Chương 3: Chapter 3 - The Human Bride
Eira stood in the center of the grand hall, her breath shallow as cold air pressed against her skin. The vampire court whispered around her, their voices rippling through the room like the wind through dead leaves. Every glance felt like a blade against her skin, and she had to clench the fabric of her bulky skirt to steady herself.
What am I doing here? The question circled in her mind, cruel and relentless. This is madness. This is suicide. But she couldn't stop. Finn needed her. That was the only thought she clung to, a fragile lifeline in the sea of dread threatening to pull her under.
A tall figure dressed in ceremonial black strode into the hall, his robes shimmering faintly in the torchlight. The vampire priest. His movements were deliberate, almost otherworldly, as if he carried the weight of centuries in every step. The court fell silent, and Eira's pulse quickened.
She shifted uneasily, the layers of her gown rustling against her legs. The dress they'd forced her into—deep crimson silk with black lace accents—was heavy and alien on her skin. It clung in ways she wasn't used to, its elegance amplifying just how out of place she felt in this world of shadows and predators.
Eira stole a glance down at the plunging neckline and the intricate embroidery winding across the bodice. It looked like something out of a gothic fairy tale, darkly beautiful but entirely wrong for someone like her. She felt like a fish dropped into a gilded bowl for the court to watch flop and gasp for air.
A vampire near the edge of the room smirked, his gaze dragging over her gown as though she were an amusing ornament. Others watched with detached curiosity, their predatory eyes dismissing her as fragile and inconsequential. She gritted her teeth, forcing her hands to stay at her sides instead of fidgeting with the unfamiliar fabric. The humiliation threatened to swallow her, but she swallowed it first, locking her knees to keep from swaying.
"Let the covenant be prepared," the priest intoned, his voice deep and resonant, each word carrying an ancient power that seemed to vibrate in her bones.
Eira's eyes locked on two attendants—silent, pale creatures with lifeless eyes—as they stepped forward and placed a chalice and dagger on the altar. The blade gleamed in the flickering light, sharp and menacing. Her stomach churned as she realized what was coming.
Caius rose from his throne with slow, deliberate grace. The room seemed to bend to his presence as he approached, his golden eyes locked on hers. Despite the weight of the court's stares, Eira refused to look away, though her heart pounded so hard she thought it might shatter her ribs.
"You're trembling, little lamb," Caius said softly, stopping just a breath away from her. His voice was low, intimate, and tinged with amusement. "Do you regret your decision already?"
Her fingers curled tighter into her skirt. "No," she lied, her voice sharper than she intended. "Do what you need to. Let Finn go."
His smirk widened, and without another word, he extended his hand. The gesture was calm, expectant. She hesitated for a fraction of a second before placing her hand in his, the coolness of his touch sending a shiver up her arm. His grip was firm, unyielding, as he guided her toward the altar.
The priest began to chant, his words flowing like a river of shadows. Eira couldn't understand the language, but the sound clawed through the air, thick and oppressive. She wanted to cover her ears, to block out the wrongness of it, but her feet felt rooted to the ground.
This isn't real, she told herself. This can't be real. But the hum in the air, the way her skin prickled with every word, told her otherwise. This was real—and she was a part of it now.
"Step forward," the priest commanded, his glowing silver eyes resting on Eira. She moved stiffly, her legs trembling, until she stood beside Caius at the altar.
The priest raised the dagger, and for a fleeting moment, Eira thought he might use it on her. But instead, he turned to Caius, slicing the blade cleanly across the vampire lord's palm. A line of blood welled and dripped into the chalice below, glowing faintly as it hit the silver surface.
Eira swallowed hard as the priest turned to her, the dagger now glinting in his bony hand. She hesitated. Her hand felt leaden, her mind racing with every worst-case scenario. What if this is a trick? What if it kills me? The court's eyes burned into her back, silent witnesses waiting for her to fail. The fear tasted bitter on her tongue, but she forced herself to lift her hand.
If I stop now, Finn will die. I can't let that happen.
Caius leaned closer, his voice a quiet whisper against her ear. "Do you fear a simple cut, little lamb? This is the least of what our covenant will demand."
She shot him a glare, ignoring the way his breath stirred the fine hairs at the nape of her neck. "I'm not afraid," she said, though her voice betrayed her.
Eira's hand trembled, her mind spinning with every possibility she hadn't thought of until now. What would happen after this ritual? Would she be a prisoner, paraded around as a human plaything? Or worse—would she cease to be herself entirely?
Slowly, Eira raised her hand and pressed her palm to the edge. The blade bit into her skin, sharp and swift. She winced as crimson stream formed, the blood falling into the chalice to mingle with Caius's.
The chalice flared with light, a faint pulse of energy that sent a shiver through her entire body. The air seemed to shift, humming with an unseen power.
What happens now? The thought clawed at her as the glow of the chalice burned into her vision. Am I a prisoner? A puppet?
The bond pulsed in her chest, heavier than anything she could have imagined. It wasn't just a promise—it was a claim, one that felt like it had carved itself into her very soul. She glanced at Caius, his face cold and unreadable.
