The Princess Blood Slave

Chapter 5

Chapter Five:

Gaining someone’s trust.

—

Third Person’s Point of View

Arth did not want to believe what she just heard.

“No. There must be a way out.” She mumbled to herself, a sense of panic and determination swirling inside her. “I-I… I need to get out of here.” Arth added, her voice rising in octave as she gathered the attention of the other juice banks inside the room.

Leonardo tried to calm her down by placing a hand on her back. “I am sorry. But there is no such thing, Arth.” He felt bad as his voice was laced with compassion and pity for the girl.

“I could try.” She quickly replied, eyes glimmering in hope.

As much as Leonardo wanted to remind her that there was no way out of here, he just kept his mouth shut. She did not want the glimmer of faith in her to die down along with her life that was close to its end.

Then all of a sudden, an idea struck Leonardo. “Maybe if you could make a deal with your master, you might actually have a chance to leave this palace.” He voiced out in a hushed tone, not wanting for others to hear his words.

With eyes widened, Arth raised his head to meet Leonardo’s brown orbs. “What deal? What do you mean?” She questioned, her voice laced with curiosity.

Leonardo’s statement immediately caused an upturn in Arth’s emotion. Earlier, even though she did not want to admit it loudly, she was slowly losing hope. The baggage had gotten too much to bear. Most especially when she had been destined to be the Demon Prince’s juice bank. Everything might have been easier if a normal vampire was the one she was assigned to.

But no, it just had to be a freakin vampire prince!

“Well, I have not actually done it before since my master was kind enough to spare me for a month.” Leonardo cleared his throat after he took a sip of pomegranate juice. He placed the glass on top of the mini table in front of them. “When I was new here and was about to be assigned to a master, I was planning on formulating a deal with them. Some sort of deal that both of us might gain from. I thought of proposing a deal that I could be a lifelong juice bank to them but would have the privilege to visit my family.” He paused, remembering a fraction of what his life used to be.

Throughout his years, he had always been a family-oriented man. One that had always been close and affectionate to his parents and his younger sister. He had truly treasured them since they were the purpose of his life. Leonardo could not imagine a life without them. Hence, why he had always worked hard in order to give them the life that they deserve. They may not be the richest in their place but they have enough served on their platter. Above that, they were a happy and loving family.

Something that he could not experience anymore.

A thing that he and Arth shared right now.

“I am not entirely sure if it was going to work but I did have a plan… I was once like you. I was very optimistic that I would flee from this place. However, days, weeks, and a month have passed yet I am still here.” A bile rose from his throat, making it hard for him to continue. Despite that, he swallowed hard so that he could continue his words. “On the day that I decided to escape, I was sentenced to death.”

Eyes widening in shock, Arth flinched in her seat. “B-bloody hell… what happened?” She dared to ask, curious as to how Leonardo survived up until today.

“Shocking, right?” He managed to let out a short laugh before he continued. “My master had pardoned me. Princess Dvan fought for me to stay to be her juice bank. Since then, I had this inkling feeling that I was partly indebted to her.”

“Which is why you decided to stay… instead of being sentenced to death?”

Leonardo nodded, remembering that exact moment. How the princess dared to save him when the vampire council wanted to annihilate him. “Yes, because for me staying here was better than being dead.”

There was a pause from Arth. She did not know how to respond to that. Most especially when the urge to leave this place was soaring high for her. In her mind, she knew that she was different from Leonardo. As much as she wanted to flee from Vladyn Kingdom, she would rather die than to stay as a juice bank for the undead.

Arth would not want to be an enabler of such atrocities. Giving them blood would only make them feel that they have the leverage over humans. Something that did not sit well with her.

It was given that she did not want to die.

But she also did not want to be a food for vampires.

“A month has passed and I have so few memories of my family anymore. It was something that comes along while you stay here in the Vladyn Kingdom.” Leonardo began, having Arth’s full attention as she listened closely.

“What do you mean?” Arth asked.

“Each day that passed, your memories from before were slowly fading and soon after you would not have any knowledge of your past.” Leonardo gulped. “Where you used to live, what your family looks like, what their names are… even your name. You will soon forget everything about your true nature.” He had elaborated, eyes stuck to the marbled floor. There was pain in his heart. By now, he had forgotten what his family’s names are. And he only had a little memory of what they looked like.

Panic began to emerge in Arth’s system. She was not sure if staying here for a longer time and being spared by your master is a lucky occurrence or an unfortunate one. Either way, she has something that she will lose.

Being spared does not only mean she can still live for a longer period of time but it also means that there will come to a point that she can no longer remember anything about her family.

“I really need to get out of here.” She frantically said, her eyes searching for Leonardo’s. When their eyes met, she continued. “Would you help me, please? We can still leave this place.” She pleaded, hands clasped together.

What Arth did not expect was when Leonardo shook his head sideways as a response to her. All of a sudden, she felt hopeless once again.

“You have grown feelings for her.” Arth accused softly, earning a stupefied expression from Leonardo.

For Arth, it was obvious. The way he talked about his master and the way he uttered her master’s name in the gentle way possible had struck her. It definitely gave it away.

“Does she know?” Arth asked.

Leonardo shook his head sideways, “No.”

“Are you planning on telling her then?”

“I am a mere juice bank, kiddo. There is no love between a master and a blood slave.”

Arth also shook her head sideways, as if implying that Leonardo was wrong. “You could last longer than a month if she feels the same way. You could live for as long as you want.” She suggested, hopeful that Leonardo could see through what she was implying.

The man sighed, dejected. “It does not work that way, Arth. She is part of the royals. A royal vampire can never be with a human.”

As if it had hit her, Arth blurted out. “Is she Prince Jaeden’s sister?”

Leonardo released a chuckle, “The word ‘princess’ did not give it away?”

Placing a hand through her temple, Arth massaged the area. “I thought all vampires here are addressed as princess and prince… since this we are at a royal vampire castle.”

“Mostly the royals settle here but there are still some normal vampires here and there. Those who have been loyal to the Kingston Clan for years, they let them stay here and also give them juice banks as a sign of reward.” Leonardo explained.

Arth nodded, “You really do seem to know a lot here. We could have been good friends if only I would not die today. And maybe we could secretly plan an escape.” She whispered softly and laughed.

Leonardo’s lips etched a smile, “I am your friend. For as long as I live, I will remember your name.” There was a hint of sincerity in his voice, something that Arth took note of and all of a sudden she felt like she needed to cry.

However, she did not want to be a crybaby during times like this.

What she needs is to be strong and fearless during her time here.

Last day or not, she wanted to give a good fight. In that way, she would know that she did not just welcome her death so easily. She fought for it… and that would make her feel at peace once she dies.