The Warrior Queen

Chapter One

Chapter One
There have been many instances where I wanted to turn back time. But never more than in this moment, sitting in a chair in the middle of a basement that smells like must and dead animal.

There are vampires and demons, fae and werewolves and water wraiths. And yet, there are no time machines. What's up with that?

Wallowing in self pity won't change anything. Wishing I could go back and fix things really won't change anything. Yet, what else am I supposed to do? If I wasn't so consumed with stopping the killings, maybe I would've realized it was a trap. If I would've just given them the real herb, none of this would even be happening. Christian would have never died, and we wouldn't have been so determined to avenge him.

And most of all, Rowan would not have taken a spear to his chest. The only thing keeping me going is that I know it missed his heart. I know that the all mighty Dark Prince would not be taken down by one little spear. The thought of any other scenario is just to much to bare.

Or maybe I'm going crazy. I've been stuck in this basement for who knows how long. No light comes in, so the only thing that tells me if it's light or day is how exhausted my body is. But lately, my body is always exhausted.

All I can think about is changing back time, and food. God, I'm so hungry. Are they planning on leaving me down here to starve to death? That wouldn't make sense. Maybe they are trying to see how long it would take to break me? I don't really know what they want. All I know is that I haven't eaten or drank anything in ages and I feel like my entire body is working against me.

I'm so out of it I can barely even remember what happened before I was caught. I remember retreating. I remember Rowan getting speared. But after that? It's all a blur.

I tried reaching for Rowan's mind. For anyone's mind. But the feeling came up short. Whatever they drugged me with must have been really strong, because I still have no access to my powers. Or to Bruce. I could see him on my arm. But I couldn't feel him, or interact with him. It makes me feel... empty.

Everything about this place makes me feel empty, really. I just have to hope that they are doing the right thing back home. I'm sure I'm going to be used as some kind of bargaining chip to get Cameron. But they cannot go through with that. My life is not worth the thousands that would die once they discover how to make more vampires.

What I need to do is find out how to escape. The longer I'm here, the more likely it is that their resolves will snap and they will give in. I can't let that happen.

I tried to look around the room, but even that made me dizzy. I don't know how I'm going to be able to find an escape route in this state. I need food. Fast.

The sound of keys entering a lock filled the room, and my eyes quickly snapped to the direction of the sound. I watched through hazy eyes as the door knob from the door directly across the room began to slowly turn, and Caroline emerged.

I expected her to look terrible. She's become a feeder. How could she not? But instead, a person even more glamorous than ever before walked through the door.

Her cheekbones were no longer sunken in, her skin back to its normal rosy tint. Her eyes were bright and shining, her body full of voluptuous curves. What changed?

She flashed me a bright smile as she entered, pocketing the keys and shutting the door behind her. My eyes followed where she placed the keys. Is there a chance that I could get them from her?

She laughed aloud and shook her head. "You haven't eaten in days, are completely doped up, and have no access to your powers and you're still considering how to escape? I never did give you enough credit."