Trapped With The Devil's Spawn

CHAPTER 5

TIARA THORNELLS

I sat frozen in place as the weight of those words thundered in my ears. A creeping chill began to settle in my hands, and I instinctively clenched them tight against my lap. My throat went dry, and I forced myself to swallow.

"Don’t worry," Mrs. Margot said in a formal voice, "I’ll explain all the palace rules to you while we travel. There’s no sense in wasting time just sitting here staring at nothing."

My heart pounded like a drum, and I could feel it thrashing violently in my chest. I remembered what my grandpa Alfred, had once told me, about vampires. The stories had always seemed like distant legends, whispered in half-truths and warnings. But now, I couldn’t suppress the wave of nerves rising inside me. I was truly going to work at a palace, their palace.

I couldn't believe this...

I was going to serve a family of vampires. Nothing in the world could have prepared me for that. Nothing felt more terrifying.

“You’ll be an all-around servant,” she continued. “And since that’s one of the lowest ranks in the palace servant hierarchy, you are expected to follow every command from anyone above you. You’ll be assigned wherever you are needed, anywhere in the palace.”

Slowly, I curled my hands into tight fists, keeping them steady on top of my thighs. I lowered my head and pressed my lips together, swallowing the fear that threatened to escape.

“You don’t look too pleased about serving in the palace,” she remarked.

“I-It’s just that... they’re not like us,” I stammered quietly. “They’re immortals.”

“Everyone knows that,” she replied sharply. “And you’re expected to respect them, just like everyone else. Vampires are our protectors. You can think of them like knights... honorable, and disciplined. Surely you know at least that much.”

“Are they... kind?” I asked, hesitantly.

She didn’t answer.

I glanced at her sideways. Mrs. Margot was staring at me, expressionless, her face devoid of emotion. It was clear she had no intention of answering that question.

“If you want to survive, just obey every rule and follow every instruction given to you inside that palace. Do you understand me, Tiara?”

“Y-Yes, Mrs. Margot,” I answered politely, trying my best to steady my voice.

As the carriage moved along, she continued to outline various responsibilities and obligations that governed life in the palace, how the staff were to behave, the off-limits places, the schedule we had to follow, and the punishments for disobedience.

The hours passed slowly, and eventually, in the distance, I saw, the grand castle.

Even from far away, it loomed large and formidable, surrounded by steep brick walls that towered above the surrounding land. The iron bars that ran along the top of the walls gleamed sharply in the noon light as if warning strangers not to come any closer. Four guards stood vigil at the main gate, their stances rigid and alert.

When they saw our carriage approaching, the massive double gates creaked and slowly parted in the middle, opening just wide enough to let us in.

We entered the palace grounds, but it took several more minutes before the carriage finally came to a halt at the grand entrance. I was the first to step down.

My eyes immediately scanned my surroundings, wide with curiosity and awe.

Surprisingly, the scenery wasn’t as intimidating as I had feared. The grounds were vast and elegant. Perfectly manicured lawns stretched out in every direction, leading to an intricate maze garden and a vibrant flower garden, all framed by graceful, towering trees.

It wasn’t the sinister place I had imagined. The air felt light, the landscape peaceful. It was almost beautiful, serene, even.

I lifted my gaze toward the castle, towering so high it could leave anyone dizzy just from looking. The steepness of its architecture was overwhelming. As I took it all in, I spotted several crows perched silently atop the rooftops.

“Let’s go inside. I’ll take you to your bedchamber,” Mrs. Margot said.

I silently agreed, giving her a small nod before following her into the depths of the castle.

The moment we stepped inside, my eyes were met with stunning sights. The walls and ceilings were covered in magnificent paintings, and dark, elaborate murals dedicated to vampires.

There was something haunting about them, something that sent a shiver down my spine, but I couldn’t deny their beauty. The art was intricate, the kind that demanded attention.

Everything around me had an antiquated feel, the furniture was clearly old, yet every piece exuded an air of elegance that modern designs simply couldn’t match.

Wherever I looked, there were carvings on the tables, the chairs, even the doorframes each one done with exquisite detail.

The palace was enormous. We walked for several minutes, passing through endless corridors before we finally arrived at the servant chambers.

I wasn’t expecting much from the room I’d be staying in, something small, maybe even dusty, but when Mrs. Margot opened the door, I couldn’t help but gasp softly.

It was beautiful.

The room wasn’t large, but it was far from cramped. In the center was a bed with two thin, soft mattresses stacked on top of each other. I had my own cabinet, a wooden desk, a chair, and, what surprised me most, was a window that looked out onto the surroundings beyond the castle walls.

