The Elven King's Consort

Chapter 12: Gift

"What is your name?"

The head maid shifted on her legs awkwardly. The rest of the staff had returned to their correct positions, and Maylyn excused herself, stating she had important matters to attend to. At first, the head maid was wary and frightened, but once I softened my facial features a bit, she too relaxed, becoming brave.

"My name is Evadne, Your Highness."

"Follow me. From now on, I want you as my eyes, ears, and tail. Everything and anything out of the ordinary report it to me. Since all the maids trusted have left to attend to my father and mother at the villa and I have no personal maid, you will fill in that spot. A part of your job is to bring in reliable, trusted people to help me. Remember, your life is at stake." I commanded, watching her become smaller. I didn't want to break her will entirely because I liked that fire in her, and I thought it could be put to good use, but I wanted to make sure she wouldn't forget that I was higher in authority than her. And that there was no room for any sort of foul play. Threatening her with her life was the only way to inflict fear in not only her but everyone around. I wouldn't actually eradicate her unless she was plotting against me and attempted to slay me. I only said those things to get what I wanted. Knowing my mother, had she heard of all this and was still living on these grounds, she'd be storming these hallways because I threatened someone's life so easily over something so trivial. Mother only slew when it was truly necessary. A fair trial was always given first, and I didn't want to oppose my mother's law. But I wasn't as soft-hearted and patient as her, so my punishments were harsher and stricter, which often caused us to bump heads. Father would stay out of our quarrels. I didn't blame him. It was safe.

Turning without a word, I walked in the direction of the library. I simply wanted to forget about the letter and move on to more pressing matters: how to convince the new elven king, who is so shut off from us that we haven't the slightest idea of their origin or name, to meet and contract with the Vampire Kingdom. Before the attack on the previous royal family of the Elven Kingdom, we used to trade goods. Their elixirs, jewels, and exotic fruits while we gave them minerals and all kinds of wood for the construction of their enhanced weaponry and architecture.

I had Evadne look for useless books a few rows away so she wouldn't see what exactly I was up to, but not too far where I couldn't watch her occasionally. I couldn't trust her fully yet. For all I knew, she may be the one plotting against me and leading the others. I'll keep her close enough to keep an eye on her, and if she slips up, I'll catch it. But part of me knew that the note wasn't harassment from the maids and servants. It was too strange. The knot of anxiety bounced around within my belly, and I forced myself to become occupied.

I grabbed a book on each kingdom's history while occasionally peeking through the cracks and watching Evadne. She reached up high to grab books and placed them on an already tall pile beside her on the floor. I glanced at the pile. All of those books were useless to me. In a sense, it was a minor punishment put upon her for her earlier outburst, and normally, she'd have lost her job and future references for being so outspoken and haughty.

Sighing, I sat down and opened the first book I picked up, and I instantly froze. It was the history of the Elven Kingdom. This book was brought over by my father many years ago when I was far too young to remember. It was given to him by the old Lycan King, Darian, Demetri's father. Things were not good between the Elven Kingdom and the Vampire Kingdom back during the Dark Ages, and after my great-grandmother, the Bloody Queen ruled. Only did the Lycan Kingdom maintained a thin line of peace with the Elven and Human Kingdoms. The elves protected and assisted the humans because they were so feeble and weak and, at one point, worse than cattle for the hungry vampires that preyed on them heartlessly. Oddly, thinking about the amount of bloodshed made me want to drink as well, and I truly felt how my kind could be deemed a monster. I shouldn't feel thirsty when thinking of bloodshed, but I couldn't help the monster within me and its urges that arose.