Blood Royal

by Kara Joy

  Darren hissed at the couple in the front, “Why did you bring the guards with you to the airport? I am no threat to you. Having that many vampires in one place, someone is going to get suspicious.”

  Dragon’s long black hair fell over his shoulders to shield him from the car’s inside lights. His milky white skin went stone solid after Darren’s announcement. “We did not have any guards there? What are you talking about?” Curiosity filled his dark eyes.

  Darren went dead silent. He knew what he had seen now. “Protector’s Guards not the Invader’s Guards. The war unfolds, sides will be taken, and death will come. We shall see who wins in the end.”

  At the sound of that statement that Nathaniel Lavada made before he was massacred made them all shutter. Hazel, the frailest of them all, barely squeaked out “so it is true?” Shivering in her seat knowing the rest of the prophecy and what might come to be.

  At the sound of his wife’s fear, Dragon placed more weight onto the gas pedal. Within a few minutes, they could see the Invader’s Guard behind the trees as they passed into the Invader’s territory. Driving into the hidden tunnel brought them into the garage of the Sanctuary.

  Once inside the inner Sanctuary Andromeda and Apollo were standing there. Andromeda looked almost livid. “What took you so long?”

  Darren bowed his head in respect and dropped to his knees. “I am sorry for the delay Queen Wakada.” He knew that she would be calmed by hearing the word Queen, until this point Darren had always seen her as a Queen but knowing that she would be the one to take his son’s life, he no longer saw her in the same light.

  “I am sorry I was harsh my dear friend. Please come in, the council is waiting to hear the news that you alerted us too.”

  “As you wish.” Andromeda led the way into the room, followed by Darren.

  Darren’s mind wandered to his son. He started to regret the last several days with his son. He had always been so harsh with his son.

  “Dad, you can’t!” Zack yelled to him as he grabbed Anna’s picture. “I love her!”

  That was when he lost it and hit his son across the face. “No, you can not love such an imposter.”

  “But I do. She isn’t as bad as you were told. She is the best person that I know; she’s so kind, considerate, funny…”

  Another blow to the face stopped Zack in mid-sentence. “I said no. Stay away from her. That is an order. You must choose my clan or hers.” Before Zack could speak again he held up his hand to silence his son. “If you chose her, I will no longer claim you as my son. You will be put to death with the others in the Protector’s line.” Darren turned around and stalked out the door, leaving Zack on the floor crying with blood dripping down his face from the cut on his face.

  Darren’s attention was brought back to the present as there were twenty pairs of dark eyes waiting on him to present his news. “Annabella Lavada is alive.” He held up the photo as the murmuring broke out between the people. Everyone was getting all worked up except for the guy in the back of the room in the Shadows. Darren had never seen him before.

  Apollo noticed that Darren’s attention was diverted and approached his side. “Your son is in danger, yet you still turn him in?”

  “My son made his own choice. I will not turn my back on my clan. Who is the one in the Shadows?”

  Apollo hissed and the Shadows disappeared suddenly. Curiosity and Confusion filled Darren’s face. “That is my son, Kent,” Apollo stated quietly. “You made your choice and I have made my choice about my son. It is the hardest decision that I have ever made.”

  Darren did not know what he was talking about but felt it rude to ask. Apollo left as the meeting continued in chaos. Darren took out his phone and looked at the picture of him and his son, quietly he whispered, “I’m so sorry, son.”

  Chapter 9

  The sound of banging woke Orion. As soon as the banging began it ended. Orion flew down the stairs as Zack climbed in the window.

  “Zack, what is this all about; and why are you climbing through the window?”

  “Why don’t you help me! This is a life or death situation and you took too long to answer the door so I decided on the window.”

  Orion suddenly went still as Zack’s words hit him, “What's the problem?”

  Zack sighs, “Go and gather everyone, I will tell you all together.”

