Into the Dark
8

Zara had left Calypso in her chambers hours ago yet sleep eluded her. She tossed and turned in bed waiting for her husband to appear. There was no way she could be sure that he would but she could not shake the feeling that he was not done with her tonight.

Desperate for sleep, she tries taking a bath to calm her nerves. She sinks down into the water until only her eyes are above it. She did not leave the water until it grew cold and her skin wrinkled.

Wrapping a towel around herself she steps onto the rug to dry herself off.

The soft click of her bedroom door catches her attention and she scrambles to the bathroom door almost tripping in her haste afraid her husband will barge in and see her in her bare state again.

" Wait out there. I need to change,” the air around her grows cold and stale.

There is no reply but she can hear heavy footsteps approaching the bathroom.

“King?” she slowly cracks open the bathroom door with her left hand while her right hand clutches the towel to her chest.

Her heart drops into her stomach as she spots not her husband but the bald man with the scar cutting across his eye. Upon seeing her panic, he gives her an evil smirk as he lunges for the door.

Calypso is able to quickly slam it shut and turn the lock though she knows it will not hold against a vampire for long. She is kicking herself for not carrying her daggers with her at all times. The man bangs his fists against the wood causing it to rattle against the frame.

" Fuck, fuck, fuck!” she paces the room in search of a solution,” think Calypso think!”

Looking around the bathroom, she spots a wooden armoire holding her towels and soap. She quickly pushes it in front of the door in order to stall him a bit longer. She climbs onto the toilet and peers through the window above it.

She’s too far up to jump.

Her next thought is to search for a weapon; her frantic search turns up with nothing but the flimsy rod that holds her towel. Apparently her husband was extra careful to ensure she had no tool to use against those around her.

The banging stops suddenly. The faint sound of a scuffle the only noise in the quiet room. The queen moves the armoire and presses her ear against the door. She hears a few more grunts and low growls and then nothing but silence.

Backing away from the door just in time, it is soon shattered into pieces.

She blindly swings the towel rod at the intruder before realizing it is her husband. The King catches the rod inches from his face and rips it out of her grasp as he throws it behind him.

" King?” a sob escapes her lips.

" Calypso,” his breathes out her name, immediately wrapping her into a hug and smoothing her damp hair underneath his hand.

He pulls back from her and runs his hands along her sides checking for injuries.

Once satisfied, he cups her face in his palms,” Are you alright my love?”

She gives him a tight nod and pulls the towel tighter around herself,” I’m fine.”

" It is not safe for you to stay in here alone,” he walks into her bedroom with a brisk pace and returns with a long black nightgown,” I’ll be in your bedroom. Change quickly.”

" Where will I be going?”

" You will not be going anywhere. I will be staying in here with you from now on,” his tone dares her to argue.

Lucky for the King, Calypso has no energy to play her games tonight. All she wants is sleep though she is not sure if her mind will allow her to after the attack.

_____

Calypso stands awkwardly in the middle of the room unsure of herself. Her husband sweeps through the room for the second time ensuring there will be no more surprises. He now only wears sleeping pants leaving his broad chest bare and open to her wandering gaze which she cannot seem to control.

“We are safe,” he strides to the bed and pulls back the covers,” please, feel free to join me in bed.”

She shifts awkwardly on her feet,” Are we both to sleep in the same bed?”

His eyebrows raise at her question,” Where else would you have me sleep?”

“Can you not sleep on the floor?”

" No.”

" Right.”

" Calypso.”

" Yes, Leech King?”

" Either get in bed willingly or I will be forced to make you,” he stands in front of her towering over her small frame.

She reluctantly complies and pulls the blankets up to her chin,” Are all kings such demanding pricks?”

" Are all queens so vulgar?” he slides into bed beside her, careful not to touch.

She smiles softly thankful that the dark hides her show of emotion,” Touché.”

Calypso replaces herself regretting that she allowed the King to force her sleep with him. She feels safer lying next to him than she has anywhere else throughout her life. She has a sinking feeling that this new arrangement will cause an abundance of complications to her mission.

Right as she drifts off to sleep she hears the sheets rustle as the Vampire King faces her.

His strong arm wraps around her middle as he pulls her against his chest,” Goodnight, Calypso.”

_________

Unedited

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