Chapter Thirty Two
(A/N: Guess who's back? 😏)
The castle was big. Bigger than anything I'd ever imagined. I should have expected it; the way people had spoken about it, made it seem like it was a world in itself. But I just thought of it as any other castle I saw on films, TV programmes or in books. In a way it was like any other castle, but something about it was different. Felt different. Maybe it was the fact that I should have lived here, and it somehow already felt like home. Maybe not, but I would never know.
The corridors seemed to go on forever, but to me, it didn't feel like I would struggle to find my way around it. It helped that I had Namjoon by my side to guide me, it seemed that he'd taken the time to learn his way around.
"So Quarter Moon never attacked?" I piped up as we moved towards the large stair case, that looked as though 20 people could walk side by side down them.
"We haven't heard anything from them. They have either gone into hiding, or are planning something big." There was a sound of uncertainty in his voice, one that almost made me feel nervous, before remembering I had sucked out the life of their leader. And his father.
The moment replayed in my head. The image of his life draining into me; letting his body drop as I felt no emotion. The way his energy in me, gave me the strength and the chance to heal Namjoon kept playing through my head non-stop. But I couldn't help but feel guilty, I'd killed Namjoons father.
"Namjoon" I trailed off as I spoke, stopping midway down the stairs and turning to him. He kept walking down the stairs before he realise I had stopped.
"Yes, Alexa?" he sounded concerned as he looked up at me. Frowning as he looked at my expression.
"I'm sorry." That was the only sentence that I could manage to form, with a shaky voice.
"For what?" His eyebrows furrowed together in confusion as he looked at me with his chocolate eyes.
"For killing your father" I said bluntly, although I felt my heart racing. Well, for a vampire it was racing.
He sighed and looked down for a moment, making me feel nervous. He began to move his head up, and looked at me with much lighter brown eyes, and slowly made his way up the stairs.
"He wasn't my father. Biologically, he was. But other than that he wasn't. Plus he killed me, so it's only fair he died too" Namjoon cupped my cheek with his large hand, stroking my cheek slightly.
"Don't be sorry for it, you did what you felt was right. If it was me, I'd have killed him too." He gave a sympathetic smile, before leaning in and kissing my forehead. I couldn't help but let a smile creep onto my lips, feeling as though a weight had been lifted off of me.
"Now, let's go and get some food in you." My stomach grumbled just at the right time, making me smile a lot more and laugh.
I felt his warm arms wrap around my body, suddenly, lifting me up bridal style, making me squeal and wrap my arms around his neck. I couldn't help, but squeal and giggle in his arms. As if we were a new couple. Which in a way, we still were.
He carried me until we reached a larger door, where I could hear various voices talking. I felt myself being lowered to the ground, lacing my fingers with Namjoon's before making my way inside.
My eyes met with Taehyungs, making me smile brightly at him. Even though he'd been around me for the past three weeks, it still felt as though yesterday I'd seen the state he was in, beaten, bloodied and bruised. Because to me, it was yesterday.
I made my way to sit down next to Jin on one side, and a space for Namjoon to sit beside me with Tae infront of me. Jin pushed a bowl and plate to me, meat and blood as always. The blood wasn't human blood, it was pigs. But that's the next best thing in my books.
"So, do you like the castle?" Tae asked, his fangs out as he ate looking at me with curious eyes. I nodded.
"It's not what I expected... But in a good way" I couldn't help but trail off as I looked around the room we were eating in, noticing the the old but beautiful decor that seemed to once be in date.
"It's not as hard as you'd think, to get around that is" Yoongi smiles, leaning into J-hope as they'd both finished their food. A small amount of blood circling around their mouth.
"Well, I've got Namjoon to guide me round till I know my way. Do you know when mum's coming?" I asked, wanting to see her more than anything, just to tell her I'm alright and to see how she's doing.
"I called her, she should be on her way" Just as he spoke, I heard a large bang against a door, instantly making me jump.
"I'm guessing that's her" Tae laughed at my reaction signalling for me to quickly finish eating and for us to follow the sounds of the door.
As we moved, I could hear a slight echo around me, from there being so much empty space around us. Mimicking every word we said, as the sound of my mother walking towards us grew louder.
"Alexa!" she almost screamed, throwing her arms around me and pulling me into a much tighter embrace as she planted numerous kisses onto my head.
