The Pure-Hearted Princess and the Kiss of Darkness

~ ENRIQUE ~

Leo picks up one of the name plaques at the table and smirks humourlessly as he glances at his woman, no doubt conversing via the mind-link. This is confirmed when she gets up and moves into the seat which would have been for Kataleya's sister's mate. Now the two spots at the table are between me and him.

"Welcome Prince Mikhail Petrov, Princess Anya Petrova, Prince Gedeon Petrov. Glad you could make it," Alpha Royce says with a smile that makes me wonder how he is relaxed when he has invited those that should be considered our worst enemies. Or so the storybooks say.

I knew vampires existed, but most would not see one in their lifetime. They are a rare race and I doubt there are many left, but if these are royals ... are they from the first line of vampires? Or self-titled?

A man in black leads them towards our table. "Prince Mikhail, I will show you to the seat at the front," the man says as Leo watches the one in the lead. He is definitely the strongest. I can sense the power from him. It's foreign, carrying a strange feel to it, one I can't place what it reminds me of.

I don't think I like vampires...

I myself am trying to blend in when I can feel so many witches watching me. I made the mistake of displaying my power before, something I shouldn't have.

"No... Gedeon can take that seat, I think I'll take one of these seats..." he says as he picks up one of the name plaques. "Oh look, it's my intended seat." His sharp eyes shift from me to Leo and then to each woman. My eyes narrow when they skim over Kataleya, but it doesn't appear that his intentions are wrong and I relax.

He smirks to himself, as if sharing a private joke with himself as he pulls out the seat beside me for the woman, who I am certain is his sister since all three look rather alike. He sits down and looks at me. "Don't worry, I am not eyeing your woman. I despise your kind," he remarks.

"Likewise," I counter icily.

He smirks humourlessly again as Alpha Royce clears his throat and the other vampires who came with this Russian vampire take their seats.

"We have a lot to cover, so I'll make a start..."

He starts with a recap of the last meeting and the problems that are occurring in several places across the globe. What was done to try to help. Some of the stuff is news to me, which makes me realise Luis hasn't been doing a great job. But I can't blame him when I shouldn't have let a fool take part in something so important because of my own f*****g pride.

From what I gather, wraiths are apparently becoming a bigger issue and so are crawlers. No fucking surprise there... but I will deal with them. After all, I think I know how I will do it...

"We are yet to find a proper means to kill a crawler, although bright light will temporarily force them to leave. The main point of concern with the crawlers is we aren't certain if they are coming from a crack in the veil or not. This is being looked into." There's a huge screen behind him, and from the centre of our tables a

hologram 3D screen is also showing the same as the one behind Royce. It displays a map where different kinds of monsters have appeared and I cock a brow.

It's impressive, but it's all the red on England which has caught my attention.

"Looks like England is a hot spot for trouble," I remark, making the Russian prince smirk.

"Werewolf infested. That is trouble itself."

Leo simply looks up at us both, unimpressed as he leans forward and zooms in on Puerto Rico. "Looks like so is the Caribbean," he says, looking at me.

I nod, unphased. "I did not say it wasn't," I counter.

This is the problem, this hand I wear was made with his help. I hate owing anyone anything, and once again I feel indebted to them by wearing it.

I do wish she understood that. This is why I did not want it.

I look away, frowning as Royce mentions a few countries across Asia that are seeing other beasts, which will be listed in the database that we all have access to.

As others add their input it's obvious that there are places across the globe that need assistance. And I realise the point of this summit isn't just to be made aware of the things out there, but the purpose of this summit is to ask for help and it will be given. I will mention the Chupacabra later for their database.

There's a clear power imbalance, with only a few places having solid leadership over the rest of the other packs. England being under the Lycan's control, but he also had influence across the seas.

Then there's Royce as the prophesied Solaris King, Alaska is his, and by default the US looks to him. I do not. I hold power over the Caribbean, but also across the seas. Which, although might seem insignificant it is not, for anything that passes, I know. But once again, I do not want to officially be part of their allied nations. Part of the leaders of the Supernatural World Association.

Let's say Russia belongs to this prince. If they unite, there is another major place covered and with the vast unoccupied land of Russia, there is plenty of places for creatures to delve in hiding.

