You Rejected Me. Remember?

Those who weren’t immune to sunlight remained indoors as the rest marched with Draven towards the palace. Drenched in b***d, they paraded the streets. Whoever saw them would have been shocked. They were all coated in the dark red b***d of their victims from head to toe and they left a bloody trail as they marched forward.

However, the streets were already deserted. The doors of the houses were closed shut and there was no sign of life on the roads. After all, the night was almost over. Polanski had chosen the best time for the attack. Vampires who didn’t drink the potion would be the weakest when the sun rose so they all would have locked themselves in their homes already.

Good for them. Draven thought. The civilians need not witness what was about to happen. Those who resist him can die later. Snickering to himself, he glanced at the flags of the palace that were waving in the breeze. The towers of the majestic palace stood tall and proud. The main gates were already closed. The royals too must have prepared for the sun to rise. His gaze shifted at the numerous windows of the palace. They were all sealed well so that the sun’s harmful rays could cause them no damage.

“All of it should be mine,” Draven mumbled under his breath, glancing at the sky.

Fewer stars were visible in the sky and tints of red and orange were seeping into the blackness of the night. That meant the sun was about to rise and they must have already locked all the entrances. Yet that wasn’t a problem for him. He could always use telekinesis to open a locked gate.

“We will wait till the sun rises and use the full advantage of our immunity to the sun. What do you think, Polanski?” He asked his most trusted man who was standing right beside him.

“That would be excellent, Your Majesty,” Polanski agreed.

Draven stared into the horizon. The bright red sun slowly ascended, brightening the sky. Its rays spread through the earth, penetrating through the thick foliage of the forest. Draven’s psychotic grin widened when he didn’t feel his skin burning. The warm sunlight felt rather nice on his skin. Gleefully chuckling, he glanced at his arms. There was no redness and irritation.

“Wonderful!” He laughed and looked at the palace gates.

“It’s time,” smirking, he unlocked the massive gate of the palace.

“This isn’t going to be as easy as attacking the mental asylum. These people will fight back, regardless of the sun burning their skin. And one more thing. You can kill anyone you want, but the royals….they are mine,” he hissed the last part and gestured to his men to follow him. Though they were fewer in number than when they attacked during the night, they weren’t too less.

As they approached the gate, it flung open, allowing them to march inside. The guards on standby were shocked to see an angry mob drenched in b***d marching in the palace in broad daylight.

They were quick to send an urgent link to their comrades right before the intruders attacked them. The sun’s rays that irritated their skin was the least of their worries. The worst challenge was the attackers slicing through their bodies with no remorse. Throats were slit and chests were ripped open. The warriors of the Royal army fought back. However, the sun’s rays were making it hard for them to focus. Soon, the rogues managed to force their way inside the palace.

Using telekinesis, Draven opened all the doors and windows as he moved inside. He and his trusted men marched towards the King’s chamber. As expected, the King and the Queen were prepared for their son’s arrival. The urgent link that had alerted them of what was happening broke their hearts, yet their previous clash with the rogues had given them enough strength to face what Draven was up to. However, before the King and Queen could use their powers to freeze Draven and his rogues, he immobilised them.

“Hello, father and mother,” Draven snickered as he forced the windows open. The sunlight irritated his parents, yet, he couldn’t care less.

“Master!” A rogue rushed towards Draven, panting. “The Crown Prince is causing a lot of damage in the grand room….” He gasped.

Draven’s eyes turned red. In a flash, he was in the grand room. The windows flung open, allowing the daylight in the vampire palace as soon as Draven entered the place.

Damien tried his best to ignore the burning sensation, however, his efforts were short lived. Soon the rogues who were fighting him managed to pin him down. Chuckling, Draven used telekinesis to tie his limbs and seal his mouth.

“Do I need to immobilise you too?” He snickered.

“Perhaps, locking all three of you in the chamber I was locked in is a good idea,” he laughed.

Damien glared at his brother. He wanted to scream at him. Yet the seal his brother had placed was too tight.

“Let’s take them to the asylum. Our friends are waiting for us there,” his psychotic grin didn’t falter as he shifted his gaze towards Damien.

“Don’t worry. The sun won’t hurt us,” he sniggered. “It will burn you and our parents, though. But the walk to the asylum is short. Don’t worry, I don’t want you dead…yet. So I’ll go easy on you. I just want to have some fun,” chuckling, he gestured to his men to carry Damien and his parents to the gate.

Within a few minutes, they were ready to leave.

Although the King and the Queen were immobilised and Damien’s movement was restricted, they could see the damage Draven had caused as they carried them out. They saw the grey bricks of the palace walls painted with the b***d of their guards who had tried to protect their Kingdom till their last breath. They witnessed the mutilated bodies of their warriors lying motionless on the floor. Their b***d streamed on the marbled floor.

