The dungeons of Valdris Castle reeked of despair and rotting flesh. Guards patrolled these depths once every hour, their torches casting dancing shadows on the stone walls. I had exactly fifty-seven minutes to escape before the next sweep.
My bare feet made no sound against the cold floor as I approached the heavy oak door. The guard's memories, still fresh in my mind from our kiss, revealed every secret passage and weak point in this fortress. Poor Marcus had been so eager to claim his prize from the helpless slave girl. He never expected his lips to seal his fate.
The iron key turned smoothly in the lock. Marcus lay unconscious in the corner, his life force slowly draining to feed my growing power. He would live, but he would never be the same man who had tried to force himself on me. The Crimson Kiss System had seen to that.
I slipped through the door and into the servant's corridor beyond. The castle buzzed with activity even at this late hour. Maids scurried past carrying linens, stable boys hauled fresh straw, and kitchen servants prepared for tomorrow's feast. None of them spared a glance for another dirty slave girl.
But I was no longer just a slave. The power thrumming through my veins sang a different song now.
My destination lay three floors above: the chambers of Lord Aldric Thorne, younger brother to the Duke of Valdris. The memories I had stolen from Marcus painted a clear picture of the man. Vain, ambitious, and perpetually in debt from his gambling habits. He would be perfect for my needs.
The servants' staircase wound upward through the castle's heart. I climbed with purpose, my enhanced senses alert for any threat. The system had awakened something primal in me, a predator's instincts that had been dormant in my previous life. This time, I would not be prey.
A chambermaid rounded the corner ahead, arms full of fresh towels. She looked up at me with surprise, taking in my torn dress and disheveled appearance.
"You there," she called out. "What are you doing in the upper levels?"
I smiled, letting my lips curve in what I hoped was a helpless expression. "Please, I'm lost. Lord Aldric requested my services, but I cannot find his chambers."
The woman's eyes narrowed with suspicion, but something in my voice made her pause. Perhaps it was the system's influence, or perhaps she simply recognized the resignation of a slave who had no choice in her fate.
"Third door on the right," she said finally. "But mind yourself, girl. His lordship has particular tastes."
I nodded gratefully and continued up the stairs. The third door stood slightly ajar, golden light spilling into the hallway. I could hear movement within, the clink of glass against glass. Lord Aldric was drinking alone, just as Marcus's memories had suggested he would be.
I pushed the door open and stepped inside.
Aldric Thorne sat behind an ornate desk, a half-empty bottle of wine at his elbow. He was younger than I expected, perhaps twenty-five, with the kind of refined features that spoke of noble breeding. His dark hair was perfectly styled despite the late hour, and his green eyes held an intelligence that made him dangerous.
He looked up as I entered, his gaze traveling slowly from my face to my bare feet. A smile played at the corners of his mouth.
"Well, well. What have we here?" His voice was smooth, cultured. "I don't recall summoning entertainment for this evening."
I closed the door behind me and approached his desk with careful steps. "My lord, I seek your protection. I have information that might interest you."
Aldric leaned back in his chair, amusement flickering in his eyes. "Information? From a slave girl? How delightfully unexpected."
I moved closer, close enough that he could smell the fear and desperation that still clung to me. Close enough that when I leaned over his desk, my torn dress revealed just enough skin to capture his attention.
"Your brother plans to disinherit you," I whispered. "He's been meeting with the merchant lords, discussing your debts. He believes you're a liability to the family name."
The amusement died in Aldric's eyes. "Impossible. Gerald would never—"
"Three nights ago, in the blue drawing room. He told Lord Matthias that you were weak, that your gambling had brought shame upon the Thorne name. He plans to announce his decision at tomorrow's feast."
Aldric's hand tightened around his wine glass. "You lie."
I shook my head sadly. "I was serving wine that night. Slaves become invisible when nobles wish to speak freely."
It was a lie, of course. But it was a lie built on truth. Gerald Thorne had indeed been growing tired of his brother's excesses, and Aldric's paranoia about his inheritance was well-founded. I simply provided the spark to ignite the powder keg.
"Even if this were true," Aldric said carefully, "why would you warn me? What do you hope to gain?"
I moved around the desk, coming to stand beside his chair. "I hope to live, my lord. If you fall from grace, what becomes of those who served you? Your brother has no use for damaged goods."
Aldric's gaze swept over me again, lingering on the bruises that darkened my throat. "And what would you have me do with this information?"
"Use it." I placed my hand on his shoulder, feeling the tension in his muscles. "Confront him before he can make his announcement. Show him that you're not the weak fool he believes you to be."
Aldric stood suddenly, his chair scraping against the floor. He was taller than I expected, his presence commanding despite his reputation. "You play a dangerous game, girl. Making accusations against my family."
"I play no game, my lord. I simply try to survive."
He studied my face for a long moment, searching for deception. I let him look, keeping my expression carefully neutral. Finally, he reached out and tilted my chin up with his fingers.
"What's your name?"
"Seraphina, my lord."
