Queen of Darkness

Chapter 15 - Spring Dance

The Ball was set for Saturday evening, less than a week away.

I spent the night with Robert and the next day he went to town for some last invites to the ball and a few last arrangements he wanted to take care off. It was my last opportunity to ensure I had everything in place, Robert wouldn’t leave the house again.

I took a candle and candle holder from one of the guest rooms, a pan from the kitchen, a container with water and some fruit from the pantry. I didn’t know how long I would be traveling and I needed to be prepared.

After placing the last items in the chest I made my way to the stables. I have been horse-riding all the time I’ve been here and I had a particular horse that I adored. She was a dark brown mare with a calm and gentle nature but she was fast and strong. She didn’t spook easily either and she was comfortable with me riding her. I made sure she was fed and taken care off.

I made sure her saddle was ready and there was rope and a blanket ready. She could always find her way back home so I was taking comfort in the thought that once I reached the Harbor I could let her go and she would come back here without any harm coming to her.

Saturday morning, and everyone was running around preparing the great hall for the evenings dance. I didn’t want to be in the way so I asked Robert if I could go to Abigail for a while and also get a dress for the dance. Of cause it was just an excuse to see Abigail for the last time. I didn’t even know if I was going to say goodbye to her or leave without telling her.

On the way to Abigail I started getting cold feet, questioning my own planning and survival abilities.

Abigail and I did some Magick but my mind wasn’t there, so I kept messing up. Abigail tried to cheer me up with her usual jokes but I wasn’t even focusing on her, my mind was already two thousand miles away.

Eventually Abigail couldn’t take it anymore: “Don’t do it Aurora”

Me: “Don’t do what?” I asked, quite surprised.

She took a deep breath; I could see the worried look in her face: “Don’t run... Your plan is destined for failure”

Me: “Excuse me?” she couldn’t possibly know... Could she? “But... How?”

Abigail :“He knows Aurora... Robert knows, he’s known all along.”

I looked at Abigail in disbelieve, how was this even possible? Robert knew all along, and he didn’t say a word.

Abigail must have seen the shock and disbelief on my face, I couldn’t utter a word. “I warned you Aurora... You underestimate Robert. He has been around for a long time, he has been a vampire for four hundred and thirty two years, and he has been a vampire king for half of that... Did you really think a child of your age could outwit him? ”

Me:” But I was so sure... So careful... Why didn’t he say anything? ”

Abigail:” I don’t know, my guess is he wanted to see how long you would keep things up... How far you would be prepared to go. Maybe he was hoping you would come to your senses by yourself, but take my word for it... Should you go ahead with your plan to run, Robert will kill you”

Me: “So he knows I’m not fully Vamparic either?”

Abigail: “Yes... He doesn’t need you to be Vamparic, he just needs you to be loyal to him and safe from the council and other vampires”

Me: “Months of planning and acting like an idiot... For nothing. I don’t get it, if he wants my loyalty and to be safe from the council why doesn’t he just turn me, I’m sure it would be much easier... It’s not as if he’s short of Vamparics”

Abigail:” You are of more importance to him as you are than another Vampire. He has enough Vamparics, he has enough vampires by his side, and he has the best vampire army let by the best vampire General In history... What he doesn’t have enough off is witches.”

Now things were starting to make more sense. Robert believed in the protection of vampires by witches. He wanted Magick to be available to him all the time, where a vampire would fail a powerful witch would not. Abigail was the only witch totally loyal to Robert, now he had me as well, just like Vincent had claimed the night of the ball. Vincent also claimed that if Robert did not claim me or use his seduction on me, it meant that I wasn’t loyal...

Me: “But if Robert turned me I could be a vampire and a witch, this would give him an advantage?”

Abigail: “OH Aurora, you haven’t listened to a thing I’ve said. Vampires and witches don’t mix. A Vampire cannot turn a witch Vamparic or into a vampire without breaking the treaty. A Vampire is not allowed to take away a witch’s free will, this is declaring war... Once a witch is turned, the witch loses all her Magick. Call it a failsafe from the higher power to ensure balance.”

