BLOOD.FANGS.N'.FIRE

Gulping softly, Florah got herself together and grabbed the spoon.

Scooping a spoonful of blood, she directed it to the King's mouth.

The king just looked at her as if she was forgetting something. Remembering what it was, she was horrified by it.

She looked between the bowl and the man and was at a loss, 'Did he think that she would actually taste it? Could her body even digest it?'

" Your Majesty, I don't think my body will be able to handle the taste of blood." Florah said, which was simply logical

"Well, do you expect me to drink it. What if it is poisoned?" Gavriel said, bringing up the 'poisoning' yet again.

This made Florah wonder if he was poisoned at some point through his food.

"Yes, l was." Gavriel answered her unspoken query.

Florah stared wide-eyed at him, 'How does he do that every time.' She wondered

Gavriel wanted to see her reaction with the blood, and there was none except her face that slightly showed the disgust but nothing more.

"Perhaps I should drink something that I know isn't poisoned because I can not drink that if you don't taste it first." He said, setting his sharp gaze upon her

Florah would happily go fetch more blood for him if that was what he wanted, but she felt an underlying meaning behind his words, and if it was what she thought, then it was very bad for her.

The duo stared at each other, one thinking about how to get out of her predicament and the other nonchalant.

"Your Majesty, please let me go to the kitchen to fetch you something else." Florah suggested carefully

"Why, perhaps you actually did poison my food?" Gavriel said in agreement with his words.

"No, I did not your Majesty?" Florah said in annoyance. How could she have poisoned his food if she hadn't gotten anywhere close to it until now. This was ridiculous. She thought but didn't have the courage to say.

"Then why are you so hell bent on not tasting it?" Gavriel asked, narrowing his eyes suspiciously

"Because, sire, I can not drink blood?" Florah repeated in frustration.

"Why can't you?" Gavriel asked

"Oh right, because you are human. As you claim, "

He mocked

"I am not a vampire." Florah said blankly, implying that she can't drink blood, yet again 'why was the man forcing her to drink blood,' she thought in disgust.

"How sure are you, Red? OK, let's say you aren't a vampire, and we are both sure you aren't a human either. Then what are you? Perhaps a werewolf or maybe a witch," Gavriel drawled, emphasising the witch part.

"Am not...

"Not what, Red?" Gavriel cut her off

"Hahaha," Chuckling Gavriel mocked.

Holding her gaze, he said pointedly, "See Red, you fully don't know what you are, then how sure are you that you can't drink blood, or your body can't take it"

Florah sat quietly in turmoil. However much she tried to ignore the King's words, they kept on resonating in her mind.

Seeing that he had successfully gotten in her head, he stood up saying, "In a couple of hours, guests will swam the castle to attend the ball where you will be the star of their entertainment, darling. You will ride with Matthew to the theatre we visited last night to rehearse your parts in the play. I expect a stellar performance, or else, a beautiful punishment awaits you."

After his success in ruining the girl's mood, he walked out of the room nonchalantly without even a second glimpse at the girl.

She had completely forgotten about how he had just thrown her into a play she had no idea about.

Before the idea could even sink into her brain, the butler opened and entered the room.

Looking her way, he said, "Follow me."

With that, he started walking without waiting for her.

Florah dashed to the door to follow him, cursing her fate a thousand times over.

Caroline sat comfortably in a plush chair looking at her sister, who kept trying on different dresses and some more.

" Who brought this one?!" Stacey's high-pitched voice rang in the room seemingly mad.

"I did, Milady," a nervous designer stepped forward.

"Didn't I send you my measurements?" Stacey pointed at the maid, fuming.

"Yes, you did, Milady." The poor lady started regretting ever coming to help dress the lady for the ball.

"Then tell me, why this stupid dress you brought doesn't fit me?!!" The Duchess' daughter yelled, almost slapping the woman.

"Now, now, my dear, I am sure there are other dresses from other designers for you to try on. Gertrude!" Lady Roselinda intercepted saving the poor designer.

"Yes, Milady," the woman named Gertrude responded.

"Am sure you brought exceptional dresses that will fit my daughter. Gertrude, " Roselinda said, hugging her daughter's shoulders to console her.

" Yes, I did, Milady. If you would excuse me, I would go fetch them." The designer hurried to the other side of the bedroom to pick up the dresses she bought.

"It will be a miracle for you to succeed in your business, with such incompetence. LEAVE!!" Roselinda dismissed the other designer.

Her head was bowed in shame, "Thank you for the opportunity, Milady, and I truly apologise for my mistake," the younger designer apologised.

Collecting her dresses with her assistant, they prepared to leave.

"That was such fantastic bead work. Did you do it by yourself?" Caroline, who had been a quiet observer, voiced suddenly, referring to the aggrieved designer.

The woman was thrown off balance by the question of the older daughter of the Duchess.

Quickly regaining her composure, she replied, "Yes I did, Oh sorry, we did, Milady," she said, referring to herself and her assistant.

"Oh good, well I would like to gift it to someone, come," Caroline said, standing up for the two women to follow behind her.

Lady Roselinda glared at the back of her departing daughter fuming from the inside.