Secrets in the Shadows

Chapter Five

Whilst most Vampires couldn't see their reflection in the mirror, the Bloodworth was different. They closely resemble the mortals, one could never tell them apart. That is until they flash their fangs and show off their supernatural abilities. They are imperious thanks to all the magical spells that they have stolen from the different Kingdoms over the years. The Bloodworth is very different from any other Vampire clans and more powerful, therefore they are highly respected in the Underworld.

" I don't think you should come to the banquet! You have embarrassed yourself way too much", Maev said mimicking Kramer's voice as she looked at her reflection in the mirror.

"You haven't seen anything yet Kramer Grand the Third! I'll be your nightmare dress like a dream", Maev said and laughed out loud. She was surprised with herself, she had been particularly vocal tonight.

She knew that she was playing with fire and she could get burn. As the saying goes, you get to make your own choices but cannot choose your consequences, and she knows that the consequence for disobedience in this Kingdom is the death penalty, but she was going to take her chances. She untied her bun and let her hair fall freely, loose big bouncy curls cascading down her back. The witches in the White Kingdom are allowed to cut their hair only twice in their life, the first time is when they are six years old. Their hair is shaven off as a sacrifice for their ancestors. The hair is burned and the ashes are used to make potions for rituals. The second time is when they celebrate their 30th birthday, but only if they are married. The girls in the kingdom would have lovely colorful long hair with big curls compared to the men who had to be well-groomed. They didn't have colorful hair colors like the girls, their hair was either dark as the night or white as snow.

" I'm so not going to stay in this room. The banquet is in my honor as well, after all, I am their Queen. Now, what will I wear? A girl needs a wardrobe to dress up and mine is back home", Maev continued with her imaginary conversation with herself which was cut short as the bedroom door opened and the plump woman from earlier walked in carrying a food tray. She flashed Maev an icy stare as she placed the food tray on the small coffee table in the corner of the room,  she turned and walked away without saying a single word.

" Earlier she had plenty to say now the cat got her tongue. Anyways I'm going to be eating with everyone else in the banquet, at least everyone will see if they poison me", Maev said as she ran her fingers through her hair turning it into a dark chocolate color. She visualized the perfect dress which will make everyone gasped when she will do her grand entrance for the second time tonight. Her father would probably throw a fit but he wouldn't be able to do anything, not tonight. She touched the wedding dress reciting the magic words with a smile on her face.

" Perfect! Nothing a little magic couldn't fix!", Maev said with a smile.

She couldn't wait to see the look on her husband's face when she will walk into the banquet room. She ran a hand through her hair, touched her mouth with her pinky finger and a bright red colored lipstick covered her lips, and then she walked out of the room smiling mischievously.

His serious conversation with the Prince of the Wolverines clans had to cut short when out of the corner of his eye, Kramer saw his new bride walking towards the banquet room. Once more she managed to make everyone speechless as she stood there close to the main entrance door in a short Lolita dress. Her hair was darker than what he saw earlier and the red lipstick on her lips was distracting him. Kramer looked at her from head to toe like all the other men in the room were doing. He could hear heartbeats around the room racing as she walked into the room past those men with hungry eyes, swaying her hips in that short black dress which was showing more than what he had seen earlier. He could see plenty of legs, though she wasn't that tall a lot was being revealed in that dress thanks to those heels that he was sure weren't the ones that he had sent to her for her to wear. His wife knows how to make an entrance, Kramer thought as he looked at those idiots drooling over her! He narrowed his eyebrows looking at the little witch he has for a wife. The men bowed at her and Kramer took one look at the smile on her face and rage burned inside him. What is she trying to do to drive all the men in this room crazy! Humiliate me some more! The Queen of the Bloodworth shouldn't behave like that! Kramer silently said to himself as he took a glance around the room. He could see that Alanon wasn't pleased with the way his daughter was dressed, the anger on his face was very apparent. But, the father of the bride wouldn't say anything or try to give the new Queen a telling-off for dressing like those floozy women who sell their body and soul in that small Brothel in the Bracana Village. A place for those who are desperate for some female company, they would go there to appease their needs.