And the best part? Tucked into one corner was a fireplace.

The difference between this and the room I used to stay in at the Hawkins’ manor was immense. This was unquestionably better.

“You’re responsible for keeping your room clean. If I ever find it filthy, I’ll have you sleeping outside,” Mrs. Margot warned sharply.

I turned to her quickly. “Understood, Mrs. Margot.”

“Go ahead and unpack your things. I’ll have your uniforms delivered shortly.”

I gave her a polite nod, and she turned and walked away, leaving me alone.

Turning back toward the room, I took it all in once more, this time with a quiet sense of appreciation. Then I began unpacking, carefully placing my few belongings into the closet cabinet. Once everything was in place, I approached the window, gently drawing the curtain to the side. I hadn’t realized there was a pane of glass behind it. Slowly, I lifted the window open.

A soft breeze drifted in, brushing against my face. I closed my eyes and smiled, breathing in the fresh, unfamiliar air.

“Excuse me? Are you the new servant?”

A woman’s voice called out.

Startled, I quickly turned around and saw someone standing in the doorway. A young woman, her arms draped with neatly folded garments, looking at me with quiet curiosity.

"Oh, I’m Tiara Thornells... I just arrived," I said softly, stepping inside and stopping right in front of me.

“It’s nice to meet you, Tiara... I’m Elara Hugens. I’m a servant too, just like you,” she said warmly, offering her right hand for a handshake. I reached out and shook her hand without hesitation. “Here are your three sets of our dress uniforms,” she added, handing me the neatly folded garments.

I accepted them and ran my fingers over the fabric. The quality was impressive, nothing like the cheap clothes I had worn before.

“Thank you, Elara.” She smiled gently at me. “And... if it’s alright, may I ask you something?” I added, a little unsure.

She nodded quickly. “Of course. Since you're new here... You can rely on me, or the others... we're all fellow servants.” I let out a quiet breath of relief.

“How long have you been serving here?” I asked, curious.

“Hmm... I think it’s been about five years,” she replied thoughtfully.

“So... that means you must know the Vampire royal highnesses quite well?” I asked in a hushed voice.

She gave me a strained smile. “Not really. They’re quite elusive, and they rarely speak to just anyone... only those with noble titles or from royal bloodlines.”

“Do they mistreat their servants?” I asked cautiously, unable to hide the worry in my voice.

She looked at me knowingly. “Sounds like you’ve had a rough experience with your former master?”

“So... you already knew I came from another noble household?” I asked, slightly surprised.

She nodded. “Mrs. Margot told us about you. Don’t worry... we’ll help you adjust and explain all the palace rules and regulations,” she assured me kindly. “Which noble family were you with before?”

“The Duke of Hawkins,” I answered quietly.

She nodded again.

"Things are well-managed here in the palace. Whatever hardship you might’ve gone through with that family, you won’t experience that here, as long as you treat others kindly and follow the commands of our masters,” she said reassuringly.

And just like that, I felt a weight lift off my chest. The people here didn’t seem cruel. Maybe this time, things would be different.

“Are you hungry?” Elara asked, bringing me back from my thoughts. I looked up at her again.

“You must’ve had a long journey. Go ahead and eat something in the kitchen. It’s not lunch time yet but you can eat first... we’ll join later.”

“Thank you...” I whispered softly.

But honestly, I was more thirsty than hungry. My throat had been dry for a while now, parched from the long journey.

When we arrived at the large kitchen, I was immediately greeted by the bustling sight of the kitchen staff. The chefs were especially busy, flames crackling from open stoves and traditional ovens glowing hot with coals. The air was thick with the mouthwatering aroma of cooking food, it was the kind of smell that could make anyone's stomach grumble.

“Elara, who’s that with you?” asked a woman from across the room as soon as she spotted us.

She was slicing potatoes at another table.

“This is the new servant Mrs. Margot mentioned,” Elara replied. “She’s hungry after the long journey, so I brought her here to eat first.”

“Sorry for disturbing you,” I said politely.

“Not at all,” the woman replied cheerfully before glancing at Elara. “Go ahead and get her something to eat.”

Elara nodded right away and led me to a nearby chair. I sat down, and soon enough, a plate was placed in front of me. It held a piece of perfectly cooked, seasoned salmon, some tender boiled green peas, and on the side, a plate of bread and strawberry jam.

As I ate, I could hear the kitchen staff chatting animatedly with each other, all while continuing their work. Their voices were full of warmth and laughter. They seemed kind and approachable, this place might actually be a good home for me.

