6. hollowed & homicidal

6

hollowed the heart still pulsing its last few beats in my tight fist. I examine the way it loses life from lack of oxygen and the insufferable man it belongs to bleeds out on the floor. Veins hang loose as drops of the viscid liquid slip slowly from my fingertips. I look down to see that a small pool of the scarlet sap has made it onto my custom leather shoes, and for that, I squeeze the heart to a bloody pulp, crushing it in the palm of my hand like a stress ball.

The fact is, this truly is my stress relief.

“Seems like you’ve had some fun.” The door to the dungeon echos as it creaks open.

I let the hollow organ drop from my hands, more melodramatically than anything, and a loud splat resounds grotesquely causing more blood to squirt onto my shoes. I reach for the pristine handkerchief from the inside of my suit jacket to clean off the mess I've made.

“I suppose I did. However, it’s a shame that this leech tastes like dirt.” I look over my shoulder to Zharus who crosses his arms and leans against the big, wooden door.

“What did-” he looks down at my feet at the blood-soaked cement, “this one do to deserve the wrath of the Dark Prince?” Zharus asks me, enthusiasm playing in his tone. “Last time I was down here, you’d only cut out his tongue for not answering your questions.”

“I don’t take to imbeciles very well. Especially those who have been compelled to not talk.”

I explain to my Factotum that about an hour ago, this pitiful excuse of a Nocturne entered my compound. I know he was not one of my own and while access between societies is not fully provoked, it isn’t entirely welcomed. I simply asked him who he was here for and what he needed and I was met with silence while he walked past me and toward my office.

That was the first sign that he wasn’t here for good reason and when I couldn't compel the answer out of him, I realized that he was sired by a royal Nocturne, more than likely from another Society.

I took him down here, chained him to the chair, then tortured the truth out of him. What he was after, who sent him. When he didn’t answer, I simply pulled his tongue from his mouth and soon after, he proved useless so I delighted myself with a much deserved drink.

“Besides, I haven’t eaten in weeks.” I drop down to my haunches and pick up the large chunk of pink muscle that was once attached to the back of his throat—now turning into a rusty sort of discoloration—and hold it up in the air as if to examine it, before tossing it back down at the dead body it belonged to.

“Speaking of eating,” Zharus imposes, brow arched, and a smirk painted on his clever face.

“Malnourishment for a Nocturne is simply not acceptable, Zhar. Besides, he deserved what he had coming to him by refusing my questions. I can say that it quelled the blood lust, that’s for sure.” I use the white silk cloth to clean up the red that stains my face, allowing myself to lick the corners of my mouth before doing so, only to get one last taste.

“Still suffering, are you?” Zharus finally lifts himself off the door as I saunter towards him, leaving the bloodied intruder behind me.

I didn’t anticipate the curse of bloodlust to hit me quite as hard as it did. It started right after my father, Renard, died about a month ago—the former king of Hollows Trace. Usually, sanguis maledictum hits the royal next in line when the current crowned king passes, ravaging them with the visceral need to drain warm bodies of their blood. Almost in ripper fashion. It's meant to incentivize one to want to speed up the process, knowing that bloodlust can be deadly to both prey and predator. The time between death of a king and coronation of a new one is called the trial period for the next in line and the longer the trial period, the weaker the Society's blood gets.

This signifies my need to find a wife as soon as possible, exchanging vows to make her my queen. That’s something that’s been in Nocturne lore for ages, unifying a kingdom in marriage and initiating the blood-tie. The longer I hold off, the worse the curse of this tyrannical and fatuous bloodlust gets, taking over and leading me to my demise.

If I fail to finish my trial period successfully, whether that be without a solidified marriage or the curse successfully destroying me, I will lose my title as prince thus handing over the title of king to the next in line. And that cannot happen.

My plan depends on my completion of my trial period, and I need it done sooner rather than later.

But more than just my bloodlust has taken over my every thought. She has also taken over. And if that’s not bad enough, I fear my curse has only gotten stronger because of her which can only imply one thing . . . anima vinculum.

Anima vinculum is another rare Nocturne lore. The last time a tether has been connected was nearly thirty-one years ago when my father met and married my step-mother.

