The Vampire's Moonlit Throne

Elara's eyes burned with unshed tears as she stared at the looming danger in front of her and then at the spot where the pale man had just vanished into thin air, his parting words still ringing in her ears.

I'll be back for you, little bird. This isn't over yet.

A shiver ran down her spine, but it wasn't just his threat that terrified her. It was about the man who looked ready to devour her with his inhumane, ablaze eyes.

Lady Seraphine's Master.

She could feel the weight of his gaze, burning holes into her body. For a moment she closed her eyes as if doing so will make him disappear. Slowly, as she opened them again, her heart lodged in her throat.

There he stood, taller than the ruins around them, cloaked in the shadows of the night. His eyes, glowing faintly red now, reflected something dark and dangerous. But it wasn't his earlier fury that frightened her the most. It was the way his lips curled into a sardonic smile, almost as though he were amused by the whole ordeal.

"Well," he drawled, his voice as smooth as silk but laced with an unmistakable edge. She had heard that voice before. He was the same man whe allowed her in the palace that dreaded night. "look at you, little miss audacious. I thought I made it quite clear not to leave the castle."

Elara's heart hammered, her pulse racing as she tried to explain. "I had to. I needed to know if..."

Ravenor's hand shot up, silencing her with a simple gesture. His smile widened, though there was no warmth in it, only a cold, calculated amusement. "How very noble of you." He took a step closer, his voice dropping to a chilling whisper. "And yet, here we are. You, nearly dead. And me, cleaning up your mess."

Elara swallowed, her throat dry, her mind still reeling from the attack, from everything. "I didn't mean for this to happen," she managed, her voice shaking.

He chuckled, the sound dark and humorless. "I am afraid intentions matter very little when you're lying in a pool of your own blood, cut up and broken."

Her eyes widened, fear creeping up her spine as she gulped. "That man...did you know him?"

Ravenor's smile faded slightly, his gaze turning colder. "He's not someone you should be worrying about right now but your ownself."

Before she could react, Ravenor stepped forward, closing the distance between them in an instant. His hand shot out, grabbing her wrist with startling force, pulling her toward him. She gasped, her body stiffening as his grip tightened just enough to make her wince.

"You disobeyed me." His voice was soft now, almost a whisper, but the threat was unmistakable. "And I do not take kindly to disobedience."

Her chest tightened, a mix of panic and anger bubbling up inside her. She tried to pull free, but his grip only grew stronger, a painful reminder of the power he wielded over her.

"I didn't ask for your protection," she spat, her fear momentarily giving way to defiance. "I didn't ask to be locked up in your castle like some prisoner."

Ravenor's eyes flashed with a sudden, dangerous amusement. He leaned in, his breath cold against her cheek. "And yet, here you are. Alive. Thanks to me."

Elara's pulse quickened, but she forced herself to meet his gaze, refusing to back down. "I didn't need you to save me."

"Oh?" Ravenor raised a brow, his tone mocking. "Because you were doing so well on your own? Perhaps next time, I should let you fend off the monsters of the night without interference." He paused, his smile returning, sharp and cutting. "You'd make for an entertaining sight, I'm sure."

Her breath caught in her throat, her defiance wilting under the weight of his words. There was no escaping the truth—without him, she would have been dead.

Still, her pride wouldn't let her remain silent. "You can't control me," she whispered, though even she wasn't sure she believed it.

Ravenor's smile twisted into something darker, almost predatory. "Can't I?"

He released her wrist, but before she could step away, he reached up, his hand trailing lightly along her cheek. The touch was cold, his fingers brushing against her skin with a softness that belied the threat in his eyes.

"You seem to forget, little one," he murmured, his voice dangerously low, "the moment you crossed the gates of my castle, you entered my world. And in my world, disobedience has consequences."

Elara's stomach twisted in fear as his hand moved to her chin, tilting her face upward so that their eyes locked. "So tell me," he whispered, his voice like velvet, "should I punish you now? Or should I let you sit in your guilt for a little longer?"

Her breath hitched. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. Ravenor's grip on her chin tightened, just enough to make his point clear.

Her heart raced, and she stared at him with a mixture of disbelief and frustration. She made a futile attempt to change the subject. "How did you know I was here?"

He chuckled softly, releasing her and taking a step back. "Did you really think my warning was a mere bluff?" He raised a brow, his tone almost condescending. "You are, after all, under my protection. Every breath you take is under my watch. The moment you left the chamber, I knew."

Elara's eyes widened, the realization sinking in. He had been following her all along—watching her every move. She clenched her fists, once again anger bubbling up beneath her fear. "So you were toying with me this whole time?" she demanded, her voice shaking.

Ravenor smirked, his eyes gleaming with something dark as he shook his head. "Toying? I was waiting. Waiting to see how far your foolishness would take you."

He stepped forward again, his presence overwhelming to the point where Elara felt something cowering inside her. "And just as I anticipated, it led you right to death's doorstep, didn't it?"

Elara's body trembled, her emotions in turmoil. She wanted to lash out, to scream, to fight back against the cruel power he held over her, but she was trapped. Ravenor's control was absolute, and she hated it, hated him for it.

"You think this is a game," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "You think my life is just some twisted game to you."

Ravenor tilted his head, his expression unreadable. "A game?" He chuckled softly. "No, darling. This is survival. And in survival, there are rules."

His eyes darkened as he leaned in closer, his lips brushing against her ear as he whispered, "And you will learn to obey them."

Elara's breath caught in her throat, fear and fury battling within her. She wanted to scream, to shove him away, but all she could do was stand there, paralyzed.

Without another word, Ravenor straightened, his gaze lingering on her for a moment longer before he turned and began to walk away. This time, without forcing her to come with him as if he expected her to follow him on her own.

Of as if he knew she will.

"Consider this your first and last warning," he said over his shoulder, his voice cold and final.

Elara stood there, her legs trembling, her heart racing in her chest. She wanted to shout after him, to defy him again. But all she could do was watch as he disappeared into the darkness, his presence leaving a void in its wake.

As the haunting night closed in around her, Elara's thoughts spiraled. She had sought refuge, only to be met with more danger and worse, a prison?

But being under his protection was better than being torn apart and burned alive, right?

Her ears picked up a rustling sound behind her and that was when she ran towards the man who had just disappeared in the woods.

"Wait for me!"

And she thought she was running towards safety...

The irony!