I Was Kidnapped by a Vampire Queen, and Now the Vampire Born from My Soul Wants to Take Me Back

Matt was sleepy.

Very sleepy. The car was driving down a long, dark highway.

Matt rested his head against the window, watching the landscape pass by like a black smear on the other side of the glass.

Many hours had passed since the incident with Selene.

After that, the damaged car had kept going until it met up with another almost identical vehicle, parked in an isolated stretch of the highway.

One that was cleaner and didn’t have broken windows.

Matt had wanted to feel relieved, but he couldn’t, because there were three vampire women waiting in that other car.

All three were sitting in the back of the vehicle, with cold expressions and red eyes that watched him the moment he approached.

One looked him up and down.

Another made an almost imperceptible grimace.

The third outright looked away in contempt.

Matt stared at them in silence.

Then he looked at his torn maid café uniform, his back ripped open by his wings, and the bloodstained report tucked under his arm.

'What are you looking at?'

None of them said anything.

That was almost worse.

The only one who didn’t look at him with contempt was the driver of the new car.

A man with the same air as someone who had learned to survive by pretending he heard nothing.

The previous driver got in with them too.

Even so, as the new car started moving and the three vampire women stayed behind with the damaged vehicle, a question settled into his head.

'How many people did the queen put on this mission?'

Iris.

Selene.

The three vampire women from the other car.

The previous driver.

The new driver.

Seven.

Seven people involved, just from what he had seen.

Not counting the ones flying at a distance.

Not counting the ones probably hiding.

Matt closed his eyes.

'Good thing I didn’t seriously try to fight.'

Not because he couldn’t survive.

Maybe he could.

Maybe, if he used everything he had, if he completely surrendered himself to that part of him he hated, he could force his way through even against Iris, Selene, and the rest of the squad.

Maybe.

But his family couldn’t.

His mother couldn’t.

His sister couldn’t.

Clara couldn’t.

The queen didn’t need to beat Matt head-on.

She only needed to remind him there were people behind him who couldn’t regenerate.

Matt tightened his fingers over his knees.

'Damn old hag.'

Beside him, Iris was asleep.

And not just in any way.

She was curled up in a fetal position on the seat, her white hair messy over her face, one hand near her mouth, and the peaceful expression of someone who hadn’t ruined anyone’s life in the last twenty-four hours.

She wasn’t wearing shoes either.

Matt looked down.

Iris’s shoes were lying on the floor of the car, one upside down and the other on its side, as if they had also given up.

Her feet were on the seat, too close.

Matt let out a long sigh.

'I can’t do this anymore.'

Matt tried looking out the window and tried reading the report.

He tried thinking about vampiric politics, the Vhalden Clan, blood oaths, anything that wasn’t Iris sleeping like a spoiled child after kidnapping him.

But it didn’t work.

Because he was hungry and thirsty.

Very thirsty.

Matt brought a hand to his stomach.

Empty.

More than nineteen hours of travel had passed.

Nineteen without eating or drinking water.

Without a decent break.

Without anyone in that car behaving like a person with basic needs.

'Are they trying to starve me before we get there?'

The idea seemed stupid to him.

Then he remembered who he was traveling with.

'No. Wait. They might be.'

Matt looked at sleeping Iris.

Then at the driver.

Then back at Iris.

'If she wakes up, she’ll definitely say something like “vampires can go a long time without eating” and use it as an excuse to keep going.'

Matt closed his eyes.

The queen wanted him to arrive alive.

Probably.

But that didn’t mean the trip had to be comfortable.

Or human.

Or even remotely decent.

Matt leaned forward, getting closer to the driver’s seat.

The driver looked at him through the mirror.

Matt adjusted his voice, lowering it enough to sound serious.

Very serious.

"Find somewhere to eat soon."

The driver blinked.

Matt held his gaze in the reflection.

"Or I’ll kill you."

Silence fell inside the car.

The driver swallowed.

"Princess, we’ll make the first stop soon. In a few hours."

Matt went still.

The word took a second to reach his brain.

