The Queen

by Cole Denton

  As we approached the entrance, a family with three little girls stood beside the open doors. All three of them were dressed in their best and had clearly been excited to be there.

  “Queen! Queen Althea!” one of them sang out.

  “Queenie!” the youngest screeched as the mother took hold of her shoulder to settle her down.

  My mother stopped to say hello to the little girls and the family. I waited silently beside Klyn with a smile plastered to my face. I even made the chuckle that accompanied the, “oh, she is so precious,” comment that nearly everyone had been thinking when the youngest gave my mother a flower of some sort.

  “Oh, she is so precious,” I said under my breath and gazed at Klyn.

  He cleared his throat, but I could tell that he had found humor in my sarcastic comment.

  “Makes me want to have a whole town full of kids,” my comment was pure sarcasm.

  “No, Princess Octavia? You do not want children of your own?” Klyn asked.

  “No, and you must be out of your bloody mind to think otherwise,” I responded in barely a whisper.

  “You do not want the children of the town to look up to you and bring you flowers from their garden to show you how much they adore you?” Klyn asked in a serious tone.

  I squinted to get a closer look at the flower.

  “Flowers, Klyn? My answer is still a solid no. I want no children bringing me flowers from their garden. They can look up to me and adore me from afar, without the supply of flowers.”

  I continued to stand there and pretend that this had been the cutest greeting of all tonight. I broke my concentration on the family when I heard a wolf howl in the distance. I turned to look in the direction of the forest that lay just beyond the event building. As the eerie feeling washed over me, I was no longer certain if I would rather be out there getting fucked than inside at the dinner and festival tonight. Perhaps a broom closet with Macauley’s mouth on my clit and fingers in my holes.

  And because I had been thinking along those lines, I decided to tease poor Klyn.

  “The act of making children sounds much more appealing than actually having children, Klyn. In fact, I could go for taking part in the act of it tonight, rather than being here at the dinner,” I muttered quietly so only Klyn would be able to hear me as we walked into the building.

  We were at a safe distance from my parents as they meandered along. When they stopped to speak with another group of people, they were served drinks in gold goblets. I sighed as a goblet of water was placed in my hands.

  “Water is very refreshing, especially on this humid evening,” Klyn added as he avoided my earlier comment about fucking.

  “Yes, the water is marvelous. I am sure it is much better than the ale in your charger or my parent’s,” I added.

  While I stood with a smile and listened to someone talking to me about bringing in an apothecary, I spotted two people dart out of the side door giggling and groping one another. Lovely. There went two people, off to have fun and a quick fuck in the woods while I am trapped listening about apothecaries and trained mid-wives, or a special children’s wing added to the health place.

  Dinner soon was announced and Klyn held his arm out for me to wrap my hand around.

  “Come, Princess Octavia, I will show you to your seat,” Klyn said with pride. Spoken like a true gentleman.

  “How about just the coming part?” I playfully jabbed.

  “Princess, please. Tonight is very important to your parents,” he pleaded.

  I decided to give it a rest for the moment. I did not want Klyn to get into trouble. Dinner was as I had expected; dull. After dinner, I was asked to dance by several boys and politely obliged their requests. After the fifth dance, I needed a break.

  “Did the young men wear you down, Octavia?” my father asked as I walked toward them.

  “Hardly,” I murmured but with a smile in case others had been looking. “Father, I am going to step outside for a few moments,” I advised.

  Something had been on the tip of his tongue but he seemed reluctant to say whatever it was. I raised my eyebrow at him letting him know that if he had something to say to say it because I needed some fresh air.

  “Take Klyn with you.”

  I started to roll my eyes but caught myself as I remembered that I was in the public eye right then.

  “Seriously, Father. I will be fine and just right outside,” I gave my father’s forearm a pat before I sidestepped him and headed toward the side door that I had seen some castle hands go through.