The Queen’s eyes stung as her heart bled for the dead. The King and the Prince gaped at what they witnessed, stunned. As they were carried outside and towards the asylum, they couldn’t decide what hurt them most – the sun’s rays burning their skin, or the agonising pain in their hearts that put their souls to unrest.

Little did they know that the scenery that awaited them in the asylum was far worse than what they saw in the palace. They felt as though their eyes might pop out of their sockets. The bloodbath had painted the pure white interior in scarlet red.

“Remove these bodies. We need space to move around,” Draven instructed his men as they marched towards the cell he was kept in.

Draven watched as Polanski and two other rogues shackled his family members to the chains.

“The chains won’t hurt a bit,” he told them when his men were done. “I’ve been here for a while,” he said, smirking.

“You are insane! We should have killed you! You….you are such a disgrace!” Damien screamed as soon as the invisible force that held him back disappeared.

Draven winced and started to click his tongue, hushing Damien.

“Now, now. There is no need to scream. It will only tire you out,” Draven tilted his head. “Of course, I’m insane. Didn’t you know that? You all are the ones who locked me up in the mental asylum. Have you forgotten already?” He mocked.

“Ain’t I kind to you? I haven’t killed you. I want my family to be safe. So I’m locking you all up,” Draven started to laugh. The sound of his evil laughter reverberated in the bloody hallway.

Smirking, Polanski stared at the locked up royals. They had won and now they were going to have what they wanted.

“Now you are the King, master,” he mumbled, facing Draven.

“Of course! I am the King! I rule! And I am way stronger than any of you! My men and I can walk in the sun with no problems! We are invincible!” Draven declared, raising his hand in the air and glancing at Polanski.

“And you are my right hand,” Draven announced before shifting his gaze towards his family.

“You crazy lunatic! You cannot live like this forever!” Damien bellowed.

Draven glared at him with a critical squint. “Would you like to die first?” He sneered and Damien narrowed his eyes on him.

“What made you think that I’m scared of death?” He challenged.

“I f*****g hate you, Damien,” Draven hissed.

Swallowing the lump in her throat, the Queen gestured to Damien to remain silent.

“Our mother never liked us fighting, Damien,” Draven stated. The Queen stared at her second born. She couldn’t believe that her son proved to be a lunatic.

“I… I am shocked…. I am too heartbroken because of you,” she managed to utter despite the tightness of her throat.

Sighing, “very well….I’ll be right back. I need to try the crown on… and perhaps wash this b***d off of me. It is starting to feel sticky. Now please, excuse me,” he said and left the three Royals locked up in the cage.

***

Night fell. The news of what had happened during the day spread like wildfire in the vampire kingdom. Draven sat on the throne, wearing his father’s robe and crown with Polanski right beside him.

“This is life!” He grinned as he leaned back in the seat.

As he smoked on his cigar, his men dragged in a wise old vampire Draven had sent for.

“Ah, seer Fredo,” he sat up and faced the old vampire.

“As you see, I’m the King now and it would do both of us good if you would cooperate with me.” He stated, studying the older vampire’s face. His face was void of expression. He had served several Kings and Queens in the past with no problems. But he had no intention of serving this one. Even if he did, it was because he was forced to.

When he didn’t respond, Draven sighed and shifted in his seat.

“I need you to check what awaits me during my reign,” he stated. “If you resist me, I swear you and your entire family will face the same fate as those who fought against me,” Draven warned him.

Sighing in defeat, the older vampire nodded and sat on the floor. He placed his hands on his knees and closed his eyes. Draven watched him as he connected with the future. This vampire was the only one who had the power to foresee the near future. He opened his eyes after some time. His face remained emotionless. Yet, his long, white beard twitched as he attempted to speak.

“Your Highness, there is a girl you fancied. Who you thought had died. But she isn’t. She is alive and well,” he paused.

Draven felt his heart skip a beat.

“What? My Princess….” He gasped, a smile slowly curving his lips.

“Will she be my bride?” He hastily asked.

“I… saw the girl, Your Grace… that’s all. My powers too have limitations,” he answered.

“Fine! You may leave,” Draven dismissed the seer, elated to learn about Monica’s well being.

The older vampire walked out of the palace, hiding what he had really seen. Indeed, he had seen the girl. A girl who had the powers of both vampires and werewolves. A girl who would fight for their freedom. A girl who would end their nightmare.

He glanced at the starry sky and closed his eyes.

“Please restore the peace of this Kingdom,” he prayed silently.