Chapter 3 - Samael's POV

Samael’s POV

I stand in front of the wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling window in my throne room.

My view of the mountains is hindered by the raging blizzard taking place outside.

I distract myself with the snow that is swirling frantically in the wind on the opposite side of the glass.

If I focus, I can pick out each individual snowflake in front of me before the howling wind takes them again.

I sigh.

My body is itching to go out there. To feel the wind whipping at my face and the coolness of the snow blowing around me.

To feel something other than frustration. 

I unwillingly turn away from the window, only to be reminded of what had caused my frustration in the first place: Cassandra Hale’s poor messenger boy lays dead at the foot of my throne. I had stepped over his limp body after draining it of all his blood. His lifeless eyes stare at nothing.

It seems killing the messenger can in fact be beneficial, maybe it will finally give that damn witch a hint. This is the third time Cassandra has sent an errand boy in an attempt to secure a meeting with me; To “discuss matters beneficial to us both” according to each of them. 

I know exactly what that bitch wants, and she won’t be getting it. I may not particularly like Lothar Crescent, but the Werewolf King and I have been in the process of forming an alliance. If the werewolf and vampire kingdoms combined their strength, we’d be an invincible force.

I’d be an idiot to give that up for Cassandra’s futile attempts to overthrow the werewolf kingdom. Her mother couldn’t do it eighteen years ago, I doubt Cassandra could do any better.

I’m drawn out of my thoughts when I hear the heavy doors on the far side of the room open with a bang.

My second in command, Seth, walks in with an annoyed look on his face. He closes the doors and turns to me, crossing his arms.

"Sam, uh... your mother is here." He's the only person allowed to call me Sam, because he's the only person I actually tolerate.

"Why?" I grit out. "Did she forget I'm not speaking to her?"

"Honestly man, I forgot.", he snickers. "You change your mind about it every other decade, so I wasn't sure where you currently stand on the issue."

I resist rolling my eyes at him.

"Did she at least come with father, or is the old woman here on her own again?"

"Yeah, about that. She brought two of her sisters with her." Seth pauses, wary of my expression getting darker and darker.

He doesn't continue so I have to ask, "Which sisters?"

The outcome of my mother's visit will depend entirely upon which of her crazy sisters decided to show up.

Seth opens his mouth to answer but is saved by the frantic voices coming our way.

"Please ma'am, please! His highness is very busy and asked not to be disturbed!" I can hear one of my guards awkwardly trying to deter whoever is making their way down the hall toward my throne room.

"Disturbed? Who's disturbing? We are family! Now let us through!"

I groan internally as I recognize the high-pitched voice instantly; Aunt Josephine.

"Yes, yes we are here to see our dear nephew. So, step aside if you please sir!" Comes the lower, airy voice of Aunt Delphine.

I sigh and motion for Seth to open the doors. He throws them open and steps aside.

The guard hurriedly stands at attention then bows his head toward me. "My king, I- I apologize for allowing them to get this far. Sir I-"

I cut him off with a wave of my hand, "It’s fine Niles, get back to your post. I'll handle them from here."

He bows again with relief written all over his face and walks away.

I turn to my aunts who both stand in the doorway beaming at me.

"Josephine, Delphine." I face them each in turn. "It is a pleasure to see you both again," I lie through my teeth.

They aren’t so horrible, I guess. A little crass, and a bit opinionated but they are both kind in their own way and care for the people close to them. It doesn’t mean I enjoy tolerating their antics.

And their way of caring over the last fifty years has consisted of pushing me to take a queen any chance they get.

"You know you're a terrible liar Samael. For a king you should really work on that. What kind of politician can't even pull off the simple fib of being happy to greet his doting aunts?!" Josephine speaks briskly, sweeping over to me and holding my shoulders at arm's length. 

She peers up into my eyes, causing me to try and avoid her eye contact. I catch sight of Delphine a few steps behind her sister, giggling at the unamused look on my face. 

Josephine regains my attention. She is a tall woman, but still has to tilt her head slightly up to glare at me. 

"Now. Tell me why you've been ignoring the invitations I've been sending you all these years!" she demands with a pointed look. 

"Because those invitations were for parties and the like, which as a king, I do not have time for. I've been busy. Ruling Dema Mortem is not an easy task aunt Josie, you know that." I look at her, hoping she will just drop the subject. 

Yeah, that won't ever happen.

