The man pressed the knife into Cerene's back. Waiting for a response, he observed her a little more.
"Hmm. You don't seem to be from around here. How did you get here."
"I... I don't know. Please don't hurt me. I was in my room rubbing my necklace, and then everything went black. I- I was floating and the I fell here." Cerene said lifting her arms above her head.
"A necklace, you say? Show it to me."
Cerene pulled the beautiful necklace out of her pocket and handed it behind her head.
"Hmm. You're going to want to come with me."
The man walks Cerene to the throne room, knife still pointed in her back.
"Madam, there was an intruder, and I think you should have a look at what she has with her."
"Really? What is so interesting, that you have to interupt my fire star gazing during the acid rain? The queen spoke.
Well you see my Lordess, this young being is not of our world. A more alarming fact, however is that she seems to be carrying an item that belongs to you."
"Prepare."
"As you wish" The man transformed into a figure with 3 eyes long hair and black skin.
"So, you're the intruder."
Cerene kept her head down. "Yes Ma'am."
"Let me see what you have." She said with a harsh tone
Cerene shakily held out the necklace, handing it to the woman infront of her. She never raised her head. The ground began to shake and a distorted voice was heard.
"WHY DO YOU HAVE THISSSS"
A hord of snakes surrounded Cerene's feet and quickly ran up her body. She began to freak out letting out small screams as it traveled up her body making it's way to her neck. It wrapped around her throat and began slowly choking her.
"WHERE IS MY SON!!!"
"Wh-who?" Cerene tried to breathe out
"MY SON. HE IS THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS HIS FATHER'S PENDANT!!" The woman screamed.
"I f-found this in my h- house." Cerene said
"LIAR!" The snakes began to choke Cerene more.
"Le-let go...."
"Answer her." The man said.
"SANGUINESS"
"Yes, Madam." A voice was heard before a pool of blood pooled around the woman and turned into a blade.
"Madam, surely you aren't trying to attack your own blood. You know we can't do that." The blade said
"MY OWN BLOOD?!? HAVE YOU GONE MAD!! THIS IS AN INTRUDER" The woman yelled.
"No, Madam. Can you not smell it?"
"I assumed that was the necklace. Hmm. But maybe you do have a point. Drop her"
"Immediately Madam." Sanguiness said
The snakes dropped her. As Cerene was moving around and falling, her hood fell off. The woman stopped dead in her tracks. The blood receeded and everything around her went back to normal. The woman wore a look of confusion and hurt.
"Zyn, why are you here? Where's Fluffy?" The woman said on the verge of tears.
"I don't know who flu- fluffy is, but Zyn is what my adoptive father calls my adoptive mother" Cerene said trying to catch her breath.
"Adoptive?!?"
"Where am I?" Cerene asked
"You're in Shebalis. A vampire kingdom in hell. Do your parents know that you're here?"
"A WHAT!? Am I.... DEAD?!!?"
"No... It seems you traveled here through your father's necklace. It used to be his pocket watch, and for me, it was a ring. It seems like it was meant for you to come here." The woman said as she had gotten herself togther.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, the necklace that you have there, is a family heirloom that only those of blood can use. It has a lot of magical properties and is quite useful."
"Magic?!?! It's real?"
"Yes, my dear. It's very real. Here, I'll make you some tea." Let's sit down and have a talk." The woman said as Manille made a beautiful tea set and tea table appear.
"Woah...." Cerene breathed out
"Here, have a bit of tea." She motioned for Cerene to take a sip of the tea.
"How can I trust that you won't kill me?"
"Well, you're still here aren't you?"
Cerene observed her face for a few minutes before making up her mind. She took a sip. It was like Cerene had tasted heaven.
"Oh my gosh, this is sooooooooo good!"
The woman laughed. "You're his alright. This tea is a specialty that only our blood kin can taste. Well, let me introduce myself. I'm Thana, Queen Thana to be precise. I'm also your grandmother." She casually took a sip of tea.
Cerene's eyes went wide and she spit her tea out. "MY WHO!?"
"Come now, no need to make a mess. Have they not told you? "
"NO! I didn't know that they knew my parents!! Who are they?"
"Wow.... You really don't know... I'll tell you, but I want you to come visit me every now and again." Thana takes another sip of her tea.
"You've got yourself a deal!"
"Manille. While my granddaughter is here, you will keep her protected until she is able to wield the Sanguin clan."
"Already done madam."
"Nice to meet you Mr. Manille and Grandma Thana."
"OH!" Thana huddled over. "Let's um... find something else for me to be called."
"In the more common language used down here, Avia is grandmother Madam." Manille added.
"Hmmm, you have a point, grandmother in english just sounds horrid." Thana took another sip of her tea. "Call me Avia then" She smiled at Cerene. "You look just like her... Speaking of which, you should probably hurry and get back before they notice that you're gone."
"Oh! I almost forgot. Thanks Nana!" Cerene voiced before rubbing the necklace.
"Nana? Nana who?" She looks over at Manille. "Did she really? Just like her damn mother."
"Madam I believe that is an endearing term."
"I know what it is! But I'm not old!"
She teleported back to her room and she heard the sound of two voices and laughter. She hid her necklace in her pocket and headed towards the door. She saw Sharrie and Belle walking past the bottom of the staircase.
"Hey!" She called out as she was heading down the steps.
"Oh! Hey Rene!" Sharrie looked up and saw that Cerene was coming downstairs.
"Short nap, huh." Belle said looking up the staircase.
"How long was I asleep?"
"About 5 minutes" Belle said.
"5 MINUTES?!?! Was that all?"
"Yeah, why are you yelling?"
"Oh.. Heh, sorry, I didn't realise that I was yelling." Cerene looked to the side embarrasingly.
"Belle and I were about to head outside, you coming?"
"Yup, I'm coming." The trio left out and headed to the back yard. The night continued as normal with dinner and preparing for bed.
Cerene fell asleep shortly after laying down.