But there was something else quietly nagging at the back of my mind. Grandpa Alfred still didn’t know that I had transferred to the palace. I hoped that soon, I’d be allowed to go back home, just for a while so I could tell them myself.

Once I finished eating, I was assigned a task right away. I was chosen as one of the servants to help weed the flower garden.

“What happened to your hand?” I asked gently, turning to the servant beside me.

We were crouched under the flowering bushes, pulling out wild weeds. That’s when I noticed the bandage wrapped around her palm. She glanced at me and smiled faintly, her eyes lingering on my face for a moment.

“You’re new here, aren’t you?” she asked.

“Yes, I just arrived today. I came from the Hawkins’ manor,” I answered. “Your movements seem stiff. Is your palm injured?”

“Ah, yes.” She nodded lightly.

“If you’re having trouble working, maybe you should rest for now. I can take care of this area for you,” I offered sincerely.

“Thanks, but I’m fine. Don’t worry about me,” she replied with a small, half-hearted smile. I could tell she was in pain, but she didn’t want to talk about it further. So I let it go.

We worked in the flower garden for almost an hour. But as time passed, something odd stood out to me.

There were so many varieties of blooming flowers, but not a single rose. For a garden this vast, it was strange.

Roses were common, even in smaller estates, and they happened to be my favorite flower. Yet here, they were nowhere to be found.

“Take a break,” the head gardener finally called out.

The servants scattered to get their lunch. Since I had already eaten earlier, I decided to return to my room instead. We had a short break after meals, and once it was over, we were instructed to report to the grand entrance of the castle for our next task.

As we scrubbed the marble stairs together, the rhythmic scraping of our brushes echoed faintly through the air. Suddenly, a servant approached me and called out. I turned around to face them, kneeling just a few feet away.

“Oh, you must be Tiara! Nice to meet you! I’m Delailah!” the young woman greeted me warmly, her smile sweet and inviting. She had a friendly air too, and before I could respond, she pointed toward the others crouching beside her. “And these are Carmen, Sephora, and Railee!” she introduced each of her companions one by one.

I smiled back, feeling a flicker of relief at their friendliness. This is a good sign. “Nice to meet you all...” I answered cheerfully, eager to connect with familiar faces in this vast new place.

“There are still so many servants you haven’t met yet,” Delailah continued. “But for now, we’re the first to introduce ourselves to you. Elara told us that you’re Tiara!” Her words made me feel comfortable.

And I noticed that Carmen’s eyes widened as she looked me over appreciatively. “Wow, she looks very beautiful, doesn’t she?” she said with genuine admiration.

“I agree,” Railee nodded, her gaze thoughtful. “I think she’s the most beautiful servant here, right?”

“Yes, right?” Sephora chimed in. “But... you do look kind of thin.”

Delailah quickly shot Sephora a warning glance. “Watch your language, Sephora. Even if Tiara is thin, she’s still beautiful!” she said firmly.

“I’m just telling the truth, and besides...” Sephora stared at me with concern. “You really should eat more, with how demanding the work is here. You’ll only get thinner, and you might even get sick. I’m just concerned about you, but if you don’t want to listen, it’s your choice.” We had the same thoughts about whether I should eat plenty of food.

Delailah sighed softly, whispering, “Sephora...” as if trying to smooth over her friend’s bluntness.

“She’s right,” I admitted quietly. “I got sick before because I was overworked at my last job. This is the first time I’ve been able to eat properly... At the manor I worked at, the food they gave the servants wasn’t enough to meet basic nutritional needs.”

“Oh, that explains it...” Sephora murmured. “Okay, my bad. But you really have to eat a lot now to build your strength. You won’t have to worry about food here.” I returned her smile warmly, grateful for her concern.

“Don’t tell me your masters there treated you badly?” Delailah asked, her voice tinged with sympathy as she looked at me intently.

I nodded. “Even as a servant, I was bullied... but I’ve learned to deal with it.”

“That’s good to hear,” Delailah said brightly. “Mrs. Margot was lucky to have chosen you... and, luckily, you escaped that manor! Your beauty really suits the palace.”

Carmen nodded confidently. “Exactly. Mrs. Margot probably chose Tiara because she has that striking beauty. Just like us, right? That’s why we all ended up here... because of our looks."

“Yeah, there’s no such thing as an unattractive servant here. They want us to look presentable... whether for mortals or immortals.”

Everyone burst into a chorus of laughter.

