Dario
Waiting was driving me crazy! So instead of storming into my father's study. I rather took my frustrations out on the training center's equipment. I was still punching away when Danica's voice penetrated my focus on destroying the punching bag.
"Dario! Will you take it easy? You are literally going to beat Finn to the ground, through the punching bag."
Looking around the bag I saw that Finn was holding the bag, but he was also clutching his side in pain.
"Aaa damn, I am sorry Finn. Damn, are you ok? My head is just not here, it feels like I will lose my mind."
"No problem your Grace," Finn said gasping a bit.
As I went to get an icepack for Finn, the training center door opened and Logan walked in.
"Logan? What did he say?"
"He said he didn't take Thalia. Also, he particularly loves to piss you off. It's like a game to him, to be honest. But he did say he would like you to be in the study as he gives his insight on the matter."
'He loves pissing me off. Seriously? You know I really want to beat the crap out of that guy."
"Well, though I do not necessarily think beating him is a bad idea. It does have a very appealing ring to it but…"
"Finding Thalia is more important. Ok, let's go and hear what he has to say."
As we entered my father's study, I forced my anger down. Thalia needs me to find her, and if that means I have to play nice with Vladimir then so be it.
He was sitting on the chair very relaxed waiting as if he had all the time in the world. As I entered, I bowed to my father and greeted Leo and Lucian, and lastly Vladimir himself.
"Well, shall we get down to business? To answer who might have been able to create a portal. Well, there are a few, shall we say unsavory characters around Nosferatu that can do that. To who would want to harm Thalia, well that is the question. There are quite a few aristocrats that might want her out of the way; for their daughters to stand a chance with Prince Dario. As I said females seem to find him irresistible. And let's not forget her dear absent Father and half-sister Lord Marcus and Serafina. They in particular want her out of the way. Serafina does have a very bad burning desire to be a princess. Strictly speaking, I don't even think she would care much whether Prince Dario likes her or not as long as she has a title and status. Personally, I don't think she really loves anyone other than herself.
"That is really no way to talk about your friend or whatever your relationship/ arrangement is. And even though I do think they are suspect number one they did not leave the party"
Something in Danica's statement seemed to amuse him greatly.
"My dear Princess, I do believe you have formed a very wrong idea of what is between me and Serafina. I can assure you friendship is definitely not it. Nor is it something with benefits attached. I just happen to run into her from time to time. Did we have a thing way back, when I didn't know who and what she truly is? Yes, I am ashamed to say but please at least give me some credit, that I do have standards. As to them not leaving the party there are ways to get things done without having to be directly involved"
He stood up and bowed to my father then spoke again.
"Now, if it would please your highnesses. I would go and ask around to see what I can find. I would have said that the princes and some of the guards are more than welcome to accompany me but then no one would give me the answers we seek. So, I will be back the next night and then hopefully we will have more to go on. I wish you all a good night's sleep."
No sooner did he finish speaking than he was gone.
Blood Rose Castle (In the Dungeon)
Thalia
Rose and Skye were looking worse by the minute. They barely survived the day the sun coming through the window of the dungeon filled almost their whole cell. They kept huddling together in the tiny patch of shadow in the far corner. As the sun set and darkness fell over the dungeon, some guards came in and lit torches that hung on the far wall. When they left, I made my way to the bars connecting our two cells. Since the horrific sight of seeing Marco burn to death, they have not spoken and I fear all this might be too much for them. But my biggest concern is that they need blood daily to survive to keep their strength up if we are to find a way out of this hell. They need to be able to move on their own. Pushing aside my own fatigue and pain that the 'Change' is bringing about I try to focus on my two friends and what I can do for them.
"Rose? Skye? Are you ok?"
"Thalia, that was horrible. Are we going to be burned to death too?"
Hearing the fear in Skye's voice I would have loved nothing more than to say no. But even I know I can't make such a promise.
"I don't know Skye. But I promise I will not stop trying to get you both out of here. But first, you need to come over to this side of the cell and feed. It won't be ideal since I am not fully human. But there is enough human in me for my blood to at least keep you both alive and able to move. At least until I find a way to get you out of here."
"Thalia! No, we can't. You need your blood you're weak as it is. With the 'Change' and its effects weakening you every time a wave hits. And now you want to make it worse by giving us your blood to sustain us."
"Rose is right Thalia we can't."
"You can and you will. You're not meant to be here. They want me dead but I will not let my best friends die of starvation or torture. If there is something I can do about it so please let me do this. I can do this and I will be fine. I promise."
They both looked like they are going to refuse, but I was not taking no for an answer. Taking a shard of rock by my feet with a sharp edge. I made a cut on my arm not big, just big enough for some blood to start running.
I knew their hunger and the smell of my blood would win them over. So very attentively they came closer. Before they took my arm in theirs to drink, they both looked at me, their eyes filled with gratitude and regret at the same time. The pricks of their teeth as they sunk into my arm were not pleasant at all. But as they drank, I saw that color was returning to their faces and their movements became a bit easier. They only drank a minute or two before they sealed the wounds they made. Releasing my arm, they sat back on the floor of the cell seeming to for the first time since I woke up really be able to sit in a comfortable position.
"Thank you, Thalia we won't forget this ever."
As I sat back, I felt a wave of dizziness come over me, fighting against it I tried not to show just how much giving my blood to the both of them really weakened me. They did not need to feel guilty over this.
Just then the door leading into the room opened up and Serafina walked in.
"Well, look it seems you are all still alive. This will make things so much more interesting. I think we will start with dear sweet Thalia. Let's see if you can endure the night."
The two guards that followed Serafina in. Walked forward followed by a man I have never seen before. The unknown man was most certainly not a vampire. He stood in front of the cell door and waved his hands in a strange pattern. There was a red light that seemed to emanate from him and the next thing the cell door sprang open. I tried to stand to at least have a better chance of defending myself. But after suffering the waves of pain and general unpleasantness of the 'Change' and having just given blood to both Rose and Sky I couldn't. The guards moved swiftly and before I knew what was happening, a sharp pain spread from the back of my head all the way through my body. Dazed and confused as I was from the blow, I felt them pick me up like I was a ragdoll and drag me out of the cell. The last thing I heard before the doors shut behind me was the terrified screams of my two best friends.