When we reached the bottom of the stairs, there was another small group of vampires. There were four more, and they were heading our way. As before, I threw fire and energy at them. Three of them exploded, but to my dismay, one jumped out of the way and ran towards me.
“Watch out!” Damon cried as he tried knocking me out of the way. The vampire was too fast. He pulled me from Damon’s grasp and slammed me into the wall. As I slammed into the wall I felt cracking and a sharp pain shot up my leg.
“Damon help!” I screamed. I knew my leg was broken.
Damon ran after the vampire and threw him into a wall. There was only one way of taking the vampire out—my firepower.
“Damon MOVE!” I screamed as I thrust my hands forward. Damon dashed out of the way, just as I shot an energized flame towards the vampire. The vampire’s body exploded, the moment my flame slammed into him. Body parts and blood sprayed over Damon and I.
Damon ran to my side to help me up. “My leg’s broken!” I cried. You have to let everyone out...my mom, Ben, Sean, Melody and Laura. Help them Damon!
Damon looked hesitant to leave me, but he nodded his head and ran off to the cells. As he continued forward, he looked at each cell trying to find our friends and family. Finally he stopped; he pushed his hands forward and twisted his hands around to magically unlock the door.
Once the door unlocked, I watched Damon open it. Before Damon went in, he looked towards me and yelled, “It’s Ben! He looks bad. He’s on the ground, not moving—”
As Damon said “Ben”, I felt my heart stop. Ben was still alive—or so I hoped.
“Carry me to him!” I cried.
Damon ran to me and picked me up. I groaned from pain. The slightest movement sent stabbing pains up and down my leg. “It hurts so bad Damon.”
“I’ll heal you,” he said as he walked me to Ben’s cell.
“Get the other’s first!” I said.
Damon set me down next to Ben. Ben looked as if he was dead, but I knew he was only unconscious. My heart raced as I looked at Ben; I missed him so much. It had been nine months since I had seen him last.
I took my wrist and shoved it in his mouth. I jammed my flesh into Ben’s fang as I let out a cry of pain. As I felt blood trickling from my wrist, and I tilted his head back, so blood would run down his throat. After a few moments, I heard him gulp a few times and cough.
“Drink Ben! Drink!” I cried.
I heard him gulp again and saw his head slowly move. He began drinking faster and pulled my wrist into his mouth more.
Suddenly, he opened up his eyes. The minute they were open, he said, “Miranda? Is our baby okay?”
I smiled, “He’s fine. He’s back home…safe. I named him Bennedict Alexander.”
He smiled softly. “I can’t wait to see him. Are you okay?”
“My leg is broken...Ben you need more blood.”
“I don’t want to hurt you.” he took my hand and squeezed it.
“You won’t hurt me, but I need you to protect me. If any more guards come down...I can’t move. Ben I’m scared.”
Ben nodded his head. He took my already bleeding wrist and placed it in his mouth.
“What happened?” I asked as Ben took a few small gulps of blood.
He held his fingers over my wound and said, “As soon as you went through the portal, the Queen’s sister...died. She used too much power and took too many hits from the Queen. Once you made it through, the Queen came for all of us.”
I shook my head, “Then what happened?”
Ben’s color was returning as he continued to talk, “A vampire immediately took the women and Roger. We didn't know if she killed them or threw them in the dungeon.”
“What about you and Sean?”
“The Queen kept Sean and I around as her companions. She made the two of us wear tight shorts and follow her around. At night, the guards locked us in our rooms.” He turned red and said, “She took me to her room once and demanded I undress. When I refused, she called two of her vampires in to strip me down and take away my clothes…I tried to resist. She tried to…to…have sex with me. But I wouldn’t! I wouldn’t touch her! When I refused her, she had her vampire’s throw me in the dungeon. I don’t know if she fed the others, but she refused to give me blood. I’ve been alone in this dump for maybe five months. My only source of blood was the occasional rat I was able to capture.”
