chapter 6
Arrick and Dmitry deposited our bags by the door for the eager hands of the servants who had been awaiting our arrival. Of all the servants there, I recognized one face. It was the girl who had warned me about Bennett. I couldn’t remember her name, but I was still very happy to see that she had survived the attack. She smiled at me happily, taking in the others in my group.
“Would you take Louie to my room?” I asked her, offering her my furry friend who had finally giving up fighting my grasp.
“Of course, princess. We’re so happy to have you back home.” Her genuine smile stretched across her face, and the others joined in with her, nodding their agreement.
“I’m happy to be home. Do you know where my parents are?”
“They’re in the throne room,” she answered cheerily, like my arrival had broken through the storm cloud that hung over the Château.
“Oh, Princess!” Liz drawled sarcastically before nudging me with her elbow. “I sure hope you don’t expect me to call you that.”
“I don’t expect anyone to call me that, Lizzy!” I teased, using the nickname that her mother had given her that she absolutely hated. As soon as the kids in grade school learned that one, she was dubbed Dizzy Lizzy. And that’s when Liz’s career in playground fights began.
“Hey!” She pointed her finger at me with a stern look on her face. I’d definitely pushed a button, but I couldn’t stop myself from laughing.
“Oh, I think Lizzy is a pretty name,” Robin sided with me, a smile making way for her ivory fangs.
“Great!” Liz threw her hands up in the air, giving up.
“I’m just teasing, Liz. You know I love you.” I wrapped an arm around her, pulling her toward me. She crossed her arms against her chest and glared at me, but the corners of her lips were curling up and I knew she wasn’t really mad.
“All right, let’s go,” Arrick said, after giving orders on where all our luggage should go. He and Dmitry led the way, while the girls and I hung back. I pointed out every piece of artwork that I thought Robin would enjoy.
Massive double doors lay open to the throne room as we approached. The sight of it didn’t rattle my nerves as I had expected it to. In fact, all I could think of were the two vampires I saw standing before me. I pushed past my friends, running to the giant table that stood in the center of the room. I recognized it from the strategy room. I wondered why they had brought it in here. Did the strategy room get destroyed?
I pushed that thought to the back of my mind as I closed the gap between my parents and me in the blink of an eye. I fell into my mother’s waiting arms, and my father wrapped us both in the cocoon of his embrace.
“I missed you,” I said, buried in their arms.
“We missed you too, Claire. Let us have a look at you,” my father said, pulling away from me. He looked me up and down, ensuring that I truly wasn’t hurt.
I blinked away the tears that wanted to fall, as nightmarish flashes played through my mind. My father’s motionless body on the floor, my mother’s blood dripping into a pool and the fear in her eyes. I didn’t know what I would have done if they hadn’t survived, but they did and I needed to focus on that. My stomach lurched as I saw the pallor of my mother’s skin. It was nothing like the vibrant, ivory flesh of a vampire. It carried an unusual shade of gray I’d never seen before, and so did my father’s. Their injuries must have been more severe than I had realized if they still looked this ill.
Nausea roared in my gut, and without even thinking I clutched at the stones under my blouse. Arrick was at my side as my breath drew in ragged gasps. He clutched my hands in his, tearing them away from the stones and forcing me to look at him. “They’re going to be fine.” He stared at me without blinking and all I could do was nod. “I promise,” he whispered in my ear, his breath tickling my neck.
“Claire, darling,” my mother cooed, stroking my hair. “Arrick is right, we will be just fine.”
“What’s wrong with you?” my tone wavered pitifully. It sounded like a stupid question after I said it, but they looked sick. As far as I knew, vampires didn’t get sick. In fact, we healed remarkably fast, as long as we fed.
“You’re not feeding?” Dmitry cut in. My father shook his head.
“Why not?” Arrick questioned, sounding alarmed.
“Baal and his monsters destroyed our stock,” Rennek said, standing up from the table. I hadn’t even realized he was there. My attention had been solely focused on my parents.
“What about donations?” I stepped away from Arrick’s embrace, eager to find a resolution.
“The population of the entire region is donating in masses, but…”
“But, what?” To my surprise, my tone had grown suddenly angry.
“Your parents are refusing to eat,” Jarvan added, with severe disapproval, stepping away from the table.
