“Princess,” Natalia greeted her formally. “What a pleasure to meet you. I’ve heard you enjoying reading. Wait until you see our library here in Silencia. It’s extraordinary. Five levels high with more books than you could read in a lifetime.”

Natalia looped her arm through Evelyn’s. Pulling her away from Alexi and off to the side towards one of the many exits in the hall. Evelyn glanced back over her shoulder, searching for Alexi. Unsure whether she was being kidnapped or not. Alexi merely nodded his head in approval before leaning in low towards his mother. Their words were lost to her in the background as Natalia talked on about the Castle.

In some ways, Evelyn couldn’t help but be grateful to Natalia from pulling her away. The ride had been long and arduous, and being left in Alexi’s company was not something she was sure she was ready to face just yet. In all honesty, the idea of a regal library in the heart of Silencia, left her heart soaring. The novels, texts, the histories she might find in there left her feeling eager to get lost in the endless stacks.

Evelyn allowed herself to be dragged along through the winding corridors and endless halls. She would most certainly need to study a map of the castle if she ever had hopes of not wandering aimlessly around.

Natalia was telling her about one of her favorite novels, A Winding Tale. A fantastical novel based on the early settlers of Glaciel. The four species were at war with one another, battling for land and resources until a guild of Witches intervened. Witches were always deemed worse than demons in most passages of history, but when it truly came down to it, men did not agree that women should harbor such unbridled power.

In a coven of witches, women ruled. It wasn’t often that men were truly gifted. Some, like her brother, were able to retain small gifts, such as sight or empathy, but it was the woman who bore the true power.

Not much had changed from over two-thousand years ago to now. Men still did not agree with the idea of women leading groups of other powerful women. They had been hunted mercilessly for as long as words had been written. Some had sought to harness the witches power for themselves. Other’s feared them. Feared the damage that could be unleashed if witches sought fit to become conquerors themselves.

The most powerful, most deadly of the witches, were called Elementals. They were rare and highly coveted, with the ability to control one of the natural elements in its entirety.

Over the years, witches had been nearly exterminated or gone into hiding, learning to pass as human for their own survival. The Kingdom of Celia was more of a safe haven for witches. They couldn't live openly. Unable to freely use their magic, but they were also unable to be persecuted as they once were within Celia’s borders.

Evelyn loved the book as it gave her a strong insight to Witch heritage and she was intrigued that Natalia had taken a liking to it as well. She was enjoying their discussion about it when she felt a strong, angry presence lurking in the shadows.

Turning her head to her left, she found a dark figure, shrouded in darkness behind a large supporting pillar, watching her carefully. Evelyn could almost see the red in his eyes. Eyes that were bloodthirsty.

“Who’s that?” Evelyn asked, unable to contain her curiosity.

Natalia glanced in the direction she had motioned towards and frowned. “That’s my brother, Prince Gregorio. Pay him no mind. He won’t hurt you, but he’s not particularly fond of humans.”

“Why is that?”

“Our younger sister, Melody, was murdered by humans nearly a century ago. He was her twin,” Natalia explained, walking Evelyn along with her, eyes forward.

Evelyn instantly felt ashamed for asking in the first place. “I’m so sorry. It was not my place to ask.”

“It’s okay. It was a long time ago, but vampire’s, we have very long memories. In this family, we’re not fond of secrets,” Natalia spoke, giving her the side eye.

Evelyn couldn’t help but swallow deeply, feeling the instinctual need to finger the jeweled dagger that was resting inside her cloak pocket. If the royal family of Leon ever found out her secrets, they would kill her for sure.