“You should have brought me along.” Rosa chided, breaking the silence between the two royals as they walked through the forest, Sir Varano carrying Sir Proulx’s corpse behind them. It was evening by now, judging by the long shadows of the trees and reddening sky. She was instantly reminded of the fire and smell of cooked corpse that would be forever stuck in her nose “With me there-“
“We would have had to think about your protection, along with hunting for Miss Vamp.” Dani explained from beside her between heavy breaths. “Or finding another body.”
“Because that worked out well for you, did it not?” Rosa shot back. “I can fight as well, you know.”
“… You do not have my experience and you would have taken risks.”
“We are both alive and in one piece, I have no regrets for taking up her games if it means saving you.”
The silence once again visited and accompanied them back to the castle. While Dari was thinking of resting and his fallen comrade, Rosa was thinking of the mysterious vampire known as Marria and of what other challenges the creature could bring her.
~
With a great memory, it was easy for Rosa to retrace her steps, and since she requested not to see anyone for the whole day, everyone would merely assume that the princess had locked herself up in her room with a mountain of books to devour. Most certainly not venturing through the forest to find an intelligent and strong bloodthirsty creature.
They were not so smart.
Rosa couldn’t help but smile to herself as she saw the rocky opening and giant oak tree. She walked up the root steps and continued on into the darkness.
“Hello, Marria.” Rosa said, removing the hood from her head to stare at the vampire, who appeared to have already been aware of the princess approaching.
“You are here alone.” She stated, raising an eyebrow. “Why?”
“I’ve come to play.”
They played card games that day, Rosa winning every one, of course.
Soon, the princess visited every other week, playing various games with the vampire and even bringing new ones from the castle. Although Marria never won, she was a better competitor then the prince and most other opponents Rosa had played with.
One evening after a visit, Dari knocked on Rosa’s door.
“Evening, sister.” He said casually, leaning on the door frame and legs crossed, but his red eyes held her with serious gaze.
“Good evening, brother. How was training?”
“It was fine. We are strengthening our warriors to drive out the vampire from the hills.”
“That’s-“
“Speaking of which…” He uncrossed his legs and stood up back straight, looming over her. “I have not seen you around the castle at all this day.”
“I have been out. To the library.” She crossed her arms and locked eyes, refusing to go down easily.
“I did not see you there when I checked.”
“You must have just missed me.”
“Riiiight, and I’m a fifty-foot wizard.”
“Really? Why did you not tell me sooner?”
“Why have you not told me about your little visits with Miss Vampire?”
The two fell into a silent staring contest, neither one blinking or backing down.
“Yes, I have been seeing her-“
“And?”
“So I can find a weakness to her.” The words flowed out of her mouth easily. “She is strong and intelligent for a creature of the night, but she plays too passively.” Dari blinked right there, surprised. Then his stance relaxed.
“That is interesting. You have any ideas on how to get past her defences?”
“With games, yes. In physical combat... I’m still thinking.”
“Well, thanks.” He said and stepped back, but then added. “But, you know Rosa, do not go taking any risks, or let her get the better of you, okay? Your hair is becoming almost as white as mine.” He gave her a small, encouraging smile that showed off his dimples. “Don’t wish to turn into something horrible, right?”
“Of course.” She replied, matching his smile.
~
It was another day of game playing with the vampire, but all was not going well for Rosa. Her first blow came when she lost her queen in chess.
“They say that when the queen is killed, the rest of the kingdom falls soon after.” Marria commented, letting a faint smug smile appear on her lips, her fangs just showing, at the small victory.
“You may have won a battle, vampire, but you have not won the war.” Rosa responded. She never needed the queen to win.
Soon after, however, both of her bishops were killed. Rosa’s smile faltered when the second was removed.
Although the princess tried her best, another knight, rook, and couple of pawns were removed from the mahogany field before the black queen, king, and knight surrounded the white king.
“Checkmate.” Marria’s eloquent voice echoed through the cavern.
“I lost… How did you… Do that?” Rosa stared at the board, looking for any way out, but her king was caught and her remaining pieces could not take or block them all in one move.
“I have noticed sometimes, when we play such board games, that you are fond of taking risks and making bluffs.” The vampire resettled the pieces on the board. “I merely decided to take on some of them. Good game.” She held out her hand to shake.
‘She was analyzing me!’
Rosa, however, stood up, her hands clenched tight to keep from flipping over the table, smacking away that steaming bowl of filth, and other uncivilized acts. She gave the vampire an icy ‘good day’ that her constricted throat could breathe out and marched out of the cave.
When she made her way to the castle, she went right to her room and locked the door.
“Rosa!” Dari knocked on the door. “What happened!?”
She ignored him, throwing off her hood and shoes and curled up in her bed, under the covers. That night, the princess dreamed of piercing jade eyes watching her as she fell into the hungry shadows.
ns 15.158.61.50da2
