|| Just a Walk with His Highness

I lasted exactly six minutes before I gobbled up the food. Well, at least I found out that it wasn't poisoned.

I’m not gonna lie but I had an amazing emotional breakdown last night. I don't understand why they held me here and provided me with everything I wanted and not let me leave, whereas they could hold me in a dungeon and provide me with no food or water until I spoke the truth - it's not like I wanted that. I have no idea how the hell am I going to get out of here. I tried squeezing a few answers from Ryker, as he is the only ‘friendly’ person in this place. Compared to his brother, he is pretty careless for a prince.

I was sitting on the bed reading one of the books the sweet maid, Rose– gave me to spend some time here. I was about to keep the book away, when someone knocked.

This knock was different, the only two people who entered this room were Prince Ryker and Rose. I know very well that Ryker wouldn’t knock and Rose usually comes in the morning.

The door knob turned open, revealing a six foot something Prince Rendell, he was dressed in all black- a black shirt on which he wore a dark black blazer and jeans. He reminded me of some sort of an evil prince. He glanced at me with a brooding look and asked, “Do you want to take a stroll outside?”

“What?”

“I’m not going to repeat myself again,” he said deadpanned. Ryker once mentioned about the gardens of this palace, he also told me that I can visit it. Since I knew about it, I pleaded with them to let me visit it, and let me tell you - I was an absolute tornado. I’m not even a tiny bit sorry for that.

“Yes!” I jumped out of the bed. Grinning internally like a Cheshire cat.

He got in and shut the door behind him. He then shrugged his blazer off and tossed it on the bed, “Wear it,”

I shot him a look that said ‘who the hell do you think you are’ His golden eyes challenged mine as if saying ‘i dare you to disobey me’ I only had one chance to go out so I sighed and picked up the blazer.

He says, “That’ll cover your scent.” The blazer was surprisingly warm for a vampire.

“Can we go?” I asked eagerly, rocking back and forth on my heels.

He nodded and then said in a dead serious tone, “Remember nobody knows a human is here, so control your childish behaviour.”

I narrowed my eyes on him, childish behaviour? I pressed my lips together and nodded. I didn't want him to change his mind. We walked out and through so many corridors, I lost track of the room I stayed in. How am I going to escape from here! As we excited one corridor, we entered another. We walked fast and he kept close to me, like I would run away anytime.

We finally reached the exit and stepped out. The sky was filled with so many stars that my mood immediately lifted up. I loved it. We walked down the beautiful garden which was connected to the palace. The flowers were blooming even though earlier, it snowed. The green grass beneath us makes the whole place smell earthly.

I inhaled deeply, taking in the sweet earth's soil and the strong fragrance of so many brilliant flowers. It's been more than three days since i’m here and i missed home a lot.

He cleared his throat, “We are definitely not spending a night here,”

“I know,” I replied deadpanned as I touched the soft and delicate petals of the exotic flowers near me. This place was so beautiful. “How long am I going to stay here?” Mr. Pain in the derrière, I added in my mind bitterly.

He crossed his arms behind his back, walking so gracefully, “Can’t really say anything about it. You brought us a lot of trouble by running away from the Royal Galle.” he said, “I daresay, way to ruin your reputation.”

“I don't give a damn of what they think of me.” I said sternly, “What are you going to do if a freaking monster starts chasing you?”

He craned his head towards me, and tilted his head as if watching me in an inquisitive manner, “We are one of the most powerful beings on the Realms.”

I shot him a disgusted look, muttering under my breath, “Explains why you have such an oversized ego.”

He suddenly stopped and looked me dead in the eye. His amber orbs bore my cloudy gray ones, and what I heard next was definitely not my imagination.

‘You should be scared of me, I'm a vampire after all.’

I blinked, did he say that without actually opening his mouth? The corners of his mouth twitched at my expression.

“Was that you?”

“Hmm?” he raised his brows in innocent confusion.

I gave him a glare with all the anger I could muster up.

“So it's like.. what do you call it? Tele- tele..”

“Telepathy,” He answered, plucking the grass.

I pressed my lips tightly together and looked away from him, not wanting him to do that again. I hate every single person here! I wish I could just throw him off a roof or something!

“You know,” he said, “I can hear your thoughts too, wizard.”

“Great,” I muttered while striding away from that indescribable creature. Wait a minute, vampires are thousands of years old does that mean…

“Finally you got to your ridiculous human senses,” he said casually from beside me. I almost jumped at his voice, I didn't even hear him coming, “I’m way older than you think.”

