The sun had barely crossed the horizon when Alexander and I arrived at the market square. He had ordered Isabella to wake and dress me at first light with the promise to spend the day amongst the people of the ton. Giddy with excitement to explore and learn a world different to my own, I rushed to get ready without protest, and met Alexander in the foyer.
"A fine morning." He greeted with a smile, as he took my hand and helped me into the carriage.
"Indeed it is." I replied with a smile of my own. "In truth, I cannot express how excited I am to see more of your world."
He chuckled as he sat beside me in the carriage. "Truly, it is not that exciting."
"I beg to differ."
"But.." He added. "If you are lucky, you might witness a disagreement between the jewellers vendor and the crystal vendor."
I frowned. "Why a disagreement?"
He pursed his lips. "One claims that the other sells fake gemstones, while the other claims that the crystals are haunted. I, myself have not purchased items from either vendor in fear that what they say is true."
I scoffed. "Surely, you don't believe in such witchcraft?"
"Unfortunately, I do." Alexander admitted with a grimace. "Why would I purchase something haunted when I am cursed already?"
I arched a brow at his words. "You believe yourself cursed?"
"I am a prince." He said simply. "Surely that reason alone speaks for itself whether or not I am cursed."
I chuckled. "Point taken, but why wouldn't you purchase something from the jeweller's vendor?"
"I cannot be seen wearing fake jewellery, it would be a scandal." He grinned as he thumped the roof of the carriage. "Forward!"
The carriage jolted forward as the horses broke into a gallop. I gripped the edge of my seat, watching the scenery blur past the windows. Trees, fields, and distant hills merged into a continuous streak of green and gold. We sped through small villages, the clatter of hooves and wheels on cobblestones echoing through the narrow streets. People turned to stare, their faces a blur as we raced by. The wind whipped through the open windows, carrying the scent of fresh hay and blooming flowers.
As we approached the next town, the driver snapped the reins, urging the horses faster. The carriage swayed and bounced, but we never slowed. We hurtled over bridges and around sharp bends, the countryside flashing by in an exhilarating rush.
Finally, the town's spires came into view. The driver pulled the horses to a stop with a dramatic flourish, and I tumbled out, breathless but exhilarated.
At first, it seemed quiet, but as I ventured further into the square, the place started to come alive around me. Vendors were already bustling around me, setting up their stalls with practiced efficiency, their faces illuminated by a mixture of excitement and routine determination. The baker, a stout man with flour dusted hair, arranged golden loaves and pastries on his wooden display, their buttery fragrance mingling with the scent of brewing coffee from the stand across the way. A lively hum of chatter filled the air, punctuated by the occasional bark of a vendor hawking their wares or the clink of coins exchanging hands.
While waiting for Alexander outside a cake shop, I noticed a figure leaning against a lamppost opposite where I stood, leering at me. Instinctively, I begin to walk, quickening my pace, hoping to pass unnoticed, but as I got closer, the figure straightened and began to approach me. He was dressed in a dark cloak, with the hood pulled low over his face.
"Are you lost, little one?" He asked, stepping directly into my path. Immediately, there was something off about his tone, something that made my heart start to race.
I hesitated for a second, then slowly shook my head. "No, I'm not lost." I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "I am waiting for my master."
He gazed with fascination at me. "That's a nice necklace you're wearing." He said, moving a step closer. "How much?"
My stomach dropped as I grasped ahold of the amulet worn around my neck. "It's not for sale." I took a quick look around; hoping somebody would come and rescue me, but everyone was too busy caught up in their own world to notice that I was minutes away of getting robbed.
"Come on, I don't have all day." He uttered, more impatient now. He leaned closer and retracted his fangs. "Unless, you want to be my dinner this evening?"
My mind was racing as I weighed my options. I could hand him over the amulet and hope he'd take it and leave, or I could run. The adrenaline was kicking in, and my legs felt ready to bolt. But what if he caught me?
I took a deep breath. "Alright, you can have it." I said, reaching slowly to unclasp my necklace. But instead of the necklace, I took out a bobby bin from my hair and with one swift motion, threw it past him down the street.
For a split second, he looked in the direction of the pin, and that was all I needed. I turned and sprinted as fast as I could, not looking back. My heart pounded in my ears, and my legs felt like they were on fire, but I didn't stop until I reached the end of the street, when I heard the sounds of laughter coming from a nearby tavern.
Thinking that a tavern would be the last place a human would choose to hid, I bursted through the heavy wooden doors, gasping for breath. As I stepped into the warm, dimly lit room, the barkeep looked over at me, startled at first, then seemingly annoyed by my appearance.
