Black Blood

Four years ago, my world changed before my mother’s eyes. A heated discussion caused the magic in my life lines, the magical veins that every being possesses, to turn black.

Night Rider was the label I received.

My mother was proud to call her daughter one of the four magic protectors, but she also knew that her husband would not be pleased with the news.

Under the pretext of visiting the elves, we drove to the Andes, and she took me to the Blood Mountain, the headquarters of the Night Riders.

Nora, Viko, and Tristan, the other three Night Riders, were highly surprised to see the princess and queen standing at their doorstep. However, forging a bond didn’t take long.

I received my Nazu named Rave. The black dragon and I became inseparable, and the other Night Riders felt like a second family as well.

In utmost secrecy, I led a double life thanks to my father’s hatred towards the four of us. From the very beginning, my mother knew that it was best to keep my secret hidden, and she helped me preserve it.

‘Be careful and make sure your father and the Dawn don’t see you,’ my mother says while continually looking around.

I roll my eyes and place my foot on the windowsill.

‘Yes, mother, I know the drill by now,’ I say with a smile.

Her brown hair sways backward as she continues to look around. The blue dress gracefully moves with every movement she makes.

I owe her gratitude for doing this. Without her, I have no chance of leaving the castle unnoticed.

‘Just be cautious, and I want you back before dinner.’ I roll my eyes. She says this every week, and every time I’m about to leave, it takes hours longer. You would almost blame her for the risk of being seen.

‘Yes, mother,’ I repeat with a sigh. I place my other foot on the windowsill and am about to jump down when my mother stops me again.

‘Say hello to Nora,’ she adds. I nod with a smile. It’s funny how well the two of them get along, even though they have only met twice.

‘Yes, mother,’ is the last thing I say before I leap out of the windowsill, catch myself with a gust of wind, and run into the forest.

When my mother passed away two years ago, my father’s rules became stricter, and he turned his hatred into actions. I had to make a choice between my two lives.

I chose to leave Rave with Nora and to stay in the castle under Eliën’s protection. If my father can sell me to a monster like Christiaan, I don’t want to know what he could do to Eliën.

Since that farewell, I haven’t seen Nora, Tristan, Rave, Viko, or the other dragons.

Lost in my thoughts, I stare blankly at the table until I feel a hard tap on my shoulder.

I quickly shoot up from my chair and join in the applause.

The king has his arms wide open, a glass of wine in his right hand, and a wide grin on his face.

‘Thank you, thank you. It’s a great day. The hunt begins tomorrow, so let’s celebrate. Eat and drink as much as you like.’

As I start serving Christiaan’s food, every scenario runs through my mind. My heart pounds in my throat, my hands sweat, and it feels like the blood has drained from my face.

The assassination attempts on the Night Riders have never been successful, and my father knows that. A gunshot or poison will never be enough, and that’s what worries me. This announcement wouldn’t exist if there wasn’t an original and well-thought-out plan on the table.

This announcement is a disaster not only for the four of us. My father has long harbored a desire to eradicate the underworld for power. The four life lines rooted in the ground, to which every being is connected, will weaken significantly after our deaths. The entire underworld will weaken, if not perish. Only the magicians, whose magic source is the moon, will barely notice.

‘Celeste, isn’t it fantastic?’ I look surprised at Eliën, who stares back at me from the other end of the table.

I glance at my plate and realize I’ve created a mountain of chicken. Hastily, I start putting half of it back on the plate. I place the plate back in its place and serve myself.

‘Yes, absolutely,’ I force through my lips, and then I take my seat.

The dining hall is filled with cheerful conversations about my father’s idea and how much his assistants love it.

Leaning back in my chair, I begin stuffing my food into my mouth, literally. I can’t swallow a bite; all my taste seems to have vanished, and I don’t know where to turn. I drink my glass of wine as if it were water, multiple times, after Melissa refills it. I struggle to swallow the chicken; the overcooked vegetables are tasteless, and the sauce is the only thing that makes it somewhat flavorful.

‘Celeste, I would like to hear your opinion.’ I look surprised at my father. The last time he asked for my opinion must have been since my mother’s death. I haven’t paid attention to the stories around me, so I don’t know what my father wants my opinion on.

‘Pardon?’ The man rolls his eyes and takes a sip of his wine.

‘The king has shared different ideas about what we could do after capturing the Night Riders.’ Anxiety crawls over my body. I stare at my father’s assistant, not understanding what he means.

‘I was thinking of keeping the two women in the dungeons, for the amusement of the guards.’

A nausea I’ve never felt before invades my body. My mind cannot comprehend the thought of Nora and me being the amusement for the guards.

‘What an idea,’ I manage to say with difficulty.

I try to take another sip of my third glass of wine, but the nausea is so overwhelming that I have to leave the room.

My attention turns to Christiaan, who seems to be engrossed in conversation with the man next to him.

‘Excuse me to the restroom?’ Christiaan turns his head and lets his eyes wander across my face. He simply nods.