Chapter Twelve
"Not much, Eldrida is the kingdom of vampires. Hamus is where dragons are located, but that doesn't mean you can't find any in Eldrida." Prince Edmund told her.
"All of this is fascinating!" She breath out. "I've read about the mythical creatures but who knew that one day I'd come to see each one of them? It'll be more fascinating seeing a dragon, I'd love to ride a dragon."
"You won't say such when you find yourself dead in the woods." He teased her, "You should not walk far from me. I hope this won't violate your beliefs."
"I'll be fine as long as you do not touch me." She made some kind of a gesture with her hand. "What about you Your Royal Highness? Won't you find my blood too sweet when I walk next to you."
"When we get there, I won't be the only one who finds your blood too sweet."He unexpectedly shut her up.
Lilyan sat back down obediently as the carriage continued to move. The Shadowlands was a vast forest overtaken by mist were magic reign supreme.
Lilyan and the crown prince got off the carriage as soon as they arrived and walked down the path leading them deeper inside the forest. Everything was gray in the eyes of Lilyan, she couldn't even see where she was walking but she followed Prince Edmund behind and closely.
"Follow closely." Prince Edmund reminded her.
She nodded, continuing along the way. There were different foreign sounds coming from the forest, hisses, barks, growls and high pitched sounds. They were almost hard to ignore but Lilyan tried to ignore all of them as she continued following behind the crown prince.
'Lilyan…' that voice almost made her trip as she stumbled backwards. She shook her head, hoping to block the whisper but it didn't stop. 'Lilyan…'
"Stop!" Lilyan gasped.
"Priestess what is it?" Prince Edmund was by her side in an instant.
She shook her head with her eyes wide with fear, "It's nothing, let's go."
Prince Edmund nodded in hesitation but continued to lead the way.
'Lilyan…' Lilyan completely ignored the voice.
'Lilyan….'
With a startle, she fell flat on the ground and mist danced around her. 'Lilyan…' the whisper continued.
"Stop, stop, stop…" she kept muttering under her breath while everything turned completely gray Infront of her. She gasped, trying to find the way as she ignored the voice but it was getting closer with each passing second.
'Lilyan… come here my child. Lilyan…'
"STOP!" Everything stopped.
It suddenly felt like time was moving too slow.
Lilyan was still on the ground when a figure appeared infront of her. A tall figure, a woman wearing a white gown with her hair down. She was beautiful to be considered a 'ghost', very beautiful.
"Lilyan." The woman said. Her voice was similar to the whisper that that would be heard inside her heard.
"Who—who are you?" Lilyan looked at the woman.
"Who am I? The question is, who are you, child?" The woman carried a soft smile. "The Gods must be happy, it's been a while since we last received a dignified guest as yourself."
"A dignified guest?" The people of Eldrida had a kink of confusing others, Lilyan must say.
"Someone with such a special spiritual power, you're blessed child. But you're not meant to sit on that throne, yours is not here." She said, "The journey is long and tiring, but the Gods are with you. You will find your way home lost child."
"I don't understand." She was really confused!
"The gods have blessed you, child." She whispered, her voice disappearing with the air. 'The war is coming, the gods have blessed you, child.'
With a gasped, Lilyan took a deep breath once more. A worried looking crown prince appeared infront of her.
"Priestess are you alright? You were not responding and your pupils turned while, I thought you're dying!" Prince Edmund exclaimed.
"I'm fine." The mist swirled around them, shrouding the forest in a damp, gray veil.
"Are you sure you're alright?" The crown prince asked.
Lilyan nodded. "You do not have to worry about me, Your Highness. I'm really fine.
They continued to walk when an unexpected figure brushed infront of them. Prince Edmund sniffed the air and he immediately hissed.
"Go and hide behind that tree." He told Lilyan who immediately ran behind a tree as told. She was a human, being involved with mythical creatures would be very troublesome for her.
The figure, was suddenly infront of Prince Edmund and the two started circling each other, their eyes locked in a fierce stare.
"Where is it?" Prince Edmund bat his fangs.
"You'll never have it," Withem hissed with the same expression, yet too cocky. He sneered, his eyes gleaming with malevolence.
"You don't want to get hurt." Prince Edmund warned tilting his head in action.
With a sudden burst of speed, Withem launched himself at Prince Edmund. The prince dodged, avoiding Withem's snapping jaws by mere inches.
