Lord Lysander sighed and leaned back into the bathtub, watching the water turn red from the blood on his hands. He smiled faintly, reveling in the memory of Ren's screams and torn back. How he enjoyed breaking her and driving her to the edge. The halfling prisoner was his new favourite plaything. It was a pity she was going to die.

His plan was a simple one. All needed was a silver dagger to be "accidentally" found by the new pet, and Galar's life would be over. A tragic death for the young king. Afterwards he would execute Ren for killing him, being crowned king in Galar's place as the young monarch had no son or daughter to take over.

There was no reason to let a wild pet near the King, other than letting it kill him. Lord Lysander chuckled deeply and ran a hand over his hair.

100 years of staying in the background had tired him. It was time for a new ruler. And he would be the perfect fit. Under his rule Charis would flourish again, and regain its old grounds and wealth.

He had worked so hard for it. And the time to be rewarded was coming soon.

~<~>~

Galar buried his head in his hands. Heavy tears ran down his face, staining his white shirt, a river that he willingly allowed to flow. There were times he couldn't keep this pain in.

The dark marble case in front of him remained silent at his prayers. Galar wished that for once his father would answer his pained calls.

"Father," Galar muttered softly, "are we doing the right thing?"

No, he knew he shouldn't ask those questions. Lord Lysander would chastise him if he was there.

They had lied. In the meeting with the rulers of Andelia they had lied. The massacres were all their doing. And the chained up fleshling in that cage was nothing but a committed knight, which fate had a cruel plan for. Not a vicious criminal.

It didn't feel right. It never did. For some reason his conscious fought against it.

If father was still alive he would be disappointed in him. He was supposed to follow this path, the path of cruelty and bloodshed. The path of deception. But why did those thoughts create a feeling of uneasiness that settled in his stomach like a heavy rock?

It was in a vampire's nature to lie, deceive and massacre. At least Lord Lysander had taught him so. And yet the thought of causing pain to someone on purpose made him feel sick. What really was his nature? Galar wondered often.

He wanted to do what was best for the people of Charis. Bring them happiness and safety, not war and bloodshed.

The obsidian rock hanging from his neck momentarily brought an ache to his chest. Galar's eyes narrowed. Was the God trying to speak to him? Perhaps.

"You disgusting leech, vile spawn of the God Veanke, you will regret what you did. The wrath of the Gods will fall on you! Damn you!"

The prisoner's words echoed in his mind. Is that how others saw him? As a tyrant king? No, he couldn't let history remember him as that. But what could he do? Was it too late to take back all the damage that had already been done?

Galar sighed and clasped his hands together.

"Oh Lord Veanke, guide me. Show me who I must be."

There was silence. Galar glanced one last time at the black case of his father's body, before turning away and exiting the room.

The walk back to his chambers was lonely. He found his mind returning to the halfling caged in the servants' room and her words. She hated him, that was certain. He had ruined her life, and he knew it. And it hadn't even been his choice.

Lord Lysander insisted that having a pet was normal behaviour for any vampire. The bond between Master and pet was not a simple slave bond. Pets where like companions for vampires, companions that fed and entertained them. Yet Galar couldn't imagine forming any sort of relationship with the halfling knight.

Perhaps it would be wiser to give her to Lord Lysander. At the rate that he was draining his own pet, Vaia, he could use a second one.

Having reached his chambers, Galar had decided. He would speak to Lord Lysander soon.

~<~>~

Ren curled up inside her cage, the chains on her arms and legs feeling heavy. The collar on her neck was suffocating her, at first cold and hard and now uncomfortably warm. The rattling of the chains reminded her of her pathetic fate to become slave to the very creature she had sworn to her Goddess she would slay. Perhaps she had been too greedy. Too greedy and too foolish to believe that she, a mere halfling, could serve in General Ulran's ranks and go unpunished. A life of servitude. This was the punishment for her audacity. Or perhaps she was worthy, and the cruel fate was challenging her to endure even more than she already had.

Quiet whispers could be heard in the room, as Ren watched the slaves talk amongst each other. They had all been prohibited from speaking to her, but that didn't stop them from casting her curious glances every now and then. The only one that dared defy those orders for a few moments was the redhead Vaia. She would ask Ren if she needed anything, if she was alright, or if she was hungry. Nothing more and nothing less. Ren appreciated the woman's courage. She had learned very well just how vile Vaia's master could get. And something told her the vampire was just getting started.

Her back ached terribly. Ren reached back to touch the wounds the vampire's lashing had left, shuddering as she traced the deep scars that had formed. Torture, she could endure. But the humiliation of serving those creatures was too much.

