Blood Royal

by Kara Joy

  “Ok, Orion. I will do it.”

  Orion laid on the bed beside me. Taking the knife, he drew it across his throat. I snuggled up beside him and started sucking the blood. Within a few minutes, the wound was healed and I was lying beside him.

  I was the first to break the silence, “Orion?”

  “Yes?”

  “What happened in France? Why did you have to leave?”

  “I had to leave to keep you safe."

  We fell into silence again until Orion turned towards me. "Anna, honey?”

  “Yes.”

  “How do you like Shadows?”

  I shrugged, “It’s pretty cool. Why?”

  “Honey, we are going to be here for a while. At least until Andromeda is killed.”

  “What?" I asked as I leaned up on my elbow so I could see his face. "What happened?”

  “Everyone has been summoned to kill you. So, I will be remaining very close to you. You have a knack to getting into trouble. Jared will also be close by.”

  “What about Kevin? He’s been hanging around a lot.”

  “They have sent him away.”

  “What? Did he do something wrong?”

  Orion gave a small laugh. “No, he has not done anything wrong. Jared sent him to collect someone else that is in danger. Another half-vampire like you. Jared did not understand the situation until you came along.”

  Orion went quiet as he seemed to be listening to a story inside his mind. “Jared is very protective. So, he sends the person he trusts the most to take care of things. Especially when he can not go himself.”

  I nodded, understanding the thought behind Jared sending his right-hand man. My mind was filled with a million questions that I wanted to ask. I needed to know how much danger I was in. I knew that Orion would never tell me because he would not want to add to my stress.

  A knock on the door jolted me out of my pondering. “Orion, Anna, I hope you are doing well,” Jared added with a smile.

  “Yes, thank you, Jared.” As Jared turned to leave, I called out to him. “Jared?”

  “Yes”

  “How much danger am I in? Also, do you have any idea how long we will be here?”

  Jared turned to look at Orion. Then Orion slightly nodded his head. “You are in severe danger. You must stay with Orion or me, at all times. Do you understand?”

  “Yes.”

  “As to your other question. I am not sure how long you will be here. You are happy to stay as long as you wish, once the danger is gone.”

  “Thank you, Jared.”

  “My pleasure, Anna.”

  He quickly bowed and exited the room. Even though I was wrapped in Orion’s arms, I felt alone. Orion could sense my feelings since I had even more of his blood in me. He tightened his arms around me, in a firm embrace. “I love you. You are safe. You aren’t alone. I'm here.”

  I turned as his lips found mine. It seemed like ages before we broke away and I drifted back off to sleep.

  So here I was, stuck at Shadows without knowing the length of my stay. The alarm sounded. Orion and I shot out of the bed running for the door.

  We opened the door and I ran right into Jared. “Come. You need to go deeper into hiding.”

  Jared grasped my hand, pulling me behind me. Orion only a step behind me. I could hear the screaming and the crying. I knew that the memory would haunt me forever; it would haunt us all.

  Chapter 20

  Jared walked in front of us with a flaming torch, lighting our way. The emotions coming from the others were calming down as we walked for what felt like ages. My feet were killing me from the run in the woods and now traveling quickly through the tunnels under Shadows. I felt Orion squeeze my hand as I looked over to him. I twisted as I looked behind me, searching for Zack. Finally, my eyes landed on him as he was helping an older woman. He looked up and gave me a reassuring smirk. Turning around, I kept my focus on Jared as he kept a quick pace.

  “How far do these tunnels go?” I asked quietly, as I leaned towards Orion.

  “Miles.” He answered back quickly.

  “Are we safe in here?” I hated to ask but there were at least a hundred bodies following behind us as he left the Shadow city.

  Jared looked behind us. I knew he had heard my question. “As we pass certain points the tunnel collapses so no one can follow.”

  “What of the others that did not get to the tunnels?” When no one answered, I looked around. No one would look me in the eyes. “What? What about the others?”

  “They're dead.” Orion finally answered, knowing that I would keep asking until I knew the truth. I kept shaking my head as Orion pulled me along. “The Invader's don't show mercy. They will kill everyone in their path. You are the only one who can take down the Invader's. You always say that you aren't a Vampiress and you're right... you are a Queen. These are your people.” Orion gripped my arm, tightly, to show me the seriousness of his words. I knew that he spoke the truth, through our bond, but I had never thought much of the title until this moment. I had put my people in risk, as I ran outside the security of our village, and they got into the hidden community because Jared and Orion had to save me.

  “Their death's are my fault.” I barely whispered in horror. Their screams would already haunt me but knowing it was my fault for their suffering was a lot to take in.

