Sold to the ruthless vampire king

Cassie's POV

"Father, please don't do this!" I begged, tears streaming down my face. I couldn't believe my father could sell me off.

I struggled to break free, but my strength was no match for the vampire soldiers. Their grip on my hands was like iron, binding me painfully.

"Mother, please do something!" I shouted, now looking at my mother, who was crying alongside my little sister. She could not do anything because my father had the final say in our house.

I looked at my father, his cold face staring at me without any emotion. I cried, begging for him to change his mind. Now, I was the scapegoat, used as bait for my father's illegal dealings with the vampire king. He had cheated the vampire king, and now the king had sent his soldiers to raid our village and burn it down. But my father stepped up and demanded they take me instead and spare the whole village.

The soldiers told their king, and of course, he accepted the offer. I really didn't want to have anything to do with other creatures. I had actually planned to get married to a normal human like me in the nearest future, but now it was impossible.

"Any last words?" the soldiers asked my father, but he didn't say anything. He just gestured with his hand that they could go, which made me cry louder. My chest heaved as I sobbed and struggled.

The two soldiers that held me pushed me into the carriage and locked the door. I banged on the door, pleading for help, but no one came to my rescue.

When the carriage started moving, I looked at my father through a little hole. He stared at the carriage without any emotion until it disappeared from his sight.

I felt betrayed and angry. "Please let me go..." I begged, my voice now low, my body tired from the tantrums.

The soldiers didn't even bother to answer me. They continued riding, and I didn't know when exhaustion took over and I fell asleep.

.....

When I woke up, it was almost evening. My surroundings were calm, and I could hear birds chirping. The carriage had stopped, which made me confused. I peeped through the little hole and saw that we were in the middle of a thick forest, and the carriage was slightly tilted.

"Why aren't they moving?" I asked myself, wondering what was going on.

I pushed the carriage door, and it opened immediately, almost making me fall. I steadied myself and looked around, only to find the dead bodies of the vampire soldiers with their heads missing. The horses were nowhere to be found.

I almost screamed but held my mouth tightly, not wanting to attract any danger lurking in the forest.

My stomach immediately churned, and I retched, feeling nauseated. I silently walked back to the carriage and stayed inside, my heart beating with fear.

I locked the door from the inside, afraid of any harm. "Is this how I'll die?" I muttered under my breath, unable to think of what to do next.

The truth was that I wasn't familiar with anywhere outside my little village, let alone a thick forest filled with dangerous creatures.

I was still lost in my thoughts when I heard a loud bang on the carriage. My body jolted, electrified. Immediately, I started feeling my energy drain from my body.

"Electro?" I muttered under my breath, remembering the tales about the deadly creature that paralyzes its prey with electricity, draining their strength until they die.

I started feeling dizzy. "No! I can't die like this!" I shouted, my strong will keeping me awake.

"Stop!" I yelled, and like magic, it worked or so I thought. I heard the creature shriek and a loud thud, like it had fallen to the ground.

I looked at my hands, wondering if I had magical abilities, but I didn't see any trace of magic around me. I leaned on the carriage seat, my body weak, my breathing slow.

Even though I was now weak, I still thanked the heavens I wasn't dead.

I then heard footsteps approaching the carriage, and my heart began to race.

"Are they coming for me?" I thought, closing my eyes in frustration. My mind began to race through everything I thought I'd achieved in life-my education, training, and experiences-all of it could end today in this forest.

I concluded that this was it. I waited for the worst to happen when I suddenly heard a calm, soothing voice.

"Are you alright?"

I felt a strange sense of safety, but I couldn't be sure. I remembered stories of creatures like the "Mimica," which could mimic loved ones' voices to lure you out and then feed on your flesh.

But this voice wasn't familiar, and yet, it felt welcoming. Still, I didn't respond, afraid of what would happen.

Then I heard another voice, deeper this time.

"Are you sure she's still alive?"

That surprised me. How did they know I was a female?

They tried to open the door, but it was locked. I heard a click sound, and then the door opened! One of them must have been a wizard.

The first man who spoke carried me out of the carriage and laid me on his chest. I almost flinched but stopped myself. I kept my eyes closed, pretending to be asleep, not wanting them to speak to me.

"Is she breathing?" the second voice asked.

"Yes, she is, but her breathing is faint," the first man replied.

He began walking away with me in his arms, and oddly, I didn't feel scared. Instead, I felt safe. His scent filled my senses, and I listened to his steady heartbeat until exhaustion overtook me, and I fell asleep.

.....

