The Love of a Vampire

Chapter 8

Eyes closed, barely breathing, he listened to every movement in the centuries-old castle. It was noisier than usual, and it could be that they were preparing a big celebration for his doom. In a matter of minutes, his fate will be decided by the Coven Masters who think too highly of themselves. The sound of footsteps stopping below the tree he was resting on made him open his eyes.

“Prince Adam.” One of the knights called his face straight to the trunk of the tree, afraid to make eye contact with Prince Adam, the vampire murderer.

“Is it time for the trial?”

“No, your majesty. Last night your father fell ill, therefore the Coven Masters have decided to postpone your trial and have the coronation of Prince Robert as soon as possible instead.” The knight replied.

“Coronation huh?” staring at the dark grey sky, Adam smirked. “…….and you’re disturbing my solitude because……”

The knight swallowed hard. Adam’s voice sent shivers down his spine as fear crept into his system. “Forgive me, Prince Adam. Your brother is asking for your presence in his royal study.”

Adam jumped off the tree, taking the knight by surprise. He saw Adam raising his hand and he held his breath to wait for his attack, with his eyes on the ground, but nothing came. Instead, Adam gently tapped his tensed shoulder and said, “Easy. I don’t kill cowards.” With one last smirk, he left the knight dumbfounded, almost falling on the ground with his legs shaking.

Entering the castle, Adam stared at the flight of stairs before him, then his eyes turned to the passage that led to the private training room. Instead of going to the royal study, he walked past the flight of stairs and went to the training room.

Sweats are dripping from his face after hours of training. None of the knights dared to disturb him again. As he was taking a break, the doors opened and, as a reflex action, Adam did not hesitate to throw a dagger at the door.

Robert was taken by surprise, barely dodging the dagger directed at his throat. He threw a glare in Adam’s direction, but Adam ignored him and was casually resting on the bench near the weapon’s table.

“I have summoned you, but you were here instead.”

Shrugging his shoulders, Adam replied, taking a glass of blood. “It must have slipped my mind little brother, oh, and congratulations on your coronation.” He raised his glass before drinking all its contents in one gulp.

“Adam, we want you at the coven meeting. The coven masters are requiring you to be there.” Adam snorted, shaking his head. “You mean Langdon is requiring me to be there. Is this about the trial or your claim on the throne?”

Robert fell silent. “I guess it’s the latter then.” Adam concluded. Standing from his seat, he walked past Robert, but he was stopped by the knight standing by the door.

“Desperate times call for desperate measures, huh?” Adam commented as he stared at the group of knights standing before him.

“I don’t want to get to this point, Adam. You are still my older brother and I give respect to you---”

“Doesn’t look like it.” Glancing back, Adam smirked. “This is pretty low, even for you, brother. Are you really that afraid that I might take your precious title from you?”

“No. I know you always keep your word, but the coven masters want more than that.” Robert replied. Turning his attention back to the knights standing in his way, Adam took a step to the side, and at the same time, the knights sidestepped in the same direction, blocking his path.

Adam frowned, raising his eyes to stare at them. The knight met his gaze and shivered at his stare.

“Don’t make this difficult for us, Adam.” Robert said, and as soon as he said that, Adam caught a syringe directed towards his neck, his eyes still fixed on the knight. Taking the syringe close to his nose, Adam learned that it was a moonflower mix with tranquilizers, enough to put a vampire to sleep for at least ten minutes.

Another syringe was shot in his direction but he was able to dodge it, but then a series of them came shooting from different directions. Adam dodged it all but when he felt a needle behind him, he knew it was Robert who did it.