As I suspected before... Robert was playing me from the start, he was just using me for my power. I had hoped that if anything he would at least one day turn me, but this was never going to happen. He wanted my Magick, he didn’t care for me. That was why he pressed that I learn about Magick from the start. But Vincent’s action the night of the ball confused me, He knew that I was a witch and because I was, Robert could not turn me Vamparic or into a vampire, so why did he use his seduction on me knowing he was not allowed to, and why did he press me to do Magick... Did he want proof that I was a witch, some things didn’t make sense?

Me: But Robert can do Magick, I’ve seen it... And he’s a vampire”

Abigail: “In all of history... There have been only two vampires that we know off that retained their magic. Michael was the first; he was a warlock before he was turned, before the treaty was set in place... He lost almost all his power when he was turned but he still had retained some power but not nearly enough to stay a warlock. He was enraged that he lost his power when he was turned and because of that, once he became a vampire king, he enforced the rule that witches couldn’t be turned...so it was strange to everybody when he broke his own rule, when he turned the most powerful warlock ever known. ”

Me:” Robert? ”

Abigail:” Mmm strange isn’t it, Michael enforced a rule to protect witches because he knew first-hand what it was like for a witch to lose their power, and then he brakes his own rule knowing the punishment is Death, Robert like Michael retained some Magick and even though Robert retained more Magick than what Michael did, it was still not enough for him to stay a warlock. ”

All this new Information was giving me a headache. I was crushed that my plan failed, that I spent months preparing for a chance to be free and now it was ruined, I was also afraid to face Robert knowing that he knew I wanted to escape all along, he knew I stole from him, he knew I lied to him and deceived him... Now if he knew I know that he knew, what would he do?

I made my way home with my head hung low and in total devastation. I was so upset that I even forgot to pick up a dress for the Spring dance, only realizing as we got back to the Châteaux.

Robert was waiting at the top of the stairs in front of the entrance, already dressed for the evening. It’s only than when I realized how late it was, guest would start to arrive any minute now.

I walked up the stairs slowly in utter defeat, like a child walking to their room when they knew they were going to be punished.

When I reached Robert I looked him in the eyes and I could see the cocky look of victory on his face as he gave me an evil grin.. He knew I knew he defeated me.

Robert: “Where’s your dress for the dance Aurora?...You’d better not disappoint or embarrass me... or else”

Me: “Or else what?.... You’d kill me!”

The words were out before I could stop myself... I was so upset and to see him this cocky and now threatening me, I couldn’t stand it anymore. “Please kill me... Do me the favor... Kill me, release me from you!”

I was in tears, screaming at Robert but he didn’t react to me, he just opened the front door and let me walk through. I ran up the stairs to my room and fell on the bed screaming into my pillow and crying.

After a few minutes the bathers arrived with water to bath me. I could hear voices downstairs and the musicians starting to play in the distance. The sun had set and the dance has already started.

I wondered if I just stayed in my Room if Robert would even notice I wasn’t there, maybe I could just stay in and avoid the dance all together. But that wouldn’t be the case as The General knocked on my door and stated Robert requested my presence.

Helen was finished with my hair which she tied up, only two curls hanging down on either side of my face. But I didn’t have a dress to wear.

Robert’s words played in my head again “You’d better not disappoint or embarrass me or else”

Oh I wish I could disappoint or embarrass him, maybe then he would kill me. So I started wondering how I could possibly embarrass him, maybe if I walked into the dance hall naked... who was I kidding, I could never do that.

I needed a dress... Than it hit me, I was so stupid... I was a powerful witch, so powerful that the great vampire king, the only known living vampire with Magick power himself held me prisoner... Surely a dress was no problem for me to conjure up.

I used my Magick to dress me in the most beautiful, brightest red ball gown I could imagine...and I was proud of it. He wanted a powerful witch, I’d give him one.

