The corridors of The Star Keep trampled at the steps of princess Kassandra. She didn't know if she was angry, deluded or confused as she went on looking at the pictures, sculptures, the rare torches and the halls on the sides. She was going to confront her mother who had just come back from The High Hill, but she felt less confident in every step she took getting closer to the queen's majestic rooms.
The queen was sitting on the big armchair near the fireplace relaxing in her cozy warm room as the shine of the stars that vampires liked too much was like a kiss on her skin. She was wearing her pajama and Terry was massaging her arm and making her feel better.
- It will all be alright An, - she said as the door cracked and they saw Kassandra enter inside.
- No it won't!, - she spoke with a high volume as the maid bowed to her princess and than lowered it, - Not like this.
- I heard you coming, - Anabel didn't move at all, but just stayed laid to the chair with her eyes closed, - I can hear all that is happening around when I am relaxed enough.
- Relaxed? Are you kidding me? I really think we have some things to talk about mother!
Finally the queen moved her back and opened her eyes and said:
- Leave us Terry. I will call you later.
- Your graces!, - she payed her respects and left.
- So why do I have the strange feeling like you are here to blame me for something?, - her mother turned on her.
- You owe me some explanations don't you think your grace?, - Kassy's voice was demanding and excited in comparison with her mother's calm and resting speech.
- Really? What about?
- Don't play with me mother!
- Oh yes! Excuse me I forgot!, - Anabel said with an ironic voice, - You are referring to your afair with your brother or to the one with the Wolfly royals?
- I am referring to the curse you bestowed on their kingdom!, - she answered her, - You did the same thing 25 years ago during the war. What kind of massage are you trying to give because the werewolves are seeing this as an act of war? Is this what you want?
- A war they can't win therefore they won't start!, - she answered, - I just did the right thing to protect the peace!
- Protect the peace? Are you aware of what sort of pain went most of the werewolves? They transformed not knowing about the curse and for some days their kingdom sounded like a hell crying out pain!, - Kassandra's voice lowered as tears filled her eyes, - I still have nightmares sometimes remembering how Sebastian trampled in my hands from how much it hurt him! Is this how you protect the peace?
- I am sorry for your traumatic experience my sweetheart!, - the queen stood on her feet and went near her daughter caressing ber jaw, - You know that the last thing I want to do is hurt you or your brother!
- Than don't do so! Mother I love him!
- Yes, your father told me about your affection to the Wolfly boy., - she said walking up to the window, - He welcomed me worse than you.
- Why do you have to do it this way? Why do you and Daniel Wolfly hate each other so much? Why can't you just let us live with each other?, - the princess sounded exhausted in the art of trying to ever convince her mother about something.
- Because it just can not be my Kassy., - the queen approached and took her hands in hers, - Because the werewolves hate vampires it has always been like that. And Daniel hates me even more than he hates every other vampire in the forest.
- But it wasn't Daniel the one who threw the first stone!, - she went on blaming her mother, - It was you.
- Because he wasn't given a reason yet, his lords wouldn't support it for war. But once he would discover about your affairs his lords would follow him shouting., - she went on trying to explain herself to her daughter. Apparently she was feeling guilty despite her arrogance, - You know how dangerous are werewolves in their animal form especially at full moon. They could attack us on full moon unexpectedly when they are ten times stronger finding us vulnerable. Or they might attack us during the day entering our houses making us risk exposure to the sunlight. I just took the necessary precautions so we wouldn't risk.
- What have you done to Daniel to make him hate you so much?, - at this point Kassandra was really doubting her mother and the queen saw it too, in her eyes, - Are you really as innocent as you claim to be?
- What are those accusations all of a sudden? What do you mean?
- Why does Mary say that you killed her mother during the war?, - vampires were not known for their patience, it was the impulse guiding them and Kassy was determined to clear things out.
- Mary Wolfly?
- Yes
- Who is this woman, who was her mother?, - the queen though it was probably a common victim of the fights, - I wasn't responsible for all the victims of the war our parents started. It was their fault and it destroyed my life.