I looked around the dungeon cell; it was filthy. Living in the safe house for almost ten months was far from comfortable, but it was a vacation compared to Ben’s cell. The cell had a single cot with a dirty mattress with no blankets or pillows. There was a filthy toilet and sink, no shower or any other comforts. There were a few old books lying on the concrete ground, but they looked like encyclopedias. The air was cold and damp and had a disgusting stench.
As he continued talking, a large spider ran down the wall and I trembled at its sight, “I have been in and out of consciousness for a few weeks now. Eventually, I started losing my strength to catch rats.”
“What happens if you go too long without blood?”
“Eventually I will lose consciousness completely. I won’t die...it would be like a coma until given blood…or killed.” I gasped at his words. He continued, “I was almost completely gone when you came. I can’t remember the last time I was conscious…maybe a few days ago?”
Just then, my mom and aunt came running in Ben’s cell.
“Mom! Aunt Allison!” I cried.
They were smiling and so were Ben and I. They walked in the cell and embraced the two of us.
“Damon let us out, he’s getting the others now,” my mom said.
My mom and aunt were filthy and looked much too skinny. The Queen must have given them just enough food to sustain life, but they looked as if they had lost too much weight.
“Dad’s here!” I cried, “He’s in bad shape, but he’s here!”
My mom smiled like I had never seen before. Then she said, “How is my grandson! How are you!”
“Little Benny is great! He’s so precious. I can’t wait for you to meet him.” I changed my tone, “My leg is broke Mom, I can’t move. Are you even strong enough to fight?”
“I can fight if I have to. We can do a healing chant. It likely won’t heal your leg if the break is bad, but it might help and it will make us stronger,” she said.
My mom, aunt and I joined hands. We began to chant. Only seconds later Damon returned with Sean, Laura, Melody and Roger. Everyone looked filthy and starved. The other superhumans joined in our chant. Roger and Ben kept watch.
The pain from my leg was diminishing, but I knew it was still broken and I couldn’t walk. The others looked healthier as the healing chant helped restore them, but they desperately needed to eat.
When we finished chanting, Ben said, “We need to get her upstairs and hide her in a guest room.”
Everyone nodded, but just as hope had been restored, it was just as quickly taken away. From the cell, we heard several loud footsteps thundering our way. “Oh God!” I cried, “More are coming!”
Everyone stood up, “Roger use protection magic on her!” Ben cried.
Roger pushed his hands towards me and began beaming his magic onto me. I feared for the others, as they were very feeble. Ben was just getting his strength back, and the others were still very weak.
Everyone but Roger and I, ran out of the cell charging towards danger. I sat on the ground, feeling extremely helpless. As Roger beamed his magic on to me, I heard crashing and banging. I didn’t know what was going on, and I was so scared. I heard my aunt scream and I heard the sound of a body slam into the wall. Roger had a look of horror on his face and my heart was pounding, but the two of us were as quiet as we could be.
Suddenly a vampire ran into our cell. Roger looked panicked and didn’t know what to do. “Get back!” I screamed.
Roger looked puzzled, but moved out of the way as the vampire charged towards me. I used my hands to throw energy at him, w
hich sent him flying into the wall. The energy wasn’t enough as he bounced back, ready for attack. Roger jumped on the vampire’s back trying to tackle him down, but the vampire just shook until Roger flew off and slammed into the ground.
The vampire continued towards me as I threw another bolt of energy at him. He slammed into the wall once more, but he bounced right back and came at me again. This time he was too fast, and he lifted me off the ground. Pain from my leg shot through my body, and fear swept my mind. I screamed as the vampire slammed me into the wall, making the pain in my leg unbearable.
I screamed again. I was all alone. Roger was collapsed on the ground, and the others were off fighting other vampires. Adrenaline pumped through my veins as terror ran through my mind. I pushed flames to my fingertips and shoved them into the vampire’s chest. He screamed in pain as I burned his flesh, but he only grew angrier.
He lifted my pathetic body up in the air, ready to crumble me. He growled as he narrowed his hungry eyes and showed his teeth as if he were a hungry animal. My life flashed before my eyes and I knew it was over.