The air was thick with the scent of ale, roasted meat and a hint of tobacco smoke, an oddly comforting aroma that seemed to wrap itself around me like a familiar old coat. Flickering candlelight cast dancing shadows on the rough-hewn walls, illuminating the faces of the patrons who crowded around sturdy oak tables, engaged in animated conversation.
As I made my way towards the bar, I couldn't help but notice a particularly boisterous group gathered around a large table near the fireplace. At the centre of the crowd was a man who clearly had more than his fair share of drink. His ruddy face was flushed, and his laughter boomed above the loud, prolonged noise, a deep rolling sound that seemed to fill every corner of the room.
The barkeep, a burly man with a grizzled beard and harsh eyes, caught my gaze as I approached the bar. "Where's your master, slave?" He asked, sliding a tankard of ale towards a patron. "You shouldn't be wandering these streets alone, especially with hungry beasts lingering at every corner."
"In truth, I don't know where he is." I replied, taking a seat on one of the well-worn stools. "I ran in here to avoid getting robbed."
The barkeep shook his head, disapprovingly. "Robbed or not, I wouldn't stay here too long. Your kind is not welcomed here, especially now that he's in here." He said, nodding towards the lively group by the fire.
Curious by his meaning, I turned my attention back to the drunken group and almost bolted when I spot Phoenix sitting amongst the group, clinging onto his drink. Swallowing hard, I turned back in my seat, doing my very best to control my heavy breathing. "If I had known he was here, I would've avoided this place."
The barkeep arched his brow. "You know of Phoenix?"
I nodded. "Unfortunately. He is a friend of my master."
His eyes widened at the revelation. "You are Alexander's blood servant?"
I nodded. "Indeed."
He leaned over the bar, and kept his voice low. "You are the very first blood servant he has claimed."
With a deep exhale, I rolled my eyes. "So does everyone keep telling me."
The barkeep eyed me. "The town is very curious as to know the reason why, especially since his good friend despises humans."
"Yes...that part they always fail to explain." I said.
He lowered his voice, low enough to make it as though he was whispering. "You didn't hear it from me, but his brother was supposedly slain in battle by the human that was leading the war. Phoenix holds a great grudge against all human beings ever since he learnt of his brother's death. Now, leave, girl, if you want to see another day."
Nodding, I swirled around to leave only to gasp when I see the robber standing in front of the tavern doors with an enraged look on his face.
"THERE YOU ARE, YOU LITTLE SHIT!" He yelled.
"Oh no..." I began, but I was cut off as the robber slammed his fist on the bar, making me jump.
He snarled. "How dare you mock me!"
My heart raced as I tried to keep my voice calm. "Please..."
The robber loomed over me, his face contorted with rage. "Give me the necklace!"
Before I could react, his hand shot out, striking me across the face. The blow sent me sprawling from my chair, my cheek stinging with pain. I could taste blood and felt the room spin as I struggled to push myself up from the floor.
Gasps and murmurs of shock rippled through the tavern, but no one moved to intervene or to help. I believed that they had seen this too many times before, and that fear kept them rooted to their seats.
My vision blurred with tears, but I forced myself to look up at him. His face was a mask of fury, his chest heaving. "Get up, human." He sneered. "Get up, and let's see how smart you are now."
I scrambled to my feet, my whole body trembling. "I can't give it to you! I won't!" I whispered, my voice trembling. "Now, please, leave me alone!"
But he was beyond reasoning. He lunged at me, grabbing me by the arm and shaking me violently. "You have something that I want! Give it to me now before I kill you and rip it from your corpse!" He shouted, his grip bruising my skin.
I tried desperately to pull away, but his strength was fuelled by his rage. I could feel myself being dragged towards the door, my feet barely able to keep up. I caught the frightened eyes of the barkeep, who quickly looked away.
In a desperate bid to break free, I twisted my body and managed to escape his hold, stumbling backwards. The robber advanced on me, his fists clenched, his fangs elongated. "You think you can run from me?" He hissed, his voice dripping with venom.
Before he could strike again, a voice rang out. "Touch her again and it will be the last thing you ever do."
Everyone turned and gasped when they saw Phoenix lounging at the bar, his face set in a grim mask. "Do anything to her, and you will regret it."
The robber blinked, momentarily disoriented by the interruption. He snarled. "Stay out of this, whoever you are. This doesn't concern you."
Grabbing my arm, Phoenix pulled me behind him, his expression unyielding as he growled. "She is mine, therefore everything she does concerns me. Leave right now, or I will make you wish that you were never born."
