Serena woke up, her head feeling like it was about to explode. "Ahh-" she groaned as she rose from the bed. A bed? She forced her eyes wide open. Where was she? She was on a bed, in a room so luxurious, she had never seen anything like it in her life.
Serena looked around. She was lying on a plush king-sized bed with expensive bedding. The room alone was breathtaking, it was the size of her parents' house. "Where am I?" Serena asked herself. "Whose clothes are these?" She questioned again with a frown, wondering who had dressed her.
"You're awake," she heard a deep masculine voice say, which jolted her up from the bed. The man had just stepped out of the bathroom, drops of water dripping down his jet-black hair.
Serena couldn't believe what she was seeing. She had never seen a man this handsome. His face was sculpted to perfection, with dark hooded eyes, long dark lashes, a strong pointed nose, and his lips...
"Can you visibly stop staring?" he asked with his head tilted to the right, causing his black hair to fall to the side.
"A-who are you?" Serena stammered. She looked warily at him, which didn't go unnoticed by Alexander's sharp eyes.
"I'm King Alexander," he stated.
Serena's eyes widened in shock. The Vampire King? "Y-your Majesty!" She bowed deeply. What was the Vampire King doing with her? Did he buy her? Was he the one she met that night? She shivered in fear. She had heard many things about this Vampire King and all the terrible deeds he had done.
A dark chuckle left his lips, making Serena shiver. "How are your feet?" he asked, surprising Serena.
"I-it's..." She failed to notice her bruised feet earlier, which had healed significantly. Huh? How did that happen? How had her feet healed so fast? "It's healed?" she said, unsure.
He didn't say anything and just nodded his head.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" she said with a bow.
Serena could feel his burning gaze on her, but she didn't dare look him in the eye. Something about this king scared her. Maybe it was the fact that he was a Vampire and was well-known for all the wicked things he had done.
"T-thank you for saving me, Your Majesty!" She managed to say without raising her head.
Alexander didn't reply, he just turned to his dresser where a jacket was hung, taking it he wore it over his body, the silky material glided down his body like second skin.
"H-how do I pay you in return?" Serena couldn't help but ask, the deadly silence was haunting her. He had bought her for a purpose. No one would buy a servant, dress her in an expensive gown, and expect nothing in return.
She felt his finger pinch her chin, lifting her head to face him. She flinched, this gesture made him frown slightly. "What can you do for me in return?" he asked, his black eyes shining brightly.
Serena's eyes widened in surprise. There was something unsettling about this Vampire King-the way he stared eerily at her, the way his eyes conveyed something entirely different, as if he wanted to devour her. "I-I..." she was interrupted by Alexander.
"There's nothing you can offer me, Serena," Alexander said with a sly smirk.
Serena stared at him blankly. How did he know her name? "T-thank you, Your Majesty," she bowed again but couldn't lower her head because Alexander still held her chin.
"Hmmm," He hummed, releasing her chin as he strode away.
She turned to watch him walk. Wasn't he going to say anything else to her? What was she doing in his palace?
"Serena," Azrael hummed her name as he stared at her.
"Yes, Your Majesty?" she replied. When she looked at him, she didn't fail to notice the royal jacket on his body.
"Take a rest. A maid will bring you food," he said, striding out of the room. Before he walked out, he halted. "Don't step outside the room," he commanded, closing the large door behind him.
Serena stared blankly. A maid was bringing her food. Was she some sort of princess now? She looked around the room and walked towards the bed. She slumped onto it. She needed some sleep; her head still ached.
---
"Your Majesty! What do you intend to do with the girl?" Arthur asked, confusion lacing his voice.
"I don't know. She'll be here till I figure that out. Until then, don't ask me about this," Alexander said, leaning against his throne and closing his eyes.
"Noted, Your Majesty," Arthur said, rolling his eyes. "Taking the girl means starting a war with Lord Marcus."
A dark chuckle left Alexander's lips. His eyes opened, blazing golden. "Marcus?" he huffed. "That good-for-nothing bastard wouldn't dare come near my palace," Alexander said, closing his eyes again.
"Of course, he wouldn't," Arthur murmured. "But he would try to claim the girl if you don't have your marking on her," he added in a watchful tone.
"Marking?" Alexander asked with a deep frown, his eyes returning to their usual color.
"I know, Alexander" Arthur said with a small frown. "You'll have to mark her in order to claim that she's yours. Unless Marcus..."
"Why don't you claim her?" Alexander asked, tilting his head.
A frown settled on Arthur's face. Why should he be the one to claim the girl Alexander bought? He understood that Alexander had never marked anyone. His marking meant a lot, but he couldn't.
"Lord Marcus is superior to me. He would..."
"Marcus wouldn't dare take what is claimed by you. He wouldn't want a war," Alexander stated, he hated the idea of marking anyone.
Arthur gritted his teeth, suppressing his rage. Why did the king keep interrupting him? "Alexander, I can't mark her. You know how well the marking system works, you have to mark her yourself." Arthur said and the room fell silent.
He wondered what possessed the King to bring the girl here, sometimes he wondered what was happening in the head of Alexander.