Chapter 4: The Curse

Elira paced the confines of the stone chamber, her thoughts a whirl of confusion and frustration. Kael’s cryptic words replayed in her mind: “You took everything from me.” What could that mean? She couldn’t remember anything her kingdom had done that might provoke a vampire to kidnap her. Her father often spoke of his strength as a ruler, but never of injustice toward other kingdoms—at least, not openly.

The tray of food sat untouched on the table. Hunger gnawed at her, but her stubbornness refused to let her indulge in something given to her by her captor. Instead, she channeled her energy into inspecting the door again, searching for some kind of weakness.

Hours passed with no progress, and exhaustion began to weigh on her limbs. She slumped onto the cot, staring at the flickering candlelight as her thoughts spiraled. The sound of footsteps echoed down the hall, snapping her out of her reverie.

The door opened, and Kael entered, his crimson eyes studying her like a hawk watching its prey. In his hands, he carried a stack of old, leather-bound books.

“What now?” she asked, her voice sharper than she intended.

“Knowledge,” Kael said simply, setting the books on the table.

Elira frowned, her curiosity piqued despite herself. “Knowledge about what?”

“About the truth.” He gestured to the books. “Your kingdom, your father, and the lies you’ve been told your entire life.”

Elira stood, crossing her arms. “And I’m supposed to trust anything you say? You kidnapped me, remember?”

Kael smirked, though there was no humor in it. “Trust isn’t required. Just read. You might find the truth more painful than you think.”

With that, he left, locking the door behind him.

Elira stared at the books for a long time before finally sitting at the table. Dust clung to the cracked leather covers, and the titles were written in a language she didn’t recognize. She opened the first book cautiously, flipping through the brittle pages until she found illustrations that caught her attention.

One page depicted a massive battle—a scene of chaos and bloodshed. Humans in gleaming armor clashed with pale, fanged warriors. Another page showed a royal crest she recognized as her father’s, emblazoned on a banner held by soldiers burning what appeared to be a vampire settlement.

Elira’s breath caught in her throat. Her father had always portrayed vampires as aggressors, yet these images told a different story. Here, they were the victims—families fleeing, their homes destroyed. She shook her head, unwilling to believe it.

“This doesn’t prove anything,” she muttered, slamming the book shut.

But the second book only deepened her unease. It was a journal, the handwriting uneven and frantic. The author described betrayals, broken treaties, and a royal family that had exploited their alliance with vampires to gain power. The entries became more personal as they detailed the destruction of a vampire clan—Kael’s clan.

Her stomach churned as she read the final entry:

“They came in the night, wielding torches and swords. The king himself watched as my family was slaughtered. I will never forget the flames or the screams. One day, I will make them pay.”

Elira closed the journal, her hands trembling. She didn’t want to believe it, but the pain and anger in those words felt real. Could her father truly be capable of such atrocities?

When Kael returned, he found her sitting at the table, her expression guarded.

“You’ve read enough to understand,” he said, leaning against the doorframe.

Elira looked up at him, her voice shaking with emotion. “If this is true, why didn’t you come to us for justice? Why resort to… this?” She gestured around the room.

Kael’s eyes darkened, the crimson glow intensifying. “Justice?” he repeated, his tone bitter. “Humans don’t offer justice to my kind. They offer chains and ash. Your father would sooner see me dead than admit his guilt.”

Elira stood, meeting his gaze with defiance. “So, you think kidnapping me will fix anything? If what you say is true, why not tell me instead of dragging me here like some prisoner?”

Kael’s jaw tightened, and for a moment, she thought he might lash out. But instead, he stepped closer, his voice low and tense. “Do you really think words would have changed anything? You’ve been raised on lies, Princess. I had to show you the truth in a way you couldn’t ignore.”

She held his gaze, her chest heaving with a mix of anger and confusion. “And now what? What do you plan to do with me?”

Kael hesitated, his expression unreadable. “You’re the key to undoing the curse,” he said finally.

Elira’s heart skipped a beat. “What curse?”

Kael turned away, his voice dropping to a whisper. “The curse that binds me to this existence. A curse your bloodline is responsible for.”

Before she could ask more, he left the room, locking the door behind him once again. Elira sank back onto the cot, her mind reeling with questions. The more she learned, the less she understood—and the more she feared the role she was destined to play in Kael’s dangerous game.

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