My Eternal Nightmare

Chapter 22

It was eerily quiet in a seemingly empty, dark room. The moonlight outside being the only source of light, was half covered by the dark curtains, just enough to show the outline of two figures but, dark enough to hide the faces of the two beings in the room. One thing was evident, these people did not want to be seen or spotted together. They blended into the shadows, a safe distance between them.

"What's going on now?" A male voice asked, breaking the silence. He was standing close to the window, careful to stay away from the moonlight.

"That's not your concern," a deep voice replied, power radiating from his words alone. "All that matters is that she's safe, and I can assure you she is."

"Don't give me that." The first voice replied back. "I demand to know everything, every step of the way."

"You'll know what you need to."

"Don't forget you wouldn't be here without me. I gave you everything you needed. I fed you information, I even provided the boy-"

"The boy was on my side long before you came along. I could have pulled this off without you. Don't think for a second I needed you." The deep voice called back.

The tension in the air built thicker and thicker, both parties able to feel its presence. If they decided to attack each other, they would both fight to the death but neither was stupid enough to.

"There's no need for this Tarius." The first voice said calmly.

"You shall call me King." King Tarius shot, causing the other man to growl.

"You are not my king."

"Not yet." He snickered with a snide smile.

Both men stayed silent for a few seconds, both waiting, calculating the next move to be made or word to be said.

After what seemed felt like eternity, King Tarius chuckled, breaking out into a huge smile. "You know I'm just joking."

"Your jokes are expensive."

"Oh come on prínkipas, have you no sense of humor?" He teased again.

"Let's go back to the matter at hand," the other man replied, walking to fully shut the curtain, his back to the King. The room was now pitch black but both creatures were doing fine without the light. "The time for jokes is over. This isn't what we agreed on."

"What did you think would happen? You knew what you signed up." The king replied matter of factly.

"The deaths are becoming too brutal, casualties too many."

"That's how a war is, son."

The other man turned back around fast, almost too fast for the King to follow. He was not startled still. The truth was, King Tarius had grown weary as well, things were escalating faster than he thought they would. It had caught him unaware, not completely but, still annoyingly. He had to control the affairs at hand and also keep his son in check. He had aged so much over the last couple of weeks, he was even almost jealous of the 'vamps don't crack' propaganda.

"You told me what you want from this, you will get it. Especially this way. It'll make everything easier for you." King Tarius calmly stated.

"None of this will be traced back to me?"

"I don't see how it will."

The first figure seemed to ponder on this a bit, as though he was carefully considering his next reply.

"What's going to happen next?" He asked.

"I can't reveal my battle plans."

"I mean with the girl." He snapped back harshly.

"She's in a safe place with my son. My son has orders to keep her alive and put an eye on her."

"You can assure me this is all?"

"Yes. Are you done drilling me?" King Tarius asked with annoyance lacing his voice like a strong coat of paint.

"She needs to be safe. That's all." He replied.

"She is."

"Tar-" the other man started before getting interrupted by sounds coming through the other side of the door. "You're expecting company? I thought no one knew you were here."

"It's probably one of my trusted subjects," the king started, "Leave now. I believe we're done."

Annoyance was evident in the man's features, even in pitch black darkness. "You know how to get to me if you need me." He said simply.

He walked to a dusty bookshelf which was pushed against a wall, towering from ceiling to ground. His finger skimmed one of the rows, till it landed on a book that did not look as dusty as the others. He pulled it out and stepped back, giving the bookshelf space to open up to a secret passage. The strangest thing was not the bookcase but how this man seemed to have effortlessly managed to find his way in the absence of light.

"Goodbye Tarius." He said curtly before disappearing to a room that seemed even darker, if that was possible.

As if perfectly timed, the door opened up just as soon as the bookcase reverted back to its original position.

"Ah, Carter," the king began as he walked over to the bookcase to flip the light switch beside it. "I was beginning to wonder when you'd return."

White blinding light shone into the room suddenly, catching Carter off guard, causing him to raise his hands to face.

"Now, now boy. Put those hands down and let me see if you enjoyed the little treat I set up for you." The King said.

Carter slowly put his hands down, eyes unable to reach the King's. It didn't matter as the light made everything distinct on his pale face. The King had slowed down his healing to teach him a lesson. Carter's left eye was swollen shut, his wrists bruised from restraints blessed with holy water, blood dripping from his nose and a busted lip.

It seemed the treat, was rather unpleasant for Carter but, he had learnt his lesson. The price to pay for betraying both sides was becoming the lycanthrope King's little bitch.

The king let out a wide smile. "Don't ever betray me again."