A Bastard's Allure-Chapter 22: Lilith

"God! You scared me!" Elena blurted, dropping the book on the rocking chair. The girl stood there, unmoving. Her hair was tied to an auburn which was odd for vampires.

Elena arrested her hands behind her back, taking a step forward. The girl appeared rigid, but somehow frightening. Her eyes were trained on Elena all the while. She was pale of skin, but not as pale as Brandon or the king.

"What’s your name little one?" Elena asked when she was close.

The little one’s lips twitched, her gaze fixated on Elena as if she were some kind of alien. Her languid brown eyes looked at Elena curiously before her lips moved.

"Why are you yellow?" She asked, her soft voice melting Elena’s heart. Still, the question was a funny one.

"It’s because I’m human," she answered, offering her a kind smile.

"Father says humans are our source of food," she intoned, her thin spread lips revealing her little elongated fangs.

"They aren’t," Elena replied. She walked close and knelt to be at level with her. She touched her cheeks and Lord, she was cold! "The blood from humans is what vampires live on. It is known."

"It is known," the girl seconded. "I’m Lilith, My Lady," she curtsied as if she had finally found her manners.

"It’s nice to meet you, princess," Elena offered her formalities. This was the youngest princess of Eldoria after all. "I saw you several times in my room? Is there something specific you’d want?"

"I was looking for brother Riel. I haven’t seen him for days now," Lilith looked down, picking on her nails. She looked saddened by his absence.

Touched by the little one’s affection for Gabriel, Elena caressed her cheeks and offered her a comforting smile. "Your brother will be here soon. I’ll tell him that you were looking for him, hmm?" She tried lighting the girl’s mood.

Lilith looked at Elena. "Promise me that you won’t tell mother about it. She’ll be mad at me if she finds out."

"This will be our little secret, I promise." Elena drew her to her embrace, hugging the small frame of the girl. She wondered how it’d feel to have her little princess. Yes, she wanted princesses whom she’d teach about how to be strong just like princes. Her brother had done it for her, so she’d return the favor when the time was right.

The two broke from the embrace after a while. Elena stood up towering over Lilith that she had to crane her neck to find her face.

"You can be spending time with me if you like," Elena offered.

"My mother won’t approve of it," the girl replied.

Elena held her fragile hands in hers. "Why?" She asked, putting up the best of her inquisitive faces.

"Mother doesn’t like brother Riel. She says he’s not my brother but father says he is. I think she hates him!"

"No! Your mother is just protecting her children. She’s protecting you."

"Brother Riel will never hurt me!" She retorted.

"That’s not what I mean." Elena sighed. How could she explain this? "You’ll understand when you grow big like me or Riel."

’Riel’. The name sounded good in her tongue, she had to admit. Wait until he comes back, she thought. He used bunny on her, now she had a name for him.

Just when she was about to plant a kiss on the girl’s forehead, the queen entered the room accompanied by a maid, or was it a lady in waiting? Judging from how she was dressed, this was not a normal maid.

"There you are," Queen Jessica said, slapping her forehead in frustration. The maid secured Lilith from Elena and stood beside the queen.

"I nearly turned the castle upside down looking for her. She can’t stay in one place!" Jessica told Elena. "I’m sorry for the interruption."

"It’s fine, Your Majesty. You have a lovely daughter I might say," Elena complimented.

"Lovely indeed!" The queen forced a smile, her voice laced in sarcasm. "Apart from giving me and the maids headaches, she’s indeed lovely." And turning to the maid. "Take her to the drawing room."

The little girl peeked at Elena until she was out of sight. Only then did the queen smile.

"Quite a lovely day to be spoilt early in the morning. Forgive me for my daughter’s behavior..."

"Your daughter is a great company Your Majesty. I don’t mind having her around here."

The Queen’s face turned stern quick. "I trust she didn’t wake you up!?"

"No, she didn’t."

Jessica let her eyes swoop over the room. "And where might Gabriel be at this hour of the morning?"

Elena froze at the question until the Queen’s eyes settled on her. "I heard he’s rather fond of walking out on his wife nowadays." She smiled sheepishly, noting the guilt on Elena’s face.

"I’m doing my best to make an heir for him Your Majesty." She managed to form a reply.

Jessica smirked before she turned to close the door behind her. "We’re women here. No need to hide anything from each other."

Elena creased her brows. Where was the queen going with this conversation?

"I remember the day my husband walked through the doors of our chambers, holding a babe in his hands. I pretended I was happy for a while but I’m not good at it. I hated that child, and everytime I looked at his golden innocent eyes, the more the idea of killing him came to me." She paused to look at the human.

"I don’t want anyone to experience what I did, human at that. But human or not, hatred and jealousy are emotions women cannot control when they strike. When your husband left his chambers yesterday, he went into a pleasure house. I’m certain you’re familiar with the things that are done there."

Elena felt something tighten around her throat, and when she swallowed her saliva, it tasted bitter. She clutched the sides of her dress so tight that her knuckles hurt.

"I only told you because I thought it was right. I’m certain you wouldn’t like a bastard walking in with another bastard."