The Princess Blood Slave

Chapter 10

Chapter Ten:

A deal with the Vampire Prince.

—

Third Person’s Point of View

“Must I tell you for the umpteenth time?”

Losing all the patience that Arth always had, her voice was rather exasperated than the normal. Had she been reminding the man before her the phrase that she had been repeating over and over again.

For what seemed like ten minutes, he had been convincing Prince Jaeden about her true identity. On the other hand, Prince Jaeden is not believing any single word that was coming out of her mouth.

It was groundless information.

Something he could not verify since he does not have a way of gathering all the records of humans being harvested to Vladyn Kingdom. Prince Jaeden knew that there was such a thing. After all, his father was still organized despite being an evil king. In addition to that, since he made himself clear that he did not want anything to do with politics, he had been stripped of every power in accordance with the system in the Vladyn Kingdom.

He could ask his Vintrai about it since he seemed to always have his ways, however he clearly does not want to impose a fight with his father since he preferred to be staying low for the past years.

Prince Jaeden scoffed at Arth’s words. “Pray tell, human.” He mocked sarcastically despite already knowing what her next words were going to be. Unsure of why he was even entertaining her, Jaeden kept a stoic expression on his lips.

“I am Arth Margaux Wfauzhle, Firstborn Princess of King Anthony Wfauzhle and Queen Margareth Wfauzhle of the Zeindall Kingdom.” She repeated, her tone stern as ever. The man mouthed the words in the exact time that Arth was saying her piece, wanting to piss off the human in front of him.

Unfazed as before, Jaeden did not even pay any attention to her words. “And that information is of importance because…?” He trailed, teasing.

Whilst for Arth, she misunderstood it for the fact that Jaeden wanted her to elaborate. So without even thinking, she responded.

“You shall be punished for keeping me captive.” She declared, harshly. “My father holds power in all six houses in our domain. He rules the Zeindall Kingdom. This… could start a war.”

There was silence that erupted inside the room. Only the breathing of Arth could be heard. Not that Prince Jaeden was even breathing since he was undead.

However, the mention of Zeindall Kingdom rendered him speechless.

Prince Jaeden never involved himself with the process of harvesting humans but the mere mention of the kingdom is something that caught his attention. In vampires perspective, Zeindall Kingdom is what they call the Mortal Realm. A kingdom that consists of six houses that stores millions of humans. In which Scratchers or the so-called ‘vampire harvesters’ always ventured in order to find source of food for their Royals.

It was something that Prince Jaeden learned while he was overseeing the Vladyn Kingdom.

“What house are you in, again?” Prince Jaeden suddenly questioned as if something was clicking inside his brain. “House Wfauzhle?” He repeated, remembering what the human informed her earlier.

A glimmer of hope crossed Arth’s eyes. “Yes,” She nodded. “Are you aware?”

“I have learned it back in the years. So I am sort of familiar with it.” He answered.

Eyes widening in hope, Arth added. “So you know my father? He is the ruler of the Six Houses. I am his firstborn daughter. If he founds out that I am here, he might start a war with your...kinds.”

Prince Jaeden shook his head, “You could be lying to me right now. You could be a mere villager at any Houses in the Mortal Realm and just trying to talk your way out of this.”

“Mortal Realm?” Arth managed to ask.

“Yeah, it is what vampires and other paranormal creatures in our realm call the place where humans reside. For all humans, it is called Zeindall Kingdom but we call it the Mortal Realm.” Prince Jaeden explained, filling in Arth’s queries.

“You mean to tell me that there are more other creatures lurking in this realm?” Arth questioned, eyes widening in shock and in fear.

“Vampires, werewolves, witches, faes, mermaids, angels, and demons? You name it, we all have it here in the Azazleias Realm.” Prince Jaeden noticed the confusion laced in Arth’s facial expression so he continued. “It is the place we live in, some humans refer to it as the Paranormal Realm.”

“Bloody hell, this is just madly insane.” Arth breathed, trying to process everything said to her.

“Sorry to break it to you but yeah, we all exist.”

Of course, she had read about them in books but never did it occur to her that they prolly exist somewhere in the world. All along she thought that they were nothin but folklores and tales.

It was a figment of imagination made by some writers.

All of those should not be real.

However, here she was… talking to a vampire prince.

She nodded, sighing in dismay. “I am not lying to you though. What I just said to you was all true.” Arth defended herself. “It is true that I am a princess and it is a mistake that you have taken me away from my family.

“Even if it is true, I have nothing to do about it.” He reminded her. “If my father wishes to take you as his juice bank, I have no say in it.” Prince Jaeden’s voice had no compassion laced in it. As it remained monotonous and neutral. Even his facial expression was still stoic. Apparent and clear to Arth that he clearly has no plan of helping her.

“No,” Arth cried, pleading. “You have to help me. I need to return back to where I belong. I do not belong here. My family… they need me back there. I can not just die here just because I am a juice bank for your kind.” Arth ranted desperation and anger rising in her voice.

All of a sudden the picture of other humans in the dungeon cell had invaded her mind. There was a surge of anger in her system as she remembered the look on their faces.

Fear. Panic. Horror. Hopeless. Lifeless.

Those people are obviously harvested from the Zeindall Kingdom. Each and everyone of them under the six houses and Arth could not comprehend that their kind are feeding off humans to be their blood slaves.

Arth had always been close to the villagers back in House Wfauzhle. As a daughter of a ruler, she had always been compassionate to them. And seeing numerous human beings harvested as a juice bank caused a turmoil in her heart.

How many humans had already died because of the vampires? How many of her people have been harvested and then dragged to this place? Why come she had never heard anything about it? Are all the missing cases back in House Wfauzhle related to all of this?