The next time I woke up, I found myself in a tent, my body covered with a warm cloth. Crawling to the entrance, I opened it and saw the two men sitting a bit far from the tent. A fire crackled before them, smoke rising into the air.

It seemed they were cooking something.

I watched them closely for a while, studying them. "Can I trust these guys?" I asked myself.

The aroma of their food reached my nose, and my stomach grumbled loudly. I realized I hadn't eaten anything since yesterday afternoon. The hunger hit me hard.

As if they noticed, both men turned and looked at me, laughing. Embarrassed, I quickly went back inside the tent and lay down, unsure of what to do next.

A gentle knock on the tent's wooden frame startled me.

"I got something for you to eat," the first man said.

His voice sent a strange warmth through me. I didn't respond, still hesitant about trusting him.

"I won't hurt you," he added softly.

Before I could stop myself, I found myself at the entrance of the tent. I opened it quickly, surprising even myself.

Our eyes met. His sapphire gaze locked onto mine, and my breath caught. His face was captivating handsome, yet gentle.

We stared at each other for what felt like an eternity before he chuckled, revealing deep dimples.

"How can someone be this handsome?" I muttered under my breath, quickly looking away before I made a fool of myself.

Cassie gently collected the food and water from his hands.

"Thank you," she said softly.

He nodded in response and walked away, leaving her alone to eat.

She sat down in the tent and devoured the food like a starving lion. It was grilled fish, and it tasted surprisingly delicious.

When she finished eating, she drank the water he had given her and let out a satisfied sigh, her stomach now full.

Carefully, she set the plate aside, not wanting to attract any unnecessary attention. As she sat, waiting for the food to settle, a crashing sound erupted outside, followed by a loud scream from the other man the one with the rough voice.

Fear crept into her chest. What was happening?

Curiosity won over her hesitation, and she decided to peek outside. As she stuck her head out, her eyes widened in horror.

A bear.

The massive beast stood a few feet away, its dark eyes scanning the surroundings until it locked onto her. Her breath caught as it roared and charged in her direction.

Her heart pounded so hard she thought it might stop. Frozen in fear, she could do nothing but watch as the bear hurtled toward her.

Before it could reach the tent, the bear's body suddenly collapsed, sliced into pieces. Blood splattered everywhere, some of it spraying onto her face and clothes.

Cassie screamed, stumbling backward into the tent, her hands trembling as she tried to wipe the blood from her face. The metallic smell overwhelmed her, and she retched violently, emptying what little food she had eaten.

"Are you okay?"

That soothing voice again.

She turned her head to see him walking toward her. His calm, steady presence seemed to cut through her panic.

He knelt beside her, gently raising her head to meet his gaze. Her wide, tear-filled eyes locked onto his, and for a brief moment, the world felt still. Her heart thudded rapidly, this time for an entirely different reason.

"Are you okay?" he asked again, his voice soft yet firm.

His question jolted her back to reality.

"N-no," she stammered, tears streaming down her face.

"Come, let's wash your face," he said, helping her to her feet.

He guided her to a nearby stream, where she rinsed the blood from her face and body. The cold water soaked her clothes, leaving them clinging uncomfortably to her skin, but at least she was clean again.

"Why are you helping me?" she asked, her voice shaky but firm. This time, she needed answers.

He smiled, his dimples appearing as his calm expression softened.

"I'm entitled to help you," he said simply, gently tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear.

Her brows furrowed as she pressed further. "Who are you? And how did you find me?"

"Stop asking so many questions," the rough voice of the other man interrupted sharply, his tone grating on her nerves.

Cassie almost rolled her eyes but held back, determined not to let his attitude deter her.

"I need answers," she said firmly, her voice rising.

The man with the soothing voice walked over to his companion and whispered something to him. Whatever he said seemed to settle the other man, who turned and walked away with a huff.

Returning to her, the soothing-voiced man's calm expression remained intact.

"What's your name?" he asked, his tone now tinged with genuine curiosity.

Cassie crossed her arms over her chest, studying him for a moment before replying.

"Cassie."

Hearing her name, the man with the soothing voice smiled as he repeated it " Cassie ," Cassie looked at him, momentarily distracted by how her name seemed to sound sweeter when he said it.

"What's your name?" she asked, her curiosity overriding her unease.

"Kael," he replied with a soft smile and stepped closer.

Cassie's breath hitched as he leaned in, their bodies almost touching.

"What are you doing?" she asked, her heart pounding in a mix of fear and confusion.

Before Kael could answer, the sharp voice of the other man interrupted.

"Cassie!"

She turned to see him glaring at her. His commanding tone sliced through the air.

