S I X T Y-O N E

The only thing Kai could do, or rather wanted to do, was cradle his head in his hands and pray he lived to see another day.

Iris kept telling him that it was okay, that his dad wouldn't be mad or punish him, but Kai remained startled and on edge. When they went back to Iris's room, Kai immediately rushed into his own and contemplated on locking himself in there. Yes, he was scared and nervous but only because if he were to be punished, Iris would be to.

He sat on the floor with his back resting against the bed. His elbows rested on his knees in which allowed him to drop his head in his hands. He didn't feel shame or regret, he'd never be sorry for loving the prince. Instead he was simply anxious and the gut-wrenching feeling almost made him sick.

A few minutes have passed since he sat in that position. He picked his head up just a little when he heard a female voice come from Iris's room. Sage.

He could hear what they were saying but he wasn't quite listening and only caught one or two phrases.

"......He's freaking out, he won't listen to me."

"I'll talk to him, don't worry, prince. Why don't you–"

Kai's attention shifted from Sage's voice to her footsteps edging towards his room. He sat up straight when the door opened and briefly squinted at the light that poured into the room from Iris's. Kai had been sitting in pitch blackness.

Sage put her hands on her hips and sighed. Kai watched her walk over to the window before grabbing the shades. Ignoring his protests, Sage quickly ripped them off, and blue moonlight invaded the room. Despite the light being dull, Kai's eyes still flinched.

"What the hell, Sage?"

"It's better than the light." Sage went back to the door to shut it before taking a seat next to Kai. "Iris told me what happened."

Kai returned looking down, avoiding the world like he was avoiding punishment. "I'm so dead," he muttered.

Sage's hand patted his shoulder. "If anyone has a good relationship with the King, it's you, Kai. He likes you, and I'm very positive not a lot of royals like us vampires. You've done so much for the prince, he won't overlook that. If he is considering to discipline you, he'll keep in mind what you've done for him regarding his son and the kingdom. Don't worry."

"Don't worry.." Kai repeated, but it was sour on his tongue. "I have so much–too much to worry about right now. I don't need this, Sage. Iris doesn't need this either."

"The prince isn't worry about his dad–"

"No, he doesn't need this." Kai gestured to himself, which caused Sage to furrow her eyebrows. "I'm a mess right now. I have so much going on, thing I...things I can't even be vocal about. I have to worry about the guards, the kingdom, these–these barmy conflicts, and Iris, and keeping everyone safe and–"

"Kai, you can't keep everyone safe–"

"I have to," Kai spat. "Or at least try. That's my job here. My purpose. I have to."

"Now is not the time to be blinded again by reputations. You're not their tool, you're a living being with thoughts and feelings, ideas, and conjectures. Don't think just because we're in a state of panic that you have to retire back to that corrupted mindset of yours you have five years ago."

"That's the thing, Sage." Kai suddenly stood up. He loomed over Sage, eyes glowing a painful blue. Shadows depicted his emotions, and Sage hated the confliction they painted. "Right now is the perfect time to be strict about what role we have to play. I get it now; I was too caugh up in my personal life and with Iris that I missed paying attention to the problems at hand, the ones we needed solve before they showed up. Well guess what, they did! And now we're ten, twenty steps behind!"

Sage shot to her feet. Kai stood taller, but Sage had a fierce look in her eyes.

"We have time to spare. Quiet talking like war is already here. Like it's upon her right now."

"It is."

"It's not!"

When Sage pushed Kai's shoulder, he understood like a bolt of realization zapped through him. Sage was scared, like many others. It was easier to believe that the bad things to arrive were just a hoax, that the empty hallways were just occasional, and the fright was temporary. But it wasn't, and it shook Sage to her core. She was old enough to have experienced countless battles, conflicts, fear, but this felt different.

It wasn't perfect, not that it would ever be, but Sage loved her life. She loved Vridora, the vampires, the people. She admired the King and had great fondness for his son. She got to fall in love with an adorable maid, who she feared she couldn't protect. Sage got to watch Kai's development, which could, and shamelessly, gloss her eyes with pride. From a reckless, hot-tempered attitude to someone loving and mature, it was amazing to have witness. She didn't want that to change, and yet change was inevitable. Sage's wishes, like many others', will flame up in the madness.

Kai didn't pity Sage, or empathize with her. He stared at her with hooded eyes and stooped shouldered.

"The war is already here Sage."

"Then–" Her voice was shaky. "–let's focus on the issue at hand. Yeah?"

"We can't...." he sighed. "I can't afford to waste any time on unnecessary problems." He turned to leave. As he began to walk away, Sage grabbed his elbow and forced him to turn around.

"I don't know what you're dealing with right now, but do not confuse your duty with your priorities. Iris is not unnecessary."