It’s a bond of sorts that pairs two souls together and oftentimes it can be in or out of true love. The idea is that these two souls connect in strength and can provide the utmost power in a blood-bind. If one is lucky enough—or unlucky if the fate of a mate feels burdening—then it is imperative that security of the tether conclude by entering into marriage and tying the bond, especially if one or both participants are of royal blood.

I have found my anima vinculum . She just isn't aware of it yet. Outsiders are not safe from the lore of soulmates within vampire realms. It just takes an appreciable amount of convincing to get them to accept their fate.

By now, I’ve been a month into my trial period and I’ve had to subdue my hunger in order to save my kingdom from my blood-thirsty wrath. Because I am thirsty. And knowing that my bridal prospect is within reach, my cravings are tenfold. Everyone is aware of the intense burdening that happens to crown prospects in trial periods, but right now Zharus is the only one who knows that I've made contact with Lucynda.

“I have it under control,” I answer his question as I look around and breathe in the dusty smell of humidity while twisting the hideous, gaudy family heirloom that resides on my middle finger.

But I know that really, my curse is not in the slightest under complete control. My ears ring with need and my pulse spasms at the slightest sound of a heartbeat. My cravings drown me further into the depths of hell every time I see her.

But I can’t rush this trial, though I do have the means to marry right now. My fiancé, though not tethered to me, is anticipating our wedding soon. Again, no one quite knows that my anima vinculum is in play.

Marrying my intended would be the quickest route to unifying the kingdom and closing the gaps in our Society. But I can’t deny the pull to my soul, no matter how much I try to minimize the hold she truly does have on me. And beside that, I have other plans for my sweet sin.

I look over to Zharus who seems to be examining me, almost as if he wants my thoughts to verbally surface. But non-royal Nocturnes can’t read royal-blooded vampire’s minds, so my thoughts are safe in the confines of my skull.

Though I don’t deny him access to certain information, there’s somethings that I simply desire to keep to myself.

“Speaking of…” Zharus attempts to start up a new conversation, presumably about the subject of my marriage. But I cut him off knowing that I won’t be able to control the urges if we start talking about her .

“I need to clean up. Find the guard on body duty, will you?” I command precisely, before turning to exit the dungeon, leaving the body as the ground it rots on is besmirched with blood.

Zharus gives me a curt nod before looking over at the mess I made just moments ago, recalling the screams coming from the tongueless pig was like music to my ears.

My dungeon is all concrete and wood furnishings, though expansive and little remains in here save a chair for torture, walls lined with chain for captives, and a few empty caskets. This is where souls go to rot and lives end if you’ve crossed my path in a dissatisfactory way, which many try their best to refrain from. And regardless of my ignominious craving for blood, I rather play by the rules and respect the Nocturne laws in regard to death. But regardless of whether I want to feed or not, I have to if I am to exert great force and hold influence.

“Right then,” Zharus starts as he follows behind. “Can’t say he didn’t have it coming, but I think the next question is . . . what the fuck was he hiding from you?”

I sit calmly at the head chair of the oversized table in the expansive room we call the great hall. It’s designed with beautiful dark wood beams along a dark gray stone-vaulted ceiling with only one window that sits high above, providing a sliver of natural sunlight or a shadow dance created by the moonlight, depending on the time of day. The room is rather dimly lit by black brass vintage sconces mounted along the length of the plaster walls that are lined with gold encrusted filigree where the wall and ceiling kiss.

"They claim it was someone from within Hollows Society." Zharus paces back and forth, obviously worried as he explains to me the intel he obtained from his secret lover of the Valor Cove Society.

There’s been two attacks reported on innocent Outsiders near The Valor Cove Society, only five hours south of here. Is the proximity the reason they'd place blame on this Society? Without any proof, their claims are baseless; they’re just trying to stir the pot because Viktrum, their king, has always been jealous of the empire my family has built. However, that still begs the questions . . . were the attacks intentional and malicious and by whom?

"If the Nocturne informant came from them, it would make sense as to why they sent that poor excuse of espionage into the compound. I'm actually surprised he agreed to spy given the treaty. But why would Viktrum risk one of his men for information he wasn't sure he'd obtain?" While the questions rack my brain, something else holds the majority of my attention otherwise.

"What makes them think the attacker is within these walls?" I ask as I skim the video footage I asked Zharus to bring me earlier.

