The Vampire's Moonlit Throne

Ravenor sat in the meeting hall, waiting for Lady Seraphine to bring Elara here as per his command.

His eyes were dark and calculating, as though weighing the consequences of what he was about to set in motion. Drystan's visit had ignited something within him, a sense of urgency. The beast was awakening, and Elara was a big part of his next plan, even though she did not know anything yet. His fingers tapped on the wooden table, cool beneath his skin, and a faint smile tugged at his lips.

The door opened with a creak, and there she was. He could tell she was nervous by the way she stepped ahead clumsily and her long fingers latched onto the fabric of her skirt. Sensing his eyes on her, he saw her stiffening ever so slightly. Her silver eyes flicked toward him, their depth catching the dim light like a secret hidden just below the surface.

"I hope you weren't disturbed," Ravenor's voice slid into the room like smoke as he motioned for Lady Seraphine to leave them alone.

Elara shifted, uneasy. "No, not at all. It's not like I have any activity here to keep me busy." Her voice was soft but wary. He could feel the flickers of curiosity beneath her hesitation. That would serve him well.

"Take a seat." He kept tapping his fingers as he gestured towards the chair before him.

Hesitating, she did so. She had thought she was going to be punished for eavesdropping on them earlier. But he didn't seem to be in a bad mood. Also, he was treating her with what, respect? Or he was plotting an evil trick to get back to her maybe.

"I am planning to engage you into an exciting activity. But for that, we'll have to make a deal." He leaned forward slightly.

"A deal?" she narrowed her eyes. "What kind?"

He stood up and stepped closer, circling her like a predator, his presence oppressive yet alluring. "I am sure you must wonder," he began, "why things happen the way they do? Why you're still here… in this castle?"

Elara frowned, her instinct pushing her to distrust his sudden interest. "I've wondered about many things. You haven't offered any answers."

Ravenor smiled, his dark eyes narrowing as he leaned in just enough for her to feel his breath on her skin. "I believe it's time for answers." He straightened, eyes glinting with mischief. "But first, let's play a little game, shall we?"

And there he goes.

Her eyes widened, uncertainty swirling within them. "I am not sure I want to."

He tilted his head, watching her with a hunger that went beyond physical attraction. He was hungry for her power, for what she could become under his influence. "Alright, let's not call it a game. Maybe a test of sorts," he said, his voice dropping lower. "To see if you're truly who I think you are."

"Don't you wanna know who you truly are?" When she stayed quiet, he spoke again. "Where you belong to?"

Elara swallowed hard, every nerve in her body screaming caution, but there was something in the way he looked at her, a magnetic pull that made her question her own instincts.

He reached into his coat and pulled out a small vial filled with a dark shimmery liquid. "Drink this, and I will show you a glimpse of what lies dormant inside you."

Elara hesitated, her breath catching. She wanted to refuse, to turn away from the cryptic challenge. But curiosity, the need for answers about herself, about the strange power she sometimes felt flickering inside her was overpowering. It was way too tempting to back off.

"This isn't poison, right?" she looked up at his face, trying to decipher his thoughts.

"Darling, you are way too precious for me to be poisoned. Trust me," He chuckled, his bewitching eyes swallowing her whole.

For some reason her heart skipped a beat at his words. He was the last man she should be trusting right now but what other option did she have. She couldn't go on with this uncertainty and ignorance. Without a word, she took the vial from him, her warm fingers brushing against his cold hand.

The moment the liquid touched her lips, a sharp sting budded in the back of her head. Her body temperature rose and the world around her darkened, the walls of the room seeming to melt away into shadow. She gasped, her vision warping, reality itself bending.

"What did... you... do to me..." she held her head in her hands as everything started spinning.

"Let it loose," Ravenor whispered, his voice echoing around her as everything plunged into blackness.