Castle Of Tears

Chapter 5: The beginning of the end

A deafening cry escaped Lady Anjou's lips as Trefor's sword jutted out from her chest.

Leon's eyes flickered in shock while he watched her fall to her knees. She hunched over in pain, while her breathing turned jagged.

Trefor stood behind Lady Anjou's weakened form, heaving from overexertion. His grip on the hilt of his sword had loosened, sending him staggering back. He scowled in pain, holding his right arm as he avoided tripping over several pieces of broken wood.

"If I wasn't so fuckin exhausted," Trefor grunted breathlessly, "You'd be nursing a broken jaw."

Leon ignored Trefor's threat—a well-deserved one at that. Leon agreed that Trefor was well in his right to be wroth, but he didn't care for it at the moment. He would deal with the consequences of his actions later. Leon's focus was currently on the wounded countess.

He stood close by, enough to hear her panting and grunt in pain. He could also hear her nails scratching against the stone floor, cutting through as if it were paper.

Instinctively, he swallowed. He could not help but be reminded of those very same nails against his throat, grazing his flesh like a whisper. It must've taken a lot of willpower for Lady Anjou not to tear his throat. How she had accomplished such a feat left Leon astounded.

He had the sudden urge to rush towards her and inspect her wound. The concern he felt was real, and it troubled him immensely.

He tried to move, but his body would not follow his command. It was as if his brain was malfunctioning.

He was deeply conflicted, knowing it was not even appropriate to harbor such emotions, yet he disregarded reason altogether.

"I find it rather amusing that you were so set on killing her before—like a ravenous wolf—but now you look rather more like a smitten puppy," Trefor interrupted Leon's mental struggle with a clipped tone.

Leon's brows lowered like a looming storm as his eyes narrowed. Trefor's remark was not surprising, but it was unwarranted.

"Do not speak on things you know nothing of," Leon warned, keeping his back to him. "Admittedly, I do not know much about vampires, but I do have experience with the horde. I know that these beasts are unsatiable with a thirst for human blood that can not—will not—ever be slaked."

His eyes fell on Lady Anjou. "It is in their nature; it is in her nature—" He scowled with regret and pity. "She had not fed for quite a time. Thus, her mental state has deteriorated. If I hadn't exposed her to blood, a servant would have; she would have tasted the blood and become rampant. She would have ended up binging on the villagers that live nearby."

Angered at the thought of such needless deaths, he turned to Trefor with a penetrating gaze. "To hell with our ruse! Let the count use us as his scapegoats." He turned back to Lady Anjou, noticing how frail and little she looked on the floor, defeated and broken. "I will kill him before he casts his false accusations." He will also avenge her needless suffering.

"No need for that." Trefor interrupted, forcing his sore body to move towards Leon. Placated by Leon's words, he showed his understanding by placing a hand on Leon's tensed shoulder once he reached him. "She will live," Trefor said.

A mixture of relief and confusion hit Leon instantly. It still unsettled him knowing he was relieved she would survive, but at least know he knew why; because she wasn't an evil person at heart. Deep down he knew she sought redemption in the eyes of the lord.