"Cassie, sleep! You're so tired," he said, stretching his hand toward her.

Her legs wobbled beneath her as an inexplicable heaviness overtook her body. She stumbled, but Kael caught her before she could hit the ground.

Her eyelids felt impossibly heavy. She tried to fight the overwhelming urge to sleep but failed. As her vision dimmed, she managed to whisper, "Kael..."

And then, darkness consumed her.

Kael gazed down at her sleeping form, a calm yet authoritative smile playing on his lips.

"Let's go, Kaidon," he said, his voice sharp and commanding.

Kaiden nodded, signaling into the air. Within moments, about twenty men emerged from the shadows of the trees, moving silently. They gathered the camp's valuables, mounted their horses, and began the journey back to their kingdom. Kael carried Cassie in his arms, his hold firm yet protective.

......

When Cassie awoke, the soft embrace of a luxurious bed greeted her. The mattress beneath her was unlike anything she'd ever felt-plush and inviting. She blinked, her gaze sweeping across the room. It was adorned with fresh flowers, their fragrance calming, and every corner was meticulously designed with elegance and beauty.

"Am I dead?" she muttered to herself.

For a brief moment, she smiled. If this was the afterlife, it didn't seem too bad.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. Before she could respond, the door opened to reveal a woman in her fifties, dressed in regal attire that screamed royalty. Her warm smile was welcoming, but Cassie's gaze froze on the emblem embroidered on the woman's clothing.

"Isn't this the vampire kingdom's logo?" Cassie thought, her mind racing.

"Good morning, madam. How are you feeling?" the woman asked, her tone calm and friendly.

Cassie stared, unable to process what was happening. Madam? Was this woman referring to her?

Why would someone who looked old enough to be her father's age address her so formally?

"It's okay to be surprised," the woman continued with a smile. "I'll bring you something to wash your mouth and some breakfast."

Without waiting for a response, the woman left the room, locking the door behind her.

Cassie's thoughts spiraled.

"What's going on?" she muttered, rubbing her temples.

Was this a dream? She pinched herself hard, flinching at the sting. It wasn't a dream. It was real.

Her gaze wandered to the ornate room again. Despite the overwhelming beauty, dread settled in her chest.

"If I'm in the vampire kingdom, shouldn't I be tortured for my father's sins?" she thought.

Instead, she was being treated like royalty. Why?

Leaning back against the headboard, Cassie sighed, her thoughts heavy with questions and uncertainties about the life awaiting her here.

Her musings were interrupted by a soft click. The door unlocked, and the older woman entered, carrying a tray with a toothbrush and paste. Another, younger woman followed, holding a second tray laden with food.

The younger woman placed the tray on a distant table, then turned to Cassie and bowed.

Cassie's eyes widened in shock.

"Why would she bow to me? I'm not royalty," she thought, her confusion deepening.

"Here it is," the older woman said, handing her the tray with the toothbrush and paste.

Cassie's eyes widened further as she stared at the items. Only the Royals had access to such luxuries. Back home, they used sticks from certain trees to clean their teeth.

She hesitated, overwhelmed by the unfamiliarity of it all.

The old lady saw through Cassie's confusion and decided to speak.

"You can use it; it's all yours now," the woman said, encouraging her to use it.

Cassie looked at the woman, embarrassment creeping across her face.

"I don't know how to use it," she said, her lips drawn into a thin line.

The woman smiled. "Follow me," she said, carrying the tray and leading Cassie to the bathroom connected to the room. The woman demonstrated how to use it and eventually helped Cassie brush her teeth with it.

When they were done, Cassie felt refreshed and cool. The mint from the toothpaste gave her mouth a new feeling, which she loved.

"Thank you," she said as they went back inside the room.

"Come, have breakfast," the woman said. Cassie walked towards the table where the breakfast was placed and took a seat close to it.

She opened the plates, and the sweet aroma hit her nose. Looking at the sumptuous meal, Cassie couldn't imagine the time and resources spent to make this meal.

The meal consisted of freshly baked, flaky croissants, served with a delicate, gemstone-encrusted egg cup containing a perfectly poached quail egg. This exquisite breakfast was paired with a steaming, gold-rimmed cup of rich French roast coffee, infused with the subtle essence of hazelnut.

Cassie looked at the meal in awe, wondering if they had brought the wrong meal for her.

"Eat; it's yours," came the woman's encouraging voice, which made Cassie begin to dig in, savoring every bite.

She really enjoyed the meal. When she was done, she used the napkin placed on the other side of the tray to clean her lips. The younger lady bowed and cleared the table, then took the tray outside.