  “No!” Jared said harshly. “They were always going to find us. It's why he had these tunnels in place. Everyone was trained and knows what they are doing. The deaths are that of the Invader's, not yours.” I looked at Jared, tears stinging my eyes. I followed him silently as we kept walking farther into darkness. I heard crumbling behind us, knowing it was part of the tunnel caving in to make sure that no one attacked us from behind. The silence remained, only the shuffling of feet and a cry from a child came periodically. The silence did not help my mind from wandering back to the people behind me and the other people. If I had been “Queen” for a hundred years, they must hate me. I just thought it was a worthless title that only my family used. I hated when they used it because I felt like they were saying I was not a part of their family. Even if I knew in my heart, that it was ridiculous, Augustine and Arianna loved me. As did all of the boys. They were my family, my brothers.

  Hours passed slowly. The only light being the torch in front of us and a few behind to help the others who walked aimlessly behind us. Exhaustion was wearing on everyone, but we kept going, without complaint. Finally, a small light in front of us started to appear. I grabbed Jared's shoulder. He looked back and smiled. “It's alright. We are here.”

  “Where is here?” I asked looking towards the light was growing as we moved closer.

  “Shadow was only one section. We set up multiple Shadow locations.”

  “Wow. You thought this all out.”

  “Thank you, Anna.” Jared smiled, keeping to the name that I requested that he would call me.

  Seeing the light seemed to energize everyone. The walking picked up as the small light became a doorway. The electric panel on the wall lit up as Jared stepped to the side. “We need your hand, Queen Fendrel.”

  I stared at him for a moment, taking in the name. Taking a deep breath I stepped up and placed my hand on the panel. Quickly, the door opened as several eyes stared at us. Putting my hand up, I tried to block out some of the sunlight that poured through the large bay windows of the room. My eyes adjusted slowly as all of the people behind us poured into the room. Lowering my hand, the people in the room quickly went to their knees, bowing. I looked to Orion before I stepped forward. “Please, stand.” I helped the older man who was in the front. He looked familiar but I couldn't place him until his eyes met mine. “Sebastian” I barely breathed before Orion pushed me behind him, a growl on his lips. Jared stepped between them. I did not hear what Jared was quickly whispering in Orion's ear. I did not care. I kept staring at the man who had been my teacher for years before we fled the Sanctuary. I saw Orion's body settle back to normal as he stepped to th
e side as I stepped closer. “Sebastian?”

  “My Queen, it's an honor to see you again.” Tears glistened in his eyes as I launched myself into his arms and he hung on for dear life. As he finally let me go he looked behind him to the guards, “get our guests settled into rooms. I'm sure they are exhausted after their journey.”

  Jared stepped up, “Anna, I need your handprint to destroy the rest of the tunnel. We must protect everyone here so no one can follow us.”

  I nodded as I placed my hand and the panel turned green. Sebastian and Jared did the same as Jared turned to Orion. “We need your print as well.” Orion's eyes went large as he stepped around me and placed his hand against the panel.

  “Why is my print important?” Orion questioned them.

  Jared snorted. “You gave Anna her speech in the tunnel, do I need to remind you... as her husband you are King; not just her personal guard.” At his announcement, Orion's eyes opened larger. It was not something that he had thought of before if his face was anything to go off of. I tried to muffle my laugh but was not able to.

  “Glad I'm not the only one who didn't realize the title was real,” I smirked towards him.

  Jared and Sebastian both gave us a look. I knew that I said something wrong. Thinking over what I said, I realized what they had heard. “I thought with my family gone, that they called me Vampiress to set me apart. I did not realize that I was still... royal.” I shrugged with the last. It was the truth. I never really understood my title until we were in the tunnels.

  Our time passed slowly in this next level of Shadows. I had spent a lot more time with Jared as he and Orion helped me to learn my role with my people. He also told us of our plans if we were to be found again. There were seven other Shadow's built and running smoothly. I was to take the throne again; to rule over our people, like my father before me. The news was out, that I, Annabella Fendrel, survived the massacre; that I was back to claim the throne. Supernaturals were coming out of the shadows; pledging their fealty to me. Our Kingdom and army were quickly growing more powerful.

  Zack was always by my side and took the role of my second guard. He was just as protective of me as Orion was. People at Shadows were welcoming and it was good to see the people thriving. As I walked through the halls, my title was used among the people and I no longer corrected them. I was a Queen and Orion, my King. Jared may run Shadows but it was my responsibility to keep my people safe, even in the walls of Shadows.

  One evening, Orion and I were alone in our chambers. I joined him on the couch as I laid against him. He rubbed my arm as he asked, “Are you happy here?”

  I leaned up to look at his eyes, smiling. “I am. Are you?”

  “I'm happy wherever you are.”

  “Do you miss your family? I'm sorry they aren't here with us.”

  “They are safe; that's all I care about. They will join us when the time comes. For now, they are where they need to be.”

  “It's weird being apart from them. For the past one hundred years, they have not left my side.”

  “I know.”

  Orion kissed me as I laid back on his chest and he both fell asleep.

  About the Author

  Kara Joy "KJ" has always loved being a part of the

  creative world. She was born with an overactive imagination, a pen in her hand, and a story in her heart. She has always enjoyed and thrived on working on

  several projects and multi-tasking. She is caught up in all things creative; with a passion to help others.