The Shadow Realm

Chapter Ten

Hayden's voice rang through out the cave, echoing along the cavern walls.

"The Queen herself, stepping foot in my home? To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Dante stood stiff besides me, his mood from earlier vanishing, instead, replaced with a more fierce frown I usually only see when he's gone too long without feeding.

"Well, it has been a while. I thought you'd like to be graced with my presence once more."

A deep chuckle, low and sensual rang all around Dante and I.

Though it was dark, Vampires had eye sight that was keen enough to be able to distinguish things in the darkness. After all, what kind of 'children of the dark' would we be if we could not, at least, do that?

"That, and I have something I'd like to discuss with you," I added.

Hayden appeared then, bending his knee before me and reaching to kiss my hand.

His dark leathers and ornate vest, with accents of a delightful red, adorned Hayden.

Before his lips could touch my hand, though, I pulled it away and grabbed his cheek, forcing him to his feet and looked into his eyes, "Is that how you wish to greet me after so long?" 

We shared wicked grins with each other, and he moved my hand away, and placed a hand on my cheek, in a soft caress.

"How do you want me to say 'I missed you'?" His eyes were clouded, and I couldn't help but laugh inside.

"How about with a 'Sorry your Majesty, for always being such a prick', for starters?"

A guilty smile formed on Hayden's ageless, handsome face.

"'Sorry for being a prick.' Is that better?" He said.

"Hmm, not as good as I'd want, but it'll have to do for now."

Waltzing past him, I walked deeper into the darkness, knowing exactly where it was I wanted to go.

Behind me, an annoyed Dante began to walk past Hayden, their shoulders hitting against each other in a childish display of rage.

The two, were rivals of sorts.

From their early days of being Made, they had followed me like lost puppies. They were like brothers, similar in age since they were Made only a half a decade apart.

At some point though, the two had come to hate each other passionately.

I won't pretend I don't know why, but I won't acknowledge it either.

There will come a time, I could tell, where they will learn to work together again. Hopefully sooner rather than later, so that I wouldn't have to deal with this every time they were in the same vicinity.

Together, we found ourselves in a large study. 

You'd have never believed you were in a cave by the looks of the study, with it's sturdy wooden walls with built-in shelves that were lined with ancient, leather-bound books.

Couches and pillows of lavish textures were placed along the walls, and a large desk sat straight in the middle. That is where I headed for.

Dante took it upon himself to continue standing by my side, while right in front of me, were on such couch was placed, Hayden draped himself lazily.

"What business was so important that you searched me out so suddenly, My Queen?" Hayden said softly from his comfortable position on the couch.

My hands folded into each other as I laid them on the desk. My shoulders moved back a bit as I straightened by back.

With the snap of my finger, my attire changed. A moment passed where a shadow engulfed me, then left on a phantom wind, leaving me in a  dress that was almost bare in the back, and stopped just over my bottom. The front was covered up enough to my collar bone, but what was most impressive was the golden intricate deigns lining from shoulder to shoulder.

My hair had been pinned up, with a small golden crown, with a black diamond in it's center, placed atop my head.

I liked dressing up for important business.

"For starters," I said, sensing the look of both males, but ignoring them, "I need your help. Your particular set of skills will be useful to me. There is something dark that has just appeared, and it is a threat to my reign."

Hayden's look of lust transformed into anger.

"Someone has challenged you?!"

Shaking my head, I continue.

"Not exactly. Lately, I've noticed rising tensions in the Realm among Others, and a new, powerful evil as set their eyes on my land. Kellios, The Cursed," I said. 

Hayden's face became deathly pale, more so than what was normal for a Vampire, as it took on a greenish haze of sickness.

"And whoever it was that has released him from the Seal."

Hayden got up from the couch, no longer comfortable.

"This is bad news indeed," He said breathing out a long sigh.

Before I could discuss more with him, my senses prickled with the feeling of someone approaching.

"Hayden, before you do anything," I raised my hand to stop him, as a certain shewolf continued to wonder over.

Hayden and Dante both snapped to attention, probably sensing her now.

Sighing, I get up from my seat and turned to see Dawn stumble forward, a torch in hand.