  As Orion called to the others, Zack went into the living room and collapsed on the couch. Zack did not hear Orion come into the room until he spoke, “Someone should beat your dad for doing that to your eye again.” Zack winced at the reminder of his dad’s hand meeting his face. Zack raised a hand to his cheek and softly rubbed it.

  “He kicked me out because Anna and I are friends. I chose her over my family.” Zack hung his head whether, from exhaustion or the shame inside, no one would ever know.

  By now everyone was in the living room. Everyone looked confused and nervous because of the late hour. Griffin was the first to break the silence, “Ok, Zack, what is the life or death problem?”

  “My father, The Ghost, is on his way to France to tell them that the rumor of Anna’s survival is true. He is bringing them proof.”

  At the sound of this announcement, Griffin disappeared up the stairs. When he returned he was carrying me since I was barely awake and kept dosing back off.

  Zack was getting ready to apologize again but Orion stopped him. “Augustine, what do you want to do?”

  Augustine looked at him and laughed. “What do you have in mind?”

  “Too much to pull off. I want Annabella safe and as far away from the Invaders.” Before Augustine could intervene Orion kept talking, “But The Shadow should know that if he turns in Anna then Zack will be killed as well…”

  Zack’s head snapped up. Augustine then caught onto what Orion was saying, “So, what do you think we should do?”

  “Keep Anna here...”

  “No, I want to go with you.” I did not know what was going on but I could not lose Orion.

  Orion ignored my response and kept on talking, “I will go to France and try to figure out what has happened there and what is being planned.”

  Augustine nodded and there was a sudden knock on the door. Everyone was up and surrounding me. Zack went and got the door. “May I help you?”

  The guy stood there full of authority and nervousness. “I need to speak to Orion and Augustine Phoenix. It is about Vampiress Annabella Lavada.”

  Everyone in the house stilled at Anna’s full name. Orion tore away from his family. “What is your name?”

  “My name is no concern to you but I have come to offer you my help. The council has met but they have not decided what to do since Anna is not a threat to them, now at least.”

  Orion and Zack exchange glances and Orion looks back to Augustine. Augustine nodded and Orion let the stranger in. As he walked into the room he bowed to me, as I was standing next to Griffin still half asleep. Arianna started the conversation, “Please, if you are going to help, please, give us your name.”

  The newest guest looked to me and asked, “If I give you my name, will you let me explain?”

  “Yes,” it was the first time that my voice had been heard that night. “I want to know what is going on, as well.” As I spoke, I scanned the room to all the stares, feeling the tension.

  “Yes, my lady.” He bowed again. “My name is Kent Wakada…” Several gasps echoed around the room. He went silent for a moment before he started to speak again. “My father is Apollo Wakada; he is the one who let you all get away with Vampiress Annabella. My father is a Protector. He married my mother, Andromeda, before he knew what side she was on. He trained me well. I am here to keep the Vampiress safe.”

  I was agitated at the newest guest in our house. I hated being called a Vampiress. Because of the power of my family, I had lost them all and had to create a new family. “Well, if you are going to help, please, do not call me Vampiress or Annabella. I go by Anna, and I am no Vampiress. I am just a norma
l vampire, not royalty.”

  “That could be very difficult; though I will try my best Vamp… I mean, Anna.”

  “Thank You.”

  Orion looked between the two of us, “Ok, so if you are going to help us; what about your allegiance to your clan? What about your mother?”

  Kent looked down and looked back up with a fierceness in his eyes. “My mother has disowned me. My father looks after me and makes sure that I am doing well. I hang out at the shadows at the Sanctuary. No one ever really notices an extra person. I live with a hidden society of vampires, some are non-clan but most are Protector’s.”

  Skylar had been giving Kent with a death stare since he walked through the door, but when he heard about the clan he was taken by surprise. “What is the name of the society?”

  Kent smiled with affection, thinking of the village that took him in. “Shadows is the name of the village. It’s hidden from everyone except if they know where to find it. It is the safest place to hide Anna if needed.”

