Reflexes and sharp movements

Joel's eyes were wide in surprise. Of course, her arrow was still slow for him, but it was still fast not to mention accurate. The bow fell to the floor in a loud clatter, as she was gaping at Joel in shock. A long silence passed between them and he sighed. He closed his eyes to concentrate and when he opened them, they were completely black.

In the blink of an eye, he was behind her and she didn't have time to turn around when he kicked her feet from below her, forcing her body to slam into the ground. But just before he could smash her with his leg, she rolled away.

Joel smirked while she looked at herself surprised. Of course, her back was still aching but she was amazed by her reflexes, and that was barely after a week of training.

"I see" Was all he uttered before lunging at her.

****

"I have the impression you are avoiding me?" Kieran said, shutting the door, resulting in cornering her as soon as she was in the library. Her breath hitched as she stared into his eyes. He smiled very innocently at her making her skin crawl.

"I don't know what you're talking about" She stuttered, refusing to look at him.

She groaned internally. If she had known that choosing this day to go to the library was risky, she would have stayed confined in her room. She didn't have the opportunity to go because she would always be extremely tired after the training. But today, her body had finally started adapting to it and she felt rather invigorated.

"Are you scared of me?" He asked very seriously and she was forced to look at him. She gulped.

"Who wouldn't be scared when you blatantly admitted you killed your kin? When you have that peculiar aura around you? When you are so powerful? When I don't know what I am doing here?" She answered and she flinched when his hand raised, stroking her cheek. She was surprised by the sudden gentle gesture.

"You asked a question and I answered. About my aura, let's say I have a special constitution. Power I have, I worked hard to achieve it, the result of many trials which I came out from successful and the thirst to change this kingdom. As for what you are doing here..." He lowered to her ear level, his breath fanning against her neck as a small blush crept to her face.

Adaliah was flustered. She knew she hated him intensely and she was supposed to be scared that a vampire was so close to her jugular but she wasn't. She was supposed to feel repulsed but instead, she was frozen. She didn't feel any negative emotions apart from being confused. If he was a witch, she would have been sure he was using some tricks on her.

"... I am trying to help you" With that single statement, she summoned all the strength she had in reserve to push him away from her, her eyes narrowed on him.

"Do not insult my intelligence. You don't enslave someone you want to help, you don't scare them, you don't kill children, you don't threaten them and you don't leave them in the dark concerning their own lives! So your little mischief, keep it to yourself your majesty" She said in a final tone.

"Kieran." He said simply confusing her.

"What?"

"Call me Kieran. I gave you my name for a reason" He continued and her mouth hung slightly open in disbelief.

'Did he even hear what I said?' Before she could voice her thoughts, he continued.

"Let's talk elsewhere" He stretched out his hand, urging her to take it. She pondered for a brief second before taking it.

They glided through the corridors and she couldn't help but still stare at her hand into his. She frowned and yanked it from his grasp. That or he let her.

"Is there a matter?" He asked and she chuckled dryly.

"No, your highness, just that it is very improper for you, a prince so dignified to be holding a slave's hand as though she was your friend." She said dryly and he chuckled.

"You never really swallowed that pill right? I thought you would have figured by now that you are not a slave to me Adaliah" She shuddered unconsciously at the way he said her name. "I don't really treat you like one, do I?" He asked and she found herself nodding as if hypnotized. He closed the distance between them and her breath caught in her chest.

"The next time you forget to call me by my name, there will be consequences," He said and she stood shell-shocked while he continued navigating in the halls.

He threatened her even for just a trivial matter. But the question she was asking herself was what he gained from being called as such by her.

She was starting to get annoyed. One moment he was caring and the next he was threatening her. He just made no sense. Even the wind didn't change its direction that much. Not that it affected her that much, but she still wanted to kill him.

On the other hand, Kieran knew he had to be patient. He had to wait. If everything went according to his plan, then even these few miscalculations would eventually be void and everything would unfold smoothly so he could at least snatch a few opportunities to entertain himself.

Soon enough, they were inside his chamber and she stepped into it as though she owned the place. She sat silently on a chair, not wasting time observing the place, like she usually did before, stunning Kieran.

He walked to the table next to her, a grin forming on his face, revealing his two pointed sharp canines.

"You want to drink something? I have wine, blood from a human virgin, and fresh blood from a witch" He said glancing at her neck. Her fight and-flight response kicked in and she stood up abruptly, ready to sprint for the door when his canines got longer. Unfortunately for her, the door shut close, making her escape attempt impossible.

"What do you think you are doing?" She asked, trying to mask her fear in vain.

"I didn't know you were this cheap princess. A few soft words and gentle strokes managed to make you change your mind about me. I mean, I am still a murderer, who killed your doll, Bella was it?" He asked taking a few steps towards her, while she stood frozen. "I don't even want to imagine what a kiss or a night will do to you," He said and her eyes just were wide open.

"I don't trust you. I know you won't kill me as easily as this" She stuttered and he chuckled.

"Who talked about killing you? I could rape you, I could drink from you, I could torture you and no one will stop me" He said, pushing her into the door, looking at her with a malicious gaze, burning through her forehead.

"But you won't. You promised..."

"That I will try, not that I will not." He said and she looked around the room, fixing her gaze on something behind him. He glanced behind her, only to see from the corner of his eyes, a metal glinting, basking in the moonlight.