The Vampire Princess

Chapter 14

Lucian and Gabby drove into Amnesty's castle walls. When he parked and got out two younger men ran to him. He recognized them immediately and smiled. Gabby got out of the car and saw Lucian and the men punching each other playfully. She giggled and they looked at her and bowed.

"Hello, Mink, Lef how are you?" Gabby asked.

"Queen Gabriella, Brooke didn't say you were coming. Just this old bone sack." Mink said.

"Hey now, just because I am old doesn't mean I won't kick your asses. We have a meeting with Queen Persephone."

"Yeah she is ready for you. Our little sister has been super busy so be glad she loves your daughter so much."

"Little sister?" Lucian asked.

"Yeah the queen is our sister. Now come on. The faster you tell her what you want the faster you can tell us what you are up too." Lef said.

Lucian and Gabby followed them into the castle and to the meeting hall. Persephone was sitting in the head chair. She looked regal and composed until she saw Gabby. She then lost her shit and ran to her friend, dragging her into a bear hug and talking so fast, Lucian couldn't understand her. She finally calmed down and looked around embarrassed at her outburst. Once she was sitting again, Gabby and Lucian bowed.

"Welcome, Lucian Black and Queen Gabriella. Please sit and let's talk." Peri said.

"Queen Persephone you honor us with a meeting. May I request you call me Gabby and him Luc?"

"Only as long as you two call me Peri. We are all friends here. Luc your daughter saved my life and has become one of my greatest allies and friends. She explained over the phone what you need and in honor of my friendship with her I have decided to give my go ahead to ask my mother to help."

"You are very kind Queen Peri. You honor my family." Lucian said.

"Mink can you go grab mom?" Peri asked.

Mink left and Peri turned to Gabby.

"Can we drop formalities now?"

"Yes of course." Gabby said.

"Amnesty will back you with whatever help we can. My army and Animagus are at your disposal. Samuel needs to be taken care of before he threatens my home as well."

"You know Samuel?" Lucian asked.

"Yes Luc, he has been trying for years to take over my kingdom. Yet every time has failed. With Gabby as queen our kingdoms can co-exist in peace."

"You are a wise queen. My daughter has great luck to have a friend in you."

"You daughter gave up her chance to get Anthony back to save my life. I owe her more than I can ever repay. Also, I love the control freak in her. She trained all of my guards and my army."

Lucian looked shocked at her. Unable to decide whether to ask about Brooke giving up Anthony to save Peri. His curiosity got the better of him and he decided to ask.

"May I query...."

"Yes, Samuel had captured me while I was out on a run and when he discovered I was Animagus ordered Brooke to kill me. If she did, he would release Anthony. She refused and told him that if he let me go, she would never disobey an order. It killed her to do it, but she was only looking out for my kingdom. She gave up the chance to be with her fated one for someone she had only met once before. Her capacity for love and compassion is greater than anything I have ever encountered. You should be very proud of her."

"I don't think I have ever been prouder to be her father than I am right now."

Peri smiled and stood as Mink and Anita walked into the room. Lucian turned to greet her and almost passed out. Anita was the spitting image of Lilah. Anita's eyes shined brightly when she saw him. The recognition in her eyes shocked him. It couldn't be. Lilah died five thousand years ago.

"Daddy?" Anita said.

"Lilah, how can.... How are.... You can't be. Your dead."

"No, the hunter brought me back. He cured my vampires side gave me a new identity and then the gods took over from there. I thought you were dead. Nobody ever told me otherwise."

"I... This is too much. Gabby will you take over? I can't be here." Lucian said.

"Of course, love."

Lucian dematerialized outside and immediately threw up. His body trying to catch up with his mind. He was unsure whether to believe what he saw yet he couldn't get a handle on it. Gabby appeared next to him a moment later and he held onto her for dear life.

"Anita has agreed to do the binding. We will call her when we are ready. Let's go home you have had a hell of a shock."

Lucian could only nod as Gabby walked him to the car. She drove them home and put Lucian to bed. She never thought she would ever see him so weak. Gabby walked down the hall to Brooke's room. Brooke was waiting outside of the door for her.

Once inside Gabby set up her transfusion machine and Brooke drug a werewolf over to the bed and tied him to the chair. She looked at Gabby.

"What did Anita say?"

"She said she would do the binding. Yet you have already gone to the trouble to be turned into a hybrid. Why?"

"We need a fail-safe. If the binding doesn't work, then we have me to fall back on. So how did dad take it?"

"Take what?"

"Anita being Lilah?"

Gabby looked to Brooke shocked she could only stare at her in wonder.

"How did you know who Anita was?"

"Remember all my research on Samuel?"

"Yes."

Gabby connected an iv to Anthony and another to the unconscious werewolf and pushed start.

"Well he figured out who she was. There was a lot of info on Anita and her family all the way back to dad. When I found out who she was I was going to tell dad, but I got a visit from Zeus. He would not allow me to tell him. He told me that dad had to find out Lilah and Amile are alive."

"Amile is alive as well?"

"Yes, she lives with her true mate. The man who "killed" Amile was her mate. They came up with a plan to "kill" her so that she could get away from dad. You can't tell him about her. He will discover it on his own in a few days. So, do you hate me now?"

"Hate you? God no Brookie, you were only following orders. I am very proud to call you my friend."

"What about daughter?"

"That as well. You have had to hold onto this secret for so long and I can see how much it has hurt you. Although I do think you need to tell your father that you knew."

"Then he will really hate me. Everything has changed since he was told I was dead, and he will only hate me more. Your right though I will tell him and let things fall where they will."

Gabby opened her mouth to say something when the machine stopped. Brooke smiled and drug the dead wolf onto her balcony. She then brought in the next one and they started the process over. There was a knock on the door and Brooke went to answer it. Lucian smiled at her and walked in. Gabby looked at him and smiled when she saw he looked better.

"Dad I need to tell you something." Brooke said before she lost her nerves.

"What's up?"

"I knew that Anita was Lilah and that she was alive. I was told not to tell you by Zeus, and I know that you hate me more now and...."

"Whoa stop princess. Who said I hated you?"

"Everything has been so different I just assumed."

"I love you Brookie, your my daughter. Nothing on this planet could ever make me hate you ever. Nothing has changed. I just had to work through my grief and pain and seeing Lilah alive. I have done that. I am so proud of the woman you have become."

"Thanks daddy, I love you too."

"Now, let's save your mate. We have a war to prepare for."