Filed to story: The Vampire Prince’s Bride
“You haven’t even learned what I want you to do for me!” I laughed, since I had him now, and he was powerless. “Don’t you want all that I’ve promised you?”
“You’re a liar,” he said through gritted teeth. “I don’t make deals with liars.”
“I understand your frustration,” I said, since I would doubt myself if I were him as well. But I truly did intend on following through with the deal-if he survived the upcoming task. “I lied to you quite a bit-you’re right not to trust me.”
“So you’re going to let me go?” he asked.
“No,” I said. “I’d like to make a blood oath.”
His mouth dropped open. “Seriously?” he asked.
I couldn’t blame him for being surprised. Supernaturals rarely lowered ourselves to making blood oaths with humans. We controlled humans-we didn’t bind ourselves to promises with them. But this situation was unique. I needed a human- this human-more than he realized.
If it took a blood oath to convince him to trust me, then so be it.
“You’ll follow through with our agreement if a blood oath is made?” I asked, parking the cart at the bottom of the mountain.
“Tell me the task first,” he said.
“Fine.” I sighed. “The task is simple-or at least it’s simple for a strong human like you. Do you see the mountain before us? The one with the peak far above the cloud line?”
“Yeah,” he said, barely glancing up. “It would be hard to miss it.”
“You’re to climb up the mountain,” I told him. “I’ve brought all the necessary materials that you’ll need-hiking and climbing gear, food and water for the journey, and more. At the top of the mountain, there will be a cave-the Crystal Cavern. Inside the Crystal Cavern is a sapphire ring. I need you to take the ring and bring it to me.”
“That’s it?” he asked, looking doubtfully up at the mountain.
“That’s it,” I confirmed.
“Why are you asking me to do this?” he asked, turning to me. “Why not a vampire?”
“Supernatural creatures are forbidden to enter the Crystal Cavern,” I explained. “Only a human can enter-and not just any human. The human must be strong and brave. Which is why I need you.”
“Hm.” He gazed up at the mountain again, his eyes far off in thought. “What’s the catch?” he asked, turning back to me.
“No catch,” I said, but then I bit my lip, thinking it through further. “Actually, there is one catch.”
“Of course there is.” He blew out a long breath. “What is it?”
“There will be other objects in the cavern besides the sapphire ring,” I told him. “They may look harmless, but I must warn you-those objects are very dangerous. While in the cave, you must only touch the sapphire ring. Do you understand?”
“I understand.” He nodded. “And once I bring you this ring, you’ll do as you promised?”
“I swear it.” I removed a knife from my pocket and ran it over my palm. Blood oozed from the cut, and I stared at the boy daringly, handing the knife to him.
He hesitated-for a moment I feared he wouldn’t go through with the deal. But then he took the knife and made an identical cut across his palm.
The moment he did, I took the knife back and grabbed his hand with mine, our open wounds touching. A shock buzzed through my body-the magic of the impending blood oath.
“If you bring me the sapphire ring, I promise to provide you with all the money and luxuries you desire, as long as you tell no one but your family of this deal,” I said. “Do you swear to agree to this blood oath?”
“I swear.” He kept his gaze locked on mine the entire time. If he were a supernatural, I might have been intimidated.
But he was only human, and thus he had no affect on me.
A light glowed around our hands, the warmth spreading to my body. Then the light dimmed, the blood oath sealed.
“Good.” I pulled my hand away from his. As always after blood oaths, both of our cuts had healed. “Now-are you ready to climb that mountain?”
“Yes.” He gazed up at the towering peak, looking as determined as he’d appeared before slaughtering that wolf. “I’m ready.”
Camelia
Camelia
A s expected, I waited down at the base of the mountain for days. The boy had a long trek ahead of him, so I’d come prepared.
It was easy to do a warmth spell around my area, and I’d brought a tent, some food, and reading material-a seemingly never ending supernatural series that I’d recently become addicted to. Much of it was incorrect on the abilities of supernaturals, of course, but it was entertaining nonetheless.
While I was technically still within the boundaries of the Vale, it was nice to get away from the drama of the palace for a few days. But finally, on the dusk of the fourth day, I was awoken from sleep by a loud smack next to my tent. I pulled open the zipper and peeked out, my breath catching at the sight before me.
The boy had fallen from the mountain, his body mangled, his skin burned to a crisp. His face had been smashed to a pulp from the fall. The only way I knew it was him was because he was wearing the red hiking shoes I’d provided for his trek.
Then the clouds moved away from the moon, lighting up an object in his hand.
A diamond, glittering in the moonlight.
Well-a human would think it was a diamond.
I knew better. I gasped and brought my hands together, shocked at the unexpected present lying at my feet.
Because that wasn’t a diamond. It was a seeing crystal. One that had been created by Geneva herself. It had only been rumored of amongst witches, and it was extremely difficult to use, but if handled properly it could apparently answer whatever question a witch asked of it.
Geneva had created the seeing crystal for the use of witches only. If touched by any other creature-supernatural or human-it would kill them instantly. It was a dangerous weapon. That was why the witches had thought it best to lock it away inside the cavern.
