I did as he commanded without hesitation, using the front door to aid me as my legs began to shake and bend at the knee, my fear making it increasing difficult to obey; all I wanted to do was run. I wanted to get as far away as I possibly could, hide and hope that no one finds me.
But that just wasn’t possible, my father had tried to run, he had tried to take me and mother with him, but we were caught at the border of Scotland, we never made it to the free tribes and he was foolish to think we would.
He had tried to fight them off when they came, he had been rebellious until his last breath, never once showing fear; though I knew that he had been afraid. I could sense it. Since then, my mother had been placed onto a list, a donor list. She had to give them her blood regularly, and use her ability to read a mortal’s mind to aid them whenever they asked, never really having a choice.
We are one of the rare families that are owned directly by the crown, but not the mortal crown. No, this was much different, and I didn’t understand why he had come all the way from across the ocean just to see us. It made no sense. We were already on constant watch; we had a vampire with us at all times. So, what had gone wrong, what had changed?
I turned to look down at Noah, his entire form coated in his own blood, he had been foolish to challenge royalty, to think that he could bully another vampire into submission, that is not how they worked. Not how any of them should act.
His bulky frame was unmoving and utterly broken, every bone seeming to have been broken in one way or another, his heart no longer residing within his chest. I took a long breath, holding it in my lungs for a few seconds before allowing it to exit my mouth, attempting to calm my heart rate down.
I knew that with their heightened senses, Silas would be able to hear my heart beating within my chest, and he would know how afraid I was, and depending on the vampire, that would either piss him off, or please him.
“Did … did you kill him?” I asked bravely, or stupidly; I wasn’t quite sure which as I found my balance, finally able to hold my own weight.
“Yes, I did.” He said slowly, taking a step towards me as he continued. “You are old enough to know what happens to those who disobey the crown?”
I nodded, bowing my head in a sign of respect, “Yes, sir.”
“Good.” He smiled, baring his fangs. “Now follow me.”
Silas moved past me and opened the front door, revealing several vampires on the lawn, each one staring at me; waiting for me to run. But I had no intention of running, I didn’t want to die, and that is all running would get me.
Besides, I wouldn’t ever make it down the path before they caught me, the vampires were much faster than me, they had an unnatural speed that no one else could master, at least; not that I knew of. I looked down at my beauty and the beast nightwear and sighed, there would be no time to change, or even put on shoes; I would have to go to wherever they had planned as I am. They didn’t care that it was a cold night, they couldn’t feel the cold, not like I could.
After a brief moment, I looked back at the stairs, wishing that I could say goodbye to my mother, and hoping that they didn’t kill her. She had done nothing wrong, only ever doing as they asked without hesitation; she wasn’t like my father, she understood that she had no choice.
That running would only mean death, for the both of us. Fear didn’t matter, not in this life, even if you run from them because you are afraid, the outcome would be the same. Your life would be over.
“That was not a request Luna Marshall.” Silas growled deeply, viciously grabbing my arm.
I gasped when his hand tightened around my wrist, my head snapping towards him as I felt something move within my stomach, unable to decide if it was my supper or my power trying to break loose.
But I couldn’t allow either of them to rear their head, I couldn’t vomit, or I would be punished; and I certainly couldn’t use my powers against the vampires. That would surely mean death, I would not see any mercy from these creatures. Not if they found out what I could do.
The vampire prince dragged me through the door and onto the front lawn, leaving Noah’s dead body behind, I didn’t know vampires could die. I thought that it was impossible to destroy them, yet clearly, I was wrong, I knew that they could be rendered immobile, so that they couldn’t attack you.
That is what we had managed to do when we ran, but to kill one? No, none of us knew that to be possible. Not until now. But how did he do it? How does one kill a vampire?