Phoenix stood tall and imposing, and wore a long black coat that billowed around him like a shadow. His golden hair was tousled by the wind. His eyes, cold and calculating, and were currently fixed on the robber with a predatory intensity.
Across from him stood the robber, lithe and deadly, his form barely distinguishable from the surrounding darkness. His leather attire, clung to him like a second skin, and his brown hair glinted under the sun's gaze. His eyes, a striking red, glowed with a fierce determination and ancient wisdom.
He hissed, his voice dripping with contempt. "You choose a human over your own kind? That is something unheard of."
Phoenix lips curled into a cruel smile. "Yes, funny day, isn't it?"
Without warning, they leaped at each other, moving with a speed that was beyond human perception. The clash was thunderous, a cacophony of snarls and the sharp clang of steel as their blades met in mid-air. Phoenix wielded a broadsword, its edge crackling with dark energy, while the robber's twin daggers gleamed, infused with his own ancient magic.
Their movements were a blur, each strike and parry executed with deadly precision. Phoenix swung his sword in a wide arc, aiming to cleave the robber in two, but he dodged with a dancer's grace, retaliating with a flurry of swift jabs. He deflected most of the robber's attacks, but one dagger sliced through Phoenix coat, drawing a thin line of blood across his chest.
Phoenix roared, the sound echoing through the tavern, like a beast unleashed. He lunged forward, his sword a streak of darkness aimed at the robber's heart. The robber twisted away, the blade narrowly missing him and countered with a kick that sent Phoenix stumbling back against the bar.
"Your rage blinds you." The robber taunted, his breath coming in controlled, even gasps. "You cannot defeat me with brute strength alone."
Phoenix eyes burned with fury. "Then, let's see how you fare against this!" He raised his hand, and dark tendrils of shadow erupted from the ground, snaking towards the robber with terrifying speed. He spun his daggers, the blades humming with magical energy, and slashed at the tendrils, cutting through them as they neared. But Phoenix was relentless. Using the shadows to his advantage, he closed the distance between them in an instant, his sword aimed in a deadly thrust. the robber barely managed to parry, the force of the impact sending vibrations up his arms. He pushed back, using his agility to create space between them, but Phoenix was already upon him again, his attacks coming faster, more furious.
The robber's mind raced, calculating his next move. He couldn't match Phoenix' raw power head-on. He needed to outthink him, to use his rage against him. As the robber dodged another brutal swing, he feigned a stumble, allowing Phoenix to think he had the upper hand.
Phoenix lunged, overextending in his eagerness to land the final blow. The robber seized the opportunity, sidestepping his attack and driving one of his daggers into Phoenix side. He howled in pain, the dagger's enchanted blade searing his flesh. He staggered, but before he could recover, the robber twisted the blade and pulled it free, a spray of blood following.
"Is that all you've got?" Phoenix asked, his voice a deadly whisper, as he wiped the blood from his mouth.
The robber moved with inhuman speed, a blur of motion as he struck again and again, his daggers finding their mark with unerring accuracy. Phoenix tried to defend himself, but each wound sapped his strength, each strike bringing him closer to defeat. He fell to his knees, his sword slipping from his grasp.
"You're finished." The robber growled as blood dripped from his fangs.
Phoenix smirked. "Not quite."
With a burst of desperate energy, Phoenix launched himself at the robber, his claws aimed for his heart. They collied with a bone crunching force, both vampires locked in a deadly embrace. Blood flowed freely from their wounds, pooling on the floor beneath them. Phoenix's claws found his mark, piercing the robber's chest, but he responded by digging his own claws into Phoenix's back.
The world seemed to slow as they grappled, each fighting for dominance. The air was thick with the scent of blood and the sound of their snarls. With a final, ferocious effort, Phoenix twisted his claws deeper into the robber's heart, feeling the robber's life drain from him. The robber's eyes widened in shock and rage, his grip on Phoenix weakening.
With a roar of triumph, Phoenix ripped his claws free, tearing the robber's heart from his chest. He latter gasped, blood pouring from the wound, and collapsed to the floor, his body convulsing before lying still. Phoenix stood over him, panting, his own body covered in blood and sweat.
The tavern fell silent once more, the echoes of their fight fading into the day. Phoenix dropped the robber's heart to the floor, watching as the robber's body crumbled to dust. I watched as Phoenix staggered, his own wounds severe, but he remained standing, his eyes burning with victory.
"Phoe..." I began.
"Why did I almost die because of you, human?" He snapped.
"I..."
The barkeep spluttered. "I did warn her..."
