Authors: Megan Duncan
“I don’t know,” she sighed heavily.
There were many possibilities, but all of them seemed grim and led to one conclusion. My kidnapping, Ana and Luka trying to kill me, and Arrick stealing me away in the night during an attack on Palace Noire, all led to war. My coming home should have been a happy time, but the serious expressions on my father’s and Arrick’s faces revealed a new fear that threatened to tear my world apart. We would be going to war and it was all because of me.
“She said what?” Shock rattled my voice.
After Arrick informed my father of the events at Palace Noire, they called a meeting and we all gathered in a large round room. A thick cherry wood table stood prominently in the center, with statues that towered from floor to ceiling circling around us. I didn’t recognize any of their marbled faces, yet their stone eyes made the hair on my neck stand on end. It felt much like a large portrait, whose eyes, seemed to follow you wherever you stood in the room. It was just darn creepy. I’m sure that wasn’t the goal of whoever designed the room, but that was definitely the vibe I was getting. Everything that was said or done in this room was under the watchful ivory eyes of ancient vampires.
We were joined by six other people, two of which were vampires, who by my surprise were incredibly old - and I don’t mean by vampire standards. They had to have been turned when they were in their late seventies. My jaw fell open when they entered and they returned my shocked expression with kind smiles.
The other four were members of what Arrick called the ‘Blood Guard’. They were exactly like Blood Mates, except here they weren’t forced to be bonded to a vampire. In this region they chose to join for many reasons, to protect a royal family member, to devote their life to Nyx or to spend their immortal lives honing their craft. I was a bit surprised that someone would want to live an immortal life just so they could be the best artist or cook. My mom interrupted our conversation and explained that those who were considered masters in their field achieved great respect and to become skilled at something was a goal nearly every citizen of the region desired.
“It is one of the most shared goals of our society. We all desire to do our part in making our region the very best it can be. Someday you will find your heart’s desire and you will want to be the very best you can at it.”
I didn’t know what that could possibly be, but I saw her point. The more I learned about my new Zakarian region, the more I loved it. This was exactly the place I wanted to be. Hopefully I could bring Robin here someday, and maybe even Liz. Maybe we could still have the life we had always hoped for. All my best friends together in one place. I couldn’t help but smile at the thought.
“Are you certain?” my mother asked Arrick.
“Yes, I heard it myself. She said the dark was coming.”
The room broke out in frantic whispers. I didn’t know what that meant, but it obviously couldn’t be good. “What’s the dark?” I placed my hand on my mother’s as I asked, but she waved me off.
“Please, stay calm.” My father raised his hands to silence the room and everyone quickly obeyed. “We cannot allow fear to consume us before we know the truth behind everything. The words were spoken by a young vampire. Either someone is using her as a pawn or she knows not of what she speaks.”
My father’s voice remained steady and strong, yet somehow I knew this was not a good sign. I swallowed hard, pushing the lump further down my throat.
I said as confidently as I could, “I don’t think she is the type of vampire to say such a thing like that, and not know what it meant.” Every eye in the room was on me.
“She tried to kill you, this Ana,” said one of the elderly vampires. Her voice wavered with age. “Attempting to murder a princess is reason enough, but if her darkness runs deeper then we must defend ourselves.”
“Leona is right.” One of the Blood Guard spoke up. “I know it is against our beliefs to take action. But we cannot allow such atrocities to go on any longer. They will take us back into the dark ages if we do nothing.” His voice started to boom with aggression, but a hand on his shoulder from a nearby guard placated him.
My father nodded, scratching his beard deep in thought. “You speak the truth, Jarvan,” he said. The man nodded, appreciative for the recognition. “I do not believe that inaction will prevent a war this time and the stakes are too great. I will not allow them to take my daughter again.” His eyes flashed to me and my heart surged with happiness. My father wasn’t going to let anyone take me ever again.
“No matter what decision we make, I believe Nicolae will start a war to get her back.” Arrick pointed to me. “There is no way to avoid war as soon as he knows where she is.”
