Chapter 66

Chapter 66: Chapter 66

After dinner, Dulce’s room was emptied out much to his surprise, leaving just Caedos behind.

"You can have the bed all to yourself," He said to the Hellhound, rising to his feet to peruse the collection of books in his room. "I don’t need to sleep."

Despite his words, Caedos did not sleep, his gaze trailing after the Vampire, his ears alert.

Dulce did not push, returning to the fireplace with the book he had chosen, settling in to read through the night.

"What are you doing?" Caedos’ curious voice came.

"Reading," Dulce explained patiently, "There are stories on paper..."

Caedos turned away to focus on something else in the room, uninterested in the subject of reading. Instead, he curled up on the bed, reminiscent of a dog, the room silent save for the soft rustling of paper.

He let his mind wander, sinking into thoughts of his eventful day. Danger was far, too far for his sharp senses to pick up on and he was weary from the day he had. The exhaustion went bone deep, he had come into existence with a heavy weight on his shoulders.

He could still remember his parents, there had been no time for a celebratory ritual to be done at his birth. Instead, he had been hastily offered to the trees in despair, enemies on their heels.

He knew when they died. The vines told him... and he had also known as each Hellhound had been torn from their home, there had been little rest for him, even as a child.

Caedos glanced at the Vampire who had saved him and unwittingly, the rest of his kind. His pale figure was softened by the warmth of the fireplace. There were few emotions coming from the Vampire; it was soothing.

His ears drooped slightly as he let his eyes close, being disconnected from the vines was unsettling but there was silence. No longer instinctively aware of every root, vine, and creature connected to the Deep Woods, he could fall asleep for the first time.

Dulce glanced over at the sleeping Hellhound, his gaze growing distant. He had started to come to terms with the inevitability of his eternal loneliness, trying to be content with the few years of companionship his efforts had achieved.

He placed his book down and closed his eyes for a short while - thinking about the inevitable future would only steal the present from him. He opened his eyes and resumed his mindless reading once more, the night passing quietly by.

-+-

The morning brought the witch Moira, she lightly knocked on the doors a short while after dawn broke, dew still clinging to the flowers in the castle gardens.

Dulce had used the bath while Caedos slept, he was scarcely occupied otherwise. He glanced at the Hellhound whose ears sharply twitched at the sound of knocking, rising to his feet to attend to the guest at the door.

"Miss Moira?" He said in pleasant surprise, not expecting it to be one of the Demons who never knocked.

"Morning Dulce," She waved at him, trying to look past him for any danger. Her request to the Queen to leave for her home had been denied, Queen Aylin insisting that her presence was of incredible importance.

"Tailors had been gathered for fitting and while that is being done could I request your help in my workshop?"

Dulce blinked, "You need my help right this moment?" He clarified.

"Yes," Moira clasped her hands together. If she accomplished this task given to her by the Queen then she could return home after the Spring Ball, she couldn’t be more relieved.

The reason she had been summoned to the royal castle of Alderth had been all because of the news of her chance meeting with Dulce reaching the Queen.

The friendly Vampire had too many powerful connections, ties that posed a danger to her. She rather missed her shop and her home.

"I really really need your help," She pleaded, "It won’t take too much of your time."

Dulce was still hesitant, he would have preferred to accompany the Demons to their fitting, aware of the danger they posed to most.

’’Don’t worry about the Demons," Moira took it a step further, "The tailors are well aware of what they will be dealing with."

"I suppose I could spare some time," He agreed with reluctance, loath to abandon the witch when she needed his assistance. "I’ll just gather them for their fitting."

Moira nodded eagerly, willing to wait for as long as was needed. In a short time, Dulce returned to her, four dangerous gazes staring at her searchingly.

"He’ll take you to your fitting rooms," She gestured to the butler standing next to her with his back straight. "And I’ll steal Dulce away for a short while," She said nervously, beckoning the Vampire over.

Dulce glanced over his shoulder and walked over to the witch, "I’ll return soon..." He said absently, getting pulled away by Moira.

"This way please, sirs." The butler said to draw their attention, a knowing look on his weathered face.

Dulce had briefly explained to them that he needed to assist Miss Moira with an important task, and that they simply needed to go in for their fittings.

They watched the Vampire be hurried off, ignoring the human butler.

"Sirs?" The butler repeated, refusing to be ignored. He regained his composure when they turned to him, "Right this way please." He directed, starting in the opposite direction.

He glanced over his shoulder after a few quick steps, pleased to see them keeping pace behind him. The four men were nondescript but they seemed to be special guests of the Queen if they were getting private fittings for the Spring Ball.

The journey continued down several hallways, the butler leading them to a different wing of the castle. He finally stopped in front of large double doors, "In here, if you would please." He gestured, opening the doors wide for them to go through.

Asael took a look in the room to find it empty, bales of clothes wrapped in every corner, as well as dressers and mirrors, and all the other items needed for sewing.