He counterattacked, his fist striking Withem's chest with a loud thud.
Withem stumbled back, but quickly regained his footing. The two vampires clashed, their movements lightning-fast as they exchanged blows. The mist swirled around them, making it impossible to see more than a few feet in front of them.
Prince Edmund landed a solid kick to Withem's stomach, sending him crashing into a nearby tree. But Withem was far from defeated. With a snarl, he launched himself at the prince once more and Prince Edmund launched himself at Withem with more strength than before as his fangs bared and his eyes blazing with fury.
He snapped, his foot pressed against Withem's chest as he lay defeated on the forest ground.
"Where is it?" Prince Edmund asked again.
"You'll not find it." Withem laughed like a madman and his breathing immediately stopped, purple blood flowed like a river from his mouth.
Lilyan rushed towards the scene, she sighed. "He's death."
Prince Edmund hissed kicking the lifeless body, "He'd rather die than betray his master."
He started to walk back to where they came from. Lilyan followed behind him, they walked silently but Prince Edmund's anger thickened the atmosphere. They got inside the carriage and it immediately moved.
"Are you alright?" Lilyan asked looking at the discomfort across his face.
The crown prince didn't respond so Lilyan moved closer, lifting his hand to check his pulse.
Prince Edmund opened his eyes a little, "Isn't—Isn't it inappropriate to hold my hand like this."
"You've been poisoned." Lilyan declared.
Prince Edmund coughed sickly, "They came prepared."
"You knew…" Lilyan was very good at reading face, especially his. "That's why you brought me along."
"Well, is there anything you can do? Priestess?" Prince Edmund asked.
"There's no medicine here." She appeared frustrated, "A drop of blood shall do though right?"
"Mmmmh." It wasn't exactly a 'no'
Before Lilyan could slit her finger for a drop of blood, Prince Edmund was already beside her, his mouth buried on her nape and a pain shot through her neck. Lilyan hissed, unable to break free and the crown prince sucked a mouthful of blood before he licked, once and twice then he dropped on her shoulder.
"Your Highness…" Lilyan's voice was soft and low, she was feeling very drowsy. She didn't receive a response from the crown prince. "Your Highness."
She tried again but there wasn't any response.
She moved him, making him fall on the cushion.
She prayed for mercy, hoping the Gods would forgive her. After all, she didn't have much energy within her either.
Leaning back, her hand trailed towards her neck and there was pain coming from there. She sighed falling asleep.
She was indeed, drowsy.
When she opened her eyes, the carriage had already stopped at the palace. She looked around but there was no sign of the crown prince so Lilyan stepped out of the carriage.
"Priestess, Her Majesty is seeking for your audience." The Queen's advisor came running.
"Please lead the way." Lilyan said.
The advisor smiled and indeed, he led the way to the Queen's resting chamber. Unlike the day before, Queen Kaelin was watering plants.
"Your Majesty, your servant is pleased to make your acquaintance." Lilyan immediately bowed at the sight of the Queen. She really hated all these curtseying.
"Mmmh rise." Queen Kaelin said, "Tell me priestess, you have that much power to heal the prince within a night? I mean, he couldn't even lift a finger and suddenly after you've entered his bed chambers, he's out here kicking and jumping like he has never been sick."
Lilyan bowed lower, "Please don't ridicule me, Your Majesty. Unlike my teacher, the High Priestess, my skills are so and so. It's just that the crown prince is lucky and the Gods are by his side."
"You think so?" The Queen smiled.
Lilyan breathed deeply, "Yes Your Majesty."
"These flowers are beautiful, don't you think?"She looked at the young priestess who had her head almost on the floor. Lilyan looked up for a second before her eyes went back down.
"If Her Majesty thinks they're beautiful, then they're beautiful." Lilyan said.
Queen Kaelin chuckled, "You went out with the crown prince for the whole day, where did you go?"
"The crown prince took me out to play, I don't know of any other details Your Majesty. Please do forgive me." She bowed respectfully.
"What did you do that needs to be forgiven? You didn't do anything wrong." Queen Kaelin smirked. "I was afraid that the crown prince might have offended you."
"Not at all, Your Majesty." Lilyan said, looking very nervous.
"Then you're excused." She nodded towards the entrance.
Lilyan bowed, "Then I shall take my leave, Your Majesty."
Lilyan retreated, sighing in relief as soon as she stepped out. She was certainly turning into a playground. What was all that about?