Chapter 5 THE PALACE OF NOCTHARYS

The first thing I think when I enter my room is, how cold it is. 

It is so obvious that it was only just cleared because of my arrival that I laugh. The vampire who brought me here just guided me to the door and left.  

But even with how cold the room is, it is the nicest I have ever seen. There is a fire going in the fireplace that is warming the room slowly. There are long chairs by the fireplace, and against the far wall rests a bookshelf. I approach it and run my fingers against the numbers there.  

It is a juxtaposed gathering of books that whoever kept them thought would entertain a human woman. A wall of curtains separates the sitting area from a place I assume to be the bedroom.  

Surely enough, when I push the curtains aside, I see a large bed resting against the wall, placed smack in the center of the room. And a woman is laying sheets on it.  

“Um, hi?” I say, and she yelps. Her reaction is so adorable that I immediately take a liking to her.  

She's a slight thing, short than her with a couple of inches from what I can see. She has mousy brown hair that is packed into a tight bun behind her head, or at least, her best attempt at one because tendrils of her hair escape it with no remorse.  

She's wearing a simple green frock with an apron tied across her body.  

She seems to remember herself, and she gives a bow to me.  

“Welcome to your chambers, my lady,” 

I raise an eyebrow. “Am I the lady in the question?” 

“Yes, my lady,” 

I couldn’t help the laugh that escaped me. “Please. I’m no lady...” 

“Mira, my lady. It is only proper to refer to you as ‘my lady’, for you shall soon wed our king,” 

I collapsed on the bed and sighed.  

“Please don’t remind me of my misfortune,” 

“Misfortune, my lady?” 

“I beg you, drop the ‘my lady’ thing Mira. Secondly, what do you call being uprooted from your home so suddenly, and to find that you have been chosen as the broodmare to the vampire king that hangs over the neck of humans like the proverbial noose. I mean, isn’t that how you found yourself here Mira?” 

“No, my lady. I am not a prisoner here.” 

I let out a surprised laugh. “Prisoner. That's one way to out it, isn’t it? And you are not going to drop the honorific, will you, Mira?” 

Mira has the decency to look sheepish as she shakes her head. “I’m afraid it will not be polite. I will hate to anger you on my first day serving you.” 

“Pfft. You cannot. What do you mean that you are not a priso...” 

I am suddenly cut off as the curtain swings open, and I almost jump, but I’m able to keep myself still. It is Callum and another vampire holding a box.  

Callum has the most unassuming face I have ever seen. And by that, I do not mean that he is ugly. Oh, far from it. Even though he cannot compare to the ethereal beauty of the Vampire king. Why am I thinking of him? Ugh. Anyways, like I was saying, Callum is handsome.  

But he has such a severe case of resting face that the only thing you see is the absolute neutrality in his face. That expression is directed at me right now.  

“I see that you are settling in well, Lady. That is good. As we do not have time to waste, you have some learning to do. Tutors have been assigned to put you through, so this is just to inform you.” 

The vampire behind him walks forward and handed Callum a sheet of paper.  

“In the next couple of days, you will be expected to learn the forms of address for the high council of vampires and what will happen if you get it wrong.”  

With a look of bewilderment, I turn to look at Mira, but her eyes are fixed with a vengeance to the ground.  

“The wedding vows are taken in the old language of the vampires, so you shall need to learn it and commit it to memory. You will learn how to behave like a royal, like a queen of vampires. You will also have to learn how to comport yourself in the throne room. The four noble houses have different protocols that must be observed, and you cannot fail at anyone. You will learn the fee...” at that point, I tune out of his words and start to count sheep on the ceiling above me.  

“...lady are you listening to me?” 

“Um, yeah sure. What was the last thing you said?” 

The look of disproval is evident on his face, but he keeps his displeasure to himself. “I said you will be required to learn how to behave like a queen, and keep to your schedule.” 

“Please put that in writing,” I say and fall onto the bed tired. “I’m tired and would like to rest. Mira will follow you to take it. Thank you. You can leave now.” 

Dumbfounded, Callum looks at her for a beat, but he signals the vampire with him and Mira to go after him.  

After they leave, I stand and go to the window. The city is spread out below me like a wave and for a moment, it feels like that wave is out to crush me. 

Noctharys is a city I cannot read, and its darkness is everlasting.  

It seems daunting to think I’d survive a week here, but fear has never controlled me, and it’s not going to start today.  

I’m going to get some sleep and come up with a plan when I wake up.