I felt unusually at ease among the other servants. This was the first time I’d been spoken to so openly, with such warmth. It was far from the manor I came from, where it seemed like everyone treated me as if I were the enemy.

Our lighthearted conversation came to an abrupt end when we saw Mrs. Margot descending the staircase we had just left. Her presence brought with it a quiet sense of order. Instinctively, we straightened up, turned our attention to our tasks, and fell silent.

That evening, after dinner, we all began heading to our assigned bedchambers.

“Oh, so your room’s just across from mine, Tiara?”

Just before I could step inside, I heard Delailah’s voice from the other side of the room. I glanced over and saw her standing by her door. Apparently, our rooms were right next to each other.

“Yes, this is the one Mrs. Margot assigned to me,” I replied.

“Do you already have pillows and thick blankets? Even though winter is still a ways off, the nights here can get pretty chilly. This castle is perched high up in the mountains... but you can always light the fireplace to keep yourself warm through the night.”

“My bed’s already complete,” I reassured her with a small smile.

“Alright then, good night! Let’s talk again tomorrow!”

With that, we each went into our rooms. It was already eight o’clock in the evening. The soft, silver light of the moon spilled into the room through the open window, casting a quiet glow across the floor. I walked over to the side table and lit the fire lamp, its warm glow doubling as the hallway’s only light source for the line of servant chambers along the corridor.

I closed the glass window to block out the chill of the mountain air. Then, I climbed into bed and pulled the thick blanket over myself.

I closed my eyes, letting sleep slowly take me.

But in the middle of the night, I was jolted awake by distant voices echoing down the hallway.

“Stella! It’s my turn now! Come back here!”

“No. Let go of me!”

The hushed voices of two women, unmistakably servants, drifted through the silence. Though they were whispering, their argument was far from subtle.

I tried to ignore them, willing myself to fall back asleep. But they were simply too loud.

Sighing, I sat up and got out of bed. I walked quietly to the door, opened it gently, and peered out into the hallway.

Immediately, I spotted the two servants in question, standing under the flickering light of a wall-mounted lamp. Their faces were tense with frustration.

“I told you... it’s my turn to serve Prince Dawn tonight!” one of them snapped, her voice laced with indignation.

"Don’t meddle in my business!" I snapped, my eyes narrowing as I fixed a sharp glare on a female servant. I immediately recognized her, she was the same woman I had spoken with earlier in the garden. The one with the wounded hand.

"Stella! Come back here!" another servant called out, running after her.

I turned my head upon hearing a groggy voice behind me.

"There they go again..." It was Delailah, her tone laced with both boredom and quiet irritation. She stood at the threshold of her door, rubbing sleep from her eyes.

Curious, I walked over to her. "Why? What’s the problem with those two?"

She looked straight at me, her gaze heavy with judgment.

"As you can see, they’re desperate. They're fighting over who gets to enter Prince Dawn’s bedchamber tonight."

I frowned, confused. "And what are they going to do in there?"

Delailah’s eyes darkened, her voice losing all trace of drowsiness. "They’re trying everything they can to please that vampire prince."

I blinked, stunned. She continued, her voice now low and serious.

"Every night, there are servants who willingly offer their blood to him. They do it in the hope that Prince Dawn will come to like them, maybe even choose one of them to be his bride someday. But let’s not fool ourselves... he only wants their blood. He takes full advantage of their desperation. These girls want to rise in rank, to become someone important, and they think giving themselves to him is the way."

She paused, her lips tightening. "Maybe, just maybe, he’ll choose one of them and make her his wife. But even if that happens, it doesn’t change the truth... he’s feeding off their naivety and ambition but... we're not like them. We don't risk our lives just to offer our blood to the prince. Some of those girls have died... bled dry. But it’s their own fault. They were the ones who offered themselves. They’re thirsty... not for love, but for the throne."

Delailah’s voice grew heavier with every word. "And it’s not just Prince Dawn. I’ve heard things... Prince Zatan does the same or perhaps he's even worse. There's even a tradition that happens once a month... a formal blood offering to their kind. But even before that ritual takes place, they’ve already had their fill here in the castle... feeding off servants’ blood like it's a feast laid out just for them."

A cold shiver ran through me. My skin tingled with unease at the revelations she had just shared.

She looked me straight in the eye. "So listen to me... don’t be like them. Don’t let yourself be blinded by the handsome faces of those princes."

During the daytime, this castle seemed perfectly normal, elegant, and peaceful, just like any other royal estate. But when night fell… everything changed. Something dark and disturbing stirred within its halls.