The Royal Revenge
Chapter 197: A Visitor Out To Kill

Chapter 197: A Visitor Out To Kill

Aleksander gazed at his wife splayed beautifully on their now crumpled sheets. Her dainty features were beautifully sculpted by the shadows from flames that danced inside their room.

Elys’ sweaty body glistened in the dark, emitting intoxicatingly sweet and delicious scents to his sensitive nose. He could feel his fangs extending as a primal hunger rose in him.

He wanted to eat her.

He wanted to make her his.

And finally, he succeeded tonight.

The young king scooted closer to her side of the bed to snake an arm around her waist. He pulled her into his arms, creating a cocoon of safety behind her as his huge frame wrapped her tiny and soft body.

He kissed her shoulder, and Elys mumbled something incomprehensible even for his heightened hearing. She always did talk in her sleep, but thankfully, tonight seemed to be different. She didn’t cry in her sleep, nor did she call out her father or mother. Elys didn’t beg for forgiveness in her unconscious mind.

Aleksander always worried about her when he would hear his wife do that. Her nightmares were just something he couldn’t help her with, no matter how much he tried to reach out. He felt useless when Elys cried.

He didn’t know if her nightmares would come later, but what he could tell though, was that Elys slept like a child right now in his arms.

Aleksander decided to worry when the time comes. Right now, he will enjoy the rare sweet moments that he never dreamed could become his reality.

+++

Ravenous lips on lips, adventurous hands all over, burning skin on skin - unimaginable pleasures all around for the rest of the evening. That was how Elys and Aleksander spent their first together. After months of being married to each other, they finally consummated their marriage, and their union sealed for eternity.

Elys was probably crazy for tying herself permanently to an equally crazy vampire. But her thirst for vengeance and justice drove her to the point she did not care anymore what would become of her.

It was all for her people.

The human race and their safety was her topmost priority.

To make love where love was not present had only been a dangerous game she willingly played.

But then again, why did her cries of pleasure came out too genuine for an act?

"Have I lowered myself too much, Cordelia?" she asked her trusted maidservant, "Am I nothing but merely a whore now?"

It now had been four days since the fire incident and Elys’ proclamation of the human’s rights within the Western Kingdom. After word spread out of the king and queen’s passionate night together, the noble’s qualms about a royal heir had somewhat died down.

Aleksander met every other day with the knight commanders he stationed at strategic points around the kingdom, but it seemed like there was nothing to report about the Eastern Kingdom’s apparent attack. Petty theft, some extortion issues, a couple of murders - which to Elys’ fury involved a slaves and a noble.

Punishment was swift with Elys’ insistance. Aleksander made sure the execution of the said noble was made public as a warning.

"No human shall be harmed under my reign, my queen," Aleksander had told her as they spent another night together. "I promise you that. Your demands shall be fulfilled sooner than you think. I promise."

Elys shook her head as she cleared her mind of the vampire’s touch all over her. The young queen felt a heaviness in her heart thay she couldn’t get rid of, and she finally sought Cordelia’s opinion after a long debate with herself.

The old woman extended a hand towards the warrior princess she had always served, but then hesitated as she almost tapped Elys on the back. Her hand hovered for the short five seconds she did nothing.

"Elys..." Cordelia called her name as she tried to console her, "If you thought what you did last night was necessary, then it only makes you a hero to my eyes, not some harlot."

"I am consumed by guilt, Cordelia," Elys covered her face. "I-I found myself enjoying it as it happened, and I know in my heart I wasn’t even supposed to!"

Elys heard Cordelia move from her seat, but couldn’t find the courage to face her when the old woman knelt down on her knees and tried to pry her hands away from her face.

"Queen Elysianne, listen to me," the old woman sighed, "you are a warrior. Mind, body, and soul, everything you are is a weapon meant to be used against the enemy. And if you found pleasure in the process, let it sink in and process it, but don’t let it get over your head."

"You really think that? Wouldn’t the people think I betrayed them by giving myself to him?" she asked, her voice muffled by her hands.

"The people will surely see the fruits of your sacrifices, your majesty," Cordelia spoke softly. "Just make sure that you won’t lose yourself in the process."

Elys finally lifted her head and her ruby eyes met Cordelia’s aged and full of wisdom brown eyes. The old woman smiled at her, wrinkles forming at the corners of her eyes. She stood up and to Elys’ shock, hugged her momentarily, rocking her like she was a child.

"You did well, Elysianne Whitecaster," Cordelia whispered. "Many will scrunch their noses, disgusted by knowing only half of the story, but you have done our people the greatest sacrifice."

Elys closed her eyes and replied, "Thank you, Cordelia. Your words somehow lifted the heaviness in my heart and comforted me."

The old woman patted Elys’ head and withdrew from her. The young queen’s face was flushed, the corner of her eyes teary.

"Your father and mother would be so proud of you," Cordelia added.

Elys sniffled, and then a smile lifted the corners of her mouth. A tiny laughter tinkled in the air, and the human queen of the vampire kingdom lifted her chin.

"Let’s get you cheered up with a bowl of freshly shaved ice cones, shall we?" Cordelia asked her.

"Mmm... tempting," Elys replied.

She stood up from her seat, stretched her arms and took in a deep breath. Her office was already quite filled with everything she needed, but somehow she felt like a piece missing.

"Do you think I should put something else in here, Cordelia?" Elys contemplated out loud.

"Perhaps a centerpiece, your majesty? Or as what they call, a statement piece to accentuate the room?" the old lady suggested. "A bust, or maybe even a lifesize statue."

"No... I feel like the place don’t need anything flashy like that," Elys shook her head. "Maybe a pop of color to liven up the gloominess of all these old books and records."

"Ah, if that be the case then we should get your table a vase of flowers," Cordelia said. "I will notify the royal florist about your request."

The old woman bowed down and as she started to walk out, Elys suddenly called her back, "Actually, Cordelia, I would like to take a stroll in my garden and pick a few flowers of my choice."

Cordelia closed the door again and said, "A picnic at the garden afterwards then?"

Elys smiled and nodded, "That should be great. Call the other ladies and have them invite their friends as well. Tell them we shall have a tea party at twilight."

"As you wish, your majesty," Cordelia bowed again and exited the room.

Elys traced her fingers around the edge of her table and then heaved a sigh. It was hard to spill her feelings to Cordelia, knowing that her upbringing would have frowned by the vulnerability she just showed.

But her mind was clouded and her heart heavy - she didn’t know what else to do but to let the dam break down and the bottled emotions out.

A knock came from her door and Elys asked, "Who is it?"

No voice replied to her question, which raised her brow up in incredulity. Surely the guard stationed outside should have announced the visitor.

Elys suddenly felt an ominous energy seeping from the other side, and her defensive mechanism kicked in instantly.

"Who goes there?!" she demanded, using her authoritative voice. "Identify yourself or else!"

Even when Elys clearly threatened the unknown visitor to speak up, there was still nothing that came from the other side of the closed doors.

Elys unsheathed the sword that hung on her wall. It was only decorative, but the edges were sharp enough. She pointed at the door as she slowly walked towards it.

She would have prefered her personal sword which Aleksander had forged to her preference, but she could work any weapon in her hands.

She was trained all her life to be able to use anything to her advantage, and a sword could go far in her adept hands.

The closer she stepped towards the door, the stronger the evil energy she felt. Whoever it was on the other side, she knew that it was no friend at all.

It was out to kill.