Chapter 6: THE GREAT PLAN

The prince tugged on the rope a little harder causing me to stumble on my footing. I glared at the back of his head from where he sat on the comfort of his horse. This was it, part of my grand punishment for stealing from him. I was going to trek to the castle with a rope around my wrist while I was being dragged around like a fucking goat.

I hadn't expected any of this. When I noticed that the amount of horses they had and that they were one short since I was going to be following them, I asked them if I could take Spirit with me but the Prince turned to look at me and said, "What kind of thief when caught lives a life of comfort?"

Fucking arrogant bastard! I muse as I glared at the back of his head while I trudged into the snow, trying hard not to stumble. My efforts were in vain though because the prince tugged on the rope a little too hard and I ended up falling face-first into the snow.

"Oy! You okay back there?" He asked turning back to look at me and I could see his lips curve into a smile.

"Fucking prick!" I muttered under my breath as I stood back up to continue my journey.

My whole body was freezing by the time we made it halfway to the castle. My legs felt like bricks, starting to feel heavier as I moved and my eyelids were starting to get droopy. I didn't utter a word though, instead, I willed myself to move, putting one foot after the other. Now, I may not have said anything about my distress, the companion seemed to have noticed it because he spoke up.

"I don't think she will last the night this way."

The female riding next to him turned to look at me, a smile pulling at her lips. "Shit, she looks like she's about to pass out."

If only I wasn't feeling like all the blood in my body had turned to ice, I definitely would have flipped her off. But she was right though, I don't think I can continue like this any longer. I'm so cold and so darn tired.

The prince merely glanced in my direction, before he continued on the journey, not saying anything about my condition. Not that I expected him to anyway. If anything, I quite like it like this. This was what I would have chosen in the first place, I would rather die than allow myself to serve under a heartless bastard like him.

While waiting for death which decided not to pay me any attention, I finally made it to the castle. It was a bit surprising to me because it felt like my heart was going to stop back there and I could also swear that darkness took me for a minute or was it two or maybe five? It doesn't matter anyway, I survived and that means I belonged to the prince for him to do as he wished!

That thought settled like a pit of dread in my stomach. My gaze rose to stare at the prince's head, he wasn't going to kill me. I know that because he could have killed me but he asked me to come with him which means he has some use for me. What made me scared was I going to be where the monsters were, with no forest to protect me this time around because I was going to be right in their midst there was also no way I was going to survive.

I did have one advantage though which was to let them think I was weak, that's what has been keeping me so far. The dagger that I had hidden beneath my boot was starting to grow heavy as I moved. Whatever I was going to do, it was best I do it now! I wasn't going to go with these monsters, they look human but they don't have one single shred of humanity in them.

I meant what I said, I was going to die rather than let them have me! Now that I was deep in the woods and away from my family, I decided to set my plan in motion. With a weak groan, I fell into the snow.

I heard the horse neigh and someone mutter some colorful words into the night sky but I didn't dare to move. Not even when I heard the crunch of the snow beneath their feet as they walked towards me.

"Shit, did she die already?" I heard the drawl of the female, "Hmm, no, that's not it, she still has a pulse. Perhaps I should just kill her before she becomes such a waste?" She suggested.

"For fuck's sake Anya, can't let one a night go without you going on a bloodlust?"

"What? It's the only time I'm ever allowed on a bloodlust!" I heard the girl Anya whine.

I still didn't move from where I lay on the snow, feigning weakness and frailty. All I needed was someone to get close to me, just close enough! I thought to myself as I heard footsteps heading towards me.

Closer, closer, NOW! With speed I didn't know I possessed, I grabbed the person's leg and twisted, taking him down to the ground. I heard the person release a grunt but I wasn't done, I crawled up and without looking jammed the dagger I had into the person's chest, aiming for the heart.

I heard a small grunt and it was only then did I saw who it was the prince. I should feel afraid, I should feel the fear of hurting a royal! But I felt none of those things, the only thing I could feel at that moment was the adrenaline in my veins and the will to survive no matter what.

"You fucking bitch!" I heard a snarl but before I could turn around, I was suddenly attacked from the side.

I fell into the snow with the person crashing on top of me. I looked up only to see Anya staring down at me, her fangs out and I watched as they glistened in the moonlight, Oh no! I thought to myself in horror.

"You shouldn't have done that!" She said before she leaned down and bit into my neck.

I released a small scream of pain as I felt her teeth sink into my flesh, draining my blood. The pain was short lived though. I heard her go into a coughing fit before she leaned away from me, staring down at me with a mixture of bewilderment and disbelief.

"You fucking conniving bitch, what the fuck did you do?" The woman asked in disbelief while I just smirked at her.