Royal Blood Book one(wattys2016)

Taste of Blood.

As soon as my feet hit the ground I fell to my knees. My head was spinning and I felt like I just rode the world's fastest roller coaster.

"It takes a while for you to get used to it." Lily looped her arm under me and helped me to my feet.

I looked around, trying to take in my surroundings. We were outside some tall temple that looked like it has been abandoned for years. The once painted glass was shattered and the shingles were falling off one by one. There were black scorch marks all up the building like someone had tried to set it on fire but failed. When I looked behind me, all I saw was mountains behind a dirt road. I could just barely make out the large mountain behind the lake that we had just come from. Ahead of us was dozens of more dirt roads branching off from each other. The temple was towering above the small run down houses behind it, almost as if it was protecting its little town.  The streets where empty, no sign of life was visible and I wondered where everyone was.

"Are you ready?" Lily looked over at me, giving me time to compose myself.

"As ever as I'm going to be." Relief washed over me as I recognized my own voice. I glanced down at my hands and they were back to their perfect manicured selves.

"Thank God." I sighed as I smoothed out my dress, and flipped my braid back to the side.

Lily let out a small chuckle and grabbed my hand.

"Don't be scared, they will sense that. I am here with you and so is Ari. You are safe." We started walking right for the temple entrance.

Lily walked up to the large wooden doubles doors and gave two soft knocks.

A small square peek hole opened up and I heard lily mumble

"pace usque ad mortem"

Just as she finished speaking the last word, the doors creaked open slowly, light poured into the dark hall but I still couldn't see anything. I squeezed Lily's hand as we descended into the darkness.

As we got further in the hall, Torches where lit all along the hallway on the walls. There was no indication of electricity and the temple looked even older from the inside. Large cracks where clearly spread across walls as I steeped over a few pieces of fallen debris. The Floor was solid wood and creaked with every step of my heels. As we neared the end of the hall, another set of double doors came into view. These doors stood out like a sore thumb, they looked modern and didn't belong to the original temple.  Lily pushed the doors opened and allowed me to go first. I hesitated, my stomach was in my throat and my legs where trembling. I had no idea what I was walking into but I trusted Lilly and if Ari was on the other side of these doors, I wanted to be on the other side too. I lifted my head, swallowed my nerves and walked in with Lilly right behind me.

As soon I walked in all heads turned. In front of me where a dozen Vampires seated at a long mahogany table, six on each side, my eyes fell on the vampire sitting at the very head of the table. Those ocean blue eyes held my gaze as I took in every inch of him. He was covered in a white cloak with the hood pulled up over his head. I felt his stare as he took in my appearance as well, I forgot that I was wearing the red dress and felt a little embarrassed as he traced my body with his eyes. I crossed my hands over my chest trying to shield what little I could, that earned a small grin from Aristoteles lips making my heart flutter.  I felt more eyes on me as I looked around, every vampire had risen to their feet as they too where tracing my body with their eyes in disbelief. They were all wearing the same cloak as Aristotle like a uniform.

Lily stepped in front of me and pulled out the chair seated at the opposite table end of Aristotle.

"May I present Miss Natalia Thorn." She introduced.