Escape

She woke up one day and people looked at her in fear. Servants murmured behind her back and advisors who once licked her boots stood at a distance. And the only person she'd thought would love her unconditionally shunned her and later announced publicly that she wouldn't have access to the throne. Despite being chosen by Lux, their goddess, her mother had sworn that as long as she lived, she would have access to the throne.

Her confidence flew out the window as well as her boldness. They stopped giving her classes and even the servants belittled her. Everything had changed for her in the span of a night and no body ever told her anything.

Then she frowned.

No, that was not how it happened. She was loved by every one and honored till the war came. She remembered this episode was from a book she had once read. She had a few gaps in her memory but it didn't mean she was going absurd.

Her frown deepened. She had a few holes in her memory, things that were supposed to be back after a few years. No matter how hard they hit her during her capture, she was supposed to be remembering it by now. Not to mention her magic. She once had an infinite amount, but now she didn't even have enough to cast five basic elemental spells without fainting in exhaustion. None if this was normal! She was a total for Lux sake's!

She stood up hastily opening the door which was locked. A bitter smile spread across her face.

Of course it would be.

The fact she had realized there was something wrong about her did not change the fact she was still a prisoner until she accepted Kieran's proposal or rather, order, since he wasn't really giving her a choice. He gave her food, a bed and company, but she couldn't forget why she was here. How she had been tortured before, both physically and psychologically. Vera was right, they had to escape, but how?

Adaliah was sure most if those living in this ... building, if not all were vampires. They couldn't make a step without all of that population sensing them.

She walked towards the bed, stroking Vera's face lovingly, before laying next to her, her eyes fixed on the ceiling. Trying to remember as hard as she could, she realized that most if her childhood memories were gone. She only had very few happy memories and when she woke up in a caravan, bound to be sold later into slavery.

She didn't even notice his she'd managed to fall asleep and was only woke up the next day, with Vera shaking her.

"Adaliah! Adaliah!" Vera called.

Adaliah groaned straightening to see Vera with a wide smile, holding something in her hand.

"What is that Vera?" She asked and Vera hugged her giggling.

"It is the key to our freedom. I stole it from one if the maids this morning" She whispered eagerly and Adaliah smiled. "I even followed them and there is an exit not far going through the kitchens. We are free!" She said eagerly.

Adaliah frowned. It was too good of a coincidence to be true. Just the night before, they were talking about escaping and now...

"Are you sure no one saw you?" She asked and Vera chuckled.

"I was careful. Come, it's lunch time, those vampires should be somewhere eating" She pulled Adaliah to her feet, opening the sliding the key in the keyhole, twisting around and the mechanical sound of a bolt retreating was heard. Her heartbeat picked up it's pace.

This felt wrong.

Vera opened the door and peaked into the corridor. She smiled and ran off. Adaliah, shocked, checked on her surrounding before following the girl, determined to stop her.

It definitely didn't feel right. She could have hoped along with Vera if they were humans but they were vampires!

"Vera, stop!" She whispered yelled and Vera swung around to look at her, an annoyed expression on her face.

"We both escaped vampires before. This is not new. Come on, we have to leave before someone finds us" She said and progressed in the corridors. Walking faster. Adaliah sighed and followed after her.

Indeed she had managed to escape the pleasure house which was an accomplishment in itself, but but that was after weeks of gathering information, learning the layout if the house and the habits of the vampire guards there and she almost failed. This was too spontaneous and also too easy. They hadn't seen a single vampire and from the smell, they were nearing the kitchen.

"Wait" Vera said, taking a peek inside the kitchen as they both leaned on the wall. A vampire must have heard her erratic breathing and heart thumping six feet from here. They should have smelt their order and fear. This wasn't right.

"There is a cook in there" She whispered again. Adaliah couldn't stand the tension anymore.

"Vera, let's go back. I have a bad feeling about this" Adaliah said and paused when she felt someone behind her. Before she could turn around, she received a hard kick sending her flying, landing a few meters from the wall.

"Adaliah!" She heard Vera's voice call onto her and she pried herself difficulty from the floor, slowly standing.

"Geez, she is still alive?" She heard a voice speak behind her and the next thing she heard was Vera's yelp of pain.

"Vera! Don't hurt her please" She said, walking towards them.

She recognized Dan who was grabbing Vera by her hair as if he intended to rip her scalp of her head. Next to him was a light brown haired man, smiling at her in pure amazement .

"She really is strong" He said and Dan scowled.

"I didn't even hit her that hard, bring her over Joel, we are going to have fun" Dan said, processing to drag Vera by her hair out of the hall.

Joel walked towards her and examined her from head to toe.

"Poor thing, I wouldn't like to be in your place" He sighed and held her surprisingly gently, pulling her after Dan. As soon as they left the corridor towards the outside, the light immediately blinded her and she covered her eyes with her hand. Slowly, she adapted to her environment and saw Vera, now standing next to Dan who had a sick smile plastered on his face. Other vampires gathered around him, like they were about to watch an interesting show.