UNCHAINED SONATA

A HIGH pitch frequency coming from the battlement of the Torak castle brought disruption to the unnerving silence shrouding the prominent structure. The sun gradually nestled down to its sanctuary and the vague streaks of daylight began subsiding which added to the dullness of the atmosphere. It was one of those unsavory moments Anastasia chose to spend time in the only place where she could have a favorable view of the vast panorama of nature which offered respite to her distressed mind. She stood in between the raised part of the tower's wall, tucking a violin under her chin while her fingers worked on their magic on the strings of the upgraded musical instrument. With her eyes closed, she granted the warm breeze of the summer played the strands of her rose-colored hair and pranced with the hemline of her bright tunic dress. Bestowing consent to the smoothness of her favorite sonata, her thoughts sent her back to the day when all her anxieties started. It's been one full moon since her father died on the battlefield and left her alone in the care of a noble vampire and a marquess named Ivanov Crusade. Her heart and mind were having a hard time processing the sudden demise of her precious guardian when the king; her blood uncle sent the decree of her marriage to Ivanov after a week, legalizing him as the new Duke of Torak. Promoting him by the nobility of his chivalry. For successfully defeating the monstrous troupe of Lycans and sending the pack of beasts back to their hideout; the wilderness of Aewulf which is located at the west part of Altalune. At first, Anastasia found no fault in marrying Ivanov. She was actually on the moon for being chosen as his wife and she admitted that ever since she laid her eyes on him, she was discreetly captivated by his ethereal appearance. Ivan's skin is pale like a sheet of paper which is normal for his species. He has jet-black locks almost reaching his shoulders and he has an intimidating height that Anastasia had to look up to whenever he's talking to her. His body is well carved like a warrior and he has a god-like face that enticed all the women in the territory. Anastasia felt like winning a lottery for having Ivanov until the day of their betrothal that all her expectations went downhill. Wearing the usual rigid expression on his face, he showed no interest in her and refused to seal their bond with a kiss on the lips. He landed a peck on Anastasia's cheek instead that it's excessively fast she hardly felt it and after signing all the legal documents, he turned his back on her and left her in the care of the attendants and the tensed priest. Without a single word, Ivanov rode his huge midnight black steed, fleeing the castle, and went to the fort at Caucass to proceed to his unfinished workloads when he's still a marquess. Anastasia who got extremely embarrassed in front of the witnesses explained that her husband was just busy maintaining peace and order at the border. The Lycans had histories of attacking anytime they want which made Ivan and his coven cautious all the time. Anastasia believed her made-up excuse as well, realizing she should be more patient and understandable. According to her father, Ivan is ridiculously dedicated to his duty, and that he's quite a workaholic he often skipped feeding for a week that sometimes causes minor trouble on the fort. She assumed that's the case and that he would come home to fulfill his obligation as a duke and a husband to her as soon as the newly appointed marquess proved to Ivan that he could competently handle the situation at Caucass. However, a week had passed since their wedding and Anastasia didn't even have a glimpse of his shadow entering the castle. She traveled to the fort to check on him which she regretted after. She could still remember that night when she entered Ivan's working chamber. He was wearing only black breeches, a pair of thick leather black boots, and a necklace with lapis lazuli stone as protection from the sun. Ivanov was behind his office desk while the other members of his coven were seated in front of him except for a pretty girl wearing a body-hugging dress sitting on his lap with her head leaning on Anastasia's husband's shoulder. Filled with confusion about who the lady was, she bent her knee and slightly dipped her body down as a curtsy. "Greetings to his grace, the Duke of Torak." Anastasia noticed how her presence astounded Ivanov's coven and the lass whom she guessed a member of their covenant also. She even had a glimpse of how their orifices glinted bright red like a glossy wine and how they ran their tongue on their dried lips which sent a dread sensation down on her stiff spine. "What are you doing here, human?" Ivanov's baritone thick voice snatched Anastasia's full attention. Among them, it's only him who did not appreciate her abrupt visit as he shot her with his unsettling glacial stare. The girl hopped off Ivanov's lap and he instantly rose from his seat before he stalked forward to Anastasia with his heavy footsteps creating thud sounds on the brick floor. "I am asking you, mortal. Who told you to come here?" Ivanov grunted and trodden around Anastasia like a dire predator deterring his prey. Anastasia could feel the danger in his movements as she dropped her quivering gaze down and her trembling hands clutched together in front of her fluffy robe. "I- I humbly apologize for disturbing his grace and his coven in their forum," she responded in a fragile tone. "I-I went here for... for the reason that it's been a week already and his grace seems to forget about his wife that he left at the Torak Castle." "My wife?" Ivanov sarcastically repeated her word and chuckled before he stopped in front of Anastasia and asked, "Are you perhaps referring to yourself, woman?" Anastasia swallowed hard when she had a whiff of her husband's mixed mint and pancake-like scents but as he glared down at her, her knees shook and her chest cramped painfully that she struggled to breathe evenly. Her instinct screamed at her to run out of the room yet she stood her ground and with her body shuddering in apprehension, she tilted her head up and answered back, "Yes." Silence sheathed the thin air of the working chamber. For a few seconds, no one dared to react until Ivanov's crispy laughter boomed all over the fort that was followed by his comrades' cackles making Anastasia puzzled. "Anastasia, Anastasia," Ivanov muttered her name as he stopped hollering. In a blink of an eye, entertainment vanished in his face. He's back to his rigid self as he lifted his hand and held her chin in between his thumb and forefinger. "I don't see you as my wife," he whispered and leaned close to her ear. "Rather, this noble nightwalker sees you as his appetizing meal." Extremely appalled, Anastasia gasped aloud and her eyes broadened. She quickly pushed Ivanov away, grabbed the hemline of her robe, and quickly ran out of the room like a bunch of demons were chasing after her. She listened to the waves of laughter behind her yet she didn't look back. She's determined to get as far away as she could from Ivanov's coven. While panting and with tears falling on her flushed cheeks, she realized that traveling to that place was the biggest mistake she had done in her entire existence. She just broke her own heart and made her relationship with Ivanov even more platonic. And whatever reason the king begot to marry her off to a noble vampire like him, she learned that it's not for her sake. Like the castle of Torak, she's included in one of the royal rewards for Ivanov Crusade. Anastasia halted on sliding the bow on the violin's string as her thoughts carried her back to the Torak castle's battlement. She opened her eyes and looked down on the drawbridge where she could sense someone staring at her. She was right. A pale noble vampire riding a huge steed was there, pinning her with his crimson undecipherable orbs. Anastasia heaved a subtle sigh. Her heart was longing for her husband nevertheless, her mortal blood was crying out loud that she should not trust him. ___________ UNDER the ground of the unknown part of Altalune, an ancient creature who was chained inside a crystal coffin for a century and a half fluttered his eyelids. The time had finally come for him to rise from his forced hibernation for another century of slumber might put his immortality at risk. Someone must find him to break the seal of the glass-like casket and destroy the thick made of celestial gold chains wrapping around his body. However, no one knew where he was buried. No one knew who he could be and in case someone came to his rescue, would they dare to unchain him once they learn about his species?