Maev walked straight up to him and the closer she got he could see the smirk on her lips and he knew she did that on purpose to irritate him because of what he had said earlier, that she had embarrassed herself enough for one night. I should have locked that damn door! Kramer said to himself, fist-clenching as he waited for her to get closer. Kramer glanced around the room, it was like everyone's attention was on his wife. All the women were whispering amongst themselves as she walked past them. From across the room, Kramer spotted Mara, dressed in a beautiful red dress which was his favorite color, their gaze met and held for a few seconds. He smiled at her but she quickly turned her back to him and carried on with her conversation with Princess Isla of the Dusk Myriad Kingdom, which is another Vampire Clan.

Kramer turned to find his wife standing in front of him looking at him with an amused smile.

Read my mind dear husband! Do you like your present? she said to herself and smiled when she realized that he had read her thoughts as she saw his expression hardened. Kramer stepped closer to her and grabbed her left arm but not making it obvious to everyone that he was upset, he smiled at his wife before he whispered close to her ear for her to follow him. Maev tried to pull his hand from her arm but stopped when she saw the dark glow in his eyes.  She gently bit on her lower lip, forcing a smile to her lips, she obeyed and followed her husband smiling at everyone as they walked towards the other side of the room.

Once they were inside what looked like an indoor garden surrounded by green plants and beautiful colorful flowers, Kramer closed the door and stood in front of her. Maev quickly walked past him,  hurrying towards the most lighted part of the room. But Kramer was faster than her as he grabbed her by the arm turned her around with so much force that she almost lost her balance.

Since they were now standing in the light, Maev had a better look at his face. Anger clouded his handsome face, the glow in his eyes turned orange, the same color as a flame, and with one swift movement, one of his hands circled her neck. Even if he wasn't squeezing his hand around her neck, Maev felt like she was suffocating. She tried to hit him but her hands were paralyzed, the Vampire King was showing her how powerful he was and she couldn't use her magic to free herself as he was obstructing her from doing so. She was defenseless and she could feel that she was almost out of breath, the only thing that came to her mind was death. Kramer removed his hand from her neck and Maev fell to the floor, hurting her knees on the ground. She placed her hands around her neck as she coughed. Kramer took a step away from her and stood there looking at her without feeling any remorse for strangling her.

" You are a monster!", Maev shouted when she could catch her breath. At least one thing that they couldn't stop her from doing was using her healing gift, that is if they could sense that you are not of any threat to them in any way. She closed her eyes and gently ran a hand along her neck easing the pain left by this rude man. She picked herself up, fixed her dress, and stood there with her hands on her hips glaring at Kramer.

" You see my dear wife,  this is just a little lesson that you don't mess with your husband's honor ", Kramer angrily said.

Maev stood up and looked at him, his eyes had turned into a different color which was reflecting darkness and danger.

" You should have just killed me! I can't stand being in the same place as you ...even for one second!", Maev shouted at him.

" Do you think I want this?! I felt obligated to marry you because we have to pretend that our kingdoms will not be starting a war... because we had given our words that there will be no more bloodshed. But what happens when one of our flesh and blood is killed?", Kramer said and then softly laugh, " They force you to marry the daughter of the man who ordered my brother's death just to keep the peace. But what about justice? For them you might be a sign of peace but for me ,you are a hostage in this Kingdom”, Kramer said with a growl.

Maev could feel the anger and hatred in his voice but he was being unfair to her since they didn't have any sort of proof that it was her kind who killed his brother.

" My papa never killed your brother! But the great Bloodworth are so arrogant and think of themselves superior to others that they don't take time to listen to what others have to say!", Maev said raising her voice.

"Listen.. you don't raise your voice at me !", Kramer growl and within seconds he was standing a few centimeters away from her and she walked backward and her back touched against the wall which was covered with creeping plants. Kramer put one hand on each side of her face and looked down at her, his gaze was dark and cold which gave her goosebumps.

" Last night my brother took his last breath. Now it's my turn to show the great Alanon that I can take away the most precious thing in his life!", Kramer said and then continued, "Once the truth comes out .. I will gladly make your wish come true and deliver you from this misery... then justice will be served, eye for an eye ", Kramer growled flashing his fangs.