  Once outside I let my posture relax. I walked toward the railing that separated Town Square and the forest. Despite the thickness in the air, I attempted to take a deep breath. I looked around, expecting to see couples either in the nearest part of the forest, or running towards the cover of darkness. There was no one around on the mezzanine. I frowned and walked around the perimeter of the mezzanine as quietly as possible while I squinted into the forest. Not only had I not seen anyone, but I had not heard anyone either.

  Where was everyone?

  Since it was deathly quiet, I jumped when I heard footsteps on the mezzanine. Startled, I turned on my heels to see Klyn as he came to a stop under a lantern that hung from the building.

  “Dammit, Klyn!” I put my hand over my chest to still my pounding heart. “You scared me!”

  Klyn walked over with a smile on his face and when he came to a stop beside me, I slapped his arm and then playfully punched his upper arm.

  “My apologies, Princess Octavia,” Klyn laughed lightly.

  “You scared the fuck out of me!”

  I calmed down and turned back around to face the forest. Klyn faced the forest with me and rested his hands on the railing.

  “Is that what you came out here for?” Klyn delved, “To get a glimpse of—”

  “People fucking?” I countered with a raised eyebrow, daring him to call it something else.

  Klyn’s face broke out with a smile as he looked at me. He really was good looking with that handsome smile…in an older guy sort of way. Suddenly, I was very interested with who Klyn was fucking at the castle. I would try to drag that out of him eventually.

  “I would not have said that so crudely,” he added.

  “No?” I took a few steps to the left and continued to let my eyes roam the forest. “What would you have called it, Klyn? Making love?” I prompted and turned to face him.

  “Perhaps.”

  I laughed and looked back out to the forest.

  “Princess,” Klyn paused and looked out into the woods, “Octavia, do not be in a big hurry to go out to the woods,” Klyn offered.

  It felt like a parental wisdom speech that he had started. Since it was Klyn though, I showed him respect as he spoke. I nodded at him as Macauley stepped out onto the mezzanine. Klyn looked over his shoulder and acknowledged Macauley before he turned to look at me again.

  “Do not rush,” Klyn murmured.

  Another familiar castle hand appeared in the doorframe.

  “Klyn, King Quintas would like a word with you.”

  Klyn nodded at him and returned his gaze to me. I could see his warning reminder in his eyes about not going into the forest with Macauley. I did not promise Klyn that I would not.

  “The King said it is urgent, Klyn,” the castle hand announced.

  “You better go, Klyn,” I teased.

  As soon as Klyn disappeared inside with the castle hand, Macauley slowly approached.

  “Out for a stroll, Macauley?” I inquired.

  He smiled, which, I will admit, melted me and made my stomach drop. Macauley leaned against the railing and then looked out into the forest.

  “Quiet night out there it seems,” he commented.

  “Yes, it seems rather odd, do you not agree?” I asked him.

  “I suppose people decided to go deep into the forest and use the fog for privacy,” he shrugged and then looked at me. “Would you like to accompany me into the woods, Princess
Octavia?”

  A smile forced its way onto my face, and I nodded. As I giggled and jogged with Macauley into the woods, I could hear Klyn’s voice telling me not to be in a hurry to rush into the woods. Macauley’s jog started to slow because the fog became so thick that I could barely see him in front of me.

  “Wait, Macauley! I cannot keep up with these shoes,” I laughed and leaned against him when he stopped.

  Macauley put his hands on my waist and looked me in the eyes. He had beautiful green eyes that I could barely see right now because of the heavy fog. I felt out of breath and had difficulty breathing the air. I could feel the tightness in my chest as his hands slowly moved to my breasts.

  “Princess Octavia, I have dreamed for a long time of tasting you,” he whispered. “May I?”

  “Yes, Macauley. I have fantasized of you doing that very thing. I want you to taste all of me,” I panted against his lips.

  I leaned against a tree trunk, lost in the sensations Macauley was giving me. His breath on my skin felt stifling hot and the ability to breathe became more and more difficult with each passing moment. My breasts had been freed from the silk material of my dress and the dampness of Macauley’s tongue on my nipple felt amazing.

