Hunting- Part 2

        Eve spotted a deer grazing in the bushes and she turned to Leif, who was already aiming at it. She heard a swooshing sound as he released the arrow, which went straight to the chest of the deer and stuck there. The animal fell limp on the ground. She had only seen animal meat in the market stands when they went to buy meat. She had never seen an animal being hunted and was mesmerized.

Seeing the surprise in her eyes, Leif explained, "The harder you pull your string, the more chance the arrow gets deeply stuck at your aim."

The servants went ahead to carry the deer to the cart as the group strolled further. They saw a young deer, oblivious to the looming danger, continuing to eat the grass as they approached. When Eve saw Leif draw his arrow, ready to shoot at the animal, her heart shuddered and she stopped him.

"It's still very young, Lord Leif, can you please let it go?" Her brown eyes pleaded with him. She was sure the fawn had recently started to live life on its own and it would be a crime to seize its life. Seeing him draw his arrow more, her heart raced. She turned back to the fawn to hear the arrow swoosh in the air, her heart stopping with the sound. However, the arrow didn't hit the animal, but flew over its head. She sighed in relief. Eve looked at Leif, who took another arrow from his quiver and placed it in his bow.

A sound in the bush alerted the fawn, causing it to look up. Seeing no harm, it continued to graze. A smile bloomed on Eve's face as she saw the fawn alive. Leif stared at the girl, who seemed more relaxed than when she was in the castle, where she was extremely guarded.

Another arrow came from behind, cutting through the bushes, hitting the bark of the tree beside the fawn. This startled the fawn and it bolted away. When Eve turned to look behind, she saw it was Oriana who had shot the arrow.

"Food isn't decided by age, Lady Evelyn. The young ones are more tasty as they are untouched." Oriana said, coming to stand beside them. Eve was sure the woman was referring to humans, not animals. They were all food for the vampires. If she could, she would make sure no one drank her blood before she could escape.

By the time they decided to go back, they had hunted five animals that were all placed in the cart. Leif hunted three of them and Oriana and another man hunted one each. The sky had turned cloudy and threatened heavy rain at any time. They climbed on their horses, making their way back to the castle.

Back in the Howvale castle, Sebastian sat on the head chair in the courtroom, staring at the man who knelt and begged in front of him. A maid was kneading his feet, which were placed on a stool. His face was creased in a frown, looking at the man who had dared to steal from the castle.

"I swear on my life, Your Majesty. I didn't steal the gem from the private chambers," the man pleaded, his face smeared with tears.

Sebastian looked away from him and turned to the guard standing beside him, ordering, "Cut off all of his fingers and lock him up in the dungeon."

"You can't do that, King Sebastian," the Queen mother interrupted.

"I think you should investigate the matter seriously, he swears to not have stolen the gem," the Vizier also added.

"I know he didn't," Sebastian breathed out the word causing everyone to look at him with a frown, if he knew he was innocent why was he ordering his fingers to be cut off.

"Then why is he being punished?" The Queen mother asked, looking at her stepson with a deep frown etch on her forehead. The man never listened to any of her orders, he never liked her. She was aware of this, her position in the castle was what made him respected her.

"For stepping into the chambers when no one is allowed inside without my permission," Sebastian turned to look at the woman who was glaring at him.

"I instructed him to clean the room," she answered.

"Without my permission stepmother, you are the cause of his punishment. I can't punish you as you're the Queen mother but I can still punish your servant" He said back, his voice toned with authority. His words brought silence to the few people present in the court room.

The older vampiress was enraged. "He wouldn't be rid of his fingers."

"Hmm, then would his head be taken in place of them?" Sebastian asked, a grin forming one side of his lips. Seeing the woman flare up, he chuckled.

"Do as you please with him but he wouldn't be spared next time," the smile faded from his lips. He stood up from his seat and the maid scrambled away. They all bowed their heads as he walked out, leaving them behind in the court room.

He walked into his chambers, his boots making thud sounds on the ground. He stopped to stare at the door before his room. The maids standing by it had their head lowered not looking at me. He listened in the silence while staring at the brown wood of the door before he asked.

"Where is Lady Evelyn?"

"She went out with Lord Leif for hunt, your Majesty," one of them replied.

Hunt? The girl went out to hunt where she could end up being the one chased as the hunt. His eyes darkened.

He stepped into the room and removed his coat. Opening the top buttons of his shirt and rolling up his sleeves, he ran his hand through his hair. He couldn't deny he was growing possessive of the girl and it only fueled his anger.

Walking towards the glass window in the room, he gazed outside with his hands tucked inside his pockets. The rain started with a few small drops first before turning to a heavy downpour that pelted on the rooftops and walls deafening other sounds in the castle.

His gaze shifted downward as the gates of the castle swung open, revealing the horses galloping inside. He narrowed his eyes as he saw Eve riding with Leif on the same horse. The horses came to a halt in front of the castle, and they dismounted. His attention was caught by his brother's hands on Eve's waist as he helped her down. She was drenched, her clothes clinging to her body like a second skin, and her hair matted against her face. His eyes were still fixed on her as he observed her smiling at his brother, then bowing before making her way into the castle.

Who knew the little bunny was already making friends with the people in the castle, He thought.