Bloodlines of the Night

Chapter 3: The Price of Survival

  Chapter 3

Elira

Elira's wrists ached from the heavy iron shackles, and the cold stone floor of the vampire castle felt like ice beneath her knees. Every part of her body screamed for rest, for some kind of release from the tension that had taken hold of her since she'd arrived. But there would be no relief here—not in this place, not in the presence of Prince Kaelan.

Her eyes followed the prince as he moved across the room, his black cloak sweeping behind him like a shadow come to life. The way he spoke, so calm and indifferent, as if her entire existence was nothing more than a small inconvenience. A pawn to be used, a thing to control. Every word he'd said felt like a hook sinking deeper into her skin, tying her to a fate she hadn't chosen.

"I could have you executed." His voice echoed in her mind, over and over. He said it so easily, as if snuffing out her life would be as simple as blinking.

But worse than that—worse than the threat of death—was the offer. Serve him? Serve a monster? Her stomach churned at the thought.

She had killed one of his men. A vampire. A noble. And instead of killing her outright, he wanted to keep her alive, to use her for whatever twisted game he was playing. But why? What could she, a human from a forgotten village in the northern woods, possibly offer someone like him? Someone with power that could crush her in an instant?

The guards dragged her to her feet, pulling her roughly toward the door. Her legs felt weak beneath her, but she forced herself to stay upright. She wouldn't give them the satisfaction of seeing her falter. She had promised herself that, no matter what happened here, she wouldn't let them break her. She would survive this.

But surviving in a vampire's world was no easy thing.

The halls of the castle were dark and cold, every step echoing in the emptiness. The guards remained silent as they led her through winding corridors and past towering stone walls. Elira's mind spun, trying to process everything that had happened in the last few days.

Just a week ago, she had been hunting with her brother in the familiar safety of the woods, trying to eke out a living for her family, for the people of Fellgrove. And now she was here, deep in the heart of the vampire empire, standing before the heir of the very species she had learned to hate her entire life.

Her heart tightened as she thought of Kieran. Was he safe? Was her village safe? She had to trust that the prince would keep his word, that her surrender would protect her people. But trusting a vampire felt like trusting a snake not to bite.

The guards stopped in front of a heavy wooden door, their gauntleted hands unlocking it with a metallic clank before shoving her inside. Elira stumbled forward, catching herself just before she fell.

The room was small, but surprisingly clean. A simple bed, a small table with a single chair. A window, barred and far too high for her to reach, let in just enough light to illuminate the dust floating in the air.

"Get comfortable," one of the guards sneered as they locked the door behind her. "You'll need your strength."

She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as she stared at the door. She was alone now, but the weight of what had just happened crushed down on her.

How had her life spiraled into this nightmare? She had never asked for this, had never imagined her world would turn upside down because of one reckless decision, one desperate act to save her brother. And now here she was, a prisoner of the prince, trapped in a castle where humans were little more than livestock.