Author's note,
quick reminder:
[ ] - Vale's thought
' ' - Lyas's voice
( ) - Author's extra notes.
Okay, story time, enjoy it.
Chapter 2
The footsteps draw closer, each one echoing against the curved bars. I tilt my head just enough to see the top of a neatly combed blond head bobbing with each step.
Then the guard comes into view. No older than twenty. His green eyes are wide...too green, too bright and they avoid mine. HIs uniform is black and gold, pressed so sharply it could cut. White gloves. Black boots. A ring of keys hangs openly from his belt.
I give him a deadpan stare. [ Who leaves keys dangling like that?] That's just begging someone to steal them.
[ Or he believes nobody will ever come here to open the cage...?]
He stops at the side of my cage and kneels, balancing a silver trap covered by a polished dome. Without meeting my gaze, he opens a small feeding hatch...barely big enough for the tray and slides it in.
The moment it clicks shut, he hurries to stand and walks off.
I step forward quickly, watching as he begins descent down a shimmering slope of rainbow-colored light. It curves away into the darkness, vanishing into nothing.
"Who do you think I am?" I call out.
He freezes mid-step, shoulder twitching. When he finally answers, his voice trembles.
"uh...you're the Vampire Queen."
Then he moves again, faster this time, until the slope fades beneath him, disappearing into the black.
[ What the...just how much are they scared of her, the Vampire Queen?]
I step up to the bars and glance down. At first, I see nothing but then...suddenly, my vision clears, as if the shadows have melted away. Far Below lies jagged rock, spikes jutting like a mouth full of teeth.
"Wait. How can I see so far? I mutter. "It's pitch-black."
'That's a vampire trait. We can see through the dark.'
Her voice again...soft, feminine, echoing though my skull.
[That's very cool. I knew vampires had special abilities, but I get to experience it? Extra cool.]
I turn away, retrieve the tray, and set it on the table. When I lift the cover, I find a sealed pouch of blood. A neat white label reads: cow.
'Ugh. Cow. I prefer chicken.'
I push the tray aside and lean back in the chair. "Alright. Let's start with names. Who are you, and why are you speaking in my head?"
'Lysandra Veythar. And you are inside my body. Your soul is living alongside mine.'
"Lyranda-?"
'No, Lysandra.'
"Lyas...what's the deal? Why are you in prison?" I ask already calculating what I need to know to help her...or decide if she's worth helping at all."
'I don't know. I've been locked here for a long time. I've lost count of the moons.'
Long time. She must be lonely. I smirk. "Don't tell me the god sent me here just to keep you company."
A sudden sting...my thigh jerks in pain. She'd slapped her own leg...and I felt it. Looking down, I see a faint red mark forming.
"Ow! What was that for?"
[ If we shared pain, then everything I do or she does, then we'll both feel it.]
'Trust me, I don't know why you're here. But I do know every century, one soul is sent into my body. None have lasted more than three years.'
Three years? I'm not the first?
"where did they go? Did they die?" I ask, voice low.
'They died inside me. At least I gain some magic energy from them. You'll be next.'
She says it so matter-of-factly it's almost worse than a threat.
[ Three years. That's all I've got? Then I better hurry up.]
I cross my arms. "So...where exactly are we?"
'Beneath the Kingdom's capital. A prison carved deep into the caves.'
"And they sealed you here because...you're vampire?" I know it's a simple question, maybe a stupid one, but I need to start somewhere.
'....I don't remember.'
That...is worse than I expected. No people. No sunlight. Just a cage. For centuries.
'Will you drink the blood? We could use the energy."
"You can slap your thigh hard enough for me to feel it, but you can't grab a drink yourself?"
Still, the smell hits me the moment I uncap it...rich, warm, almost like tomato soup with a deep meaty edge.
I drink slowly, savoring against my better judgement. "..Ugh.."
[ I've tasted my own blood before, but this? Maybe the worst metallic blood taste I've ever had.]
'Told you. Chicken's better.'
When it's gone, I wipe my mouth and glance in the mirror. Still pale. Still silver-haired. Still one ice-blue eye and one deep purple. The purple glows faintly as her voice returns:
'So, you know my name. What's yours?'
"Vale. And I've noticed...it only glows when you speak."
'....really?'
The glow flares again.
"Maybe it's some kind of power." I suggest.
'Forget it. Since you're here, I wonder if you can escape this cage. None of the others could.'
Her voice is blunt, cutting straight to the point.
"So, you want me to help you escape?"
'I have to return home. Help me, and I'll tell you what I can.'
"why can't you escape yourself?"
'I'm dying. Too weak to move.'
"But if I'm inside of your body, doesn't that mean I'm weak too?"
'Maybe. Or maybe your knowledge will change something.'
Military training, combat, survival...I know those things. Whether they'll work? That's another matter.
"Fine. I'll help you. But in exchange, you tell me everything."
'...Hah. They all say that. Three years later, nothing changes. You'll give up.'
I smirk at my own reflection. "Try me, Queen."
'You won't last. Let's see what you can do with useless information.'
Useless? My brows knits, but before I can ask, something crashed through my head.
A flash of memory.
Blurry at first. A child. Small. Frightened. Chained.
[ Is she showing me her memories?...Wait. Can she see mine too?]
Why is she showing me this?
And how could this possibly help us escape?