Tainted

Chapter Ten

TAINTED| CHAPTER 10

Draco Cyrus Corpus

We stood there looking at each other for a moment. My nerves were killing me as he took in my appearance. On the outside, though I stood tall with confidence, unfazed, with a polite half grin.

The tension broke when his face shifted to a smirk. He smooths his hair back and addressed his daughter. He glided a crossed the room toward us and gracefully placed his hands on her shoulders. Lord Corpus looked her directly in her eyes through the sheerness of her vail. "You've done well my child. You go rest with your friend. I and Alexander must get reacquainted."

"I actually needed to head to the Northern Mountain of Eari. Alexander is worried about his scent being tracked. I think it would be a good idea to visit the Lyoraxe," she countered.

He looked back at me and then to her, "That is a great idea. Eliza would track any villager that said they had caught it. Yes, go do that my girl. Be back before dawn thou you know how patrol gets about people being out in the day."

"I do want to tell you before I leave, head maiden Elain did see Alex upon arrival. We cannot have any of the servants go about talking. I don't want to see you hurt."

"I will take care of Elain," Lord Corpus spoke with certainty.

"Okay, Father. I am going to go meet Arianna back out in the front. Please be gentle with him. I think we still have three more days until the big day." She smiled as she walked past me to the door.

"Of course," he said waving his arm, motioning her to leave.

"I'll see you later Alexander," she smiled and did a small curtsy. She exited gracefully out the corridor and the door shut quietly behind her.

When she had left my stomach immediately dropped to the floor. I was left alone with him. I wouldn't call it scared but I was nervous to be so close. I could feel the natural reaction of the hairs on the nap of my neck stand up with chills.

He has changed from his position and smoothly moved across the room to his desk. He sat at the end of the room, in the center, his face towards me with a slight warm expression on. He gestured me forward with a polite hand. "Come on sit Alexander. I will not hurt you."

With that my feet started towards the chair that was directly in front of him. I pulled out my seat and sat down with my back straight. "I don't even know where to start honestly," I had begun.

"This is my doing that you are here, so I suppose it is only fair if I were the one to start," he smiled.

His expression read friendly however you could just sense how serious he was. This wasn't a joking matter I could tell he was just trying to make pleasantry.

"I suppose," I agreed.

"My daughter might have told you my name is Lord Draco Cyrus Corpus. She might have told you I am hand to King Victor the man who tried to kill you such time ago. I acquired the title as hand because he thinks you are dead. I know you did not ask for any of this, but we couldn't leave you in the human realm anymore. In a few days, all that extra strength you acquired is going to build up and overflow into something powerful."

I think he got the sense I wanted to talk but he raised his hand slightly to stop me. "You are going to gain an undying hunger for something more than just blood. You are going to crave power. With that, there is always the risk of me not being here for long. As the hand, once the king finds out you are alive I most likely will be seized. They will try to capture you and capture Valentina and anyone who has your scent that lingers on them. Just know they will do this quietly to not make a scene with the public and to not alert your mother. But surely he will make it painful for you."

"I know this seems like a lot for someone that is purely innocent to this all, but it affects you the most. I have a way to sustain my life, so I can guide you through this. You're going to have to stay low though and follow my lead. I've been planning your arrival again for 19 years."

He had given me so much information. I couldn't process it all at once. "This is all so much," I said in a stun.

"It is only to be expected. You lived like a human all your life everything right now will be too much. You'll learn to adapt. In this kingdom as your uncle rules, it is killed or be killed all because of that one night," his voice was haunting, but he continued. "It is up to you on how this all goes."

I just wanted some time to think for myself about everything that had happened. My brain was pounding viciously about everything, and I could hear a soft ring in my ear. My eyes also began to feel heavy. It began to be hard to focus on his face.

"What did you have in mind?" I asked placing my palms over my eyes and leaning my elbows on the end of his desk.

"Are you okay Alexander?" he asked swiftly standing up from his chair. I could feel him move to my side. He placed his hand on my shoulder and caressed it as a loving father would.

I looked up to him and slightly opened my eyes. However, before I could open them, I felt a swoosh of pain as if someone threw ice cold water in each of my sockets. I winched in pain and closed them again. "I don't know what's going on," I said in a panic.

I couldn't read his expression but by the silence, I could tell he would figure it out.

He didn't respond, and I kept waiting. It had been minutes when I asked him, "Do you know what is happening to me?"

Something was off, I knew I had spoken but couldn't hear myself.

"Lord Draco," I tried again.

Nothing, there was nothing auditable, but I knew I was making a sound.

I didn't know if I should try and be calm or be panicked but before I could respond I started to feel a burning sensation in my throat. Then a piercing pain of fangs ripping through my gums.

And then there was nothing.