Chapter 7: The Runaway Bride

••{RHIANNON’S POV}••

The moment Azrael leaves, my heart begins galloping in my chest as his words echo over and over again in my head.

"We’re getting married in seven days."

Suddenly, it feels as if I’m drowning.

Like the walls are closing in on me.

"No..." I whisper, frantically shaking my head. "This can’t—this can’t be happening."

I can’t just sit here and wait for seven days to pass by until I’m wed to that... that monster! I have to do something. I have to find a way out of here.

I bunch up the skirts of my bloody wedding gown and swing my legs off the bed. My knees nearly give out at first but I force them to hold. I rush toward the towering doors, close my fingers around the cold handles and pull.

But the door doesn’t open.

I pull again and again until my breath starts to come out in sharp, quick bursts but it’s useless.

The door is locked.

I rest my forehead against the wood for a moment, biting down on my bottom lip as fear and frustration twist together in my gut. I turn around, searching the room with desperately until my gaze lands on one of the tall, arched windows.

For a heartbeat, hope blooms in my chest.

I cross the room and push the heavy curtains aside. Moonlight spills over me as I step onto the window ledge. Gripping the window frame, I lean forward, but the moment I catch a glimpse of the outside, I immediately stumble back so fast I almost fall.

The ground is so far below that I can’t even see it. It’s just darkness swallowing everything.

I’m trapped.

There’s no way out.

The bitter truth sinks into my heart as tears start to gather in my eyes. The heavy silence of the room breaks as the doors creak open behind me.

I turn around to see a few women entering. They all bow the moment they see me.

"Princess, His Majesty sent us." one says, her voice soft and smooth. "A bath and some fresh clothes have been prepared for you."

My eyes narrow as I stare at them.

Something about their presence is... unsettling.

Their skin is pale, unnaturally flawless, almost glowing even. The way their eyes shimmer tells me they aren’t human. One of them smiles and in the dim light, I catch the glint of fangs.

My eyes widen and my heart sinks to my stomach as I take a slow step back.

These aren’t just servants. They... they’re vampires.

"This way, Princess," another says, gesturing toward the door.

My throat bobs as I take one slow step forward. Then another.

Do they know who I truly am too?

If what Azrael says is true, then what if they attack me? What if they bite me and drain me of every single drop of blood in my body?

A bead of sweat trickles down the side of my face. Every part of my being screams at me to run, but I can’t. My legs feel heavier with each step I take.

I step out into the corridor and the moment I lock eyes with the guards stationed outside my doors, a chill crawls up my spine.

Their skin is pale too, their unusual eyes following me as I walk past them.

Suddenly it dawns on me.

I’m the only human in a castle filled with vampires.

As the servants guide me down the massive corridors something inside me snaps and before I know it, I’m already running.

"Princess!" They call after me. "Princess, please, stop!"

My wedding gown weighs me down but I push forward with all my strength, running as fast as my legs can carry me. I hear the servants still calling after me but I refuse to stop.

Where am I running to?

I don’t know, but it’s better than sitting still until I’m turned into a feast for these monsters.

I glance over my shoulder just for a second and I scream when I see they’re quickly gaining on me. My heart pounds so violently that it hurts as I continue to run.

Out of nowhere, a guard suddenly blocks my path. I slam into him then fall onto the floor.

"Princess," he says gently, slowly raising his palms. "Please, calm down. We mean you no harm."

My eyes dart wildly, desperately searching for something—anything I can use to defend myself with.

The second my gaze lands on the sword at his side, I spring to my feet and rip it from the sheath.

"Stay back!" I growl, my hands tightening around the hilt.

The servants close in soon after, slowly walking toward me with their palms held out, as if approaching a frightened animal.

"Princess—"

"I said stay back!" I shout, my voice shaking with fear and rage.

A maid reaches for me, "Princess, we just want to—"

I swing the sword and a loud shriek echoes throughout the corridors as her fingers land on the floor.

For a heartbeat, I go completely still as I watch the maid stumble back, clutching her hand as she cries.

I don’t know much about vampires except for the things I heard growing up. Stories told to scare children into bed at night. But now every one of those stories comes rushing back, clearer than ever before.

Fire. A stab through the heart. Or taking off their head.

Those are the only ways to kill a vampire.

My grip tightens around the sword.

One of the guards tries to seize the blade from me, but I send him staggering back with an elbow to the nose. Then with a single swing, his head tumbles to the floor, rolling to a stop at my feet.

Bile rises in my throat, but it’s drowned out by the terror and anger raging inside me.

With a wild cry, I charge at the remaining servants. One of them tries to flee but I drive my sword straight through her back, forcing the blade deeper until it bursts out through her chest.

I rip it free and turn to the next. She ducks beneath my first swing. I strike again, but she slips out of the way just as quickly. I fake a strike to the left, and as soon as she moves to avoid it, I reverse my swing and take her head clean off.

Blood splashes across the walls, on my hands, and my tattered wedding gown. My breaths turn ragged, and my arms begin to feel heavy. But I keep fighting because my life depends on it.

A hand touches my back.

I spin around, raising the sword to strike when a finger touches my forehead.

"Hypnareth," a calm voice says.

Suddenly, everything starts spinning and my vision splits into two, then three. The sword slips from my grasp, clattering to the floor. I struggle to stand upright, but my eyes grow heavy and knees give out soon after.

"Sleep," the calm voice whispers.

The last thing I see are amber eyes staring into mine before the darkness swallows me.