The Vampire And His Lady (Silver Hills #2)

Chapter 22

If in some past life Diana had ever dressed so extravagantly, she was certain it was never for a reason such as this.

The hands that painted her and cloaked her in such lavish ridiculousness were dark and slender, decorated with gold. She had introduced herself as Raisel, handmaiden and lover of Kataryth, Lady of the Citadel.

All those words meant little to Diana, but Raisel was lovely to behold, with long dark braids and a kind round face, and softly spoken enough to almost entrance her into a state of relaxation.

The bitter chill biting at her skin kept her awake. The chamber she stood like a statue in was strewn with cloths and jewels, and through out the window Diana could see a churning sea the palest shade of violet. It was magnificent really- what a shame she wasn't in a position to appreciate it.

"Why do I need to dress like this to tour the Citadel?" Diana asked, gesturing to her dress, if it could even be called that. The top was made of gold triangles which pressed against her skin tightly, moulding around the curves of her body and flaring into a pale translucent skirt which hugged her legs and was also occasionally dotted with gold. Heavy jewels dropped from the corset style top, making her feel pulled down with the weight.

Her hair was being tugged at now, and when it fell back down around her shoulders it formed perfect red curls.

"The people will want to see you," she said warmly, brushing something on her face. "They have their expectations and it wouldn't do to parade you about in a nightgown."

"Is this Rydaryth's doing again?" She said, feeling the heat of rage boiling in her chest. "Is he the one behind everything?"

Raisel moved to face her with pursed lips. "I shouldn't say," she told her, "but he is often the one pulling the strings."

The fact she was so willing to tell her only made Diana's heart sink even more. I won't be alive long enough to be a danger, she realised. Soon I will be forever silenced.

She swallowed the thought with the lump in her throat and steeled herself. Death wasn't certain just yet, and the Shadowlords were fools to let her loose with their power in her veins. She could feel it, constant and wild. Though it wasn't hers, she would exploit it if she had to. Level this Citadel until nothing remained but ash.

You're not that powerful. And she wouldn't be until it was too late, most likely.

"What is all this for?" She asked Raisel. The woman seemed inclined to tell her things she shouldn't know, perhaps from a sense of guilt. "I'll be dead soon enough anyway. It's not like I can abuse the information."

The Handmaiden averted her eyes and stepped away. "The words don't need to come from me," she whispered. "You'll understand by yourself."

Diana shut her eyes and took a deep breath. So they wouldn't make it easy for her. Even now. "Before you go," she begged. "One last thing."

Raisel clasped her hands together nervously and gave a curt nod of assent.

"Do you know of Lord Victor Thornwood?" She just needed to settle that one thing. To hear his name spoken from someone else's lips, and maybe just to say his name herself.

Raisel nodded, brows furrowed. "We all know of the vampire lord. As a child I was told stories of him to get me to behave."

How strange, Diana thought. "If you see him before I do," she began. Raisel shook her head, mouth agape.

"Why would I see the vampire lord? He is little more than legend to us in the shadow realm."

Not for long, Diana thought. Or at least hoped. She'd been under the delusion he'd come for her, but maybe he wouldn't. Maybe he'd be too late. Either way, she was sure Raisel was more likely to cross his path than she was at this rate.