Chapter 5: Becoming who I once fought

Keld had been practicing for his newer lecture to the princess about how she should be more responsible when Darres arrived out of breath. The more embarassing part was that he was looking at the mirror to practice. He turned a scarlet red in embarassement as he turned to see who it was. When he saw who it was, a yell erupted from his body.

"What are you doing here?!" The yell shrilled so loudly that no one in the castle could avoid hearing the yell even from their far up bedrooms. When Jill and Crai had come down from their positions, they found a dazed Darres being dragged into one of the conference rooms.

"I'm sorry I have interrupte-"

"Explain why you have so abruptly disturbed me."

"Princess Ishtar ran away last night."

"She what?!" This was not a shrill, and Darres handed the parchment he had found within the dress on Ishtar's bed.

"I assume you didn't notice anything?"

"Well, I was closing my eyes a moment and then she must have escaped."

"Your incompetence will be your undoing. I will send a search party at once, you will contact anyone you believe she might run to." Keld left the room, and the knight knew that there was nothing that could sway Keld any other way.

A forest near Ci Xeneth

Ishtar had only one bag in her arms from the insitent pleas of her vampire lover. She moved the same way as usual, keeping one of her bags without any sort of fight. However, she had no idea why Duzie insisted on looking at odd rocks.

'I must ask her the question once I find the rock that holds my most loyal followers. However, I must be as strong as possible. Eitherwise I will be called soft once again by my followers. However, my followers insist that they be able to use human's as food. Therefore, I suppose I shall allow Ishtar the vial instead.'

"Duzie?" As soon as her voice turned him from the thoughts, she tripped on a rock and caused a mirage of a run down cottage to change. Well, that was one way of following the dwelling. He placed her other possesions on her, notioning that he was going to be how he was supposed to be. She nodded as they entered.

"Master, you have returned!" The followers fawned to him as they looked at the human he had brought with him. "Who is she?"

"My new lover, who shall be imprisoned beside me for eternity." The followers were happy to hear the voice of their master being so harsh against the now more imprisoned looking woman carrying bags. His hand began to drag Ishtar up the stairs, while trying to be gentle without them noticing. She made it look like it hurt with a few choice words and actions. When they arrived at the bedroom, his look turned to how it was before. However, she could tell that he wanted to act very viciously towards her.

"Duzie, you can hurt me if you wish. You know, since I know you want to have your old life back."

"I'm afraid I cannot do so to you, when I must not be soft to my followers. I will eventually allow myself to be who I am, but now we must cover the problem. Do you wish to be with me forever?"

"Of course I do, captor." She said as if smiling at the contempt she was showing. He pushed her away from her bags, which she knew was the anger of Duzie showing itself. She allowed him to pin her down, and bite down on her neck. When he finished, he returned to the Duzie she knew, and she fell into the undead sleep.

TBC...