Kai jerked his arm away. "Maybe you should focus on your own job, and for once stop pestering me about mine."

Sage clenched her hands into fists. She watched Kai leave, her words unreliable because they were jumbled up and she would stutter if she tried to call him back.

"You can't ignore him! Nor the King. You know that!"

Even if Kai did, he said nothing.

***

It's been three days. Three long days and even longer nights. Three sunrises, and three dull midnights. Not a word was shared between Iris and Kai. No matter how hard Iris tried, Kai was nowhere to be found. And no one thought to help him.

The King hadn't made an attempt to contact either of the two. Iris was skeptical. Kai didn't pay no mind to it.

He had more important mattered to worry about.

Annesa sighed, her breath creating a brief puff of smoke in front of her.

"I enjoy our talks, have I ever mentioned that?"

Kai didn't look away from the moon he stared at. He didn't answer Zoe's sister, which made her chuckle.

Three long days. Three continuous nights where Kai met with Annesa in secret. Only the moon and the winking stars were their witnesses.

Kai tried to gather as much information as he could about Annesa, though it was hard. She was skillful with her words, and her rigid posture and empty expressions were a steel shield for his judgment. Impenetrable.

Guilt was like trecheraous waves in an ocean. They clashed down, suffocating him under the weight. His chest hurt and his breathing was heavy around her. He thought about Iris every second he spent time with Annesa. He had lied to him and ignored him. It hurt like a physical blow to the heart. However, the hallow feeling that's been invading his head made the pain hazy. He was slowly losing sight of what was important, and his old thinking was returning.

Rules. Only follow the rules. Live by the rules, break the ones that are bent. Bent. Kai glanced over at Annesa.

They were laying in the grass, dead leaves scatteded across their bodies, ones that fell from the trees that were almost completely bare.

The cold breeze swept her hair out of her face and tore the leag she twirled out of her grasp.

"It's been a while since I've asked you to join me. You have yet to answer me."

Follow the rules. One only survives by following the rules.

"Isn't it about time you answer?"

One: Feeding from a human in the residences of Vridora is strictly forbidden. Punishment is death.

Kai swallowed cold air. His navy colored eyes were black with the moon behind him.

Two: Disobedience will not be tolerated. After one warning, punishment will be given.

Three: Do not object positions. Unfairness is no excuse. Little exceptions. Do the job the way the master's order, do it well, do it right.

Annesa sat up and Kai watched her slowly, as if she moved too fast and he replayed her movements. A leaf stuck her shoulder and her pushed back hair sculpted her face–the shape of a chiseled heart.

Four: Disrespect towards any humans in the mansion or residences of Vridora will not be tolerated. This includes talking back, arguing, forgetting formal greetings, declining orders, and lying.

Five: Relationships are to remain strictly professional.

Six: Follow the schedules. Making a late appearance earns punishments.

Seven: You are not to leave the premises without permission. An unauthorized leave will lead to punishment of death. In relation to this, any owned and recorded vampire without a collar will be questioned and can be sentenced to punishment.

"Well?"

Kai sighed. His breath created a fog that covered Annesa's face for a brief two seconds. Yes. No. He wasn't so sure now.

She played a very good game. Strategic but more thoughtful than carefully did she convey her persuasion. She was positive Kai will say yes, and Kai was positive he was stuck in between. He hated that. He hated that one part of his brain wanted to say yes. To shake her hand, agree to be apart of the madness, be apart of the "winning side". And yet, Kai wasn't sure who was going to win, and if he was one to follow to rules, the many, many rules, he was sure to obey one of the most important one.

Eight: Betrayal is unforgivable, intolerable, and punishment is either death or banishment.

After everything Vridors offered him, everything King Arlo did for him, it was hard to turn away from the loyalty he built. To betray the King's trust. To betray Iris's heart.

Kai sat up, too, and brushed the leaves off him.

"I request another day."

A brief look of disappointment slipped onto Annesa's features before a smile robotically appeared on her lips.

"Of course," she said. She was clearly displeased.

Kai stood up, departed in silence, and found himself standing in front of a plain white door. The hallway was cold, almost more so than the midnight air. Kai raised his hand, ready to knock on the door, but stopped midway.

Follow the rules. Follow the rules. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight...he followed the main eight. There were twenty, thirty more, but he rehearsed those eight in his head. Follow the rules. Follow the rules.

He knocked on the door.

Waited.

The King appeared on the other side. A face of confusion to battle Kai's wide one.

***

I've started writing the first chapter of my next story (no that's not a reason I've been late to update this story) but I want at least two chapters done by the time this book ends.

Thank you for your patience, my six interactive readers :p :)

~Nikky