"That is exactly my point! You need a queen! This kingdom needs a queen! Samael, you have been ruling alone for almost sixty years and it's starting to show. This castle has become colder and darker. There's no warmth left here. Yes, we are creatures of the night, but that does not mean we cannot benefit from a little brightness in our lives!" 

Her eyes glisten with tears as she continues, "I only want you to find happiness my dear, and even taking a chosen queen can bring happiness." 

I snort. But decide to try and let her down easy; she has always been overly dramatic, "I'm sorry Josie, but I will wait to find a woman who deserves to be my queen, none of those aristocrats only seeking power for themselves. You can understand that can't you? How would you feel if Amos had married his father’s choice instead of you?"

"That old man?! He would have been fine without me! Maybe he would be getting on that other woman's nerves instead." she scoffs, but her eyes soften just a bit. 

I turn to Delphine, hoping to change the subject. "Where is mother? Did she not come in with you?" 

"She went to the stables. She said she was missing Reign." Delphine replied. "Maybe you should go see her. I'll take Josie to the east lounge for tea."

"Reign isn't here. He's gone with the prison guards to collect our humans from the Emberi Empire. But yes, you should head to the lounge. I will go find mother."

Aunt Josie points to the foot of my throne, where the messenger's body still lies, “You should get someone in here to clean up that mess before it starts to smell.”

“Seth take care of that,” I say to him, “And make sure the body gets back to Cassandra.” I let her first two return to her alive – a bit broken maybe, but alive – with my definite “No” to her request. Not this time. This time she’ll be sent back an empty body, drained of blood. Maybe that will cement my answer into her dimwitted head.

I turn to my aunts, “I am happy to see you both, it's just been a difficult time lately." I mutter before turning to the doors. 

I leave the throne room and head down the hall to the stairs. I use my speed and find myself twenty floors below the throne room in no time at all. 

Making my way across the unnecessarily large entrance hall, I pass the guards stationed at the front doors of the castle and head into the furious storm outside. 

I traverse down the castle steps easily, barely even bothered by the snow beating down on me or the wind that is hell-bent on forcing me back. 

When I reach the bottom of the steps, I turn left to head into the courtyard that leads to the large enclosure where we keep the horses. 

If my mother had indeed come this way, her footprints would have been long hidden by the heavy falling snow. 

I use my speed once again, racing against the wind to make it to the stables in seconds. 

She is sitting on the bench outside of Reign's empty stall. Upright and poised as would be expected from the former queen. 

"Where is my precious Reign?" she questions instead of a greeting. 

"I sent him with the guards to pick up the prisoners from the Emberi Empire. He's the most well-trained. He keeps the other horses in check." I reason with her. 

"Humph" she sighs. "Well, I cannot disagree with that. He truly is the sweetest boy."

Her eyes furrow suddenly. "That new Emperor is a snake, Samael. He killed his own father because he didn’t want to wait any longer for the throne. I’d keep a close eye on him.”

“You worry too much, mother. I have spies everywhere.”

"Of course, you do. You're my son. I taught you everything you know." She laughs briefly, before standing. Even at full height, I tower over her. “Your father and I have also heard rumours of him having dealings with void witches" she continues.

I resist an eye roll. “We all have dealings with void witches.” I reply, looking down into her icy eyes. She is a cold woman. Ruling a vampire kingdom for two thousand years made her cold. Though, she has somehow balanced cold and caring perfectly. I never felt unwanted growing up, she doted on me lovingly, but I also watched her kill without mercy. This is why I can’t have just any queen. My queen has to be heartless enough to rule with an iron fist, but also considerate enough to show kindness when needed. 

“Our void witches are trustworthy. Our void witches understand the void better than anyone.” She takes a breath, then directs me to the bench by Reign’s stall. “Speaking of void witches, sit. I have a message from Adelaide.”

Adelaide. That wretched old woman is always causing trouble. I think she gets off on getting a rise out of the vampires in my court. I sigh internally.

“When did you see Adelaide? She is supposed to be here in a few days anyway.” I ask with mild curiosity. What message could be so important it couldn’t wait a few days?

“It was this morning, before I left to come here. She was obviously with that damned Siren King she is so enamoured with. I was packing a bag for my trip when her black portal appeared before me and she fell through, soaking wet, out of breath, and dripping all over my brand-new wood floors! Her clothes were barely hanging on, her shirt was torn off one shoulder. She kept one foot inside her portal and gave me a message for you, somehow, she knew I would be visiting you today.”

