The Tyrant's Pet

[ FORBIDDEN FOREST: THE GRIMSBANNE MANSION ]

Moving scriptures crawled all over Aries's body, stretching out of the stone coffin to the floor of the chapel. As these ancient texts moved as if they had their consciousness, Abel's lips continued to move, chanting words only he could understand.

When his lips stopped, his shut eyes slowly cracked open. His gaze instantly fell on her, watching the scriptures surrounding her skin like flowers. He followed the text with his eyes until he was staring at his shoes.

Underneath him was akin to a pool of darkness as if he could fall in it if he was a little lighter. Yet, there was no sign of fear on his face. The scriptures continued to crawl around the chapel until half of it was covered with darkness.

"Don't make me wait for too long," he whispered, caressing her cheek with the back of his fingers. "I've waited long enough, darling."

His eyelids drooped until they were partially closed, keeping his lips in a thin line. He kept his gaze on her for some time before his brows rose, glancing over his shoulder.

No one was inside the chapel within the mansion. However, the glint in his eyes appeared as though there was someone inside with him.

"Do not disturb me." His voice was quiet and calm, but the intimidation in it was easily detected. "I'm already letting you all run wild tonight. Don't push your luck."

In the dark in the corner, a figure slowly appeared out of nowhere. The figure has a short stature and lean physique. Her hair was long that fell on her back; her eyes were wide open, but her irises were clouded with a thin layer of white. Even with her blindness, she was facing Abel's direction as if she could see him clearly.

"Abel Grimsbanne," called the woman with a soft yet chilling voice. "Stop this."

Abel didn't respond, keeping his eyes on Aries inside the coffin.

"There is nothing good in turning her into a vampire—"

"Scram." Abel maintained his calm.

"I am simply saying this for old times' sake, Abel," continued the woman solemnly. "Now that Maximus was out of the picture, you'll be next. You and your family. I am not fond of the queen, but I am unbiased. She doesn't deserve a second chance in life. Especially, if that second chance is a mere chance to witness how you and the Grimsbanne fall."

"Ameria is no longer here to protect you. Maximus is no longer here to cover for you. The Grimsbanne was all on their own, and thus, I am asking you to leave this land. Live a quiet life in a place where no one else can touch you," she added in the same hushed yet firm tone. "I am giving you a chance."

'A chance…' Abel repeated in his head, almost laughing. If not for the fact he was trying to revive Aries, he would have had enough energy to laugh out loud.

What a ridiculous grace this woman was speaking.

"This is the last time I will say this." Abel slowly turned around, facing the woman in the dark corner. "Scram. Don't make me say it the third time because I'm afraid your head will fall off your shoulder even before you can hear me say it."

"Don't make me tell you I told you so," said the blind woman, showing no sign of fear under Abel's gaze.

A dry laugh slipped past Abel's lips, gazing at her from head to toe.

"Weren't I… living as quietly as a dead rat?" his brows rose briefly. "For many years, I stayed away from the mainland and from you people. I never interfered with anyone and yet, you stepped foot in my land and did as you please, forcing me to return to this vile land. The audacity to speak about chances."

"I do not need Ameria's protection nor Maximus to cover for me…" the corner of his lips curled up into a smirk. "You know that, Giselle. I can't believe you're still a hypocrite even after I took your eyesight. It seemed you didn't learn your lesson, after all."

Abel paused, assessing her from up and down. "It should be I who should give those warnings. Ameria is no longer here to protect you and Maximus is no longer alive to shield this land. Do not test me, Giselle. You, of all people, know what I am capable of. Isn't that the reason you rushed in here yourself?"

"I warned you," Giselle repeated calmly, unfazed by his taunting. "Things had changed, Abel."

Giselle kept her clouded eyes at his figure, taking a step back after a moment. She idled, holding his gaze without a change of expression before slowly becoming one with the shadow.

Abel kept his eyes on where Giselle disappeared to; his expression turned colder by the second.

"Things had changed, huh?" he whispered, turning around to face Aries's coffin. "It sure did. I won't be king next time."

He planted his hand on the rim of the open coffin, eyes on Aries. "Not this time… I have so much thing to lose and to protect, Giselle."

Silence slowly enveloped the entire chapel as darkness reigned in it. The moving scriptures on the floor crawled their way onto the walls, painting them black and soon red. The malicious presence around the mansion slowly dissipated until there was nothing he could feel anymore.

Abel never took his eyes off of Aries, listening to the hum of silence. He stood there for hours without moving a muscle, letting the blood on his fingertip drip inside the stone coffin. After a long time, a loud heartbeat interrupted the deafening silence.

The corner of his lips curled up into a subtle smile while his eyes softened. Her chest started moving up and down, albeit faint. At the same time, the scriptures that painted the entire chapel with a mix of black and red ink seemed to have been sucked into the stone coffin where Aries was in.

As this darkness crawled its way back to the stone coffin, Aries's pale complexion turned better and better. However, her green hair gradually turned white, just like how his dark hair shifted to its original color. The trademark of the Grimsbanne.

One second later, Aries suddenly snapped her eyes, revealing a pair of crimson orbs shining brightly with hunger and thirst. Her lips parted slightly and a bit of blood dripped from the side of her lips, coming from her gums as two short yet sharp fangs peeked from her gaping lips.

"Congratulations, darling." Abel reached his hand out to her ever so slowly. "Now… you are stuck with me forever."

Just before his hand could make contact with her face, Aries suddenly grabbed his arm and pulled him down. She lifted her body up, and without a moment's notice, she sank her teeth into his neck to soothe the dryness of her throat, the grumble in the pit of her stomach, and the soreness of her gums.

Despite her aggressiveness, Abel simply planted his hand on the back of her head. His eyes slid to the corner before his lips curled up into a smirk. Her every large gulp echoed in his ear, amplifying the burning desire in his crimson eyes.

With the birth of another powerful vampire, the people surrounding the forbidden forest gazed upon the quiet mansion. Their eyes bore the same determined resolution as those of individuals like London, Dexter, Fabian, and Suzanne; the same fire as those journeying to the mainland.

— End of Volume 5 —