Queen and King of the Darkside

Chapter Four

Antanasia

What madness, I think to myself. Shaking my head, I get up and walk over to where Jasper lies sleeping.
"My precious boy," I whisper and kiss his forehead. "I promise, I will let no kind of harm befall you."

The Elders are being ridiculous. They believe that there is no possible chance of danger. "Who dare raise a finger against the Vladescu family? No one with all there wits about them would dare," They say. Yeah right... The family itself poses danger to each other and us. Hell, they made an attempt just recently, for an elders position. Or maybe one of my relations, they have made attempts on Lucius for being with me.

"My love, you seem troubled... What is it?" Lucius's words broke me of my thoughts.

"The Elders...or need I say more?" I snapped, regrettably. "I'm sorry, Lucius. They are brushing this off as if there is no way, that there is not even a slim chance of danger to our son."

"Antanasia, do not worry about them. If they will not be of assistance, then we will find help ourselves, okay my queen?"

I smile,"Okay." He is so good to me.

"Oh, Melinda would like to 'borrow' Jasper... I swear since her arrival we see him less and less by the day." He chuckles, but then becomes serious. "I have spoken to Raniero... he has offered himself to serve as Jasper's personal body guard, if it turns out there is indeed an assassin in our midst."

Ronnie hates this place... for him offering to come back... He must have picked up something we do not know yet. I shake my head again, but the something silvery catches my attention. It's just barely sticking out from under the bed. I bend down to pick it up.

"What is it? A gift?" He sounded as shocked as I, so I know he had nothing to do with this.

"It says it's from Mindy."

"You seem wary of this as well, say perhaps its not from Melinda?" He frowns for a moment before calling in a guard.

"This box and it's contents are a mystery to us, as your Queen, I ask of you to open it and deem if it safe or otherwise." Some days I impress myself, my Romanian has drastically improved, I am no longer revered as the silly American girl.

"As you wish, your Majesty," he replies opening the box to reveal a scrapbook and a note. The note reads:

There are somethings you damn rich people can't buy... Memories!

with all my love

Your bestfriend ever,

Mindy <3

She had filled the scrapbook with pictures of us in highschool together (my favorite was of Lucius and I dancing, he was giving me a look of sheer admiration and hunger), Mindy and I all over the place, my old house with all the strays running a muck, dad and mom looking like love sick teens, there were also some of our wedding and the official day we became King and Queen (she even has a few pictures I didn't even know she took sneaking pictures of Lucius and myself kissing or him looking at me with love in his eyes, the day Jasper was born and a proud daddy holding his son, and a family picture).

"I like this one, with You, Ronnie, Mindy and myself on the beach (at our very late honeymoon)... I think this was right before I was pregnant with Jasper," I smile down at all the happy memories. Another note fell out.

P.S. The empty pages are for you to fill.

"Melinda has out done herself this time," he grabs me and smiles.

"Indeed she has... I am going to go thank her, and bring Jasper. I had nearly forgotten we need to be ready this evening, We've been asked host an audience for a visiting royal... I've never heard of her, but she claims to be of Dragomir blood... A Saasha Drybov?"

"Ah, yes.. The very outspoken Russian Duchess. She, regrettably, is relation to you. Her mother was a first cousin, but her father was a ruthless Russian prince. Be wary of her, she has a lot of fight in her. A strong ally if she likes you, but a most gruesome enemy who knows no bonds when it comes to getting revenge." He rubs the back of his neck as he chuckles

"I take it you have had a taste of her revenge?"

"Yes, but she was breed to hate the Vladescu family. As soon as she found out who I was and that I was wed to a Dragomir," Lucius lifts up his shirt to show me a scar, which runs from how navel to his hip. I had always thought it had been just one of his uncles many "lessons".

"She gifted me this, before we were of age... We crossed paths in the village repeating 'Avortonule' (You aborted child), and insulted my mother so I may have slide my hand across her face in an unsavory manner... in turn she caught me with a blade." I couldn't tell what the look was in his eyes, whatever it was it wasn't very happy.

"Well, Maybe now that the union was made and you treat me and Jasper with love, she can forgive the past. Anyways, You need to be ready by the time I get back," I smiled and kissed him goodbye. "Joseph, come with me I need escort." I left with guard in tow.

********

MIndy <3

I threw open my door, "About. freaking. time. I didn't think it would take you so long to find my gift," I huffed, snatching Jasper.

''I'm sorry Min. The Elders have me so frustrated... Anyways, I am in love with the scrapbook." For the first time, in a long time, I see a real Jessica Packwood smile appear on her face. Not the fake queenly smile she gives.

"Yay! I'm glad. So what is planned for today?" Uh oh she sighs.. here we go.