“You’re not eating?!” I whirled on my parents, anger dripping from my voice. They’d been brutally injured. Why weren’t they feeding?
“No,” my mother answered, sounding sad as she sat down. My father took a step to stand beside her, laying his strong hands on her shoulders for support. “We will not eat until our people and our guards have been fed.”
“All due respect your majesty, but that’s insane!” Dmitry countered, but shrank back at the glare my father gave him. I was shocked he’d been so bold to make such a statement.
“Insane? Insane to put the lives of our people first? Insane to cherish the existence of those that are most precious to us?” my father bellowed in rage.
“He’s right, Cathair,” Jarvan joined in, standing beside Dmitry. “How can you defend your people if you’re not strong enough to do so?” I could hear my father’s growl vibrate throughout the room.
“Our stocks are nearly replenished, your majesty. I planned to tell you this very news in my report tonight. There is plenty to go around for our guards and the royal family,” Rennek reported, trying to calm the storm that was brewing.
“It looks like we all could use something to eat,” my mother added, taking in all our malnourished bodies. She was right. We might have been trying to respect the dead by fasting; and they might have been trying to honor their people by not eating, but we’d never be able to fight Baal if we were too weak to stand.
“Introduce us to your friends, dear,” my mother said, smiling.
“This is Robin; she lived with me at the palace.” I gestured to my angelic-like vampire friend, and she bowed courteously.
“And what did you do at the palace?” my father asked curiously, all the anger gone from his tone though his expression grew suspicious.
“I studied vampire history under my parents’ guidance,” she answered, the word parents catching lightly in her throat. I prayed my father caught on to that and didn’t ask her about them. I knew Robin wasn’t ready to talk about it yet, and doing so would only cause her more pain.
“And this is my friend, Liz.” I latched onto her arm, pulling her to my side. I squeezed her hand seeing the nervous look in her eyes. She’d never been around this many vampires in all her life. I recalled how alarming that could feel.
“Oh, is this the famous Liz from your childhood?” my mother asked, her eyebrows reaching for the ceiling.
Liz glanced at me with a worried expression. “Nice to meet you. Your home is lovely.”
“Not quite as lovely as it used to be, but it will be,” my mother replied, the sparkle returning to her eyes.
My father nodded in Dmitry’s direction, ready for my mouthy friend to be introduced. “I’m Dmitry, sir. Again, I meant no disrespect,” he said, bowing deeply.
“I admire those who speak their mind,” my father said, striding toward him. “That’s why I keep this old vampire around,” he nodded toward Jarvan, “just choose your words carefully. Your anger can be more useful when directed at Baal and not at your allies.” My father grasped Dmitry’s shoulder before turning away.
I hadn’t realized it until my father said it, but there was definitely anger emitting from Dmitry. Why hadn’t I noticed it before? Things were so different between us that it felt like a massive chasm had wedged itself there. I had tried to reach out to him, but that hadn’t been enough. Whether we were together or not, we were still friends and I should be there for him. I could only imagine the anguish he must be feeling. The loss of his brother, the attack on the palace, the shame his parents carried on their shoulders. Even seeing me with Arrick couldn’t make things any easier, that is, if Dmitry still had feelings for me, which I wasn’t sure he did. He rubbed at the scar that stretched across his face and I wondered if it would ever heal.
“How long have the two of you lived with Nicolae?” Jarvan asked with distrust in his eyes.
“All my life,” Robin answered quickly. My father and Jarvan both consider her answer without a reaction before turning their gazes onto Dmitry.
“Two decades, sir,” Dmitry said clearly.
“Hmm…” Jarvan looked the two of them up and down before turning toward my father to begin whispering in his hear.
“Hey! Wait a minute. You don’t think…” I shouted at Jarvan angrily. I could see the mistrust in his eyes and I wouldn’t have it.
“How do we know we can trust them your majesty?” Jarvan asked, ignoring my outburst.
“You can trust them!” I cried out. “I trust them with my life. Father!”
“With your life?” my father questioned, raising his hand to silence Jarvan.
“Yes,” I confirmed with every confident fiber in my being.
“As do I,” Arrick added.
“Well… that’s good enough for me,” my mother decreed, smiling kindly at Robin and Dmitry who looked extremely uncomfortable.
