The Crown and The Rose
Chapter 14: My Lord

Chapter 14: My Lord

The Crown

I spin around and blink, my heart has stopped beating and my lungs have forgotten how to function with my breathing. "What are you talking about, Seraphina?" I raise an eyebrow, trying my best to give away my inner storm.

"You weren’t in the room last night," Seraphina repeats. "Where were you?"

Sweat starts to form on my hairline, "I have no idea what you are talking about Seraphina."

Seraphina scoffs, "Why are you lying? I know you weren’t in the room last night."

"I went to the boys’ dorm to use the bathroom." I lie through my teeth.

"Really?" Seraphina seems unconvinced, "But I_" There is a firm knock on the door.

I and Seraphina both jolt. The door squeaks open and my jaw falls on the ground because of the astonishment. It’s Phillip standing in the doorway, Edward is stiffly standing behind him.

Seraphina’s expression darkens further, "Phillip, what are you doing here?" Her voice is cold, unlike her usual sarcastic tone.

Phillip peers down at Seraphina for a brief moment before saying, "The lord wishes to see you." His expression is bland but his eyes are sharp. It’s clear that he is on high alert. After a small pause, he adds, "The three of you."

My heart sinks deeper into my stomach and my muscles tighten into knots, "T-The three of us? Why?" I croak.

Vermilion has summoned us. The three of us. The lone thought of it is making my knees go weak with worry and fear.

"Okay, lead the way," Seraphina says, her eyes never leaving Phillip’s. She is clearly not happy to have the guest here. "I do not wish to keep the lord waiting."

Phillip averts his cold gaze after a moment too late, "Please follow me." He spins around and starts to walk down the hallway.

Seraphina silently picks up his trail and begins to follow him. She doesn’t look too pleased with the transpiration of the event. But it’s evident that she actually doesn’t want to keep Vermilion waiting whether it’s for fear or something else.

I try to gulp down the knot in my throat and keep my expression straight but it’s almost impossible as adrenaline sears through my veins. I am being driven out of my mind by the question of why.

I join the stiff and tense Edward, who is walking quietly behind Phillip and Seraphina, his head hanging low between his shoulders. I tap at his hand. He raises his worried eyes and nods silently in acknowledgment. I use a why sign to ask him the question. He just silently shakes his head. He is looking so pale that I am starting to wonder that some of the vampires from this academy have sucked every little ounce of his blood cell out of his body.

We stride out of the building and continue to make our way to the tallest castle, that has that huge clock fixated on its peak. I wonder what the castle looks like from the inside. We enter the bustling castle, students are swarming in and out of the castle. They are eyeing Phillip with something that can only be explained as hatred. However, Phillip doesn’t bat an eye at them and makes his way to the inner interior of the castle. He pushes open a double door which leads us to a spiral staircase.

The staircase has grown on the chest of the earth and slithered up to touch the sky. This staircase has no railing. With one look I can tell that the staircase is mushy and slippery. This side of the castle is surprisingly quiet and calm. The thick walls of this area have blocked out the noisy world. It’s eerily silent her. A cold shiver runs down my spine and my spine jolts.

Phillip starts to climb the stairs and so does Seraphina. Edward and I follow behind them. I keep my steps firm and steady as a wrong step and I will fall into the death’s clutches itself.

The stairs are long. Very long. As if it’s trying to lead us to somewhere in the alternate dimension. With every step the chilling atmosphere is growing even more cold. I see Edward occasionally shivering. I too shiver, unable to control the dread pooling in the pit of my stomach.

In the past day, I couldn’t get Vermilion out of my mind. The way he looks at me like I am an insect he can crush beneath his feet effortlessly like I am some sort of toy he can play with as he wishes. The amusement in his cold crimson eyes ignites something in me I never knew that could be ignited. He makes me want to shine and prove myself. Makes me want to show him, that I am not some sort he can play with. Not an insect that will go down without a fight.

