He’s still standing behind me when my shoulders slump. “Ah, I see you now realize what your coming back has cost you, Serena.”
I bow my head and nod.
“You will look me in the eyes and speak to me when I speak to you!” His hand slaps my ass, causing me to jolt forward and fall to my knees. He walks around to face me.
Looking up at him, I say, “I’m sorry, My King.” I begin to get back up when he takes his foot and pushes down on my shoulder.
“You will crawl back to the palace!” He walks past me and walks back to the palace, his guard following behind him. Calling back, he yells, “Leash her and lead her to the palace.” He chuckles. “In case she has forgotten the way.” As he continues to walk off, I hear his laughter in the distance.
Kai, one of the guards I was rather fond of when I reigned over the coven, comes toward me with a large chain leash. I can see in his eyes that he doesn’t want to do this, but we both know he has no choice. Claus is king, and the guard and the empire must follow him and him alone.
“Forgive me,” he whispers as he locks the chain to the back of the collar.
Its weight is heavy. I don’t say anything but give him an assuring nod, showing him I understand he is only doing what he has been ordered to do. He begins to walk, and I slowly follow. The ground is mostly dirt, but it has the tiniest stones scattered through, and they feel like needles when they imbed themselves into my hands and knees.
Kai walks fast enough to make it look like he is keeping up with the crowd following Claus but slow enough to ensure that he doesn’t have to pull on the chain. He may be bound to obey Claus, but it doesn’t mean he has to like it. There was a time when Kai was my personal bodyguard. He was always there to protect me if needed-except for the day Claus returned. Kai had gone to Bourbon Street on an errand for my father. He keeps looking back at me as if to apologize for that day and for not being there.
As I crawl toward the palace, I realize something and it makes me smile. I’m on to Claus’s game. He wants to humiliate me, embarrass me in front of the empire that once was mine. He wants them all to see me beaten and defeated. It explains the elaborate parade through the village to the palace. Well, the joke is on him. Humiliation is the furthest thing I’m feeling. I may have felt all those things at first, but now, I only feel pride for the woman and vampire I am. I feel pride that I have the courage to return to my empire and fight for it. I feel anger against the man who took it all from me. That’s what I’m feeling.
There was a time during my travels back when I thought perhaps Claus and I could work something out and rule the coven together. That he would see me as his equal, even though I am far more superior to him. And I realize as the stones pinch and sting my skin, the Blood Empire is mine. It belongs to the Valentines, and I will do everything in my power to get it back.
But you once cared for Claus, the voice in my mind reminds me. I shake my head adamantly.
No more!
I scream to the nonexistent being inside my head who keeps me in line. She is the voice in my head who will always guide me. Some people call it their conscience, but I know differently. It’s the vampire queen, Lilith, who feeds the fire directly to my soul.
My hands and knees bleed from the small sharp stones that have imbedded themselves into my skin. Only one word fills my head now.
Revenge! The inner vampire queen in me screams in triumph. I am now more determined than ever to beat this bastard at his own game. And even though I know it will not be an easy fight, deep in my soul I know I will win. I will have to surrender myself to this man completely without losing myself in the process.
You can do this, Serena.
She’s right; I can.
As we go through the compound heading toward the center, many of our coven line the streets to watch. Their eyes are solemn and sad. They do not care for their new king, and my capture dissipates their hope. I wish I could communicate with them, to let them know everything will be okay, but I can’t give Claus any reason to mistrust me. Right now, I need his trust. I need him to know my loyalty lies solely with him.
I try to forget the subjects of my empire and take in the beauty of our compound. There are several homes that comprise our lovely space, but as we turn the corner down the main street, the royal palace comes in to view. The French Mediterranean design boasts four levels with six bedroom suites, one grand master suite, an office, a library, and a theater. The grand master suite resides on the fourth story of the home and spans the entire floor, providing phenomenal lakefront views and terraces. There are several outdoor living spaces, including impeccable gardens, a porcelain pool, and an outdoor kitchen and patio. It’s breathtaking, and I miss the days when I lived there.
When we finally get to the palace stairs, I realize it is exactly how I remember it. Its majesty outshines any other building I have ever seen. The gold rails aligning the stairs that lead to the front door glisten and sparkle in the sunlight. We walk up the steps-or should I say I crawl up the steps. For once, I am thankful my parents are dead. They would be ashamed at me for the way I have let Claus take everything away. But then again, if my parents were still alive, I would not have been put into this position in the first place.
We get inside the palace, and the white furnishings, high ceilings, and warm fuzzy carpets all bring a comfort to me.
You are home, Serena. Home.
She’s right. I am home. It may no longer be the home I own, but it will always be the home I grew up in and love.
Memories flood my mind. The parties my parents would hold here for vampires from all around the world were elaborate and festive. As a small child, I would sit at the top of the stairs, watching everyone. I look up as nostalgia hits me of a happier time. How could I let this happen? How could I let him come into my empire and take it all away?
Because you were na?ve and unprepared. But you are not the same person you were when all that happened. You’re stronger, wiser, and a woman with a mission. You won’t stop until you have gained back all that was rightly yours, including this palace. Mark my words, Serena. Your time is coming, and may the gods help him when you do take your empire back.
“Lock her in the cage!” Claus demands to one of the servants.
A man I don’t recognize comes toward me and reaches for the chain Kai is holding. He gives no expression nor does he say anything. Kai looks at Claus, who nods. He then hands the chain to the man, turns on his heel, and leaves. We both know what the cage is. It is the silver holding device we use when someone has committed a crime.
It’s only going to get worse.
You can endure this!
My only consolation is the vampire queen residing inside me. That part of me will never be lost to Claus or be his prisoner.
Instead of going down the lower elevator, we proceed toward the upper stairs. I don’t remember any cages being upstairs, but then again, everything has changed. All twelve cages were down in the dungeons, but only one was in the prison chamber. I assumed that was where I was to be taken. When my parents and I reigned, the Blood Empire was so peaceful, I don’t remember the last time the cages were used. We pass Claus toward the stairs, and he notices I am still crawling. He smirks, clearly pleased with himself. Does he really think it’s going to be so easy to break me?
I stand when we get to the stairs, and it feels good to be upright. My knees and hands are covered with dirt and blood, but I really don’t care. It’s a symbol to me. It reminds me of what I will have to endure to get what I want-what my empire deserves. I’m escorted up the stairs to the fourth floor into the grand master suite.
To my surprise, in what I assume is Claus’s bedchamber is a cage, one of the largest ones if memory serves me correctly. I would have expected to be crammed into one of the smaller ones, but no. This cage will actually allow me to stand and take a few steps. There is a blanket on the floor, and a bucket in the corner, and nothing else. At least I can move around.
The cage is locked, and I am left alone in the darkness.
S everal hours pass, and the darkness doesn’t change. There are no windows, so I have no idea if a day has passed. I’ve used the bucket a few times, and the smell is making me nauseated, but that is to be expected. I need to stretch my legs. I want to walk, but I can only pace. I need food.
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