Broken Boundaries and Tainted Fangs

Chapter IV

"Huntress, huh? The perfect name for a hunter like you." Diaval commented with a dashing grin.

Severa gagged and rolled her eyes.

"Can you answer my questions now?" Severa asked impatiently.

"Right, right. My apologies," Diaval said before clearing his throat, "In Caldore, I'm a novelist who writes for pleasure. Every book you see here in this library is written by me."

Severa looked around and admired the books from afar.

"I must say, I'm impressed." Severa commented dryly.

"Well, I have a lot of time on my hands." Diaval chuckled.

Severa only stared at the prince with a black stare on her face.

"You don't smile much, do you?" Diaval asked.

Severa raised a brow and gave the prince a warning look.

"Right, right," Diaval said, waving his white-gloved hands in surrender, "As I was writing my next novel, I wanted my story to come to life. So, I enchanted myself, my book, my castle, and the kingdom that whatever maiden walks into the castle will become a part of my novel with me. In other words, you're trapped in my loop until you play out my story to the end."

Severa looked at the prince with a look of disbelief and bewilderment.

"What!? No! That can't be!" Severa cried, popping out of her chair.

"Whoa, whoa. Easy there, princess. You're not in this alone. As I mentioned, I enchanted myself as well. Meaning, we have to play out my novel together." Diaval said.

Severa growled and threw a punch at the vampire, only to have it bounce off him like before.

"Then why can't I pummel you to a bloody pulp?" Severa asked.

"That's how my story works. The female main character couldn't hurt her lover, physically or emotionally." Diaval said.

Diaval then balled his hand into a fist and threw it at Severa. Severa flinched and shut her eyes, but nothing happened. The mercenary cracked open an eye to see the prince grinning down at her.

"And I can't hurt you." Diaval said.

Severa scoffed and turned away from the dark prince. She turned on her heels and started making her way to the door. Diaval sped in front of her and blocked Severa's way, leaning against the doorframe with a cocky grin.

"And where do you think you're going?" Diaval asked.

"Anywhere but here." Severa said, pushing past the prince.

The young mercenary hid her ears and tail as she descended the grand staircase.

"So, she can change forms," Diaval said to himself as he watched Severa. "This is going to be fun."

Severa casually walked out of the castle and disappeared into the bustling crowd. The mercenary looked up at the wall and leaped on top of it in a single bound. Severa looked back at the dark castle and growled.

"Self-centered prick." Severa mumbled.

She sighed and jumped off the wall. The minute she touched the grass, she felt the surface hard and cold. Looking at the ground quizzically, she saw that she was on a dark stone floor, the same flooring in the castle.

"Wasn't I just...?" Severa wondered in awe.

"Now do you understand?" asked a low voice behind her.

The young wolf turned around and saw the dark prince looming over her. Severa quickly stood up and extended her claws.

"You can't leave. I enchanted you, myself, and my kingdom to play out my novel accordingly," Diaval said, "If you try to leave, my loop will just bring you back to me, no matter where I am."

Severa growled and made a beeline for the castle walls. Like before, making sure no one was around, she hopped up on the wall's edge and jumped down. When she touched the grass, it immediately turned to wood.

"Back again already?" Diaval asked.

Looking behind her, she saw that she and the dark prince were in a living room. Diaval was sitting on a Victorian-style chair with a book in hand. The mercenary groaned and left the room in disgust. Jumping down the flight of stairs, Severa ran out of the castle and sprinted to the wall behind the castle.

"This can't be happening...!" Severa told herself.

When the wall was in sight, Severa quickly leaped on top of it and breathed out a heavy sigh. When she jumped down, the grass had become stone.

"You are a stubborn one, aren't you?" Diaval asked.

Severa turned around to see the vampire prince leaning against a stone pillar. Looking around, she saw that she was back at the castle's entrance. Severa growled and punched one of the pillars, chipping off a large chunk of stone. Diaval grinned and walked over to the angry mercenary. He then placed his hands on her shoulders.

"It's not so bad." Diaval said.

Severa growled and shrugged off his hands.

"Don't touch me." she said, her voice low and deep.

Diaval chuckled and shook his head fondly.

"You're cute when you look like that." Diaval said casually.

Severa pulled back in surprise. She groaned and rolled her eyes at the vampire.

"Fine, I'll play your stupid, little game." Severa said.

She walked up to the prince and grabbed him by his collar.

"Just keep your filthy hands off me..." the mercenary growled.

The prince only grinned. Severa breathed out and released the vampire from her grasp.

"So, what scene are we playing out?" Severa asked.

"Well, we already played out the first chapter. Now, we're on the second," Diaval explained, "In this chapter, I show you around my kingdom and pamper you."

Severa groaned as she crossed her arms.

"Shall we?" Diaval asked, holding out his hand.