There was a long silence.

"Fuck, Caroline! Are you saying you came down here for me even though you knew you were in for seven lashes? I don't mean just any ... the pictures they showed us were really drastic. And bloody! It tore the fucking skin off their flesh!"

"Wow, Isy, cool down! And don't blame yourself. That was my decision! And don't worry, I've been through worse. I'm tough enough to handle this." Caroline tried to smile confidently. "Besides, I even have the matching outfit on already."

Isy glanced at her but could only see the dark coat Caroline was wearing over her dress. The girl decided not to go into it.

"Do you think then the king might suspend the punishment because you were honest or it was your first offence?" She sounded hopeful.

"No," Caroline laughed softly. "If there's one thing he's not, it's arbitrary or easily manipulated! I think the security that everyone has on the island, the stability that exists here, are only possible because he is consistent and follows rules without exception. I don't think anything can be done about what’s coming for me. But I'm hoping that there's a chance that we'll still find a basis on which we can somehow get along afterwards."

She broke free of Isy's tight grip against her own will and stood up for good. She wanted to get it over with. More than the physical punishment, she feared Thomas's penetrating gaze and what he would say.

"Please take good care of yourself!"

Caroline could tell from Isy's tone that she was close to tears again. She didn't want to leave the girl alone.

"You can do it!" Her voice was meant to encourage, but sounded husky. "You're ready for tomorrow! I'll see you soon!"

Isy sniffled, but nodded bravely.

Before Caroline could change her mind, she made her way back down the white hallway with quick steps, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye.

It almost seemed like a psychiatric ward. She tried to recall the way back, picking up the dropped candle as she passed.

Around the corner, two sets of double doors, hall, to the castle gate and from there she was back on familiar ground. It must be four o'clock by now. By the time she would be back it would probably be after half past four. Should she then go straight up to the king? Was it appropriate to knock on his door? Should she wait for Rebekka or Damien or wake them up. The sooner she ...

Lost in thought she turned the corner and stopped rooted to the spot. Her heart skipped a beat and her chest tightened. She clutched the candle so tightly that her knuckles stood out white.

Three people stood in front of her. Joël, whom she hadn't seen since the trial. Damien, who had his mouth pressed so tightly together that only a narrow line was visible. The sight of the last person made her feel sick. The king had folded his arms and was looking at her blankly.

"Hey, are you okay?" Isy's worried voice pierced the cotton wool that surrounded her.

"Yeah, everything's allright. I'll see you soon," Caroline replied reflexively. To her own surprise her voice sounded normal.

Thomas held open the swinging door with one hand and motioned her to go through. She followed his non-verbal instruction as if in a trance and continued walking through the second door into the entrance hall.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

The stares of the three vampires burned at her back. Even before the door had swung out, Thomas grabbed her by the arm and forced her around. He no longer looked neutral, but angry as hell.

"Do you think your friend is safe?" His voice cut through the silence. "Are you feeling better now?"

"I know it looks bad, but I didn't mean to ..."

"I asked you a question!"

Caroline wished she could sink to the ground and die.

Damien had come to stand beside Thomas. His hands clenched into fists. Joël sat on the reception desk a few feet away and watched the proceedings with interest.

If she wanted to save anything, she had to be honest.

"I think she now has all the information to make a good decision, Your Majesty. I actually do feel better about that." Her voice was low, but she was sure the three of them could easily understand her.

"Do you realise the consequences of your actions?" The suppressed anger was audible in every syllable.

"I know what the penalty is." She looked at the floor.

Thomas let go of her and ran his hand over his face. The spot on her arm where he had grabbed her throbbed unpleasantly.

"I've accepted you as my ward and assured the council that I take responsibility for your actions! And the first thing you do is go against a direct order on purpose? In full knowledge that you are forcing me to punish you and thereby admit that I have made a misjudgement?"

"You did not make a misjudgement! I did not mean to deceive you! I was going to ..." Her voice broke. She took a deep breath and kneaded her useless hands.

"I tried to tell you how important it was for me to speak to her, Your Majesty! You ignored it. I was faced with the choice of doing nothing and enduring the fear for my friend or do something and pay the price. I didn't want to disappoint or betray you. I was going to ..." Again she was lost.

Should she tell him that she had wanted to turn herself in? Would he believe her? Now that she had been caught red-handed? No, she decided against it. It would probably do more harm than good.

His posture relaxed a little. "You had planned to come to me and confess what you have done."

She held her breath.

How ...?

"And no, you only think you know what the decision will cost you! You've never experienced what seven lashes can do to a human body! It doesn't sound like much, but it could kill you if I put it to the test."

"How do you know what I was going to do?" She ignored what he had said about the punishment. She knew more about that than he suspected.

All of a sudden it came to her how the three of them knew her intentions!

"Oh no!" The deep sigh escaped her. She squeezed her eyes tightly shut and her hands to her mouth for a moment. Wished to become invisible!

"How much have ... how long have you listened?" Her voice barely a whisper.

Joël grinned broadly at her. "Long enough to know that you're hoping for hot vampire sex, but won't give either of us your heart because we can't be trusted."

Damien rolled his eyes. "You didn't think we'd let you out of our sight for even a second, did you?" He like Thomas sputtered with suppressed anger.

She felt the blood rush to her head. This couldn't be happening! Damn it, what had she said to Isy again?

Keep a cool head, Caroline! Pull yourself together! All right, they heard us, let them do what they want with it!

Anger rose up in her. Anger was welcome. Anger was better than shame. She could work with that!

" Well, the good thing is that all your questions should have been answered," Caroline said calmly, looking at them all in turn. "So we can get down to business."

"What do you mean?" asked Thomas, confused. His anger seemed to fade a little.

"Well, punishment is most effective when it follows directly on the offence, isn't it? Since we are not far from the dungeons ..." She left the sentence open, but from the surprised look on the men's faces she saw that they understood perfectly.

Even Joël's grin faded. "Right now?"

"Why not?" Caroline shrugged her shoulders indifferent.

"You're angry, Your Majesty." She turned her full attention to Thomas, her voice intense. "You think I can't estimate what's coming? Then go ahead, show me! You think my decision was wrong and not worth the punishment? Fine, I disagree. Let's find out who's right."

She paused and when she spoke again her voice was soft, almost pleading.

"I cannot prove anymore that I would have come to you. I can only assure you that I never intended to betray you and risk your trust. I hope you can believe that. And I hope that after I have accepted the consequences, we can make a fresh start.”

Thomas was silent for a few seconds. Then he took a step closer so that she could even feel his body heat and see his muscles tensing under the shirt.

"I have no other plans. We have the necessary witness and if you think it is a good idea to carry out the punishment while I am still angry, … then so be it!"

Caroline swallowed hard, straightened her shoulders and nodded. She walked past him, out of the door, towards the main building and down the stairs that led to the dungeons.