How she knows that?

"Welcome to our land, we have been anticipating your arrival." A low, shrill voice made its way towards Draveric's ears who stood there focused on the one by whom those uncanny words had been uttered

"My arrival? As if you knew I shall pay you a visit?" Draveric smirked sarcastically but deep down the words that had been said disturbed him slightly.

Why would she say that? He couldn't help but think. No one knew about him planning to come here and what else he would do. Could it be possible that she knew about the latter as well? But how?

"I mean it was just a coincidence, my lady." He added. He had to force himself to change his tone immediately. He couldn't let them get a hint of his intentions, at least not yet.

However, what was said next shook him down to the core.

"Aren't you the infamous cursed Prince who was born with a scared face? The scar that never heals." Her last statement didn't sound like a question.

Draveric could feel the woman's red eyes studying him up and down. He felt too exposed despite being concealed well beneath a cloak. Or maybe it was because she was staring deep down in his soul, unraveling his secrets.

"The only son of King Bastian, sole ruler of humans who is lying helplessly on his deathbed, waiting for a young Siren's blood to cure him." The way she said the last words sent shivers down Victor's body. On the other hand Draveric gritted his teeth, his fists clenched to his sides.

Who was she?!

How did she know all of this?!

He was definitely not prepared for this.

Suddenly the woman's tail stopped swaying and started shrinking in size. The two fins that were slightly parted at the end started dividing completely into two halves and transformed into a set of naked, dark legs that settled on the base of the stone effortlessly.

The transformation happened in the blink of an eye. The woman got up from the throne and started climbing down in the light. Slowly her upper body came into sight and then her face. Victor's eyes widened as he gulped down the saliva that was accumulating in his mouth.

Her skin was black, utterly black with no hue of any other color. It almost appeared as if she lacked all the temperateness on the earth; as cold as an iceberg. The only distinguishable features on her face were her smoldering red eyes, those pearly teeth that were all pointed like sharp fangs and the red snake-like tongue that kept coming out of her mouth.

Her hair was like fluorescent snakes accumulated above her head and they were oscillating like the waves of water, beside her head. She wore many seashells, all over her body, the light objects a contradiction against her dark skin. Her claw-like hand played with the small gold skull that hung in her neck. The eyes of the skull blazed just as red as the woman's.

She was certainly one of the ugliest creatures to look at, devoid of any warmth, incompetent of kindness.

"Did I miss out something?" She inquired, coming to a halt before Draveric.

The only thing serving distance between her and the Prince of Hunza was the stream of water that was incapable of cooling down the hatred they held in their eyes for each other.

Draveric made a subtle sound with his tongue slipping against the back of his teeth, indicating that he didn't agree with her just said statement. "You didn't, instead you seem to know more than necessary. It might turn out to be unhealthy for you."

"I see you are already worried for my well-being. Seems like you would turn out to be a fine son-in-law for us." She dropped the next bomb on him and this time Draveric's facial expression couldn't remain composed anymore.

"Your son in law?" He snapped, letting out a humorless chuckle afterwards. The laugh gave out a view of his straight, white teeth except his canines that were slightly protruding out than the rest. The woman paid extra attention to that particular detail and her eyes narrowed, the red in them dimming to a darker tone.

'Seems like you aren't just cursed.' She thought and smirked. 'This is going to be fun.'

"Why? Is there a problem with it? Obviously you came here to take one of us then why not marry her and take her without any hustle?" She offered with an eyebrow raised. "Otherwise you shouldn't have the audacity to think that you will steal from my land and escape untouched."

A disturbance behind him alerted Draveric's senses but before he could have acted upon it, a bunch of the monstrous creatures were holding Victor hostage under their sharp claws and teeth.

"D-dray…" Victor's lips wavered slightly but he was too occupied to move in his defence.

"Let him go," He sneered at the creatures and then turned around to look at Xobaria. "Don't pull him in between this. Tell them to release him or I will have to ask them my way."

"Don't even think about it. Their instincts will be sharper than your initiatives. One wrong move and you will lose your friend."

Draveric saw from the corner of his eye; they were slowly pulling Victor away from him.

"What do you want?" He came to the point, his focus majorly to the side where Victor was. He was physically ready to attack them but was also worried that it might end up hurting Victor more than those leeches around him.

"It's you who wants something, dearie. I am just offering my help." She shrugged, now pulling her nails in front of her face and rubbing her thumb over them. "Your friend will remain safe in our company so that you can think about our offer peacefully in seclusion."

Upon her gesture, the creatures started dragging him further away. He was one and they were many, holding his arms and legs and even his torso. All he could do was to look helplessly at Draveric who gave him an assuring look back.

"Don't fall into their trap. Stay alert. I will find you soon." He mouthed at Victor before turning towards Xobaria once again.

"I need some time to make my decision but no harm shall come to my friend."

"Oh don't worry about that. They won't let him get bored." She smiled but Draveric could see the pure evil behind her smile and the meaning behind her words.

He had to figure out this situation as soon as possible!

"Aurora will show you your room. Take all the time you need."

As Draveric tilted his head to look at the newcomer by his side, all the words died in his mouth along with the wrath that was bubbling in his veins mere moments ago…