"Seraphina." He tested the name on his tongue. "Tell me, Seraphina, what happened to you? Those bruises are fresh."
I allowed tears to gather in my eyes. "The guards, my lord. They said I was fair game since I have no master to protect me."
Aldric's jaw tightened. "I see."
I stepped closer, close enough that I could feel the heat radiating from his body. "I could serve you well, my lord. I have skills beyond what most slaves possess. I can read and write, I know the ways of court, and I have eyes and ears in places where nobles never venture."
"And in return?"
"Your protection. A place in your household where I would be safe from men like those guards."
Aldric's thumb traced the line of my jaw. "You're quite beautiful, despite your current state. I wonder what you might look like cleaned up and properly dressed."
My heart raced, but not from fear. The system pulsed within me, responding to his proximity. I could feel his life force, warm and inviting. One kiss, and I could take everything from him. His memories, his knowledge, his connections at court. But not yet. This required finesse.
"Perhaps you could find out, my lord," I said softly.
Aldric's eyes darkened. "Bold words from a slave girl."
"I am no longer just a slave, my lord. I am a survivor."
He leaned closer, his breath warm against my cheek. "Are you indeed?"
I tilted my face up toward his, letting my lips part slightly. "Kiss me, and find out."
For a moment, I thought he would refuse. Then his mouth descended on mine, and the world exploded into sensation.
The Crimson Kiss System activated instantly. Power flooded through me as his memories began to unfold in my mind. I saw his childhood, his fears, his desperate need to prove himself worthy of his family name. I felt his loneliness, his hunger for recognition, his growing attraction to the broken girl who had stumbled into his chambers.
But I took only what I needed. A few key memories, some knowledge of court politics, and most importantly, the location of certain documents that would prove useful. I left the rest intact, along with his free will. I needed him functional, not broken.
When we broke apart, Aldric stared at me with wonder. "What was that?"
I smiled, allowing a hint of mystery to color my expression. "Magic, my lord. The kind that comes from a grateful heart."
He laughed, but there was uncertainty in his eyes. "You're full of surprises, Seraphina."
"I hope to be, my lord."
Aldric walked to his window, gazing out at the moonlit courtyard below. "Very well. I'll take your warning seriously. And I'll consider your offer of service."
"Thank you, my lord."
"But understand this," he turned back to me, his expression serious. "If you're lying to me, if this is some elaborate scheme to manipulate me, I will not hesitate to have you flogged and sold to the slave markets of the eastern provinces."
I bowed my head submissively. "I understand, my lord."
"Good." He moved to a chest beside his bed and withdrew a small leather pouch. "Take this. Find yourself proper clothes and a bath. Report to my steward in the morning, and he'll assign you quarters in the servants' wing."
I accepted the pouch, feeling the weight of coins within. "You're most generous, my lord."
"I'm practical, Seraphina. If your information proves valuable, you'll be rewarded accordingly. If not..." He let the threat hang in the air.
I curtsied as gracefully as I could manage in my torn dress. "By your leave, my lord."
Aldric waved his hand dismissively, already turning back to his wine. But I could feel his eyes on me as I walked to the door. The kiss had affected him more than he wanted to admit. The system had planted seeds of desire and dependence that would grow stronger with time.
As I slipped back into the corridor, I allowed myself a small smile of satisfaction. The first move had been made. Tomorrow, Aldric would confront his brother with accusations that would tear their family apart. In the chaos that followed, I would position myself to gather more power, more allies, more pieces on the board.
The memories I had stolen from him painted a clear picture of the political landscape. Duke Gerald Thorne was indeed planning to cut his brother's inheritance, but not for the reasons I had suggested. He was being pressured by creditors who wanted assurance that the family's debts would be honored. Aldric's gambling had put them all at risk.
But men like Aldric were easy to manipulate when their pride was wounded. Tomorrow's confrontation would create the perfect opportunity for me to expand my influence.
I made my way back through the castle's corridors, my stolen memories providing perfect navigation. The servants' quarters were located in the eastern wing, a maze of small rooms and communal spaces that housed the castle's workforce. I found an empty alcove and settled in to wait for morning.
The pouch Aldric had given me contained enough silver to buy passage to the next province, but I had no intention of running. Not yet. The castle was full of opportunities, and I had only just begun to taste the power that flowed through my veins.
The Crimson Kiss System hummed with satisfaction, feeding on the energy I had absorbed from Aldric. I could feel it growing stronger, more sophisticated. Soon, I would be able to do so much more than steal memories and manipulate emotions.
But for now, I was content to wait and plan. The three men who had betrayed me were out there somewhere, living their lives in blissful ignorance of my survival. They thought they had killed the woman who loved them, who trusted them with her heart and her secrets.
They were wrong.
The Crimson Queen was dead, it was true. But from her ashes, something far more dangerous had been born. Something that would not rest until every betrayal had been repaid in full.
I closed my eyes and let the castle's night sounds wash over me. Tomorrow, the real work would begin.