His vision started to get blurred and burning pain was slowly building inside him until he lost consciousness.

~~~

Robert takes Adam’s unconscious body to the conference room where the rest of the coven masters are waiting along with their father. Gregory, Adam’s uncle, stood from his seat frowning as he watched the knights carry Adam into the room.

“What is going on, Robert?” Gregory asked in confusion.

“We need him here. I told them to use every means possible to bring him here.” King Bartholomew replied.

“What do you need him for? I thought this was a regular meeting with the coven masters?”

“Please, Adviser Gregory, this isn’t the time for your misplaced sympathy for that rascal.” Coven Master Langdon said, making Gregory snap his head in his direction with his eyes narrowed to a glare.

“I bet this is your doing, Langdon. I do not know what you’re up to, but I will NOT let you hurt him.” Gregory warned.

A deep-sounding laugh caught their attention, turning their heads in its direction. “I appreciate your unwanted concern, Uncle Gregory, but it takes more than a shot of moonflower to keep me down; all the more hurt me.”

“You’re supposed to be unconscious for the next five minutes still.” Robert commented with a deep frown on his forehead. Shrugging his shoulders, Adam replied, “You’re a fool if you thought I was actually unconscious. I didn’t know my presence was that important for you to use such methods just to get me here.”

Sitting on the chair, Adam crossed his legs comfortably and said, “Did you bring me here just to stare at me? Let’s get down to business. As I am still a free man, I have somewhere else to go.”

“Where would that be? Pleasure houses? Human city and killing everyone that gets in your way?” Coven Master Langdon replied. Adam nodded his head in agreement, looking rather impressed. “Impressive, Langdon. You were able to sum it up.”

“Adam.” King Bartholomew’s voice caught everyone’s attention. Glancing at his father, Adam raised an eyebrow. “I heard you were ill, but it doesn’t look like it.”

Ignoring Adam’s comment, King Bartholomew said, “We are here to discuss your brother’s coronation.”

“It is his coronation. What am I needed here for?” Adam asked.

“We want your full cooperation and acceptance of the matter, Prince Dylan.” Coven master Fernandez pushed a document forward. “We want you to put your seal on this document promising your full consent of the matter.”

Adam stared at the document on the table. It is a blood contract, enchanted by a spellbound for life.

“You are the eldest son, and the throne is yours by birthright, but your ability to rule the kingdom is proven unreliable. If you don’t oblige, then we’ll see you as a threat to the throne and to Robert’s life.” Langdon seconded. Adam glanced at him. His voice sounded concerned but his pretense was not enough to mask his joy.

“What are you talking about, Master Fernandez? Adam may be reckless in his actions, but that doesn’t mean he poses a threat to the kingdom. He is---”

“Uncle Gregory.” Hearing his name, Gregory turned to Adam, who gave him a warning look, making him look down.

“You’re asking me this now and my brother’s coronation is tomorrow? I don’t think my cooperation and approval are needed. I know the kingdom will be in good hands. When the going gets rough, Robert always runs to his father’s side; very reliable I may say.” Adam stood from his seat about to leave, then he added, “You better hold on to that title tight, brother, or I might take it from you.”

“If a tragedy befalls the kingdom, don’t go looking for your big brother for help, and if I really wanted the throne……..” Adam leaned in closer to Robert’s ear and whispered, “I could always kill you in your sleep.”

Leaning back, Adam smirked. He knew that the Coven Masters heard it and it could be used against him, but he was not interested in ruling the kingdom at all.

Giving his father one last glance, Adam left the room. Stepping out of the conference room, Adam came face to face with Hannah. Ignoring her presence, he walked past her.

“Adam.” Hearing his name put him to a halt.

“Why won’t you sign it?” frowning Adam turned to face her. “What are you trying to say?”

“I thought you said you didn’t care about this kingdom or its people, but why won’t you sign it? I know Robert will be a great king----”

“Do you really think so?” Hannah blinked her eyes. Adam is giving her a measuring look that she can’t withstand. His aura is intimidating her. “Will you stop that?”

“Stop what?” Adam asked nonchalantly. Hannah shifts uncomfortably. “If you’re too intimidated by me, then I guess the Moon Goddess made a mistake of choosing you as my soulmate.”

