Choosing A Vampire Queen

Nineteen

I decided to not sneak out. I walked straight out of the door and called for a driver. He didn't question my motives and quickly pulled up.
"Where are we going ma'am?"
I thought about it, "Do you know where the feeder camp is?"
He looked at me, "k-kind of, but I'm not taking you there. Not in your condition."
"If you want to survive you will."
His eyes widened and he began moving.
Finally after several hours in the car we came to a dessert looking area. My anger was starting to subside and my heart was telling me this was a bad idea. I wanted to tell the driver to turn around, but my stubbornness stopped me. Maybe I was being a little foolish? But it hurt so bad to see Matthew turn my life into another game and for his amusement.
In the distance you could see two tall towers. As we got closer and closer they became much bigger.
The man came to a stop at the gate and a guard came to the car, "Can I Help you?"
The driver looked back at me. "I need to talk to a man, a rebel named Caden."
The man narrowed his eyes at me, "What for?"
"Because I have a right to!" I became defensive so quick and the man backed away a little. I began to narrow my eyes at him and pretend I was burning a hole through his head. He began to look feared as he opened the gate. Sometimes it works, but that's how I get my way.
We drove through and he stopped at the front door. "Wait for me." I demanded as I got out.
The building looked like the gates to a prison. I went inside and everyone stared at me as I stepped up to the desk. "I need to speak with a rebel named Caden."
"I'm sorry ma'am we can't let you do that?"
"Listen I know there are visiting hours and I know there are rules, but please just this once!?"
The woman looked at the door behind me and then back at me. "It's not that, the king has ordered for you to...."
"Stop this Annabeth." Shock and stillness ran through my body. I turned and looked to see Matthew standing behind me. "What the hell are you doing? You know this is treason."
I didn't say anything to him. I just stared at him, just like I stared at the guard. "Your coming with me." He grabbed my arm and I pulled away a little, unfortunately he was stronger. He dragged me out of the prison and into the car I came in. "Take her back to the castle."
"But sir..."
"No, she wants to side with the rebels. She can live with them for awhile."
He slammed the door and all I could do was cry. Tears began to stream down my face. Why am I so foolish?
The castle. The same place the king was killed. The same place that was burned.
What have I done? Did I fuck this up? why didn't I listen to my heart?
A very long drive and a very long night. We had finally made it to our destination. "I'm sorry ma'am, I can't go any further." I looked out the window and the once golden gates that stood there proudly, now were burnt to a crisp. They once closed the world off to the castle, but now it's like this.
"What if they attack me?" I asked with a shaky voice.
"The ones who tore apart the castle are gone. The only ones that are left, that maybe using the place as shelter are the mothers and children."
"Why don't they use their houses?"
"They were burnt to the ground. Most cities and villages have been burnt from war."
My heart ached for these people. "Why does this seem like it's not as good as the royals make it out to be?"
"It is good, it's just people are revolting so easily and fighting back. It wouldn't be like this at all if they just complied. The funny thing is, the royals are only doing this to save what is left of the humans. They are so blinded by hatred they don't see it."
"They just don't want to be controlled or told what to do."
"Either way they would and this was the easiest way to spare lives." He did make a good point. Either way we was coming closer and closer to an all out war. It's hard to destroy humans if they are all turned.
"But all those in the holding cells, it's so pitiful." I shook my head to the thought of that. "They are all criminals in some way. It's not like they are taking the good people and throwing them in there."
My head was spinning, he was right in some way. But why did my heart feel like what the royals was doing was wrong?
I still couldn't let myself side with them so easily. Yes I did love Matthew. Yes I was carrying his child. But I couldn't look past this.
"Why would they want another competition though?"
"I can't answer you that, because I don't know." He looked away watching the smoke rise in the distance. I was scared, but I decided to get out of the car anyways.
I didn't turn back and look at the driver, I just continued up this path. The castle had black smudge across the walls, from flames. The front door was torn off of the hinges, letting a cool breeze gather into the halls.
I continued walking until I noticed some familiarity. Finally I stumbled onto my old room. I pushed the door open and everything inside of it was the same. Nothing had change, no smoke stains. Even the ornaments I had placed on the table was there.
I slumped onto the bed feeling defeated. I don't know what is wrong or right. I feel so lost.
I feel bad for the people who are going through all of this, their houses being burnt down. Their families being torn apart. They are just fighting for what they believe in.
At the same time I understand why royalty has to do this. I just don't understand why they must put on a competition again.
My head swam and all I could was cry.
I laid down, curling up into a small ball and cried myself to sleep.
—————————-
Annabeth..
Annabeth....
I looked around to see a lady. She looked familiar. Annabeth.
"What?" I croaked out. "What do you want from me?"
"You need me."
"Who are you?!"
"I'm here to help you."
"How?"
"With your future darling." The lady sat next to me.
"What do you mean? My future is dead?"
"No, you are meant to rule the world as a great queen."
"Psh, totally. You're bullshitting me."
"No I'm not. The world is in dissarray. It's falling apart. You are the glue, you are meant to put it back together."
"How?! What are you even talking about?!"
She looked down at my belly. "You are the first human in almost 500 years to carry a vampire child."
"No, what about Matthew and his mom." She shook her head. "She was already a vampire. Every queen that won, was changed before they concieved. You carry the key."
She smiled, "Who are you?" I asked again.
"The last one."
"Huh?"
"I was the last one before you. I was the woman who carried the last vampire baby. The last human." My eyes widened. "W-What happened?"
She looked down, "I died in childbirth. They didn't change me in time. But you my darling are living in modern times."
I looked at her, feeling fear set into my heart. "How is this going to stop the rebels and make everything okay?"
She smiled, "Hope."
———-
I sat up with sweat dribbling down my head. What just happened?
I looked around my room and a tray sat on a end table, that wasn't there before. I opened it up and it was a sandwich.
There was a note,
"I'm always here for you Annabeth."
-hazel.
I hugged the note to my heart. I actually missed hazel. She was a little bit annoying, but I actually miss her. Why is she not here?
I put the note down and decided to explore.
I walked out and walked through the halls, most of the castle was burnt. Almost everything was. Except for the halls that held the ladies in the competition. Maybe the rebels were trying to find us.
I gave up looking for anyone. The place was barren. Everything was burned and I was scared to walk through most of the parts. One place I did want to check out was the gardens. I quickly made my way to the door or the gardens. "Please let this be okay." I whispered to myself. I stepped inside and too my surprise it was.
The birds chirped and the flowers bloomed even more. I'm still in awe, every single time I come out here.
I sat down in one of the chairs, in a hidden place and watched the nature.
Soon night fell and I did with it. I passed out.