Awaken

Queen Mother (cont.)

The Council bowed along with the rest of us. The changes coming were not going to be easy, and I could tell which of the Council members would be more resistant. As we all returned our attention to the King's face, we noticed his somber expression. It was as if he were almost annoyed to have to take control.

"Prince Nemesio is going to take the other keys while the rest of you remain here for my orders, if there are any issues with what I order, council members will be removed immediately and not replaced. Understand?" King Damion growled.

"Of course, Your Majesty," they answered in unison, and Nemesio led us all out the door and down the hallway, then down the stairs and to the right, where another door stood. Once opened, it revealed another hallway, but done in dusty rose color and without any doors. We passed through the open archway into a room full of light grays. It was empty. There were lamps, but other than that, it was empty.

"Where are we going, Prince Nemesio?" Bastet asked while her mate hid behind her.

"To my mother's coffin room," he replied and walked over to the lamp furthest from him and pulled it down. The wall slid open, revealing more stairs rounding about. Everything was in dark brick, and the only spot of color was a faded moss color of carpet that flowed over the winding steps. There were no windows and the place smelled like dew. "Follow me."

So we began up the winding steps, quickly, hearing the wall slide back behind us. There were three doors at the top, all a faded white. We went through the middle and entered a deep burgundy room. Bookcases filled to the brim everywhere stood tall and proud. A gargoyle was fixated in the middle. Its wings covered its body like it was guarding something. 

"Do you see the gargoyle?" he asked us, "That Gargoyle guards my mother and keeps her protected from everything and everyone. She is also my family's symbol, and why they are considered the guardians of our kind. It is important that you all know this and remember how we got here." He paused and walked up to it, biting into his wrist and let the blood flow onto the creatures head. It started to move the moment the blood touched its face. 

"It is also important that we listen to everything she says," he smiled and the gargoyle stretched out. It's smooshed face widened in a yawn, exposing the jutting teeth. Reptilian scales covered the thing and horns trailed down its back and tail. It stood on two legs that looked strong and it had clawed, big hands. 

"Welcome keys," it's voice raspy and barely feminine. "It is finally time for you all to realize your destiny and embark on the journey that will lead us to victory against the others." Her reptilian face crinkled into an ugly smile that was also somehow very endearing and cute. "You all may call me Sylvia." She turned to Nemesio, "And you, my dear boy, need to visit me more often. I helped your parents raise you and all I get in thanks is the entrustment of her body? She would slap you for that!"

"Forgive me, Sylvia," he chuckled, "I have been busy."

She looked me up and down then him, "I can see that, look at your poor mate! She looks like your personal feedery!" She waddled over to me and placed a scaly hand on my face then grabbed my chin and moved my head around, examining me, "Tell me, dear, has he been treating you right? Feeding you? What about pleasuring? How long have you been together?"

"U-uh, I, um, well, he has been treating me kindly," I began, "And I feed myself, and yes, he is good at that, um. . . and a little less than twenty-four hours-"

"My, my, Nemesio," she clucked her tongue. "You finally find your mate and you ravage her that very same night. You should behave better than that, I taught you manners. The poor child didn't stand a chance against you. You better make it up to her. Spoil her, get her everything she wants, understand?"

"Yes, Sylvia," he smiled.

"And you two!" She went over to Bastet and the halfling. "Such beauties! Tell me your names!"

"I'm Bastet and this is Crescent," my friend replied shyly. 

"A Succuba and Dracula halfling," the Gargoyle was still smiling. "Well now, this perfect! The rest of those nonsense Council members will have to accept halflings more kindly now, won't they dears? And you're mates nonetheless! It's perfect! I love it." She drilled them endlessly about their relationship and how they felt about the taboo topic of halflings and their vampire mates. Once she was done, she walked back over to the middle of the room where a gold vase remained.

"This was what I was covering up," She stood with pride, "And this is where your alls blood will go when the time comes, until then, you all need to find the Queen's witch mother and get her to give you her blood and her consort's, a god of death. Once you all have returned with both, we can get the rest of the needed ingredients for awakening the Queen Mother."

"And where exactly is she located?" I asked.

"Oh, darling," she grinned, all of her crooked and fang-like teeth showing, "That's part of the fun. You have to find her in the forest surrounding our little coven city. Dear Nemesio should make things a bit easier, what with his direct bloodline connection to her. If I knew everything, where would the fun be? Besides, his grandmother always did hate visitors. Don't die before coming back, or we are all doomed." Sylvia walked to her spot and returned to stone.

"Is that suppose to be funny?" Crescent asked.

"No," I sneered, "It's the classic mysterious quest trope everyone goes through in their own story."

Bastet and Nemesio just snickered. "Well, it is!" I exclaimed and Crescent looked at them confused.

Nemesio just started down the stairs and continued to make his way back to the entrance of the castle. I looked around at the rush of servants buzzing around and quickly backed away from the door. "Bastet," I hissed, "What time is it?" 

"About six. . ." she replied apologetically. " I think you may be stuck here until tonight."

I groaned, I just wanted to be home and in bed, ready for the next night so we could start our lovely search. "It will be okay, Onyx," Nemesio took my hand, "We can just remain in my room and won't be disturbed."

"I'm only sleeping today and I better get a whole human for dealing with this goose chase," I muttered and he laughed nodding while I hid as Bastet and Crescent left, rushing home. We walked back up the stairs to the red hallway and entered the first door on the left. 

His room had a bookcase adjacent to the door and there was a king sized bed on the right. with the closet across from him. The floor the was wooden and the walls were white. The bed was dark gray and had only a couple of pillows. It was a simple room and little character in it. There was another entryway that led to charcoal colored bathroom with silver accents.

"You have zero personality," I gawked.

"Hey! I live quite simply," He defended himself.

"Yet you live in a castle," I raised an eyebrow at him.

"Just take your shower, Onyx, you're gonna need your rest for tonight."

Ah, yes! I have finally updated this version! x3 Thank you all for reading this far, I hope all don't think that this story is going too slow or fast. Thank you all for reading! Please vote and comment!! 

-EmpressVampira