  Macauley quickly pulled off his shirt and spread it out on the ground. He guided me to lay down and placed my head on his shirt. I helped him pull my dress up as I marveled at his beautiful body. It was no surprise that Macauley had chest muscles and abs of stone that were a direct result of his work at the castle.

  I arched my back off the ground as his tongue circled my swollen clit. His finger began to probe and in case he had not actually heard that I liked two fingers, I informed him.

  “Two fingers, Macauley,” I instructed.

  Two fingers were inserted as his tongue glided up and down my sensitive and swollen lips. This had been much better than my fantasy of him from earlier. The motions of his fingers and tongue caused me to writhe on the edge of coming. My body felt like I had been spinning out of control. Haphazardly, my hands and arms flailed around and I tried to grasp for something solid on the ground.

  Suddenly, my hand hit something unexpected. I turned my head to see what my hand had touched, but the fog was so thick that I could not even see the ground. Almost at the same time, I heard my name.

  “Princess Octavia,” the unfamiliar voice whispered close to my head.

  I pushed myself up on my elbows and looked down at Macauley. We both stared at one another with wide eyes as we heard the voice again, but this time the voice sounded as though it was coming from behind Macauley.

  My heart pounded as Macauley sat up and pulled me close.

  “What the hell is it?” I whispered.

  “I do not know. I think we should go back.”

  A gust of wind blew through the trees, rustling leaves by our feet. I gripped Macauley’s hand tight as the wind grew stronger. Silently, I vowed that I would never go against Klyn’s warnings ever again.

  “Macauley,” the voice whispered as soon as the wind stopped. “Did she taste good?”

  “Listen, whoever you are, the joke is over. King Darick will hear of this if you do not leave us alone!” Macauley yelled as he turned in the direction that the voice seemed to be coming from.

  “Did the Princess taste good?” the voice asked. “I want a taste.”

  I pressed my head against Macauley’s back and jerked away from him when I felt something sharp poke me in the chest. Confused, I looked down and though the fog had thickened, I could see the tip of a blade sticking out of Macauley’s back. I took a step back and called his name as I watched him turn to face me and fall to the ground.

  “Macauley,” I whispered as I quivered. When he did not answer, I screamed and dropped to my knees next to him. “Macauley!” I grabbed his arm and shook him.

  “R-run,” he struggled to say.

  The fog was parting just ahead of us. Something was coming. I took off running towards the mezzanine and made it no more than a few steps before I tripped and fell. I turned to look at the parting fog and held my hand out in front of me in warning.

  One man walked towards us and as the fog began to clear I could see bodies of townspeople strewn all around us. I could not move and could not scream, fear had paralyzed me. Multiple men now stood where the fog had been. The man crouched down in front of Macauley and swiftly pulled the blade out of his chest. As blood spilled, a gust of wind came and as it settled, two more men appeared at the foot of Macauley. The man with the blade in his hand held his hand up, as if it was preventing the men from attacking.

  “You may, but slowly,” he said.

  The two men each took up a side by Macauley and lunged at him. Each went for Macauley’s wrists, and a stomach turning cry of pain had been the last that I heard from Macauley.

  Vampires!

  I pushed myself away and began to cry as I realized that I most likely would not make it out of this forest. I screamed as loudly as I could, knowing it would do next to nothing. The man towered over me and grinned, showing me his razor sharp teeth.

  “Princess Octavia,” he laughed and walked closer. “Princess Octavia…Darick,” he said just before he straddled me and collected both of my wrists in one of his hands. He was too strong and I could not move my hands. “Princess Octavia of The Darick Kingdom…Princess to the Royal Darick.”

  I opened my mouth to scream again and felt the worst pain I had ever experienced. The pain had been so severe that it forced my eyes to close. I thought that I had been dreaming when I opened them. I was still in the nightmare. The man still had my arms pinned over my head by my wrists and his teeth pierced my flesh. As he syphoned life out of me, all that came to mind were my parents and Klyn.

  “My father will find out,” I muttered as the top of his head faded in and out of my line of sight.

