The Powers of Raven

Chapter 7

Credit to Ceri Nevzhek Diederich Volkov

Run. Run as fast as you can away from here. Don't look back, ever!....Whatever happens we'll find you. I promise.....

    I woke up in a cold sweat to find my heart racing. The pain was indescribable. It felt like my heart was trying to escape from my body.
My medicine.
I completely forgot to take my medication. Being in a situation like this would make anyone lose track of everyday needs.
It'll be fine. I can last a little longer without it.
I looked around and found myself back in the room I was in yesterday morning. I almost forgot that I made a deadly deal. I made a promise that I couldn't take back....... a promise that I can't break, even if I tried.

                  ~ 13 hours ago ~

"He wants to have dinner?" I was dumbfounded.
"He wanted you to feel comfortable for the time being. You're not a prisoner Ms. Freeman. You're a guest and his highness wanted you to know that you're free to leave after supper. Please hear him out. There is much to discuss." The maid then bowed and took her leave, abandoning me in the giant bedroom.
I guess I have no other choice.

    It was about two hours later the woman came back to get an answer, already knowing what I would say. What could I say? No? I knew that he wouldn't easily just say I was free to go. I think this was just his way of being polite.
Yeah right.
Besides I couldn't leave without Maegan. He was just playing me. He knew that I wouldn't leave without her and he also knew we both had the same common enemy that we wanted to see destroyed. He had me in a corner and I hated it.
I trailed closely behind her to the dining room. I had this feeling of nervousness as I took step after step. I didn't have the upper hand in this circumstance at all. For the first time in forever, I felt utterly powerless.
As we entered through a pair of shiny white doors, my heart went wild with anticipation of what was to come. I could only pray, somehow through this, everything would work out. The first thing I noticed was the long dinner table, taking up majority of the large circular room. There were twenty two seats. One at the far end, ten along both sides, and one closes to me. A, what assumed to be, butler came and pulled out the seat in front of me.
"The King will accompany you shortly."
King.... that makes sense.
I nodded and took a seat.
While examining the butler, I asked,
"So what exactly is he king of?" 
He looked like he was at least in his mid fifties.  He had a head full of hair, strands of grey scattered around his natural black hair. His eyes were a deep green. It was a rare to see a man with black hair and green eyes like his. I found his eyes to be the most interesting. It creeped me out a little bit.
"I'll let him answer your questions Ms. Freeman. I'm sure he can satisfy your curiosity more than I."
"Why is it every time I ask a question you all get your undies in a bunch? Are you not allowed to answer any of my questions because he said not to?" I didn't understand why everyone was acting like they were walking on eggshells when I asked a question.
"It is a lot simpler if you would discuss it with the King himself. I'm positive it would relieve a lot of your intrusiveness. Please excuse me." He headed back to what appeared to be a door to the kitchen. Alone for the moment, I started surveying the huge room. There were enormous pillars lining the walls. On the ceiling it seemed to be a painting of angels fighting on a battlefield. They were surrounded by a type of creature with claws and fangs. I had a feeling in my gut that it wasn't just painted spontaneously.
       I heard the doors I entered a couple of minutes ago, open behind me. I didn't have to turn around to know who just arrived. He walked around me and proceeded to the far end of the table. I don't know how he thinks he's going to talk to me, being twenty feet away from me. As he sat down, the cooks immediately came in with the food. The cooks placed all of it in front of me. I couldn't help but to think, what was he going to eat. I raised my eyes to meet with his. He had this look that said he could care less.
"Is this all for me?"
The cooks all bowed in unison and retreated back into the kitchen. Words couldn't describe how clueless I was. I'm pretty sure they knew I couldn't eat all of this. There was so much of it. Enough to feed an entire army. My stomach instantly growled to hurry up and stuff it down my throat. Although, my pride was stronger than my hunger. I locked gazes with him. Letting my frustration be known to him. He didn't seem fazed in the least. Instead of giving me a reaction, he simply just raised a hand. Surprisingly, the butler I was talking to came to his side and leaned down. The "King" started to speak in his ear, never breaking eye contact with me.
What the heck is his deal.
The butler acknowledged whatever he said and began to walk towards me.
"The King is a bit indisposed at the moment. He suggests that you go on and eat."
"By myself? While he watches? I don't think so. If he's not feeling well then why choose to have dinner with me?"
"Some unexpected situations have commenced. When he first proposed to have dinner, circumstances were different. He didn't want to inconvenience you so he came regardless of how he feels."
"How kind of him." I slowly turned my attention to him.
He does look pale.
"Ms. Freeman please go ahead and satiate your hunger."
