Bleeding Love

Chapter Two: A Spiteful Love

As the sunset behind the treeline, Gerard couldn’t shake the sickening feeling that had settled in his stomach when he had parted from Catharine a short while ago.

Shaking his head, he concentrated on what he was doing; he would seek her out later when he was sure that she was at work.

“You’re losing focus again,” his creator called as he approached the Spaniard, Gerard rolled his eyes as he looked at Josep Guardiola as he stopped next to the younger vampire.

Josep chuckled knowing who Gerard was thinking about, as much as Josep had tried to dissuade the younger vampire from falling for Catharine, he was happy that his friend had found his mate.

“What is bothering you, Gerard?”  Josep asked concerned, watching Gerard it was clear that something was wrong and he wanted to help.

“I don’t know,” the Spaniard said as he leant back against the wall, his eyes watching the world in front of him as it was consumed by darkness.

Josep sighed and shook his head as he followed Gerard’s gaze in the hundred years since he had turned the younger man, he still had problems reading him.

“The Palace is alive with talk tonight,” Josep said changing the subject, Gerard looked at him wondering what had happened; it was rare that the castle was as active as it had been when he returned from Catharine’s that afternoon.

The sound of approaching footsteps made the two vampires fall silent before a blonde vampiress appeared; she bowed slightly at them before she spoke.

“Lord Bernabeu, your presence is requested in court by His Royal Highness,” the blonde said, she flashed Gerard a small smile causing him to sigh annoyed wondering what his Uncle wanted.

Josep flashed the Spaniard a smile before allowing him to leave with vampiress; she watched him closely knowing that she was sworn to secrecy of why he was being summoned to the court.

“So what does His Royal Highness want?” Gerard asked; he knew that it wasn’t to be taken lightly when he was requested by King Afron; though it was rare since he was a member of the court.

The blonde vampire swallowed nervously, she knew that Gerard would become furious when he learned what had transpired; however this was his own doing, he shouldn’t have fallen for a human.

***

Stepping into court, Gerard felt something shift in the air as he walked towards the Royal Family; it didn’t miss his attention that Princess Liliana was missing, nor the smirk that lay on Prince Viktor’s face as the blonde watched him approach.

King Afron stared at the young vampire that approached him; his crystal blue eyes watched him wondering what had passed through his nephew’s mind.

“Your Highnesses,” Gerard greeted with a bow to his Aunt and Uncle; he ignored the whispering of the vampires around him, the horrible feeling from before now intensifying as he listened to what they said.

"Lord Bernabeu… it has been brought to our attention that you have broken our golden rule,” King Afron said his voice was like velvet that didn’t match his appearance; his black raven hair resting at his shoulders.

Next to him sat his wife, Queen Gabriella; who unlike her husband seemed to suit her immortally better. Her hair was like woven golden silk and her skin as white as snow, her blue eyes as clear as the sky as she watched her nephew, unbelieving on his treachery.

Gerard looked at them confused, he knew what they spoke of but he would be damned if he let them find out this way.

“We have been informed by Adrian that he caught you in a moment of intimacy with a human,” Afron said his voice holding nothing but fury, while he watched his nephew indifferently; it wasn’t known for the Royal Family to display their feelings, it was considered below them.

Just as Gerard opened his mouth to deny the accusation, he stopped as the court doors where slammed open; however it was the voice pleading in pain that had stilled his voice.

Adrian smirked as he dragged Catharine into the court room by her long brown hair; the human had put up quite a struggle when he had collected her from the Princess’s room.

Dropping her to the floor in front of the Royal Family, he glanced at Gerard slyly as his eyes met with the vampire’s that held fury for what he had done.

Catharine kept her eyes on the floor as tears slowly fell; she had never been so scared in her life of this room and she never expected this was where she would possibly die.

Adrian made a move towards the brunette making Gerard hiss at him protectively; Afron stared at his nephew horrified as he realised what Adrian had told him was true, Gerard had fallen in love with a human.

Adrian held up his hands in innocence as he stepped away from Catharine, he smirked knowing that it was all the evidence that the court needed to see that his accusation was true.

Before Gerard could move to comfort the brunette, he was restrained by Afron’s guards making him look at his Uncle wondering what was going on.

Gabriella sighed as she watched her nephew; she knew that there was no way that she could persuade her husband to change his mind about their punishment.

“I hoped this day would never come… as the Vampire King of Europe, I have no choice but to sentence the human Catharine Bishop to death,” Afron said making Gerard struggle as he tried to reach his love, he couldn’t believe that his uncle would do such a thing to him.

Catharine stared up at the King Afron in horror, as tears threatened to fall as a guard pulled her to her feet and started to lead her from the room.

“Catharine,” Gerard shouted as he tried to reach her, however he was held back by his uncle’s guards as he stared at her terrified.

“No… por favor… Catharine,” he said as he tried to break free but with little success; he watched as she was dragged from the room as his uncle approached him.

Gerard looked at him desperately, he couldn’t bear the thought of Catharine being killed however before he could speak; his uncle silenced him.

“Given what you have sacrificed for this family and our coven… I will be lenient with you, you will have an easier fate, you are to be locked away for a week,” Afron said as his wife moved to join him in front of Gerard, her eyes filled with pity at the true meaning of her husband’s punishment.

If the Spaniard was locked away for the week then he would not be able to see Catharine before her execution the following day; her death would forever haunt him for his failure to protect her.

Adrian smirked as he led the guards who held Gerard from the court room, he had done what he had come to do; Gerard would lose Catharine and there was nothing he could do.

Gerard let them drag him as he took in what was happening; he glared at Adrian as he unlocked the cell where he would be held until his imprisonment was up.

As the guards left, Adrian smirked at Gerard as he stepped towards the Spaniard.

“It truly is a shame… she was a beautiful woman,” Adrian said before Gerard snarled at him in fury.