  His loud laugh made me force my eyes open, though I could barely keep them alert; I was dying. As my blood ran out the side of his mouth, he said, “I fully intend for your father to find out.”

  Screams and cries from the dinner hall filled my head as I faded in and out. I was alone in the woods, left to die. It became more difficult to breathe, and I knew it would not be long now. Soon the pain would be gone. The last thing I remembered seeing before I shut my eyes had been that hideous man and the creepy mark on his neck. The screams and everything else around me faded.

  Running.

  I sensed that someone was running towards me before I had felt the feet on the ground. And I felt the feet pounding on the ground before I had heard them. Was I dreaming?

  “Princess…” I faintly heard moments before gentle hands wrapped around my shoulders to shake me. “Oh, Octavia,” a man said my name in anguish.

  Klyn. I fought to open my eyes. I had been too weak to move my arms, but he must have detected that I had been trying to move my arms and he took hold of my hand.

  “Klyn,” I murmured weakly, “Klyn my neck,” I rasped and tried to turn my head.

  “Shh, Octavia. I am going to pick you up, my dear. Hold on as best as you can.”

  As Klyn picked me up, I could not avoid crying out in pain. I tried reaching for my neck, but Klyn insisted that I stayed still. I leaned my head against his chest as he carried me deeper into the woods. Was that right? Why were we going deeper into the woods? Why not towards the dining hall? My parents!

  “Klyn—”

  “Octavia, please keep quiet, dear,” he urged.

  “But—”

  “Trust me, dear.”

  As Klyn lumbered deeper into the woods with me in his arms, I noticed he had been limping. Was he injured? Even in the darkness I could almost see his pale face clearly.

  “Klyn,” I whispered. He ignored me and kept walking. “Please put me down so you can rest, Klyn.”

  He ignored my requests and kept walking deep into the night. The pain in my neck was unbearable and I continued to fade in and out until dawn.

  “We are almost there,” he mum
bled.

  Where?

  My mouth was so dry and I had been too tired to muster any strength to talk. I pried my eyes open and looked in the direction he walked in. Ahead of us was a small campsite with a soft blue glow.

  “A witch?” I weakly asked and began to cough.

  “Tiara Rathmore,” Klyn said. Rathmore? Had I heard him correctly? “Yes, a witch. Rest Octavia, dear.”

  I was in and out again and faintly heard Klyn and Tiara as they talked. I picked up on certain words and tried to concentrate, but my body felt so weird and lethargic. I had passed out again but opened my eyes when I heard Klyn’s voice again. This time when I awoke, I noticed that my neck felt sticky and wet, but I began to stir restlessly when I heard him talk about the Queen. Mother!

  “Klyn—”

  “I am right here, shh, please rest, dear. You will make it,” Klyn coughed hard and I reached for his hand.

  “You said something about the Queen. Where is my mother?” I asked as my eyes darted around the room. The pain in my head forced me to close my eyes again.

  “Oh, Octavia,” he said quietly.

  “Klyn,” I began but he interrupted me.

  “Dear, your mother did not make it. I am so sorry, Octavia.”

  I began to cry and tried to get up, but a firm hand pressed down on my shoulder to keep me in bed. Klyn gently held my hand between his, and pressed his lips against my shaking hand.

  “Drink this,” the witch, Tiara, instructed and held a charger towards me.

  Klyn helped me sit up and he held his hand against the back of my head. The drink tasted horrible, but I had no option but to trust it. In my haze and between sleeping, I hung onto their conversations as best as I could.

  “What did they look like, Klyn?”

  “They all had dark hair, lithe, thin bodies, all males. I had never seen creatures move that fast and undetected.”

  “Carpe Noctem,” Tiara whispered. “They are vampires that move with the cover of fog. I had heard stories of them among others here in the forest.”

  “But here? In Drishane?” Klyn coughed and groaned in pain. I tried to move but had no energy. “What could they possibly want in Drishane?”

  “They are nothing more than thugs stealing currency to build up their town of Stonewald. They use forest chips for currency to barter and trade.”