I don't like this. It's so uncomfortable.
Hesitantly I picked up a fork and went straight for a piece of fish that had looked very tempting. I took a bite, ignoring the wonderful taste that arose a moan of satisfaction in my throat. I did my best to hold it there, not wanting him to know I liked the food. There was no emotion on his face. It was like I was looking into a hollow soul. Dead. Thoughtless. He reminded me of a doll. Unmoving and lifeless. It alarmed me and shocked me. It appeared that he wasn't even breathing. No motion what so ever. My appetite seemed to have ran away at the way he was staring at me.
I spoke what I thought.
"What are you?"
I studied him intensely. I saw his lips part, as he said something. I didn't quite hear him, but somehow the butler did.
"Death." Was what he said.
My heart started beating erratically in my chest.
He's dangerous. He's not human. He can't be.
"He's known as the vampire king of North America. There are others that have similar titles, but he is the strongest of them all. You would do well to do all in your power to obey his commands. He only wants you to help bring the coven of witches, that killed your family and that are causing havoc on the vampire community, down."
Vampires..... that explains a lot. To be honest, I'm not surprised. I know that I'm not normal. I shouldn't exist, but I do. It doesn't surprise me that they aIso exist. I don't understand why he couldn't just talk to me about it himself..... well he probably thinks because he's royalty, he doesn't need to. Needs my help? Pshht, sure.
"If he's the most powerful of your kind then why can't he bring them down himself? With him being a king and all does he not have an army? Why can't they help him kill the witches? I mean trust me I want revenge and I want to see the ones who killed my family dead, but it's a little ridiculous to say that I'm the only one that can destroy them. Don't you think?"
The butler turned his head to look at the King. The king then nodded, as if to approve.
"The King has tried many of times over the past two thousand years to eliminate them. Witches are devious and precarious. They have an advantage because of their powers. It's troublesome to find exactly where there coven is. The leader is.........an obstacle. He's also an immense problem for you."
"Obviously." I couldn't believe this. I didn't know if I should trust him because wasn't he just as worse?
"I don't think you're grasping the predicament you're in. The leader of the coven has been after you for a long time now. You're not safe. If he finds you before you've been taught how to control your powers, you won't be able to defend yourself."
Anger plagued me because of his words. I've been defending myself for twenty years now. Even when they.....
"Calm yourself, Raven." The King spoke. It was loud and clear. After going back and forth with the butler he finally decided to speak up. Maybe he was unsure I would do something. Anger is a strong emotion after all and that's where I draw my power from.
He got up from his seat and casually walked over to where I was sitting.
"I do not want to dispute this with you. You have no free will in this matter. Sebastian is right. If they come for you, and they will, like they did before. You won't be able to withstand them. In the past you might have defeated a few fledglings, but can you fend off the masters?"
"Masters?"
"The ones that have extensive power. The ones that you killed are nothing, but little insects compared to the masters. They are merciless and ruthless."
"Like you?" I asked out of spite.
He gave no emotion, but instead walked closer to me, bending down to my level.
"I'm a lot worse."
I couldn't help but swallow out of anxiety. I knew he wouldn't do anything to me because he needed me, but I couldn't say the same for Maegan. He stood straight back up and glared down at me.
"I give you my word that no harm will come to your friend as long as you do as I request. Assist me in this battle. Pledge loyalty to me and I will vow to protect you and your friend."
I can't trust him. I don't even know his name for goodness sakes. How do I know for sure?
"How am I supposed to pledge loyalty to you if I don't even know your name?"
He still looked expressionless. I couldn't read him at all.
"My name is Damien Audrican. I am the Vampire King and I will swear to you, under oath, that no danger will come to you or your friend. As long as you pledge your loyalty to me. Do you swear allegiance to me? Will you follow my requests and trust me?"
No. I can't. If I do I'll be trapped. There's no escaping it. If I accept him then I become his to get rid of after all this is over. He's a vampire...... but Maegan. I don't have much longer to live anyways........If I could save one person in this life, it would be worth it right?
"You're worth it."
Maegan's words rang through my mind. She would do it for me. Why was it so hard for me to do it for her?

"If I do this then I have a condition."
"Go ahead."
"After all of this is over.... if I'm still alive, promise me we will go our separate paths and never meet again. That my friend and I will be able to walk away peacefully without a fight."
He raised an eyebrow, showing a little bit of what he was thinking, shockingly. I didn't know how to interpret it.
"I promise."
"Then..........I promise my allegiance to you."
I couldn't help but to feel a sense of hopelessness as I gave him everything he wanted.

There was no going back after this.