Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 117167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 586(@200wpm)___ 469(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 586(@200wpm)___ 469(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
“What? How can you not remember your name?”
The man stopped and glared at him. “Does a name matter? Must I have a name in order to exist?”
Xiang backpedaled, almost falling on his ass once again. “What? No. I guess not.” He wanted to point out that they were in a dragon’s cave and he was now following a strange man by lamplight. A name might help make all this feel a little less weird, but if Xiang were being honest with himself, a name probably wouldn’t help anything.
Mr. No-Name huffed and resumed walking through the cave with Xiang a few steps behind him. Xiang tried to pay attention to his guide. He moved easily through the narrow passageways as if he’d walked them many times. The lantern didn’t provide a lot of light, definitely not enough for a human to be comfortable moving over the uneven ground, but this person didn’t have any problems.
“So…do you work for the dragon, like a servant, or…are you trapped—”
He bit off the rest of his question as the man glared at him yet again over his shoulder. “Why would anyone willingly remain in a place like this?”
Xiang bit his tongue and forced an overly broad smile on his lips. Got it. Just another prisoner of the dragon. Apparently he had been stuck here for quite a while, which would explain how he was able to navigate the cave with such ease.
“Then, if you’re a prisoner like me, we can help each other. We can escape!”
The stranger snorted. “No one escapes the dragon.”
Xiang opened his mouth to inform him that not only was he a vampire with all the speed and strength that came with being a vampire, but he also had a clan who was searching for him. Of course, they could escape the dragon together.
However, all those words were forgotten when they turned a corner, and the light from the lantern illuminated a large metal door. It was the first sign of human life outside of Mr. No-Name. While his companion had said there was no escape, this was reassuring. Maybe it was an old storehouse, or it led back above ground. Anything that could possibly help them get out of this cave.
Stepping forward, he grabbed on to the giant metal ring with Mr. No-Name and pulled. It took a moment, but the door finally swung soundlessly open and they were both bathed in warm golden light. Gone was nearly all hint of the cave.
“What the…” Xiang breathed as he slowly stepped into the gigantic room that was opulently decorated from floor to towering ceiling far overhead. Dozens of candles and lamps flickered, casting dancing light in fragmented colors all over the room. Lush furs and exquisite rugs covered every inch of the floors. Everywhere he looked were pieces of furniture from every country and era of time. All of it appeared brand-new, as if they’d never been touched by a living person.
Along one long wall was bookshelf after bookshelf filled with books. Another wall held countless gleaming weapons that left his fingers aching to touch.
Not to mention, on every surface were pieces of art and knickknacks crusted with gems. There were even loose gems as small as pebbles and big as his palm scattered about. It was simply too much for his brain to take it all in. He might never have ventured into the emperor’s palace in Chang’An, but he couldn’t imagine that it was as rich as this.
“In the various bureaus, wardrobes, and chests, you will find clothing. There should be something among them that fits you. Feel free to wear whatever you wish,” Mr. No-Name said, waving his hand to the left.
Xiang took a few tentative steps forward and leaned a little bit to look where his companion directed. There were, in fact, a dozen old chests and several bureaus. He could imagine that he was going to find rich silks, fine cottons, soft cashmeres, and elegant linens. Definitely not his usual choice, but at least it would be warm and dry.
“Sleep wherever you want. There’s a bed through those curtains, but there are also sofas and cushions everywhere,” the man continued, pointing almost absently toward a set of nearly see-through red silk drapes that partitioned off the room.
“Where do you sleep?”
His new “friend” ignored his question and kept walking through the room. He pointed in another direction. “There’s a kitchen through there. You should find plenty of food.”
Xiang wandered forward to peek through the red drapes and wished he hadn’t. The giant wood-carved bed was on a fucking pedestal. It appeared too rich and expensive for anyone to sleep on. Plus, it was on a fucking pedestal.
“Yeah, food,” he called out, slowly backing away from the bed. “That’s nice, but I’m a vampire. Normal food isn’t going to cut it for me.” Not to mention, he really wasn’t that great of a cook despite living for more than two thousand years.