Page 41 of The Depraved Prince
Immortals need sleep, or they grow extremely weak. Our energy depletes completely, and we can’t risk being weak in the presence of our enemies.
“I’m sorry, sir. I was—” I don’t let the guard finish.
I turn around, and with both hands, I rip his head off. His headless body falls to the floor, and I throw it in the massive fireplace that sits in our living room. The flames turn to bright green as he burns. Usually, our bodies turn to ash when our heads get detached from our bodies but I don’t feel like getting our floors dirty from an incompetent immortal.
“Hayden. That’s the fifth fucking guard you’ve killed!” Holland roars behind me. He rubs his brows as he holds onto his crane with a limp.
I’m seething. It’s his fault. It’s Kallum’s fault. Everyone’s fault that she’s gone. I’m wholly blinded with anxiety at the thought of anyone trying to get a hold of my little Bambi. She’s a fucking goner. I know it. Her scent leaks into the air like a meal ready to be devoured.
“Then hire competent guards that can do their fucking job right. I lost her because he wasn’t doing his job, and baby brother over here wanted to get laid, and Millie escaped! Which reminds me.” I flash to Kallum’s face. My teeth are pointed, and I’m ready to murder my only brother. “Breathe the same air Millie does again, and I’ll make the immortality ability a myth.” I point to the deceased vampire on the floor.
My threat sinks into Kallum, and he swallows hard like he’s ready to hide. His glasses fall to the tip of his nose, and he disappears into his chambers.
“Son, what is going on? Why is Mr. Pool dead?” Mother says sleepily as she studies our King’s guard. Her trembles shake her nightgown, and she palms her mouth to disguise the gasp she wants to let out.
Then she looks at me like she always does.
Fear. Sadness. And most of all, disappointment. She’s shocked that her son killed another immortal like it’s a natural thing to do. She walks from me as the rage continues to thrive. I’m blacking out. I won’t remember any of this in just a few minutes. I pace around, wanting to tear down the entire Cathedral. Growling like a feral hungry beast, I pace around, wanting to inflict more pain and hurt. The only thing that can satisfy my hunger is my little Bambi.
Mother shakes her head as she retreats to the fireplace, just as our cleaning staff comes into the room and removes Mr. Pool from the floor.
“Your son lost the Valkyrie. She’s out there.” Holland walks toward my Mother with disillusion. Every time I fuck up or make mistakes, it fuels his hatred for me further. I am proud of that, actually. But right now, at the brink of my interest in taking over the region, it backfires.
Holland continues to roar with an authoritative tone, “Now some commoner will get a hold of her blood and kill her. Who knows what kind of powers they will unlock? Never mind how hard it will be actually to kill them! You would be condemned to hell at the inferno if you were any other northern immortal. You?—"
I’ve had enough.
“For a commoner yourself, you talk like you carry the Drago blood. You will remember your place in the Cathedral. I don’tcare that you’re my father’s best friend. I’ll remind you to kneel and take orders.” I spit. “I will be the King one day, and I will find my wife. And guess what?” I tower over him just as he shakes from his hatred. His green eyes flash to red. “You will sit in the first row at the wedding. Talk to me like that again, and my first order as King will be to cut off your tongue.” Holland gulps as I threaten him. “And I’ll cut it off over and over again for a month.”
15
MILLIE
The sun is down,and the sky is black. After running over ponds, streams, and forests, surrounded by nature’s elements, the sound of music called to me. It’s muffled, but alas, I concentrated enough to pinpoint it. I kept following the sound like a light at the end of an obsidian tunnel until I found the treasure. I step over a hill, pushing through two thick brushes. My hair gets tangled in the leaves, but I keep moving forward until I see the opportunity of a haven ahead.
The wound in my neck clotted, and I stopped bleeding all over myself a while ago. Still, I’ve managed to cut myself through stickers, rocks, and trees. I’m hurting all over, but the thought of seeing my family again, my friends, Cole…even my mother again gives me the motivation to keep going.
My mouth falls open.
A concert full of people.
A concert. Full of people. I repeat in my head as my stomach turns into knots and my heart does backflips.
People.Humans. Non-vampire creatures!
Yes!
They’re all dressed in costumes. Is it Halloween?
I walk down the hill, doing my best to stop myself from leaping over everything. If I take off running from the desperation, I’ll just tumble down and hurt myself further.
I’m only a few feet away from what looks like a concert festival. A rock band playing 80s rock music gets louder. I smile when I spot young adults dancing and rocking their heads as the guitarist plays his solo. Everyone is lost in the song and laughter. A big sign on the stage says, “Bozeman Halloween Rock and Costume Festival.”
Something I should be doing…not running for my life after being held captive by vampires. I’m still convinced I’m hallucinating everything, and this is all a horrific nightmare. Hopefully, the longer I’m away from Hayden, it’ll feel like that—a bad dream.
Suddenly, I trip on a rock and tumble down the hill. I roll down, my body hitting every single rock and branch. I close my mouth, protecting it from dirt flying in as I crash. Finally, after a few moments that feel like forever, I stop moving, and gravity wins. I stumble into a crowd of men. Still lying on the ground, I face the night sky as they investigate me.
They circle every corner of my body. They all push their brows together and frown while they study me while holding beer bottles. They’re clearly confused. I mean, it’s completely valid. I’m covered in dirt, dried blood, and in my very thin pajamas with no shoes.