"What are you thinking?" Kataleya asks quietly as the Russian Prince is called to the front, he doesn't seem to be bothered that his companion is left alone at the table. What is a vampire's skill?

I lean over, my lips a mere breath away from her ear as I try not to inhale her intoxicating scent. "The imbalance of power is not really spread across the globe, what is needed is to appoint the strongest in each area to overlook the rest," I murmur, in barely above a whisper. The way her heart is racing only satisfies me more. I move back and look into her eyes, and she nods slowly.

"I agree, and we're trying to create that perfect distribution of power. Just so if any place is hidden with a dilemma, there is someone able to guide and handle things calmly and with a level mind," she explains.

I nod, sensing Leo watching me, and I glance at him. "Do you have something to say?"

"A lot, but I'll refrain. You state the issue, so will you, as the strongest in the Caribbean, step up and protect the land and the seas?" Leo challenges.

"I already do, but I do not answer to anyone."

"The Supernatural Association does not answer to one, but it is a team, to help one another. Sometimes one person doesn't have all the answers."

"Every team has a leader... and the Lycan is someone I will never answer to," I say with finality, making the Russian Princesa laugh.

"And what of you, handsome? Will you stand as a leader of a country? Your potential feels wasted, no?" the woman asks Leo. Azura's eyes flash, but she remains quiet. Surprising for the wild girl she once was.

"I know my place. Let's focus on what your brother is saying," Leo remarks coldly before turning his attention away from her and wrapping his arm around his woman's shoulders.

Hmm... seems he's handling the vampires carefully.

"You have no idea what lies in our country," the Russian Princesa says quietly.

"Well, your brother is about to tell us. Unless, of course, you will tell us something of more importance," Skyla adds, her voice sharp.

"Queen Skyla Rossi, I have heard-" but she is cut off when her brother's voice rises a few notches, and she instantly falls silent.

"I am sure everyone here is educated in our country's lands?"

A few people nod, but it's obvious they are extremely wary of him. Alpha Royce stands beside him.

"As you know, we despise mixing with other supernatural species and until recently not many even knew that we existed, no?" He smirks before his face becomes serious.

"But a certain... change in the Siberian Wastelands is cause of concern for us all... Here, the footage as promised. Don't worry, it's not something that will hack your system." He holds up a memory stick and Leo scoffs lightly, making Azura and Skyla smirk.

Royce takes the memory stick, passing it to one of his men, and after a short while the screen reflects the video. It's a dark cloudy sky, it isn't night, but it's simply extremely foggy and it's becoming as dark as smoke...

"What is that?" Kataleya murmurs, placing her slender hand on my thigh as she leans forward, her eyes filled with worry as the room becomes more silent. Even I am intrigued, preparing myself for anything.

Two men speaking Russian can be heard as they keep walking, and I recognise one voice as Mikhail. Then there's silence as he continues on the walk alone.

At first, I'm not sure where this is going until I notice the black fog. That's when I realise the video looks old, unless they were simply using an outdated camera perhaps.

He's breathing harder, as if struggling to do so before he stops. The footage is difficult to see with the dense fog.

He shouts something again before he raises his gloved hand and slowly puts it through the fog. Suddenly he pulls it back, cursing as the camera almost falls. The once-perfect leather glove is gone and his hand is bloody. There are odd slashes through it and he lets out a groan as he staggers back. Behind his hand a dark red glow-like force field seems to appear, a vibration emitting through it as it rumbles, and the camera backs up.

As far up as you can see, the dark rippling force field merges with the black fog.

"We discovered this thing many years ago, and we began keeping an eye on it. It has continued to spread, and as of now it covers hundreds of thousands of miles and there is no way in. No matter what we have tried, it is impenetrable. But last month we heard something from within, that is something that has not happened before." Mikhail places a finger to his lips as he motions for the volume to be turned up.

I frown as we just hear the rumbling again and just when I'm about to think I won't get it, I hear it. Loud and fucking clear.

An unearthly deep voice of the likes I've heard a few times in my life fills the hall, speaking in a tongue that I do not understand but one I recognise.

It sounds just like...

"That's the tongue the crawlers speak," Kataleya whispers, her hand tightening on my thigh, and I place my hand over hers, just as the voice is drowned out by what sounds like the roar of hundreds of additional voices