- Tell me how did it destroy your life than, because it probably wasn't the only life destroyed and no matter how badly things went you still had a family soon, but she was just a child. Left alone., - she felt that she would finally take the answers to her questions, - Was it really your fault that her mother died? She was Jacketa, the leader of the western order of witches.
- Jacketa?!, - Anabel's face suddenly took a shadow of sadness and painful memories, - Is that woman really her daughter?
- Than you know her?! Mother know you got to tell me everything no more secrets please!, - although Kassandra said that she wasn't sure she wanted to hear the answer. She was afraid that her mother might not be the good woman she always appeared.
- Come my darling!, - she took her hand to guide her towards the bed, - Sit near me, let's talk.
- Just trust me mother you owe me that!, - Kassy took her hand and tried to assure her as she was feeling a bit hesitant.
- It is hard for me to recall the past. It hurts my emotions, - the queen finally started speaking, - but now I have no choice, but to tell you. My father... It's all his fault!
- What did he do?, - her daughter insisted despite the tears in her mother's face which was not common to be occur.
- A union between werewolf and vampire royals is cursed, no one wants it. And still I ignored the warnings of my mother and did the same you are doing. But it costed me more, because my father, the king was not that understanding., - Anabel started to tell her story as her daughter listen with compassion, - I can never forget that night I still have nightmares about it.
- Which one? What are you talking about?
- It was 25 years ago in midnight, it was full moon. It was the day my life was ruined. By my own father!, - she spoke with such a hatred for the man that used to be her father, - I was at the Small House sitting on the bed and Juan was laying with his head on my lap. It was the last time I remember to have felt warmth in that place.
- Who is Juan?
- He was a werewolf prince, the king to be, the elder son of king Victor and brother to king Daniel. He was the only man I ever loved with all my heart, - the pain blushed in her eyes who were staring at nothing, - and I lost him in the blink of an eye. My god I remember him like yesterday he was so sexy, he was looking me in the eyes and kissing my hand as I caressed his hair. He was the handsomest man ever, his features were so incredibly perfect, his blue eyes were so sweet even when he acted angry and his blonde curly hair just gave me such sweet chills on my skin. His nose, his lips, his jaw... His lusty loving stare and that lean sharp muscular body, all he dressed that night were his underwear and I remember every detail of him. But most importantly was his soul. He was able to make everyone feel happy and loved.
- And than what happened?, - her daughter was noticing and feeling her mother's misery.
- It was the last time I ever saw him!, - at this point instead of crying this strong woman just dried out of tears and remained with the elegance of the sadness on a neutral face, - It was the last time I heard him whisper me such sweet words, the last time he made me feel loved! He was speaking to me of how would our life be in the future! That everything was going to be perfect just like we always dreamed! We had our hopes high and until the next day everything was over. My father's guards came and surrounded the house, they broke the door and entered inside. They said they were ordered to take the son of the enemies to the king. I shouted, I screamed, I attacked them, I tried to stop them. They took Juan, he was fighting back, trying to escape, but he couldn't. That day I saw the desperation in the eyes of the person I loved the most, his eyes knew that it was the end and he still spoke to me and tried to calm me dawn. I ran after them to The Star Keep, but they imprisoned him. I begged my father to release him, my mother tried to convince him to. Me and my beloved brother found comfort in each other, while mother was just out of her mind. I don't blame her, how could she remain sane in our family. And than the next morning came, he was the king, none of us could defy him, we tried so hard, but he didn't listen to us. My mother just escaped somewhere on the other side of the palace not to see that hurtles act, but we couldn't do neither the same or the opposite. He ordered his best guards to keep my brother and me behind the curtains so we would see everything. A window below opened., - and the tears run out her eyes again as her voice started trampling, - I wish I had blinded before seeing it. They threw Juan out of that window under the sun shining on the sky. That was the moment the world destroyed for me, I could not see or hear nothing else for some moments except the screams of my sweetest lover getting burned. I tried to hop out and help him and so did my brother I think, we didn't reason, but the guards were keeping us tight. They threw him naked, I saw that flesh melt before my eyes, that beauty melt away as his soul divided from his body. That was the moment I froze and a part of me was forever lost.