We reach the dead end of the stairs which directly leads into a freezing office. We are standing at the peak of the castle’s tower. I can see the large clock at the end of the room, tickling audibly as it should. There is a red silhouette standing in front of the clock, his slander, the most beautiful back I have ever seen is facing me. His faint shadow is reflecting on the glass of the clock. His eyes clash with mine and my heart kickstarts shamefully. My breath hitches and I feel heat creeping its way up to my neck. His red eyes are boring into my blue ones unwaveringly. His presence is like an overwhelming weight, crushing me beneath it.

So this is why this part of this castle is so eerily silent.

I have this sudden urge to approach him and spin him around just to see his beautiful face and admire it. But I gently fold the consideration and tuck it in my head as I don’t want to die yet.

"My lord." Phillip falls to his one knee and so do the three of us.

I fist my hand to control the shaking of it. I can’t believe what I am feeling right now. Yes, I am scared. So scared of Vermilion but I am thrilled too. I feel the thrill overwhelming my fear.

Vermilion whips around gracefully and crosses the room, his hands folded across his board chest. "I will directly get to the point." His cold, overbearing washes over me, leaving a trail of hot goosebumps in its wake, "Seraphina and Jonas, your roommate, Eliana have been missing for a few days now. How did you not feel the need to inform your professor of this matter?"

"My lord," I open my mouth first, "I just entered the dorms yesterday. I do not know anything regarding the matter." My voice is barely over a whisper, low, and carefully picked.

"I am aware of that." Vermilion turns his sharp gave to Seraphina, who shudders to my surprise, "However, how come I didn’t hear anything from you, Seraphina?" His gaze narrows.

"M-My lord," Seraphina stutters and breaks into a cold sweat even in this freezing temperature. For a moment I see myself in her. "Eliana used to vanish like that for a night or two, so I didn’t feel anything amiss."

Vermilion’s eyes narrow further, "And you didn’t feel the need to inform me of her rule violation? I didn’t expect it from the president of the student council, Seraphina. You have let me down. Hereby, you deserve a punishment."

Seraphina flinches and I see sweat trickling down her forehead and the quivering of her lips. "I-I will accept any punishment you bestow me, my lord."

"Very well, I relieve you from your duty as the president of the student council. You may go now." Vermilion announces nonchalantly. Seraphina slowly crawls back to her feet and strides off to the staircase. Vermilion then turns to Edward, "And Edward, I believe you reported your roommate to be missing since last night?"

My eyes widen and it clicks inside my head. As Edward has reported Erick missing, as his roommate no one will suspect him. He is very sharp indeed.

"Can you please elaborate on what you know?" He interrogates further.

"I-I don’t know anything, my lord." Edward stumbles upon his words, "He just locked me inside the room and went off to somewhere. I had to break down the door to get out this morning."

Excellent, Edward! I will kiss you after we are done here.

Vermilion paushes a little then his lips tug into a smirk, "Your Highness, do you think I am naive enough to fool? Do you really think that I do not know that you abducted Erick?"

My blood runs cold and my heart freezes on the spot. My breath gets lost on its way to my lungs as my head darts up, eyes are bloodshot. I can feel fear gnawing at me, eating me up from inside. I can’t stop the tremor in my nerves. "M-My lord...?"

"Care to explain?" Vermilion peers over me under his long white lashes, "You are my slave, Your Highness, you cannot lie to me."

I flinch. My throat is a desert which I am trying to lubricate so desperately that my breathing has halted. "H-He found out about my identity. I needed to take care of him."

"And when do you plan to let him go?" He questions further.

"The moment, I solve the case," I answer, my voice cracking slightly.

"Very well." Vermilion stares at me for a beat before responding, "I am holding your word onto this, Your Highness. I hope you survive in this school and hand me the information alive. You two may leave now."

"Yes, my lord." We both reply in sync and get onto our feet. Edward particularly runs to the staircase, and I battle with my inner self over whether to see Vermilion’s face before going back. But At last, I give up and step toward the staircase.

Edward and I run down the stairs carefully and when we reach the end someone calls me from behind.

"Your Highness, please wait." I spin around and find Phillip standing a few feet behind me.