Nine
Blood Rose Castle (Somewhere in a cold, dungeon)
"Layla? Layla? Rose, do you think she is ok?"
"Careful?! Look out, you almost crossed into the sun."
I became slowly aware of their voices, but my mind was foggy. Why did they sound so concerned, and what does Rose mean look out for the sun? It's not even the middle of the night? All these thoughts rushed through my head as I struggled to open my eyes. Finally, I succeeded in opening my eyes but instantly regretted it, my head was spinning and I felt nauseated. Taking a deep breath, I forced the nausea down.
Looking around our situation became crystal clear. We were in a dungeon. But why? But more importantly, how did we get here?
"Are you both ok?"
I asked as I saw them huddled together in the far corner of the cell to avoid the sunlight streaming in through the window. Their once beautiful dresses, now were covered in dirt, and their elegant hair fell in strands around their faces and down their backs.
"Layla, thank goodness! We were so worried when you didn't wake up."
"Skye! Look out!"
"Ouch! "
Rushing forward towards the bars of my cell, I try to get a better look through the bars that connect our two cells at the sound of Skye's scream.
"Skye are you ok?"
Rose pulled Skye back into the shadows, just in time so all she suffered was a slight burn on her arm.
"Yeah, I am ok. I wasn't thinking. Are you ok? You look as pale as a ghost."
"I am fine, or as fine as I can be at present. Do you know how we ended up here, and exactly where we are?"
"As to how we ended up here, you won't believe us if we told you. Let me tell you honey you are not going to like it."
"What do you mean?"
But Rose's explanation was interrupted by the sound, of shouting coming from the stairs on the left side of the dungeon leading up to an old wooden door. The shouting was loud enough to hear what was being said, but not clear enough to make out the owners of the voices.
"You; said you loved me! I did everything you asked. How can you do this to me?"
There was a very loud bang as the door was thrusted open with a lot of force, two guards were dragging in a limp form that I instantly recognized. Marco a guard I knew from our training days. He was never one of the most outstanding students, but he did have a lot of perseverance. He never gave up no matter how hard things got, or what was going on. My mind had already come up with an explanation, but I just couldn't believe it.
After the guards finished dragging Marco in and shackling him to the wall that was in the direct path of the sun streaming in. Meaning in little under an hour the sun would hit him directly. Before I could say anything. In walked the last person I wanted to see. Serafina!!
"Well, deary you should have realized that I was lying. I could never love a worthless low-life vampire like you."
Marco looked heartbroken and completely disillusioned.
Turning her head, she notices us, and an evil smile crossed her face.
"Well look who is finally awake. A good thing too, you can all enjoy the show. I would love to say, at least you will know what will happen to you. But you don't deserve an easy quick death. But please feel free to enjoy your stay. That is until the time for your execution arrives. O, and don't try to escape, it is absolutely pointless the cells have spells on them. Really powerful ones"
With that, she turns and walks out. The nausea was getting worse. The dizziness slowly subsided, but that only made way for muscle pain. Focusing hard I tried to push the nausea and pain down trying my hardest to stay coherent. My friends needed me, and if I didn't try to stay on my feet, we would surely die here.
"Marco, you have got to try and get free from those shackles. Otherwise, you will burn to death."
I struggle forward as the symptoms of the 'change' comes crashing over me. The muscle pains make it hard to move, as my muscles seem to stop working. I stumble falling against the bars that are next to the cell door, the ones facing in Marco's direction. The first thing I feel is a burning sensation, on the parts of my skin that comes into contact with the bars. The next thing I know, I am blasted backward hitting the wall of the cell.
"Thalia!" Rose and Skye's terrified screams fill the air. I struggle upright not able to stand but at least I soon find myself in a seated position.
"I'm ok, I think. Don't touch the bars next to the cell doors. The spells on these cells are really strong."
"I am sorry. I betrayed my King, my fellow guards but most of all you, Thalia. I was an idiot. I was fooled by a pretty face and sweet words, and look where it has gotten me. In a cell shackled to a wall and about to be burned to death. But if I am honest, I deserve this as punishment for what I did. Here you are Thalia, suffering the effects of the 'change', in pain yet you are trying to encourage me. The person who delivered you into the enemies' hands."