  Quincy and Griffin were quarreling in the background. The new knowledge of the powerless village was a new concept to all of us. Kent stopped them, “Wait, there is power there and someone does run Shadows.”

  Quincy, hiding his eyes, “But you said that there was no clan meaning that there is no authority? Or did you speak untrue?”

  “I spoke the truth. The power is with the one who built the village. His name is Jared Lometo, but he goes by Leo, most of the time. He was one of the guards that survived at the Sanctuary. He makes sure that no one is made into royalty and has that much power again. With power, comes conflict and jealousy…”

  Quincy was quick to interrupt Kent, “Yeah we all understand the problems that powers have. You forget, young one, that we were there when the Sanctuary was attacked.”

  “Jared is the reason that I am here. You see, he was part of the Protector’s and he feels that he still has to protect Anna.”

  Orion shook his head, “What is Jared’s real reason with helping out Anna and our family?”

  “I am not at liberty to discuss it farther.”

  Orion was at his side in an instant with barely any time for Kent to react to the situation. Orion had him by the throat. “You said your father sent you and then you say Jared is behind it. What are you hiding? What is the real story? Maybe I should kill you now as a spy!”

  I walked up behind Orion, wrapped my arms around his waist and kissed his neck, “Orion, please, let him go.

  “No!” he spat to his side.

  “Then I am leaving. I will not stand around and watch you two fight.” I turned so that Jared could see me, “Tell me how to get to Shadows.”

  Orion suddenly let Kent go and turned to me. “No, you can’t. It is not safe. I will not lose you. I can’t lose you again, it will kill me.” Orion sunk into the couch. I quickly went to his side and sat next to him. I hated to see him upset. It always ate me for the inside out. I had to comfort him.

  “Orion.” I waited until he looked up. “I am not going to go to Shadows unless it is necessary. I want to stay here but I want all of you to be safe as well. We should weigh the option though.”

  Orion grabbed my hand and kissed the top of it and caressed my cheek. “Anna, honey, I have to go to France. I will keep you safe.” Fear flashed into my eyes and Orion grabbed me and brought me to his chest as I started to cry.

  I finally had Orion. He loves me and I love him. I can not lose him again. I can not go for months and not wake up in his arms. When Orion leaves I won’t feel safe until he returns. I will be so lost and so alone.

  Chapter 10

  Orion and Kent left early that morning on there way to France. The house felt so quiet and eerie as I walked through the living room. I felt dead inside with Orion no longer in the house. Before I knew it, I was speaking aloud. Standing, looking out the window, I begged, “Please bring Orion back to me quickly and safely.”

  “Hey, Anna,” Zack called from across the room, making me jump almost out of my skin. “Sorry. I did not mean to scare you. I thought that you would know that I was in here with all of…”

  Before Zack could finish his sentence I started to laugh. The laughter stopped Zack's speech. “Zack, it's fine. I am just a little jumpy. Nothing new, lately.”

  Zack laughed as well but stopped quickly, “I know you miss him already.” A silent tear escaped from my eye. “He will be back once you’re safe. Come on, let’s go have some fun, get him off your mind.”

  “That is probably the best. What should we do?” The playfulness was back in my voice. I just hope that Zack did not know that I was completely faking the enthusiasm. Orion would have known instantly.

  “It’s a surprise.” He grabbed my hand and we were running out the door. Before I knew it we were both laughing so hard we were crying.

  That was when the gun went off. Zack grabbed me, sheltering me from the bullets flying by us. I did not even realize I was screaming until Zack turned me over. “Are you ok?”

  “Yeah, I think so.” I started looking over my body to make sure that I was not wounded. It was not like it would have killed me unless they were silver and it wasn’t taken out.

  “What were you thinking?” Zack was standing there screaming. I started to answer before I noticed that he was talking to three men with guns.

  “You kids should not be out in the woods during hunting season. You could have been killed.”

  “We always hang out in the woods. This is the forest preserve, hunting's not allowed. I know the laws.”

