Fangs of Desire

The storm unleashed its fury with blinding lightning and deafening thunder under the sky, which was almost turning dark warning on the impending storm. A storm no being could fathom its intense let alone face it. In the middle of a forest, a lady was running as fast as her legs could carry her, sweat profusely falling from her face. Her white dress had turned scarlet with blood, but she did not stop nor slow down even for a moment.

"Aahh!" her scream thundered across the forest when she unexpectedly hit something solid making her fall down. Horror was written all over face as she started crawling backwards while shaking her head vigorously. Her eyes were glued on the figure before her screaming for mercy.

"No! No!" she cried painfully but it seemed her pleads fell on deaf ears because the next moment, the figure pounced on her sinking its fangs on her neck.

"Nooo!" Astra woke up from the nightmare panting heavily. She held her chest as she took in heavy breaths to calm herself down. It was the same nightmare that had been haunting her since that bloody day, never letting her sleep peacefully.

"Your highness are you alright?" a feminine voice asked from outside, startling Astra.

"All is well, Lyra," Astra replied in low voice but audible enough for Lyra to hear.

"It's time to get you readied. May I please come in, your highness?" Lyra, Astra's maid asked.

"Yes, do come in but you have to stop calling me 'your highness'. I have told you countless time to call me by my name. At least when no one is around," Astra replied as she climbed off her bed.

Lyra entered then said, "You are our princess. The princess of Galdeira. I wouldn't dare disrespect you, your highness?" Making Astra shake her head in resignment.

Princess? Yes, she was the princess of Galdeira Kingdom. But that title of a princess was the source of all her miseries, more like it was a curse to be born royalty. And her time to pay the price of being born royalty was calling her unceasingly.

"We need to get you equipped your highness," Lyra reminded politely leading Astra to the bathroom.

Astra was looking at herself in the mirror unable to recognize the person in front of her. This was after getting dressed. She was wearing a blue angelic dress, and high-end accessories were adorned on every part that could accommodate one. But only one important thing was missing according to her. The smile she used to see on herself every time she looked at the mirror. It had faded or rather was snatched away mercilessly, by the person she was about to get married to. Astra clenched her fist, and her gaze turned murderous.

'Come rain or come shine, I'll have my vengeance. I'll be the doom of Ardenia Kingdom, especially that malicious prince. I'll be the last person he sees before I take his life. You brutally ended the lives of my brothers; I'll do the same to you. This marriage will be the biggest regret of your life. A bond formed by hate and thirst for revenge can only be ended by shed of blood, your blood Crown Prince.' Astra took a silent vow and with that, she headed outside the palace without meeting her parents, who did not hesitate to give her off to the enemy kingdom in order to form a peace treaty. She was hurt but she tried to understand their predicament. 

The soldiers from Ardenia were already waiting for her outside. "Your highness," they all bowed except one of them who seemed to be their leader. He had this intimidating gaze that sent chills running down her spine, but Astra did not lower her stare either.

"Please get in, your highness," the man stated with a tone that was far from courteous, pointing towards a carriage. He did not hide his dislike towards her.

Astra cared less about that. She only had one mission in mind, to avenge her brothers even if it meant sacrificing her life. Anyway, it was better to die than be a wife to an inhuman person. She got into the carriage, and it immediately sped off. 

They travelled all day and when twilight hit, Astra heard the chariot stop. Her heart missed a beat knowing the unavoidable was there. They had already arrived in Ardenia, precisely the palace of Ardenia. She took a deep breath drowning her fears away. She drew the carriage's curtain and without waiting for any help to go down, she came out. Before she could take a step, Astra felt a sharp gaze on her and she looked around to meet the same cold man staring or rather scrutinizing her. His eyes were narrowed at her as if trying to decipher something, but he instantly regained his previous unfathomable and emotionless gaze. 

"What's your name?" Astra asked, her voice a little commanding.

The man raised his brows but still replied. "Am Ramiel, your highness." 

Just like earlier that morning, his tone had not changed, and Astra noticed it. He was quite bold for a soldier but at least he was not pretentious trying to please her. 

"Please lead the way, Ramiel," Astra instructed in a polite way and without wasting any time, Ramiel started to walk inside the palace.

Unbeknownst to them, a pair of green eyes were staring at them unblinkingly from a chamber from the top floor of the palace. Instinctively, Astra looked up feeling as if someone was watching her, but it seemed it was all her illusion because no one was there. She brushed it off thinking maybe it was because she was in the enemy territory, that was why her inner guard was acting up.

When they got inside the palace, Astra was expecting a high-end celebration since their crown prince's new bride was coming but to her relief, there was nothing as such. She never wanted one either. Also, she noticed the place was oddly quiet for a palace, with only a few servants around. She had to study the activity of the palace if she wanted to succeed in her mission. Astra kept encouraging herself inwardly, while still following Ramiel quietly till they got to a certain floor. The silence was killing Astra and as they went up, it became darker making her become more alert. 

Ramiel stopped abruptly and Astra was about to enquire the reason but then she saw a middle-aged lady standing in front of them. 

"My Queen," Ramiel bowed his head to the woman. His address to the lady surprised Astra and she also lowered her head in respect.

The Queen nodded at Ramiel then turned to Astra. Her demeanor turned more aloof with each slow intimidating step she took towards Astra.

"So, it's you they have brought? Quite good-looking I must agree," there was no warmth in her voice but pure hatred. "Let me warn you, little princess. If you dare hurt my son, I'll bury you and your remaining family alive. Remember this, after tonight, your fate will change. Whatever happens in the palace, remains inside these walls."

Astra was taken aback by her warning especially when she talked about hurting her son. She felt like the queen was throwing an unfunny joke at her, remembering how vicious the so-called son was. How could she, a princess who had been pampered since birth hurt a ruthless person like him just anyhow. She felt a sarcastic painful laughter about to erupt inside but held herself back. 

'I won't just hurt him; I'll do more than you can ever think of. Wait and watch.'

"Take her in," the queen said to Ramiel, and left the place.

Ramiel opened a metallic door that was before them and behind it was another door, but wooden. He opened it too and this time revealing a dimly lit room, but he did not go inside.

The thoughts Astra had was she had been brought to a beautiful prison. What kind of a room was secured with two doors if not a prison?

"Get in, your highness," Ramiel's voice said, startling Astra before she could drown in her thoughts further. 

Astra stepped into the room reluctantly and then turned to Ramiel, looking at him as if pleading not to close the door. 

"I'll do much worse than burying you if even a single hair is missing on his Highness." Ramiel locked the door, no, both the doors, and left immediately.

Astra felt her mind go blank and before she could comprehend his words, she heard footsteps moving her way, making her heartbeat accelerate. It seemed the time of meeting her archenemy had arrived too soon.