“Then why did you bring her back?” Jarvan, the Blood Guard with stark white hair and a thick mustache asked. “The King and Queen made the greatest sacrifice to prevent war when she was taken, yet here you spit on their decision by bringing her back. Now we must worry about the consequences of your actions and prepare for the possibility of another dark age.”
I could sense Arrick’s frustration with Jarvan’s words. “They tried to murder her!” Arrick shouted. He stood, slamming his hands on the table. “I’ve watched over her for eighteen years. Silently seeing her live a life that was never meant to be hers. I saw a child who cried herself to sleep at night because she longed for a family. She carried a hole within herself for her entire life that could not be filled.”
Sadness filled me as I listened to Arrick’s words. He knew the depth of my turmoil.
I had been wrong. Our feelings, our bond, were not just a result of the Blood Mate ceremony; Arrick knew me. He really, truly knew me and the pain I masked from everyone. Knowing now that he understood that pain, made me feel less alone. It hurt to admit it, but my heart and mind were slowly releasing Dmitry and embracing Arrick. And I didn’t want to fight it anymore.
My mother rose from her seat and lifted her hands to stop the heated discussion. “Everyone has made sacrifices to maintain the peace we have had for the past many years. There is no way to compare whose was greater. And our daughter belongs in Naos,” she said, her eyes flashing to Jarvan with sweltering anger. “If there are vampires in Nicolae’s region that are following the dark, then whether or not Arrick brought Claire home would make no difference. If he had left her there, she may have never made it home to us. He did a great service to our region.”
Arrick nodded but I felt the anger still bubbling within him. I hated seeing everyone arguing over what to do. There were so many things that had gone wrong, and so many ways that things could continue to go wrong. I didn’t want to be what tore this beautiful city apart. I shot up from my seat and amplified my voice as I did during my coronation ball. I didn’t want there to be any doubt in the sincerity of my words. “I will go back if I have to. If that means it will keep your way of life safe then I will do it.”
Jarvan nodded in agreement, and anger flared inside me. I knew this region was all about peace and avoiding war, but to me, he seemed like a coward.
“No, you won’t,” Arrick retorted.
“Yes, I will. They want me. Nicolae will do anything to get me back. He is losing hold of his position and if he doesn’t have a pure blood to maintain his position of power then he is the next target. Think about it. He took me not because he wanted a daughter but because he needed to keep the throne. He knew that someone was after him and he used me to deflect that.”
“You are very wise for such a young vampire,” Leona spoke up. “If you were to return, you would be a target. Nicolae would continue to use you to help maintain his authority of the throne. Especially if he knows that there are traitors among his family that are following a dark path. The risk will be much greater than before. Sending you back will only buy us time. It will not prevent a war.”
I felt my resolve faltering. Leona was right. I would probably be in greater danger going back, but what choice did I have? If it meant protecting my family it felt worth it to me.
“War cannot always be prevented and I will not have my daughter used as a pawn,” My father’s voice was deep and menacing. My body cowered at the sound of it. Even the air seemed to vibrate under its power. “It is time.”
He turned his back to the room and paced silently. I wasn’t sure exactly what had been decided and when I turned to my mother she was already headed to my father’s side. Were we going to war against Nicolae? This wasn’t what I wanted at all.
I got up and walked to the empty seat next to Arrick. “What’s going to happen?”
“He’s deciding if we are going to war or not,” he said, picking at a niche in the table.
“There has to be something else we can do. Can’t we send someone to talk to Nicolae? Maybe we can negotiate?” I know it probably sounded crazy, but I just got home. I didn’t want anything or anyone to take that away from me.
“Cathair is incredibly wise. He knows very well that Nicolae will come for you. You are his last and only way of maintaining his throne. Your pure blood is bound to him, Claire. If we do not bring war to him, he will bring it to us. He will claim that you were stolen from his palace in the night and all the vampires in his region will rally to take back their princess from us.”
“What if his throne was no longer threatened? Then he wouldn’t need me anymore, right?”
I hesitated as my father approached, a look of interest on his face. He had been listening. “Go on.”
“Well… Nicolae isn’t the only vampire who is going to be after me. I’m pretty sure Ana is somewhere out there, lurking in the dark, waiting for the time to strike.” I clenched my fist at the thought.
