Darra ran until she reached her rooms. Taking a deep breath, she walked in and let the door close. A sharp scream echoed down the hall.
Darra looked around at the damage she'd just caused to the room. Usually, she eschewed using her power so crudely, but she just wasn't able to contain her rage any longer. With a pained sigh she slumped to the floor in the middle of the debris. She turned when she heard a soft gasp at the door. Raven stood there wide eyed and unsure, she clasped her hands and looked down at her feet. "What is it, little Raven," Darra asked. She looked at the vampire queen with concern, "Queen Darra, are you-" "Don't call me that," she barked. Raven jumped at the harshness in her tone causing Darra to sigh sadly. "I'm fine little Raven, I'll be down shortly."
Garrick was leaning against the far wall of his dining hall watching the contingent of vampire soldiers. They were talking amongst themselves, they were talking about Darra. His mood had taken a nosedive as he'd shown the men to the dining hall, if he'd thought claiming Darra would be difficult before, with this new development, it was going to be nigh impossible. The doors were shoved open and there she stood, he could feel her, and she was enraged. She'd also changed clothes; she was wearing the clothing that vampiric royalty wore when they went to war. The jumpsuit like outfit fit her like a second skin. It was a deep crimson with splashes of black at the waist and neck. Surprisingly, her shoulders and back were completely exposed. He remembered that the women of the royal family fought in clothing like these because it was easier to maneuver when in combat. It brought back his memories of the war. As she moved forward, he noticed Aiden flanking her right, staying in step just slightly behind her. As she approached all chatter ceased and the silver haired one moved forward to greet her. She stopped just five feet away from him, it was almost like she'd been instantly frozen in place.
Gregori studied his Queen, she stood as still as stone like she was waiting for attack. He noticed the wolf boy was at her side, silent but curious. His left hand casually resting on the hilt of one of his swords. Looking back to her, the only thing that gave her away was the solid gold of her eyes. She was livid. "Where have you been my Queen," he asked cautiously moving closer. She arched one delicate eyebrow but otherwise said nothing. "What's happened to you," he asked this time. She turned on her heel showing him her back. Soft gasps went up from the soldiers before chatter moved through the group. Gregori slowly moved closer, his hands gently tracing the vibrant scars that crisscrossed the expanse of her back. "How did this happen," he demanded. Finally, she spoke, "After the death of my mother I investigated. I suspected that my sister may have had a hand in it, and I was right. Sadly, she was prepared. I was held in the abandoned dungeon deep beneath the castle. For a month her and her prized soldier tortured me, when they were through, they nearly cut off my head with a Nightshade laced garrote. I was dead, I should be dead. I awoke sometime later covered in refuse in a backwater human village. My neck was still knitting itself together." She turned back to him and pulled down the collar of her clothing so he could see the thin, pure gold scar that ran the circumference of her neck. He looked horrified, shaken. "And your back," he whispered. She smiled in irony, "Do you remember my great-grandmothers relics? They soaked her nine tailed Scourge in Nightshade and every day I was beaten with it. These scars run much farther than what you see." He grabbed her shoulders shaking, "Why did you not return? I would've protected you; it was my duty to protect you!" Garrick started forward, his patience for this man touching her at an end. She raised a hand, motioning for him to stay back. "How could I return? Why would I want to? I was done with that world, if she wanted the crown so badly, she could bloody well have it," she snarled. She shook off his hands and stepped back, "Now she's brought this unholy mess to my doorstep. What do you expect me to do?"
Garrick could only stare, they all were staring. There was a physical aura forming around her like smoke except that it was tendrils of gold and red. Beneath her skin looked burnished, like a fire was lit from within. Her nails had elongated to claws that were completely crimson at the tips. As Garrick observed her, every minute or so a ripple would move across her skin that looked very reminiscent of scales. When he looked down, he noticed the stone was charring under and around where she stood. She was breathing hard as if she had just run a race, it made him return his gaze to her face. Every exhalation smoke seemed to expel from her nose. "Uh, Darra," Aiden said fearfully. He had backed away from her quite a ways, he backed up even more when she turned to look at him. She tilted her head in a bewildered look, "Do you fear me, Aiden? You are the only thing in this world that I would never harm." Aiden blinked back tears and looked down at his hand, surprised to find that he had drawn one of his swords. The very swords she'd made for him. He cried out dropping the sword. "Oh! Darra I'm sorry," he cried racing to her and throwing his arms around her waist. "Darra I'm so, so sorry," he cried. As Garrick watched, she slowly cupped the back of his sons head and wrapped the other arm around his shoulder. He saw golden tears silently fall from her golden eyes as she stared blankly ahead. Gregori had never seen her like this, he'd never seen anything like it. As she held the wolf boy her claws slowly receded, her eyes returned to normal, and her skin seemed to cool. "My Queen," Gregori said softly, "who is this boy to you?" Slowly she extracted herself from Aidens embrace and stepped in front of him, a protective gesture. And they all noted it, but it was Aidens response that cast the room into silence. He stepped from behind her, sheathing his sword and wiping away the last of his tears. "She is my mother," he said proudly.
Gregori stared at the boy as if he'dsuddenly grown a second head. "Sheraised me, so she's my mother," he said stubbornly. Gregori suddenly understood and he looked tohis Queen, he saw the mother in her. Theboy might not be of her blood, but he was definitely her son. He smiled finally, placing his hand over hisheart he bowed at the waist towards the boy. "I meant no insult, you are definitely her son," he said. When he straightened, she was looking at him,a smirk playing on her lips. "So, whatdo you expect me to do," she asked Gregori. He looked confused at first, "You are our Queen, you must lead us." "I am no queen, where is the council," sheasked angrily. He grimaced shaking hishead, "Your sister had them put to death soon after she was crowned." Darra stepped back away from him, the look onher face could only be described as horror and then resolve. "What is it, what's wrong," Aiden askedsuddenly uneasy. She swiftly walked overto one of the windows, moving from window to window as if she were looking forsomething. When she had a clear view ofthe horizon she stopped suddenly. Garrick, Gregori and Aiden came to stand beside her. "My Lady, what is it? What worries you," Gregori asked. "My sister has set in motion events that Ican no longer control, she is doomed," she said. Garrick turned to her, "What do yousee?" "They're coming," she said beforeturning away from the window.