I walked into the dance hall dramatically using Magick to fling the large double wooden doors wide open. As the sudden gust of wind blew out all the candles I magically re-lit them all, ensuring the flames all burned vigorously high for about 5 seconds.

All eyes on me and a lot of gasps and whispering incurred. Robert rushed to my side, slipping his arm around me, smiling to his guest before he turned his back to them so no one could see his face or hear what he says.

He looked at me furious, his irises shimmering red. “What the hell are you doing, there’s non-magic folk here”

Me:” So... let them burn me”

Robert: “Stop this at once... There are a lot of Vampires here, and a few council members... If you reveal anything, we will have no choice but to kill all the humans to keep the secret... All of their deaths will be because of you... Do you really want all their blood on your hands? ”

I looked around the room, I saw at least 30 people who wasn’t Vamparic. Once again Robert has defeated me. No matter how hard I tried he would always be a step ahead, holding the upper hand.

Robert looked at me and I lowered my gaze as a sign of submission or in this case, defeat.

Robert looked back at the crowd and addressed them loudly “All part of the show folks, some believed Robert and loud chattering occurred others applauded but there was still a few who seemed in shock.

That’s when Robert decided to take it up a notch...” Most of you have already met the Beautiful lady Aurora”. Robert took my hand and placed it on top of his arm walking to the centre of the room with me accompanying him. “The reason for the dramatic and elaborate entrance... Tonight we not only celebrate the start of Spring, but we celebrate the start of a new relationship.

Shock and whispering was all around... Non more shocked than me.

Robert:” We will hold a proper engagement party as soon as my lovely Fiancé can decide on when and where she wants to get married.”

I could see a few people who were not all too happy with the announcement, mostly Robert’s Vamparic lackeys, but The General looked heart broken and the council members, Anastasia and Vincent didn’t look thrilled either.

Robert motioned to the musicians and they started playing. Robert took me by the waist and we danced, others followed suit. Robert held me close and whispered to me “If you want to play games, I can play too... But keep in mind, I’ve been playing them for far longer and I can play them way better”

After a a minute or so of pure torture the song ended and Robert moved to go mingle with other guests, leaving me speechless in the middle of the room. I eventually made my way to the side of the room, wanting to keep to myself as far as possible.

Occasionally someone would come up to me and congratulate me, I would just fake a smile, nod and thank them. I just wanted to get far away from all of it.

Soon enough Robert was busy charming some young couple and it wasn’t long before they disappeared, by now I knew he used seduction on them and he lured them into one of the adjacent rooms to feed and fuck.

Sadness washed over me as I walked out of one of the large glass veranda doors, onto the balcony to get some fresh air. I thought there was no one else out there but as soon as I walked out my eyes caught Vincent standing at the end of the balcony, overlooking the gardens, taking a long slow sip from his champagne glass.

I stopped in my tracks, wondering if I should try to sneak back inside, maybe he haven’t noticed me. I stood there frozen trying to decide my next move when Vincent broke the silence “I suppose congratulations are in order”

He caught me off guard, I was so sure he didn’t hear me come out and even if he did how could he have possibly know it was me and not someone else.

Vincent: “You’re smell” he stated matter of factly.

Me: “Excuse me?”

Vincent: “You were wondering how I knew it was you, It’s your smell”

That was awkward, I looked down at myself wondering if I had a odour in general. Did I smell funny... Oh my word did I reak?

Vincent watched me in amusement and burst out laughing... “Not like that... I can smell the sweetness of your blood”

Vincent motioned to me to come closer and I abliged. We stood in silence for a few Second, Robert told me to stay away from Vincent and told me he was dangerous but now my curiosity was getting the better of me. “How did you know what I was thinking, can you read minds?” my question sounded sceptical but innocent.

Again Vincent burst out laughing... I didn’t understand why he found me so amusing.

