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As Rook, there was a new contract I had to sign. It was longer, more intricate, and much scarier than the others. Its many clauses swam in my head as I picked up a quill and dipped it in a pot of ink.
I was in the White Palace again, Knight Kelsus and Knight Ferko standing beside the small table where I sat reviewing the contract.
As I positioned the quill over the paper, I hesitated for a moment, thinking on the Queen’s blood sliding down my throat.
“It’s not like you have a choice, Rook Flagfall,” Ferko mocked.
“It’s not like I need one,” I lied, signing with a flourish. I couldn’t let Ferko intimidate me. She was my Quadrant leader, but she had to understand I wouldn’t let her walk all over me.
I stood. “I’m ready.”
This was my fate. I couldn’t hide from it anymore—not mere minutes before I was meant to give up my humanity. When I put that cup to my lips, I would do it with determination—welcoming the fact that, after I ingested the poison, the possibility of ever being turned into a blood slave would be gone.
The vampire blood would cure me, and I wouldn’t be a Trove anymore. Moreover, I would be one step closer to my goal.
The Knights led me back to the throne room where, this time, the Queen stood in front of the expansive windows that, on my earlier visit, had been covered by thick curtains.
The moon shone high in the sky, and Lovina had her face turned up to it, her eyes closed, a slight smile on her pale lips. No candles illuminated the large room, but the night was resplendent, and a few strategically-placed mirrors reflected the moon’s cool light, leaving no need for anything else.
She ignored us and only after a long moment addressed us.
“I had no doubt you would win,” she said, turning away from the windows and walking in our direction. Her bare feet padded softly on the floor. She didn’t glide the way King Maximus seemed to do, but it seemed as if walking like a regular person cost her some effort.
“Rook Flagfall has signed the contract and is ready for her first tasting, My Queen,” Knight Kelsus said, inclining his head.
“Good, then let’s get this over with,” she walked toward the dais. “I wish to check on Varujan, see if he might have enough blood to allow me a short walk at sunrise.”
Lovina rounded the table where that single candle had rested earlier. Now, it housed a wine glass, a folded piece of cloth, and a dagger, instead. She waited for me to join her, the narrow table positioned between us.
Without any type of ceremony, she picked up the weapon and sliced deeply at her wrist. Dark blood dripped into the glass in a thin rivulet. A gold line marked the middle of the glass. The blood slowly rose to meet it, and when it did, the Queen pulled back her arm and pressed the cloth to the wound. She dabbed at it a few times then examined it. The wound closed, knitting itself right before my eyes.
“Drink,” she said, gesturing toward the cup. “Drink and be my new Rook. The Rook that will find me a much-needed Trove.”
I picked up the glass and held it up. Moonlight shone on the blood, letting me see its crimson color in all its glory.
These past four months, I’d lived in doubt, pursuing my plan but hesitating with every step, wondering if there was another way, an escape, but there wasn’t. But Acedrex was my prison, as well as the prison of many others, and nothing would ever change if no one acted.
As I stood there, the sense that this was my destiny descended over me. I was meant to free Acedrex. I was meant to change everything.
So, filled with purpose, I raised the glass to my lips and drank every last bit of the White Queen’s blood.
* * *
I FELL TO THE FLOOR, thrashing, my spine curving backward as if my head meant to reach my feet. Coldness gripped my throat. There was no air. The frigid feeling traveled down into my chest, my stomach, my legs. A low droning sensation filling my chest where the natural warmth of my body seemed to fight with the cold.
I shivered. My limbs twitched. I screamed, but only in my head. I couldn’t utter a word. Vampire blood had frozen my insides.
Thud, thud, thud.
Heartbeats echoed in my ears. At first, they were fast with panic and fear of death. Then they slowed.
Thud...
I was dying. No air. My lungs ached.
Thud...
Flashes in my vision.
Bright. So bright.
Thud...
A choking sound. Then everything went still. Quiet and peaceful.
The scent of blood filled my head. I inhaled, moving my head in the direction of the smell.