Matt slowly lifted his head.

"What did you say?"

The driver tensed.

"Excuse me?"

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"What did you say?"

"That we’ll make the first stop soon…"

Matt narrowed his eyes.

"Before that."

The driver seemed genuinely confused.

"Princess…"

Matt smiled.

It was not a happy smile.

The driver went a little pale.

"Did I say something wrong?" he asked carefully. "I am only carrying out the job assigned by the queen."

Matt looked at him in silence.

'Breathe.'

He couldn’t kill the driver.

Well, he could.

But if he did, the car would probably crash, Iris would wake up, there would be another argument, and everything would end with him walking down an unknown highway while hungry.

Matt opened his mouth to answer.

Then he heard a sound.

Small.

Low.

But clear.

Prrt!

Matt froze.

So did the driver.

Matt slowly turned his head toward Iris.

Very slowly.

As if part of him didn’t want to confirm what he already knew.

Iris was still deeply asleep.

Her mouth was slightly open, with a line of drool running down from the corner.

And now…

That.

Matt stared at her for several seconds.

The hunger.

The thirst.

The exhaustion.

The torn uniform.

The “Princess.”

The hours of travel.

The feet.

The drool.

The sound of Iris farting.

Everything piled together into one very clear line inside his head.

'No.'

Matt slowly stood up.

The driver looked through the mirror with an expression that clearly said he did not want to be there.

Matt walked toward Iris.

She didn’t move.

Still asleep.

As if the world existed only to carry her from one place to another.

Matt opened the car door.

Clack!

The wind rushed in violently.

The driver opened his eyes wide.

"Princess, what are—?"

"Drive."

"But—"

"Drive."

Matt grabbed Iris.

Not by the arm.

Not by the shoulder.

No.

He grabbed her by the butt and lifted her just enough to shove her toward the door.

For an instant, Iris frowned in her sleep.

"Mmm…"

Matt looked at her without emotion.

"Good morning."

And pushed her out of the moving car.

FWOOSH!

Iris opened her eyes in midair.

"Huh?"

Then she fell.

BAM!

Her body hit the asphalt.

Rolled.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

Crash!

Iris bounced against the ground, kicking up sparks, dust, and small chunks of rock.

Matt calmly closed the door.

Tac!

The driver was staring through the mirror with his eyes wide open.

"Princess…"

Matt pointed at him without looking.

"Say that word again and you’re next."

The driver shut his mouth.

The car began braking hard.

Chiiiiii!

Matt held onto the seat with one hand as the vehicle slowed down.

Far behind them, Iris had already stood up.

Her hair was full of dust.

Her dress was scraped.

One of her sleeves had torn.

And her expression…

Her expression was pure fury.

Matt watched her run toward the car.

Fast.

Too fast.

Like a white blur crossing the highway.

The car finished stopping.

Matt opened the door and stepped out calmly.

The moment he set one foot on the ground, Iris appeared in front of him.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!"

Her fist went straight toward his face.

Matt tilted his head.

Whoosh!

The blow passed beside his cheek.

Iris threw another.

Matt stepped back.

Then another step.

He dodged the third with ease.

Not because he was in his best condition.

No.

He was tired.

Hungry.

Thirsty.

But Iris was still half-asleep.

And angry.

That made her predictable.

"What’s wrong with me?" Matt repeated, dodging another blow. "I can’t stand you anymore."

Iris clenched her teeth.

"You threw me out of the car!"

"You were unbearable even while asleep."

"I was sleeping!"

Iris attacked him again.

Matt moved aside.

Bam!

Iris’s punch broke part of the asphalt.

Matt looked at the crater.

Then he looked at her.

"How delicate."

Iris turned toward him, her red eyes glowing.

"Get used to it."

"No."

"Starting today, we’re going to spend a lot of time together."

Matt stopped her next punch by catching her wrist.

The impact made his arm vibrate.

But he didn’t let go.

He looked at her up close.

"No."

Iris tried to pull her arm free.

Matt gripped it tighter.

"I’m going to finish this mission," Matt said in a low voice. "And then I’m leaving."

