He’s Cursed
Elora’s late old maid had often said, ‘The loyal ones live the longest lives.’ But the day’s event and her death made those words sound like a joke. She discovered a heartbreaking truth: the loyal ones die even quicker.
It was unfortunate that she had no chance to mourn the death of her maid before being escorted into the carriage with a troop of vampire armies protecting her.
After two hours of rough traveling in the bridal carriage, she slightly pushed the side window open and took in the sight outside.
Although it was nighttime, the moonlight served as light. The cold atmosphere was filled with silence apart from the sound of the carriage’s metal clashing against metal and the trots of the countless horses behind.
“My lady, it’s been two hours of travel. You need to eat something.”
Elora slammed the window closed. Her olive skin was now pale, perhaps short of blood, and her eyes were red from the hours of tears that had dried into them.
“I’m not hungry, Lia.” Her voice cracked as she glanced at her maid sitting opposite her. “How long before we reach the border?”
“I heard the vampires mention that we have less than twenty minutes.”
She nodded. Twenty more minutes and she’d be thrust into darkness forever. Twenty more minutes and she’d see the monster she’d have to get rid of one way or the other. Unconsciously, her hands clutched the small dagger tied in her garter.
Her father had given her a mission. It was either she murder her new husband and return to Yvlies in honour or die in the cruel hands of the monster.
“Tell me all you know about him,” she suddenly demanded.
“Who, my lady?”
“The second prince of Elyria. Tell me the rumors about him.”
The maid shifted uncomfortably in her seat and looked away. “My lady, it is not my place.”
“I wouldn't scold you, Lia. Tell me.”
As if the confirmation was all she needed, Lia instantly drifted closer to her and began. “My lady, he’s very dangerous, I heard. He takes lives mercilessly. The second vampire prince is rumored to have also killed two fiancées of his in the past. I presume he hates us humans and it was the reason he deemed us unworthy of his presence at the wedding,” Lia explained.
Elora couldn’t help the feeling of dread that gripped her throat like a chain of thorns. There was no way she was surviving with such a man.
“He seems really terrible.” Terrible enough for the dagger.
“You’re right, my lady. It’s no wonder he’s cursed by the holy one.” Lia pushed closer to the princess and continued. “He was cursed to die young by the holy one after he ruthlessly murdered his own human mother with his bare hands. His silver hair is enough evidence. Vampires with silver hair that appeared out of nowhere are cursed and a sore to look at. He must be terrible looking too.”
“I’d rather face death here than see such a vile creature.”
Lia’s eyes grew teary and with trembling hands, she held Elora’s. “You have to be very careful, my lady. The vampires are extremely evil. Not all of them agree to this union. You must be very strong.” She suddenly burst into tears and held her tighter. “I wonder how you’ll be able to cope when you don’t even have the memory of half your life.”
Elora wanted to ask the reason for her memory disappearance but she knew just like other times, she’d receive the same answer. It wasn’t like Lia was reluctant to release such a vital piece of information. The truth was that even she wondered why.
Letting out a sigh of resignation, she whispered, “Death is all I wish for at this mo…”
Her words were barely completed before the carriage jolted without warning. The loud panicked snorts of the horses reverberated in the cold dreadful night before the carriage swayed violently to the side, slamming her against the hard wooden wall.
“Ahhh,” she let out a scream, and then another as the carriage came to an abrupt stop.
“My lady, are you okay?” Lia gasped, her eyes glued on the princess’s bleeding left shoulder. “Oh heavens, you’re bleeding, my lady. It’s dangerous to bleed with vampires around. What…what do we do?”
Elora pushed the stray strand of her red hair behind her ears and her gaze flew to the closed window by her side. She wasn’t bothered about the injury and the blood that trickled down her arm, there was something bigger to worry about. Something greater, something even scarier. The growls, snarls, and the sound of swords clashing against swords.
“They’re rebels,” a voice thundered from outside. “Protect the princess.”
“My lady.”
Both girls' cries were swallowed by the heavy force thrown at the carriage, sending the hardwood parting in two at the middle and separating them. The wheels of the carriage pushed backward in force before roughly sending Elora to the floor, right in the middle of snarls and blood.
She raised her head and her entire body trembled in fear at the scene before her. Her breath caught in her throat. Her heart pounded like a fist against a relentless door.
The stench of blood coupled with the smell of the dust she laid on filled the air. There was blood. Claws tore through flesh and fangs sank into flesh.
It was an awful, confusing sight. Where had the rebels come from? Why was she being attacked?
Her eyes matched the forest beside them as she searched frantically for her maid. Green, scared, panicked. “L…Lia?” she cried out. She couldn't find her.
Maybe this was for the better? She thought. It was what she’d wished. To die before setting eyes on her husband.
Had the heavens perhaps heard her request?
At the moment of searching and panicking, her gaze locked onto a shadowy figure on a horse, watching the scene from afar.
Only a second later, the horse tore through the shadows of the night, galloping toward the fight. She froze, her wide eyes fixated on the figure whose silver hair flowed behind him in waves.
In his hand was a spear similar to the one at the altar a few hours ago and he ruthlessly pierced it through the hearts of the rebels. All while she watched. Captivated. Frozen. Shocked.
It was him.
She'd seen him only once but she knew it.
“Heavenly smell.” She screamed in horror as a creature jumped on her and pushed her further against the floor. She kicked and trashed, trying to escape its claws as its red eyes traveled down to her bleeding arm.
But just before the creature could sink its fangs into her, he was suddenly thrown away with force to the side.
She let out a loud breath of relief at the feel of the weight lifted off her. Slowly, she forced her eyes open. Her blurred gaze rose from a white horse to a bloodied spear and finally to the dark figure on the horse.
The moment Elora’s green eyes finally met with dark blue ones, her heart exploded.