Dark Hunger

Caleb helped Elize to get out of the carriage. She curled her arm in the crook of his elbow and then walked in the mansion.

Ivana was completely excited to have the royal couple for dinner. "It's a pleasure to have you here, Your Highness!" she said as she nervously walked to them. Caleb nodded in courtesy and so did Elize. "This is my husband, Jerad." 

Jerad bowed and then extended his hand to shake it with the king. "It's an honor to have you here amongst us," he said with a warm smile. 

As they walked in, Elize noted that the servants had lined up the main hall to catch a glimpse of the king. Soon the soldiers filled the mansion on the outside. Ivana and Jerad made them sit in the main hall where their three children, a son and two daughters, came to meet them. Seated around a central table, they all gave curious glances to Elize whose pale marble skin and red eyes were quite intimidating, but neither said anything. 

Ivana started, "The drought in the kingdom is spreading fast, Your Highness. But then Ixoviya shouldn't bother for we have enough gold to import grains." 

Caleb narrowed his eyes only for a fleeting moment. "Yes, we have enough gold." 

"My brother has gone for trade to the kingdoms in the west. If you like I can send him a message to bring a large consignment of grain sacks," Ivana mentioned softly. 

Elize raised an eyebrow. So, was this the purpose of calling them for dinner? She gave an inward sigh. What else was she thinking in a world driven with lust and money? 

Jerad laughed at his wife. "He is already getting several wagons full of grain sacks, Ivana. He sent me a message that he would be reaching Ixoviya in a day or two." Then he peered at Caleb to notice his reaction. "If the king wants then he can pay him, otherwise kindly consider this as a donation to the king's Minós." 

Ivana laughed nervously as she adjusted her gown and shifted in her place. "Of course! It can always be considered as a donation."

Caleb pursed his lips but he didn't react to them. This was expected now. His own courtiers, instead of helping him, would actually rob him of the gold. He knew what Jerad said when he offered to 'donate' the grains. At first, he tried to suggest that the king hadn't been proactive in tackling the situation, and then he suggested that the king is miser enough not to help his own kingdom, if he didn't pay them. "I will—" 

"That would be simply great," Elize cut him off. Caleb snapped his mouth close when she spoke. "You are doing such a wonderful thing for the kingdom, Ivana. I can't believe that you went ahead and thought of it and even sent a message to your brother to get food grains." She glanced at Jerad who was grinning. He dipped his head in courtesy. "And to honor your noble intentions, we will accept this as a donation." 

Jerad winced as Ivana became absolutely quiet and stared at Elize. She blinked her eyes at the queen. Blood drained from the face and she blanched. But in order to keep her face, Ivana nodded hurriedly. "Yes, yes. Sure!" she blabbered. 

With a stoic face Caleb just continued to sit there even as Jerad and Ivana looked at him for help. The entire evening went with dampened spirits. Ivana tried to bring the subject of paying for the grains. "The stock that my brother is getting is absolute quality and it is worth at least twenty bricks of gold."

"I see," said Elize as she picked up her glass of animal blood. "In that case we are really indebted to you. But you should know that all this is going for a greater cause." Once again Ivana's mouth was shut. 

Caleb supported Elize. "Whatever Elize said will take place." And that brought the conversation to an end. 

Elize and Caleb departed from there and he couldn't help laughing all the way back to the castle in the carriage. "You are pretty naughty, Elize," he remarked. "They were looking to rob the treasury!" 

Elize harrumphed. She blew a hair out of her eye. Then she went on to talk about her adventure at the outskirts of the capital. 

--- 

Nessa got out of her bed and walked to the window. Yet another bleary day for her. Owen had been thrown out of the company ever since Neal had foiled their plans. She didn't know where Elize was. Her phone was switched off. Owen had made several attempts to get his job back, but he couldn't. Other companies refused to hire him citing that his qualifications were not up to the mark. Only their house remained which was Owen's father's property. Their bank balance was going low and Nessa had started hunting for a job. 

Owen was becoming depressed day by day. He had stopped talking to her and interacted very little with others. He would spend the entire day watching TV or sleeping. 

Nessa was desperate to find Elize. She was the only person who could help them at this time. She closed her fists tightly and spewed curses at Elize for disappearing from the face of earth. "The bitch has no compassion for her brother!" she said aloud. 

Owen, who was watching TV, muted it. He turned to look at Nessa and asked, "Who are you talking about?" 

"Your fucking sister!" she said, as she bristled past him. "It is because of her we are in this situation. I have never seen such a snobbish woman in my life. Only because she is married to one of the wealthiest men in the world, she is showing her true colors. Ever since that episode, she hasn't contacted us. She is rude, obnoxious and vilifying. I hope she never succeeds in her life!" She walked to the washing machine and threw a few clothes inside. Soon their electricity would be cut. They were not able to pay bills for their basic necessities. 

Owen turned back, unmuted his TV and then went on to watch whatever was coming on it. His sister had vanished from the face of the earth. Neal Perry had gone back to the US and his man out here wasn't even giving him an appointment. Owen had lost all faith. His sister had ditched him big time. He was sure that she must have tattletale about him to her husband and acted like a victim. The last time he called her from police station, the bitch was having sex with Caleb. If only he got a chance to get back at her. He was surely going to teach her a lesson. At first, the dolt got converted into a vampire to live long, and then she ran away with her husband to God-knows-where. He had done research about Caleb and all he could come up with was that the man had left Silver Industries and along with his wife, he had gone on a long vacation. No one knew where he was and there were strict instructions to never contact him. Daryn Silver was taking care of the Silver business empire. 

A soft knock on the entrance door distracted him. He cocked his head to look at the door. 

Nessa was surprised that someone had come to meet them. Over the last two months, no one had come. She tilted her head to look at the door wondering if she heard it incorrectly. The knock sounded again, this time heavily. Jolted out of her thoughts, Nessa made way to the door. 

"Are you mad?" Owen hissed. "Don't answer it!" 

"Why?" she frowned. 

"What if Elize has sent someone to kill us?" Owen had stopped believing in Elize. 

Nessa shook her head. "That bitch has vanished. She is nowhere!" She walked to the door, turned the knob and opened it. Her eyes went straight to a woman whose face was covered in a scarf. Only her eyes were visible. Nessa stared at her through her glasses. "Yes?" 

"Hello, I am Laurel," said the woman. "Can I come in?" 

Nessa frowned. Right behind her was a man wearing a long trench coat over black pants and a black shirt. Tall and lanky, he looked sick and like… death. His pine green eyes were intense. Nessa could make out that his skin was healed over the burns. 

When Laurel found Nessa's intense gaze on the man behind her, she said, "That is my partner, Edyrm." The man nodded once as he glared at her. 

Nessa cringed. She didn't like the man at all. "What can I… do for you?" 

"We have come to talk about Elize and Caleb," said Laurel. "We know where they are."

Nessa's eyes flared wide open. 

"We would like to talk more about them if you let us come in," said Laurel. 

Before Nessa could say anything, Owen came to the door and said, "Please come in."