Page 10 of The Depraved Prince
I’m lying face down, on my stomach on a couch. My hand is in front of me, swollen with purple bruises. The evidence of a broken wrist is in front of me. And that’s when I register the pain.
It hurts so damn bad.
I tilt my head to the side and blink fast. My eyes are dry and I’m doing everything I can to hold the anxious storm at bay inside me. I want to fall apart already.
I’m in a small space that looks like a bar room. There’s a large pool table in the center, shelves with liquor and crystalized bottles on them, large TVs mounted on the walls, and shelves full of books that look ancient. What catches my eye the most is a massive map on the wall with a large, cryptic, gothic font.
Immortals Country
It looks like a map of the United States. I recognize each state, but it’s divided into North, South, West, and East—each region with a name. A vast text that readsKing Davenportis all over the Southern States.
I look up and seeKing Dragoin the Northern States. I move my eyesight to the left to read the Western States, but I’minterrupted. Cold hands in my hair pull at the base so hard that I’m forced upward.
I yelp and squeal from the sensation.
“Stop! Please! Let me go home!” I plead. He pulls me off the couch and throws me over his shoulders. I thrash and hit him as hard as I can with my one arm, but I’m only hurting myself every time I hit the man. His body is hard like a rock.
The two men who were conversing earlier laugh at my weak attempts to escape. They’re all wearing white sweaters with light blue jeans, and those same horrific, abnormally bright eyes look at me like I’m something to devour. One of them crosses his arms against his chest and gives me a creepy stare.
“We should drain the girl right here. Forget King Davenport!” He spits with glee.
What the?
“Drain me? What do you mean drain me? Let me go! Please, I promise I won't tell anyone about you guys. Please let me live. Don't hurt me, please!"
“Hmm, her scent is very tempting. I think you’re right.”
“Don’t you fucking touch me, assholes!”
He ignores me like my voice doesn’t matter. The other man gets closer to me and lifts my hair off my shoulder so he uncovers my face. He, too, has sharp canines coming out of his mouth. His eyes are ice blue, and he’s tall with strawberry-blonde hair, combed perfectly back with gel.
He gets near me and invades my space, but then the door to the room blasts open with a loud thud. The man throws me off his shoulders violently. I hit the wall behind them, and it knocks the air out of my lungs, stunning me. I gasp for air and wince. I try to pick myself up with the palm of my hand, bending my stressed elbow, but fall back to the cold wooden floor. I’m too dazed by the blow.
“Drago.” The blonde man startles out his name, rolling the r in rigid disbelief. “What the fuck are you doing here, Prince Drago? You know this room is only for the southern immortals.” The two men align themselves until they’re side by side, like a barrier in front of me, as if they’re trying to hide me. They glare at the man who enters the room.
The man at the door stares at them with bright red, amused eyes, and then his lips form into a haunting smirk. I glance over as I cough repeatedly and groan. His teeth also have pointed canines across his bottom lip. He folds his sleeves and looks at his Rolex watch. He’s in a black suit, and he isn’t alone. He has other men with the same bright red eyes by his side.
“Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. I’m here on vacation before I have to fulfill my duties as the new King Drago. I’m here to visit my future father-in-law. Wanted to check out your guys’ nightlife…and man,” he hollows his cheeks and whistles quickly before continuing. “You guys really do know how to party. I love this nightclub!” he exclaims with sarcastic enthusiasm.
“Get the fuck out of here, Hayden. This room is only for us. No other vampire from any other region is allowed in this room. Go back out there and enjoy yourself. Finish your drinks and go home.”
Hayden grins, shakes his head, and pouts his lips like a petulant child. He’s enjoying getting under their skin. Then he notices me just as I sit up and hold my wrist, and a tear falls down my cheek.
“Who’s the girl?” he asks the men mockingly. Hayden’s men close the door behind him, and their eyes beam ruby red.
This is a fever dream, right?
“None of your business.” The man who broke my bones snarls back.
“Oh, you see, that’s where you are wrong.It is my business.” He sneers. Hayden is absolutely beautiful and out-of-this-worldhandsome. His smile and everything about this stranger is undeniably attractive. The longer I stare at him, the more I feel like I’m in a trance. I blink the gathered tears in my eyes as I try to think of how to get the hell out of this room.
“You Davenports have caused quite the stir and trouble lately. All these killings of innocent people have caused a massive amount of commotion. It’s raising eyebrows amongst the council and other Kings.Why? You guys know the rules...so I will ask again, who is she?” He taunts them for an answer like he already knows the truth. He’s toying with them.
“Just say the word, Hayden!” A man with bright red eyes shouts.
“Gerard, do we have to remind them of what they call me? Because I would love to,” he snickers wickedly.
The two men with different sets of eyes look at each other before they face Hayden in silence. They both start to snarl, and I gasp, palming my mouth from the unfamiliar feral growls. The sounds they’re making are definitely not human. I cover my ears and squeeze my eyes shut. I hug my knees closer to my chest to try to make myself smaller. Something terrible is about to go down, and I need to figure out how to escape.