“And let me ask you, Hannah? Do you think a coward can be a great king? If you think he’s going to be a great king, then that makes you a fool.” turning around, Adam left Hannah dumbfounded.

Adam went to the west tower where his private quarter is located. He had a room in the east wing of the castle but if he went there, he would encounter Robert, Hannah, or his father. He doesn’t want to deal with them now.

Pouring himself a glass of whiskey, Adam stared out of the window and to a distance where the poorest citizens of the Kingdom of Dracula are found. His eyes drifted to the city below the castle; the city where the vampires they call pure-blood enjoy the pleasure of comfort.

“Adam, I know you care about the people of the kingdom, especially those who live outside the city. The throne is yours by birthright; if you just reclaim it, I know Bartholomew can’t do anything about it.”

“What are you talking about, Uncle Gregory?” Adam replied, pouring his glass full again.

“You know what I’m talking about, Adam. I believe that you will be the best king the kingdom has ever known. Don’t let it end like this.” Adam stared at him as he drank his glass empty.

“Robert is a coward, but he can learn. I was never interested in leading this kingdom, but if he let those coven masters manipulate him, then that’s when I’ll step in.”

Gregory sighed. He stared at him, wanting to say more, but the look on Adam's face showed no room for argument. He knows nothing can change Adam’s mind once he decides on something.

“Is there anything else, uncle?” Adam asked, turning his head to look at Gregory.

Sighing, Gregory replied, “I hope you know what you’re doing, Adam.”

Not long after Gregory left, another presence interrupted Adam’s solitude. “What is it, brother?”

“I saw Uncle Gregory coming down from here. What did you two talk about?”

“Nothing that concerns you.” Adam simply answered. He took the bottle to pour his glass full again, but Robert snatched it away. Adam’s hand formed into a tight fist. “Sign this.”

“I’m not signing anything. Are you really that afraid that I might take the throne from you?” Adam pushed the document away and took the bottle from Robert’s hand.

“I need your approval as the eldest son and the first prince of the kingdom of Dracula.” Adam snorted at the idea. “You were the first prince.”

“I am the crowned prince, but you have always been the first prince.” Shrugging his shoulders, Adam drank the contents of his glass in one gulp.

“You have my word, Robert. I already agreed about you becoming the King. I was heard by the elders and the councilman. No one will take away the throne from you.” Adam replied, without paying much attention to Robert. Adam poured the bottle empty and took another bottle from his shelf.

“You are a scheming bastard, Adam. You may say that you have no interest in the throne right now, but in the future, I know you will want it back.” Robert said, making Adam chuckle.

“I do scheme, but I’m not a bastard. I am our father’s blood.”

“Are you?” Robert took a step closer to Adam as he continued in a soft voice. “I know that you are a product of our mother’s affair. You were never our father’s blood.” Adam gritted his teeth in anger.

“You have no idea how happy I am that I was not his son and to remind you, brother, YOUR father wouldn’t be king if he didn’t marry MY mother. Make sure you don’t forget that.” Robert shot him a glare and, in return, Adam smiled victoriously.

“I will make you sign this one of these days, Adam. I’ll make sure of it.”

“I wonder what made you and YOUR father afraid. Is it because mother left a royal decree saying that I am the next king of the kingdom of Dracula?” Robert froze, which confirmed Adam’s suspicion and he smirked.

“Even a blind person can see what you’re up to, Robert. Good luck with that.” Robert gritted his teeth and left the room. Adam watched him as he left and listened as his footsteps faded away.

Adam turned the ring on his finger; the ring that his mother left him before she died, along with a dying message. “Follow your heart’s desires, Adam. Don’t let anyone decide for you, not even the gods.”

~~~

It was early in the morning when Adam’s rest was interrupted by the noise coming from the doors of his private chamber. Frowning, Adam opened the door with a scowl on his face, but he was greeted by several knights pointing a weapon at him.

“Is this Robert’s way of making me sign that paper?” Adam asked, sounding amused.

“Come with us peacefully, Prince Adam,” said one of the guards.

“Tell Robert to go to hell.” Adam replied through gritted teeth.

“Prince Robert is dead.”