The carriage wobbled through the bumpy road as we traversed the city. The wedding ceremony was over, and me and my so-called wives were being carried to our new home. The sun had set long ago, as it was now past midnight.
The cold night air brushed against my face as I stared out of the carriage, admiring the beauty of the kingdom I love. My wives were now free of their shackles, and to my surprise, they kept themselves quiet during the ride. The werewolf girl, Sylvie, was asleep while the others were wide awake.
The vampire, Isabella, toyed with a pocket watch, I saw her steal from one of the nobles, while the demon, Ava, was staring daggers at me. Her hands were clenched tightly as if she was fighting with everything she had not to kill me on the spot.
That is why I kept my eyes outside the carriage, as not to anger her anymore. Her pink eyes seemed to shine brightly in the dimly lit carriage. Despite her glares, I found it beautiful. Though a cold chill climbed its way up my spine every time we locked eyes.
My lips went dry as I thought about all the monstrous things swirling around in that head of hers. I needed to figure out a way to win her over, or I was a dead man walking.
Just then, I noticed the little clothing she was wearing. Her soft lips were trembling slightly.
She must be cold.
I remember hearing once that demons hate the cold.
"Are you cold?" I asked as I attempted to take off my jacket.
"Oh, no fair! You never offered me your jacket," Isabella pouted, but I ignored her.
The one I needed to appease most was the demon, who looked just about ready to gouge my eyes out.
"Here, take this."
SWOOSH!
The jacket went out the window as fast as I gave it. She threw it away without a second thought. I swallowed hard as I watched the jacket ripple away in the wind.
"Kukuku."
Isabella giggled while covering her mouth. At the same time, Syvie moaned and stirred in her sleep. I doubt the werewolf would show as much restraint as Ava was now. I held my breath, praying that the commotion didn't wake her up.
"Zzzz… Mmm… f'soft..."
I finally began to calm down as I saw her chest begin to rhythmically rise and fall once again as she sucked at her thumb. Ava kept her eyes locked on me, and slowly I began dreading reaching our destination.
The carriage driver left us standing outside a rather large mansion. My mansion. I pulled the key from my pocket and led them inside. Isabella stormed in the moment she heard the door click.
Her eyes sparkled as she took in the elegantly designed space in front of her.
"Come on in, feel at home," I said to Sylvie and Ava, who were still standing at the door.
Sylvie rubbed her eyes, still groggy from her sleep as she stepped in. Ava followed quietly after her. For a second, my eyes wandered outside as I contemplated taking off in a sprint, but Ava's icy cold stare stopped me in my tracks.
Instead, I smiled and closed the door behind me. Before I could even turn around after closing the door, a sharp pain stabbed at my side. The next thing I knew, I was being lifted off the ground by my throat.
Ava's pink glowing eyes stared up at me, the black horns on her head glowed slightly a shade of red.
"Grrr!" Sylvie growled and crouched down on her hind legs, her claws scraping against the tiles as she prepared to lunge at me. Her yellow wolf-like eyes had a predatory gleam in them. "Kill human now?."
Ava didn't answer; instead, her hands tightened around my throat, making it harder to breathe. Her long nails dug into my flesh causing blood to trickle down my neck.
This is it!
I closed my eyes, hoping they would have the decency to make it quick.
"Hold on, ladies, let's not be too quick to act yet."
Isabella spoke up as she sat on the stairs with her legs crossed.
"You can't talk me out of this," Ava said, her voice dripping with contempt. "I'd rather die than stay married to a human."
"That binding ritual they used on us, it's an ancient ritual used to tie souls," Isabella explained. "Simply put, killing him could have dire consequences."
"I'll gladly face whatever consequences are in store for me if it means killing a prince of Palasia."
"You're unreasonable," Isabella said with a bored expression before flicking her hand.
Immediately, tiny white strands, awfully familiar to webs, wrapped their way around Ava's body, constricting her arms and legs. I fell to the ground coughing as she released her grip.
"I expected the werewolf to be an idiot, but not you too." Isabella said, sounding like a parent scolding her child.
Seeing what happened to Ava, Sylvie quickly turned her attention to Isabella. A low growl escaped her lips before she leaped into the air after Isabella. Her claws cut through the air like a knife, aimed at Isabella's throat.
Isabella sidestepped her with a speed I could barely follow.
"Just think about it for a second," Isabella pleaded, but just as the words left her mouth, Sylvie charged at her again.
She moved like a wild animal as she pounced on all fours. Isabella sidestepped her attacks with ease before catching her in mid-air, slamming her to the floor and restraining her arms.
"If we did kill him, we'd either be back to where we started or we'd be dead just like him." Isabella still tried to convince them.
"After everything they've done!" Ava's eyes burned with hatred as she struggled against the white strands that constricted her body. "How can you stand there and defend one of them?"
"Vampires same as humans," Sylvie said. It sounded like she could barely speak. She forced herself up from under Isabella's tight grip.
"Look, as long as the binding ritual is still in effect, it means my life is tied to him too. And I don't feel like dying for a discarded prince. It's better to use him to get what we really want. Ava, you want to go back home, and Sylvie, you want to be free. By using him, we can get what we really want."
"Sylvie free?"
At the mention of freedom, Sylvie stopped struggling.
"Yes, Sylvie," Isabella said, cupping her cheek like a mother. "If you let the human live, then you'll be free."
Sylvie's eyes slowly returned to normal, her claws retracting. She didn't seem completely happy about it, but thank the gods she understood what Isabella said.
"Syvie… let human live." She finally said.
Ava, on the other hand, bit down on her lip and avoided our gaze.
"Do whatever you want," she finally said bitterly. "I'm powerless to stop you anyway."
As long as Ava still wore the bracelet that weakened her power, she couldn't hope to keep up with Isabella. She had no choice but to give in.
"Good, but let's put some terms to our arrangement." Isabella said. "The two of you will not harm the prince in any way, shape, or form, and I won't harm you. It is as simple as that."