In the last hour, Zharus managed to meet up with his gossipy cooperative for the information he's bringing to me now, while also having my security footage ready for my viewing. And by the looks of his wrinkled clothes and disheveled hair, I can also tell he had time for intimate activities.

"Word is, they believe that our Society is not . . . well…" Zharus struggles to get his words out but I remain unbothered as he stammers over how to say what he means to say. "They don't believe us to be managed accordingly considering…"

"Considering what, Zharus? Considering I have not wed and taken my rightful place as precipitously as expected?” I put the tablet down gently on the wooden table. I look up at Zharus and make a forcible impression by locking my gaze dead on his tired hazel eyes, a gesture no one takes lightly around here.

“Renard only passed a month ago. I understand the urgency in taking the crown but do they really think because I have yet to solidify my marriage, it gives cause for my Nocturnes to be running around in the middle of the night killing Outsiders without reason? You know better than anyone that this Society has held the grandest respect in regard to the Affinitas Treaty. This scheme, this tedium agenda of theirs has the rather mediocre taste of the guilty pointing the finger at someone who looks weaker than them," I declare, unmoving my eyes from the screen before me.

"You might be right, but that's just it, Rivian. We look weak to them. That's all they need to go off on. If we don't do something to fix that image, the treaty-"

"Zhar, you've been my Factotum since the day I was born. I have never once asked you for more than your undying loyalty and your due diligence. I can see how things may look, but there is no reason to cause any belief behind the idea that we are responsible for the blame that is being pointed our way." I swipe the camera feed to focus on a new angle. “Now, do you personally have any reason to believe that one of our own is the force behind such a treason?”

"No, sir. I suppose I don't." Zharus stops at the other end of the table and though I’m not looking at him, I know he’s looking up at the crystal chandelier with his hands in his front pockets and is probably wondering why I’m not taking this information as seriously as he would like me to.

If another Society gets convicted of treason or is even suspected of much, it could lead to Society lockdown, suppression of blood source, restrictions, war, or even massacre of our entire Society provided swiftly from the Nocturnes of the Faction. And though Viktrum seems to have taken the matter into his own hands by sending in an amateur agent, I am not thoroughly convinced that he has any factual information that would lead him to think Hollows is involved. Nor am I convinced that the attacks being spoken about are even remotely legitimate, other than what Zharus claims to have heard from his lover. Zharus may trust his word, for the sake of maintaining their sexual relationship, but I, however, do not.

The Affinitas Treaty is a truce that was put into effect years ago due to the recklessness of my father. It’s designed to eliminate unsolicited wars between societies as well as ensure peace between kingdoms and the Outsiders that reside in their towns. Probable cause of death would be a being of threat or a being who has enlisted victims of their own. So the compelled crony that trespassed my compound was rightfully slaughtered by me, seeing as he posed a threat to my kingdom.

No matter what any other Society might believe to be true, the basis of accusations is something that isn’t taken lightly and it was wrong to react by invading a Society's space for any reason. Part of the Faction’s job is to investigate the death of any Outsider or Nocturne and determine if it was of foul play or not. Viktrum could have simply waited for them to have done their job instead of taking it into his own hands, but what good is power if we can’t have a little fun with it?

I continue my conversation with Zharus, noticing that he displays more worry than I do in the matter.

“It's not up to me or Viktrum or any other Society to decide who might be the culprit behind such threats. That's something the Faction will have to investigate and handle, if such a threat truly is present. So, I suggest you inform your little lover boy to tell his king to back off our kingdom and to put greater effort into finding the real cause to his ridiculous problem. It seems to me that they’re the weak ones considering they can’t keep their Outsiders from being subjected to a potential disobedient Nocturne. Rather, don't waste your breath. I imagine he'll come looking for his failed spy soon enough and he and I can engage in a lovely chat.” I smile and swipe to the next angle of my video feed.

Zharus seems satisfied by my response enough to allow him relaxation of his muscles as he sighs a calming breath.

“Who is your secret tryst anyways, Zharus? I would love to meet him someday.” It’s a sarcastic suggestion, only a hope to find out more insight about what some of the people in my kingdom have been up to with their time. Maybe I want to look into performing a background check on the subject of Zhaurs’ desires, only to ensure that his partner can be trusted.

