“Do you want me to stop?” he asked, gently thrusting into her. “Am I hurting you?”
“Keep going,” she said, clasping down on her lower lip.
“Even in my sleep, I dream of you, your lips, your breasts, your skin, your touch…it makes me go crazy,” he said.
“I want more of you,” she said.
“And you will have all that you want,” he said.
“Oh, Eldrich, I can’t stand it.”
“Are you enjoying what I’m doing to you? I don’t want to hurt you.”
She licked and chewed her lips and arched her back and erupted.
He then liberated himself on the small of her back.
“You killed me,” she whispered, turning on her back.
He fell next to her and pulled her to his chest. Tenderly stroking her nipples, he asked, “What else will you have me do to you?”
“Cradle me,” she said. “I want to rest in your arms.”
“Is that all you want?”
“For now, only for now,” she said.
Lela and Eldrich held each other in silence. The stillness of the dark forest comforted her. She wondered where they were, to what kingdom had they crossed? Her teachers had taught her about the different known kingdoms of the world. Some scholars believed that there were undiscovered kingdoms, hidden and too far for any human to reach. They claimed that the witches of Barmoth knew where they were and that they traveled there often in search of new ingredients for their potions and spells.
Lela wondered if the witch who had cursed Eldrich, turning him into a frog because he would not lie with her, had gone to another kingdom to learn how to cast a spell on a vampire. Everything she had read in books about vampires stated that they were near-immune to a witch’s spell.
Lela didn’t know whether or not undiscovered kingdoms existed. Her teachers taught her that there were only thirty kingdoms. She had memorized each one.
A screeching sound interrupted her thoughts.
“Keep quiet,” Eldrich said, coming to his feet.
“What do you think made that sound?” she whispered, ignoring him.
“Don’t move,” he said, sniffing the air.
She had never seen him do that.
“Let’s go,” she said.
“It’s too late. Whoever is out there knows we’re here.”
“Is it another vampire?”
“I’d already know it.”
“What then?”
“I’m not picking up its scent. Stay behind me.”
“I’m scared,” she said.
“I won’t let anyone harm you.”
She buried her face in his back.
“Make yourself known!” he said.
A man and a woman holding torches walked toward them.
“Apologies,” the woman said. “I tend to get carried away when…” She giggled.
She had long golden hair that came down to her ankles.
“Yes, please accept our apologies,” the man said, extending a hand to Eldrich.
It was the flying man. Feeling instant heat on her cheeks, Lela lowered her stare.
Eldrich said, “We didn’t know anyone else was around here. It is we who should apologize to you.” Then he placed his hand in Lela’s and said, “We should go.”
“Oh, no, please stay,” the woman said. “We never have visitors and well, as much as we do entertain ourselves,” she winked at the flying man, “we’d love it if you joined us for dinner. I have a stew cooking.”
Lela was tempted to shout a fast, yes, we’d love to! She couldn’t decline a stew, for goodness sake. Her mouth salivated.
Eldrich sensed her eagerness and answered, “We kindly accept.”
“Hooray!” the woman yelled. “Come, follow us.”
She removed her cloak and offered it to Lela.
Blessed Gods, she had forgotten she was naked and so was Eldrich and what’s more they hadn’t brought any clothes with them. My goodness, she felt utterly foolish.
“Thank you,” Lela said, wrapping the cloak around her body. “I’m quite humiliated.”
“Don’t be, you’re pretty. Now, if you were an ugly distorted hag, well, by all means you’d be right to be embarrassed,” the woman said.
The man unbuttoned his long cape, leaving him wearing nothing but the same trousers he had on when he intruded on Lela earlier in the day. He then handed the cape to Eldrich.
“Many thanks,” Eldrich said.
“Well, let’s be on our way,” the woman said and began walking ahead of Lela and Eldrich.
The man stayed at Lela’s side. Lela hoped he wouldn’t mention their earlier meeting.
“I’m Lela and this is Eldrich,” she said.
Eldrich gave the man a nod.
“My name is Xavier,” the man said.
The woman turned her head and said, “I’m called Zel. And what Xavier didn’t mention because he’s being shy is that he’s the prince of our kingdom.”
“Forgive our intrusion into your kingdom,” Lela said, her cheeks flushed.
“May we know your kingdom’s name?” Eldrich asked, squeezing Lela’s hand, a sign she took to mean he didn’t entirely trust these strangers.
Zel came to a stop and turned to face them. “Why this is the Kingdom of the Lost,” she bowed, “welcome, we’re thrilled you’re here.”
Lela quickly ran the names of all the kingdoms through her mind and no, she had never heard of the Kingdom of the Lost.
“Stop being dramatic,” Xavier said, blowing her a kiss. “She tends to get carried away, sometimes.”
“A trait you adore,” she said, winking.
He took her hand and resumed walking.
Lela and Eldrich let them walk ahead a few steps before pacing forward.
Eldrich leaned into Lela’s ear, “I don’t trust them. Something is off about them. Once you’ve eaten, we’ll take our leave.”
“We can go, now,” she whispered.
“No, love, you need to eat and besides we have already accepted their invitation.”
“Once you get to know us, you’ll like us,” Zel said.
“Don’t worry, she can’t hear your whispers or read your thoughts,” Xavier said. “Aside from being dramatic, she’s also a bit insecure and can’t stand anyone not liking her.” He kissed Zel on her forehead and said, “Right, my love?”
Giggling, she shoved him. Puckering her lips, she said, “Kiss me.”
And he did.
“They’re distracted,” Lela said. “With your speed-”
“Hush… she may not be able to hear us but something tells me he can,” Eldrich said in a whisper.
Just then, Xavier stopped kissing Zel and winked at Eldrich and Lela.
“Come, up head is our home,” Xavier said, pointing to a tall, circular structure which resembled the prison towers of Barmoth.
Their home was a prison tower!
Lela bit off a nail and then another.
Reaching the tower, Eldrich said, “If we may ask, is it custom for a prince to live in a tower in your kingdom?”
Xavier laughed. “Of course not. I don’t reside here all the time. This is actually Zel’s home, but since I’m here often I guess I think of it as mine as well.”
“Is she your prisoner?” Lela asked, instantly regretting her question.
Zel burst into laughter. “Why yes, of course. He’s the prince of the Lost and I’m his eternal prisoner.” She licked his bare chest and bit down on the cross hanging from the chain around his neck.
“Later, love, later,” Xavier said. Then he opened the door to the tower. “The stew smells delicious. I’m starving.”
Zel followed him inside and waved Eldrich and Lela over. “Hurry up,” she said.
Once they were all inside, she shut the door and said, “It’s a long way up.”
Eldrich gave Lela a nudge forward to the spiral staircase. Upon placing her hand on the rail, she realized the staircase was made of golden hair.
Xavier started climbing; Zel followed and then Lela.
“I won’t let anything happen to you,” Eldrich hushed into Lela’s ear.
Up the golden staircase they went. Eldrich could have been at the top in a second and Xavier, well, she knew he could fly. Yet, neither one of them was willing to expose their skills.
As Lela continued to ascend, she recognized that her life was about to change again. And she was terrified.