"Are you okay? How are you feeling?" I couldn't help but laugh, feeling as though I was young again and had fallen over whilst playing with the boys.
"I'm fine, I just feel as long I've woken up from a long sleep" I wasn't lying, I mean, that is exactly what it was like. I don't know how you'd expect more.
She stroked my face with a bright smile, she looked as though a tonne had been lifted off her, allowing her to finally stand tall again. I couldn't help to copy the exact same smile onto my own face.
"Come on, let's go find somewhere to sit, so we can actually talk" I smiled gently, signalling for either Tae or Namjoon to take us somewhere. I had a lot to learn about this place already.
We found ourselves in a large room, with different sized sofas and a large fireplace. I assumed this was the usual living area, mainly because everyone was already inside it talking amongst themselves. The sight was something from a portrait, that you would have seen many years ago of families all spread around the main room. I'd been in one myself a long, long time ago.
I sat down on one of the sofas, curling my legs up onto it as Namjoon rests an arm around my shoulders to let me lay against him. I could feel that most people's attention was on us now, apart from the odd whisper here and there.
"How's crescent moon doing? Now that you are their leader" I asked, finding it weird to see my mum as the leader, but at the same time I knew that it was the right role for her, it always had been.
"They are doing well. They all want to see you, not knowing where you'd gone but knowing you are somewhere safe till it's necessary. It's been surprisingly calm, just the other groups pledging alliance's with us." She smiled, clearly proud of how well it had been so far.
"I guess I need to return soon, just to show my face around. You know?" I knew I was going to have to face reality again sooner rather than later. I couldn't just act like a princess in a castle, even though that was what I was.
I noticed, a sudden tension between everyone as I spoke, making me look around them in confusion. I could see Tae looking at our mother, raising an eyebrow at her to nudge her into speaking.
"Thing is Alexa, they are all expecting you to become Queen. We need you to become Queen, more than ever." She spoke softly.
"Why?" I didn't raise my voice, or feel my temper increase. I already knew this was going to happen, as soon as I realised I was in the castle.
"After everything that's happened, it only seems right that you become Queen. Quarter Moon are quiet at the moment, and others no longer feel afraid of them. Not if you are the one in power. Also, word has spread about what you can do." Mum spoke quietly, with a glimmer of hope in her eyes.
I had to take a moment to think about it. I'd be the youngest Queen to come to power, and I still didn't think I'd be good enough or ready enough. But then, when would I ever feel that I am ready? I couldn't help but let out a long sigh before nodding.
"How does it even work? I haven't exactly had any training for this" I nervously laughed, I noticed Jin laugh and shake his head.
"I don't think it's something you can train for. It's in your blood, and you've already proved a good enough to everyone else. I mean, that's why everyone wants you to lead us all." He said with a genuine smile.
"When?"
"Soon"
"How soon?"
"Within the week" at that, I felt myself choke up slightly out of shock. I would have thought a month would be soon enough, but a week. That was insanely close.
"How am I meant to prepare in a week?" I asked, with a worried voice.
"We'll help you, we all will." Tae smiled to me, I smiled back, knowing that they wouldn't let me do this alone. Even if I wanted them to leave me alone. I'd known them long enough to know that would never happen.
Namjoon rubbed my shoulder to comfort me, not saying anything yet, although I knew in time he would. Although, we usually spoke just the two of us.
"I'll inform the other leaders too and make them aware of it all before deciding a date." My mother smiled, to me. I was beyond thankful for her, even if she wasn't my biological mother, I couldn't ask for anyone better.
"I should do that now, we don't have any time to waste" My mother smiled standing up, and giving me a tight hug.
"You're going to be fine, and if you need anything, I'll visit everyday" she mumbled into my ear as she pulled out of the hug. I nodded my head and smiled.
Once she left, I couldn't help but yawn and stretch my arms. Although I'd been resting and sleeping for three weeks, I still felt tired.
"Are you feeling okay?" Namjoon spoke quietly at the door, wrapping an arm around my shoulder and pulling me into him.
"I just need a shower" I scrunched my face, thinking of how I hadn't had a proper wash in almost a month. Actually come to think of it, I don't even know if I had been washed why I was out. Or who did it. That was another situation I'd have to ask about another time.
Namjoon gave me a small smile and took my hand, guiding me back to our room. It feels strange calling it our room, even though I kind of called my last room our room. But, that was always my room still at heart. This time, it was our room, not originally mine.