I paused, “You lied to our mayor?” I asked in disbelief.

His jaw twitched, “Don't you dare accuse me of lying,”

I return his glare with the same intensity. I don’t know how long I’m going to be here before they kill me. I really miss dad, I hope Vivi and him are not worrying their heads off. I mean I'm not hurt or on the verge of dying. I just miss them so much. I didn't do anything then why are they holding me here? Well, except running away from the Galle.

I walked slowly down the garden, admiring each flower. Even though it's night, I can perfectly see everything. I pulled his blazer closer, inhaling the scent of sandalwood and musk.

“Does our town Mayor know that your family is a vampire?”

A moment had passed before he replied, “No.” he said, “Nobody in your realm knows about it.”

“Realm?” I echoed.

He looked at me, his lips forming a thin line. “Do you know who you are?”

I was about to reply when he cut me off, “Never mind.”

“Tell me about the Realm,”

“No.”

I pouted at him, to which he gave me a bored look.

“This universe is divided into seven realms,” he started in a dull monotone, it perked up my interest, “created by gods themselves. Your realm is one of them. Right now you're in the supernatural realm, also known as Caeleste.”

I looked at him confused, for traveling between the realms didn't we need a portal or something? I don't remember going through a weird wiggling sphere of ridiculous light.

“You did travel through a portal.” he said, reading my mind. Now it's getting annoying when he reads my thoughts.

“I did NOT travel a stupid portal” i snapped, “Stop reading my mind like an open book and invading my privacy!”

He was taken aback just for a tiny moment before wearing his infamous brooding look again.

Eventually I sat down, gazing up at the mesmerizing swirls of stars, and I wondered what the other realms were.

“Does the Queen know a human is here?”

“No,” he says, taking a seat a good distance away from me, I was surprised. I always thought princes were these men who were very materialistic and definitely not down to earth. This prince was really different. I can't believe he and Ryker are brothers, they are like north and south poles.

“Were you a human before you turned into a vampire?” I wondered.

“No,” he replied, goodness gracious, does this guy know anything else other than replying with a no?

“born a vampire, pure blooded.”

I hummed, “So how old are you exactly?”

“I stopped counting decades ago”

“Uh, okay”

I plucked a flower and observed its petals, they were no ordinary flower that grew back in Wayford, “If your done with your stupid questions,” he said coldly, “then lets get back.”

I looked at him with a poker face, “Unfortunately I'm not, YOUR HIGHNESS.”

I glared at him and he returned it. Guess we both hate each other with the same intensity. I gazed up and took in the beauty of the sky, the cold breeze softly brushing my face.

“To be honest,” he started, “I know you miss your home.”

Okay, I was surprised, “But,” he adds, shooting me a dirty look, “there are some problems you have caused by running away from the Royal Galle. ”

“I said I didn't know this would happen,”

He looks at me contemplating whether to continue or not, “I have a deal.” he says.

I look back at him to continue, so he does “Forget it. I don’t trust you.”

I scowl at him, “I definitely prefer your brother over you.”

He leaned a little towards me, his amber eyes staring deep into me, making me feel very vulnerable, “Obviously.” he says, “I'm the bad guy in everyone's life. You should be afraid of me.”

The hair on the back of my neck stood up, “I know you're all Vampires and about the seven realms.” I boasted, “Don’t want me to spill your secrets huh?”

“You know,” he says, “you have a lot of guts for a little girl like you,” did he call me little? “If i were you, i would have shut that little mouth of mine.”

I glared at him, “better than babbling like an idiot.” I shut my eyes, did I really have to say that? I opened to find him looking at me with amusement,

He looked away and chuckled in his deep voice. I tried my best not to shudder.

A wave of silence dropped between us. I absolutely hated this vampire but my mind was racing with thoughts, and I needed answers, “So where is this portal?”

He ignored my question and started staring at me. Oh no, is he reading my mind?

‘Get out!’ I yelled mentally, scowling at him.

He looked at me and slightly tilted his head, ‘Why?’

‘There’s a thing called privacy!’

‘Well, eh.’

Did he just ‘eh’ me? Fuming I got up, started walking fast and away from him.

I swear if they weren't vampires I would have choked them to death!

I walked around the palace, too angry to know where to go. I saw the exit gate of the garden. I quickly started walking faster, I heard a very familiar voice chatting to someone, maybe i could get some help. Maybe this is my ticket to get out of here. I was about to take a short peak before a giant furry werewolf shimmered in front of me out of nowhere.

I screamed.