章節 10: King Thoron

King Thoron had faced many difficult situations but this was simply on another level. The crown had all the evidence it needed to have Gabriel executed but Thoron was not a fool. From the looks of it, this whole thing was the Queen's efforts to keep Gabriel away from the throne.

She had never loved him! He remembered that night when he walked in the palace holding Gabriel in his hands, a small and frail creature he was that time. It was the glow in his eyes that melted the king's heart. Otherwise he'd have killed the babe the moment he laid his eyes on it.

He knew they hated him because he was different, and better than Brandon. He was too powerful for a bastard, surpassing even the purebreeds. And Thoron was aware of it. His existence was a secret that would tear the realm apart if exposed. It had to remain that way!

"Your Majesty?" The queen called breaking him from his reverie. "Everyone awaits your verdict."

Thoron eyes ran across the hall. All he could see when he swept his gaze across the hall was people waiting to see Gabriel's downfall. His eyes settled on the man in front of him. It didn't occur to him that Gabriel had grown that fast. And as if being a bastard was not enough to keep him miles away from the throne, they made him marry a human!

If Gabriel hated him or not, Thoron couldn't tell. But all he did was to keep Gabriel safe. He might not appreciate it now, but he would... one day, he would.

"You've been found guilty of murder!" He announced. "A crime punishable by death! But since you did it out of respite, death is out of the list."

"He killed innocent knights Your Majesty," the queen pointed.

"Quiet! I am the king and I'll deliver justice as I see fit!"

The queen took a step away from her short tempered husband.

Thoron stood up, supporting his aged frame with the throne seat. "As a punishment for your crime, I'll have your fangs removed!"

This earned gasps from the council! A vampire without fangs was as good as dead! In fact, they were treated lesser of a vampire and exiled as outcasts. What then would be a prince be without fangs, and a bastard title to his name.

Gabriel watched the queen smile evilly. He wondered how adamant she was! To what extent would she go for her unworthy son?

"Father?" He called the king who was now descending the flight of remaining stairs.

The king halted in his tracks and looked at Gabriel, surprise written on his face. He couldn't remember the last time he heard that word coming out of Gabriel's mouth.

Gabriel walked close, but the knights had their hands on the hilts of their swords.

"It's okay," the king said and only then did they step back.

"Father. The name sounds strange to you, right?" Thoron went mute. "It is to me as well. Since I was a child, I thought I'd have someone by my side to show me how the world worked. But you were too busy I suppose. Not for Brandon though."

"You're a bastard!" The queen spoke.

"Am I?" Gabriel asked, looking at the queen. "For your information, I never had interest in the throne that you so much wish to have your son seated on."

He paused to look at the people on the gallery. "All I ever wanted was to be accepted for who I am. A loving father who would teach me the ways of the world. A loving mother who would let me play with my siblings, grow side by side. And what did I get?"

"Take His Highness to his room. He's getting emotional because of the trial," the queen instructed.

"Oh, am I?" Gabriel asked. "Tsk."

The queen led Thoron out before Gabriel would shame the royal family. Gabriel was left standing there as he watched the duo exit. He clutched his fists tightly, the urge to kill suddenly coming to him.

Gabriel walked out of the throne hall before he could do something stupid. By evening, he'd be a fangless vampire!

He found Elena studying his book when he came into his room. She looked at him momentarily before she shifted her attention back to the book. He knew she hated him!

Without sparing her another glance, he made for the bathroom. He needed a cold bath to calm his nerves.

Elena dropped the book when she noticed Gabriel had fled into the bathroom. It was unlike him not to speak whenever he came. But she never wanted to hear him speak in the first place.

She had been too naive to not notice what was happening. Every vampire was a murderer in the eyes of humans. What had gotten into her to think Gabriel would be an exception?

Was it his looks that had deceived her? His spellbinding eyes. Yes, it was his eyes. He had used them to manipulate her into thinking he was a good person when he wasn't! She swore to avoid his eyes again!

And this book... Did he read it to escape reality like she did? She had picked it to avoid his eyes. With the book raised, she could peek at him whenever she wanted and avoid his alluring orbs.

It had a dark cover and no words written on it. Strange, she thought. She perused the first page but the words didn't make any sense! Confused, she shook the book slightly when the words started moving. Her heart raced in fear and she threw the book on the floor after letting out a yelp.

Gabriel rushed into the room with a towel wrapped around his waist, the strands of his hair stuck to his face. He was met by a book on the floor with words moving, and a scared Elena watching it in disbelief.

Their eyes met, Gabriel's face masked in disbelief for once.

"How did you do it?!"