Queen of Darkness

Chapter 10 - The Ball

Chapter 10 - The Ball

I needed fresh air, the only place I could think to go was the maze. I haven't been in there since the day with Pierré.

I ran deep into the maze until I was sure I was alone and not followed, before I sank to my knees and cried. I hated my birthday, bad things always happened on my birthday. I lay on the ground, curling into a ball and cried myself out.

Robert wasn't giving me much of a choice, it was either death, and even though I hated my life I wasn't ready to die, or I had to become Robert's personal blood bank, rendering me a slave once again.

I was deep in thought but the distant sound of music and laughter brought me back to the present, realising that the sun was already setting... It was getting darker and the ball had already begun. I wasn't even dressed yet, I knew Robert was going to be angry with me so I got up and started running, trying to make my way back.

It didn't matter what was going on between Robert and I, a lot of people were invited to the ball, a lot of time, money and effort went into it, it was a big social event and important to Robert.

I didn't want to be the one to ruin it. My situation with Robert would be ten times worse if his guest of honour didn't pitch up for her own ball.

Running through the maze in the now dark, was becoming more difficult and panic started to set in, I was lost.

To make matters worse, it started drizzling which caused the ground to become slippery and slightly muddy. I collided with some hedges a few times and even fell down once or twice after slipping and sliding on the muddied terrain. My hair was everywhere, no longer neat. I was wet, I tore by night dress when I fell and it was filthy from the mud.

In the direction of the woods I heard a howl. It startled me, it was the first time I heard a howl not only that, but it sounded close. I never even thought about wild animals out in the woods.

A minute or so later, there was another howl, this time it sounded even closer. I ran faster, trying to get back to the château as fast as I could.

Running fast and trying to find my way I was more worried about looking over my shoulder, hoping a wild animal was not closing in on me, that I wasn't focusing on where I was going. I collided with someone with such a thud that I landed on my ass.

The first thing I noticed was shiny red irises, and then Robert slowly came into view. I've never seen his eyes like that, they seemed to be on fire with anger.

Robert: "Where the fuck have you been, I've been looking everywhere!" He didn't give me a chance to explain, instead he grabbed me by my upper arm and pulled me up. Storming back to the Châteaux, pulling me after him, half lifting me, my toes barely touching the ground.

Robert:" I can't believe you chose tonight of all nights to pull this stunt, what the hell is wrong with you.... There's no time for this shit, you better fix yourself up, get dressed and join the ball... For your own well-being you should avoid getting into any altercations with vampires. I hope for your sake you're good at performing, if anyone of them suspects you know anything about us, you're as good as dead....and stay clear of Vincent, he is a council member and cannot be trusted"

We reached the Châteaux and Robert literally shoved me through the door causing me to fall forward, lucky for me a pair of strong arms caught me just in time or I would have landed flat on my face.

The first thing I notice was my dirty, wet hands grabbing onto a snow white shirt leaving muddy handprints.... I just ruined it. This was bad.

I looked up into the most amazing swirling icy blue eyes, eyes that seemed to hypnotise me, I instantly lost myself in those eyes.