What will Finn think when he sees me? Will he even recognize the sister who gave up everything for him?
Will I?
The priest began chanting again, lifting the chalice high. Caius took her hand, clasping it firmly in his, their mingled blood coating his cool fingers. The moment their skin touched, the hum grew louder, sharper. Eira gasped, her fingers twitching in Caius's grip as the sensation coursed through her. It wasn't pain exactly, but it wasn't comfort either.
It was… intrusive. Like something had burrowed into her chest and tethered itself there.
She looked at Caius, his face unreadable.
What have I done? The question lingered, heavy and unshakable.
"The bond is forged," the priest declared, his voice echoing through the hall. "By blood and by will, eternal and unbroken."
Caius turned to her, his gaze burning into hers. "Your blood is mine," he said, his voice low and smooth, each word deliberate. He leaned closer, his lips brushing the edge of her ear. "As mine is yours. For eternity, we are bound."
The court erupted into murmurs, their voices a chaotic mix of fascination and disdain. Eira's breath hitched as Caius's words sank in, the weight of the bond settling over her like a shroud. She tried to pull her hand back, but Caius's grip tightened, holding her firmly in place.
"Don't fight it, my little lamb" he murmured, his golden eyes gleaming with something dark and knowing.
Caius's gaze lingered, a glint in his eyes. What was that? She thought. Amusement? Possession? Or something darker still?
Whatever it was, it promised no answers, only more chains. Why did he choose her? Was it cruelty, curiosity, or something worse? His golden eyes were unreadable, offering no answers, only the promise of control.
She swallowed the lump in her throat, her free hand trembling at her side. The bond pulsed faintly in her veins, an invisible thread tying her to him, pulling her toward him in ways she didn't understand—and didn't want to.
The pulse of it wasn't just physical—it was a claim, threading through her thoughts, seeping into places she couldn't reach to block out. The tether wasn't something she could untangle or cut. It was hers now, for better or worse.
As the chalice's glow faded, Eira felt the bond solidify, a quiet but unyielding presence in the back of her mind. It wasn't just a link—it was a claim, a weight she couldn't shake. And somewhere in its depths, she thought she felt something stir, ancient and watchful.
Caius finally released her, turning back to the court. "It is done," he announced, his voice smooth and unyielding. "Welcome your new lady."
Was that pride in his tone—or a warning?
The room erupted again, this time with laughter, venomous and mocking. "The human bride," someone sneered from the shadows.
Their laughter was sharper than their fangs, cutting into her already fraying composure. They don't even see me as a person, she realized, her skin crawling under the weight of their stares. I'm just a novelty to them—fragile, mortal, and hopelessly out of place. Their stillness was worse than their whispers, their movements unnervingly deliberate, like wolves biding their time. And her? She was the prey they'd already decided to share. But amidst the laughter, Eira caught a few vampires watching her, their expression unreadable—neither cruel nor kind, just… curious. Those looks wasn't filled with malice like the others. Was it curiosity? Pity? She couldn't decide, but it unsettled her more than the other's laughter.
Eira's cheeks burned, but she forced herself to stand tall, refusing to let them see her fear. She caught the faintest twitch of Caius's jaw, though his expression remained cold, unreadable.
Without another word, Caius turned and walked back to his throne, his dark robes sweeping the floor behind him. The court followed his movements like wolves stalking their prey, their eyes gleaming with malice and curiosity.
Eira stood frozen, her hand still throbbing faintly. The weight of the blood bond pressed against her chest, suffocating and strange. She felt it now—a tether, a pulse, something alive that shouldn't be there. It coiled around her, inescapable, like a second heartbeat tied to his, a rhythm that wasn't hers, beating too loud and too heavy. It spread warmth and cold in equal measure, crawling through her veins like liquid chains.. The room was spinning, the court's venomous laughter fading to a dull roar.
I'm his now.
The thought clawed at her, its truth as unyielding as the blood now binding them. The bond pulsed faintly, but it felt alive, creeping through her thoughts like an invasive root system. Every beat was a reminder that her freedom wasn't hers anymore, tethered to a force she barely understood.
If they wanted her to crumble, they would have to try harder. She'd made this choice, and she would own it—no matter how much they sneered or whispered. Finn's life was worth every ounce of humiliation, every drop of blood, and every chain now wrapped around her soul. If his freedom meant bearing these chains, then so be it. He was her brother, her only family. No price was too high to save him—not even her soul.
Let them laugh, she thought.
She would endure it all—for Finn.
SUY NGHĨ CỦA NGƯỜI SÁNG TẠO 
JadedButCute
JadedButCute Yikes! Eira is really in the thick of it now—blood rituals, ominous bonds, and a court full of vampires who are basically professional bullies. And Caius? Let’s just say he’s got layers, and none of them are straightforward.
What do you think about the bond between Eira and Caius? Creepy? Intriguing? Both? I’m dying to hear your thoughts because things are only going to spiral from here. Let me know if you’re team “Run, Eira, Run” or team “Lean into the chaos!”
Like it ? Add to library！:)
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