- Oh mother I am so sorry!, - Kassandra hugged her mother and shared her tears with her, - Why did you never tell me?
- Everything started there all the wars all the hatred! I wanted to kill my father I hated him with all my heart, I wanted him to burn in hell, I wanted to revenge my prince, - My brother was destroyed too all he could do was hug me and cry to free himself, while my mother was depressed and cursed her fate, our families fate. That man, who called himself my father had destroyed everything and still wasn't feeling guilty, while the werewolves attacked our kingdom. King Victor wanted revenge for his son and so did Daniel. Father took my brother in war with him and mother went too. I was left alone home and I was blinded from the pain and so I did something I still regret.
- What did you do?
- I trusted king Victor! I betrayed my own kingdom!
- But how?
- No one must know Kassy promise me!
- Of course no one will! I love you mother I could never betray you!
- I decided to fight my family before the werewolves were defeated. I committed such a treason that even today all my subjects would hate me if they find out.
- They won't! No one will hate you.
- I contacted king Victor, he agreed to see me and we met without anyone knowing. We talked about Juan and I thought we both had the same pain, the same reasons, he told me he wanted peace, but wanted revenge more. I proposed something to him and we both agreed, since it seemed like he didn't blame me at all for his son's death. I would lure my family into a trap for the werewolves to seize them., - the queen was telling the most painful story of her life and yet her face remained cold like death, she was not the person who would cry out in weakness, - And there they would catch my father, take him to The Moon Keep and make him die in a painful way like he deserved. My mother would become queen after and they would let her go together with my brother and make peace.
- Things didn't go as you planned, did they?
- No they didn't! He broke his word and betrayed our agreement! I attended the war council and discovered the attack plan and the strategies and communicated them to king Victor. They parted for war and I was sitting all day in the castle with a glass of blood waiting for news from my men on the battlefield. Roy came, he was loyal to me since than. That day once again my world turned upside down. He didn't only kill my father, - and now the tears ran again. Even Anabel was not strong enough to resist at the painful memory of her family, - he had drained my mother out of her blood and assassin her too, the woman who suffered all her life and yet gave me love. I had hoped she would heal after that, but she was dead, and my brother, Victor himself had ripped the heart out of his chest. He was the gentlest and sweetest, we grew up together, we were like one, we were twins we shared everything from our mother's womb until that day. At that moment they had taken everything from me, first my lover and than my family, there was nothing left anymore, only hatred and desire for revenge. Than I made up my mind I would kill king Victor and win this war.
- Oh mommy I love you, and so does my brother and father!, - Kassandra hugged her and tried to comfort her, - You have us now and Juan, my uncle and my grandmother, they are with you too, you gotta believe that!
Her mother didn't say a word instead just went on telling the story:
- I was named queen the day after and despite my pain and wounds I had to go to battle. I was determined to destroy that traitor of a werewolf, but it wasn't that easy. I had enemies, nobles who saw the chance to finally end the Vampiryon dynasty and take the throne for themselves.
- The Manerys!
- Yes! Quinton joined the werewolves and sat a trap, they attacked my army when the other half guided by the Amaryon lord, my future father in law, was on the other side of the kingdom. I managed to escape with a small part of my soldiers and got back to The Star Keep with the speed of light. At this point I realized that my last chance were the witches, they had the job to keep the order of our world. I had a bit of time until my enemies were negotiating with the Amaryons, but I feared they would turn against me too. And they would if I didn't act on time, I sent a loyal man of mine to The High Hill, Emarya, The Great Witch, and Jacketa, Mary's mother came immediately.
- So you didn't force her?