Arms wrapped around me, helping me to a sitting position. I tried to open my eyes, but there was something terribly bright in front of me. I squeezed them shut. Something warm pressed against me. I relaxed into the feeling. I was so cold, and it felt wonderful.
The smell of blood grew stronger, and there came a new thudding. It wasn’t my own heart. It was someone else’s, the person who had helped me sit up and was now holding me in their arms.
They placed a hand on the back of my head and forced it forward. My mouth and nose touched skin.
My senses flooded with the sweet scent of blood, a scent more delicious than any I had ever experienced—even sweeter than Talyssa’s Sweet Briar roses or my favorite raspberry pie.
I bit into it, savagely, greedily.
Blood poured into my mouth like a river of honey, and I drank the warm, delicious liquid until someone pulled me away. I fought to get loose. I wanted more, but whoever held me was too strong.
Time passed, and I calmed down. I was released.
Slowly, my vision cleared.
I blinked at my booted feet stretching before me. Glancing up, I found Knight Kelsus and Knight Ferko standing in front of me, their arms behind their backs as if they were keeping watch. The room seemed brighter than I remembered.
“What happened?” I asked.
Ferko’s mouth twisted. “Well, that was fast.” She sounded surprised.
Knight Kelsus frowned as he offered me a hand. I took it and stood up. I glanced around, searching for the Queen. She was gone. Instead, I noticed two servants exiting the throne hall. They were carrying a man out, holding him by his feet and arms.
Jumbled images appeared before my eyes. Flashes of light.
Blood, so much blood.
“Wait!” I said and staggered toward the servants, my legs acting as if they weren’t mine.
The servants stopped and glanced at me with a mixture of fear and disgust. Inching closer, I tried to focus on the man they were carrying, but all I saw was blood. On his shirt, his neck, his face, his hair. He was covered in red, slick, shining under the moonlight. His neck was ravaged as if a rabid dog had attacked him.
“Go,” Knight Kelsus ordered, walking close and wiping his hand on a black handkerchief.
I took several steps backward, shaking my head. I lifted my slick hands and stared at my fingers. I touched my face. It was wet, too. I tried to wipe it away with my sleeve but it was also soaked. Blood. All over.
The urge to lick my fingers assaulted me.
I nearly screamed. Lowering my hands, I made tight fists, hiding my fingers even as I imagined my tongue licking lazily over them.
“Did I do that?” I asked.
It was a useless question. I knew the answer.
I had become a beast.
“You will feed once a week,” Knight Ferko said. “A person will be provided for your delight. You will do it here, in the palace. I supervise until you’re used to it. You are not to drink blood in public. Ever. Breaking this one rule will immediately mean your execution by the Queen. Do you understand?”
I ran bloody fingers through my hair as I tried to deny what was happening. “None of this was in the contract,” I said.
“Of course not,” Ferko said as if I were stupid. “Contracts are public records. We wouldn’t want our citizens to be scared of us, would we?” She barked a laugh, and as she left the room she said, “Follow me. You need to clean up. We can’t have anyone seeing you like this.”
Knight Kelsus regarded me with an impassive face. There was nothing in his expression that indicated how he felt, but I thought I sensed disappointment. He inclined his head and started to walk away.
“Was it like this for you?” I asked in a hurried breath.
He stopped, his gaze on the floor. His long hair with its many braids was tied at the back of his neck by a piece of leather with tassels at its tips.
“It’s like this for everyone,” he said. He made as if to leave, but on second thought, he turned back and faced me. What he said next, he spoke in a low whisper that I could barely hear. “It takes a strong will to remain true to yourself, but it’s possible, Bianca. You are a good person.”
I shook my head. “I’m not. I just killed someone.”
“You will do much worse than that, I assure you.”
What could be worse than what I’d just done? I’d killed a man. I’d... slaughtered him with my bare hands and teeth.
“Then how?” I asked. “How can I remain true to myself?”
“As I said, it takes a strong will. Every day you will want to give up, and sometimes, you will. You’ll see no point in fighting it, but no matter how far you fall, you can climb back up. If you really want to.” Knight Kelsus inclined his head then turned on his heel and left me in the empty throne room.
I fell to my knees and cried.