Suddenly I heard my mother scream, “Put my daughter down!”
My mother charged into the cell, tacking the vampire down. The vampire released me, and pain shot through my body as I slammed into the ground. My mother was tearing at the vampire, trying to kill him, but he was too much for her to take on alone. She screamed as he kicked her in the stomach and sent her flying into the wall.
My leg was severely broken, my nose was bleeding and I was coughing up blood. I was growing weak with pain, and I felt like I was going to die. It felt as if we were fighting a loosing battle, but I had to fight on. I had to go home to my son. I used every bit of energy I could find as I threw my hands towards my mother, trying to use magic to help her. The vampire was very strong and my magic did very little to help.
The vampire was throwing my mom around, slamming her into walls like a rag doll. Blood was flying in every direction, and she was screaming in horror. Finally he slammed my mom into the concrete ground. I heard several bones crack and she didn’t move.
I screamed, as I feared she was dead. I tried to lift my hand once more to throw a flame at the vampire, but I was much too weak. The room was beginning to spin, but I could see the vampire walking towards my mother. He stood right in front of her and lifted his foot off the ground. I saw the vampire’s evil smile, as he was about to bash my mother’s skull. I tried to scream, but no words came out; the life inside of me was draining away. My mother and I were going to die.
When I thought our fate was sealed, I saw Ben burst into the cell. He charged the vampire and threw him against the wall. In one sudden move, he ripped out the vampire’s heart. Ben shoved the vampire to the ground and came running toward me.
Ben was almost to my side, when the Queen stormed into the cell. I could hear her disgusting laugh as she threw her hands forward and pushed one powerful ball of energy right at Ben.
“Ben!” I screamed as terror struck through my body. I used all my strength to lift my hands forward to throw protection magic at him, but it was too late.
Ben looked into my eyes just as the bolt of energy slammed into his chest. I could see the fear wash across his face as the energy went straight into his chest.
“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” I screamed.
The Queen laughed as Ben gazed at me for one final moment. I could see pain in his blue eyes as he shut them one last time. The bolt of energy sent his bloody heart straight through his back, and his body collapsed to the ground.
Tears began to pour from my weak eyes, but I felt swamped in rage. It felt as if my body was burning from the inside out. I screamed as I felt the fire erupt from my insides and slam into my fingertips. My eyes glowed as I growled in rage, bottling up every bit of anger I had inside. I used the very last bit of energy I had to throw my fingers up in the air and aim them towards the Queen.
She laughed with a crazy look on her face as I screamed, releasing every once I anger I built up inside of me. A massive flame burst from my fingertips and flew straight towards the Queen. She flashed one last haunting smile before she screamed as flames devoured her. I could hear her scream until there was nothing left of her. Finally as the flames began to diminish, the room began to spin as my energy was consumed. I shut my eyes and collapsed.
Epilogue
I was in my bedroom suite admiring myself in the mirror. My beautiful ivory lace dress hung from shoulders and collapsed over my toes. I felt exquisite with my fresh makeover, a stunning hairdo and my mother’s heart necklace set against my chest. My huge veil fell from hair, flowing all the way to the ground.
My mother smiled at me as she placed a pearl embellished pin in my hair as my aunt gave my hair one final spritz of spray. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see my father wiping a tear away with his handkerchief. Little Benny was dressed in an adorable black tuxedo and excited to walk down the aisle. I gently stroked my hand across my stomach, as another child would be born in seven months.
My grandma Lauren waltzed into the room and said, “It’s time!” as a smile swept across her face. My mom smiled, and my father nodded, trying to keep the tears from cascading from his eyes. I held Benny’s hand as my family walked down the hall.
“You look beautiful,” My father whispered in my ear. I smiled.
It had been seven years since the dark day Ben’s life was ripped away from him. Once the Queen’s vampires in the dungeon were killed, Damon found my mother and I near dead in Ben’s cell. Damon and the others rescued us, and after a few days we began to heal.
