"You said he didn't arise any suspicion. How sure are you over that word of yours?"
The voice echoed off the high, cold marble arches of the Royal Castle. It belonged to King Zedic—a figure shrouded in dark, heavy velvet, sitting atop a throne that looked more like an altar of old iron than a seat of power.
Maria remained on one knee, her head bowed low against the polished floor.
"Madam Greta isn't a fool to be chosen for your suspicions, my lord," Maria proclaimed smoothly, her tone absolute and unyielding despite the oppressive aura radiating from the dais.
King Zedic passed a small, dry laugh—a sound like grinding stones. He raised a single hand, waving it dismissively into the ambient shadows. "Go."
Maria rose, gave a silent bow, and withdrew. She moved swiftly through the grand corridors, past the heavy iron gates of the Kingdom, and plunged into the pitch darkness of the ancient forest, her silhouette melting into the night.
Back at the manor, the air was warm and rich with the scent of roasted meats and herbs. By the time Emerald freshened up and returned to the dining hall, Eva and Maria were already seated. Greta had prepared the feast herself, filling the dark wooden table with an abundance of food.
The three women fell into easy conversation, slipping into mesmerizing memories of their pasts and teasing one another as Emerald slid into his chair and quietly went to work completing his meal.
"Emy boy," Eva purred, leaning her elbows on the table and looking at him through slitted, amused eyes. "Heard you got yourself a new way of fighting."
Emerald paused, holding his fork mid-air. He passed an undeniable look of I'm him all over the table, puffing his chest slightly as he waited for Greta's official approval.
Matching the vibe, Greta chuckled softly as she set down a pitcher of wine. "He mastered it."
Emerald passed a quick, smug smirk around the table.
"I will be damned," Maria commented with a dry laugh, shaking her head. "But still, you're a brat who ain't got no leash on you. Am I wrong?"
The entire table burst into sudden laughter.
"Well," Emerald replied calmly, dabbing his mouth with a napkin, "I am on the path of learning. Great things take time, you know."
"How come you're so confident about your own stupidity, brat?" Eva closed out the banter, smirking fondly at him. "Take a break and look out on it, Emy boy."
The time to leave came quickly. The preparations were short, as neither Eva nor Emerald had brought much to the island.
Walking a few steps down the overgrown path, Eva and Emerald stepped onto the small wooden boat anchored at the shore. They glided across the still lake in silence, the oars cutting through the water until the hull scraped against the mainland bank.
As Emerald stepped onto the dock and turned back, Greta stood at the edge of the island shore, her tall frame framed by the misty water.
"Will you ever come back here?" Greta called out from afar, her voice floating across the dark lake.
"If the gods will it, then I will, Master," Emerald replied, looking back over his shoulder.
Greta smiled warmly, folding her arms into her sleeves. "It's Greta for you, my son."
"Master sounds good, though," Emerald chuckled, giving her a small nod.
Greta waved with a soft, bright grin on her face as they walked up toward the treeline where the car was hidden, her solitary figure gradually fading into the gloom of the far shore.
Emerging from the dense woods, Emerald didn't hesitate to head straight for the driver's side. He unlocked the door, slid into the low cockpit, and rested his hands confidently on the steering wheel. Eva didn't stop him; she simply smirked and sank into the passenger seat, letting him take control of the machine.
The engine roared to life, a low, purring beast in the quiet night.
The moon was in its finest form above them. Pale silver light poured over the road, bathing the winding forest highway in an ethereal glow as Emerald glided the McLaren effortlessly through the bends.
"You have been a lot quiet lately," Eva noted, leaning her head against the headrest and watching the dark trees blur past. "Anything that matters?"
"You might not know this, but... you're a lot more stuck to me than you're supposed to be," Emerald replied, keeping his eyes fixed on the road ahead as his fingers adjusted on the wheel. "And it might give them the wrong idea."
Eva broke into a sudden burst of hearty laughter that filled the cabin. "Oh, brat! Careful as ever! But take no offense—Madam Margareta ain't got no tickly thing like that to get the wrong idea."