She had a friend or two. Who had instantly vanished without a word and she had never heard of them ever again. And to think that they were still young. It pained her to the fullest.

“All of you are evil!” She began to yell. “My people might have been taken into your custody just to be a blood slave. You might not be a demon but still, you are an enabler of this system.” Arth screamed at him, even pointing a shaking index finger to the man.

“It is just how it works, Arth.” Prince Jaeden mumbled and then Arth stilled in her place.

For the first time, he had referred to her as ‘Arth’ and not as ‘human’. She was quite baffled and was wondering why her heart suddenly jumped at the mention of her name.

It is not like it was the first time she heard some man mutter her name in that manner.

“The nature of a vampire is to feed off humans. We survive by means of drinking human blood. It is how we live. Vampires are savages and as creatures of the night, it is what we are fated to do.” Prince Jaeden continued, pulling Arth out of her trance.

“But you drink from animal blood! Why can not all of you just drink animal blood then?”

“I-it… It weakens us. It weakens me.” Prince Jaeden admitted. “Untainted human blood makes our kind stronger. I have been drinking animal blood for 500 years since I do not mind being weak.”

In an instant, Arth’s mind drifted to what she had witnessed the moment that she placed a foot at Prince Jaeden’s balcony. Then her eyes shifted to his arms, he was still dressed with a white turtleneck top partnered with a tuxedo on top and black slacks so Arth does not have any means of looking at his arms.

However, that did not stop her.

Swiftly reaching for his left arm, Arth folded the sleeves upward to show his bare arm. Upon seeing a full view, Arth rapidly dropped his arm with a shrill yelp.

Unbothered and unfazed, Prince Jaeden rolled down his sleeves. He let out a scoff and Arth could see the smirk dancing along his lips.

“Y-you… y-ou are hurting y-yourself.” Arth stammered, remembering how the scars had fully coated Prince Jaeden’s arms. There were hundreds of slits not just on his wrists but also on his arm. If she dared to roll up the sleeves more, she is sure as hell that it is also full of scars.

“Never do that again, human.” Prince Jaeden deadpanned, obviously dropping the conversation.

Arth gulped, “So is that why you were at the edge of your balcony. You wanted to jump to your… death?” She dared to ask as she was flooded with so many questions in her brain.

The moment that she had laid her eyes on the man, nothing but danger screamed from his demeanor. Which is why she had concluded that he was a demon prince. However, behind that scary title that he has, Arth is sure that he has so many stories to tell.

“Are you... unwell?” She asked when there was no answer from the man. Flashes of memory invaded her mind. Something that she does not want to be remembered of so she instantly shrugged the thoughts away.

“You are… broken.” Her voice was low but it was enough for Prince Jaeden to hear. Her voice was full of compassion and pity. There was sadness in her eyes as she glanced at Prince Jaeden’s red crimson orbs.

It was beautiful… and it has so many stories to tell.

Looking at her face, Prince Jaeden is bright enough to know the emotions coursing through the human. It is something that he has never received before. As he had always been perceived as a demon, no one ever made him feel like they wanted to listen.

“For years I have been wanting to vanish this realm.” Prince Jaeden finally answered, his eyes glued to the marbled floor.

While all of Arth’s attention was solely focused on him, she even nodded as a response even though she knew that he could not see her. But he can sense her.

“Being a royal vampire comes with a price for I am immortal.” He blurted out. “Something that I never wanted. Which is why through the years I only drink animal blood since it weakens me. There are days that it takes time for my wounds to heal. Hence why I have scars on me despite having healing abilities… I tried everything to end my life.” He trailed, his heart heavy with emotions. “But nothing worked. I can not simply be killed. Other vampires are afraid of me because I am labeled as a Demon Prince. Because my father does not want me dead.”

The words were finally out.

A lot of things and emotions that Prince Jaeden had kept for five centuries and a mere human princess was all it took to let it all out. He is still not sure why words are easily vomited out when he is with her. He had never been like this to any of his juice banks.

It is the first time it happened.

And it both comforted and scared him.

“Why do you want to die?” Was the first thing that came out of Arth’s mouth. She does not want to invalidate his feelings but she just could not comprehend why there are people… or even creatures that wanted to end their life.

Was it because it was miserable? Or because they were struggling?

Arth really did not understand.

Why not just live your life to the fullest while you are at it? There are humans who are sick and wish all the Gods to spare them. To cure them from illnesses that they never wanted to have. Yet, Prince Jaeden wished to die even though he was immortal.

Humans would do everything they can in order to save themselves from the horrors of any illnesses. They would literally go beyonds the ends of the world in order to live for more years.

Arth knew this because she had witnessed it beforehand.

“I never asked to be a vampire prince. Time will come and I have to rule this kingdom. Something that I never dreamt of.” Prince Jaeden muttered. “I just want to be normal.” He added.

That was all he ever wanted. To be normal… again.

However, his life does not work like that anymore. There are bigger responsibilities in his undead life that he needs to take care of the moment that the crown will be passed.

Which is why he is adamant to die.

For he could not possibly bear a crown and carry all the burden in the kingdom just like his father. Prince Jaeden believed that once that happens, he will turn out to be the man that he did not want to.

A mad king like his father… the true demon.

“We must form a deal.” Arth suddenly uttered and instantly caught Prince Jaeden’s attention.

She remembered what Leonardo had told her earlier when she met him at the lobby. In which he told her that she could propose a deal or some sort to the vampire master and if they both gain something from it, the vampire master might agree.

“What are you implying?” Prince Jaeden responded, ushering Arth to continue her words.

Not that he would automatically agree to it but he was also curious as to what the human is talking about. This had been the first time that a mere mortal would propose a deal with him.

It bemused him.

“You must help me go back to my family… to the Zeindall Kingdom and I will help you with your death.”