Chapter 4: A long journey

Tulay pov:

We have been traveling for the whole day with only necessary stops and its late noon now. I slept till noon and I didn’t know I would be this tired because I slept through half of the journey.

Being enclosed in a carriage alone for this long has leaded me to contemplate over my life choices. I do not know what I want from my life and what I am doing with my life. After my parents it seems like I have been dragging myself through days. When I was with my aunt, I was just spending days and was just dragging myself along with circumstances waiting to be united with my brother and now I stupidly participated in a deadly competition which I thought would be fun.

It feels like I am living a dream and one day I would wake and everything would be different, no it feels like I am observing my life from vantage point of view and I do not have a say in it. How absurd? Being played in the hands of unknown at least that’s what I think about my situation.

The vast expanse of forest around the dirt path is getting dark which I presume that it almost dusk out there. Sitting forward on rare end I gently knocked on the small window which was clearly built for conversing purpose. “Anything you needed my lady” coachman asked as soon he opened the small window “how long till we arrive” I asked as I observed the endless road in front of me. “Not very long my lady we are at the outskirts of a small village that is close to borders we will be staying at an inn for the night” the coachman explained.

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As soon we reached the village I stepped out of the carriage without any assistance my whole body felt stiff to move for sitting in same position for hours. The horse riders that traveled with us have already made arrangement for our stay as they traveled ahead of us. Andrew approached me with a slight nod of his head “dinner will be served in a while I will escort you to your room and you may refresh yourself afterwards you will be joining us downstairs for dinner my lady” I nodded my head in acknowledgment and followed Andrew into the inn and upstairs through a hallway on our left into the third room.

The room was simple with necessary furniture and an en suite bathroom I thanked Andrew and closed the behind him.

A few minutes after I was done refreshing myself a guard accompanied me to dining halls where we had simple meal of soup and bread. Everyone on the table was chattering among themselves and I kept to myself focusing on my meal. It feels weird sitting among a bunch of bulky males specifically werewolves.

While way back to my room Andrew told me we will leave with the first ray of dawn and we will be at castle by noon if not then by nightfall.

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I have been over thinking about the fact that I will be encountering royals tomorrow and imagining weird scenarios in my mind. With a deep sigh I turn on the right side and try to fall asleep. After a few minutes of lying still I sit up on the bed feeling restlessness I decide on stepping in fresh air to clear my mind. I put on my cloak as it might be cold outside and stepped outside my room the hallway is quiet with nobody outside I descended the stairs and bee lined for the inn entrance.

Cold air hit my face as I stepped outside I already feel better standing in open air. I closed my eyes and took a few deep inhales. I just stood there enjoying the calmness of night.

A voice from my right forced me turn in that direction on closer inspection I realized a human was standing there upon feeling my presence he turned in my direction and he was in front of me in a second. So he is a vampire I took a step back “what a mere human girl doing here with the royal escort?” he asked leaning closer to me “we are just passing by” I said as calmly as possible “and what the girl have to do with werewolf kingdom?” he continued his interrogation “I am visiting” I said and turned back to leave but in a mere second he was in front of me “visiting royals then you must be important to them and we do need someone to send a message” he said blocking my way.

“What type of message” I asked curious he kind of gives creepy vibes “a warning” he said whispering into my ear like he is telling me a secret and now I am feeling stupid for standing outside alone this late “what type of warning” I asked trying bottle up the fear and stepping a few steps back “they will know it when they see u” he said with a smirk ”what do you me…” he cut me midsentence and choked me my back hitting a solid clearly of a wall. “ple.. hel…. P” I tried to choke out words which was completely useless “you talk too much” he said lessening the pressure on my neck tears streaked down my cheeks in a failed attempt to escape and begun to cough hysterically.

His pitch black eyes formed streaks of red and I was completely terrified”maybe killing you will be a good warning” he asked with a sadistic grin and I began to thrash in his hold he held my face to side the so he can have a clear view of my neck and I closed my eyes as I felt the tip of his fang touch my sensitive skin and held my breath in fear. Oh God!