- XXXIII -

The next night, Amelia left her quarters for the first time since her awakening. She really needed a walk on the battlement, some fresh air. Inhaling deeply, she let the breeze touch her skin, the loose strands of raven hair streaming out behind her. Not a single cloud darkened the sky and the moon seemed huge tonight. Amelia smiled. Her depressed thoughts from before her hibernation were gone and her determination to eradicate those rabid wolves was stronger than ever. Soon she would be back on the battlefield.

When she heard steps to her left, she turned around to face General Thomas, who bowed low as soon as he caught sight of her.

"Milady, I am so glad you have recovered!" he expressed his relief.

"You were there when I woke, weren't you?" Amelia sighed.

"Yes," Thomas confirmed. "It lacerated my heart to see you in that vulnerable state, Milady. But I've never doubted you would regain your strength and..." he paused, then cleared his throat. "your ravishing beauty."

A small smile played at the corners of the female Elder's lips. For some reason she knew, if she would have allowed him to visit her while she had looked like a living corpse, Thomas wouldn't have bided to approach her. Unlike Viktor, he would have dared to touch her, if she had permitted him to do so. She said nothing, and for a moment they just stood there on the battlement, the bright moon enlightening their pale features, its shine reflecting in a pair of green as well as a pair of blue eyes.

Then Thomas blinked and broke the silence.

"I assume you are attending the execution in the morning, Milady."

An uncharacteristically bewildered look appeared on Amelia's face, then she knitted her brows.

"Excuse me, general, but what are you talking about?"

Now Thomas looked almost as surprised as she had.

"Well, the two neglectful maids who didn't notice you had fallen into hibernation will be put to death, together with the two guards who allowed Lord Marcus to leave his quarters. I thought... this was both yours and Lord Viktor's order."

Amelia's eyes flashed up in an angry green. Viktor could do whatever he wanted with his guards, but if Thomas was telling the truth – and he had no reason not to – then Viktor had condemned her servants to death without consulting with her, without even informing her!

"You may go!" the Elder hissed at Thomas, her voice a bit too harsh. After all, he was just the bearer of those bad tidings.

Nevertheless, Thomas bowed low again and left the battlement without another word. He could understand her anger. She hadn't seemed to know anything about the death penalty that had been imposed on her maids. It was her right as an Elder to dismiss him in whichever tone she pleased. It shouldn't trouble him, but the fact that she treated him like every other servant was like a stab in Thomas's heart.

Not taking the time to knock, Amelia walked straight into Viktor's rooms, her crimson dress billowing behind her.

"How could you judge my maids without my knowledge?!" she spat, her elongated fangs showing.

Viktor rose from his desk, a surprised expression on his face, then slowly approached her, giving her an affectionate smile.

"But my love, please calm yourself," he said. "I haven't told you about my decision because I didn't want to bother you with such trifles. Not while you are still recovering from your hibernation."

His voice was indeed calming: low, like silk and honey, like a veil, trying to softly cover her effervescent emotions.

"They are my servants and I alone am to condemn or pardon them!" Amelia hissed, glaring at him, her eyes a bilious shade of green.

"Of course they are, Amelia dearest. I thought nothing else but that to execute them would be your will as well as it is mine." With that, Viktor tugged a loose lock of Amelia's black hair behind her ear, his thumb brushing over her temple.

She inhaled deeply. His smile seemed so genuine and there was no hint in his tone that would have suggested any attempt to deceive her.

"I wish to make an example of those neglectful fools who call themselves guards, and those scatterbrained wenches claiming to be maids, all those incompetent scapegraces who dared to defy our orders," he continued, his gentle tone in stark contrast to his words. "Their death will show all our subjects their place, and they will never again fail in carrying out their duties."

When he brought his lips close to her ear, Amelia slightly flinched, but did nothing to push him away.

"Help me to confirm our reign, Amelia, our unlimited, absolute sovereignty," Viktor breathed, his words only a whisper, and though so intense, so vigorous they caused a shiver to run down Amelia's spine.

He was right. Imprisoning the maids deep down in the dungeons would only make them obedient. No-one else would see their suffering, no-one else would learn a lesson from it. Although her lover had passed her over when adjudicating upon her servants, his decision had been more far-sighted than hers, oriented on stabilising their power. He hadn't done it to anger her, she was sure of that now.

And so she slowly nodded her consent and didn't protest when his mouth wandered from her ear to her cheek, then to her lips. Viktor's kiss tasted bittersweet, but sweet nonetheless.