Iris smiled, still annoyed.

"The queen will decide that."

Matt felt something tense in his back.

"No."

Rasssh!

His black wings burst out, tearing the fabric of his uniform even more.

Iris opened her eyes.

"Matt…"

Matt held Iris more firmly. Then he grabbed her by the waist.

"We’re finishing this trip faster."

"What?"

Matt’s wings spread completely.

The wind swirled around them both.

Iris tried to free herself.

"Wait."

"No."

"Matt!"

Matt jumped.

FWOOSH!

The ground disappeared beneath their feet.

Iris let out a scream of rage more than fear as both of them rose several yards in a matter of seconds.

The car remained below.

The driver was left beside the open door, staring upward like he didn’t know whether to report what had happened or pretend it had never occurred.

Matt continued ascending.

Higher.

Faster.

The highway turned into a dark line.

The trees into stains.

The wind struck his face with force.

Iris struggled in his arms.

"What the hell are you doing?!"

"Saving time."

"Put me down!"

"No."

"I order you to put me down!"

"What a cute order."

"Matt!"

He adjusted his grip and looked forward.

He didn’t know exactly where the castle was.

Not precisely.

But his body remembered.

His blood remembered.

There was a direction that felt unpleasantly familiar.

A cold sensation in his chest.

Pressure at the back of his neck.

Matt clenched his teeth.

'That way.'

He moved his wings with force.

FWOOSH!

Matt shot into the night while carrying Iris.

She struggled again, digging her nails into his arm, insulting him and trying to kick him.

"You’re an idiot!"

"Yes."

"A savage!"

"Probably."

"You threw me out of the car!"

"And yet here you are."

"I’m going to bite you!"

"It would be weird if you didn’t."

Iris growled.

Matt kept flying.

Not many minutes passed before he saw movement ahead.

At first, they were only dots.

Then figures.

Then a long line of vampire women in the sky and on the highway, spread out at some distance from one another.

Some were flying.

Others seemed to be stopped on trees, signs, or raised areas along the road.

Guards.

More guards.

Many more.

Matt felt his earlier suspicion confirmed with annoying clarity.

'They definitely weren’t seven.'

Several vampire women turned their heads when they saw him pass.

First, they saw Iris.

Then Matt.

Then Iris being carried by Matt like a package.

Their expressions changed.

Confusion.

Surprise.

One of them even opened her mouth, but she didn’t get the chance to say anything.

Matt passed in front of them like a shadow.

FWOOSH!

Among the group, Selene was hovering in place, with her bow on her back and an expression of amused surprise.

"Matt?" she asked when she saw him approaching. "What are you doing?"

Matt didn’t slow down.

He only turned his head just enough to answer as he passed.

"I’m going on ahead without you. You’re all too slow."

Selene’s eyes widened a little.

Then she smiled.

"Is that a challenge?"

"No."

Matt’s voice quickly vanished into the distance.

Iris lifted her head from his arms.

"Selene, stop him!"

Selene watched as both of them flew farther away.

For a second, she seemed to consider the order.

Then her wings spread.

"Interesting."

Several vampire women took off behind them.

Fwoosh! Fwoosh! Fwoosh!

Matt felt their presences trying to follow him.

One.

Two.

Five.

More.

All accelerating in formation.

Iris, realizing it, smiled.

"See? You won’t get far."

Matt didn’t answer. He only clenched his teeth harder, and his heart pounded more forcefully.

Thump!

Thump!

Thump!

His wings tensed.

The air changed.

And Matt accelerated.

FWOOSH!

The sound of the wind became a roar.

Iris opened her eyes.

"Matt!"

The figures behind them began falling back.

First the slower ones.

Then the ones that tried to keep pace.

Even Selene, who managed to get a little closer than the others, was reduced to a distant shadow.

Matt kept going.

Faster.

Higher.

Farther.

The world below became dark.

The highway disappeared.

The lights became scarce.

The cold air cut against his skin.

Iris stopped insulting him after a while.

Not because she was calm.

