The Vampire King's Possession

"Going with you, your highness." Replied the maid with a stiff smile and an expression that said she wouldn't mind stabbing Mauve if she could.

"Why?" She asked shocked, genuinely worried. She actually liked Vae and couldn't help but feel that this was her fault. Unfortunately, she also couldn't help the feeling of relief at the fact that she wouldn't be alone, and best of all they had picked Vae. Vae was the only one who treated her nicely, maybe not so nice but she never went out of her way to be mean to Mauve.

"I am sure you know why, your highness," Vae replied, her response was as cold as her shoulders.

"I-I didn't think they would pick any maid for me." Mauve stuttered trying to come up with a logical explanation for the incident. She couldn't help feeling awful.

"Don't overthink it, your highness. It is an honor to serve you besides, it is either this or back to scrubbing the castle walls and floors." She smiled briefly.

Mauve's expression stayed intact, Vae looked like she would have preferred scrubbing the castle walls to coming along with her. She protested but she didn't get a chance to say anything because a figure suddenly appeared in her line of sight and she screamed.

The figure stepped backward and the faint light of the fading moon shone on his face and Mauve recognized him instantly. Unfortunately, try as she might, her recollection didn't bring his name to her lips, maybe it was because she didn't know it.

"You fear easily, princess." The figure said, his voice was weirdly soft for such a broad frame.

Mauve frowned, "I just didn't expect to see anyone there." She smiled but quickly dropped it at the cold stare that glanced at her face.

"I am Danag, the Primus charged me with transporting you safely to the vampire's region. You can be assured of your safety."

"Primus?" She frowned.

Danag's stare got colder and even though she couldn't see his face clearly because he was backing the moonlight, she couldn't help the fear that clutched her heart. "The Vampire King." She could hear the sarcasm drip out his words as if calling the King by the human term disgusted him.

"Where is he?" She asked, ignoring Danag's tone, only concentrating on his words as she looked around as if she was half expecting the King to jump out of the shadows.

"He went ahead but worry not, I am taking you straight to him." He bowed, walked backward, and closed the carriage before Mauve would say anything else.

Mauve felt a little sad, she had thought the journey would be just her and The Vampire King, maybe they would have used this period to get to know each other. She was married to him and she didn't even know his name. She sighed. All she knew was he was the Vampire King.

She turned her head forward and sighed as she rested the back of her head against the carriage. This was going to be a bumpy ride, she could already feel it. She turned to glance at Vae who was seated across her.

The maid sat upright like someone stuffed her with pins. She wondered who had ordered Vae to accompany her. She didn't think it was the Queen, the woman had looked like she couldn't wait to get rid of her.

She wasn't surprised, for over ten years she had been a thorn in Queen Lale's, a constant reminder of the King's indulgence. A daughter she never had. Mauve sighed, it wasn't like she had asked to be born.

"Who asked you to come with me?" There was only one way to know and the one way wasn't far away.

Vae slowly turned her head to face her. "The Queen," she answered softly.

Mauve didn't gasp, there was no change of expression. She just said two words and turned her head away. "I see."

She heard a whistle, followed by an inaudible sound and the carriage began to move. There were curtains over the windows of the carriage, Mauve didn't have the urge to peek outside. It wasn't like she regretted leaving, she just wished she wasn't exchanging one evil for another and by the looks of things a greater one.

She could feel it as they rode down the path and through the castle gates even though there was no pause, she knew the instant she was out of the castle gate. "Goodbye," she whispered. 

She wasn't saying it to anyone in particular but the castle was her home, had been her home. She had lived here for most of her life. Would she ever see any of them again? She doubted it.

The carriage went over a stone and Mauve tumbled forward. She managed to grab the side of the carriage and was able to brace her movement, or else she would have landed head first. 

Her first thought was to scream at the driver but a little jerk wasn't enough to break her spirit. She was no longer a princess, now she was just the Vampire King's human wife and with the way all the vampires had stared at her, she didn't think it meant much.

She gripped the carriage for her life as the driving became more erratic. She yelped as the force pushed her against the door with a slight bang. Vae didn't look to be doing much better either, she was holding the chair as though her life depended on it, and with how fast the carriage was going Mauve was almost certain it did.

Thank Goodness, she had settled for some comfortable clothes, at least now she wouldn't have to worry about her dress flying all over the place.

The erratic carriage ride continued for over two hours and this time, the only reason Mauve had not vomited all over the floor was that she had not eaten in almost a full day. Her stomach occasionally convulsed but nothing came out. Suddenly the carriage came to a stop as a loud whistle rang out.