THE FOLLOWER

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Victoria quickly changed into the extra clothes she had carried. She had to get to Parad and come back to Kingsville before sundown. The maids had gone into the market to get what they needed in the castle and Victoria had excused herself after the shopping saying she needed to see a relative who was ill.

She used her vampire speed to run through the forest towards Parad, stopping on few occasions to feed from travelers who used the forest path before erasing their memory and continuing her journey.

She got to the castle and the guards let her in. On arriving the Princes chambers, she heard moans escaping the windows.  Sniffing the scent she perceived it was humans, five of them.

Joachim was obsessed with women and made no effort to hide it. He only played nice when he was in Kingsville. She opened the door and the ladies jerked up from their various positions around him 'Disgusting'. She stood by the door and motioned for them to leave "Get out!". They scrambled to their feet covering themselves with their clothes and ran out.

Victoria shut the door and glared at Joachim. He had taught her all she knew and she looked up to him like a god. He had sent get to the Castle of Kingsville as a spy. They had made love on many occasions but he still made it clear that she wasn't going to be the only one. She had cowered around him like a little puppy always seeking his pleasures. She was a virgin when they first made love. It was painful as he showed no mercy but she had enjoyed every moment of it.

"What news do you bear?" He asked bringing her back from her thoughts. He lay on the bed totally naked staring at her as if daring her to turn around and walk away. He knew she was upset seeing him with other women but there was nothing she could do about it. She was obsessed with him and it made him have the upper hand. He didn't love her. Truth was, he didn't love anyone. He only loved the power which he hoped the dark master would grant him by making him his second in command if he succeeded in marrying his daughter Stephanie. Then, he would have all the power and wealth he craved for.

She watched as he licked his lips as she undressed. She wasn't going to leave. Not after seeing him like that. She jumped on the bed and he rolled over her.

"Tell me, what news do you have?" He asked giving her a short kiss on the lips. "I will only tell you after you have satisfied my hunger." She told him pulling his mouth closer to hers. He chuckled and removed the portion of hair that had covered her face. "With all pleasure".

Stephanie stared at the concoction the Queen had brought for her in discuss. "It will help the baby. It has a very bad taste but you just have to drink it" she said handing the cup to Stephanie who quickly gulped down the contents of the cup with a long "ewwwwwwww".

Placing the cup at the bedside, the Queen went to shut the windows and check if the door was securely locked.

"Tell me Stephanie, is Joachim the father? The Queen asked looking concerned.

Stephanie who wasn't expecting the question fiddled with the pendant on the chain around her neck. "Ye...s, its J,,oachim" she stammered.

The Queen frowned at her. "Don't you lie to me girl, I'm not a child. You have never looked at Joachim the way I looked at the King before we had a child."

Stephanie smiled. The Queen was really giving her a shoulder to lean on. She really needed someone to trust and the Queen seemed like the perfect candidate for that position. She swallowed hard before speaking to her. "I'm sorry I lied. The Prince isn't the father" she paused and the Queen sighed "Go on."

She placed her palm on her tummy. "The father is a vampire and a wizard." The Queen stared at her in disbelief "Vampires still exist?" "Yes, but they are rare in Kingsville. Please you cannot tell father about this. I have already asked him to bring the date forward and he has promised to speak with the Priest in charge. The wedding will come up next week."

The Queen felt sorry for her. "But Stephanie, isn't the father aware? He should take responsibility" the Queen suggested to her. "No! I haven't told him. He is a white witch and I am a dark one. We cannot stay together. I told him to leave and he hasn't come back since then. He must have...he must have forgotten about me by now" Stephanie said with tears in her eyes.

"It's OK" the Queen assured her as she pulled her in her arms patting her back. "Everything will be alright."

Victor smiled at Eleanor who was making a healing potion for a village that had been inflicted with a strange illness by the dark witches. She noticed he was staring at her and furrowed her eyebrows "what?"

"Oh me?" He asked

"No, I'm talking to the squirrel behind you" she said teasingly. He smiled and used his powers to make the potion fall off the table but she caught it in time before it could land on the floor. She grinned at him "Nice try."

They had been away to consult the white witches on how they could help Stephanie overcome her dark powers. It was an old white witch that informed them of what they had to do. They had gathered all the candles they needed and herbs to make potions. One last ingredient and the ritual would be complete.

"Instead of sitting here laying about why don't you go make babies with your Steph" Eleanor said making Victor laugh out loud.

"Like it's easy" he said rolling his eyes at her. She giggled and folded her arms staring at him. "I'm sure it's easy". Victor laughed again making her frown at him. "Oh really? Why haven't you had one? I don't think I'll ever be called an uncle" Victor replied her mockingly.

"Oh don't you dare me Victor or I'll give you so many nephews you'll run mad with them crawling all over you!" She snapped.

He cupped his cheeks in his hands "oh My! Mother earth! Would you really have children while I still walk on two feet?"

She smirked at him. "Don't dare me Victor, don't dare me"

Victoria watched from a corner as a figure entered Stephanie's room through the window. 'Who the heck is that?' She rushed into the castle from the garden and crawled beside Stephanie's half open door and listened. Everyone had gone to sleep.

The bedside lantern was still on but she had gone to bed. There was a book beside her on the bed. She must have slept off reading he thought. He sat on the bed and watched her sleeping soundly. She was really beautiful in her night dress and he noticed she was without corset. His eyes slid down to her neck. Her pulse was beating rapidly. 'Was she aware of his Presence?' Then his gaze slid down from her neck to her chest and he licked his lips at the sight of her boobs that were glaring at him from underneath the transparent night dress. His eyes moved to the book 'Bed time stories for children? Was she thinking of having children too?' He smiled at her. He saw sweat trickle down the back of her neck. 'The temperature was cold, why was she sweating?' her breathing had increased and her heart was racing fast. He held out a hand to touch her before she jumped up screaming his name "Victor!"

He held her tight and patted her back "stay calm, it's only a dream" he said to her as she panted heavily.

She opened her eyes and drew back. "Victor? You are really here" she gasped as tears welled up in her eyes. He smiled at her and she hugged him once more before she planted a deep kiss on his lips.