But because talking against that wind was useless.

Over time, Iris stopped moving.

Her body loosened in his arms.

"I hate you," she muttered.

Matt looked forward.

"Same."

"This is uncomfortable."

"The car was slow."

"The car was comfortable."

"The car smelled like your feet and gas."

Iris did not answer.

That was a small victory.

Very small.

But Matt took it.

◇◆◇

Hours passed.

Not one.

Not two.

More.

Matt didn’t know exactly how many, because at some point, time stopped feeling normal.

There was only the wind, the night, and the growing pain in his back.

His wings moved again and again.

Fwoosh!

Fwoosh!

Fwoosh!

Each beat pulled at his muscles.

Each minute made his body remind him that he hadn’t eaten or drunk anything.

But he kept going.

Because stopping meant returning to the car.

And returning to the car meant hearing Iris say she was right.

That was unacceptable.

At some point, Iris fell asleep.

Matt looked down at her.

The vampire princess was asleep in his arms, her white hair moving in the wind and a ridiculously peaceful expression on her face.

Matt stared at her for a few seconds.

'How can she sleep like that?'

They were at an absurd height, flying at a dangerous speed in the middle of the night.

And she was sleeping.

Matt felt his hatred turn into exhaustion.

'Vampires make no sense.'

Matt kept flying for several more hours until the landscape began to change.

There were no more roads beneath them.

No poles.

No houses.

No clear traces of civilization.

Only dark mountains, thick forests, and a completely clear sky.

There were no clouds.

Not one.

The moon lit the terrain with cold clarity.

Matt felt a weight in his stomach.

He recognized that area.

Not from happy memories.

No.

Quite the opposite.

Every mountain.

Every dark valley.

Every line of the horizon felt unpleasantly familiar.

The road to the castle. freewёbnoνel.com

Matt clenched his jaw.

'We’re close.'

He looked at Iris and let go of her.

For one second, Iris remained asleep in the air.

Then she began to fall.

One.

Two.

Three tenths of a second.

Her eyes snapped open.

"Huh?"

She looked up.

Matt gave her a two-finger wave.

Iris opened her mouth.

"MATT!"

FWOOSH!

Her white wings burst out from her back just before she fell too far.

Iris stopped herself in midair with a sharp movement, remaining suspended several yards below him.

Her hair was completely messy.

Her red eyes shone with an expression full of rage.

Matt descended calmly until he was in front of her.

"You woke up."

Iris looked at him.

"You dropped me!"

"Yes."

"I was asleep!"

"Also yes."

"What kind of person drops someone sleeping in the air?"

Matt looked at her in silence.

Then pointed at her wings.

"Someone who can’t stand you."

Iris clenched her teeth.

For a second, she looked like she was about to throw herself at Matt.

But she didn’t.

Instead, she took a deep breath.

Then she smiled.

Matt did not trust that smile.

He never trusted an Iris smile.

"Even though you say you hate fighting," she said, tilting her head slightly, "you’ve been very active today."

Matt frowned.

"Don’t start."

"First Selene."

"She attacked me."

"Then you threw me out of the car."

"That wasn’t fighting. That was environmental hygiene."

"Then you kidnapped me."

Matt opened his eyes.

"I kidnapped you?"

Iris smiled.

"And now you drop me from the sky."

"To wake you up."

"All of that sounds rather aggressive for someone who says he wants a peaceful life."

Matt looked at her with dislike.

Not because she was entirely wrong.

That was the worst part.

He had been more active than he wanted to admit.

His body was still hot from the effort.

His blood was still responding.

His wings, though tired, remained firm.

And a part of him had enjoyed leaving the whole squad behind in the air.

A very small part.

A part he hated.

Matt closed his eyes for a second.

Then opened them.

"Shut up and open the portal."

Iris smiled wider.

"So impatient."

"I haven’t eaten in almost a day."

"Vampires can endure much more than that."

Matt pointed at her.

"Say one more thing about vampire endurance and I’ll drop you again, but higher."

Iris looked at him.

Then let out a small laugh.

"Fine."