Her King

Regina’s POV

Atlas slips his hand into mine and intertwines our fingers, he brings our conjoined hands near his mouth and sniffs my hands which makes me smile.

“Everyone’s scent is driving me crazy, especially those elders,” he mumbles against my hand, sounding agitated.

“So, do you want me to drive you crazy, Atlas?” Tilting my head, I meet his gaze while my lips curve into a teasing smile.

“Woman, you are already driving me crazy since the moment I have laid my eyes on you for the first time.” He smirks as he whispers in a low voice only for my ears.

“Excuse me...” A timid voice interrupts us, making us turn to the source of the voice.

A girl, who was with the hunters, glances at Altas with a terrified look, then quickly shifts her gaze to me.

“Yes?” I ask in a soft voice trying to ease her nerves.

“Can I ask you... s-something?” She stutters as tears spring to her eyes which she is attempting to dry by blinking rapidly.

I share a look with Atlas as I step towards her to comfort her because it looks like she needs it. Atlas seems reluctant to let my hand go, but when he notices her tears he squeezes my hand once and nods at me.

“Please k-kill me if you want...” She takes a ragged breath trying to compose herself, “But let my brother go, I have promised my mother that I will always protect him. So please, don’t kill him...” She breaks down into tears.

“Bri... no!” A boy yells at her as fear seeping into his voice.

It is not hard to tell that he is her brother, as they both almost look identical with the same pair of baby blue eyes and blonde hair.

Instantly, I wrap my arm around her as her whole body shakes with sobs.

A look of hurt and pain flashes through Atlas’s face but masking his pain behind passive expression he walks outside the room.

Atlas has shifted those hunters, whom Uncle’s men have caught, to the adjoined room so that they don’t feel intimidated as they haven’t done anything wrong other than following the orders which they were given.

“What’s your name?” I ask her while wiping her tears.

“Brianna...” she whispers.

“Brianna, why do you think that we are going to kill you?” I look into her eyes.

“Because... he... they...” She again stammers unable to voice her thoughts as she glances at the rest of the hunters then back at me.

“Because they are vampires... monsters as you call them.” I smile at her, as she nods her head looking slightly flustered.

I guide her back to the group of four hunters, who are sitting on the floor, and sit in front of them.

“Do you guys know why all this is happening?” I look at each one of them. “Why the elders gave you the orders to kill vampires?”

“Because we are hunters and we are born to eliminate the evil.” One of the boys answers, trying to look brave and confident.

“I will ask you a question.” I slowly nod my head at them, “Answer it honestly.”

They seem slightly more at ease in this room, I think being under the same room as Elders and vampires were making them uneasy.

“People who have kidnapped innocent kids of someone’s family just to fulfill their thirst for revenge, are those people evil? Or people who are putting themselves in danger trying to save those kids, those are evil?” I look at them. “Tell me who do you think is evil?”

I notice I have gained the attention of other hunters as well.

“People who have kidnapped the innocents.” The same boy answers without missing a beat as other nods their head with agreement.

“Those people are your Elders.” I chuckle, humorlessly, “They have abducted two vampires who are not even more than fifteen years old.”

A look of shock passes through their faces as they look at me with wide eyes.

“Atlas has come to meet the Elders because he wanted to save those two kids, even though he was somewhere aware all this meeting might be a trap to kill him." I smile ruefully, “Now tell me, still, do you think that people who are trying to harm those kids are evil? Or your views have changed because, now you know, they are one of you." I question them meeting which one of their gazes.

"They are not one of us." One of the hunters speaks from the corner of the room, "They never were and never are." There is an underlying bitterness behind his words that surprises me.