Sweet Thirst

Chapter 14

Author POV:

I

n the grand royal kitchen, bathed in the warm glow of flickering torches, the Vampire Commander moved with silent humbleness. The air was thick with the enticing aroma of culinary delights. The vast expanse of the kitchen was adorned with intricate red and black tapestries, depicting the kingdom's storied history.

The commander, dressed in regal attire, approached the massive wine cellar doors. Crafted from dark mahogany, the doors creaked open, revealing a cellar stocked with the finest vintages. Rows of wine barrels lined the walls, each holding the promise of rich, velvety reds.

Yoongi, eyes gleaming crimson, selected a barrel marked with the royal seal. As the commander effortlessly hoisted it onto powerful shoulders, the intoxicating scent of the fresh red wine enveloped the air. The commander moved back through the kitchen, passing marble countertops adorned with platters of succulent fruits and exquisite cheeses.

Amidst the royal kitchen's opulence, the commander's dark silhouette contrasted against the vibrant hues.

As the Yoongi poured the crimson elixir into a goblet adorned with shimmering jewels, an inexplicable chill ran down his spine. A subtle awareness tugged at the edges of his senses, prompting them to pause. His crimson eyes scanned the grand kitchen, searching for the source of the disturbance.

With an eerie silence, the commander ventured outside, guided by an instinct honed through centuries of existence. Beyond the kitchen's threshold, the moonlit corridor revealed a figure cloaked in shadows. A regal presence emerged, the older prince Xukun, with an air of authority that echoed through the hallowed halls.

The commander, meeting the piercing gaze of the prince, acknowledged the obvious tension between them. The prince, draped in rich black attire, revealed nothing but a stoic expression. It was a moment of silent understanding as the two vampires shared a glance that spoke volumes.

"Commander," the Vampire Prince intoned with a voice that carried the weight of centuries. "I see you're indulging in the kingdom's finest vintage. A rare choice for a midnight repast."

The commander, eyes pupils dilating around the area in a securing way, responded, "A vintage befitting the king's taste, my lord. His orders are explicit."

The prince stepped closer, his gaze narrowing with a subtle mocking smirk. "Ah, the king's whims. Following his insignificant orders with your soul, As expected of the royal dog."

"Your incompetence makes a loyal dog look like a prized asset, and that's saying something considering your evident lack of worth in the kingdom." Yoongi spat eyes glinting with the mischievousness and lips slightly curving into the truthfulness of his words.

Prince Xukun clenched his jaw in response to a mere servant's words. He glared at him with his glowing red eyes and said in his deep threatening voice, "Don't be in such a hurry to judge someone's worth, even a broken clock shows the correct time twice a day. And about me-, he raised his right eyebrow at the commander, and with his vicious lips curving into a cocky smirk he completed his words,- The night is still young."

The commander, choosing his words carefully, replied, "The night whispers many secret things. I merely serve the king's desires."

Returning to the task at hand, the commander came back to the kitchen with Prince Xukun following him behind. Yoongi continued to pour the royal red wine into his glass, aware that the kingdom's fate and intrigues were often as intoxicating as the finest vintages.

The prince, a hideous smile playing on his lips, picked up a nearby goblet and motioned for the commander to fill it. "Perhaps a sip of this exquisite vintage will reveal the truths that dance in the shadows."