𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬

𝐅 𝐎 𝐔 𝐑 - The Queen's Castle

Luwin

It felt like hours before we arrived at the unknown place, revealing the first glimpses of a structure in the distance. My breath caught in my throat as the towering walls of a castle came into view. It was unlike anything I had ever seen, a perfect blend of ancient architecture and modern luxury. The stone walls seemed to shimmer under the moonlight, and sleek, glass-paneled towers rose high above, reflecting the stars in their pristine surfaces. It was beautiful. Terrifyingly beautiful.

I had expected something dark, something fitting the image of a vampire queen. But this... this was magnificent, a place of power and elegance, far beyond anything I had ever imagined.

Queen Arabella led me to the grand entrance, massive wooden doors that opened with a low, resonant creak. Inside, the castle was just as awe-inspiring as the exterior. The floors were polished marble, the walls adorned with tapestries that looked as though they belonged in a museum. Chandeliers hung from the high ceilings, their crystal prisms catching the light and casting rainbows across the room. It was all so... modern, and yet, there was an undeniable air of history, as though this place had stood for centuries, watching empires rise and fall.

I found myself staring, unable to tear my eyes away from the opulence around me. Arabella noticed, pausing to let me take it all in. There was no rush in her movements, no urgency. It was as if she knew exactly what I was feeling—overwhelmed, small, insignificant in the face of such grandeur.

"Do you like it?" Arabella's voice broke the silence, smooth and cold like glass.

I blinked, realizing she was waiting for an answer. "It's... it's incredible," I stammered, still unable to fully comprehend the sheer scale of it all. "I've never seen anything like this."

A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Few have."

She continued walking, and I hurried to keep up, my footsteps echoing in the cavernous hallways. As we turned a corner, Arabella glanced back at me, her gaze sharp, as if she was assessing something I couldn't quite understand.

"Tell me your last name," she said, her voice low.

"My last name?" I repeated, startled by the sudden request. I hesitated for a moment before answering. "Vossen."

She said nothing, simply nodded as if storing the information away. I couldn't tell what she was thinking, and the silence that followed only added to the tension coiling in my chest. I wanted to ask her why she had brought me here, what she planned to do with me, but the words wouldn't come.

We reached another set of doors, these smaller but no less impressive, crafted from dark wood with intricate carvings that looked ancient and almost alive in the flickering candlelight. Arabella pushed them open, revealing a large room, warm and inviting, yet still retaining the same sense of luxury that seemed to permeate every corner of the castle.

Two maids were waiting inside, their heads bowed low in deference. They were dressed in simple but elegant uniforms, their expressions calm and composed. Arabella's presence seemed to command respect—or perhaps fear.

"Prepare her room," Arabella ordered, her voice carrying a tone of authority that left no room for argument. "Draw a bath and see to her wounds."

The maids nodded, moving quickly to obey. My heart raced as they approached me, their hands gentle but firm as they began to lead me toward the adjoining bathroom. Panic flared within me. I couldn't let them do this. I couldn't let them see.

"No," I blurted out, pulling back from their grasp. The maids stopped, surprised by my resistance, but they didn't push further. I looked up at Arabella, hoping she would understand, that she wouldn't force this. "I... I can take care of myself. Please, I don't need their help."