Last To Know (The Wanted)

Chapter Thirty-One

When I awoke I was in a small dark room. The lights were off and the curtains were closed, but moonlight still lit the room slightly. I was laying on a bed- or more so, a cot. I had a thin sheet over me and I was wearing a long shirt. I could smell Tom's scent on it. My hair felt damp and it smelled like the ocean. Looking around, I saw only a dresser with a glass of blood on the top with a small lamp. I could smell familiar smells, but my mind was groggy. I sensed Tom was close, which made me excited.

I threw the sheet off of me. The shirt I was wearing had dried blood stains. Then I remembered what had happened: the cell, the escape, the jagged rock, the stream. Had Tom really found me and brought me back to safety?

I lifted the shirt to see two scars where I had stabbed myself. They were healing quite nicely with the vampire powers and were just fading scars by now.

Now. When was now? How long ago had I fallen unconscious at the stream? And, more importantly, where was Tom?

I stood up carefully and slowly made my way across the room. I stopped at the dresser to gulp down the cup of blood. It felt heavenly as it flowed down my throat. It must have been long since my escape, as I had drinken blood right before then. I went over to the wooden door of the room. Opening it, I entered a dark room. It was small and cold and musty.

"Hello?" I whispered. I searched for a light and found a small dim lamp right in the center of the room. Turning it on, I could better see the features of the room.

There was a kitchen and bathroom attached, a pullout couch, and a shelf stacked with supplies. A safe house.

Suddenly, I heard rummaging below one of the windows. The curtains were closed so I couldn't see. Sniffing the air, I smelled an animal. A raccoon.

I licked my lips. Why not hunt my first meal alone now? I had always hunted with someone else, or obtained my blood through the food the chef made. I had never hunted alone.

I found the front door and stealthily slid out. The raccoon was at a rotten orange peel, obviously put there as bait.

I felt my fangs poking at my lip as I launched at the raccoon.

I was inches away when something huge rammed into me, pushing me a few meters away and causing me to crash into the ground. I growled and spun around, ready to fight my attacker.

The vampire standing before me eased up his wide shoulders and relaxed once he realized who it was.

"My princess! I am so so sorry. Please, forgive me. I am a guard and I am supposed to be protecting you. I thought you were an attacker." The man said quickly, coming over to help me up. The raccoon had gotten away.

"It's okay." I said quietly, looking around. My hunger subsided. "Where is Tom? Why are you watching me and not him?"

"He dropped you off here just a few days ago and said he would be back. He bandaged up your wounds and then spent one night by your bedside. Then he had to go somewhere with a man named Antonio, and said he had amends to pay to the kingdom. Once he was sure everything was safe, he would return for you. All the other royal women are in different safe houses. There are two other guards doing rounds." He told me, leading me back inside the safe house.

"Do you know when he will be back?" I asked.

"Very soon, my lady. There is a radio and I have been keeping up with Vampirian news. Kassimuss has declared the war over and we are currently doing rounds to make sure all wolves and rogue vampires are off of our lands. We are very much in debt to the wizards and witches. They helped us greatly." He explained with a small smile.

"The war is over?"

"Yes. It ended just three days ago. King Matthies of the Rogues retreated and they told the wolves to back down."

"May I see the other royal women? Are they close?"

"I am sorry, ma'am, but I have strict orders from the prince not to allow you to go beyond the perimeters of this estate." He told me apologetically.

"I understand. Is there any way I can reach him?" I tried to hide my disappointment.

"No, I am sorry. But you two are mates; try out the mind connection." He said before bowing and exiting to go back to his job.

I went over to the pullout couch and sat down, pulling the blankets around me. I felt so lonely without him. I hadn't been with him since the morning before our supposed 'wedding'.

Tom? Are you out there?

I wondered, calling out in my mind.

I'm coming for you baby.  I will be there by sunrise.

I heard him. I really heard him. Our mind connection worked. I smiled and closed my eyes, linking myself to him.

I saw before me a family whose house was burned down. There were a mother and father and two little boys. Tom handed them money and then turned to the side. There was an old man standing next to him. He lifted his arm and a light shot out of his hands.

Tom turned back to the house that had been in shambles to reveal a structured hut. It wasn't the same fancy clay and straw home they had prospered in, but it had enough space for the small family to live in until they could rebuild.

I watched through Tom's eyes as he went through the village. Siva, Max, Nathan, and Jay were doing the same thing with other wizards.

Assysilies was hosting kingdom-wide announcements on the status of the kingdom and what was going to happen next.

After a couple of hours, I yawned and rested my head down on a pillow. I smiled knowing that by the time I woke up, Tom would be here.