Lover Of The Last

15. Venom Veins

"Underneath the skin, there's a human.

Buried deep within, there's a human. And despite everything, I'm still human.

But I think I'm dying."

Arabelle's POV

Here I was again, a motionless body in a sea of frantic people. The Throne Room, I thought, must be cursed; the constant murders and secrets it held were unnatural and I don't think I could ever look at it the same.

The crow of vampires and my undead brothers had vanished out the large double doors; looking human as ever and leaving all of us in a state of panic. I clung to Will like a child as one thought pounded in my head.

If everyone in the castle was here, then where was Riley? Did the vampires hurt my beautiful wolf so he wouldn't interfere with their malicious plan?

It didn't even register in my head that Will and I were now expected to be King and Queen, people were shouting at us and some were crying. I looked at Will, he was in shock and wasn't responding to anyone but me.

"Back away from him!" I yelled. "Can't you see he's been through enough?" I wanted to shove everyone away at once but I just opted to glaring at anyone who got close.

"William." I let him go briefly only to take his face in my palms. "Talk to me." I pleaded.

His light eyes were bloodshot and his throat was still bleeding from the knife he previously held to it, he was as pale as a ghost. "Someone get a bandage, he's going to bleed out!" I yelled agian, causing Will to flinch.

"Belle." Will muttered his eyes so dull they looked a grayish-brown. "What are we going to do.." He trailed off his a low voice.

I smoothed his sweaty hair down and continued to hold his face. "We're going to do what we're told." I said with a strained voice. "So this doesn't happen again." I glanced over his shoulder at the two bodies of his parents.

"But," He stated and shut his eyes in denial. "We can't rule a kingdom. They're mad, I- I don't know why..."

"Shh." I took his head and rested it on my shoulder, he was in shock and overwhelmed and I didn't blame him. I jumped at the feeling of his blood trickling down the front of my dress from his slit throat. Where was someone with bandages?

As if on cue, Derek pushed his way through the crowd, Stephen following in his wake. Their faces were full of concern and I felt relief flood through me at the sight of ripped cloths in Derek's hand.

"Here." I lifted Will's heavy head off my shoulder and tried not to tear up at the sight of his pained, pale face. "His throat, it won't stop."

Stephen took Will from me and Derek tilted his chin up to dress his wound with the cloths he had.

"Arabelle." Stephen looked at me. "What is all of this. Did you know this was going to happen?"

"What?" I stepped back and felt a wave of more confusion flood over me. "How would I know this would happen?" I dared him to accuse me of all of this.

He just stared back. "That group of vampires was lead by your brothers." Derek added in. My mouth opened in shock and I felt my head pounding with anger.

"I thought they were dead!" I said hastily. "And why would you think I'd want any of this." I gestured to the frantic crowds of people and Will's dead parents still on the marble floor, untouched.

Stephen and Derek exchanged a glance and I wanted nothing more for them to just fix up Will and go away.

"A lot is being said right now." Derek finally said harshly, tying the brown cloths around Will carefully. "People are searching for someone to blame and you, being at the top of those steps with your brothers, are who people are looking at."