Master

"How dare she?!"

The trashing sound of furniture and windows echoed within the finely decorated room. Who could tell that it was the doing of the beautiful woman inside, her cute face was entirely red and distorted with anger, her hair was unkempt and her dress wrinkled. The refined and elegant lady she was supposed to be was nowhere.

She was fisting her hands and her eyes were filled with so much hatred when the door opened. Master Killian walked inside making slow and careful steps with the help of his cane. His face looked haggard as if many years were taken away from him since the moment he visited the Queen. Rebecca looked at the man with disgust while the old man continued to walk inside and couldn't see her.

"Rebecca, what happened darling?"

His voice was weak and almost fainting. His eyes were not focused but he tried to listen to the woman in front of him with care.

Rebecca pouted and controlled her face seeing the old man. "Master, that woman mocked me in the ball. She is just too cruel."

"What woman?"

"She is a monster Master. You should talk to the Queen and warm her."

"What are you saying?"

"I believe she is from the Nerum clan."

"What?! We must go quickly to the palace… cough cough…"

He kneeled on the floor with the help of his cane, but the cough didn't stop after several seconds. His face was red, and he looks as he was in a lot of pain coming from his chest, the trembling hand on the cane was not enough to support his slim and fragile body, he was about to fall.

However, Rebecca just watched him without so much concern, indifferent even. Only after a while, she reverted to the pure lady and the cold look from before changed to a concerned one.

"Master!"

"Rebecca, I need the potion."

His breath was difficult, and his eyes didn't have any glimmer inside, they were almost vacant.

"Yes, Master don't worry."

She took out a black bottle and helped him pouring it into his mouth. The black liquid turned his mouth and his eyes red. His face once again regained its health although it was still pale. However, the old face changed in a matter of seconds to a young one. If someone were to see it, they would believe he took a potion to regain his youth. Even his strength came back as he stood up without the help of the cane.

"How are you feeling Master?"

"Excellent dear Rebecca… I feel my strength coming back." He looked at his hands and heaved a light breath. His voice sounded powerful and clear. "But, I should go to the palace immediately, I must warn the Queen."

He turned around and went out closing the door. As if nothing had just happened.

"What a fool!" Rebecca smirked seeing the old man. She was about to go out of the room when the lights went out and the shadow from the corner of the room grew up expanding and covering every corner. It was a terrifying sight. She stepped back slowly with fear in her eyes. Then the temperature lowered, and the walls started to freeze creating cracking sounds.

"Ma... Master?"

She started to shiver uncontrollably and her breath could be seen in the air with every letter. However, after a few seconds, her face changed, instead of fear she looked happy and excited, her eyes were shining but unfocused and blank.

'I want her. Get her to me'

A creepy deep voice coming from inside the shadow invaded the room. It could send shivers to anyone but also could entice and lure the weak of mind.

"Ye… yes, Master, the plan is going on as expected. I assure you that she will come to you."

'She better be for your sake.'

She trembled in fear and bowed."Master? This…"

'If you want more, you should give me something in return.'

The creepy voice turned to be seductive as if trying to enchant and offer a devil contract. It traveled as a whisper to Rebecca's ears and got inside her mind without any struggle.

"Master, I will give her to you, I will, I assure you… please just a little, I need more, I need… I had given that old man the last one, please… please…"

She was kneeling on the ground with her eyes red pleading with her eyes and her head touching the floor. The prideful Princess was lowered to a servant.

Suddenly, from the shadow on the corner a large figure came out, the silhouette of a man with long black hair and a marvelous face walked to the front of the pathetic and frail woman kneeling on the dirty floor. His face was filled with disgust. Then his red eyes glowed and his fangs appeared as shiny daggers ready to scrap her white skin.

He extended his arm that was covered in a black coat and grabbed her beautiful long neck, his long fingers traveled to her skin. He inspected her and gave her a hard and rough bite, not minding her painful cry. After a few seconds, he tossed her to the side and left the room not before throwing her two black bottles.

"Thank you, thank you, Master."

She was tearing in joy. She jumped the moment the shadows went off and took the black bottles with care as if they were priceless treasures.

Then the lights came back and the freezing feeling left without notice, it was as if nothing happened. However, Rebecca's former beautiful self was no more, she looked like a haggard young woman whose life was sucked out and only bones were inside her body. She opened the black bottle with trembling fingers and a look of desperation, then she drank a drop, just one drop and her gorgeous appearance came back in a second.

** **

This is… how should I describe it? Unusual?

"Lucia, this is from the time I went to the Islands in the south of the Kingdom, you should visit them."

"Lucia, we should go to Deli shop, they made make an exclusively delicious pastry for me, I want to invite you some other time."

"Lucia, can we exchange letters from time to time, it would be wonderful?"

"Lucia…"

Enough! I am going crazy, but the man behind me is piercing my back even more. I am supposed to be the one to create shadows but why is he the gloomy one.

After the battle at the dance party, Princess Airia was sent back to her country with a warning letter from the Queen as to never step in Docrem. It was funny that even at the last time she thought of bribing the soldiers and the Queen with some extravagant gifts. She can give them to me if she wants. I could look at the other side when she wants to go inside my Thorne Shop and buy some cakes.

However, not everything went as expected, Princess Rebecca just backed out with the 'uncomfortable sickness' excuse. Ugh, I wanted a more impressive battle with her. What a bummer.

"Lucia? How about we schedule the wedding ceremony for next spring? It would be marvelous! The whole Kingdom will know."

This is getting out of hand. The Queen has been overly attentive to me. As if I had become her sister or something. She hasn't left me since the ball. One day is inviting me to a tea party, another to exchange letters or try on dresses. Doesn't she have a country to rule? Goodness! She is the same as her brother.

However, that is not the worst of all. This damn Duke is getting more and more possessive since then. I can't even be inside a room where men are, even the King. But what about that King, he is getting his fun teasing my man every time. This is too much. Irina, help me!

"Miriam! Enough! I know you are doing this on purpose!"

"Little Lyon, what are you talking about? I just want to meet your fiancée and the future Duchess of our country. How could you show such disrespect?!"

"Stop it, Miriam! I know you are angry, but this must stop."

"What? Angry? Me? How could you assume that? But you better think before hiding something from me again in the future."

Yes, the Queen was throwing a tantrum. I got to know that this man, my darling, had been looking for me after he gave his sister the crown of the Kingdom. He even gave up his army title and went out of the country to reach me on Point Mountain, where he had last felt my soul. I got to know about it from Sir Elton, the blabbermouth. My darling was so shy to tell me or so I thought. I bet he would use that another time to make me submit to his shamelessness.

Suddenly the doors opened and the knight at the door announced the arrival of Master Killian.

Finally… another celebrity from the book. I can't wait to meet this old man.