Arabella’s point of view.
We’ve been driving for seven hours and we finally drove past a big billboard with an inscription on it…
WELCOME TO THE HOME OF VAMPIRES.
I never knew the vampire kingdom is very far from the palace, now I perfectly understand why those vampires attending legends creation college always prefer staying in the dorms and only go back home on vacation.
Going to and fro everyday won’t be convenient for them, they’d surely miss class everyday -after all, sitting in a car for seven hours everyday would drive anyone crazy.
“The vampires are braver than you, werewolves” Wymond said.
I frowned slightly.
“Why would you say that?” I asked.
“Look” he nodded behind him at the billboard that’s already far behind. “They boldly put up a billboard telling everyone that vampires owns this land, but I don’t see the werewolves doing same”
I scoffed.
“We like staying low-key, we’re not pompous creatures” I defended my kind.
He laughed at my words.
“But my brother-in-law is pompous, or is he not a werewolf?” he asked teasingly.
I twisted my lips feeling short of words, because he’s very right about Arthur and there’s no way I can defend him (Arthur) now.
“Well, humans won’t believe there are actual vampires living here, they’d think it’s just written to scare kids off -you know, supernatural creatures are now folklores to mankind”
He nodded with a small smile, he reached out his hand and pulled me closer.
“My baby’s very smart and…” he kissed my lips very briefly. “… beautiful” he completed his words.
“I know I’m beautiful” I admitted proudly.
Then rested my head on his chest as a tired yawn escaped my mouth, he caressed my cheek.
“Are you ok?” he asked.
“I’m tired and I’m feeling sleepy too, I’ve been sitting in a small box for seven hours” I complained, referring to the car as a small box.
Edward cleared his throat from the passenger’ seat and tilted his head towards us a little bit.
“We’re almost there” he said. “Please don’t fall asleep yet, your highness” he added.
Wymond growled at him and Edward quickly withdrew, but I slapped his chest and frowned at him.
“He just wanted me to enjoy the sceneries”
“Oh” he glanced at Edward, but quickly turned back to me. “Sleep if you wanna, I’ll wake you up when we arrive” he told me.
I sat upright and pushed my hair back, then folded my arms on my chest.
“Nope, I wanna see every part of this trip” I said.
He stared at me for a brief moment and sighed, then we stayed in silence.
★★★★★
Our driver slowed down as we approached a group of young, hefty men who were dressed in some kind of uniform and they looked very discipline -maybe they’re warriors protecting their border.
One of them knocked on our driver’s window.
“Please step down and state your business!” he said in a gruff voice.
Why’s he sounding unfriendly? It’s not as if we’ve offended him before or something.
*They’re just being cautious, baby* Wymond mind-linked me.
*Stop reading my thoughts!* I barked at him.
*I can’t stop reading your thoughts, it makes me feel at ease knowing what’s playing on my mate’s mind* he said.
I bared my teeth at him, trying to scare him but he simply smiled and pinched my nose.
“I’m so scared” he mocked me.
I scoffed and slapped his hand off, then turned back to the warriors who were still asking our driver to step down.
“Your Majesty, I’ll go down and talk to them” Edward said, but Wymond raised his hand and stopped him.
“Let’s all go down” he said.
“Yes, your Majesty”
Edward quickly alighted and rushed to Wymond’s side, he opened the door for Wymond and he alighted too, then offered me his hand and helped me out too.
Edward turned to the warriors and reached out his hand for a handshake, but none of them took his hand. He laughed awkwardly and withdrew his hand.
“I’m Edward Norton, minister of state affairs and this…” he gestured at Wymond. “.. is his royal Majesty, King Wymond Ed….”
The warriors didn’t let him finish his words before they burst into laughter, they pointed at Wymond as they laughed and this angered Wymond. He narrowed his eyes as he made to pounce at them, but I quickly stopped him.
*They’re just being cautious* I reminded him of his words.
“If he’s the King, then I am the beast that lurks the wizardry forest at night” one of them said.
But someone suddenly cleared his throat and they stopped laughing at once, they made way and revealed an elderly man.
“What’s going on?” the elderly man asked them, he haven’t looked our way yet.
“Your Majesty, someone’s pretending to be King Wymond” one of them reported with mockery dripping off his voice.
Wymond growled at his tone, which made the elderly man turned to us and he gasped loudly when his eyes landed on Wymond -his eyes widened in shock.
He glanced back at his warriors and glared at them, then quickly fell on his knees.
“Welcome, your Majesty, your highness” he greeted both of us.
“Your Majesty?!” they gasped.
He raised his head slightly and turned to them.
“Quickly get on your knees!” he commanded them.
The warriors quickly fell on their knees and started pleading for forgiveness. I saw Wymond taking a step forward, but I pulled him back and shook my head at him.
*Just show some benevolence and let them be*
*But they disregarded me*
*That’s because they didn’t know who you are*
He frowned at me for a few seconds, before shifting his gaze towards them and glared harshly at them.
“Your Majesty, please forgive the foolishness and ignorance of my warriors, pardon them for the sake of I coming to welcome you personally” the vampire King pleaded.
I tugged Wymond’s arm and urges him to forgive them.
“It’s fine” he grumbled coherently, but we heard him and the vampire King and his warriors chorused thank you.
“That’s enough, ok?” I said as I stepped forward and helped the vampire King up.
He smiled gratefully at me, before turning to face Wymond.
“Your Majesty, would you like us to go to the palace by car? Or you wanna take a walk?” he asked Wymond.
*What do you say, baby? Let’s take a walk?* Wymond asked me through our mind-link.
*Yeah, let’s walk* I mind-linked him back.
He faced the vampire King.
“Let’s walk” he said.
“This way please” the vampire King said and led the way.
I was walking side by side with Wymond, but a question suddenly popped up on my mind and I slowed down a little bit for Edward to catch up with me.
“Edward, doesn’t he have a queen?” I asked.
“Yes, your highness” he answered.
“Then why didn’t he come to welcome us with his queen? And besides, why didn’t he come with guards too?” I asked again.
“Uh… I heard he doesn’t like moving around with guards…”
“Hm, he’s a low-key King” I chipped in.
He’s just like Wymond, he doesn’t like moving around with guards too.
“And about his queen… from what I’ve heard, she’s heavily pregnant” he answered.
His response left my jaw dropping and I had to take a second look at the vampire King, then blinked a few times in confusion.
“He’s already this old, shouldn’t his queen be as old as him? How can she still be heavily pregnant?”
“It seems you don’t know, his mate died six years ago and she wasn’t able to give him a heir before her death…”
I pouted sadly when he said that. I don’t know why but I felt like she must have been a lot of pains, depression and mockeries, even if no one mocked her directly to her face, they must have done it behind her back.
“… so, he married another wife last year and boom she got pregnant”
“That’s a… relief?” I said unsurely, with a hint of sadness.
He laughed.
“A relief or a congratulations?”
I shrugged my shoulders.
“I’m kinda sad he didn’t get his heir from his true mate, I mean, I can’t imagine myself dying without giving Wymond a pup to keep reminding him of me” I replied.
Honestly, I’m putting myself in the late queen’s shoes.
“Yeah, it’s sad but we can’t question the moon goddess” Edward replied.
*Baby, shut up and follow up quietly, we can head you clearly* Wymond mind-linked me, referring to himself and the vampire King.
But I know he’s the only one who can hear me clearly, since he’s the one amongst them with super, super, super sensitive ears.
*Ok* I replied.
I didn’t ask Edward anymore questions and continued the rest of the journey in silence.