There was a brief silence at Morgana's words, as if trying to confirm the truth in them.
Somewhere in the middle, I was anticipating the worst moment when the doors would fly open and the king would finally step in, but he never came.
Instead, the silence was broken when servants began to step in, pushing metal trolleys, over six trolleys containing dishes. The food seemed to be too much for the number of people at the table, almost like a feast. Unless vampires had a large appetite.
One by one, silver plates, spoons, forks, and large crystal goblets were placed on the table.
The faint aroma of food filled the air. One of the servants placed a dish before me, taking off the lid.
The smell of roasted herbs rose gently from the dish. There were golden slices of tender meat, seared with butter, and beneath the meat was soup that smelled of garlic and thyme. By the side were mashed potatoes, carrots, and green beans, sprinkled on it to give it some color.
I didn't move. I felt eyes on me, probably looking to see me make a mess.
"Eat," Katherine said gently, noticing my hesitation. "You'll need your strength," she added.
My fingers slowly reached for the cutlery, but they trembled slightly as I picked it up. I gently stabbed the fork, taking a piece of meat and chewing it.
It was delicious. It was evident there were better chefs in Velmont than back at Alexandria.
Since I could feel their piercing glances, my gaze remained glued to my food, but nothing could have prepared me for the sight the moment my eyes sneaked a glance.
The once-empty goblets were now being filled with red, thick liquid from a glass jar.
Blood.
I gulped, terrified. As if that wasn't enough, the lid of a certain dish was opened, revealing a big chunk of meat. It wasn't cooked… it was completely raw.
The vampiress in front of it grabbed it with her bare hand, biting on it ferociously to have fresh blood drip down her teeth and hand.
My stomach churned from horror, and I subconsciously dropped my fork to the ground.
A quiet chuckle echoed. It was Sebastian, and he seemed to notice the terror on my face.
"You'll have to forgive us, milady," he said, amusement glinting in his eyes. "Dining etiquette here is… very different."
"I… I'm not very hungry," I said softly, my voice betraying me slightly.
Morgana scoffed. "How unfortunate. We were hoping you'd enjoy your last proper meal."
"That's enough, Morgana." Katherine's sharp voice cut through the tension.
Morgana leaned back with a bored expression, though her eyes remained fixed on me. I knew she did not have any reason to like me, but I didn't know why she was so hostile to me, despite this being our first encounter, as if I had stolen something priceless from her which she would never forgive me for.
Katherine's hand moved slightly beside her goblet. I noticed the stillness in her posture.
"They went through quite the trouble of specifically preparing it for you, Jasmine," she added quietly. "It would seem impolite and wasteful not to eat."
Across from me, the vampiress licked the blood from her fingers, her eyes lifting, locking onto mine. A slow, deliberate smile stretched across her blood-stained lips.
I forced my eyes onto my plate. Cooked meat. Butter. Herbs.
Normal.
This is normal, I tried to tell myself, even as my stomach twisted in protest. Then I picked up my fork again and obediently took another bite of food.
"Does it taste to your liking?" Katherine's voice came again, taking a sip from her cup.
I nodded quickly. "Yes, it's very good."
Once more, the room settled into a suffocating silence, broken only by the soft clink of cutlery against ceramic plates.
I focused on my plate, trying to ignore the eyes still on me. I swallowed hard and reached for my goblet.
Fortunately, it was water, clear and harmless, not blood or strange wine. My fingers steadied slightly as I brought it to my lips, taking a careful sip.
"Tell me, Jasmine," Sebastian's voice uttered out of nowhere. "How do you find Velmont so far?"
The question caught me off guard.
"Very much frightening, filled with vampires I could become a potential meal for," I wanted to say.
I hesitated, choosing my words carefully.
"I-I think…" I paused as my fingers tightened slightly around the stem of my goblet, searching for something safe, something that would not offend anyone.
"I think it is beautiful," I finished quietly.
A bright smile curved up Sebastian's lips. "Beautiful," he repeated, like I had said something puzzling. "An interesting choice. Then perhaps I'll take it that you have visited every part of the castle."
"I haven't seen much," I admitted quietly.
"Of course not," he responded enthusiastically, as he had successfully baited me.
He paused before leaning forward. His voice turned low, directed to me. "Velmont has many sides. I imagine you would be curious to know what it looks like."
"I wouldn't want to intrude, milord," I said quietly, realizing what he was coming to.
A soft chuckle escaped him. "Intrude?" he echoed, amusedly. "You are more than a guest, Jasmine. As the king's bride, you should familiarize yourself with the castle. This is your home now, after all."
The way he said it didn't feel reassuring. It felt like something else entirely.
He then added slowly and deliberately, "If you ever find yourself available, I would be more than willing to show you around the castle myself."
To others, his words would have felt polite, but I felt something off in his tone.
Katherine, on the other hand, had her eyes fixed on the blonde vampire. "I'm sure there are others more suited for that role, Sebastian. If she wants to sightsee the castle, the guards are more efficient in guiding her around."
Sebastian smiled at Katherine. "Oh, don't be a party pooper, Kathy. I am sure there is no harm in offering her a tour. The king would certainly be very pleased with me for taking his bride on a humble venture." Then he turned back to me. "I insist."
I had prayed that this dinner would successfully end, with my head still sitting on my neck, and it did. I could not believe I had somehow endured the silent glares emanating from the vampiress with a black choker.
The dinner ended without further incident. I watched the plates being cleared silently by servants. After a moment, with a practiced movement, I pushed back my chair, gently turning towards the beautiful lady.
"Lady Katherine," I said softly, drawing her attention, "I… I would like to leave, back to my room."
Her eyes softened, and a flicker of understanding passed across her face. "Of course, Jasmine. One of the guards will escort you back to the west wing."
Almost immediately, a tall, silent figure in the dark uniform of the castle guard stepped forward from the shadow, bowing slightly.
My eyes glanced at the blonde vampire, whose amused look never left his face. Then I rose, trying to keep my composure as I followed the guard out of the dining hall.
The heavy doors closed behind us, muffling whatever the vampires were saying.
The sky had grown darker since I was led by Cora to the dining hall and through the corridors. My footsteps echoed as I walked carefully, perceiving the familiar scent of wax.
As I walked, I kept glancing to the side, expecting the guard to match my pace, but slowly, the echoes of footsteps behind me grew fainter.
I abruptly stopped.
"Guard?" I whispered, my voice barely echoing in the long hallway.
There was no response. Just the soft crackle of the torches. I swallowed hard, forcing my panic down. "Maybe he f-fell behind?"
I took a few cautious steps forward, my eyes scanning the dim hallway, when out of the blue, a figure appeared from behind, startling me.
The lights then revealed the figure's face, and my heart skipped a beat.
The same vampire from earlier, the one who had been wearing an uncanny, demented smile, was now standing before me. The grin on his face was gone, replaced by a malicious expression.
And in a heartbeat, his hand caught hold of my neck, pinning me against a wall.