“Very well. If my daughter and her Blood Guard vouch for you than that is all the confirmation I need,” Cathair said. I smiled broadly, enjoying the instant relief visible in Robin and Dmitry.
“But…” Jarvan groaned in protest.
“That’s enough Jarvan,” my father’s tone rose in vibrato, silencing Jarvan. “Rennek, bring us up to speed on your report,” Cathair ordered, gesturing for us all to take a seat at the table. Arrick sat at my left squeezing my hand in his, and Liz to my right. I could feel her nerves rattling inside her so I gave her a reassuring smile and she immediately calmed. Robin took a seat beside Liz, scooting her chair closer before whispering something in Liz’s ear that made her smile. Dmitry took a seat last, visibly doing his best to avoid eye contact with everyone.
Rennek stood, gathering papers in his hands before taking a deep breath. “Repairs of the Château are expected to be completed in three months’ time. The damage to the west wing was extensive, but the construction crew is confident they can get everything completed by their projected date.” My parents nodded their approval and Rennek went on after shuffling through his reports. “Our blood supply has been replenished to sixty percent. The city and regional populations are donating in such full force that we are having to turn people away. I’ve been notified by personnel that the stock should be fully replenished within a matter of days, sir.”
“Good, good. Where has the facility been relocated to?”
“To Pavo, your majesty,” Rennek answered.
“Where’s Pavo?” I whispered to my mother.
“About an hour south of here. It will be much more secure there.”
“We’ve doubled security as well,” Jarvan added, interrupting Rennek as he went through his notes. “I believe The Dark targeted our stock specifically.”
“Why do you think that?” Arrick asked.
“It is a tactic we are sadly familiar with,” my father answered.
“We believe it was Baals intention to destroy our blood supply entirely. After the king and queen were dead, our people would starve and turn on each other. Forcing them to feed on their own people or die.”
Both Liz and Robin gasped, slapping their hands on their mouths. “But, we were able to save some of our supply? I asked.
“Yes,” Rennek answered. “Reinforcements arrived at our stock building in time to salvage what was left and kill the remaining Dark vampires.”
“That’s good, right?” I was trying my best to sound hopeful. We’d stopped Baal from accomplishing one of his missions. It sounded like good news to me.
“Not without casualties, princess, but yes it is good. Had our supply been completely destroyed it would have been much more difficult to recover.”
I dropped my gaze to the table, knotting my fingers together. Casualties, of course there had been casualties. I’d seen them myself.
“Baal also failed to assassinate the king and queen,” a voice said from behind me that I recognized very well.
“Bennett?” I twirled around in my chair to get a better look. It was him! Relief and guilt rushed through me. I’d left him behind as I dangerously jumped into the portal, leaving him alone in a field, brutally injured.
He smiled his wicked grin at me, looking healthier than my parents. However, there was something in his expression that was completely different. He used to carry an air of challenge about him, a rebellious nature that hovered around him like a fog. The battle had changed him dramatically. There was a lingering pain in his eyes, an understanding that the battle we’d fought was much more than he ever realized.
“Glad to see that portal didn’t rip you to shreds,” he said with a hint of reprimand. I didn’t blame him for the jab, I deserved it.
I jumped from my seat, taking him in a fierce hug. “I’m so glad you’re okay.” I looked away not wanting to meet his ghostly gaze. I needed to apologize to him. He could have very well died in that field, and it was basically my fault. I was so focused on going after Ana that I didn’t stop to make sure he was safe.
“Takes more than one Dark vampire to kill me.” He puffed up his chest, in his usual confident nature.
“I’m sorry I left you.” I decided to come right out with it.
“You did what you had to do. But you’ve got to tell me what happened after you jumped in. I thought you’d be dead for sure.” His eyes flicked to the gold chain around my neck only fleetingly, before they returned to my face. I knew what he was wondering. If I still wore the stones. Their power scared the hell out of him, and I guess I didn’t blame him.
“It’s quite a miracle that she survived such dark magic. A rather dangerous move I might add,” another familiar voice chimed in.