"Don't say that, you don't deserve to die like this. Yes, what you did was wrong but you believed her when she said she loved you. Everyone wants to be loved, Marco. Do I believe you were naïve, yes? Wrong? Yes, but still, you don't deserve to die like this."
"I will never forget the kindness you have shown me, Thalia. But I don't want to fight, I don't want to be free. I loved her. I truly did. Plus, I will never be able to face the King, not to mention Lucian. "
"So, you're going to give up. Thalia is in pain she is clearly sick but, she is still fighting. So, you picked the wrong girl to love and made some bad choices. Get over it, you got us into this mess and you're just giving up. Leaving us in this hell hole!"
I never heard Rose speak so harshly to anyone before. She was beyond mad. She was furious. But Marco just looked at her and said nothing. I tried speaking or standing but I couldn't. I was feeling so terrible, that I feared if I were to open my mouth I would not stop vomiting. As for standing my muscles would not work all I felt was pain. Deciding I would not be able to do anything at this point in time, I just rested my head against the wall and waited for this wave to pass.
It felt like hours but after about thirty minutes I felt the pain coursing through my body lessen a bit. After another 10 the nausea was gone and the dizziness passed too.
"Thalia, are you starting to feel a bit better? You look exhausted and so pale you look like a ghost."
"I will be ok. It's getting a bit better to handle."
Looking at them, I noticed that this ordeal was taking its toll on them. They were pale and looked thinner. They are vampires and they need blood as that is their main source of nourishment. I have to think of a way for them at least to get out of here. After all Lord Marcus and Serafina want me dead. Skye and Rose are just collateral damage to them. My thoughts were interrupted by an agonizing scream. Turning towards Marco the sight filled me with horror, Rose and Skye tried to turn away from the horrific sight, but like me, they were transfixed. Marco was a blaze. A burning beacon in the cell. As sudden as it started, silence fell just as abruptly. An eerie silence fell around us as all that was left of Marco was a tiny mound of ash. A stark contrast against the darker stone wall and floor.
It was horrific. The scene we just witness left us speechless. Each caught in our own thoughts as we tried to process what we had just witnessed.
The Royal Castle (The King's Study)
Danica
The tension in the study was high. It was as thick as can be, and if one wanted to you could surely have cut it with a knife.
"There is still no trace of them, it is like they vanished into thin air."
"Logan, I was outside that door. Thalia went in and did not come out. There wasn't any sign of a struggle. So please for the sake of my sanity don't tell me something I already know. What I need to know is how Thalia and the girls were abducted and where the hell they are."
"Easy Dario, we are all tensed and angry and exhausted. All of us are worried about Thalia and the girls. Logan didn't mean anything by what he said. He is just stating facts again trying to find an explanation. But please, right now we need to all keep our heads and cool for Thalia and the girls' sakes."
"They didn't come out so, what you should be asking is how could they be moved without anyone seeing anything. I love you guys but sometimes, I really think I have gotten all the brains and my dear brothers all the brawn."
"Danica, I love you but right now I don't have a sense of humor. What the hell are you getting at."
"A portal my dear Dario. They were taken by use of a portal. So, the question you should be asking is who is cable of creating a portal."
The look on my brothers' and father's face was priceless. I swear sometimes they really do think that all I do is look pretty. Ok maybe not, but it was clear none of them thought of that.
"A portal you say? Princess, you are a genius. There are very few in Nosferatu, that can do that. And one in particular that piques my interest."
"Vladimir! Why didn't we think of that!"
"Because you are too close to this and not thinking with your head."
Lucian, Logan, and Leo say together as if they shared one mind.
"Ok, let's go have a little chat with him and see what he has to say."
"No! We will have him brought here, even though he does alert suspicion. We can't assume he is guilty. We will do this the right way, and Dario when he gets here you will leave this study."
"Dad seriously why the hell should I leave?"
"Because, Lucian, Logan, and Leo are correct you are too close, and the last thing I need is my son brutally assaulting someone. So, when he gets here you, Danica and Griffin will wait outside along with Enzo and Finn. That is an order, not a request. I give you my word we will find Thalia and the girls in time, but we will not act rashly and do stupid things. Now Lucian would you and two other guards please go and escort Vladimir here."
"Of course, your grace. Just out of curiosity why are you not removing me from this interview?"
"Simple, my dear friend you know how to keep your anger under control and you will act like a father and not like an overly in love jealous lover."