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CHAPTER EIGHT - CARLOTTA
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Queen CHAPTER NINE - LEDA
When we’d arrived last night, Sebastien had hurried me through the winding stone flagged corridors and up about a million steps. OK, two flights of steps, but there were lots of them! And they were all higgledy piggledy too, so by the time we arrived wherever we were going, I was tired! Sebastien had shown me to a huge wooden door, which opened with a great creak like you’d get in some kind of gothic fairytale. But the room behind had taken my breath away. Softly lit by a multitude of candles along each wall, it was dominated by a mahogany four poster bed. The coverlet was a dusky pink, which I guess gave the walls their similar shade in the candlelight, and there were at least ten pillows! I’d need that little built-in step to climb into it though. “This will be your room.” Sebastien had said, as if that weren’t blindingly obvious by him bringing me here. I resisted the urge to run and jump on the huge, soft expanse of the bed. “My room is opposite, so I can collect you for break
Queen CHAPTER TEN - LEDA
“Not used to vampires?” Mathias looked quizzical. “I only found out you existed yesterday, when I arrived here.” He raised an eyebrow at me. “I was told before then, but...I’m not sure I believed it.” Mathias shrugged “That sounds like a reasonable reaction, honestly.” I looked back at him; he smiled “Had my family and I not been forced to turn by a very present vampire guard, I doubt I’d have believed either.” “Forced?” I murmured at him. He smiled weakly. “The Queen decreed that her court and all staff at the castle would turn along with her.” He glanced at the door then continued, bitterly “I suppose there is no point in forfeiting your life to the devil for a throne if every one of your subjects will die.” Then he looked up at me “Forget I said that” I just stared at him, horrified “I can’t forget...but I won’t mention it” and he nodded gratefully, before turning to fetch me a desk from the viewing balcony. My mind was reeling – Carlotta might not have made a good impression
Queen CHAPTER ELEVEN - RASMUS
“You will not enter”“Count Otto you do not have the authority to bar anyone entry. Especially in peace time” I answered, patiently. I’d expected far more of an obstacle than this dolt“Nominally” I heard Lars mutter under his breath and I shot him a look, which he acknowledged with a one shouldered shrug.“You will not speak with My Queen until you’ve explained why you are here Lyksborg” “Technically, she is my Queen also. Plus she is my family. I bear her no ill-will”Lars scoffed. I'm going to end up murdering him myself. “For what reason do you wish to speak with the Queen?” I sighed “Otto, you cannot stop us. We are here to discuss Leda” “We have a leader! The Queen is impressive.”“This is why we wish to speak to the Queen and not you, you dimwit” Lars interrupted and I rolled my eyes to look at the sky.I didn’t need to look at Otto to see his reaction. He’d be sputtering his words, spittle flying, going redder than a British post-box whilst all 5 of his chins shook with ir
Queen CHAPTER TWELVE - CARLOTTA
“What?!” “My Lady, Miss Leda has left for a few days” “Yes, I heard you, I just do not understand. She was told she was not to leave until a cure was found.” The maid simply backed away, cowering. “Mathias!” I screamed. “Yes, My Lady?” Mathias entered the state room in a hurry. “Where is the Chosen One?” “My Lady?” The fool had the audacity to look genuinely confused. “I was advised that I was not required to guard her today. Was this incorrect?” I was seething. I had made it clear that she was not to leave until a cure had been found. She was the Chosen One – whatever that meant. It should mean that she knows how to cure this thing. Or to stop my subjects dying from it anyway. It’s bad enough she didn’t immediately recognise the symptoms but wanted to ‘research’ it. Magnus and Sebastien were both convinced she was special but I’m not certain it’s that she’s the Chosen One. I stood abruptly from the sofa and stamped my foot. “And who ‘advised’ you that you would not be
Queen CHAPTER THIRTEEN - RASMUS
This ‘meeting’ was nonsense. Leda had barely stepped back in the country, let alone the castle and Carlotta was down her throat wondering why a cure hadn’t been found. I knew she wouldn’t be letting her live her life alongside this task. I tuned my cousin’s nasally voice out, puzzling over how I could get Leda out of their clutches. I’m sure her good will won’t last if this is how she’s treated. Torstein had said she and Brandt were close. I must have put it to the back of my mind because I hadn’t realised quite what he meant. I’d always considered myself a patient man but the way Leda smiles at him has me itching to lean across and rip his throat out, the pompous twat. I took a deep breath, steeling myself and looking away. I don’t know what’s gotten into me but seeing them together...I’m having a hard time keeping my human face on. I tuned back into this meeting, such as it was. It seemed more like General Magnus wanted a break from being the sole recipient of the Que
Queen CHAPTER FOURTEEN - LEDA
“Weeks!” Carlotta shouted across the table at me. She was right, I had been here for nearly 6 weeks and so far, I didn’t seem to be any closer to finding out how to stop this plague. I thought it was a little unfair to expect me to just know, but Carlotta evidently thought otherwise. I managed to resist rolling my eyes. I was back in the war room, as I found out the place, I’d first met the Vampire Queen, was called. I was here with Seb, Magnus, the Queen and Rasmus too. It was strange, but with Rasmus here, I found Seb less appealing. I shook my head, I’d consider that later, right now I had to focus on avoiding being stung by the Queen, who seemed to be feeling particularly waspish today. “I’m sorry Your Highness” I answered “I feel as though I’ve only just been made aware, and I am trying to find something which matches all the symptoms in each case” I explained “And I feel-” Carlotta sneered “That you have forgotten what you were told when you first arrived. You. Are. Not
Queen CHAPTER FIFTEEN - LEDA
“Are you sure no one noticed you?” Mathias whispering distracted me from the latest book I’d picked up. None of this made any real sense to me and I was beginning to wonder why anyone had ever thought I’d be able to help with this. I turned in my seat to see Mathias talking in hushed tones with a honey-blonde woman. He’d mentioned a family before, maybe this was his wife? That meant it wasn’t my business, so I turned back to the book, hoping something would jump out at me. “Miss Leda?” Mathias broke through again. “Leda, please Mathias.” “Leda, I’m Annalise.” The honey-blonde woman beamed at me. Hair tied back in a long braid, and pulled over her left shoulder. She had on a dark grey gown. It was a very pretty satin-like material but the colour reminded me of the guards’ uniforms. “Oh.” I looked questioningly at Mathias. “Hello, nice to meet you” I stood to meet her extended hand and shook it. How very formal; she had a firm handshake and I got the impression she was
Queen CHAPTER SIXTEEN – CARLOTTA
That lazy fucking bitch. I swirled my index finger round the rim of my glass. I wasn’t sure if it had blood or wine in it anymore. Whatever it was, it wasn’t enough. And Sebastien had killed my favourite toy. Bastard. It’s been almost three months now. Adelaide doesn’t seem to have found a single thing. Every update I get, I’m told what it isn’t. I can’t placate my people on negatives! She is so fucking inconsiderate. So much for a ‘Chosen One’. Maybe this is all a ruse? Perhaps it was put in place by Bragi? Some infinite double bluff to make me doubt myself? She’s the first person to go into that library in decades and she can’t find whatever it is that’s killing my people?! I looked up as a warrior entered the throne room. He stopped mid-way across the room, a few feet from the edge of the dais where I sat. Then he knelt on his left knee, right fist across his chest. “My Queen” he stated, looking down. “Speak” I answered him He removed his helmet, and I would recognise th
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