Phoenix head snapped towards the barkeep, his eyes narrowing dangerously. "Did I ask you to speak, peasant? If not, do not open that mouth of yours in my presence."
The barkeep bowed his head and moved swiftly away to the other side of the bar. "Yes, sir."
Turning to me with a frown, he asked. "What are you doing here without Alexander? Do you care so little for your life that you would risk getting killed?"
"You are here alone." I said, my voice sharp.
Phoenix smirked as he leaned against the bar with an air of casual indifference. "I am no slave. I can do whatever I want, when I want, and I certainly don't need saving...unlike somebody."
"Clearly." I looked over at the spot the body of the robber laid before it vanished into thin air and gasped. "You just killed somebody in broad daylight!"
Phoenix rolled his eyes and took a drink from his tankard. "I ask you again, what are you doing here?"
I sighed. "I was minutes away of getting robbed, and I had no other option but to hide in here. If I had known my presence was such a problem to you, I would've avoided this place, but yet I didn't know you were inside."
His smirk faded and was replaced by a more serious look. "This is no place for a human."
My eyes narrowed, a mix of anger and something softer glinting in them. "Yes, I was warned."
Phoenix took a step closer, his voice dripping to a lower, more intimate tone as he asked. "What did he want? The robber?"
My shoulders slumped slightly as I showed him my necklace. "My amulet."
He reached out, and gently held the amulet in his hand and frowned. "Why would he want a worthless jewel?"
"It is not worthless!" I snapped, my voice edged with irritation.
His expression hardened. "Unless..."
Seizing the amulet from him, I gazed admiringly at the amulet. "It's very precious to me. It's the only thing I have left to remind me of my mother."
Moments passed when neither of us spoke. I watched him and it was clear that he was deep in thought. His eyes were fixed on something distant, but I could tell he wasn't really seeing it. There was an intensity in his gaze, a furrow in his brow, and his lips were slightly pursed as if chewing over a particularly tough problem. He stood perfectly still, his body almost rigid except for the occasional absentminded tapping of his fingers against the bar. Every now and then, he shifted slightly, his posture adjusting as if he was trying to find a more comfortable position to think.
I hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath, intending to break through his concentration.
"Also..." I said softly at first, not wanting to startle him. No response. I stepped a little closer, raising my voice slightly. "You said that I was yours? What did you mean by that?"
His eyes flickered, slowly coming back to the present. He blinked a few times, as if shaking off the remnants of his thoughts, and turned to look at me. He crossed his arms, his jaw set. "You're mine to kill. Nobody else gets that privilege but me."
"I apologise that you almost died because of me." I said, feeling a bit guilty for what had occurred only moments ago.
"Apologising to me isn't going to bring him back alive." He shot back, his tone incredulous.
I took a deep breath, trying to keep my voice calm. "You're sad because you killed a vampire?"
"I'm not happy about it." Phoenix uttered.
"But you saved my life!"
He growled. "I killed my own kind for a human! It goes against everything I stand for!"
I'm taken aback by his response, and instinctively took a step back. "Maybe this just shows that we weren't the enemy you always thought we were."
His eyes flashed with a mixture of hurt and defiance as he spat. "Vampires didn't kill my brother. You did."
A tense silence fell between us with neither of us was willing to break the hush. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, each beat loud in the quiet room. I could feel that his eyes were fixed on me, while mine darted around, looking anywhere but at him. Suddenly, the door creaked open, and we both turned to see Alexander stepping inside the tavern, oblivious to the charged atmosphere.
"Why are you drowning your sorrows in ale, Phoenix?" Alexander said brightly, completely unaware. "Lilith finally dump you?"
Dragging his eyes slowly from me, Phoenix moved his attention to Alexander and released a deep exhale. "Yes, as a matter of fact."
"Wow." Alexander arched his brow. "Really?"
Phoenix scoffed in derision as he shouldered passed the two of us. "Don't act like you care, Alex. We both know she likes to use and abuse her lovers."
"I'm sorry, but I did warn you. Several times in fact." Alexander muttered with deep remorse. "Lilith is dangerous, you should stay well away from her."
Turning his face, he glanced back at me, then to Alexander. "Yes, as should you, friend. These women will be the death of us all."
As we watched Phoenix saunter away, Alexander frowned. "What...?"
The absurdity of the whole situation was almost comical, yet I couldn't laugh. My mind raced, trying to connect the dots, to find some logical meaning behind his words, but there was none. It was like reality had glitched, leaving me standing in the middle of an impossibility.
"I searched the whole market for you. A part of me feared you had run away, Jane. Where did you go?" Alexander asked.
I shrugged. "I was thirsty."