Moonlit blood: The Vampire - Werewolf Saga

"It's... It's a girl!" the midwife cried out in despair, her voice trembling as she held the newborn infant. "Your majesty, it's a girl," she repeated, as if hoping that the words would somehow change the reality.

The king's face turned ashen, his eyes widening in horror. "No, it cannot be... The prophecy. It's supposed to be a boy," he exclaimed, his voice rising in a mixture of shock and anger.

The queen, who had been lying on the bed, her body weakened by the ordeal of childbirth, raised her head, a look of concern etched on her face. "My lord, perhaps-"

But the king would not be placated. "A girl?" he repeated, his voice dripping with disdain. "What use is a girl in fulfilling the prophecy?"

"What about Maria, my concubine?" the king asked, his voice trembling with anticipation as he turned to the captain of the guards. "Has she put to bed too?"

The captain bowed slightly, his expression serious. "We have received word that she is currently in labor, Your Majesty," he replied, his voice firm but laced with a hint of urgency. "We don't have much time, we must hurry."

The king's face twisted with anxiety as he paced back and forth in the chamber, his mind racing with thoughts of the prophecy and the future of his kingdom. Suddenly, a commotion outside the door interrupted his thoughts, and a handmaid burst into the room, her face flushed with excitement.

"A boy! Oh, praise heavens! It's a boy!" she exclaimed, her voice shrill with joy. "Lady Maria has given birth to a lovely boy!"

The king's face lit up with a radiant smile as he heard the news, his anxiety and worry melting away in an instant. He felt a surge of triumph and relief wash over him, and he raised his hands to the heavens in gratitude. "Praise the gods!" he exclaimed, his voice booming through the chamber. "The prophecy will be fulfilled! My son will be the one to bring greatness to our kingdom!"

Suddenly, a loud, thunderous sound shook the castle walls, causing the torches to flicker and the ground to tremble. The king's head jerked up, his eyes widening in alarm as he stared at the captain of the guard, who had burst into the room, his face pale and his voice trembling with urgency.

"We are under attack, sire!" the captain exclaimed, his words tumbling out in a frantic rush. "The Shadowmoon clan... they've breached the castle walls. They're after the prince, Your Majesty. We must get him to safety, immediately!"

A chill ran down the King's spine as the gravity of the situation sunk in, his mind racing with the implications of the attack. He knew that the Shadowmoon clan was a ruthless and powerful force, feared throughout the land for their brutality and cunning. If they had indeed breached the castle walls, then the prince's life was in grave danger.

Without hesitation, the king nodded, his voice firm and resolute. "We must go, now," he agreed, already striding towards the door, his guards falling into step beside him. "We'll take the secret passage to the tunnels. It's the only way to ensure the prince's safety."

"My Liege, what about the princess and Queen Dalia?" the Queen's servant cried, her voice trembling with worry as she clutched the Queen's frail hand. "The Queen is too weak to go anywhere, she can barely lift her head off the pillow."

The king's expression turned grim, his eyes clouding with concern as he glanced at his ailing wife. He knew that Queen Dalia's health had been declining rapidly, and the thought of leaving her behind was unbearable. But he also knew that he had no choice, not when the Shadowmoon clan was closing in on them.

"I'll have some guards escort you all to the safety of the eastern wing," he said finally, his voice firm but laced with regret. "But for now, the Prince's safety is top priority. We must get him out of here, no matter what."

The Queen's servant nodded, tears welling up in her eyes as she helped the queen sit up, propping her against the pillows. "I'll take care of her, Your Majesty," she promised, her voice barely above a whisper. "But please, don't forget about us. We'll be waiting for your return."

The king nodded, his throat constricting with emotion as he turned to follow his guards, the sound of clashing steel and the scent of smoke growing louder with every step.

"May," the Queen beckoned to her servant in a weak, barely audible voice, her breath labored and her body frail. "Bring me my daughter, I want to hold her one last time." The Queen's eyes, sunken and weary, pleaded with her servant, her gaze filled with a deep longing.

"Yes, my Lady," the servant replies in a teary tone, her voice cracking with emotion. She gently lifted the small, pink, frail but beautiful infant, wrapped in a soft white linen, and handed her to the Queen.

The Queen's eyes welled up with tears as she cradled her daughter in her arms, her fragile body shaking with sobs. "I just had you and now I have to let you go," she whispered, her voice trembling with grief. "You have been destined for great things, my darling; things that cannot be achieved if you stay here. Nobody can know that you exist, until the time is right. I love you, my daughter." The Queen's words were laced with a deep sadness, her heart heavy with the knowledge that she would never see her daughter grow up.

The princess, as if sensing her mother's pain, let out a loud, piercing cry, her tiny fists clenched in distress. The Queen's tears flowed freely, streaming down her face like a river, as she gazed at her daughter, memorizing every feature, every curve, every detail.

"May, come here," the Queen whispered, her voice barely audible. "Take her away, far away from this place. Please, love her, cherish her, and keep her safe. Make sure she gets all the love that I couldn't give her." The Queen's eyes locked onto her servant's, her gaze filled with a desperate plea.

With trembling hands, the Queen placed the princess into the hands of her servant, her fingers reluctant to let go. She took off the delicate, golden bracelet she was wearing and gently fastened it onto her daughter's tiny wrist. The bracelet, adorned with a small, shimmering gemstone, seemed to glow with an otherworldly light, as if it held a secret, a promise, a destiny.

The Queen's slender fingers grazed the soft, downy hair of her daughter's head, her touch light as a feather. "Kaidaira, my Kaidaira," she whispered, her voice barely audible, yet filled with a depth of emotion that seemed to reverberate through the very air itself.

As she spoke, the Queen's gaze shifted, her eyes locking onto the servant, who stood frozen, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and determination. The Queen's hand extended, her fingers closing around a small, leather pouch filled with gold coins. "Take this," she urged, her voice low and urgent, as she pressed the pouch into the servant's trembling hands.

The servant's eyes darted to the pouch, then back to the Queen, her face set in a resolute expression. The Queen's voice rose, her words tumbling out in a frantic rush. "Now go! Run, and don't look back. Don't stop until you're sure you're safe. Protect Kaidaira with your life. She's the future, our only hope."

With the Queen's words echoing in her ears, the servant turned, her feet pounding against the stone floor as she sprinted towards the door. The baby, Kaidaira, lay secure in her arms, her small face scrunched up in a cry. The servant burst through the door, out into the cool night air, the sounds of chaos and destruction growing fainter with every step.

She ran, her heart pounding in her chest, her breath coming in ragged gasps. The trees loomed ahead, their branches creaking in the wind. The servant darted between them, her feet carrying her deeper into the forest, until the castle, and the Queen, were lost from sight.