“Eli!” I couldn’t help the squeal of happiness that erupted out of me. He marched into the throne room behind Bennett, muscles gleaming in the bright light. I materialized in front of him with impeccable speed, launching myself into his surprised arms. He had been my trainer before the attacks, and I knew, without a doubt, I would never have survived without his guidance.
His meaty arms wrapped around me in a quick embrace before he released me to stand before him. He looked around rather nervously, obviously not familiar with open displays of affection, but I didn’t care. Eli was a warrior through and through, a fierce vampire who thought of nothing more than how to make the body a weapon against your enemy, but I knew deep down inside there was a mushy center.
“It is good to see you princess.” He nodded at me before nodding at my parents in greeting. “Although I must say I’m disappointed in your behavior.” His dark eyes tore through me, and I shuddered under his gaze. Of course he was disappointed. He taught me to calculate every move, to be smart and selective on my attacks and I hadn’t been. I jumped through the portal without a thought on what would happen to me, leaving Bennett behind to save himself.
“I know,” I knotted my fingers together, “but I just couldn’t let her get away.” I tried to plead my case. The look in his eyes told me lots of tough training would be in my near future. I both dreaded and looked forward to it.
“Oh, so you caught her then?” He was feigning surprise, but I knew he was being sarcastic; pointing out that my leap had led to no results. Ana had gotten away and I’d nearly died.
“No…” I avoided his stare feeling suddenly more ashamed. He might as well have slapped my hands with a ruler and sent me to detention.
“Perhaps some more training will teach you a lesson?” He crossed his arms against his massive expanse of chest.
“I believe it will.” I gulped hard and smiled at him when I saw a glint of humor flicker in his eyes. “Let me introduce the two of you,” I said, changing the subject.
“This is Bennett and Eli,” I announced, directing my attention to Robin, Liz and Dmitry. “Eli has been my trainer since I moved here, and Bennett, well I wouldn’t be alive without him. Neither would my parents.” I looked at my friend appraisingly, remembering a time when I’d loathed being in his presence.
Arrick stood and walked to Bennett, offering his hand. “Thank you for protecting her. Whatever I can do to repay you, simply name it.” Bennett took Arrick’s offered hand and smiled with a nod, looking proud of himself.
“Thanks.”
Robin and Dmitry then nodded in greeting while Liz simply gulped loudly, her eyes as wide as golf balls. I bit my tongue to keep from giggling at her. I wondered if I looked like that when I first arrived at the palace. I knew she’d always wanted to meet a vampire, always dreamed about what they were really like in person, but she looked like she’d seen a ghost. Perhaps that was Bennett’s fault. He was rather… creepy. Or, at least he was when I first met him.
After introductions, Eli made his way to the table. My father, Rennek and Jarvan joined around him as they discussed our next course of action, which made me utterly curious. What would our next course of action be? Maybe this would be a good time to let my father in on one small detail before they made any solid plans.
“Nicolae has agreed to aid us in the fight against The Dark,” I blurted out after taking my seat.
“How do you know this?” Jarvan questioned with doubt in his eyes.
“He told me.” I met his glare head on, without blinking. We’d always been at odds, Jarvan and I. I knew deep down he wanted only what was best for our region, but he had a twisted way of showing it.
“Claire,” my father’s voice sounded sad. “Nicolae is a traitor. To side with him would only be inviting Baal to our doorstep.”
“That’s not true.” I leaned forward, bracing myself against the table as if it would keep me in control of the conversation. “He gave me his word, and I believe him.” Everyone’s eyes widened at my admission.
“Darling, he’s in league with Baal,” my mother pleaded with me. “He had you stolen from us.” Her words came out in a whimper, the pain of losing me as a child still wrenching at her heart.
“We haven’t even figured out yet how he even knew about you Claire. How do we know he doesn’t still have spies in our region?” Arrick said to my surprise. I’d thought he was on my side about uniting our regions.
“We had such a huge celebration within our region.” My mother’s eyes grew watery as she recalled the memory.
“I believe he had spies here all along, watching and waiting for the perfect time to set his plan in action,” Jarvan said sounding ever so much like a conspiracy theorist.
“So, when news of Claire’s birth hit him he saw her as a better option?” Arrick suggested, catching on to Jarvan’s theory.
Irritation was rushing through me like a brush fire. I didn’t enjoy being talked about like I wasn’t there, and they were missing the point. How or why Nicolae kidnapped me was the least of our worries!
