A Dawn So Dark (Blood Bound #1)

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Aurora Artorias

I followed the directions of the gorgeous man to the letter. I had not expected to see such a handsome man in the run down tavern. Outrageously tall, even while sitting, tanned skin littered with pale scars. His smile made my chest hurt, his eyes matched the sky on a clear spring day and hair white as snow fell across his forehead like a curtain of ice. I had also not planned to stab someone in front of said man. A stranger, a beautiful one , that I would likely never cross paths with again.

Sunlight filtered through the trees as I slowly sat up from the dirt where I had stopped for the night and surveyed the surrounding area. I was nowhere near the Kings Road, so I knew I would be able to walk for at least a bit today. My feet ached. My body burned from the beating it had taken. My slippers and dress likely wouldn't make it to the next town.

"You're a long way from the world of men." A gravelly voice sounded behind me, materializing as if out of thin air. I whirled to find where it came from. There before me, in the shade of the forest, stood a thin, lanky figure. More limbs than a person. "I beg your pardon, sir. You frightened me." I didn't think crossing paths with a man in the early dawn was the best course of action. This was bad . Another man stepped forward out of the darkness beside the first, then another. Really fucking bad. Their skin was ashen, nearly charred in appearance. Their hair was thin layered in filth, very few strands remained on their heads. But what sent a chill down my spine was their eyes, glowing red like a hearth, veins of red trailing down their cheeks to meet their lips.

"What's a small thing like you doing out here in Dead Man's Land?" The second man inquired, stepping closer.

"Dead Man's Land?" I breathed in disbelief, terrified that I had just landed myself in a very dangerous situation. Being a prisoner all of my life and being forbidden from leaving Camelot left me with little to no sense of direction. "I'm in the Dark Wood?" I was suddenly aware of every beat of my heart, every shallow breath I took. I was fucked. These were no men at all. They were Vampires .

"Big mistake for a fine young lady to make. Why are you all alone in the land of monsters, girl?" The first man asked with intrigue, his tongue wetting his lips. I knew only something bad could follow this encounter. The Dark Woods were supposed to be a barren wasteland after the Monster Campaign. Monsters had been wiped from the world of men when my father won the war. Only the spirits were rumored to remain. Had they lied?

"I must've Strayed from the King's road in the night. If you could be so kind as to redirect me?" I pleaded hopefully, praying to the goddesses these men... or whatever they were.... would let me pass.

"The King's Road is several miles east, lassie." The first man cackled, the gleam in his eye sending a shiver down my spine. I could hardly believe I had made it so far the previous night. "Which means no one will hear you scream when we gut you like a fish." I reacted quickly, not wasting time as I took off in a sprint in the opposite direction.

"Get her!"

The hellish creatures were hot on my heels. Their fingernails were sharp as talons as they clawed at my dress, inhuman growls echoed through the trees that would haunt my nightmares. I came to a halt when I realized I had run myself into a stone wall, blocking any chance of escape I might have had. This is where I am going to die . "I've only been gone a day and I'm going to be killed by monsters. That is the last time I take directions from handsome strangers." I muttered to myself as I lifted a fallen branch to defend myself. As if a branch would do anything against these things. Merlin had always bragged of his discovery that wooden stakes could kill most creatures of the night, but I doubted this measly chunk of wood would do the job.

The first one appeared out of thin air, I reacted quickly, kicking his chest. It gave me a brief reprieve so I could lunge forward with the branch and lodge it through his chest. I was surprised when he dropped to the forest floor with a thud. I stood in shock.

"You little whore, you killed him! You're gonna die real slow. You filthy, polluted, scum of the gods." The other two lunged, I was prepared to fight but they never made it within arms length of me. A dark mass blurred across my line of sight and sent the other two men's heads rolling.

I fell still. Whatever had killed them I had no chance of killing. Their bodies hit the ground, earning a whimper of fear from me. "Oh gods above, I'm going to die."

A gruff chuckle could be heard from the forest, only further frightening me. A man in onyx armor stepped out of the darkness like a shadow. “Well, weren't they just nasty.” It was him. The handsome stranger from the tavern. Gods above, handsome did not even begin to describe him. This man was a god. My breath stalled, caught in my chest at the sight of him . He stood staring down at me with menacing blue eyes that sent a shiver down my spine. He held a confidence that was alluring. A hunter luring in his prey. Terror wracked my body. How was he so strikingly handsome yet the most terrifying man I had ever seen? He was now adorned in onyx armor instead of the plain clothes he had adorned in the tavern. He stood over me, his large form blotting out the sky, his grin held a darkness that made my chest tighten.

I gulped, with my measly stick now gone, I had no defense against this man. I took off running, barreling through the forest, though I knew I had a slim chance of escape. He had me right where he wanted me. My slippers were torn to shreds at this point, but I refused to be caught without a fight. One slipper lost its hold on my foot, leaving me exposed. My foot screamed in protest as the elements tore at my skin. When I was confident I was far enough, I ducked behind a log and hid in the brush, holding a hand over my mouth to silence my panting. Gods above, I should have kept that bread knife .

“You are a mortal in the Dark Wood, little human .” The man's voice echoed through the forest, reverberating in my chest. I heard no footsteps, only the cool breeze tickling my neck as I closed my eyes in an attempt to slow my heartbeat. I opened my eyes, thinking I had calmed myself enough only to find the man towering over me a few paces away, this time joined by two guards also adorning black armor .

“You lost this.” The slipper was dropped in front of me, the man's deep blue eyes gleaming with something I could not quite determine. “I had it well under control.” I stammered, unsure of what else to say. Lies .

