A Hymn of Snakes

TWO

The train to Hong Kong was silent, my body still as I looked at my own reflection in the glass. My lip had a single cup sliced down the side of my face from the battle I had finished about a week ago. I haven't stopped moving since that Sunday in Italy.

I somewhat feel as if I deserve this. Blood stained my hands after all. Cole. Maggie. Prisha. Sabien. Nelo. Clarice. Now, the list of my ghosts continued and they haunted me in my sleep.

My body rattled in my seat as I could feel eyes burning into my face. I turned to see who was staring at me and met with a familiar smile. Holstien Schwarz stared me down, sitting on the seat across from me. My eyes scanned the train as I noticed the humans had been moved from the room. Vampires guarding the entrances. "You killed seven Keepers in Italy." He reminded me, "The Order has put on a massive secret search for you. They didn't announce your name, just the Judas Witch." Then he laughed, "What kind of superhero name is that Delia?" He lifted his arms and rested them on the end of the chair.

"I didn't pick it- what do you want Holstien?" I asked me, fixing my body towards him as I slouched down and folded my hands over my knees. The Vampires wouldn't attack me in broad daylight. They spoke before they fought, more bark than bite. Holstien wouldn't attack me anyway.

He knew I would kill him.

Holstien still didn't know if he should hate me or not, I could see it in his eyes. He wondered if he really should watch his step or not, but I wouldn't kill him unless it was necessary. "It's not really what I want," He told me but I could tell that was a lie. He was slowly coming around to liking me. Good, I thought. His hatred always bothered me. "I was ordered by my Queen to locate you." That was simply the biggest cherry on top I've ever received. I closed my eyes as I sighed. He finished speaking with the royal crest and it caused me to smile.

"We'll just hurry up and tell me what her majesty wants so you can leave me alone." I mocked, pushing my head back to read the room. The Vampiric guards didn't like me demeaning their ruler, but their Queen had no power over me. I was a free woman.

Holstien the peacekeeper began with a trickery of his own words, he flexed his jaw as he changed his tone. "It's more like an exchange. She knows that now the Keepers have located you once they'll find you again. You won't be able to outrun them for long Delia. The Queen will help you maintain your safety if you join her side at court as an Advisor." The sound of his voice curled around my name and it shot waves of sparks down my spine. It had been forever since I heard my name said like that. "Work for her, earn your safety." He told me, but I knew it wouldn't be as easy as he was making it sound.

Then the questions began, I watched as Holstien pushing himself away from the window. The sunlight had been bothering him but he didn't try to mention it. "Why does the Queen want a mortal as her Advisor?" I wondered.

The only compliment I've ever heard from Holstien escaped his mouth and I was left shocked. "You're not just any mortal Delia. You escaped the Order, you've fought Natalia, and you're a witch." The mention of her name sent chills up me arms. My shadows knew I didn't appreciate the thought of the Vampire who tried to kill me. They laughed at the thought of her death and it only fed my excitement. "The Queen knows you are just as powerful as the Keepers fear you." Fear me. I knew that was why they wanted me dead. I was the wild card they couldn't control. The Order had the humans clueless, the Vampires in an iron grip, and the witches dead. I was the uncontrolled element.

I clenched my teeth together as I spoke, "The Queen won't be able to keep me safe." I didn't think insulting their Queen would get me any further into the conversation but it was a real worry other than just a simple insult.

Then the undeniable truth was let out and my eyes widened to the thought, "There is unbalance in the Order after you left, an uprising is coming. If the Queen binds her oath to you, they cannot touch you by law." The Order was falling, I almost started laughing. Those old dust collectors were finally getting the karma they deserved. Instead, I held myself together to hear the left of what Holstien had to say. No one needed to know how amused I was by this, "The Bloodborne Law." He finished and my eyes almost rolled to the back of my head.