~Serah POV~
"Where is Serah?" Lydia shouted immediately she entered the kitchen and I rushed out from the corner I was sitting the other maids bow their heads.
"My Lady," I said, standing in front of her.
"Seems you were resting? And I hate seeing you doing that because a maid don't have the right to do that!" She scrawl me, "Prepare because the council are waiting... Remember you must not look them in the eye while attending to them."
"Yes, my Lady." Lydia turn and left the kitchen, the maids were distancing themselves from me.
Meanwhile, the Council hall reeked of blood goblets clinked as vampires drank greedily, crimson spilling over pale fingers, dripping onto polished marble. The scent clawed down my throat, sharp, intoxicating. My fangs ached, but I dared not bare them. Not while I crawled on the floor, chains dragging behind me like a dog's leash.
My swollen belly made every movement harder and the tray I carried trembled in my hands as I shuffled forward, the chain dug into my ankle, rubbing raw. Sweat slicked my back though the hall was cold, I was heavy, unbalanced, and starving .... both for food and for blood.
"Slower, Serah," Lydia purred from the dais. "Let the Council savor the sight."
Laughter rippled through the chamber with every step I took, every breath, was a spectacle.
"Look at her," one lord sneered, leaning back with his goblet. "Once the Lady of this house, now crawling like a servant. How far the mighty fall."
Another inhaled sharply, his crimson eyes narrowing on me. "Her blood sings… the child inside her magnifies it. Jethro, are you not tempted to drain her dry and keep the heir for yourself?"
Jethro sat on his throne, impassive, red eyes glowing as he neither confirmed nor denied. He simply watched and hatred was written all over his face and the weight of his gaze burned more than the chain on my ankle.
I reached the table, placed goblets carefully before the elders, my hands shook and one cup slipped, blood sloshing over the rim onto my wrist. The scent was overwhelming. My lips parted, instinct tugging me to lick it clean.
Lydia's voice cut sharp. "Do it, lap it up like the rat you are."
The Council roared with laughter and my stomach twisted, my throat burned. I pressed my lips together until they bled.
"Why resist?" one elder teased, leaning close, his fangs gleaming. "You reek of hunger so one taste won't matter."
"I—" My voice cracked. "I can't."
The tray wobbled and one goblet slipped as it shattered across the marble, blood spreading like a pool of shame which rose gasps.
Lydia clapped her hands, delighted. "Clumsy again! My lords, what do you think? Shall she clean it with her tongue, since it obvious she did it deliberately?"
"Do it," they chorused. "On your knees, girl!"
I froze my belly shifted, pain shooting up my spine and my pride screamed no, but my body sagged under the weight.
I turned toward Jethro, desperate. "Please… stop this."
His eyes were pits of fire and his voice was ice. "If you refuse, you disgrace yourself further so choose wisely."
Tears blurred my vision, I can't believe he would continue doing this to me even when I'm pregnant with his heir, I was nothing more than his shame.
"Enough of this!"
The voice silenced the hall, deep, sharp, cutting through laughter like a blade and my head snapped up to see Tristan. He stood at the edge of the hall, tall and cloaked, his eyes glowing. His presence was a storm which raise gasps again.
"A cast one? What the hell is that bastard doing here?"
"He dares enter our council?"
"This is forbidden!"
Tristan's gaze locked on me for the first time that night, my heart surged with something other than despair.
Lydia's lips curled, she practically purred. "See, Jethro? Proof enough that she summoned him. And it obvious that your little wife spreads her legs for a cast-off traitor."
"It's not true!" I screamed, chain rattling as I dragged myself forward. "I never—"
"Silence!" Jethro thundered, rising to his feet and power rolled from him in waves, pressing down on my chest, stealing my breath.
Tristan didn't reacted, he stepped closer and fists clenched. "She suffers because of you and I will not stand idle while you humiliate her! Aren't you ashamed of yourselves? She's pregnant and this is what you subjected her too?"
Lydia laughed, walking toward him, hips swaying like a snake. "And what will you do, outcast? Bleed for her? Or perhaps..."
Her words ended in a sharp crack as Tristan's hand struck her across the face. The sound echoed like a whip and gasps tore through the chamber. Blood welled from her lip.
"How dare you!" Jethro spat with anger.
Chaos erupted and vampires leapt to their feet, some snarling for blood, others laughing in shock. Fangs flashed and goblets spilled.
Jethro's aura slammed down, silencing the noise, his voice boomed. "You dare lay a hand on my queen?!"
Tristan's chest heaved and his eyes blazed. "If she is queen, then you are blind because she is poison, and you Jethro..."
"Stop!" My voice broke as I crawled between them, chains clanging. "Please! Don't fight because of me!"
The Council erupted again.
"She admits it!"
Some saying, "She defends him!"
"Betrayal!"
Jethro's gaze cut into me like a blade. "Even now, you shield him."
"I only wanted to stop bloodshed! and don't you dare accused me because I am not like you." My hands shook as I clutched my belly. My child kicked, as if sensing the storm.
One elder hissed, licking his lips. "Her blood tempts me, the heir must be powerful, Tristan, let us share her. Think of the strength—"
"No!" I screamed, wrapping both arms around my stomach my fangs pierced my lip in panic, "nobody will touch me or my baby!"
The Council stirred, restless, hungry as the scent of my blood ignited their frenzy. Chairs scraped, claws scratched across the marble. Their growls rose.
Tristan snarled, stepping closer and the guards blocked his path, swords gleaming, fangs bared.
Jethro's aura crushed the hall again, he stood tall, cloak billowing, crimson eyes locked on me. "You will pay for this humiliation, Serah! And whatever fate awaits Tristan, you will share in it." The words struck harder than chains.