The Royal Hunting Lodge

Sophie Reese

Conversations were had and barbed words were exchanged between Nico and Rayne. I listened passively to them, not fully comprehending their meaning as my mind was still focused on the moment I sank my fist into the Wendigo's chest and ripped out its heart. I could still feel its cold wet heart beating in my palm. I shut my eyes and tried to drive out the thought. I didn't understand any of this. I felt like I was drowning in a black sea supernaturalness. Vampire, demons and now vampire queens. None of this really made any sense.

I shook my head and lifted my gaze to Christie. She was still cowering next to Rudolph as he gripped her arm in an unforgiving manner. She had a look in her eye, the same look that I had seen in the eyes of beaten women who used to attend group therapy sessions at the community centre, a look of worthlessness and self-loathing. I couldn't bear it. Christie had proven herself to be a true friend tonight, she had gone with me into the forest and had been willing to risk her life to fight the wendigo with me.

I turned to Rayne, abruptly interrupting his argument with Nico, and asked, "Do other vampires have to listen to me if I'm a queen?"

"In time they will recognise your authority, but right now, you are still a fledgeling. Your power has not matured, which is why your consort should be protecting you instead of this buffoon," Rayne said, hurling another insult at Nico.

I ignored his insult and gestured towards Christie. "That girl, she helped me tonight. I want to help her in return, but I cannot do that without your assistance."

"Are these fools not listening to you? Is that why they are threatening you with silver?"

I nodded in reply.

Rayne shook his head, despairingly. "I have a good mind to take you away from this place and raise you myself...but as things stand, I must leave you here, in the care of these lesser creatures."

The derision in his voice cut through the small gathering of proud vampires. Clearly, Rayne's presence was a painful reminder that they were not the biggest shark in the sea.

Rayne dragged his fingers through his smooth silver hair and let out a long sigh.

"I don't normally meddle in vampire affairs, but I suppose a friend of yours, is a friend of mine," he said, lifting his hand and snapping his fingers.

Christie dissolved into thin air and reappeared next to me a second later.

Rudolph, too frightened to protest out loud, glared at Christie - a hard black stare that made Christie grab my arm.

"I think he's mad," she whispered in my ear.

"He can stay mad for all I care... but I swear, if he touches you again, I'll tear out his heart," I replied loudly.

Rudolph's eyes immediately cooled and he retreated a few steps behind the security team.

Christie relaxed and whispered, "I think he's got the message."

"From now on, you stay away from him."

She nodded her head enthusiastically, sending her auburn curls bouncing. "Yes. I don't ever want to be near him again."

The relief in her voice was infectious. I could feel my own body relaxing, knowing that she was safe with me... but for how long? There would come a time where Rayne would leave and then what? Nico would drag Christie back to Rudolph and we would be back square one. I wondered if Casper would save, but then I thought of Blood and Sally, and my heart sank. He wouldn't help. There was something about vampire society that I didn't fully understand in the way they matched-make.

"Rayne," I said, catching the demon's attention, "I can't go back Casper. He'll send Christie back to Rudolph. I don't trust him."

"Has he told you who he is?"

"No, he tells me nothing. He keeps me locked in a room and tells me that he wants to keep him to himself a little longer."

"Then he needs to come here and explain himself to you," Rayne said and then turned to Nico and asked, "Is he coming?"

"Yes, he will be here shortly. I suggest we go back into the house where the ladies and warm up," Nico replied.

For the first time this evening, Rayne agreed. We all went back inside the house to the great hall. Rudolph and the other ladies were sent away. Christie stayed with me. We sat together by the fire under the watchful gaze of Rayne. Nico had tried to arrange for a tray of blood to brought to us but had Rayne had declined, choosing to use his own powers to summon up two cups of steaming blood for us. I didn't like the look of the blood, it still made me feel uncomfortable.

"Is the blood not to your liking?" Rayne asked.

"She hates the sight of blood," Nico said, answering for me. "We have to feed her blood through a sippy cup, so she doesn't have to look at it."

I scowled at Nico, he made it sound like I was a baby.