Vincent: “No I can’t read minds... But when you’ve been around as long as I have you learn the human mind and it’s thinking process... Thats also how I smelled you... Vampires that have been around long enough learn how to survive and had to learn how to use their senses to the fullest... I smell the sweetness of the blood pulsing through your veins”

Vincent moved and closed off any chance of retreat. My backside was pressed up against the balcony railing, his arms either side of me as he gripped the railing and his body pressed against mine as he stared down, into my eyes.

Again I found myself drowning in those icy blue eyes. I could feel my heart starting to race and my legs go weak. He was such a good looking man. I needed him to stop seducing me, before I did something stupid and blow my cover, as far as the council and other vampires were aware, I was Vamparic and that meant they would not be able to seduce me, if I got seduced by Vincent the truth would be known.

Me: “Why do you use your seduction on me, knowing I belong to Robert? ”

Vincent stared even deeper into my eyes, I didn’t think it possible but it felt like he was looking into my very soul.

Vincent: “I find it very intriguing....The way you get when you are around me, aspecially seeing how I’ve never used seduction on you.”

Me: “But... It can’t be, the way you make me feel?” I tried pushing him back a bit, I needed to get some space between us but he wouldn’t budge.

This wasn't going well for me.

Vincent twisted his finger into my curl, twirling my hair “If you desire me this much.... It’s all you darling, no seduction needed” he moves his lips closer to my ear and whispers “Don’t worry I want you just as much” than he abruptly moves away to where he was standing before, leaving me breathing deeply and oddly feeling empty, like part of me has been abruptly torn away.

Vincent was once again staring into the distance “Beautiful isn’t it?”

I turned around to look but I couldn’t see a thing beyond the light of the Châteaux, a few feet away.

Me: “I only see darkness”

Vincent laughed “precisely....”

I frowned, “has anyone told you that you’re a very strange man?”

Vincent took my hand and brushing his lips over my knuckles before kissing the top of my hand “Darling, no one would dare.” his voice deep and husky.

I just shook my head, Vincent was good looking beyond words and interesting, I couldn’t understand him no matter how hard I tried.

Vincent suddenly got a serious look on his face “Why would you agree to marry Robert... He doesn’t deserve a creature like you”

I frowned again, for a few minutes Vincent had made me forget about my horrid life and now it all came flooding back. The sadness washed over me again and I couldn’t answer.

Vincent obviously read into my expression “Wait... You didn't agree, did you... You were just as surprised as we were?”

I looked at Vincent and felt more lost than ever. Tears were forming in my eyes...I wanted to tell him everything but I couldn't. Robert warned me more than once that Vincent couldn't be trusted and yet I felt this overwhelming urge to tell him everything.

Vincent somehow knew of my internal struggle and said “Join me for a stroll in the gardens... Maybe a little distance will help you feel better?” And as if he could read my thoughts again he added “I promise to be the perfect gentleman, no harm will come to you... You are safe with me”

Just his words alone made me feel safe. How on earth was it possible for me to feel the way I did about this man without him using his power of seduction on my. I couldn't even think straight, this God-like man turned my brain to jello. This had to be some kind of trick. I had to be careful.

Me: “The General is guarding the exit and his guards are all around, they won’t allow me to leave the hall.”

Vincent smiled and got up on the ledge swung his legs over and dropped effortlessly a couple of feet down to the grass below.

Vincent motioned for me to come and called out in a hushed voice “Jump, I’ll catch you”

My heart stated racing again, the thrill excited me. I got onto the ledge and swung my legs over. It was only a few feet but still high enough to get hurt. Without wanting to put much thought into it, I just leaped, not even looking if Vincent was there, but true to his word Vincent caught me in his strong arms, bridal style.

Luckily Vincent didn’t make it awkward when he faked a strained voice and said “Oh gawd you’re heavy” and set me down laughing.

I hit him on his arm playfully knowing he was joking with me.

He took my hand and pulled me after him, running and laughing into the darkness.

For someone so old and supposedly so dangerous, Vincent was very funny and playful. He was like a teenager stuck in a man's body.