“I’m not going to let her hurt you, Claire.” Arrick blurted.
“That’s not what I’m saying.” My tone grew frustrated but I took a breath and calmed myself. “Ana attacked me because she wanted Nicolae’s throne. Getting rid of her would not just make me safer, but it would also take the threat away from Nicolae. Without risk to his control, he has no reason to pursue me.” The logic of my words just made my revenge on Ana that much more justified.
“Spoken like a true strategist. You are most definitely my daughter.” My father smiled, his lengthy fangs threatening to pierce his lips. “Maybe we can avoid a war after all.”
Maybe. The only problem was that we didn’t know where Ana was.
For the next few hours, Arrick, my father and the other Blood Guards spoke ardently about our plans and how we were going to go about stopping the threat to Nicolae and killing Ana. Not to mention discovering who was behind her evil deeds. I voiced my suspicion of her parents and everyone seemed to agree, yet my parents stated that it had to run much deeper than that. They believed there was a different design than just gaining control over Nicolae’s region. Especially if the dark was coming.
My mother and the two older vampires explained to me exactly what the dark was. It connected with the story Robin had told me before the ceremony that bonded Arrick and me. In the dark ages, the blood thirsty vampires who killed all living things created a kind of sect or religion that they called The Dark. They were consumed with lust for killing and the power they felt when draining human life.
The Dark wanted complete control over all regions, to be feared and worshipped by all, killing anything that stood in their way. My mother said she always feared that there were still followers lingering somewhere in the shadows and someday they would return to take back what they wanted, by any means necessary. She described them as animals. They were vampires, but by killing their own kind they evolved into something else. Something sinister. Something monstrous.
“They are demonic creatures, Claire,” Leona said, her voice laced with worry. It was hard to imagine her as a battle-worthy vampire; she looked so frail, but the look in her eyes said otherwise.
“But Arrick drank my blood to become my Blood Mate and he didn’t change,” I said.
“Blood Guard,” Alistair corrected. I learned that he was Leona’s grandfather. She had wanted to follow in his footsteps and become a master at vampire history. It reminded me of Robin and her family. I missed her so much. “His drinking your blood was part of an ancient ceremony, but what The Dark does is very different. You young vampires don’t understand what it could truly be like. You don’t know what true evil looks like.”
I swallowed hard. I did know what it looked like and I definitely knew what it felt like. I rubbed my neck, remembering Ana latching onto it with her fangs. I remembered what it felt like to have my blood sucked from my body. To be on the edge of death.
“Excuse me,” I hissed at the old man. The phrase might have been polite, but my tone definitely wasn’t. I nearly ran from my seat causing it to squeak against the marble floor and echo throughout the room, everyone watching behind me. I still hadn’t tamed the anger from what happened to me and my heart was hammering in my chest.
Feeling my internal struggle, Arrick flashed to my side and wrapped his arms around me. I didn’t fight him, but simply let his comforting embrace calm me. I couldn’t let my anger take over me. Not yet, at least. I would have to keep it caged until I was face to face with Ana and then I could set free the monster I felt I was becoming.
I felt Arrick flinch and I looked up to see Alistair approaching. He was walking slowly like an old man, even though he could probably rush to me with incredible Vampire speed. He smiled weakly; his old fangs were a slight shade of gray.
“I didn’t mean to upset you,” he said. “Sometimes I stick my old foot in my mouth. Ione and Leona reminded me, very sharply,” he raised his long, bushy eyebrows. “Of what happened to you. A vampire as young, and special as you, should not have gone through such a thing. Especially our princess.”
He hobbled away as my mother and Leona approached. Leona kept a wary eye on him as he exited the great room.
“I hope he hasn’t bothered you too much,” she said when he was gone. “He doesn’t have a filter at all I think sometimes. He will say whatever pops into his old head without even the slightest thought beforehand.” She smiled reassuringly. “As I was trying to explain, it is not the act of drinking blood that changes you, but also the intent behind it. Just as The Dark, used to be like us. When the act of their blood drinking changed, so did they. Also, during the ceremony the blood is infused with a tear from the Goddess.”