A Bastard's Allure-Chapter 73: Frostbite!

"Bunny?" Gabriel called, his voice cracked in fear. For the last couple of minutes, he had been rubbing Elena’s feet, but she appeared weaker with every passing second.

"Stay with me," he begged when Elena’s eyes partially closed. She was fading away, he could feel it. It was as if a part of him was being sculpted from his flesh.

"It’s frostbite," Vathin said from the side, Gabriel giving him a concerned look. "It only affects humans, due to the cold."

"Can you cure it?" He enquired sharply. But Vathin’s shoulders dropping explained it all.

"I didn’t have the expertise when it comes to humans."

Gabriel held Elena’s hand, and for once he felt the cold in it. She had turned way paler than a purebred vampire.

"It’s going to be fine," he assured her with a smile, but her eyes were already closed. Panic instantly kicked in when her free hand fell on the ground.

"El?"’He called, lifting her back from the ground. The fire didn’t help either.

"She’s not dead," Vathin assured him. "But I’m afraid she might not last... long enough," he intoned in a dreaded voice.

Gabriel’s eyes fell on Elena’s peaceful face. She was so beautiful at the moment, her color giving him the idea of a vampiress.

"How long is long enough?" He asked without tearing his gaze from her.

"Long enough to get her to the next inn or tavern without getting caught by the bounty hunters."

"We’re not going to any tavern," he said, taking Elena’s hand into his. "We’re going to the humans. Her brother is the only chance we got."

Vathin swallowed hard. Gabriel was right though. If there was anyone willing to help a fleeing bastard vampire prince, then it was his wife’s brother.

"To Mysthaven then," he conquered with Gabriel.

*****

Darion threw a fresh pile of dry wood near the fire. His eyes settled on Jophiel. She was rubbing her hands together, seated by the fire. The night was chilly for a human. Even Darion could feel the cold cut sharply across his ears.

He took two logs and threw them on the pyre to create a few sparks. His eyes moved with one of the spark before they settled on her eyes. For a moment, he felt the world halt. The only thing he was seeing was sparks of fire dancing in her black pupils.

"I think this should be enough for the night," Darion said, taking the courage to look anywhere else but her.

"It’s more than enough," Jophiel replied, trying hard to hide her flushed cheeks. She tucked the stray strands of her hair behind her ear, catching Darion stealing a quick glance in the process.

"I’ll be retiring for the night," Darion excused himself.

"Stay," came her soft reply. Their eyes met, the sparks rising to cement the unspoken words held in their gazes. "A little longer."

Darion could not refuse her, not when she looked at him so innocently. An awkward silence grew between them for a fleeting couple of minutes before Jophiel spoke.

"It’s sweet," she said, savoring a dish Darion had prepared. "The soup," she added, wiping the corners of her mouth with her thumb.

Darion forced a smile and added a log onto the fire. "I’m glad you like it."

"The few days you were gone," Jophiel placed the empty bowl to the side, "Her Highness was concerned about your safety."

Safety! The image of Elena kissing him crossed his mind, a smirk escaping his lips. "Was she?" He asked, his voice laced in sarcasm.

"She was!" Jophiel stressed, clearly not happy at the way Darion took her words. "Everyone who knew you was looking for you. His Highness too."

"But they didn’t find me, did they?"

"No one did. Trust me, His Highness combed through the whole palace and not a single sign of you was found." Jophiel was now breathless.

"I was always there. He could have found me if he wanted to," Darion said, staring into the flames.

Jophiel’s brows creased in confusion. "You’re not here to find His Highness, are you?"

He looked up to meet with her eyes. "I am. Isn’t that why you followed me?"

"What will you do when you find him?" She asked. Darion however picked up another log and added it to the fire, sending a few sparks up.

"Rest well," he said, now on his feet. And dusting his hands, he added, "We travel at first light."

Jophiel pulled the blankets closer to herself as she watched Darion lay beside the fire. If Darion wanted to reunite with Gabriel, he’d have made it known to him. But they had been tracking Gabriel down the whole day, like an animal. The last thing she wanted was to risk it all only to bring Gabriel’s demise at his doorstep. Whatever his intentions were, Jophiel had to be cautious around Darion now.

_____ _____ _____ _____

The sun was slightly above the sky when Vathin saw the gates of Mysthaven. They had been traveling nonstop the whole night, looking for a carriage they would use to carry Elena. Thankfully, the downpour had stopped but the muddy road only acted to slow them. Vathin had even lost count of the times Gabriel had cursed at the back of the carriage.

"Can’t you move any faster?" He heard him ask from the back.

"We’re almost there, Your Highness," he replied to lift Gabriel’s spirits but all he received was silence.

The carriage pulled over in front of the gates, the walls stretching as high as the eye could see. The mist clouded one’s vision of the city from the seaside. To date, no vampire has ever been able to capture this city, thanks to it’s formidable walls.

"Who goes there?" A guard shouted from the top of the gate. Vathin’s eyes shifted to him, the human instantly stiffening when he recognized his species.

"I’m Vathin. I have two travel companions inside the courage. Companions you might consider highly ranked."

"What good could a demon bring to Mysthaven?" The guard spat in disgust, earning a chuckle from Vathin. He’d have simply manipulated the guard to open the gates but either Gabriel or Elena would be against the idea. And speaking of Gabriel, he stepped outside the carriage and walked to stand parallel to a seated Vathin.

"I’m crown prince Gabriel of Eldoria," he introduced. "I have the princess of Mysthaven with me in the carriage. Tell King Andrian I’d like to have a word with him."

"And why should we believe you? What if it’s a plan hatched by vampires to attack Mysthaven?" Asked the guard shading his eyes from the sun.

"I’d be a fool to walk here with only a coachman and the princess of Mysthaven." He took a step closer, eyeing the guard like a predator. "In that carriage lies a sickly Elena Thornhart. Imagine what the king of Mysthaven would do if he found out his only sister died at the his gates because of a misguided guard?"

The guard stiffened at the thought. He swallowed the lump in his throat before turning to the other guards. "Open the gates!"

"Open the gates!" Another guard yelled the order, the creaking sound of the gates of Mysthaven giving Gabriel a partial relief.