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Then, my breath caught in my throat. A previously unnoticed panel in the kitchen’s wooden wall beckoned to me. It was a concealed compartment, a secret vault of rare potions and ingredients that had been hidden away for generations. I never even knew that such a thing existed in our kitchen of all places. Mother must have been collecting them, along with the books and references, and kept them here, just in case. Fortunately, the time for them had come.
Among the rare potions and vials, my eyes fell upon the one I sought—a vial of moonlit dew, collected during the peak of a full moon. Its silvery liquid shimmered like liquid starlight, its magic potent and untamed. But there was more—potions of ancient healing, elixirs of protection, and ingredients for enchantments I had never seen before. The realization that my family had safeguarded these secrets for generations filled me with awe and a sense of responsibility. I couldn’t think of that right now. I needed to find the last ingredient, a rare crystal, a conduit for the spell's energy. As I headed toward my mother’s room, I couldn't help but feel a bittersweet longing for her guidance.
My mother’s room was a sanctuary of memories, filled with the essence of her presence. I approached her antique wooden vanity, its surface adorned with delicate perfume bottles and trinkets. It was a place that had once been the heart of her daily rituals and now held the remnants of her spirit.
My fingers traced the edges of the vanity, searching for any hidden compartments or concealed drawers. My mother had been known for her penchant for secrets and mysteries, and it was not uncommon for her to hide precious items where only she could find them. With a soft, almost imperceptible click, a small panel in the vanity’s surface gave way, revealing a hidden compartment. Inside, nestled among a collection of handwritten letters and a lock of hair, lay the final ingredient.
Carefully, I lifted the crystal from its resting place, my heart heavy with the memories it held. It had once belonged to my mother, a woman of great wisdom and power. As I cradled it in my hands, I could almost feel her presence, as though she were guiding me from beyond.
With the vial of moonlit dew, the rare herb, and the treasured crystal now gathered, I knew that the time had come to return to the library and perform the revealing spell. I needed to find out the truth, whatever it was.
Chapter Fifteen
Adrian
I couldn’t stop myself any longer. Hunger had completely taken over me and I started to devour the food that the guard brought. I ate in big mouthfuls, swallowing before even chewing properly, but I didn’t care. My body needed sustenance, and only now that I had food in my stomach did I realize how hungry I really was.
The guard didn’t say anything during this time. He merely watched me eat in silence, occasionally glancing at the door. I had so many questions to ask him, but I had to eat first. Once I was done, I was able to inhale deeply. The worst thing was that now, I was thirsty. As if sensing this, the guard took a small bottle of water from underneath his cloak and offered it to me. Our eyes met. One of his was swollen, circled with a bluish hue, courtesy of my own hands.
I hesitated for a moment, but thirst finally won over. I figured, I had already eaten the food. If it was poisoned, I would succumb to it soon anyway. I might as well drink the water, too.
I grabbed it from his hands and emptied the entire bottle within seconds, clicking my tongue in a satisfied way when I was done. I had to admit that I felt much better. I almost felt like myself again. The fatigue was still there, but to a much lesser extent. I felt like I could take on the world again, not just a bunch of guards who might commit the mistake of stumbling onto me right now.
“Why did you do this?” I asked him cautiously.
This could mean nothing. Maybe it was just another trick that Constantine thought he would use on me. Maybe he wanted me lulled into a false sense of safety, as if I were one step closer to regaining my freedom, only to destroy me completely. I had to stay on guard, no matter what.
“I know you don’t trust me,” he replied, his voice conspiratorially low. “You have no reason to do so. But, I’m a friend.”
Despite the bruise, his eyes remained sharp and perceptive, his gaze unwavering as it locked onto me. His stance conveyed a sense of determination, but there was also something else in there. Was it fear?
“I have no friends in this place,” I scoffed.
“That’s what you think,” he corrected me. Then, he rubbed his chin with his fingers. “And you’ve shown me that pretty clearly. I wanted to come to you sooner, but every time, Constantine demanded that there were two of us to come and bring you food.”
“You brought me that moldy gruel,” I frowned.
“I had to,” he explained. “And I had to be like that with you. Otherwise, I would draw their suspicion.”
“But I don’t know you,” I pointed out. “How can you claim to be my friend?”
“I am connected to a rival clan,” he explained. “I dare not say their name aloud here, because in this place, even walls have ears. But believe me when I say that I have helped someone in your position before. And they are safe now, far away from this place. Is that where you want to be as well?”
“I want to be back home with my wife and daughter,” I replied without even thinking. “If you can help me achieve that, there is nothing I wouldn’t do to repay you.”
“I seek nothing in return,” he shook his head. “My lord believes that Constantine doesn’t deserve the title he has received. Actually, that he has stolen from other vampires, and has made himself the king. We do not accept him and as I see, neither do you.”
“No,” I shook my head. “I don’t care about this vampire fight for the ultimate throne. I want no part in it. All I want is to be left alone, as I’ve been so far.”
“You are married to King Theodore’s daughter,” he said, but it was a statement as much as it was a question, so I had no idea whether it was needed of me to reply. I merely nodded, hoping that would be enough. “You’re on the human’s side.”
“I am on whatever side that fights for what is right,” I corrected him. “Although I would rather not be involved in any wars. Someone always dies in a war. And I would rather stay alive, with my family.”
“What if going to war meant protecting your family?” he asked.
I didn’t like the sound of that. “What do you mean?”
He hesitated for a moment. I knew that our time was running out. He would have to go soon, or stay here and risk being caught.
