Chapter 7 Slyvek

WHEN NIGHT CAME, Iafleur revisited the darkness where she had kept the vampire inside. Female vampires are called vampiresses but she cares nothing to identify correctly the nature of their description. Because to her, they're all the same--- monsters.

After convincing Dracyan earlier to go with her and clean his messy flat, she decided to sleep in before they head out to Faerionn Town the next day.

"I knew you wouldn't keep me in here for long. And besides, this darkness does not affect me. As you said, I belong in the dark. I lived my life hiding in the darkness. It's almost like it's a part of me now," said Nassia, the vampiress.

When Iafleur approaches her cage, that was the very thing she said to her. Iafleur remained placid and calm. The two women are both standing in the dark with only a large bar cell separating them.

"So, what do you want from me now?" the vampiress added.

"Tell me what happened to the princess?"

The vampiress smirked, amused to see her crushing her own pride. "Why are you suddenly interested now? I thought you said nothing could break into the heaviest guarded building in the United Kingdom."

"I'm not here for you to taunt me, monster."

"I'm not a monster. Please, stop calling me that," Nassia firmly declared.

"To me, you're all the same. Monsters. You told me that another war is coming, and if there are still indeed vampires living within the Sacred Woods, are you not also worried that the very last of your kind will soon meet their demise like you? My people are no longer afraid of you. We will fight to the end and finish all of you."

Nassia's smile disappeared. But after a few seconds, she lets out a loud scoff. "I think you misunderstood my warning from before, Iafleur."

Taken aback, she inquired, "How did you know my name?"

Nassia ignores her and continued, "The human princess takes a major role in the Eldentri's plans, which is why they are looking for her. You may not believe this but we vampires can communicate with the other vampires within the Sacred Woods. An old family friend told us about the princess lost within. I don't know what happened and how she ended up inside but her life is in grave danger."

Iafleur recalled that the princess was abducted during her visit to Faerionn Town. 'But who could have captured her? And how did they get inside the woods without a key?' These questions still linger in Iafleur's mind but she'll get to the bottom of this.

"And these Eldentri, why are they looking for the princess? Were they the ones who took her?" Iafleur asked.

Nassia shook her head. "I told you, I don't know the whole story or how she got there. But knowing that the Eldentri are looking for her, it can be likely concluded that they are the ones who took her. If the Eldentri plans something and it requires human sacrifice, it only means that they are planning something devious that will surely break loose chaos, a terrible fate leading to the destruction of one race."

"I don't understand."

Nassia gave her a grave look. "This all depends on you, woman. The burden lies visibly on your shoulders. If you fail to find the princess in time, the Eldentri will. And who knows what they're planning but it will not end well for all of England. If you want to save your people, you need to find the missing princess and the Frozen Throne."

"What now? I've never heard of such a thing before." Iafleur's forehead wrinkled in confusion. "What's this 'Frozen Throne' got to do with the war and the princess?"

The vampiress clicked her tongue and revealed, "The Frozen Throne is the answer to everything. I think I heard my parents once talking about the throne and they did mention that only a human being can find its location."

"And why is that? I don't even know what that thing is. How am I supposed to find it?"

"Your ancestors might have used a spell on it that disables a vampire's senses to find it. But as far as I'm concerned, only you can find it because you're human. You find that throne and everything will be over."

The vampiress' plead got even more complicated than Iafleur thought. But the Council tasked her to use her knowledge into finding their lost kingdom. If this vampiress wants her to find this Frozen Throne, does this mean that the throne is hidden somewhere outside the Sacred Woods? If this is the case, how will she be entering the woods? That's the only way for her to look for the Vampire Kingdom.

Nevertheless, Iafleur did not waver and came up with an idea.

"Is this Frozen Throne really real? Or its existence is only as "real" as the so-called "Vampire Queen"," she added in utmost sarcasm.

Nassia scoffed with a smirk. "It is. They're both real as you and I. Now, what do you say, woman?"

"Very well then. Eventually, I will look for the princess and bring her back safe and sound. But how about we make a deal, a deal that you all might want to agree with."

"I'm listening."

