The Queen of Vampires

Chapter nine: Age

—Orpheus—

"Tell the Grand Duchess I say hello" I order Killian, he laughs. We're back at the arch that will, this time just transport Killian back to Blood Moon. "You'll need this" I say as I hand him a gold coin, "you have another one, correct? So you'll be able to come back to Blood Moon" he questions. "I brought three, one for you one for me and one for the future Queen" I explain, he laughs again. "You're really holding on for your dream?" He asks, "and who, pray tell will marry you?" He asks.

Just then we hear rustling in the bushes nearby we both ready ourselves before Josephine comes out of the bushes. "Sorry! I would be here sooner if it weren't for a late night candy run" she explains, "here" she says as she hands Killian a brown bag with the words "Dana's Candy Land" written on it. "This is some candy for you and your wife to enjoy" she explains, "thank you, Miss Josephine and I am so sorry for the way I treated you" he apologizes. "It's alright" she smiles.

Josephine walks towards me as Killian stands facing the arch and places down the gold coin on the ground. "State your full name" it booms, Josephine looks in amazement. "Grand Duke Killian Sigismund Fyodorovich Of Northern Blood Moon" he answers, more confidently than last time. "Where would you like to go?" Booms the arch again. "Northern Blood Moon near Castle Recoltare de Sânge if possible?" He asks. "Very well" it answers as the inside of the arch swirls with many colors. Killian walked into the portal, within a second the arch turned back to just trees leaving Josephine and I in the woods.

"That was amazing!" She exclaims, star struck.
"It really is, I heard of it in a history book, that was how we got here, through the Arch" I explain. "So where did he go?" She asks, "to Northern Blood Moon, his home. He probably wanted to go as close to Castle Recoltare de Sânge, his ancestral home. If I had to guess right now he's probably running into the arms of his dear wife as we speak" I laugh. She giggles, "I'm heading back to the abandoned house, want to come?" I ask, my mind begging her to say yes.

"Why not? Let's go" she smiles, we begin to walk down the forest path in silence. "When's the last time you've eaten?" Asks Josephine, breaking the silence. Shit, when was the last time I had eaten? "What do you mean? We were eating candy earlier?" I say, dodging the question. "You know what I mean, when is the last time you've eaten a human?" She demands, "I think right before we came here? So two-ish days ago" I admit, defeated. "You must be hungry, do you eat animals" she asks.

"No, only humans, the nearby human country and my country have a... understanding of each other. They send humans who have done unspeakable acts for us to feast upon. And we don't attack their country. It's all in the peace treaty from about 300 years ago, when I was a young General in my father's army" I explain. "300!? How old are you!?" She exclaims, "779 years old but physically I have the body of a 20 year old man" I say, "what about you?" I ask.

She looked stunned, "18, I am both physically and mentally 18 years old" she mutters. We stay quiet for a few moments, "did you age rapidly? Like when you were a baby did it only take like 6 months for you to look like a toddler?" She asks, that must be the weirdest thing I've ever heard. "No, when I was six months old, I looked like a six month old baby. Did you?" I question. "Nope, vampire-human hybrids age rapidly until they reach full maturity, that takes about 7 years and then they stop aging, so I've looked 18 for 11 years" she explains.

"So you haven't had a childhood?" I ask, "not really, once I stop being a cute little girl my parents haven't given two shits about me, my aunt, uncle and grandparents tried to make up for it but I always felt like I was alone in this world, like I didn't belong" she starts. "I always wanted a sibling so I wouldn't be alone in this world but I never did, that's why I want big family when I'm married so my children will never be alone in this world" she explains.

I couldn't understand how her parents don't care about her, it's terrible to feel like you don't belong in your world. But I do understand why she wants a big family, I too am a only child and I too have wished for a sibling  (but I guess Killian is a good alternative to having a brother) and also hope for a big family so my children will never be alone. "We should probably go hunting, we both need a eat soon" she says, changing the topic.

"Do you eat human?" I ask, "no, we're some sort of vampire "vegetarians" where we don't eat humans, just animals" she explains. "Doesn't that defeat the purpose of a vegetarian?" I laugh, "yeah, I suppose that it does" she sighs. "When I was younger nobody really cared if I ate humans or animals, hell they used to put human blood in a bottle for me. I must say that I miss the taste of humans" she sighs. "So let's hunt humans together" I suggest, she is quite for a moment. "Why not?" She agrees.