Soon all the slaves were gone, leaving their quarters to find their respective masters, and Ren was alone. She was starving, again. Those bastards were treating her like animal to be tamed. Well, she wouldn't give in to their wishes. Nothing could tame her and no one could own her.

After hours of lying in the same position, Ren observed as finally two guards walked inside the quarters. They unlocked the cage and without a word dragged her outside.

Once again Ren had little time to marvel at the architecture of the castle as the guards quickly ushered her through the hallways. Large paintings decorated the walls, illustrating vampires in battle and in various acts of dominance. It made Ren sick. Those creatures thrived off of the enslavement of others.

The guards led her once again to the King's chambers, Ren recognizing the doors with ease. Inside the King and Lord Lysander were awaiting. Lord Lysander's predatory gaze made her shiver and Ren wrapped her arms around her body instinctively. The King looked indifferent, as usual. Ren couldn't quite understand what bothered her about him. He was responsible for so much bloodshed yet his behavior towards her wasn't as cruel as she would expect from a monarch.

On the contrary, the one able for such massacres would be... Lord Lysander. Something was wrong.

"Pet, are you willing to behave now?" Lord Lysander asked coldly, as if he knew the answer already. Ren stared at him with hatred in her eyes.

"No."

The Lord sighed. "See your Highness, she is hopeless without good discipline. I would advise you to let her rot in the dungeons for a while until she decides to cooperate. With daily punishments, of course."

The King seemed to think. Then he spoke. "Lord Lysander, if you would leave us for a moment."

Lord Lysander's brows rose in surprise. "Of course, Your Highness."

With that he walked out of the room. The King sighed and looked at Ren, his eyes full of regret.

"I am willing to make your life here a little bit easier. Just cooperate with us, and I promise you you will no longer have to carry those chains on your body. I will treat you kindly, just as I treat all my servants. I know you have been through a lot."

Ren stared at the King in disbelief. Such kindness from him... was this really the creature that ordered the death of hundreds of innocents? No, something was definitely wrong. And it wasn't hard to see what it was.

"What do you say, Ren?" the King asked quietly, eyeing the door once.

Ren however shook her head. "I told you, I'll never accept being a slave."

The King seemed disappointed, his brows furrowing. "As you wish. But know that now you leave my hands and fall onto Lord Lysander's jurisdiction."

His words made Ren shudder. Was it worth risking her life for a hunch she might have had? It seemed so. Life was full of risks for Ren. Some worked out and some didn't. And now she sensed that perhaps she had bit more than she could chew.

Lord Lysander reentered the room, looking as smug as always.

"Take her away, Lord Lysander. She's yours now, " the King said coldly. The blonde vampire looked pleased.

"Good choice, your Highness. Guards!"

And just like that, Ren found herself tied to the ceiling of the dungeon once again.

Lord Lysander quietly organized his tray of "tools", humming a soft melody. What to others' ears would sound like a beautiful tune, to Ren was an eerie cacophony. However, now that they were alone was the time for Ren's plan to begin.

"I've been wondering..." Ren began, "for how long have you served Galar. Or at least pretended to."

The melody stopped. A smile formed on Ren's lips.

"I don't quite understand what you're saying, pet," Lord Lysander spoke into her ear, pressing a blade against Ren's sore neck. The cool metal felt nice against her warm skin.

"You see I've been asking myself... how could the creature responsible for so many massacres be so... soft?"

Lord Lysander hummed, tracing circles into her skin with the blade. "Are you criticizing our dear King?"

"Who wouldn't? I'm sure you have done it before. Am I wrong?"

The vampire chuckled, letting go of the blade. He walked in front of her, lifting Ren's chin up to meet her dark eyes. "You are not."

Ren smirked. "Then I realized that there is another vampire in Charis, much more cunning and cruel than His Highness. Perhaps our dear King is not the one pulling the strings after all."

"It seems you're not as ignorant as I thought you to be," Lord Lysander hummed. "Do you also realize you're at this vampire's mercy right now?"

"Naturally," Ren answered, the smile not leaving her lips. "And I have a proposal for him."

"Oh?"

"You could be the sole ruler of Charis, without having to hide behind Galar."

Lord Lysander exhaled. "That would require for His Highness to... disappear. As there is no heir yet, I would take his place."

"Leave the dirty work to me, Lord Lysander. You just have to set me free, and I'll make Galar disappear forever," Ren said, narrowing her eyes. She held her breath, awaiting the Lord's with her heart beating faster than ever.

The Lord grinned, caressing her face. And thus, in the darkest dungeon's cell, hope for Ren was born, as well as a plan for regicide.