“With all due respect. I’d like to keep that envelope sealed for now.” His apprehension would alarm me if I, myself, didn’t have secrets to keep.

“Pity. You do know some of my love life details, do you not? I was only interested in leveling the playing field.” I smirk, knowing damn well he doesn’t pry into my love life on purpose.

"How is the girl anyways? Do you think she'll be willing?" he asks, and I feel the pulse in my neck flicker at the mention of her .

"No, I don't think she will be truly willing. At least not at first. And that's why it's taking longer than we all would like. I know with some convincing, she’ll come around and I think I know how to do just that." I try to keep my voice down so that others don’t try and pry on my confidential exchange with Zharus.

I look back down at the video surveillance. Seeing that the object of my forbidden desires is walking out of her bookstore now and rounding the corner of the old brick building to head to her apartment. There, she will find my invitation waiting for her, just like she finds the roses. And if she needs more convincing other than an invite to one of the most elusive and tempting parties this town has ever seen, I won't hesitate to do the honors.

"You know if you'd have just married the girl that-"

"Enough, Zharus!” I pound my fist a little too hard on the top of the table, creating a vibration that quakes the chandelier above. I notice Zharus doesn’t even quiver, or so much as react to my outburst. I’m sure he knows he’s the only one who can get away with testing my limits but that doesn’t mean I won’t fail at hiding my moments of anger from him.

I hate the subtle mention of my forced prospect. She’s a girl my father picked out for me and if I had not met Lucynda, I’d probably have married the inferior woman weeks ago. Again, no one knows of my agenda nor of my discovery of the tether connecting Lucynda and I. But I do plan to reveal my sweet sin, their soon-to-be queen, to the entire kingdom very soon, and I know just how to do it.

I click the tablet’s screen lock button to close out the videos and settle myself back down in my chair.

“Leave it to my father to be the only immortal royal to die by simply tripping over his own feet and accidently getting his head chopped off by the axe of a decorative, dormant knight." I roll my eyes at the irony of it all, seeing as it’s one of the only ways to kill a royal-blooded vampire—to sever their head.

Another way to kill a Royal is to drain them of their royal blood, bleeding them dry completely before ripping out their heart and burning their body. It could take days to enact that kind of demise—a great torture technique I do say so myself.

A normal Nocturne of non-royal blood has few, less complicated options that would lead to their death. Ripping their heart out without needing to burn it would suffice. Non-royal Nocturnes can’t enjoy sunlight freely, their bodies risk catching fire which is another way to make them suffer. A stake to the heart and forced starvation will also do.

There is no such thing as truly immortal. But I’m sure my father thought he’d live forever. However, he did have my betrothed lined up for me in case the day ever came. And it did. Something I haven’t yet openly admitted that I was not looking forward to.

"Just because Renard had chosen a wife for me does not mean I have to honor it. Besides, with Lucynda in play and soon, the kingdom will know of her existence, they’ll understand why I waited a little longer. I am going to enter this role my way, and I promise you . . . nothing will stand in the way of me becoming king." I mean those words, even if only to subdue the bloodlust and to maintain the reputation that lays before me. But mainly, to enact this greed for revenge that seethes inside me. No matter what, my trial period ends with me as their king.

"Of course you will, Sir. I didn't mean to show doubt in you. I just . . . this is all I know, and I wouldn't be a good Factotum, or friend, if I didn't show how much I care for the wellbeing of this kingdom." Zhar lets out a nervous breath, likely fearing he truly did rattle me, but I allowed myself that moment of aggression only to hide the hunger I feel pumping in my veins.

"Understood, Zhar. Now would you mind checking on Travois? I meant it when I said I don't believe anyone from Hollows could be responsible for betraying the treaty. But for good measure, I'd like eyes on my intolerable brother at all times. He’s always been envious of what I have, and I could see him devising a cause for chaos just to trip me up or make me look bad, even if it has nothing to do with the attacks.” I nod at Zharus as I push my chair back and turn to exit the room.

My reason to have Travois traced isn't entirely false, but it's not entirely truthful either. I have a feeling he’s up to something and I intend to know what.

"Yes, sir. And the girl?" he asks, and I take mental note of his persistence.

I pause in my exit of the great hall, swiping my thumb across my lower lip and acknowledging the pace my heart tends to beat when she is the topic of conversation.

"I'll be seeing her later."