- Of course we didn't! We were friends since childhood, the three of us. There was only one thing to do, but there was a price to be paid. The curse of the moon, we put our hands together and started singing and rising the curse, but none of us knew what would be taken from us. First my lover, than my family and now Jacketa too. It destroyed me completely, I still blame myself, the ritual costed us her life, she fell and never woke up again., - how hard it must have been for her to remember, all that suffering because she loved someone, - The werewolves could no longer transform and the Amaryons took my side. I decided I would be cold blooded and do what it takes to win, so I married your father to forge an alliance and at that point even the Manerys abandoned them. I destroyed their army and killed Victor, but our kingdoms were near to the end, for I time I believed we would kill each other to the last one. Daniel hated me and wanted to continue the was, he wanted to kill us all, because he blamed me for his brother's death, the pain had blinded him and he wanted more and more revenge. I thank god every day, that at list his mother had more good sense than him. She was queen now and he couldn't defy her. She negotiated peace with me and from what I have heard, her son never forgave her.
- But why does he hate you? It wasn't your fault that prince Juan died, you suffered his death more than everyone else!
- Things are always more complicated than they seem Kassy., - the queen stood up to fill two glasses of blood and lit up a cigarette and looked at her daughter, - I told you, me and your uncle always shared everything?
- Yes
- So did Juan and his brother., - she went closer to give her the glass, - Daniel was different back than, although always showed a strict side deeply he was warm and kind, he could be vulnerable with his brother and feel safe. When Juan died his humanly side died too. We used to share each other in everything, the four of us. Just like you do now, except for the fact that Josephine was too moral and proud to come with us.
- If you used to sleep together...
- What?
- Did you never try to reason or talk with him? You said he could be vulnerable with you, maybe he would open himself to you, find comfort and understanding?
- He wouldn't meet me alone, he wanted to kill me don't you understand?, - Anabel got angry thinking back at the man who used to be her friend, - He was another traitor!
- Ok don't get angry.
- Sorry!, - she sat next to her smoking her cigarette and stared empty for a second than said, - You know, I never go to The Small House! Because everything I see there from the the bed, to the windows, the curtains, the fireplace, the armchairs, the coffins, the wardrobe, everything reminds Juan and of everything we had! Before I used to ho more often, than as I had you and started having a life I went rarely and than stopped going! I went because I loved the way it hurt, because pain attracts pain, because memories wouldn't leave my mind and adding fuel to the fire comforted me! I had lost my life and I was in a new one, I was afraid and lonely and all I had was memories, so I used to hurt myself even more trying to remember! But than things started getting better as I let go of the past and embraced my children and my husband.
- And do you think it would have been the right choice to let him go?
- Seeing how things turned out it would have been less destructive! But you are right it couldn't be a choice. I just wish we had been more careful and knew our enemies.
- Than how can you expect me to hive up, if you couldn't?
- I don't expect you to, I never said that, but I fear for you Kassy, that's why I acted like I did!, - she took her daughter's hand in hers to show her she is not her enemy, - What if Daniel does to you the same thing my father did to Juan?
- Might he?
- Of course he might!, - the queen stood up realizing what was happening, - Oh for heaven's sake, this was exactly what they were expecting for! Kassy both Daniel and Mary hate me, they want to destroy us!
- I don't think so mother, Mary wouldn't...
- Of course she would, Kassy I don't ask you to give up Sebastian or your brother or anyone else, but you gotta listen to me for your safety!
- What do you suggest?
- You know what!, - she looked her deep in the eyes, - You have to marry Jeremy.
- But I...
- There is no 'but', I know you have fallen for him at first sight! Don't be foolish Kassandra, I fear that the war is inevitable and we have to have the Manerys on our side!
- Maybe if you withdrew the curse they...
- Their problem is not with the curse can't you see? I can't let myself do such a mistake now! I promise I will do whatever I can to stop this war, for I would not want it more than you, but I can't give advantages to the enemies hoping they might develop sympathy for me and be my friends! But Kassy you gotta promise me something! Will you marry Jeremy Manery?
- Alright mother I will trust in you! If you say so I promise I will marry Jerry! For the good of everyone.
- You are doing the right thing my darling!, - the queen kissed her daughter on the cheek and hugged her.