Surrounded by books on the library floor, I've lost count of how many I've read. I actually just have to flip the pages, cover to cover. My mind absorbs the content. Like super speed reading. Alarich and I have been at it all day and we are coming up short. "Perhaps we can send an envoy to look at other realms libraries. We have so many history texts here and we still have no answers" He looks down defeated blinking his weary eyes. "That would take too long, maybe it's new. Something that has never taken place before". Arlo enters on a skateboard. He is wearing one of those nametag stickers. You know the ones that have 'Hello my name is' on them. Naturally, the 'O' of his name is a winky face. I stopped questioning his behaviour a long time ago and just accepted it. Alarich seems to have given up also as he just shakes his head. "Queenie, your phone is going off" He skates over to me holding the phone out "Arlo, I don't do phones, deal with it" He

Just like it was before, dripping my blood on the jeweled dagger. Janice drops it in the bowel with the other contents. She stirs and places the mixture on her finger, marking the ground with more symbols. "I get that we are all about the blood. I do, but why does everything require it. It's boring now" Everyone ignores Arlo's opinion as usual. "Ready when you are, your highness" Janice walks passed placing an encouraging hand on my arm. I guess it's the moment we've all been waiting for. Holding my breat, I place my hand in the centre lock. The chains start retracting. The sound of gears turning and metal scraping only adds to the tension. The doors slides open. There he lies, like an angel, serene and beautiful. I walk to his form lying on a stone table. My hand glides over him. For the smallest moment, I forget the hurt and pain. The pull to him is so strong. I fight it and focus on what needs to be done. I hold my bleeding wrist above his mout

"Take Helena away from here, do not tell me where you are going. There's a vial of blood in my room, Drink it. You'll be able to go out in the sun. Move fast" I reach out to Arlo mentally. He replies to my mind with an image of a thumbs up emoji.I launch myself on top of my maker. In an attempt to halt him. The longer I'm in his presence, the more obedient my mark grows and betrays me. I'm trying to hit, bite and even scratch him. The mark is spreading over him shielding my attacks. He continues walking with me on his back. We stop in front of Arlo and Helena trying to make their escape. Arlo steps in front of her but Thorne grabs his throat and throws him away. I pry myself from his back and step in front of Him. His eyes are red and snake like. "ENOUGH! You will step aside. You will obey me" Shit. I follow his instructions. As I'm trying to break the sire bonded command. He focuses his gaze on a shocked Helena "You are my progeny, and the

We all walk, making our way back to The Crossroads, in silence. Yes, even Arlo. Shocked by the oracles revelations and feeling a bit despondent. No plan and no idea what to do next. Where do we even go from here? I'm going to turn human. I can't remember my human life. The notion of my fate, is so foreign to me. 500 years a vampire. Not just any vampire but the vampire queen. Unimaginable power and abilities. I'm struggling to adjust to my new standard vampire form.As if he reads my thoughts, no doubt he did. Thorne stops me and places a hand on my shoulder. "It will all be well my love, I will turn you again" I nod, not really paying attention to him. We arrive at The Crossroads, in the centre. Looking at each of the paths ahead of us. Then it hits me like a bus. 'I will turn you again'. I feel repulsed at the thought. "NO!" I shout out. All eyes fall on me, questioning my sudden outburst. "I won't let you turn me" Thorne laughs "You say t

This feels wrong. I know why he is drawn to me. The alignment. My new path. I shimmy out of the embrace, or try to anyway. I'm irritatingly having a crisis of conscience. I am no better than Thorne, to manipulate these occurrences to my agenda. This Lycan King is just a pawn in a solestial game. These aren't his choices. This is not his path. He already has his, as Janice calls it 'Anam Cara'. They are expecting another child. I can't insert myself and explode their life to pieces. I don't know if I'd feel this way, without my increasingly annoying human transition."You can't trust me. I'm using you for my own agenda. I will admit, being in your arms is stiring things in me. I don’t really want to leave them but it's wrong. You are only drawn to me because the alignment is trying to bring balance. I have the free will to choose another, when I'm human. I will not choose one who is already claimed. One who's attention and affection, is only the result of the imbala