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 eyes rested onto the Prince, his fire-coloured eyes locked onto me as he watched me move into a seated position on the floor of the vehicle.
“Ah Fraulein. Finally awake I see.” He smiled softly, catching me off-guard.
“Who is Fraulein?” I asked sleepily, rubbing my eyes.
He laughed, a deep and throaty sound. “Is that not obvious?”
I stared up at him, puzzled as to what he had meant, was he calling me that? I am sure he knows what my name is, he said it when we were back at the house, so why was he calling me such a thing? I tilted my head to the side, once again rubbing my eyes as I tried to understand exactly what he meant.
“It is simply a pet name. I wouldn’t read too much into it, girl. It has no hidden meaning.” he shrugged, such a simple gesture yet it made me distrust him more, why did he need a pet name for me? Wasn’t mine good enough?
I am Luna Marshall. That is and always will be my name. “Why do I need a pet name?”
“We are here.” Silas smiled as the limo came to a slow stop, the door opening from the outside.
I leaned forward slightly, stretching my neck to see who was at the other side, though it was too dark, the only light coming from a line of torches that blinded my vision. I rubbed my eyes, trying to adjust them to the new light, I blinked several times, but by the time I reopened my eyes Silas was already exiting the vehicle and holding his hand out for me, silently commanding that I follow him.
I looked around the limo, once again beginning to panic, where had he brought me, what awaited me once I got out of the car? I took a long breath, reluctantly taking his hand and allowing him to guide me out of the limo, his eyes glowing against the torches.
I stumbled slightly as I got out, the stone beneath my feet freezing my entire body as I began to shiver, wishing that I could have had time to put on shoes and a coat back at the house. I lifted my gaze away from my feet, focusing instead on what was around me, though as I saw the crowd of vampires, warlocks and witches gathered around the limo I wished that I was somewhere else, somewhere they couldn’t see me.
I took a shaky breath, my heart lurching as I fearfully looked over at Silas who still held my hand, ensuring that I couldn’t run. Though, if I even tried to do so, I would die, one of the creatures around us would catch me, there was no doubt about that. There was so many of them. Hundreds, maybe more.
“Breathe girl, if you collapse, I am not going to help you back up.” Prince Bancroft growled, my fear growing tedious.
“Yes sir.” I stuttered, attempting to control my breathing the best I could, but I had never been around so many people. Not in my entire life.
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
“That is awful, I am really sorry. But, why did he pick you, what is your power?” I asked her, thinking that I had stepped out of line, that maybe I should have left the questions for another day.Blanche placed the scrambled egg in front of me, with two slices of toast before moving back towards the cooker to finish her own. “Well, the same as Berus, I can conjure the dead, bring people back from the other side. It isn't easy, and takes a lot of practice, but once I got the hang of it, I became a natural. If I could say so, I am now just as strong as my master.”I nodded, unsure if I completely understood, but more than a little terrified, that was a banned power, much like my own. Was the prince collecting those that were more powerful than the average witch or warlock? Why did he want me? I couldn’t exactly control my ability yet, nor could I shape shift into anything other than a domestic house cat, what use
“Master... You can’t!”Berus slapped her across the face, the sound echoing throughout the kitchen and causing me to recoil in both shock and fear; did he mean that he would kill me if I didn’t do as he commanded, if I didn’t show him that I was more than a child? But how could I do that, how could I show him I had such a power when I didn’t have any inkling on how to use it properly?“You will not question me witch, I am your master!” Berus bellowed, wrapping his hand in the witch's hair as she squealed; fighting against him.“She is just a child!” blanche shouted defiantly, wincing when the next slap came.Terrified, I backed away, the door to the left of me; if I could just get out unseen, I might have a chance. I may be able to get away from here, out of the castle and the city. I knew that it was foolish of me to think such things, but I couldn’t help it, I was alone and
I did not respond to Silas’ voice, I just ran, ran faster than I ever thought I could; ran for everything that I wanted in life, and for my freedom. I prayed to whatever god may be out there, begging the strange being to allow me to do this, to help me when no one else could. I saw a large oak door as I ran, the windows beside it showing me that it led to the outside of the castle, that it would get me out and then I just had to make it through the city.I heard voices behind me as I pushed my legs harder, shouting and ordering me to stop, to turn around and get on the ground, they had found me; the vampires knew who I was. If I didn’t make it to the door, they would kill me, but why? Why couldn’t they just let me go? I hadn't done anything wrong! I only wanted freedom; I wanted a life where I could choose my own path. Not have one chosen for me.I made it to the door just as the vampires were closing in around me, swinging
“Relax, the less you think about it the less you will worry. This works both ways, you let me in and you will be allowed into my mind.”“I’m afraid, this has never happened before.” I sent back, trying to relax, trying to let him in. But something within me refused, something stopped me.“Calm down, I am not going to hurt you.” He smiled, though I didn’t have to look at him to know, I could sense it.It felt as though someone was rummaging around my thoughts, seeing them for what they were; ramblings of a scared teenager who lost her parents to the very same creature that was now in her mind. I panted slightly, accidently sending him a wave of sadness, a mourning that I even I couldn’t fully comprehend, I missed them. I wanted my parents back, my family.I wanted to see them one last time, hold them in my arms, tell them that I love them. But that