“Sure you did, little human . Now come along. Standing there bleeding that divine scent will only attract more who aren't in control.” The man stated simply, holding out a hand for me to take. Divine scent? I heard twigs snapping around me, likely more creatures that wished to harm me. I was still hesitant to follow this beautiful stranger, even if he had saved me. “You don't want me…” I explained desperately. “I am wanted by the King.” I refused to escape one prison and wind up in another.

“And now you are wanted by me and my King .” The man mused, his eyes scanning my rumpled form. I was more than rumpled. My gown and cloak were torn, my hair had bits of the forest embedded in its tangles, and I was scratched and bleeding from my arms, legs, even my cheeks had suffered. Even if this man knew who the Princess of Camelot was, I was damn near unrecognizable in this state. “There are no other Kings in Avalon… the closest one besides Arthur is on the continent.” Beyond the borders of Avalon was the main continent of Avaria. Settlers in the early days had ventured from Avaria to Avalon where they discovered the Holy Grail and created Avalon. “That is where you are wrong, little human . ” He chuckled darkly, a shiver cascading down my spine as he looked down at me like I was a lamb being served up for slaughter. Why had I listened to him? I should have ran the opposite direction the second I saw that tavern .

“Running is futile, little thing . I will chase you to the ends of the realm and enjoy doing so.”

Heat pooled in my core at his words. A smirk grew on his lips, as if he knew I was stirred by his presence. I knew right then I had royally fucked up in leaving Camelot. He then crouched over me, his mass blotting out the forest around me. I moved to shuffle backwards but his hand found my arm, holding me in place. His body went rigid when he touched me, his cobalt blue eyes flashing with confusion as he studied my face. He seemed stunned, dazed . I took my chance while I had the opportunity. I reared forward, connecting my forehead to his chin with a loud crack . The intense pounding in my skull was worth it to see his bloodied lip and dazed expression. He shook it off all too quickly. He laughed. Fucking laughed.

“You are either very brave,” gods above, the split in his lip mended itself back together right before my eyes …. “Or very fucking stupid, little human .” He licked the blood from his lip, a thick, pearlescent fang briefly flashing before he grabbed my other wrist and quickly bound them with rope. “I have a feeling that you are a bit of both.”

I was now a prisoner in a kingdom that was supposed to be dead, or likely undead. Swallowing hard, I forced my eyes to meet his yet again, sure I was about to meet a terrible fate. “So, you’re all Vampires?” His eyes darkened at my question, lowering his gaze to where he bound my wrists tightly. I swallowed, my heart hammering in my chest as he leaned closer. “ I am a Vampire … ” He emphasized, his tone gravelly. “What you killed was a Stray. A far less civilized creature.” I pulled against his hold, fighting the ties. This earned a chuckle from him as more men appeared from what seemed like thin air. I was swiftly slung over his shoulder with a bag thrown over my head. Doomed, I was infinitely doomed. After a rough journey bouncing atop his shoulder, a haunting metallic creak sounded before I was tossed onto a damp surface. I could feel mud soaking what was left of my gown, stinging my open wounds as I fought against my restraints. The bag and bonds were removed just before a cell door closed, separating me from the man who had taken me in the forest.

“Where am I?” I demanded, my temper flaring as I scrambled to stand but failed miserably. I was too exhausted, too injured. I wiped the mud from my face as best as I could, and I did something idiotic. I threw the mud at his face.

Dead center. The mud dripped down his forehead before hitting the ground with a deafening smack. He looked from the mud at his boots to me, mud streaking his handsome features. “You will have a hearing with the King at first light. Do not try anything else stupid, little human . The King will not tolerate your outbursts, no matter how endearing.”

I glared at him, watching as his men faded into shadow and he remained. “What were you running from? Beyond your unadulterated rage and violent tendencies, you are a perfectly divine little creature. ” I was confused by his curious, flirtatious tone. He said I had a pretty head ? “I thought my hearing with the King was in the morning?” I retorted with a smirk. I was going to get myself killed playing these games… but it was the most fun I had had in years.

“I can not present you to my King without knowing your reasoning for trespassing and killing Strays on his land. So be a good listener and indulge me, little thing .” He explained, leaning against the bar as he looked down at me. He was fucking handsome, in a ruggedly pretty kind of way . He had clearly seen war, a faded scar across his chin bore the mark of battle. His stark white hair was cropped and fell across his forehead, his eyes gleaming with a flirtatious sparkle. And gods, was he tall, well over six and a half feet. The men in Camelot would look like a child in his presence. He was easily the most attractive man I had ever seen. The Knights of my kingdom looked like pigs in comparison.

“I wronged a dangerous man.” I explained without giving too much away. I could not yet out myself as a Princess. Vampires hated both Camelot and humans. “So you came to Darkspire to cause trouble?” His smile was teasing, perhaps even flirtatious. Darkspire… the dead kingdom… was supposed to be extinct .

He was flirting with me to get information… Two could play that game . “Come on in here and I will show you some trouble.” I moved my skirt suggestively, knowing the quickest way to disarm a man was to send their blood elsewhere, even if I was inexperienced, I was not naive to the ways of men.

His gaze darkened, he was considering it. Would he… would he…

Thought of him coming in here thrilled me. “Another time, little human. Now rest up. My King is an early riser.” I blinked and he was gone, making me question if I imagined him.

I looked around my cell, taking stock of what I was locked away with. There was a pail of water and some hay with a scrap of blanket that I doubted would even cover my legs. Sighing, choosing practicality over warmth, I tore the blanket into strands so I could bind my wounds. I tried to rinse what mud I could, but I was unwilling to waste what little water I had in case they were not gracious captors. Once I stopped as much bleeding as I could, I found myself falling into what was less of a restless sleep and more of unconsciousness.