While we were fighting in the dungeon, one of the nomad fairies dragged my father to a guest room and saved his life. Once my mother and father were well enough, they were reunited after nineteen years of being apart. Damon never left my side as I recovered from the tragic day.
Emerlee, the Queen’s second in command, pledged her loyalty to me the moment she was aware of the Queen’s death. Emerlee and many of the Queen’s minions hated the Queen, but never rebelled in fear of her wrath. Several of the Queen’s companions and guards pleaded their loyalty to me in Emerlee’s shadow.
With the help of several Sidhe fairies, we were able to open a portal back to earth a week after the Queen’s death. Just before leaving Sidhe, I promised my loyal followers, I would return to them for leadership and guidance. Upon my return, I would be crowned Queen until my son turned eighteen. Benny would one day be the true King of Sidhe.
My family and I continued down the hall, heading towards the grand hall. My heels clinked against the marble floors with each step I took. When we reached the entry to the main hall, my father and I remained back, as the rest of my family began to enter.
My father squeezed my hand and we waited to enter the room. The sound of a violin was playing a beautiful song as the bridesmaids strolled down the aisle. When the song finally came to an end, my father looked at me and smiled. The traditional wedding theme began to play loudly, and as a tear rolled down my father’s eye, the two of us entered the room.
I had only wanted a small wedding, but my father insisted on the very best for his only daughter. We entered the room, dimly lit by the romantic glow of hundreds of candles. As we walked down the aisle, exquisite floral arrangements lined the walkway as we continued to the front of the hall. I passed by family and friends, both from Earth and Sidhe until I finally reached the front of the room.
I saw Sadie standing to my left, and she smiled at me as I walked forward. Damon was standing just to my right. His eyes were glowing bright, and he smiled wide as soon as I stepped before him. My father shook Damon’s hand and kissed me on the cheek before he walked away.
When we returned to Earth, I held my son so tight, I never wanted to let him go again. Emerlee and Sadie traveled to earth with our crew, to request the Queen’s minions on earth, pledge their loyalty to me. The minion’s residing on Earth obliged to Emerlee’s request and vowed their loyalty to my son and I.
Af
ter nineteen years, my parents returned to the mansion, to rule as interim King and Queen, as my stay on Earth would not be long. My father allowed me to live in my childhood home until my son and I returned to Sidhe.
During our short stay on Earth, Damon moved in my childhood bedroom on the third floor. Benny and Damon grew very attached to one another, and when Benny learned to talk, he called Damon Daddy. I was grateful for Damon’s loyalty, but it was like a stab to the chest, knowing I would never see Ben again.
It took a little over a year, but all the fairies were able to use their magic to create a permanent portal in the mansion basement. The portal would allow us to go back and forth between Earth and Sidhe without draining our magic. We could travel between Sidhe and Earth multiple times a week, but it would be too damaging to travel through the portal more than once a day.
Once the portal was up and running, I decided it was time to take my son to Sidhe, as I promised to return as their Queen. Damon decided to go to Sidhe with me, as he was very attached to my son and had promised to stay by my side upon Ben’s death. Damon raised Benny as if he were his own.
As the years passed by, my heart hurt a little less for Ben, but the pain never truly went away. My physical pain from the battle with the Queen healed fast, but the emotional pain never faded away. After several traumatic experiences ending in the murder of my first true love, my emotional state was never the same.
As Damon and I raised Benny together, our feelings for one another grew strong. When Benny turned five years old, Damon proposed to me a second time with a sparkling new engagement ring. This time I said yes.
As I was Queen of both Sidhe and Pine Lake, our two communities remained close allies. Roger and my aunt stayed with us at the castle, but my parents returned home to rule in my absence. Some of the Pine Lake members decided to move to the castle, while some of the Sidhe residents moved to Pine Lake. With the new portal, members of both communities could travel between the contemporary human world and the ancient supernatural world.
The Portal to Sidhe: Book 1 Page 24