Iafleur smirked inwardly. 'She took the bait.' "I don't trust you and never will I trust any inhuman beings. But for the sake of my people, I am willing to go over beyond that line. The Human Council would probably know about the Frozen Throne but in exchange for that information, you will take me to the Vampire Kingdom."

Iafleur saw how the shock registered on Nassia's face. "Are you mental?? And why would I do that?"

"Based on what you told me, it seems to me that this "Frozen Throne" also plays an important role for the entire vampire race. I want to make certain that if case you decide to perform something stupid and betray me in the end, I will have the Human Council destroy that precious throne of yours."

Nassia crossed her arms over her chest. "Then I take it that you want me to take you to the Vampire Kingdom and you'll hand over the throne to us?"

"Exactly the idea."

The vampiress gravely nodded her head. It seems to Iafleur that her eyes are not that reluctant to believe her words. It was quite obvious that the ideal she offered comes at a disadvantage for her but the vampiress' decisive answer nearly threw her off guard.

"It's a deal then!"

Iafleur's playful smirk faded into the darkness. 'I baited her, didn't I? Or she baited me?'

However, their conversation ended up with them shaking hands by means of activating and agreeing to their deals. Iafleur felt a tingling sensation when their palms gripped each hand. The coldness of her skin indeed was an indication of her just being a corpse but how is she able to touch her now when she's only a spirit?

"How did you---"

Nassia cuts her off with a playful smirk. "I can only solidify my body for a few seconds. And you asked me earlier how I acquired your name, right? I will tell you how. While you are lost in the Graydel Woods, I was running away from my pursuer who wants me dead. Eventually, I overheard your conversation with your friend over the telephone. Vampires have a very good sense of hearing."

Iafleur thoughtfully nodded her head. Still, she couldn't care more about it now that she finally had her working on her palm into searching for their kingdom. The Human Council are probably building an army as they speak. The only thing they'll need from her now is the exact location of the Vampire Kingdom.

Of course, Iafleur could have just easily asked for the exact location but the Council warned her that the vampiress might lure them into a trap and ambush their army. This is why Iafleur needs to actually go there and witness the kingdom with her own eyes.

But who knows of the dangers awaiting her on the other side of the woods? Life and death are on the line. Iafleur knew already of the risks but as far as she was also concerned, she cannot, at all cost, lose to anyone inside.

♛♛♛

THE VAMPIRE KINGDOM was deemed lost and at the same a legend to some people. But he couldn't care more about their opinions. It's been over a thousand years, and many events have already occurred in his life. He was quite fortunate enough to witness those moments and many more wonderful things that life could offer to him. He lived longer than most of his comrades as he lost several of them during that frightful and unforgiving night--- the Great Slaughter.

After his survival, only one thing made clear to his mind, that he would never want any more bloodbaths to happen again as long as he's alive. Throughout the years, he's made many friends, then again he'd lost some not for long, for such is the fate of humans. An immortal vampire like him could live for eternity, with the only thing that could stop his time is by---

"Slyvek," a voice from behind called his name, halting his thoughts. A man wearing a black cloak approaches Slyvek in the gallery. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be looking for the princess now? You were supposed to bring her back!" he bellowed.

Slyvek's expression remained placid, unmoved by the cloaked man's anger. Or if he ever was angry. The hood of his cloak was quite too large for him to get a glimpse of his face. So, neither does he have any idea of his actual appearance. Slyvek sighed and spoke, "The only vampires searching, for now, are the Eldentri and my men. Obviously, the princess is unlikely to come forward to my men because of fear. But you have nothing to worry about the Eldentri, I will take care of them and get them out of the way."

"I don't care what you do with your own kind, it's still not enough to convince us and earn fully our trust. You know what we want, you bring that monster's body and the princess here and you'll get what you desire."

Slyvek turns to the man with sad eyes. "Please, my lord, refrain from using that word before me. We're not all monsters."

"You're all monsters. The lot of you! Because of you, King Althens died! Not only were you bloodthirsty but you also thirst for the power to rule over humanity." He scoffed with violence. Even though Slyvek could not see his full face but he could feel him gazing at him from head to foot, eyes gleaming with insults. "Our ancestors only did the right thing by eradicating your entire race."

