My Cursed Mate

“We can’t always run away from the past. We can bury and forget about it but there will be a day that it can be uncovered and be remembered.” A deep voice came from the dark corner of the room.

An old man with gray hair and bent back immerged and walked toward her. He was holding a staff on his right hand as he slowly walked. He is the oldest vampire in Vermillion and was a respected elder to everyone, even to Ingrid. His body may look old but his mind was still sharp as a knife.

“Why is he back again?”

Vermillion already paid with blood but the man was still thirsty. He was banished but he was still taunting them. Now, he was back again and for whatever reason it was, Ingrid won’t tolerate it. If she needed to fight him, then she would gladly do so.

“Vermillion has caused him too much pain, more than you could imagine.” The elder took a seat and stared at nothing in particular. He was taken back to a thousand years ago when they were still foolish and greedy for power.

“Are you ready to tell me what really happened?” She knew of that massacre but she never knew the reason why that man wanted to destroy Vermillion and kill all of the vampires.

The elder did not answer and the noise of the others coming in interrupted their conversation. Ingrid did not ask any longer as they waited for them to take their seats. Once everyone was there, the guards closed the door.

It was already an eerie room and now the atmosphere was also heavy. The elders were looking at each other and was avoiding the queen’s gaze. They were obviously not prepared with the queen’s sudden arrival.

“Now, why don’t we start with what happened?” Ingrid started. “Something major has happened but nobody informed me.”

There was a moment of silence as no one wanted to be the one to answer. Although they were the elders, Ingrid was still the queen. When it comes to abilities, she was superior to them. It was also not their decision to keep it from her.

Vyka, the elder she was talking to finally spoke. “I was the one who told them to keep if from you.”

Ingrid gave the elder a look but she remained silent. If it was Elder Vyka, then there must be a reason why he decided to not tell her.

“You’ve longed for peace and freedom ever since you were a child. Now that you’ve achieved it, I did not want to disturb you with matters that we can handle ourselves. You’ve just started to live your life as someone ordinary, so how could I have the heart to ruin that for you.” The elder met the woman’s gaze with his unwavering one.

Ingrid had known the elder ever since she opened her eyes and known how the world worked. In some ways, she considered him her second parent because when her father and mother were killed, it was the elder who took care of her. To hear those words coming from his mouth became a bit difficult to believe for her. The man was as rigid as an iron rod and would never bend unless it was necessary.

“Elder Vyka, I may have chosen to live amongst the humans, I am still your queen. It is my right to know what is happening to my home and to my subjects.” She could sense the good intention behind his words but they couldn’t deny the fact that she was still the ruler of Vermillion.

“We have been living in this world for hundreds of years now and had seen many come and go. Their lives were short and they died without getting to do what they wanted. Strict rules bound us for centuries and to abide by it became our lives but you, you are different,” he held her gaze without blinking, “you were different, you thirst for freedom. Do you know the reason why no one objected when you became the queen? That’s because we know that you would do well as a ruler because you were never bound by the rules ruling us vampires.”

“The older generation couldn’t get out from that law but your generation is different. This is the only way, we the elders, could protect and let you enjoy your time. Besides, this problem does not necessarily involve you nor those who are within your generation. This is an old problem that those who were involved should settle.” One of the elders added after Elder Vyka spoke.Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.

Ingrid swept her gaze on all the elders inside that room. She knew that they all agree to what Elder Vyka had said. When she became queen, none of them objected and they even fully supported her. There were times that she would argue with them but if she clearly and fully explains to them her point, they would eventually agree. It turned out that their thoughts had long changed, even before she became the queen.

For this change to come to them, something major must have happened. Her thoughts returned to when her parents died and that massacre. That must have been the last straw but what ignited it, she did not know.

“Ravion Lowein, he is the vampire who killed your parents and caused that massacre,” the elders suddenly spoke.

Ingrid was surprised to hear his name. She only knew him as the vampire who killed her parents but she never knew his name. What took her by surprise was that he carried the name ‘Lowein’ which was the name of Vermillion’s royal family.

“He was your grandfather’s youngest brother, a talented and warm-hearted young vampire. But because of our foolishness, that cheerful vampire became Vermillion’s greatest enemy,” another elder continued.

The air around became even more heavy to the point that it got suffocating but they needed to stay. She needed to stay to know what happened.

“Although they may appear rigid like us, werewolves are more open to the idea of marrying other races compared to vampires. In our race, it is considered disgrace to love someone who is not a vampire and if someone falls for another race, they are to be banished. Ravion’s case was different.”

Ravion Lowein fell in love with a human. He loved her with all his heart and gave her everything. His joy doubled when the woman gave birth to his child. He was ecstatic and overflowing with love but when his brother found out about it, chaos came down.

He was of royal blood and to love a human and giving birth to a child was considered treason. In his anger, his brother sent men to kill Ravion’s wife and child. He did his best to protect them but his brother was much stronger and cunning. Ravion failed to protect them and found them cold to the touch much like his dying heart.