" I'm not scared of you Kramer Grand!", Maev said looking straight in those dark eyes.

Kramer growled louder, he could only see his brother's murderer in front of him and could feel that she was telling the truth, that she wasn't scared of him, and that infuriated him more. He wrapped one arm around her tiny waist and pulled her against him, Maev gulped. She stood there like a puppet pressed against his hard body as his angry eyes looked down at her. The thought about killing her twirled around in Kramer's mind and he found himself losing control, one bite in her neck and then take her heart out, he thought as he lowered his mouth towards her neck. Maev closed her eyes and tears rolled down her face. He opened his mouth wider a growl escaped his lips and when he was about to bite her he heard the sound of the door opening and someone walked in. He could hear footsteps coming their way.

Not knowing who could have walked into the room, Kramer quickly moved his mouth to her lips taking Maev by complete surprise. He could taste the tears on her lips and the wildflower smell on her skin was captivating him. Kramer was surprised when she didn't try to fight him off as she responded by wrapping her arms around his neck and opened her mouth for him to deepen the kiss which had suddenly turned into a hungry-for more kiss. Their lips melted together and he felt her heart beating faster. The rhythm of her heartbeat excited him in a way like never before that he wanted to rip her dress off and consummate their marriage there with her pressed against the wall. She was awakening some mystifying feelings inside of him and he hopes that he could control himself from doing all of those things that were going around in his mind. Vampire men when they are being turned on in that way they will satisfy their aroused needs to the maximum leaving their woman breathless. The door opened again and then closed, he quickly moved his mouth away from hers and pushed her back against the wall. He glanced around the room and after confirming that they were alone, he wiped his mouth as he looked at her.

" Don't think I wanted to kiss you! I only did so because someone had entered the room!", Kramer said glaring at her.

Maev wiped her mouth as well and looked at him and smiled, " And you think I didn't hear someone else was here? I wouldn't kiss you even if you were the last man around!", Maev said walking away from him.

" I want you to get back to your room. I'll speak to you in the morning!", Kramer ordered her.

"Not that room you call yours I hope.I want my own bedroom", Maev said as she stopped walking and looked at him.

" That's what I meant, you will occupy that room and I will take the one next door. I do not want to be sharing the same bed as you... not even in your dream", Kramer said as he grabbed her arm and forced her to walk to the door on the opposite side of the room. He pushed opened the door and they were inside the castle. Kramer ordered two maids to take Maev to her room. Maev pulled her arm away from his grip and she walked away without looking back. Kramer stood there looking at her walking away. He had to regain control over himself before walking back to the banquet. Even if he had wiped his mouth, he couldn't get rid of the taste of her lips. Maev, what will I do with that one! Kramer said to himself taking in a deep breath.

Phew! He nearly lost it there!, Maev thought as she got undressed for her bath. She didn't feel at ease being in this room but she had no choice, she needed a good bath and some rest so that she could think more clearly. She stepped into the stone tub and sat down in the warm water pulling her legs to her chest. Maev started to think about the whole dilemma. If the Bloodworth didn't listen to the demands of the different Kingdoms and keep the peace, no one would respect one another anymore and there would have been continuous killing amongst the different clans like in the past when everything was resolved with violence. Many Kingdoms have issues with each other but they preferred to turn a blind eye.

But if Kramer ever finds out the truth that my father and his men were indeed the ones who had something to do with his brother's death, I'm pretty sure that he will break the rules and seek justice...our Kingdom will be covered in bloodshed! I surely hope my father had nothing to do with that! I need to know what happened... I need to help my father somehow, Maev thought as she leaned her head against the tub and let the warm water ease away the stressful day she had. She closed her eyes and the first image that flashed in her mind was the kiss she just shared with her husband. The feeling of his demanding lips over hers and she felt this tingling sensation in her chest. She quickly opened her eyes and looked around her.

" Hell no! I don't want to ever see that image again in my head!", Maev said as she dipped her head underneath the water holding her breath for as long as she could. She loved how it made her feel, so light and stress-free. It drained all her sorrows as for that few seconds she felt in a different world. She lifted her head above the water and took in a deep breath and dipped her head again.