I followed the prince to the limo whilst staring back at the house we had never chosen, the house was given by them to make sure we couldn’t leave; we weren't allowed anything that would give us a social standing among the mortals. We were made to look poor and isolated; the human neighbours would have already been told that we were criminals, that we weren't to be approached. Though, this only happens to the families who try and run, try and escape their fate, not all witches must live as we did. Under constant watch. Some got to live a normal life, only being called upon when they were needed, it all depended on what power you were born with.I looked up at Silas who stood above six foot, watching as he opened the car door, indicating that I should get in, and I almost obeyed...“Luna!” My mother screamed in a panic from the front door; her brown eyes coated in terror. “Luna run!”I pulled my arm from the grip of the vampi
Silas recovered quickly, his fiery eyes alight with fury; his long brown hair tattered and knotted as he lifted my mother from the ground. He growled, quickly snapping her neck as he sunk his fangs into her wrist, draining her of the essence witches carry within their blood at the moment they die. An essence that will make a vampire stronger, give him abilities he otherwise wouldn’t have, my mother’s blood was like mine, it was special in a way only they could use, it would allow certain pure breeds of vampires to walk in the daylight, to reside amongst the living.I screamed, dropping to my knees, the cold winter air chilling me, making it difficult to breathe as I could do nothing but tremble; I was a failure. I couldn’t save her. I should have listened, I should have run, maybe then she would still be alive.I could have taken her with me, we could have gotten to the border, we could have finally had a life worth living. But I didn’t,
Silas Bancroft slid into the car beside me, quickly shutting the door and tapping the roof, indicating to the driver that we were ready to go; though where we were going, I didn’t know. Perhaps he was taking me to the king, or to his own city that resided under the streets of Paris, whichever it was; I would be trapped underground for the rest of my life, however long that may be.I shifted nervously beside him, my heart racing recklessly as I opened my eyes, keeping them locked onto my bare feet. What would happen once we reached our destination? What did Prince Bancroft want with me?I turned to look up at my owner, wondering if it was because of my powers, because I could destroy vampires with the rays of the sun; or was it that I could shapeshift? Both were rare gifts, something that not many received; nor were they something that you lived to talk about once the hierarchy found out.Though, I was still a young witch I knew most of what magic was banne
I stirred slightly, the road suddenly rougher than what I was used to, but my mind refused to comprehend where I was, or what was happening; still partially asleep.I turned onto my side, curling up into a tight ball as I took a deep breath, attempting to come around and fully wake. I shivered, not entirely sure what was going on around me, voices and shouting coming from somewhere far off in the distance. I slowly began to remember all that had happened the night before, Prince Silas Bancroft coming to my home and killing my mother and taking me into his care, and whilst he wasn’t completely vicious, I didn’t trust him.A witch should never trust a vampire, especially one that could command an entire army to hunt you down should you decide to run. I pealed open my eyes, the blacked-out windows preventing me from seeing exactly where we were, or even where we might be. I blinked against the harsh lighting the limo, my heart beginning to race as my e
I tried to look anywhere else, somewhere there weren't as many people, but that seemed impossible as they surrounded us on all sides, their eyes glowing against the torches that they held. I briefly closed my eyes, taking in a calming breath as the prince grabbed my wrist, dragging me towards him. What would happen now? Why were there so many vampires around? Where had he taken me?I glanced around in apprehension, not knowing what was going to happen, or if I would live to see another day. I knew that they could all hear my heart racing, and that only made it worse, they all knew that I was afraid, that I wouldn’t be able to control myself or my power should this continue. Just behind the crowd to the left was a large building, deciding that I should concentrate on something other than my demise, I watched it, taking in every detail. The castle had eleven massively round towers, all connected to the large dark grey stone walls, the chunky building behind them e
I took a step back as a figure emerged from the crowd, though I could not move far a Silas still held my wrist tightly in his grasp, ensuring that I would stay by his side. The figure stepped into the light, allowing me to get a closer look at him as he approached, his hand hovering over his sheathed weapon. A long sword. He had eyes the darkest shade of maroon I had ever seen, his short wavy hair a beautiful blonde; perfectly neat and clean. He towered over me as he stepped towards the prince, standing at about five-foot-nine.“Ah. Ezio Caprotti. What a pleasure it is to see you.” Silas smiled warmly, something I hadn't seen before, not from a vampire.Ezio smiled back, his shoulder bones visible through his white buttoned shirt, his black trousers clinging to his skin. He had a very rough demeanour about him, his sharp nose and stubble quite intimidating; or maybe it was simply the fact that he would be able to kill me with a single wave of his hand. Eith
“Berus.” Silas called into the crowd, waiting as a dark figure emerged from the crowd, a black aura surrounding him.I lifted my head slightly so that I could see him, this large cloak covering a hunched frame, a large, bony hand holding onto an oak staff which was twisted up towards the heavens, an elegantly placed crystal ball attached to the top, the oak curling around it. His face was covered partially by his wavy silver hair, his amethyst eyes shining through, promising me a world of pain should I take even a single step out of line. His dark blue cloak was tattered and old, the colour fading ever so slightly, his skin sagging and wrinkled. I knew of this warlock, I knew that he was a necromancer, that he could raise other witches and mortals form the dead. He had a dangerous gift, one that many feared much like mine, I had thought they all lived in the tribes of Scotland, but clearly, I had been misinformed.He turned to look down at me just before he
I sighed slightly with relief, I hadn’t known what to expect, but I was beginning to like Blanche as a person, she was so witty and bubbly; something I wasn’t used to. But how could she be so happy when she was forced to work under such a creature as Berus? How could she smile when she must listen to his every command without hesitation or objection? I followed her out of the small room, neither of us needing to say another word, the ice had been broken and now we could walk silently, yet; it wasn’t an awkward silence. It was strangely comfortable and nice, something that I had never been able to experience whilst with my parents, they were always so on edge and scared of what would come barrelling through the door.My shoulders drooped at the thought of my parents, knowing that I would never see them again hurt, more than I could have imagined. But they had been killed, ripped from the world by vampires and there was noth