21

It was only because the vampires despised cleaning the castle that they allowed the few humans on their housekeeping staff to remain untouched in order for them to fulfill the task they abhorred. Mirabella was one of those humans. Since Lila was kept away from all humans and made to clean her own room to insure her solitude, it was pure chance that she collided into the woman who looked to be about her age a few weeks earlier while sneaking down the hall to see what she could learn about the goings on in the castle.

“I’ve heard about you,” Mirabella whispered as she nervously backed away. “You’re the king’s witch lover.”

“I’m his captive sex slave, not his lover,” Lila insisted. “I despise that monster.”

With eyes wide with horror, the housekeeper quickly urged Lila to lower her voice and monitor her words.

“The walls have ears,” she urged. “Be careful what you say a