Chapter 228

Vorbuk tried to remain calm as he rushed towards the palace prison. Passing by several servants along the way he did not want to make it obvious that something was wrong. In front of him he could see Aoki standing outside the prison doors. The young vampire looked flustered.

"Aoki," Vorbuk called out to him as he got closer, "What are you doing out here? Where is Ashley and Daryl?"

"Your majesty," Aoki shuffled to gather his thoughts into words as he saw Vorbuk coming towards him. "Daryl is inside the prison with Ashley.."

"What is he doing here?" Vorbuk's eyes flashed with a red light as he asked.

"Ashley wanted to see the previous king in his cell," Aoki muttered as he spoke with a shiver. "what was I suppose to do?"

"You're suppose to keep him out without my permission!" Vorbuk scolded Aoki loudly.

Since Vorbuk had Aoki's life in his hands Aoki could only shiver quietly as he was scolded by the man in front of the prison doors. There was nothing he could say or do to retort. He was not like Ashley who followed Vorbuk out of pure loyalty. His loyalty was only as strong as his desire to maintain his life.

"I apologize, your majesty." Aoki gave a simple apology as it was the only thing he could think of. Feeling a silence come over them as Vorbuk held back from speaking further on the matter.

Vorbuk did not feel like dealing with Aoki. There was something more important to deal with then stand around and scold a young vampire. He knew that Aoki was not loyal to him because he chose to be of his own accord. It would take time for Aoki to adapt to his position in the group.

Turning away from Aoki he opened the door to the prison and stepped inside. The young vampire did not follow him inside as Aoki wanted to avoid being involved as much as possible. They were both aware of the fact that Aoki was trying to avoid getting further involved but Vorbuk did not complain. Instead his eyes were set straight ahead and he headed further inside the prison.

Every step he took was heavy as he entered the room the cells were in. Heading down to the end of the room on the far end he saw King Luke's cell. Outside the cell was Daryl with a pale expression on his face.

"Daryl where is-!" Vorbuk stopped talking as soon as his red eyes caught sight of Ashley.

Ashley stood inside King Luke's cell, towering over the fallen corpse of the previous king. In his hand was his blood scythe as blood stained the floor under Luke's cold body.

Vorbuk swallowed before speaking, "What the hell have you done?"

"It needed to be done.." Ashley muttered under his breath as he never turned to look in his master's direction. He had shown a image of himself to his master that he'd dreaded being seen for a long time. However he could not deny the truth that King Luke could not be allowed to continue breathing.

BANG!

Vorbuk killed the iron bars and shouted, "Does that give you the right to act on your own like this?!"

"Master,-" Ashley was cut off from talking as Vorbuk raised his hand to silence him.

"Daryl," Vorbuk called out to Daryl instead as he spoke further. "Take Ashley to his room and he is not to step outside until after we hold a burial for the previous king."

"Yes, your majesty." Daryl accepted the order to escort Ashley out of the prison and back to his room. The vampire slowly stepped out of the cell at Daryl's silent gesture.

Vorbuk wasn't a heathen and it was a known thing to still honor previous kings with a burial. He was not a tyrant so he could not disrespect King Luke's corpse. The throne was not obtained by slaughtering the royal family. That much he could at least do for the princess.

"Master," Ashley's weak voice called out to Vorbuk weakly from beside Daryl. He was nervous about how angry Vorbuk might be with him. "You know I was right about this.."

I am still alive so at least he did not consider killing me.. Ashley felt positive that Vorbuk understood the reason for his action. However he understood as well that it did not mean that his master was not angry with him. He had acted on his own to take care of something Vorbuk was hesitating to do on his own.

"Should I thank you for this? This was not the right way to do it and you know that, Ashley." Vorbuk questioned him and scolded him at the same time. Wanting the vampire to understand that the way he went about things was not the right way. There were many ways they could have taken care of King Luke. The way that Ashley had gone about it was not something he should have ever considered doing. Vorbuk felt no more innocent then Ashley in how things ended up.

It was difficult to scold Ashley for acting on something they both knew was dangerous to avoid. Ashley had lived much longer then Vorbuk and had seen kingdoms that collapsed due to avoiding dealing with people who posed a threat to them. It was difficult for him to sit back and watch his master make the same mistake he had witnessed many times in his lifetime.

"I never needed master to thank me." Ashley put on his usual gentle smile that made it difficult to understand what he was truly feeling. "You knew it needed to be done. In this way the problem is resolved and the one she comes to blame will be your servant. As long as master is safe I don't mind being the target of her anger."

"... Daryl, get him out of here now." Vorbuk said once more to Daryl as he was done listening to Ashley's words.

"Yes, of course." Daryl quickly grabbed hold of Ashley by the arm and dragged him out of the prison. Leaving Vorbuk behind alone with the corpse of King Luke on the floor of the cell.

Hearing the sound of the door closing as they left Vorbuk stepped over the King Luke and knelt down beside his body. The method Ashley used was not a violent one. He did not behead King Luke, drain him or blood, nor torture. King Luke's death had been a quick one. If it had been brutal in his final moments Vorbuk might had lost his mind upon coming here. There was a limit to how far Ashley had been willing to test his master's patience with him; after all Ashley cared about his own life as well.

A few days later the burial for King Luke would be held. The princess would attend as the previous king was her father. Vorbuk was not certain how well she would take the news of her father's passing. It would not be something easy for anyone to learn of. The princess had known the day would come but not even Vorbuk had expected it to come so quickly.