Chapter One

~Elias~

“Next person!”

My heart pounded in my ears as he shouted at the lady in line with me, and I knew it was just a little time before it was my turn. I didn't want to shed tears but I couldn't control it, seeing my fellow humans whimper in pain made my heart ache. The least they could do was to leave us alone but they didn't, they tampered with us so many times and this was the height of it all. We were from two different worlds so why do we have to sacrifice our blood just for an experiment? How could he keep gathering humans every year to look for the golden blood to cure his illness?

“Elias?”

Caden, my brother called out and I turned my head to him. He was scared, I could feel it and I wished I could do something to save us both but I was helpless. These vampires have a higher hand over us.

I touched his hand and caressed it,

“Don't worry, just give them your blood and we will go home.”

His doe shiny eyes stared at me with hope as the vampire guards took him with them.

I walked over to the people whose wrists had been slightly cut to take out blood and I helped them tie some pieces of clothes to it.

“Your brother is taking much time, don't you think so?” one of the elders in my community spoke up and it struck me that Caden might have been taking much more time than usual. I had been so engrossed in taking care of others that I lost the time. I immediately stood up and checked around the small room but he was nowhere to be found. I was next in line and no guard had come to take me yet. My mind was spinning as I quickly went to the door,

“Hey, get back!”

The guard growled at me and threw me away, and my back ached. His strength was nothing compared to mere human own, I haven't had so many interactions with vampires but I heard a lot of stories about how powerful and dangerous they were.

“My brother—Caden—” I felt lumps in my throat as I struggled to speak up. His crimson eyes flickered with disinterest as if he was disgusted and he didn't understand what I was saying. Why was my brother taking so much time, I had heard from those whose wrists were cut that they didn't even meet the perpetrator behind all this.

“Caden!!!”

I shouted with all the strength I had left in me but it was too futile and I stood up and approached the door.

“Caden!! Where are you??!”

I couldn't bear to think that they harmed my brother already, he was all I had. My parents died when we were young and even though I had to shoulder all the responsibilities, I loved my brother so much that I could replace his death sentence.

“What is wrong with you this dirty human?” another guard kicked me away from the door which made my other humans approach me. My lips were busted already and blood was seeping from it. Tears streamed down my eyes as Caden was still nowhere to be found. All he had to do was to drop his blood and make the king in the hidden room drink it.

“Elias!”

“Elias, I'm here!”

My head flew to the door as I heard Caden’s loud voice and I hurriedly stood up and pulled him into my arms. I sobbed hard as I held him tightly against me, refusing to let him go.

“I'm fine, Elias,” He spoke up, gently and I pulled out and wrapped a piece of cloth around his injured wrist. Placing my forehead on his,

“I was—scared, you were in for so long—”

He smiled gently but I knew there was something wrong, something happened and he wouldn't tell me, at least not here.

“Next person!”

The guard's loud voice jotted me from my thoughts and I pulled Caden in for a hug before I followed them. My eyes wandered around the dark palace, it was as mysterious as the stories I had been told. There wasn't any hint of light in there, it was suffocating and overwhelming. Never in my life did I think I was going to be inside the palace as humans were restricted from coming near the vampires.

“Julian.”

Another guard called the one holding me and they whispered to themselves. I stood there, holding the hem of my trousers as I waited for them to cut my wrist and feed it to the cruel king so I could go meet my brother.

“Where are you taking me?” I quickly asked as they began to drag me further into the hallway. They said no word to me as they continued to drag me, what’s this where they took my brother to?

So many thoughts ran through my head but I was scared, my palms turned sweaty all of a sudden.

“Bring him here,” The man collected me from the guard and opened a door. My eyes widened as I stared deep into the room, it was dark and heavy. I felt like something was strangling me, the aura was dark and dangerous.

“My lord, you asked to taste directly,” The guard bowed almost immediately as he spoke up. My eyes found who he bowed to and my mouth opened widely.

“The KING!” My heart screamed as I laid my eyes on him, I had never in my life seen such a beauty and a beast. He was more than people described him. He looked like a god, his hair was jet-black and fell down to his neck. His eyes were dangerously red and he looked like something unreal as he sat down majestically on his throne.

“Ahh.”

A cry of pain escaped from my mouth as the guard suddenly pushed me forward and I fell low on my knees in front of the king.

“How dare you? Say your greetings!”

My throat tightened, and no words could form. I didn't have any idea what to say so I just bowed, I was overpowered.

“Come here, boy.”

Cold shivers ran down my spine as his voice echoed. It was husky, dark, and alluring but I could feel the danger lurking beneath it. My legs were weak and I couldn't stand so I just crawled over to him. I could hear how fast my heart was beating as I got closer to him. I didn't dare to raise my head until I felt his rough fingers lift my jaw.

His red eyes stared deep into mine and lumped rose to my throat as my fingers clenched against each other.

“Cut yourself,” He commanded and my eyes traveled to the sharp knife lying on the table. My hands trembled as I picked it up and placed it on my wrist, I wasn't scared of the pain, I was scared of the man holding my jaw. I knew he could snap it off within a blink.

“Do it now!” His voice went a little higher than before and I winced in pain as I immediately slashed my wrist for him. I stretched it forward to him and I closed my eyes, waiting for him to suck it.

1…..2….3…

His mouth didn't touch my wrist since I felt his breath and my eyes opened slowly only to see his face scrunched up in something that looked like confusion. His pupils dilated and his fists tightened against each other as if he was struggling.

“Get out!”

My eyes widened at his sudden outburst,

“I said, get OUT!!” He growled again and I was about to stand up and leave when his strong arms held me down.

“Not you, boy.” He said speaking up, his voice suddenly a bit calm.