questioned back, interrupting Ivan to his bafflement as instant tears welled up in her eyes, but she didn’t let them drop. "You stepped out last night like you were never ever going to talk to me, that I can take but not when staying outside puts your life at risk! You only left to get your royal seal made but you never returned and I know it doesn’t take a whole night and day to see the new seal maker. If you had somewhere else to be you should have told me at least. I was worried but now I’m starting to think that you’re avoiding me because of what I said. Is that what this is about?"

She demanded from Ivan who had frozen at the entrance. He hardly got a chance to step inside before her emotions went on a rampage. Closing the door behind him, he held her hand and gently pulled her into his embrace, and she did not back away from him this time around.

"I’m sorry I made you feel that way." He apologized, sounding earnest as his hold around her tightened, his own heart aching within. "I had plans of returning sooner, but I needed to make you happy. I wanted to lessen your burden before you leave." He pulled back, meeting her green eyes that glimmered under the lights of the candles that had been lit.

"I don’t–"

"I have something to show you, if you’re willing to come with me." He let out his hand for her to take, and Samantha, whose anger had diminished and was replaced by intense curiosity, accepted his hand. Together, they stepped out of his chamber and made their way through the labyrinth of corridors.

When they made it to a specific door, a guard opened it so the unlikely couple could step in together. Venturing further into the courtyard, Samantha stopped in her gait upon noticing a young lad standing in the middle of the courtyard with Caddel by his side. Both their hands were tied with a thick rope and were monitored by two guards, but Samantha lost her breath when she locked eyes with a familiar dirty-blonde haired boy, and although he had grown much bigger, taller and more mature from what she remembered of him, she knew it had to be her brother from the mere sight of him.

"Maurice?"

The young lad whose eyes were busy scrutinizing the beauty of the Palace, shifted his attention to the green-eyed maiden who was staring right back at him, and Maurice’s schooled expression wavered when he knew who those green eyes he was staring right into belonged to.

"Sam?" His tone was laced with genuine disbelief as he looked her up and down. "Is that.. is that.... you?!!"

"Maurice!" Samantha hardly knew when she left Ivan’s side, because she found herself hugging Maurice who hadn’t snapped out of his daze. Ivan signaled one of the guards to untie Maurice’s hand, and Samantha had to pull back so her brother’s hands could be free from the ropes.