"I completely understand the source of your anger. I know very well the pain of losing someone."

"Beings like you don't have any feelings. For all you ever want is nothing but to kill and kill many people as you want and satisfy your thirst for our blood," he added with gritted teeth.

Skyvek heaves a sigh. "That was all a very long time ago. I shamefully admit how I used to live on the path that leads me to blood. Nothing but the blood of the human being. But it all changed when the Great Slaughter occurred. I understand the pain of losing someone and the aftermath of suffering the truth that you can no longer be with them. During that night, I also lost someone very dear to me.

"I know you all think otherwise but we vampires also have feelings. In fact, our emotions are more highlighted compared to the emotions of human beings. The pain you feel is doubled to us."

The cloaked man snorted. "You vampires are very emotional compared to us humans. Do you actually want me to believe your story of finding light and changing into a better person? All vampires are the same. When will you ever understand that vampires and humans can never co-exist? Humans will only go down the same path. We will end up like nothing but a blood bag for the lot of you."

Slyvek held back his emotions to the pain of what the cloaked had just said. Despite the changes and efforts he showed, they are still reluctant to consider him as a changed man. The only way he could ever fully gain their trust is by bringing what they require.

Slyvek made a painful smile. "But that's all in the past now, is it? Vampires in the Sacred Woods have all changed. Every day I convince them and eventually, they opened their hearts to accept humans. Perhaps, someday we could all finally live in peace."

"Humanity will only have peace once we destroy for good the Vampire Queen. You bring her to us and we all live in peace!" After declaring those words, the cloaked man left without hearing Slyvek's response.

Slyvek could only heave out a sigh when he disappeared from his sight. He looked up at the portrait again that he's been admiring since he arrived earlier. It was the portrait of another influential person that he looks up to because of his capabilities and his method of ruling. A small smile formed upon his lips.

Two years ago he reformed and rebuild the Kingdom of Vampires and restored its former glory just as it was back then. Of course, the only thing he could possibly rebuild was the castle itself. The remaining parts of the kingdom could only be done when many hands are at work. Alas, the castle is standing once again and soon his fellow vampires would find their way home.

It took him a lot longer than he had expected. He also had to scour the lands of the massive Sacred Woods and search for the remaining vampires that were also sealed within. He found at least a few of them but still not enough to form an army. Since his strength was depleted from the lack of consuming enough human blood for hundreds of years, Slyvek could no longer rely on his power as an Umbran.

Indeed, Slyvek is the Umbran who found and restored the kingdom. But his depleting powers now are no longer as fearsome as everyone had thought.

Over the course of the years that he's lived in the world above, he finally began to accept in his heart the goodness of some humans. All along they were taught that humans are monsters too, but as he lived amongst them, he grew fond of their race and their culture. They encouraged him to open his eyes and see the reality of the beings they believed to be monsters. Though he may not have literally lived amongst them, he'd often watch them from afar within the woods.

After restoring the kingdom, that was when he came to the idea that if perhaps, he was able to see through their long-time enemies, he might be also able to convince the other side and see what he saw in them. He wanted also the humans to see pass through their blood-red eyes and lethal fangs that they're not monsters, that they are not some beings they should fear.

He wanted no more blood spilling on the ground, agonising screams and painful suffering. He wants to end it all.

But with this to be accomplished, he must get rid of the Eldentri and then find the princess, whatever he'll accomplish first, he cannot allow the Eldentri to capture the princess again.

The Eldentri are a group of three vampires, also known as the Elders of the vampire race. They've also lived long enough in the world above but not as long as the Vampire Queen lived. For the Vampire Queen existed many years before they did and it was believed that it was she who made and turned them into vampires. The Eldentri are the Queen's most loyal and devoted servants and followers. Any dark deeds she'd like to be done are made accomplished by them, and not a trace of any evidence that would lead back to them. Which is why the Queen entrusts them with all her plans.

When the Queen wants something, they instantly get it done. And anyone who opposes and gets in their way meets the same end--- death.

Slyvek knew of their plans. And he knows that once they plan something, it will never end well for the human race. But he knows the outcome and the only way to stop their devious scheme.

He must, at all costs, find that human princess and have her killed.

For what can a dead woman be of use?