"It's true, I don't like the sight of blood," I explained to Rayne, "You see, I found my mother after she... after she had..."

I couldn't bring myself to say the words and so I dragged my finger across my wrists in a slicing motion.

Rayne nodded, understandingly, and waved his hand over the cup, changing it into a silver hip flask. "There, that's a little more dignifying than a sippy cup."

Thanking him, I took the flask and bolted down the warm blood. As I finished drinking, a crack of thunder boomed over the house. Everyone immediately stilled. Christie grabbed my hand and whispered, "What was that."

"Casper, he's here," I replied.

Seconds later the two wooden doors of the great hall were thrust open with such force, that their hinges groaned in protest, threatening to break under the pressure. Casper loomed menacingly in the doorway, his blue eyes now black with rage.

"How dare you," he spat at Rayne.

He stepped into the great hall, filling it with static electricity. I watched tiny veins of lightning shoot out from his skin.

Rayne glanced down at his wristwatch and said, "It took you long enough. Was the traffic bad in Port Cressida?"

"Don't play cute with me, Rayne. What are you doing here, and why are you holding my mate hostage?"

"I'm protecting her, idiot. I found her across the wall, fighting bloody a wendigo!"

Casper paled upon hearing that revelation. The anger in his eyes abated and he focused on me. His dark eyes turned blue and he whispered my name, "Sophie..."

He moved like the wind, crossing the room in milliseconds and gathered me up into his arms.

"Sophie, what happened? Are you hurt?" He asked, running his hands over me.

"I'm fine," I replied.

He wrapped his arms around me, burying his face into my neck and sighed, "Thank goodness."

"Don't thank goodness," Rayne snapped, "She was almost killed tonight! You were supposed to be guarding her."

"There was unrest in the city and my presence was needed. I could not avoid it."

"She killed a demon tonight. I watched her punch a hole straight through it. Her power is quickening - do you know what that means?"

"Worser monsters are to come."

"Indeed. You cannot leave her alone. It is too dangerous and you should be married by now."

"I won't leave her again and I will bring the wedding forward."

"Good," Rayne said approvingly.

I looked at the pair of the incredulously - they had just had a whole conversation about me as if I was not there. Raising my hand, I objected, "Wait, I haven't consented to any of this. You can't snap your fingers and get me to marry you... I don't even know if I wanted to be married."

"Sophie," Casper sighed, rubbing his finger across my jawline, "This is our destiny, my love, stop fighting it."

"You kidnapped me, held me hostage, blackmailed my friend - this doesn't feel like destiny, Casper."

"You're over analysing the situation, Sophie. Stop thinking with your human mind. You're a vampire now."

"No," I said putting my foot down and slapping away his hands, "According to Rayne, I am a vampire queen. I don't listen to you. You listen to me. I am sick of being pushed about and threatened."

"Sophie," he groaned, reaching for me.

I pulled away from him and stood up. Leaning over him, I started to read him the riot act.

"This 'Sophie, do this' and 'Sophie, do that' has to stop. I'm a reasonable person, but if you want me to do something, then I need a reason. You can't expect me to obey you, just for the sake of obeying you. That's not a healthy relationship, Casper. I can't pretend that I don't want you, but I also can't pretend that you don't scare me..."

"Baby, I never want to scare you."

"But you do scare me, Casper. You scare me when you tell me you have enemies. You scare me when you tell me that I can't see my friends. You scare me when you blackmail my friends. You scare me when you won't tell me who you are... I want us to work, but I can't be with you if you're a bad person."

"I'm not a bad person, Sophie."

"The prove it. Release Christie from her engagement with Rudolph."

His eyes darkened and he replied, "I can't."

"Why not? She hates him, he hates her. Why force them to be together?"

"I made a deal, Sophie."

"Then undo it. Prove to me that you are a good man."

"I can't grant you that one wish. I made a deal with Rudolph and this deal will allow us to be married."

"Then I won't marry you."

"You have no choice, Sophie."

"I do have a choice."

"No, you don't."

"Yes, I do. I am a Queen," I flared up at him.

"And I am the King," Casper yelled.