The Last Offering

Prince's slave

Ultima

I followed Prince Asier around while he took care of his duties as the Prince of this kingdom. In the meantime I've received many weird glance and a few monsters also licked their mouth when they saw me. Naturally, since I was following the Prince they couldn't do anything to me. We were in Asier's office. It was a really tall room, with dark green wallpaper and dark green curtains. His desk was made of light wood as well as his chair. The rain started to fall and the lights of the room turned on automatically. This is so nice. -I thought while checked the room discreetly. Asier was buried in a load of paperwork, when he suddenly turned and looked at my direction.

- Did you say something? - he asked and I shook my head. He turned back to his papers and I kept sitting quietly, listening to the sound of the pouring rain and the scribbling of Prince Asier. So peaceful... I couldn't remember when I felt at such an ease.

- Seriously... Talk louder if you have something to say! I cannot concentrate this way. - Asier complained and sighed.

- Go, make yourself useful and bring me some tea. - I stood up, and after a brief bow, headed back to the kitchen. On my way there, the torches around the hallway light up alone and I couldn't help but smile. It was magical. Probably a few wizards lived in this kingdom as well. As I kept walking to the kitchen a few people who I've crossed ways stared at me with either hate or pity. Before arriving to the kitchen, someone grabbed my shoulder and threw me against the wall. I felt that a rock cut my back and hissed in a low voice.

- Heh! This human sounds like a stray cat! - an ogre said and I just got up, turning towards the kitchen again.

- What do you think you are doing? - his companion a dark elf asked and held me by my collar with magic.

- Obeying orders of the Prince. He sent me for tea. Now if you excuse me. - I said and touched the collar. The elf released me with his eyes widened and turned to the ogre.

- Let's go. - but his friend wasn't so wise. He laughed and grabbed my shoulder, digging his claws into my flesh.

- Come on Laffale! Let's cook it for dinner, no one will notice it. - Seriously...? No one. I sighed.

- What are you sighing about?! - the ogre asked and shook me. My blood poured to the ground and he got frightened by something. He released me and ran away followed by the elf.

- Are they giving you a hard time? - I turned around and my gaze met His Highness's. I bowed to the king and answered.

- Not at all.

- Really? You are injured. - he said pointing at my back and shoulder.

- This is just annoying, not an issue. If your Highness allows, I'll keep doing my assignment. - I bowed and went to the kitchen to get some tea for the Prince. Once I had the tea, I headed back to the room followed by the King himself. A lightning light up the sky next to the window we walked by and he asked.

- Aren't you afraid of thunderstorms?

- I find them rather calming your Highness.

- Really interesting. What about the monsters you saw earlier? You were probably afraid.

- If I may answer to your Highness's question, with a question. Should I be afraid of the thunderstorms or the monsters?

- I thought humans are afraid of these kind of things.

- Most of them are.

- Why are you not? I mean the thunder okay, but those monsters tried to kill you. - I couldn't hold back and smiled at the king of Estermond. A vampire of four hundred years old who looked only slightly older than is own son.

- Everyone wants to kill me here, your Highness. - I said and kept walking to the Prince's office followed by a stunned King.

- Took you long enough... - Asier complained and he lifted his head quickly. He probably smelled the blood.

- Apologies , I got held up. - I walked to his desk and not giving an importance about his eyes turning vibrating red. I served him his tea and went back to the corner I was sitting in before.

- Father... What are you doing here? - he asked and I didn't pay attention to them. Their discussions were none of my business. I ripped part of the inner skirt and rolled it around my shoulder. My back was already fine, it was just a smaller scratch. A pair of vibrating red eyes stared at me. None of them moved but I could see the blood thirst in their eyes. I got up and bowed.

- Should I serve something else instead of the tea? - I asked but they didn't answer. Just stared at me. I shrugged and walked back to the desk. Grabbed two cups and a clean pen. I stuck the pen into my arm and poured a little blood into each cup. Then filled the rest of it with tea and bowed walking back to my place. I bandaged the new wound and leaned against the wall, looking out at the pouring rain with a smile. I could smell the scent of fresh rain lingering in the air mixed with the scent of the unmistakable iron scent of blood. So peaceful. That's all I could think about while my eyelids got heavy. I closed them and wondered if I have closed them for the last time or if there's going to be a tomorrow.