Blood Ward

Chapter 15

We trekked the two miles to Lundaas daylight crept over the trees. As we neared the gates, Reif tookmy hand and I felt his caution. His senses were all on high alert."Is everything alright?" I asked quietly.

"We are surrounded," hewhispered. "Be cautious and let me do the talking."

"Stop where you are, kindred.State your business..." Reif pulled me to a stop and growled.

"I am kindred! I have the rightto enter Lunda. I do not need a reason," he said.

"Times have changed." a manstepped from around the stone pillar to the left of the gate.

Reif placed himself in front ofme. "Do notchallenge me fledgling... I am here for an audience with Genovia."He growled threateningly. I felt energy swirl around us as Reif'sfangs extended and his beautiful lavender eyes slipped to black.

The fledgling took a step back."You smell... of power..." he said shakily.

"Allow us to pass and you willnot have to taste that power," Reif said.

The vampire scowled. "Fine...do as you wish... the queen will put you in your place and claim thathuman pet of yours for her own." He stepped aside.

Reif didn't take his eyes offthe fledgling as we passed. His hand clutched mine protectively. Ikept close to him, my skin crawling. I could feel the wrongness allaround us. It was a feeling I never got around Reif, proof that wewere notall on the same side. "I don't like this," I whispered so Iknew only Reif could hear.

He tucked his lips close to myear and wrapped an arm around my waist. "Keep close and one hand onyour weapons," he whispered.

We walked carefully through thetown toward a castle nestled in the mountainside, like it had beencarved from the stone itself. As we approached, Reif was flooding mymind with memories and it was starting to hurt. "Could you maybecontrol your memories?"

"I'm sorry," he said,shutting down our connection. "It's been so long since I'velived with my kind..."

We continued until we were met byanother fledgling. "The queen is expecting you," he said.

"Well, we're expected," Isaid sarcastically. "Do we get a parade?"

I saw Reif smirk and thefledgling sneered. "How dare you, human.I should rip your throat out and drain you dry."

"Watch your tongue, fledgling,"Reif warned.

"Don't threaten me old man..."Before the fledgling could finish, Reif reached out and grabbed histhroat.

"Take us to the queen... now..."he snapped, shoving the vampire away from us.

"You're fast for an old man,"he said awkwardly, recovering his balance and straightening hisclothes.

"You have no idea," I said.

He sneered at me again, butturned to lead us inside. We were led through a maze of corridorsthat I would never be able to remember my way out of. ClutchingReif's hand, I tried to shake the uneasy feeling of the place.Suddenly, we were taken through a wide set of double doors and into alarge throne room where my gaze was immediately drawn to the imposingpresence sitting on the throne. She sat straight backed in a gown Icould only describe as gaudy. She had jet black hair to envy my ownand she had sharp features, but it was not her looks that drew myeye. It was the power that emanated in waves off of her. It wassuffocating. When we got close enough, she spoke, a genuine smilegracing her features. "Reif, it has been too long..." Then hergaze lighted on me and expression turned to curiosity, making myblood run like ice through my veins. "This human... she is...yours," she said frowning.