I couldn't help but become distracted by the portraits on the wall against the stairs, which I hadn't noticed before. Mainly because I was too focused on worrying over Namjoons feelings for me. They were various men and women individually and some together and some as a family.
Two portraits gained my attention the most. One of a tall and thin looking woman, who seemed fairly young. In her late 200s, maybe early 300s. She has long black hair, similar to mine with vibrant purple eyes that pierced into your own. However, they didn't look threatening, but friendly. She looked like someone that could break you, but mend you all at the same time. She had a long navy blue silk dress on that made her look incredibly elegant.
"You know that's your mother, right?" Namjoon spoke softly, looking at the portraits too, wrapping an arm around my waist as we stare.
"She's beautiful" I admired, looking at all her features. It was strange seeing her like this. I'd seen the odd picture in the books about those who had ruled over us before, but they were small and mainly of her as a girl. It was even stranger to think in a week I'd be taking the throne after her.
"She is. But no one could ever be as beautiful as you." Namjoon whispered to me, showing a beautiful dimpled smile. I couldn't help but smile and kiss him lightly, wondering what I had done to deserve to be bonded to such a wonderful person. I wondered, would I have ever had the chance to meet him if we had been in different circumstances?
I tugged on his hand, to signal I wanted to carry on up the stairs, deciding I'd come back when I was more awake to look at the portraits again. We made our way up, I faintly guided, trying to remember where I had come from originally.
All I wanted to do was to jump onto the light silky bed and become engulfed in the sheets. I knew I needed to have a shower to freshen up though. Diverting my steps from the bed, to the bathroom.
"Don't wait up for me, I'll probably use up all the hot water" I laughed as I left, hearing Namjoon release a low chuckle and lay back onto the bed.
The hot water felt beyond refreshing against my skin, feeling as though it was washing away any stress I had on me. I spent a lot of time in there, thinking about how I felt about the situation of becoming Queen. It almost felt wrong to me, I was still young and that seemed to have a lot of responsibility. Although I knew one day it would have to happen, I didn't think it would be so soon. I knew it had to be though.
I finally got out of the shower after I felt like it had been forever, towel drying my hair for now and wrapping a fluffy towel around my body. I quickly walked out of the bathroom and into the bedroom, noticing Namjoon sprawled out on the bed in only his boxers. His T-shirt was laid on the floor, giving me a chance to wear it before jumping onto the large bed.
Namjoon clearly woke up from the sound of me jumping onto the bed, letting out a deep chuckle and throwing an arm around me to pull me close. I couldn't help but giggle, seeing a small smile creep up on his face as he opened his eyes.
I laid my head against Namjoons, looking into his chocolate eyes that quickly transformed into the smokey grey. He leant in, brushing his lips over mine before connecting them fully. The kiss was slow and passionate, stroking my fingers through his blonde hair that was slowly going into a dark brown.
Smiling against the kiss I pulled away, wiggling my eyebrows jokingly at him before rolling on top of him, my legs straddling him. His eyes were wide, looking shocked at my actions as I pinned his arms back behind his head. Only to cup his face with both hands and planting kisses all over his face.
"I missed you so much" Namjoon smiled once I stopped just to look into his eyes. Pulling an arm away to stroke my cheek and leant up to kiss me softly. He tucked the strands of hair that were falling infront of my face behind my ears, whilst still showing his dimpled smile.
"I missed you too, even if I wasn't conscious for the whole thing" I laughed, but meaning it seriously. I still felt a fire like sensation in the pit of my stomach, any time I looked into Namjoons eyes, especially now.
He smiled brightly, tugging me down to lay on his chest, hearing his slow heart beat. I felt him leave a kiss on my head as he stroked my arm, aiding me into a sleep.
"I love you" he mumbled before falling asleep himself.
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(A/N: I have returned!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Also, I have 10 weeks off, so guess who's going to be working hard to start updating and finishing my books for you all? 😂
As this one is going to finish soon, I've started updating my Jimin book so I would suggest reading it. Since, it's me, it will have a twist to it and won't be as normal as it seems on the outside.
But anyway, I missed you all, and I'll try and update the last few chapters soon, so you don't have to wait.
Also, guys when I last updated we just reached 3k and we are almost at 4.5k and honestly I cannot believe it, thank you so much ❤️ )
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