Into the Dark
14

Calypso throws back another glass of champagne as she eyes the Vampire King from across the crowded room. He is leaning back nonchalantly on his throne as he watches the ball unfold around him. Even in his relaxed state, he looks every bit as dangerous as she knows he is. She glances over at him periodically hoping to catch his eye yet it seems as if he is purposely avoiding her gaze. They had not spoken since the incident and with each second that passes, Calypso grows more desperate to hear his voice.

“Red is a beautiful color on you, my lady,” a shrill voice breaks through her thoughts.

She turns to face three vampire noblewomen all dress in extravagant ball gowns,” That is very kind of you.”

" The color makes me wonder,” the short redhead chimes in,” would your blood be as bright?”

The queen steels herself even as her heart races,” You’re welcome to replace out. Just know, you are not the only one in this room who can bite.”

The woman with gray hair cackles,” You assume the King loves you so that he would defend your honor? Do not be foolish. Our King loves no one; especially not some common whore.”

She fails to not to let the woman’s comment sting as she replies,” Do not think me a fool, darling. I have never overestimated the King’s feelings for me. However, I do know that, as his wife and your queen, he will allow none to disrespect me.”

This seems to shut the three up as they give her one last sneer before slinking away.

The throne is empty when Calypso glances back over. The Vampire King must have snuck away while she was defending herself against those three vultures.

A presence from behind her brings her to a startle; she soon recognizes the King’s dark presence and her heart clenches at his proximity.

He slowly circles her like predator does to prey,” Are you familiar with the works of Ian Calvara?”

Ian Calvara, the name rings a bell but Calypso cannot quite grasp the memory; too focused on an attempt to control her rapid heart.

The King seems to catch onto this and gives her a cunning smile,” Calvara, a famous human poet,” she remembers her lessons immediately after he says this,” he described his experience with vampires as a cat and mouse game. Cats enjoy watching their prey suffer. Is that how you feel my love? As if every one here is just waiting for their chance to torment you?”

He stops in front of her as he waits for her answer,” I do not see myself as prey, King. They may see it as a chance to torment me; however, I see an opportunity to prove why you should never underestimate your opponent.”

It takes all of her strength not to pull away as he leans in, only a breath away from kissing her,” Interesting,” he mumbles eyes dropping to her lips,” Do you feel as though I underestimate you?”

Her mind flashes back to sitting across from Oliver in the small dinning room,” I’m not quite sure. Though I do know it is dangerous for kings to underestimate anyone; especially those closest to them.”

The King’s eyes meet hers one again,“Come,” he grabs her hand and leads her into the hall.

“Where are we going?” Calypso nearly loses her footing due to her dress.

The King wraps his arm around her waist holding her upright,” The garden,” his voice is clipped.

She says nothing more as he leads her through the castle. To her knowledge, there is nothing did that should have angered him; though her last statement did seem suspicious. A part of her that she refuses to acknowledge wonders if she had been subconsciously attempting to warn him.

The night air is cool on her hot skin. She did not realize until now how stuffy the ballroom was and she now found herself thankful for the fresh air.

The King lets go of her hip as he sits at one of the benches in the far corner of the garden. His eyes steely as he watches her every movement.

Calypso fidgets under his unrelenting gaze,” Is something wrong, King?”

“You tell me, wife,” his tone accusing.

The queen’s fists clench reeling in her fear,” I’m afraid I have no idea what you are referring to,” proud that her voice did not waver.

He stands straight towering over her,” Always so indifferent. Never letting any form of emotion escape that stone wall of yours,” he stalks closer knowing how evil the shadows made him look,” Has it ever occurred to you that playing the dutiful wife gave you away from the start? Do you believe I could not see through that facade? What secrets do you hide behind those pretty eyes?” he hissed, his face mere inches from her own.

Calypso wants to answer; she wants to deny all of his accusations but fear climbed up her throat and immobilized her tongue. She can do nothing except stare into his beautiful dark eyes as he waits patiently for her reply.

Upon realizing she will not reply, hurt briefly flashes across his features; so quickly that Calypso believes she imagined it,” Tell me Calypso. I will protect you. Just tell me; what is your father planning?”

Silence fills the garden as if the earth too is waiting to soak up her sins. Calypso wants nothing more than to confess to him, the Vampire King who was a man in every way her father was not. No matter how desperate she felt, her mind was unrelenting. It would allow no words to escape her mouth.

The King waits in front of her unmoving. Just as she works up the courage to spill everything, a different presence makes its way into the garden.

“My King,” a soldier bows deeply at the entrance,” the time for the humans to depart is approaching. They wait in the ballroom for your final toast.”

Disappoint and anger replace the Vampire King’s menacing stare as he turns his back to his wife. He says nothing as he follows his guard back into he cramped ballroom where his subjects wait.

Calypso takes a moment to gather herself before returning to the merriment. Her decision is final, she will tell the King everything tonight after the ball. To hell with her father and his plans. She will replace a different way to free her people. She has no other choice; the alternative would break her beyond repair.

Feeling calmer, she slowly creeps through the open ballroom doors just as another hooded figure sneaks out. It takes her a moment before she falters. The face under the hood she would recognize anywhere. Oliver had been at the party, for how long she did not know, and now he was fleeing into the forest surrounding the castle.

Frantically, Calypso began searching through the crowd for her husband. Spotting him at the bottom of the dais speaking lowly with a guard, she begins to shove her way past the bodies rushing to warn him. Before she can make it far, a strong hand clamps onto her wrist wrenching her back into the shadows.

A hand clamps over her mouth silencing the scream bubbling in her throat,” Calypso stop fighting,” Jasper orders harshly.

Her body goes still and he lets go,” Jasper? What are you doing?”

“Stopping you from screwing everything up. What were you going to do? Warn him and maybe just maybe he won’t tear you limb from limb then and there? How could you be so foolish?”

The queen says nothing as tears spring to her eyes.

Jasper runs a hand through his hair in frustration,” Don’t be stupid Calypso. He doesn’t love you. He’s toying with you.”

She shakes her head, anger flooding her veins,” No. You’re wrong Jasper. He’s not evil.”

Jasper’s reply gets lost in the roar of the crowd as citizens celebrate their King. Her husband slowly makes his way to his throne clutching his goblet tightly in his hand.

The crowd quiets as he turns to face his subjects and raises his drink into the air,” A toast to this flourishing kingdom. May we all live long, happy lives.”

His goblet glints in the light sparking a memory in her mind. A memory of Calypso drawing this very goblet after begin relentlessly questioned about it. Her heart drops as her mind connects the timing of Oliver’s departure. He poisoned the King’s drink.

Her husband lowers the goblet to his lips slowly drinking its contents.

“Long live the King!” the crowd roars drowning out her scream as Jasper hauls her against him.

There is a moment of terrible terrible silence before the King drops to his knees. Calypso falls with him no longer being held by Jasper who is also fleeing the scene along with all the other humans in attendance. Chaos fills the air around her. Feet trampling her as panic ensues some fleeing other rushing towards the King.

Calypso feels nothing as she curls into a ball gasping for air. He’s dead. He’s dead and its your fault. She feels nothing as guards yank her to her feet hauling her through the frantic crowd. She can make out nothing on the dais as guards have surrounded the King protecting him from his worried subjects.

It is not until she gets a glimpse of the King’s lifeless body that she begins to fight against the hands that hold her. She kicks and screams as she is dragged towards the dungeon.

She does not stop fighting until she is thrown into a cell. Her head hitting the stone floor hard enough to make everything around her go dark.

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Unedited

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