I’m more than glad she didn’t give me the message directly. I’d rather rip my eyes out than see Adelaide after Cyreus the Siren King has had his way with her. “So, what did she say?” I ask, growing impatient with the unnecessary image she has planted in my mind.

“She was in an obvious hurry and didn’t spare many details, but she said the void has been growing stronger and louder. More and more witches are surrendering themselves to the power of the void element. As the Blood of Nyx Coven Mother, it is Adelaide’s job to find them and stop them. She will be requesting the Dema King’s assistance in this matter.” She gives me a pointed look.

I get what she is saying. If Cassian Graves, the new emperor of the Emberi Empire is indeed making deals with void witches, I would be required to step in and put a stop to it. Which could put our deal with the empire on thin ice. I could simply rip Cassian’s head from his body and appoint a new emperor, but I stopped getting involved in human politics a long time ago.

“It will be fine mother. If things go south with Cassian, I’ll just remind him that our deal is the only reason his precious empire survives.” I say, feeling completely unbothered by the situation.

I look over at my mother as she stays silent. She wears a calculating look; one she wears when she is strategizing.

I decide to change the subject and find out her true motives for being here. “You were already getting ready to leave when Adelaide paid you a visit. You brought Josephine and Delphine. Why the unexpected drop in with two of your most… uh, excitable sisters?” Excitable is putting it lightly. Those two are a pair of tornados rolling through anything in their path, but instead of destruction, they cause chaos with the parties they throw.

"There was concern mentioned at the last territory meeting about this kingdom's lack of its queen. Her absence is felt in every corner of this country. The kingdom has never gone without a queen. Whether she was chosen by the king or chosen for him." my mother trails off, looking warily at me.

I stay silent. So, she continues.

"No past vampire king has ever taken the crown without ensuring there was someone to share its burden alongside him. Vampires are unruly creatures. It takes an iron fist to rule us but also compassion and patience, something which we lack far too much of. I know you want to find her yourself, but the coven leaders are growing restless." she pauses, the ice in her eyes melts away as she looks up at me.

She must notice the defiance in my eyes because she sighs and says, "Always so stubborn you are. Truly your father's son. But regardless, you have to at least start trying to find the damn girl."

I glare down at her.

My mother stands. She moves in front of me and crosses her arms. I lean back, continuing to glare at her. 

"We are here because in less than two weeks we will be hosting a banquet here at the castle. The thirteen coven leaders and their guests will be staying for a week and attending three banquets. Which you will also be attending. You will mingle, you will meet the women in attendance. They have all been chosen by me and your father as suitable prospects. Who knows, maybe you will meet your queen."

Her eyes bore into mine, awaiting my response. I think it over. It's not a terrible idea, I guess. As long as I don't have to do anything besides attend. Although, I highly doubt I’m likely to find a proper queen among the prospects.

My mother clicks her tongue with impatience at my silence. 

"Fine. I'll let you plan it and I'll attend. But I-" she interrupts me with a clap of her hands.

"Well, it's about damn time!" and then she’s gone.  

She dashed away using her speed. 

No doubt off to collect Josephine and Delphine to get started on the planning. Well at least I don’t have to do it. 

I stand and speed out into the storm again. Seconds later I’m back in my throne room, standing in front of the windows, staring out at the swirls of dancing snow. 

The messenger’s body has been taken away, probably well on its way back to Cassandra who will hopefully get the fucking message.

I think of my queen. I’ve been a King for fifty-seven years. The only reason I even have the crown is because my father ruled for two thousand years and was sick of it. He was sick of waiting for me to choose a bride. I think he gave me the throne out of pure frustration.

Fuck it. I refuse to settle for any whore who would spread their legs for an ounce of my power. I’ll humour my mother and attend her banquets; I’ll even fuck the pretty little aristocratic sluts who fall to their knees for me. But none of them will rule by my side.

Adelaide told me she’s Seen my queen, and, in the vision, she wasn’t a vampire, but she was very powerful.

She told me this over a hundred years ago, but I’ve held on to that knowledge. I don’t know if she’s even alive yet, but I refuse to allow another to rule with me.

I will never marry simply for political gain. I may have a responsibility to my kingdom but I’m also the fucking Dema King. No one dictates what I do, or who I marry.