"Thank you from bringing these sweatpants and hoodie for me, Lord Kenneth. The designer clothes the queen bought for me are gorgeous but not very comfortable to lie down on the couch and watch TV shows eating snacks."
"Her Majesty told me to get you whatever you wanted."
I smile nodding but trying not to look very pleased with myself. The Queen of the Vampires is a very intelligent woman and she always seems to know when I'm mocking her or trying to take advantage of the situation. The Head of the Council, however, is a good man and eager to please me following Ruby's commands; he was quite easy to manipulate to get my way. It's getting dark although there's still enough light, the sky is cloudy and light is dim but I can almost feel the sun on my skin while I remain still, sitting on a chair on the terrace, and Lord Kenneth is standing near the French door that leads to the living room, protected under an awning.
I don't think this red-haired gentleman knows that the queen expressly forbade me to get out of the building. In fact, he didn't think that my request was weird and rushed to unlock the door for me typing his passcode on the keypad and pulling up the protective shutter, but telling me to sit down far away from the railing, just in case. I decided to obey him meekly because I was excited with the idea of spending an hour outside enjoying the fresh air and the sunset, but also because I know that, if I behave like a good girl, I'll be able to persuade Lord Kenneth to let me do it again the next time Ruby goes out of town.
Her Majestic Majesty didn't answer my question, she just called me a meddler and lectured me about respecting people's privacy before paying for my new clothes and guiding me directly to the department store parking lot. Several members of the council were waiting for her when we arrived to the palace, apparently, some kind of crisis erupted in London and it required her immediate presence, her private plane was ready for her in the airport and the maid had packed a small suitcase with the queen's stuff. I got the impression that it wasn't the first time something like that happened and all her servants knew what to do in such cases to make their mistress' job easier... But they didn't know what to do with me.
Neither did Ruby, I guess. She stared at me quietly for a long minute, lost in her thought and biting her lower lip, pondering who knows what in her mind. Suddenly, she pointed and Lord Kenneth but didn't open her mouth, giving him orders through that strange mental bond that all members of her big clan seem to share, and the red-haired vampire bowed his head respectfully. Ruby's index moved till it was aiming at my nose and her cold eyes looked right into my face for a few seconds, deadly serious.
"I have to go to London but I'll fix the problem in two nights and one day, I think. You'll stay locked up in my rooms and you're not allowed to get out of the palace, not even allowed to wander around it freely. You'll stay here and will behave like a good girl. Lord Kenneth will be in charge of watching you and giving you whatever you want, he's the only vampire I trust, almost 100%... 98%, I'd say... but it's enough to keep you alive and safe for a couple of nights. No other servant will get into my rooms or will get close to you. I'm not joking this time, Iselen, if you dare to do something stupid, I'll get very, very mad at you and you don't want to see that. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, Your Majesty," I answered immediately, swallowing hard, scared. Ruby Rose, the funny lady that had bought me burgers and cake and had picked out a pink plaid coat for me had vanished again and the harsh and ruthless queen took her place. And she looked actually willing to hurt me if I disobeyed her orders.
Luckily for me, Lord Kenneth is more open-minded and kinder, less rigid with the rules, at least when Ruby is not around. He got me the hoodie I wanted, snacks, magazines and old movies that are actually new for me because I never had the chance of watching them while living in a cave. I slept alone in the massive bed that night, that felt a bit cold despite the wool blankets, and realized that I missed the grumpy vampire. I like talking to her and learning more things about this new world from her lips even if she gets angry at me sometimes. I was about searching her closet and desk driven by my curiosity but a voice in my head warned me that she'd probably notice it.