"Sorry for not properly introducing myself. My name is Zarea, and I'll be in charge of your personal welfare. Please, can I know your name?"

The woman politely asked, and Cassie replied, "Cassie."

"Nice name. I'm honored to serve you," Zarea said with a smile and a little bow.

Cassie stared at Zarea, wondering why she was bowing for her.

"Sorry, ma'am, please why are you bowing to me? I don't belong to any royalty."

Hearing Cassie's words, Zarea smiled sweetly."Don't worry, madam, we'll let you know later. Just know that you are in safe hands, and also know that many have fought to be in your position, so consider yourself lucky."

What Zarea said made Cassie more confused. Wasn't she in the vampire kingdom? Or was the royal logo she was seeing just an illusion?

Things were getting really confusing for Cassie, but she decided to act calm. Like the woman said, she'd let her know later, so she would wait until they told her, as long as there wouldn't be any danger ahead.

Zarea studied Cassie's face and saw that it was calm, and she was happy about it.

"Madam, please, can you wait a little while? Let me prepare your bath," Zarea asked Cassie with a warm smile.

"Umm... Please, ma'am, don't call me that. Call me Cassie. I'm more comfortable with that," Cassie said, her voice full of sincerity.

Zarea widened her eyes in shock, then kneeled down on both knees and lowered her head, looking at the ground.

"I don't dare call you by your name; if I do, I'll pay with my life. And also, for my safety, please don't call me ma'am. Call me by my name," Zarea said, her voice cracking, as though she might cry.

This made Cassie even more confused. "What kind of ruthless kingdom sets such rules?" she thought, unable to digest the cruelty of the place she had just found herself in.

Immediately, she remembered that she had encountered two men back in the forest. She was curious about where they were now.

"Please stand up," she said, helping Zarea to her feet.

"Thank you, but please, next time, allow me to get up by myself," Zarea said, smiling once again.

"Okay, okay. I want to ask-please, where are the two men who brought me here?" Cassie asked, but Zarea remained unfazed by her question. She had been warned not to disclose important things to her until the right time.

"I don't know what you're talking about, madam. I was just assigned to take care of you here," Zarea said and bowed.

Cassie frowned upon hearing this. She now remembered fully that the other man had cast a sleeping spell on her, which made her fall into a deep sleep before they brought her here.

"Madam, I'll go now. It's time to bathe," Zarea said, then headed straight for the bathroom. She stayed there preparing things for Cassie's bath before coming out.

"Permit me to go and call the others to bring the rest of the things," Zarea said and went outside, locking the door behind her.

Seeing them lock the door made Cassie feel strange, though not that she was planning to run anyway.

Cassie stared into space, wondering what would become of her in this place. While she was still lost in thought, she heard a gentle knock and a click, which indicated that the door had been opened. She saw Zarea come in with four maids, each wearing a different dress that matched the others, all adorned with the royal logo.

One of the maids was holding a bowl of water that was releasing steam.

They all bowed and headed to the bathroom, while Zarea came out to call Cassie.

"Madam, it's time to bathe," Zarea said with a smile, and Cassie followed her inside the bathroom, surprised by the beautiful and neatly arranged interior.

But one thing she was concerned about was that she couldn't use the bathtub. Also, why were these ladies here when she wanted to bathe?

"Please, I need some privacy," Cassie said, crossing her arms over her chest.

The maids were a bit hesitant because it was their job to help Cassie bathe.

"What? Why that look?" Cassie asked, confused by their hesitation.

"We are meant to help you bathe," one of the maids said in a calm voice.

Cassie's eyes widened in realization. "But that's only done for royals. Why me, though?"

And besides, even if she were a royal, she wouldn't allow them to help her. It felt embarrassing.

"No, no, thanks. I can do it myself. I don't feel comfortable with that," Cassie replied honestly. The maids all bowed and left, including Zarea.

Cassie sighed deeply and began to bathe. The scented soap made her feel relaxed and good.

She couldn't use the bathtub, so she stood the whole time and bathed. When she was done, she dried herself, tied a towel around her body, and went out of the bathroom.

When she returned to the room, she saw another set of ladies, dressed in the same style of clothing, with the same royal logo imprinted on their dresses.

Her lips twitched when she saw this. She really wanted to ask why she was receiving such special treatment, but she knew she had to wait until the right time.

They all bowed, and one of them spoke.

"We are here to help you get dressed."

Cassie stared at them, almost laughing.

Why were they treating her so well here? Was it good treatment before suffering?

She wondered, unable to shake the feeling that some danger awaited her.