Vampire Shadows

"What do you mean?"

"You see dear, I used to be a prisoner just like you, I was captured by the vampires for reasons I didn't know. Just like the rest of the people captured, they were going to just feed on me and throw my body in the gutters.."

"...wait, so you are human?" I cut him eagerly, but hey you can't blame me, I just realized that this guy is human, I never thought I'll be able to see a normal person ever again. Although he isn't really the kind of person I'll like to meet. He's all old and care free about the whole staying in the vampire kingdom stuff. Right now, I need a human who can help me escape, not a jolly Grandpa.

"Yes, of course, dear," he said warmly.

"So why didn't they kill you along with the others, " I asked, trying my f**cking best to sound serious.

" Yea, as I was saying, we were all led to various high ranked vampires who have the privilege to feed on us, since human blood isn't something they get every day. I was dragged into the chamber where the vampire was. I couldn't believe my life was over and it was when I had thought it just began. It was the year I graduated from medical school." He said, and I could feel the calmness in his voice. But surprisingly, no regrets. I mean, he's supposed to be a successful doctor with a family and probably, grand kids. But here he is, stuck in a stupid f**cking vampire world. His whole career is gone.

"So? What happened?"

"I was scared, I had different imaginations about how the vampire that'll end my life will look like." He stuttered, and some how I understand what he felt. That's the same creepy, scary feeling I had when I was about to meet Nicholas.

"But I was wrong, she wasn't scary at all, in fact, she didn't look like the blood sucker that she was, she looked like a normal human, an extraordinarily beautiful one. Seeing her, death didn't feel like a bad thing anymore."

"She took a step towards me, and I knew my life was over, but I had only one thing in my at the moment. 'How can someone this beautiful hurt even a fly?' It seemed out of place but it was true. She leaned in to bite my neck but ended up landing her lips on mine. From that moment on, I knew there was no turning back."

My eyes grew wide at his statement.

"What do you mean? Why did she kiss you?"

"Because she loved me, she claimed I was her mate, and sincerely, I felt it too even though I didn't know what that meant at that time. I fell in love with her, causing me to stay here for the rest of my life. And even though I threw my life away, I didn't regret it one bit. At least I use my medical knowledge here in the castle."

"So, you just left everything behind for love?"

"I guess you can say so."

"But what about your life outside these walls?"

"It's in my past, this is my life now."

I didn't add anything after he said this. What can I possibly say.

"Now, dear, you are all clean, go get some sleep now," Khalil said in his all merry voice. I stood up and started to make a turn toward my cage but stopped.

"Who is she?" I asked, turning my head to face him. I felt like knowing, maybe I've met her, although I have seen only a few women of high position since I got here, most of them are soldiers of course.

"She was Ardelean's Aunt. The most strong and beautiful vamp I have ever met."

"Was?" I asked, I understood exactly what he meant.

"We lost her in one of the battles." He said, his head low, trying to avoid eye contact. I could feel the sadness clouding even though he was trying his best to hide it. I'm sure he hasn't healed.

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay, it's been seven years now, and even Ardelean still misses her presence. She was like a mother to him."

I didn't know why he was telling me this but, "Ohhhh." was all my stupid mouth could bring.

"Alright now, go get some rest. We don't want you getting weak and dizzy due to the blood loss," he said, his bubbly nature returning.

"Hey, get her some fruits and make sure she takes them." He said to Zaid before leaving the room.

"Zaid…" I started, but he cut me with a big warm hug.

"God, I hope you are alright." He said, leaning away from me to check my now neatly wrapped injury.

"I'm fine Zaid," I stuttered. My face was flushed, I could feel it.

"So-r-ry, I - was just worried. I didn't mean to." I could see the embarrassment on his face, and the surprising nervousness. Zaid isn't the type to feel or act nervous, not even when he's talking to Nick. This seems soo out of place.

In order to clear the weird atmosphere, I grabbed him, hugging him tightly.

"Stop, playing around with the Prince. He doesn't appreciate people being disrespectful to him." He said.

"And I don't appreciate being bossed around like a puppet." I huffed

"Well, do you know what I don't appreciate?" He asked, in a rhetorical way. I shook my head in reply.

"I don't appreciate you getting hurt."

Those words warmed my heart. I can't believe he just said he loves me. Well technically he didn't, but his statement makes it feel so. At least he cares about me, that's what he's trying to say if I'm not mistaken.

The sound of the door opening made me jump out of his arms quickly. But it was too late, Prince Ardelean already caught us in our intimate moment.

And yes, he didn't say a word, he just looked between me and Zaid repeatedly. Making us feel tiny and stupid.

"How is the arm?" He asked settling his eyes on me.

I didn't say a thing, and I'm not going to. There's no way I'm going to talk to the guy who hurt me a few minutes ago, he's not even trying to apologize. Though I don't know why I even had the idea of him saying sorry. It just doesn't seem like something he'll do.

"I'll just go get some rest now," I said, to Zaid, then walked towards my cage.

It's kind of impressive and depressing that some weeks ago, I had to be forced to enter my cage and now I'm willingly taking myself in, with no pressure, it feels like I have nothing to fight for anymore.

"Kendra." He called out softly, but I have already made up my mind. So I moved to the cage and closed the door swiftly, totally ignoring him.

"Kendra you don't ignore me when I'm talking to you, or else…"

"… or else what?" I bit in angrily. And I could see anger flush through his face.

"Leave us." He said. Zaid gave me a defeated look before leaving the room.

And then, it was just me and his highness, prince 'Dracula'.