Chapter 7

I stirred slightly, the road suddenly rougher than what I was used to, but my mind refused to comprehend where I was, or what was happening; still partially asleep.

I turned onto my side, curling up into a tight ball as I took a deep breath, attempting to come around and fully wake. I shivered, not entirely sure what was going on around me, voices and shouting coming from somewhere far off in the distance. I slowly began to remember all that had happened the night before, Prince Silas Bancroft coming to my home and killing my mother and taking me into his care, and whilst he wasn’t completely vicious, I didn’t trust him.

A witch should never trust a vampire, especially one that could command an entire army to hunt you down should you decide to run. I pealed open my eyes, the blacked-out windows preventing me from seeing exactly where we were, or even where we might be.

I blinked against the harsh lighting the limo, my heart beginning to race as my eyes rested onto the Prince, his fire-coloured eyes locked onto me as he watched me move into a seated position on the floor of the vehicle.

“Ah Fraulein. Finally awake I see.” He smiled softly, catching me off-guard.

“Who is Fraulein?” I asked sleepily, rubbing my eyes.

He laughed, a deep and throaty sound. “Is that not obvious?”

I stared up at him, puzzled as to what he had meant, was he calling me that? I am sure he knows what my name is, he said it when we were back at the house, so why was he calling me such a thing? I tilted my head to the side, once again rubbing my eyes as I tried to understand exactly what he meant.

“It is simply a pet name. I wouldn’t read too much into it, girl. It has no hidden meaning.” he shrugged, such a simple gesture yet it made me distrust him more, why did he need a pet name for me? Wasn’t mine good enough?

I am Luna Marshall. That is and always will be my name. “Why do I need a pet name?”

“We are here.” Silas smiled as the limo came to a slow stop, the door opening from the outside.

I leaned forward slightly, stretching my neck to see who was at the other side, though it was too dark, the only light coming from a line of torches that blinded my vision. I rubbed my eyes, trying to adjust them to the new light, I blinked several times, but by the time I reopened my eyes Silas was already exiting the vehicle and holding his hand out for me, silently commanding that I follow him.

I looked around the limo, once again beginning to panic, where had he brought me, what awaited me once I got out of the car? I took a long breath, reluctantly taking his hand and allowing him to guide me out of the limo, his eyes glowing against the torches.

I stumbled slightly as I got out, the stone beneath my feet freezing my entire body as I began to shiver, wishing that I could have had time to put on shoes and a coat back at the house. I lifted my gaze away from my feet, focusing instead on what was around me, though as I saw the crowd of vampires, warlocks and witches gathered around the limo I wished that I was somewhere else, somewhere they couldn’t see me.

I took a shaky breath, my heart lurching as I fearfully looked over at Silas who still held my hand, ensuring that I couldn’t run. Though, if I even tried to do so, I would die, one of the creatures around us would catch me, there was no doubt about that. There was so many of them. Hundreds, maybe more.

“Breathe girl, if you collapse, I am not going to help you back up.” Prince Bancroft growled, my fear growing tedious.

“Yes sir.” I stuttered, attempting to control my breathing the best I could, but I had never been around so many people. Not in my entire life.