Chapter Sixteen
THE SKY WAS GRAY, calling upon the rain. Lilyan stood by the window and watched as the weather changes. A knock on the door startled her and she slowly made her way to attend to it. She had never received any guest inside her chambers since she arrived at the palace so the sudden knock was really startling.
Her feet were soft as they hit the cold floor while it creaked with each steps. Walking barefoot was very usual as a priestess, it gave Lilyan a sense of calmness.
The door handle felt extra cold that evening as she twisted it and the door creaked open. A gasp fell out of her lips when Prince Edmund's lips found it's way down her neck. Intense pain shot through her neck and she held in a breath, words seemed to have stuck on his tongue and she bit on it. She felt a bit dizzy, making her stumble backwards in another low gasp.
"Y—Your Highness!" She huffed, but that didn't stop Prince Edmund from biting hard down her neck. His warm tongue swept across the two little holes he managed to mark and he possessively held her in his arms like he didn't intend to let her go.
As the prince's grip tightened, Lilyan's mind raced with shock and confusion. She tried to push him away after a little while but his strength was too much so she couldn't break free from his grip. His teeth still lodged in her neck, his eyes glowed with a fierce fury and his eye rings turned a shade of red. "Lilyan…" his voice was barely above whisper.
Lilyan's heart raced, her mind reeling with the implications. She tried to speak but her voice caught in her throat. The pain in her neck was intense but it was nothing compared to the fear that gripped her heart.
The prince's fangs released her neck, and he stepped back with an unknown shame. Lilyan's hand flew to her neck then her fingers were tracing the tender skin. She felt a strange sensation, a mix of pain and pleasure that left her breathless. She suddenly felt overwhelmed.
"What are you…" She trailed,not knowing where to start.
"I'm sorry." Prince Edmund immediately said, admitting to his wrongful act. He shouldn't have done such shameful acts towards a priestess.
He broke a promise.
Lilyan took a few steps back and fell on the nearest couch in her room. "I'm a priestess, you can't do such things."
"I wasn't thinking." Prince Edmund looked down, he really wasn't thinking. He was asleep on his bed, thinking about the conversation he had with Her Majesty then the next second he was knocking on Lilyan's door, thinking about embracing her in his arms.
He thought he had everything under control, and that hugging Lilyan wouldn't hurt a fly.
But all that changed as soon as Lilyan opened the door looking so adorable. He really wanted to punch the someone! He'd never called anyone adorable before and mind you, he has spent time with half of the women population in Eldrida.
He must have been crazy.
"You've disappointed me, Your Highness." Even though she really sounded disappointed, the small part of her heart which was beating out of her chest brought her to shame.
She was guilty of having impure thoughts!
His warm tongue on her neck lingered. She could still feel his arms around her, holding him in place without letting go.
"I'll leave." He said, retreating as soon as he can.
Lilyan was left standing in a pool of thoughts. She would be lying if she says that intimate gesture didn't wake something within her.
It was a forbidden gesture, but she couldn't help but wonder how it would feel to have more.
More. Lilyan almost threw herself out of the window and announced her death at that point.
She was a priestess for goddess's sake and the person she was thinking about was the crown princess of an entire vampire kingdom! Now two things lingered on her mind and she felt very terrified to confront the both of them.
Lilyan rushed to light a candle, sat on her cushion and muttered prayers of forgiveness and mind cleansing. She had to be a serious priestess to think of doing such. After all, a year ago she was getting ready for college and suddenly she was fantasizing about a certain prince.
When she was done praying, she walked up to ask for an audience with the Queen. She was lucky enough for her request to be granted.
"Your Majesty." Lilyan bowed low.
"I should feel honoured to receive a blessed guest unexpectedly." Queen Kaelin smiled looking at Lilyan.
"Her Majesty is mocking me, I should be the one feeling honoured to be in the presence of someone like you." One thing Lilyan had was a sweet tongue.
Queen Kaelin chuckle. "I believe you have something to say. You can't ask for an audience for the sake of it."
Lilyan still had her head bowed, "Your Majesty, please grant be a permit to visit the High Priestess. It's been a while since I've last seen her and I think I'll need some spiritual advice from her."
"Spiritual advice?" Queen Kaelin didn't believe that. She didn't trust any of her servants including those from the temple. Everyone around her was ambitious and seeking for power.
"Yes Your Majesty, as you know, the High Priestess is my teacher so I trust that she might help me with spiritual things I find confusing." Her quest on going out was actually far from what she said. After what happened earlier that morning, she wanted to go out and think.
However, what was there to think about? The only she could do was to draw a line between her and the crown prince. There should be some boundaries that shouldn't be crossed in the palace and Lilyan didn't wish to cross any.
She didn't seek for wealth or power, that was something she wouldn't concern herself about. All she needed was to survive, that's all.
"How long have you been a priestess?" Queen Kaelin asked, her eyes on the young priestess.
Lilyan breathed out as she replied. "Not long, Your Majesty. I have been training and I've recently became an official priestess."
"So the High Priestess sent a fresh priestess in the palace." It was a tone of thinking. "Very well. You can leave." Queen Kaelin told her.
Lilyan smiled with a bow,"Thank you, Your Majesty."
She retreated, then she was walking back to her bed chambers.