  The hunter shrugged as he didn't care that he was not supposed to be hunting on the Preserve. “It is still dangerous to be in the woods. People have been disappearing lately.” The threat only made Zack fume more. I stood up from the ground and put my hand on his arm, hoping it would calm him.

  The younger hunter, that stood behind the other two men, turned towards me, “Ma’am, I am deeply sorry we scared you.”

  “Oh yes, we are sorry that we scared you both. Please accept our apology.” The older gentleman said, glaring at the other hunter that had threatened Zack.

  “Thank You,” it was the only thing that I could think of at the moment. “Apology accepted, but we must get home now. Good-bye and safe hunting.” Before Zack could speak again, I pulled his arm as we walked back towards my house.

  When we were finally out of sight of the hunters, Zack and I ran off towards the house. “Thanks, Zack.”

  He was still fuming from the hunting incident. “Seriously Anna! Thanks for what? Almost getting you killed?”

  “No, I did have a lot of fun and it helped to clear my head.” I kissed him on the cheek. “Now, come inside until you calm down enough.”

  “No!” His voice was so sharp with anger it made me flinch. At the site of my cowering away he quietly went on “No, I better get home.”

  I could not let him go home, no one was there and I did not want to be alone. “Zack, please, I don’t want to be alone right now.” I knew that he was still going to reject so I went on, “I am too scared to be by myself.” That got him, it had to. So I lied a little bit. I was scared but I was scared of what would happen if I was alone for too long.

  “Fine,” he said with a smile, “What movie do you want to watch?”

  I started the movie and snuggled on the couch as Zack sprawled out in the recliner. Before I knew it, I was asleep.

  When I woke, a blanket was covering me and Zack was asleep in the chair. I smiled at the sight. No matter all of the things that we had already faced, and everything that we were going to face, he looked so peaceful. I quietly got up and went into the kitchen.

  Orion and Kent landed on a private airstrip on the outskirts of France. Orion had fallen asleep and awoke to the jolt of the landing plane. “Where are we, Kent?”

  “We just landed on Shadows runway. You told me that you wanted to check out Shadows. Did I get it wrong?”

  “No. I wanted to do this I just…”

  “Thinking
of Anna,” Kent smirked.

  “How did you know?” The surprise was evident in his voice. He was afraid that the family would know if this stranger knew that he was more than just Anna’s protector. His family did not know the truth about him and Anna and he preferred to keep it that way.

  “You talk in your sleep. It was quite interesting.” The look on Orion’s face made Kent keep talking, “Do not worry. I am great with keeping things of that much importance to myself.”

  “Thank You.”

  Kent pointed from the plane’s window to a single man in an expensive deep green suit, with long blonde hair that was tied back. Authority oozed from every inch of the man that Orion was now watching. “That is Jared Lometo. When we approach call him Jared, nothing else unless instructed to do so. Also, make sure that he does not know that you like Anna, do not think of it when you are around him.”

  “Why can I not think of it?”

  “He specializes in... well, he is like Anna; in the way that she can read emotions. Jared can hone it better, it's like he can read the thoughts of most supernaturals.”

  “You are talented, Kent. Most people do not know about Anna’s talent. Even most of our family does not know her talent. She keeps it hidden to try to have a normal life.”

  “Again, I will not say anything. Are you ready to meet Jared?”

  “As ready as I will ever be.”

  Both men stopped and smiled at each other as they exited the plane.

  As he stepped off the plane, Orion felt like he was entering a battle zone. Out of nowhere, they were surrounded by Lions and Vampires and shape-shifters. “Kent? What is going on?”

  The phone woke me for the second time that day. As I got up I noticed a note on the table. I quickly grabbed the note and rushed to the phone. “Hello?”

  “Good morning, sleepyhead.”

  “ORION, you called! It's you! Are you ok? What’s going on? Where are you?”

  Orion had been laughing since I had answered the phone. “Anna, honey, calm down. I called to updated everyone about everything I have seen. Can you call them?”