“Then what were his original plans and who were his spies?” my father wondered aloud.
I saw Robin stir in her seat out of the corner of my eye. This conversation was making her uncomfortable. She’d lived with Nicolae her whole life and despite everything that had happened I knew it was hard for her to see him in an evil light. I didn’t want this conversation going on any longer. We could worry about this later, all I knew was we couldn’t defeat Baal if we didn’t have all the help we could get.
“We don’t have time to worry about the past. We need to prepare for the future. Prepare for war. Nicolae gave his word that he would fight with us, and we need to believe him. What other choice do we have? He performed a blood vow. That has to count for something.” I fisted my hands on the table. “You say he is dishonest, that he is an opportunist, but is he a greater evil than Baal?”
Eli stepped forward as every eye gawked at me. “Listen to her wisdom.”
“They were attacked too. If he had helped orchestrate this whole thing, don’t you think he wouldn’t have had his own region assaulted? Listen, I know Nicolae isn’t the most honorable vampire, and I know he’s done terrible things but he did them with good intentions.” I saw a number of eyes roll at my comment and I couldn’t say I didn’t want to roll mine as well. I’d had this very conversation with Nicolae. I believed that deep down he was good, but I also believed he’d be willing to do some shady things in the name of good. In the fight against Baal, maybe that wasn’t a bad thing. “I’m not saying I forgive him, but I am saying that we need to move past that. The only way we can defeat The Dark, is if we do the one thing they don’t think we will. Work together.”
My father shook his head, unable to accept my words.
“We should unite against Baal, but not with the Noire region. They’ve betrayed us too many times. Perhaps we reach out to another region for aide?” Jarvan suggested with an air of superiority like it was his decision to make.
“What region?” Eli questioned, sounding like he didn’t like Jarvan’s tone at all.
“Titan,” Jarvan answered after a hefty breath. Everyone around the table began to whisper suspiciously. Robin and Dmitry shared a worried glance. Where had I heard that name before? I looked to Arrick, but his eyes were fixated on my father. I reached out to him through our connection, and without a glance in my direction he latched his fingers with mine.
“We haven’t contacted that region since just after the Dark Ages,” my father said. He ran his fingers down the length of his beard, deep in thought. Everyone was silent as my father paced for what felt like hours. “My daughter is right. We must focus on the greater threat, but hear me;” his voice grew cold and fierce, “Nicolae will answer for his crimes.”
I swallowed hard, feeling sorry for Nicolae. My father was a powerful being to behold, and I had no doubts he was going to make Nicolae sorry for what he’d done. My family might have been a peaceful one, avoiding war at all costs, but we’d been backed into a corner and we were going to make our enemies pay for their misdeeds.
“Jarvan!” my father snapped the word, pulling his aides attention away from the whispered conversation he was sharing with Rennek. “You will go to the Noire region and initiate our joining.” His tone said it was an order that Jarvan couldn’t argue with.
“Yes, your majesty.” He bowed his head.
“Bring an ambassador of the guard with you. I don’t need your sharp tongue starting another war.” Jarvan rose from his seat, bowing deeply before flashing out of the room without another word. I couldn’t keep my eyes from widening in shock. I’d never seen Jarvan follow an order without having something smart to say about it, but then again, if my father looked at me like he did Jarvan, I’d keep my mouth shut too.
Rennek and Eli joined in conversation as my father seated himself next to them. He scanned through all the reports Rennek had brought with them, and I knew they’d be in here quite a while. I sat through many of these meetings and although I craved knowing every detail of what was going on, I didn’t think I had the energy.
My mother’s face was wrinkled in pain and without a word to anyone I watched her stagger out of the room. I wanted to go to her, but something told me she wanted to be alone. I prayed to Nyx she was going to be okay, and not just physically, but emotionally, too. We’d all been through so much.
Dmitry held his head in his hands looking defeated and tired. He hadn’t spoken a word, and I couldn’t help wondering what was on his mind. Robin was picking at the table with her nails, looking forlorn. And then there was Liz, sitting back in her chair staring at all of us with shock as her eyes grew heavy. She’d taken everything so well and I just hoped I could keep her safe. I hoped I could keep them all safe.