Page 65 of The Vampire's Lament
“Yes, Your Majesty,” the two men agreed.
The door opened and Medusa in humanoid form stepped through. She beamed at me, though looked exhausted, her body covered in dirt and blood, her sleek hair a mess. Some of her emerald scales appeared damaged, peeling off her body.
“Hello, sugar.” She offered me a tired wave.
“Hi.” I waved back.
I also greeted the flora in the forest-themed room, thanking the sweeties for the boost.
Man, poor Medusa had been put through hell because of my people. And it stung. Really, really stung. There wasn’t one inch of joy in it.
The old me is slipping away…
Silvanus ordered the guards to fetch me some clothes, and they returned wielding blue jeans, a white T-shirt, a pair of gray trainers, and a black leather jacket.
The king commanded the men to place the clothes on his bed.
I noticed there was some underwear too.
“Wear these,” he told me without looking at me.
After wearing that purple outfit for a bit while being his thrall, he’d decided to let me dress in more comfortable attire. A uniform just for me, still stored in this building.
“Thanks,” I said, uneasy, praying I never went back to being a thrall again.
He wouldn’t do that to you now.
Silvanus ushered the guards out of the room, pausing by the door.
“Watch him for me,” he instructed his friend, his back turned.
“Will do,” she responded.
He left without glancing back.
I grabbed the clothes, showered quickly, then dressed, returning to Medusa. She was still standing in the same spot.
For long seconds, I stood there under the glow of the lanterns and fairy lights, feeling like I’d regressed. Like I was a thrall again, trapped in this room, unsure of my next moves and craving his blood.
Only, that wasn’t the case anymore. No more thrall blues, the cravings were for his body instead.
Scratch that.
More importantly, I had goals. An uncertain future, yeah, but a direction to strut in.
Glimmer City.
“Shall we hug?” Medusa suggested.
“I’d like that.”
We hugged it out, her body solid and comforting.
She patted my back. “What a night.”
“I’ll say.”
We broke the hug, both taking a pew side by side on Silvanus’s big bed. Silence followed, a little awkward, making my left foot bounce.
