"Your Majesty, the Queen wishes to see you," the guard announced.
"Let her in," King Basmus said.
"Your Majesty," Queen Lola entered and bowed before him.
She was burning with anger.
"What is so important that made the Queen leave her chamber this late?" King Basmus asked.
"I am troubled by the information I received, Your Majesty," Queen Lola said with her head lowered.
"What information?" King Basmus raised his brows.
"That Your Majesty is taking in a third wife," Queen Lola replied.
"And how does that trouble the Queen?" King Basmus asked.
Queen Lola opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.
"Speak," King Basmus commanded, his deep voice firm.
"The Queen is not happy with it, Your Majesty," Queen Lola finally said.
"Are you saying you want to keep the king all to yourself?" King Basmus asked calmly, though coldness laced his tone.
Queen Lola shuddered, unable to respond.
"A king is meant to keep his queens, but a king is not meant to be kept by one woman. Understood?" he asked.
"Y… yes, Your Majesty," Queen Lola bowed.
"Now leave," King Basmus ordered.
"But—"
"Leave."
"May you live long, Your Majesty," Queen Lola bowed and left angrily.
FEW MINUTES LATER
"Shank!" King Basmus called.
"Yes, Your Majesty," his personal guard entered.
"Go and bring Prince Dario," King Basmus said.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Shank bowed and left.
...
A very big mansion was sitted at a very secluded area_it's owned by Demetrio. Inside it looked magnificent—almost like the palace.
But the mansion carried a hard and powerful aura.
Maids moved about, doing one task or another.
"This is the only way, Demetrio," Ezekiel said as he sipped from the glass of blood in his hand.
"I can't do that… I can't turn her into a vampire," Demetrio shook his head.
The only way to wake Arianna up was by giving her human blood_ which would in turn, transform her into a vampire.
"It's your choice, Demetrio. She won't turn into a fûcking monster but a vampire… she will be like us," Ezekiel said, making Demetrio sigh as he ruffled his hair. His red eyes darkened.
"If you truly love and miss her, then do this, Demetrio. Stop being a—" Ezekiel couldn't finish because Demetrio had already walked towards the casket where Arianna lay.
He stood beside it, his red eyes fixed on her. She wore a black garment, her body pale white.
"Just do it," Ezekiel muttered, stretching the glass of blood toward him.
"I'm sorry, Aria," Demetrio whispered as he lowered himself.
He lifted her gently, his eyes falling on her bare neck.
"I'm sorry," he repeated as his fangs protruded.
Without warning, he sank them into her neck. After a few seconds, he withdrew them.
He laid her back in the casket, took the glass of blood from Ezekiel, gently opened her mouth, and poured some into it.
Ezekiel smiled where he stood.
One hour passed, yet Arianna showed no sign of waking.
Demetrio clenched his fists as he stood watching her. He had waited over an hour, but nothing happened.
"Let's keep waiting, Deme," Ezekiel tried to encourage him.
"I won't give up on you, Aria," Demetrio muttered and turned to walk away. He couldn't bear it anymore.
Ezekiel sighed and looked back at Arianna's still body.
What he saw next widened his eyes.
"She is awake!"