Friend Or Foe

I ran to the falling body as fast as I could and touched it, but it was already limp and cold. "You killed him?" The vampire looked taken aback by my accusation. Her eyes narrowed on me.

 "He was going to kill you. Did you wish to be killed?" She tilted her head and walked closer. I picked up the dead man's sword while holding the dagger in my other hand tightly. "He had added poison to his sword. Even if he had inflicted a small wound on your body, you would have died."

My eyes widened, and I stared at the silver sword again. It had a small green liquid immersed on it which made my heart sink. The man used to be a friend.

 "Humans always wanted to kill each other," she whispered softly, as if they were any better.

 "You must run before others come." By others, did she mean vampires or humans? The ones who were dear to me. I closed the eyes of the man and whispered prayers for his soul. 

The vampiress did not speak again, nor did she walk away. Her presence had started to frustrate me. 

"Why should I run?" I yelled back, frustrated when she smiled at me as if she could read my thoughts. 

"Because you are afraid," she spoke the truth I was trying to hide, "by our race and now from yours too."

I stood up, ready to attack her though I knew I could not win, but the sword in my hand did not move when she chuckled again.

 "I meant no harm. We do not attack unless it is war." She sounded so righteous as if she was a brave soldier. Maybe she was! She was wearing the same uniform Lazan was wearing when he visited us.

 "If you want me to guard you, I can help." She offered, seeming too friendly as if we were long-lost friends.

"And why would you do that?" I hissed, not liking a bit that my friend was dead while his killer was my savior. I knew I shouldn't blame her, but I could not trust her. What if she had ulterior motives?

 What if she knew who I was and she was approaching me to leave a good impression.

 "Because I did not see abhorrence in your eyes." She shrugged. "Humans always look at us as if we are cursed. You hate us, no doubt. But you are not disgusted by us."

I was! But now that I was married to one, I was more curious. 

"I will be on my own." I replied as I stood up and walked away, leaving the body alone. If I took it, I would be part of the murder that could start another war. And right now, war was the last thing I needed in my life.

A part of me hoped that the woman would follow me, but I was glad that part proved wrong, and by the time I dragged my exhausted body back to the walls, I did not face any other danger. 

When I entered the walls, it was quiet. It was almost dawn, and the whole city was resting in peace. How would they react when they would find out about my marriage? Would they welcome it as they would understand the reason, or would they hate me like my old friend wanted to kill me? 

Heavy rocks crushed my heart as I walked in. I took the maid's back door to enter the palace, afraid that mother would find my presence or one of her maids would. I entered the storeroom and then the kitchen. A few staff had already started warming the water for our bath. They were not surprised to see me; it was not the first time I had sneaked away and used this passage to return.

Taking the narrow staircase, I took the right door. It led me to my floor. Except for my brother, no one visited it, so I was not surprised that it was empty. I hurriedly entered the room and without caring about the cold water, I washed the blood off my face and body.

 Changing my clothes, I dressed up well as a long day was about to come. When I opened the door, I found Agatha standing there, but I shook my head. The maids behind her had brought my breakfast and warm water for my bath. 

"I will have my meal with my mother," I announced as I walked away. The palace was silent, and as I walked, I noticed they were looking at me strangely. Perfect pity that I was going to be a sacrificial princess for saving their land. 

But shouldn't their gaze be softened at that thought? 

The walk to my mother's room was long and tiring, but I endured somehow, keeping my head high. I am saving all of them; there was nothing I could feel ashamed about. My mother was not alone in the hall. Many nobles had invited themselves in and were talking in hushed voices. Mother looked exhausted, perhaps by their words or my actions.

"Your Highness," they bowed their heads at once when their eyes fell on me. I nodded at many of them, though I did not like them recently. 

They have been shouting, arguing, and even threatening me before, showing concerns that they would lose their wealth, ranking, or power if we submitted to a cursed king. Not even once did they ask about our soldiers, weapons, or whether we could win the war, and now that they have lost nothing, they were smiling as if nothing had happened. As if they wanted the alliance from the start. As I sat on the left of my mother, I noticed my brother was absent. I had not seen him since last evening. 

"'He could not be part of this conversation; he is too sensitive,'" my mother read my thoughts and replied aloud, making me embarrassed.

"We all have heard the news, Princess. Are you okay?"