Footsteps echoed within the empty hallways of the library as a lone boy dragged his feet against the blood red carpet.
He looked unapproachable, in a scary way, a contrast of who he was when he was with the ghost girl hours ago.
Second Prince Theon De Viantis had always been this way, since the death of his mother, he lost his spark and became a child who hid behind smirks and a smug face.
Yet he smiled more than once today, and actually laughed. He laughed. And it was all because of Anwen Valdemar, the adopted daughter of Duke Dorian, who wore her expression on her sleeves and cried like it was getting her paid.
Theon respected Duke Dorian, even more than his father, the Emperor. Dorian was one of the vampires who didn't let their thirst for power get into their head, and that list was very very small.
Even the Emperor sought for more power, as if being the Sun of the strongest Empire in the world wasn't enough.
That's why he's resorted to using witches, to extend his life that was on the verge of corruption, until he gets his hands on a star.
A star.
Theon didn't know what his father meant by that, how can one get a hold of the stars which were far above in the sky?
"He's getting senile over the years" He murmurs as he places a book over a pile. Standing in the room Anwen used hours ago, there was nothing but scattered books and papers.
This must be Aimes's doing when he came to look for her. Theon concluded without a second thought. To him, there was no way someone as Anwen would do anything wrong.
"She said there was a button over here…" He rummaged through the shelves until his finger grazed something cold—metal. It retracted under his touch and the floorboards creaked open.
Just like Anwen described.
A smile danced on his lips as he imagined her falling into the hole, wailing like a chicken. She must've been scared.
It's a good thing I found her.
"Young Prince…" The librarian stepped forward, "You called for me?"
Her fingers were trembling. Being in the presence of the second prince alone, didn't sit well with her. Everyone knew what sort of tyrant he was and thus, avoided anything that would make him spark an interest in them.
Because it always ended up in someone dying.
"The girl that was here…Anwen. Are you aware of how she ended up in the forest behind the library?" Theon was perched on a desk, his legs crossed as he held close to him, the book that was with Anwen.
It talked about vampire corruption. Why would she need such a book? That was a question for another day, for now, he would deal with the incompetence of the library.
"N-no Young Prince. I had only stepped out to get snacks for her, I barely took up to an hour, when I came back, she was gone, like she wasn't here in the first place. I-I panicked and raised an alarm"
"This…" The librarian looked up at Theon and then to the spot he pointed, there was a big hole on the floor.
"...is the reason she left the library unnoticed. She fell into that hole and it turns out to be a teleportation portal that leads to the forest. Probably the work of those who previously accommodated the library but hey—shouldn't you, a librarian who's worked here for a decade know these things?"
The librarian fell to her knees and bowed with a 'thud', "This one begs for your forgiveness your Highness! I'm at fault for putting the Princess in danger! I didn't know she was from a ducal house else-"
"Else what? You wouldn't have treated her like a commoner?"
"N-No! I didn't treat her harshly! I swear! If I had known she was the daughter of a Duke, I would've allocated her to one of the rooms designated for the ducal faction! Your Highness, please forgive this one, I won't let it happen again!"
Tears were practically streaming down the librarian's face, Theon had begun to release his aura, even though it wasn't much, it was enough for a lowly vampire like her to cower and beg for mercy.
"Very well. I shall spare you this time—only because Anwen was the one who wanted to come here" Theon kicked himself off the table, "When next she visits the library, take her to the place I usually stay, no where else. If she says otherwise, tell her it's my decision…nicely"
With that, he walked out of the room and that's when the librarian could finally breathe. It felt like she was suffocating seconds ago. How can such a young child possess so much aura?
He really lived to his name as the devil's spawn.
She dried up her tears, thankful to whatever god she believed in that her life was spared today.
Rumors have it that Duke Dorian, the most feared vampire in the Empire, adopted a child weeks ago, the reason is still unknown. No one had seen the child either. It was always Young Master Aimes that was by his side.
How was she supposed to know that the adopted child was the girl who visited today?
And just how important was the girl that the two Young Masters of the Valdemar's household and Prince Theon threatened her because she went missing?
"Truly! There is a God above that saved me from death three times today! I should go to church this Sunday…I don't know if I want to see that girl here ever again!"