"Oh, you're so wrong about that," Emerald countered softly, taking a smooth turn along the cliffside.
Eva blinked, turning her head to look at him with a mix of doubt and sudden curiosity. "Why? You know something I don't?"
"Greta used to be a noble. From the Stenbock household."
"Yeah, I know that," Eva said, waving her hand dismissively. "And she got into an accident, and Maria turned her."
With a warm, low chuckle, Emerald shook his head, his hands steady on the steering wheel as he revealed the truth. "Greta was a problematic child. She was called the 'Wild Cat of Stenbock.'" He exchanged a quick glance with Eva before refocusing on the road. "She fell in love with someone who could contain that cat—a soldier named Larsson. Taking the storm to themselves, they both fought their way toward marriage. And that's when the war happened. Larsson left for the war, never to return. And the 'accident'... she just tried to end her life."
Eva sat completely frozen in the passenger seat, her eyes wide as she stared at the boy driving. "But... how did you know that? I'm pretty sure people keep those things to themselves."
"You taught me that," Emerald said quietly, easing off the throttle slightly. "Natural-born vampires possess the Gate of Heaven, and in special cases, turned vampires do too."
Eva gasped softly. "What?"
"It just got me thinking. I mean, always... why haven't you asked about mine?"
Eva gave him a deeply surprised look, speechlessly waiting for his answer.
"I have the ability to see the future," Emerald confessed. "Not in a bright, clear way like you'd expect, but through dreams."
"So you knew about... Margareta?"
"Remember when I joked about going to meet some nobles first thing in the morning?" Emerald smiled faintly, shifting gears as the McLaren accelerated down the open stretch. "That was it."
"But to know that much..."
"A little came from herself, and I saw a dream of their life. Not about going to meet her, you see. I can't see whatever I want to see. The future I envision through my dreams are only the possible fragments or tales brought to me as clues to understand what I might be up against."
Eva swallowed hard, processing the depth of what he was telling her while watching him navigate the road with absolute precision. "Still... it's just a lot to take in."
"But as a matter of fact, I still like your ability," Emerald teased, breaking the tension with a small smirk from behind the wheel. "I mean, who would've thought they'd be cuddling a beautiful young lady?"
Eva's face flushed slightly, her brow furrowing in fake annoyance. "Huh! You're getting on my nerves, brat! Better keep it shut, or we might lose the McLaren!"
Emerald let out a warm, genuine laugh, the car cutting smoothly through the cool, dark night.
Back on the island, the house was silent once more. Greta and Maria stood together in the study, surrounded by the towering shelves of ancient books.
"What did his majesty say, Maria?" Greta asked softly.
Maria looked at Greta, her jaw set, but said nothing.
Greta's eyes widened in realization. "You lied to him... Impossible. How could you do that?" she pleaded, her voice dropping to a trembling whisper.
"I brought you into this," Maria said, her tone fierce with devotion. "And I can't be the person who takes you away for it."
"You're conspiring with me," Greta whispered, stepping closer. "So you understand what you've gotten into?"
"You have taught me so much in this long life," Maria replied, looking directly into Greta's eyes. "And I intend to repay the debt however I can, Miss Larsson."
Greta offered a melancholy smile, a knot of worry tightening in her throat. "If we were to come to a standstill... I want you to do something for me as a last will."
Maria locked her eyes with Greta's. "What is it?"
"I want you to guard someone for Emerald. The name, and why, is a matter I can only reveal when the time is upon us... or upon me."
Maria frowned, genuine doubt creeping into her voice. "You're risking too much of your life for a boy you just met. Why?"
Greta looked toward the window, where the moonlight reflected off the dark lake. Tears welled in her eyes, glistening with a profound, unshakeable determination.
"I couldn't do anything when I wanted to do something for the person I loved most," Greta whispered, her voice thick with ancient grief. "And I see myself in that young child. Right now, the only righteousness I can believe in... is helping someone fight for their own beliefs. And I think he is worthy of it."
(To be continued)