Vampire's Prey

Chapter 27: I'm Here

Author's Note:

This is the second chapter released today. Please read "Chapter 26 – The King" first.

I leap away from the pool of blood. It's dry, and the streak leading towards the door suggests that the victim was dragged away well before we arrived. I doubt whoever stayed here would be allowed to live peacefully in the village. This may be all that remains of them above ground.

Rahlan closes the door and walks around the maroon patch. He steps onto the raised stone platform at the far end of the room. "First time inside a castle?" he asks.

I nod.

He gestures broadly around the room. "I present the main hall – for judging quarrels between peasants." His hand lands on a wooden chair with a high back. "This shall be my throne. If you're good, I may allow you to sit on my lap." He smirks.

"Thrones are for kings, my lord."

The smirk quickly fades. He presses open a set of double doors, and I follow after him. The doors close on their own behind us, assisted by gravity and their angled mounting.

"The living area," he says. A built-in fireplace surrounded by cushioned furniture fills one half of the large room, and the other half is occupied by a long stainwood table with eight matching chairs. A set of curtained windows overlook the castle gate. This room alone is as big as my entire house.

I step after him into a narrow passage lined with three doors. He opens one, and I peer inside. A large window shines orange light over a pristine wooden desk and matching bed.

"The servants' quarters," he says.

This was for a servant?

He continues down the passage. I hurry to press the doors open to glance in each room – all as beautifully furnished as the last.

We enter what appears to be a kitchen with wooden cabinets and limestone counters. Rahlan pulls back a line of thin doors in the wall, revealing the living room from before. "This is where you will prepare my meals."

"You'll love my veggie stew," I say.

His eyes narrow. I'll cook him as many vegetarian meals as his heart desires.

I return to the living room. A sparkle on the wall catches my attention. I creep closer and can hardly believe my eyes at the sight. A golden doorknob. It looks too valuable to touch.

Rahlan doesn't share my hesitation. He opens the door, breaking my trance. "The royal bedroom," he says.

I'm taken aback by the sight. The dim sunset passes through the stained-glass windows, lighting the room in a myriad of beautiful colors.

The bed looks fit for a king, with decorated thin posts in each corner to support a colorful canopy. I run my fingers over the elegant carvings in the posts. Dragons and knights dueling, their fire and swords embossed with gold in so much detail that I could search it for hours and still have more to discover. Jacob would've loved this.

I sit on the bed and run my fingers over the fine fabric.

Rahlan unpacks his bag onto the dressing table. My eyes follow his hands as he picks out each item – the sextant, the waterskin and my biscuit tin.

I grab the tin and press open the lid. The honey biscuit waits inside – my gift for Jacob. The gift he'll never receive.

He was going to be so impressed that I brought him a honey biscuit. He always used to bring me gifts from his travels, and I could never repay the favor. Now that I'd gone on my first long journey, I'd have something special for him.