(Rigel)

The vibe of this place is totally different from Saratopia. It’s darker, colder just the way vampires prefer. My shadows relax a notch, as we stand on the black portal point. But that agitation in them is still there.

A pinching pain begins in the palm of my hand and I see my shadows gathering there. But it disappears as soon as it begins.

Did Amaia hurt her hand somehow and quickly heal it?

Our bodies have been connected since I broke the oath. Due to the distance between us, I can’t feel her completely. My body still gets affected if something happens to her.

Two sentinels, dressed in black and red uniforms, are guarding the area. Their threatening auras and blazing eyes reveal they are strong.

"Who are you? How did you land at our portal point?" One of them questions us.

Alnilam takes the lead. My brother is confident and he possesses leadership qualities. He will be a remarkable king.

"I am Alnilam Orion, the crown prince of the State of Orion. I am here to request an audience with King Hathial Kane."

He eyes us suspiciously. "Who is your companion?"

"My brother, Rigel Orion." I let my aura out and a panic seems to settle in the guard’s eyes.

"Follow me," he says, taking us forward. The mud on the ground is a denser shade of red and I can see the barbed boundary to keep the monsters and creatures away.

It takes us a while to reach the castle which appears to have been constructed from black marble. The sun is obscured by the clouds giving it an eerie feeling.

We cross through the well-kept grounds of the castle with nothing but black roses planted, rows and rows of them.

Stunned, I watch their dark beauty. Roses have always attracted me but black roses have a surreal feeling to them. And I have never seen them in such abundance.

My mother’s diary had a black rose too and she gifted me one. She loved black roses.

Does he plant them in her memory? There are so many aspects of my mother’s life I don’t know. We hardly ever visited Fudaria, father didn’t like it so my mom never visited her family. But I know, she has her family here and this man she knew for a long time. Her diary told me they were lovers.

"Man seems obsessed with black roses," Alnilam quietly whispers to me and I nod.

The black doors are open for us to walk inside. Halls are lit with chandeliers. Paintings and roses decorate the interior. We are taken inside a large hall-like room with comfortable-looking sofas, divans, carpet and tables laden with food. The rich shade of mahogany, black and gold is prevalent in this room.

"Make yourself comfortable. I will notify the king. He will summon you." The sentinel leaves us there, closing the door behind him.

My throat is parched. I need to feed. It feels like a tight noose is around my throat because of how long I have gone without drinking. It’s squeezing me from time to time and I can’t fully breathe.

What’s this feeling and why isn’t it going away?

Alnilam perches himself on the sofa while I walk over to the table and pick up the decanter which seems to have been filled with fresh blood. The colour is so rich like crushed cherries. Removing the cork, I bring it closer to my nose and inhale.

Tantalising scent, almost exotic.

Picking up the glass I fill it up and take a small sip to soothe my burning throat. Flavour, according to me, is definitely from a human hybrid.

I continue to sip and glance around the place. It’s exotic and tasteful. Every piece in this room seems to have been chosen carefully. The temperature of the room is near perfection. Just the way vampires like, although I see Alnilam rubbing his arms. Werewolves prefer warmer temperatures.

"Feeling cold?" I ask, picking up a plate filled with grapes and bringing it to him.

"Yeah, for my taste." He takes it from me and munches on some grapes.

That restlessness in my shadows begins again and I can’t comprehend why it keeps happening.

I understand this is an unfamiliar place but it doesn’t give me that unwelcoming feeling; instead, I sense safety here like I haven’t done in Orion in a long long time.

I finish my glass and my throat relaxes, the hunger dies down for now.

The grand door is pushed open and in walks two sentinels followed by a man in black silk robes. He is almost as tall as I am. The eyes which resemble glowing rubies stare at us. His thick long hair is neatly brushed backwards.

The man oozes an aura I have never seen on any man.

A glint of surprise he holds in his eyes while a wry smile rests on his thin lips.

"If it isn’t the crown prince himself. What brings you to my humble abode?" He extends both his hands wide, referring to his place.

Alnilam stands up and steps forward. Respectfully they shake hands.

"My apologies for coming unannounced but time is not on our side."

"I understand," he says and turns towards me with curiosity taking hold of his face.

"That’s my brother, Rigel Orion," Alnilam makes introductions and realisation hits him and it hits him hard.

"Rigel? As in Adrnia’s son?" He takes her name with such delicacy.

He turns towards me, confused and yet very intrigued.

"Yes."

We both extend our hands and shake them. There is something familiar and kind about this man.

"How?" He questions, stunned, not letting go of my hand and then his eyes fixate on my shadows, which have crept up on my neck as if to peek at him.

His eyes widen in astonishment and his mouth forms an ’O’. He doesn’t speak but as if to answer, something lifts from under his silken gown, rising like a huge shadow of a predatory bird.

Shadow magic.

The man possesses shadow magic just like me. I have never seen anyone else have this kind of magic apart from myself. He is the first one.

"You have shadow magic just like me," he says in a deep, surprised tone.

"Seems like that," I answer observing his shadow hovering right above my head.

"How? This magic is reserved only in my bloodline. I have never seen anyone else possess this magic."

Slowly his shadows descend on my shoulders, not in an attacking stance but rather it covers me in a similar fashion to how mine cover Amaia and Saiph.

They are cold but not invasive. Merging with mine, probing.

Alnilam watches us from the sidelines, alert and serious. He knows I don’t like being touched and probed like that but somehow all I feel is peace.

"Fascinating. So will you tell me how old you are and how you are alive?" He questions, not lifting his shadows from me.

"29 and not only am I alive but my mom too and I need your help to get her back from Istrale."

My words have an effect I hadn’t imagined they would.