Blood Reign

Chapter Nine

It was a few days before I knew how I wanted to proceed with the meeting, but it had to be done and I knew my people would want an answer at some point. I decided I would wait until the funerals were held and people had a chance to mourn. I was weird about death. I mourned in my own way. I didn't know how to cry but I did show sadness. We built a mausoleum for Draven to show our love and dedication to him as he had shown to this kingdom.

I wanted revenge for the death of Draven and I was going to fight for all that I had left to make sure his murderer was killed, or I was going to go out fighting for him.
The funeral was now over, and we held a small candle light ceremony for the other soldiers who didn't make it home.

I laid one final rose on Dravens tomb and said my farewell and promised him I would avenge his death for all of us. I was sad that I was now a widow. That we didn't get to spend much time to see where our future could take us. I knew I must move on and do what is needed of me. I took my vows with Draven very seriously because it was the first time in my life that someone had asked such a request of me.

My training continued each night because I didn't know when Marlot and his army would attack. I had to make each night count. I had to use every bit of strength I had an I made sure to feed so that I could get stronger. Fira stayed by my side and fought with me. I told her she had the right to leave and that she was crazy to stay behind.

'I'm not leaving. You have my word.' Fira told me firmly with a smile.
'I don't know what I would do without you. Thank you for being here till the end.' I replied.
We fought in silence for a little while and exchanged small talk about where the army could be coming from and when they would come.

A week we all spent in silence. We wondered what our fate would be until a letter came by arrow. It was from Marlot.

"Queen,

You have two months to flee or battle me.

Marlot"

I didn't like the feeling in the pit of my stomach, but I knew this would be plenty of time prepare our surroundings and set traps for those who were coming. Fira had heard a rumor from one of the spies in Marlots army that his wife had given birth to their next king and he needed to be there to ensure that their future heir lived.

How could a man ruthlessly kill thousands of people who were fighting to save their kingdom, stop a war for two months over a child? It made no sense to me. I want him to finish what he started so I can figure out what to do with the rest of my life.

I was out in the courtyard and I heard a rustle of leaves from a bush nearby. I drew out my sword prepared to fight for my life.

'Shelley! You're alive?!' he said with a confused tone.
'Yes Adrian. I'm alive. You need to leave this place.' I told him firmly without the slightest hint I was joking. It dawned on me just then that he was talking to a dead person and I was acting completely normal.

'What has happened to you?' he asked with sadness in his voice.
'Adrian, I don't have time for this. I came here for work and I ended up the queen of this place and the wife to a king who passed away trying to save his kingdom from invaders. You've heard enough. Now please leave.' I told him.

He sat there in silence and took in what I had just said. I wondered who needed to speak now. I made myself clear and he needed to accept that this was life now. He didn't know that I was a vampire yet. I wasn't exactly sure how he would take it to be honest.

'Adrian, I'm sorry you wasted your time coming here. But you need to leave and not return and keep quiet about me being alive because truth of the matter is that I'm not.' I told him.
'What do you mean you're not alive?' he asked.
'When I became queen of this castle. I also became a vampire too. That was the choice I made on my own and I was okay with never going back to where I once was.' I told him