“About time,” Andre said as I ran alongside him. “Come on, let’s pick up the pace.”
Andre took off. He should have been a blur, but my new eyesight was able to follow him easily.
“What are you waiting for?” he called back to me.
I blinked. Oh—I could run fast now. I picked up my pace, building my speed up. The fields I ran through flew by, gradually becoming denser and transitioning into forest.
I could no longer see Andre, but I could sense him ahead of me. A minute later I felt Andre stop. I ran towards him, his energy my lodestone. I heard the sound of running water seconds before I came to a halt next to him.
“This is what I wanted to show you,” Andre said, extending a hand to encompass the grotto.
I looked around me and gasped. How had I not noticed it before? My supernatural eyesight added an entirely new depth to the night. All living things produced a subtle glow, brightening the dark. It was luminous, and I watched, mesmerized.
The pool of water in front of us glowed as fish swam underneath its surface. In the trees I noticed owls, their bodies shining brighter than the surrounding plants.
“This is … beautiful.”
Andre smiled as he stared about him. “I often forget what it’s like to experience this all for the first time.” He looked over at me. “I’m glad I got to be the one to show you.”
“How come I hadn’t noticed this earlier?”
“The city is too bright for us to pick up this type of light.”
We stood there for a long time, just watching this secret little world.
Eventually Andre glanced at his watch and broke the silence. “Let’s get going. It’s time to introduce you to the coven.”
***
As we approached a high security gate, I considered the course my life had taken. Less than a week ago I had no idea the supernatural world actually existed. Now, not only was I a part of that world, I’d also managed to become an outcast. I found it ironic; I’d been so skeptical of their world that I hadn’t considered they’d be skeptical of mine.
We rolled up to a wrought iron gate, and a security guard sitting in a nearby booth nodded to Andre. The gate swung open and the car rumbled through. We sped along the road for another few minutes before we approached a grand mansion. According to Andre, this was Bishopcourt, his estate.
Andre broke the silence. “The doctor said you died at your Awakening.” I met his eyes. He looked concerned. It was difficult to dislike him when he acted like he cared.
I broke eye contact and stared out the window, taking in the group of people waiting for Andre in front of his mansion. “Did they tell you I woke up in the morgue?”
“Yes.” I expected him to laugh, but instead his voice was solemn. I turned back to him. His eyes were searching my face, and I got the impression he was memorizing something about me.
Reluctantly he broke his gaze and turned off the car. As soon as the ignition was off, Andre’s minions descended on us.
“Good evening miss,” said the man who opened my door.
“Evening,” I murmured back. This was so strange.
I looked over at Andre, who was exchanging formalities with one of his people. He was a chameleon; all signs of his somber mood had vanished the instant he left the car. He caught my stare and smiled. The sight of his smile sent a jolt through me.
Breaking away from the small crowd that had formed around him, he came over to me and wrapped an arm around my shoulders, sending a shock of energy through me. “Don’t look so freaked out. We haven’t even gotten to the good stuff yet,” he whispered into my ear.
I discreetly shrugged his arm off, and together we walked towards the mansion.
The two guards who stood to either side of the doorway bowed in unison and opened the door for us. My jaw slackened, and I did a double take of Andre, sure I had missed something. The guy was a celebrity; I expected the attention. But bowing? That indicated reverence.
“Who are you?” I asked.
“I am the king of vampires.”
Chapter 9
I stopped walking. I’d never felt more out of my element. “You’re a king? And these people are what, your minions?” I gestured to the great number people who appeared to be waiting on him.
“They are my subjects,” he said.
I let that sink in. An undead king. No wonder the guy couldn’t take no for an answer.
We walked down a long hallway, turned down another, and finally stopped in front of a pair of closed doors.
Andre placed a hand on my shoulder. “Before we go in, I should mention that the audience might be hostile.”
I doubled back to glare at him. “What do you mean ‘hostile’?” I squeaked.
He heaved a tired sigh. “No one’s going to hurt you Gabrielle. You are one of us. It’s just that no vampire has been created in almost a century—and no vampire has ever been born.”