Chapter. 18

He pauses our march to gaze upon the city. “Magnificent, is it not?”

“That isn’t the word I’d use,” I say. It’s befitting that a man who drains blood would live in a black city that drains life from the field around it. In his eyes it’s a home, with huge brick walls and sentries for protection, but in mine it’s a nest of vicious vampires that wish to crush me beneath their feet.

Our journey is over, and I fear what that means for me. The city which brings him comfort brings me distress. There’s no reason for me to follow him through its gate.

I take a deep breath and muster my confidence. “This is where we part,” I announce.

“Oh, is it?” He raises an eyebrow, not taking me seriously.

“Yes,” I square my shoulders, “You’re home. You don’t need my blood anymore. I can go free.”

“That’s cute,” he chuckles.

I glare at him. “Cute?”

“Your misunderstanding of the situation. ‘Tis cute, almost childlike. Did you think I was jesting when I said I had plans for you, friend of Ivan?”

I gulp. He may be my Uncle, but I barely ever saw him. It was Jacob who visited him, not me. “I told you, I don’t know him.”

“Is that so?” He’s not buying my lie in the slightest. “Then I suppose you have no further use to me. Fortunately, young women like yourself are the most popular choice for those who like to keep fresh blood on hand. There’s a market in the city center, and I know you’ll make a fine pet.”

I shoot him a dirty look, and he smirks.

We continue our path towards the city. The huge black walls loom over us. They cast a shadow that envelopes our tiny frames well before we reach the gate. The city is huge, with red tiled roofs extending as far as I can see. I’m in a state of disbelief that walls of such immense height could circle such a large place.

The walls are joined by tall towers with round roofs. A crisscrossed metal grid hangs above the gate, ready to slam shut at a moment’s notice. I can’t imagine why they need such a large entrance. Its height could accommodate an elephant riding another elephant.

Two towers loom over us from either side of the gate, with slits in their walls to allow soldiers to peer out. Every edge is carved to be round. It looks nothing like any structure I’ve laid eyes on, and its foreignness serves as a reminder of how far I’ve strayed from home.

It’s built to be impossible to siege, but at the same time, impossible to escape. Though I don’t want to admit it to myself, I know that after I cross the gate’s threshold, I’ll never be able to leave of my own volition.

Nine armored guards linger by the entrance. Their huge builds leave no doubt in my mind that they’re vampires. A few glance in our direction as we enter, but they show little interest. I doubt they’d be so apathetic if I tried to leave unaccompanied.

The houses inside are just as strange – built with wood and red tiled roofs, at least two or three stories high. They’re all connected to each other, attaching to the city’s walls wherever possible. Every edge is rounded, and the upper floors overhang the muddy street.

A robed vampire exits as we enter, and his gaze lingers on me as he passes by. I avert my eyes as I’m reminded of the rope around my neck. They must consider me no different from a mule with this bag on my back. In this city, I have the status of an animal, if not less. To the guards, I’m not a citizen of an enemy nation, I’m Rahlan’s property.

The thought makes my heart sink. I used to be able to shrug off Rahlan’s claims of ownership over me, but now it feels so much closer to reality. Before there was a rope standing between me and freedom, but now there’s a fifty-foot wall and hundreds of armed guards.

I quicken my pace to walk beside Rahlan, hoping I’ll appear a little more equal.

“Looking forward to your punishment? I know I am,” he says.

“You take pleasure at the thought of me suffering?” I have far more reason to hate him then he has for me, yet I don’t wish him pain. I just wish him to be somewhere very far away from me.