Fairly Tainted

Chapter 3

-Cleo- 

 By the time we arrived back in Holy Light territory, I had cried every tear my body could form. I tried my hardest to stifle the sobs that would still catch me off guard. I stared down at my feet as we passed through the familiar town. I couldn’t look at any reminders of my family and we used to spend a lot of time here. Duncan drove slowly through the town before taking the winding roads up to our home. 

There was a small village of cottages above the tiny town where the Holy Light fairies have lived peacefully. I wondered if we could ever get over this tragedy. Our kingdom barely survived the loss of my mother and now the entire royal family has been murdered or abducted by vampires. When we arrived I saw several of our fae coming out to greet us. I had left my cell phone at home in my rush so I had no way of contacting anyone. They think it’s my father and sister and I returning. I saw the surprise on their faces when they saw three more vehicles pull in behind us.

 Lane approached the car first, a smile on her face but it dropped when saw me. I must look a mess with tear stained cheeks and a strange man driving the car. She looked at me curiously as she opened the door. I couldn’t even say a word before I started crying again; surprising me when fresh tears rained down my cheeks. 

 “Cleo!” She cried as she caught me in her arms. “What happened? Where’s your father? Who is that?”

 “Victor!” I cried. “We were attacked by vampires. Victor told us to surrender or die. He had over a hundred vampires with him and they killed them all. We are the only survivors!” 

 “Where’s Chloe?” She whispered.

 “She surrendered to him,” I wept openly now sinking to my knees and burying myself into the grass of our front yard. “After he killed Darren. And Feran. And father.” 

 “No!” Lane screamed. “Not Darren! I knew something was wrong! I hadn’t heard from him since he left this morning. I felt a pain earlier. Like my stomach and my heart were being yanked from my body.” 

 Lane crumpled to the ground beside me and we cried together. The loss was heavy on us all and I heard the whimpers and cries of sadness filter through the crowd. I heard Duncan exit the car and the doors of the other vehicles as the survivors joined us. 

 “My name is Duncan,” he said standing beside me; greeting everyone. “I hail from the council territory. The only member to survive is Pluto. We have ten survivors who have all proclaimed their allegiance to Holy Light of Fae. We will assist you in anyway we can.” 

 “As the eldest Fae and ambassador and sole survivor of the council,” Pluto spoke formally. “I declare Holy Light in a state of emergency and hereby bequeath the control of the Holy Light of Fae to Queen Cleovanna Angeline Lennox.” 

 I felt a surge of energy rush through me at his words. It filled me with a new sense of focus and I felt myself stand up off the ground. I looked around at my people. They wept openly for my beloved father.

 “We will mourn the death of our family,” I said surprised at the strength in my voice. “Their deaths though weaken us, also give us strength. We have uncharted waters ahead of us. I know that I’m a new Queen but I won’t let you down. I will fight for you because you are who I have to call my family. They took our father from us. Will we let them take our lands? His land? King Reginald will not lose more than what he’s already lost tonight. We will not lose anymore than what we lost tonight.”

 I heard the shouts of my people fill the air as they were moved by my words. Gone was the little scared girl afraid to wear the crown. Whatever this power that has invaded my body and cleared my mind, was what I needed to know that I could do this. 

 This was my kingdom. It was now on me to protect them from the vampires who would surely be seeking us out. They know we will be weak without the entire royal family. I hoped my sister was strong enough to survive until we could get to her. 

 -Chloe-

 I sat in silence with Victor in the back of the car. His seat faced me while mine faced towards the driver. The windows were tinted black making it hard to see his face but his glowing red eyes shined brightly in the darkness. They never left me. 

 “How do you feel, my pet?” He asked me.

 “Numb,” I answered. “I can’t believe this is happening.” 

 “Yes,” he said. “It’s all happening so quickly isn’t it? You spend months and years planning and plotting. You make back up plans to your back up plans. Then when the time comes to execute, it’s over in a matter of minutes. Is it because it was so well thought out that made it easier? I mean we did plan for every possible scenario. But it seemed plan A had been the best plan.” 

 I nodded; unsure of what he wanted me to do. He was terrifying. I shivered as his eyes scanned over me again. The red of his irises were almost neon. I could tell he was jacked up on fairy blood. 

 “What’s going to happen next?” I asked. The light of the sun illuminated the car a bit and I caught a slight glimpse of his smile. His fangs were extended and seemed to gleam in the dim light.

 “We will take those who surrendered and put them in the cells,” he explained. “They will be slowly drained of their blood. We have some marked for procreation so we can breed if we need too.” 

 “And me?” I asked with a hard swallow. “You’ll get exactly what you deserve,” he replied and picked up my hand. He brought it to his mouth to kiss; running a fang gently across my knuckles and I shivered. .

We arrived shortly to our destination. The van containing those that surrendered pulled up to the house and backed against a huge metal building. Vampire guards emerged from the house and began to move them into the building. I sat beside Victor who got out of the car but remained beside my door. He observed the moving of the slaves before turning to door and opening it up. He held his hand out for me and I cautiously took it. He held it firmly as I got out of the vehicle and he walked me to the door that was inside the garage; leading into the house. 

As soon as we entered, the living room was full of large hulking vampires. I swallowed hard as my heart began to race.

 “All hail Queen Chloevanna!” They shouted and raised wine glasses of thick, red blood in the air. 

 -Cleo- 

 After getting the survivors placed in a spare cottage that was available and fed some dinner, I walked through my family home. It felt so long ago since the last time I saw it. Could it really have been twelve hours ago? Twelve hours since I hugged and kissed my father right here by these stairs? A strong warm hand touched my back gently. I turned to see Duncan standing beside me. He smiled a bit but I couldn’t return the gesture. I turned and headed into the kitchen. I wasn’t ready to go upstairs. I’d have to pass my fathers and Chloes rooms to get to mine and I knew I wasn’t strong enough for that. 

 “Queen?” Duncan addressed me. 

 “Please,” I sighed. “Just call me Cleo. I just want to be Cleo right now.”

 “Cleo,” he said and I couldn’t help but enjoy the way he said my name. It made me smile. “Would you like to sleep in the cottage with the survivors? There’s an extra room. You don’t have to stay here.”

 “Thank you Duncan,” I replied. “But I’ll be alright. I’ll probably just sleep down here in the living room.”

 “Would it be alright if I stayed here with you?” He asked shyly. “I don’t want you alone and unprotected.”

 “I understand,” I replied and smiled a bit more. “There’s a spare bedroom upstairs to the left.” 

 He looked at me with a furrowed brow. “But if there’s a spare bedroom, why wouldn’t you sleep there?”

 “Because I just don’t have the strength to yet,” I answered. “The door on the right is my father’s room. Then further down the hall with a green door is Chloe’s and mine is the last on the left.”

 “I will stay down here with you,” Duncan replied. “I’m used to sleeping on hard surfaces and the looks of that rug makes me think it’s softer than any grass bed I’ve ever made.”

 I couldn’t help but chuckle at him. He beamed a smile at me and his silver eyes sparkled. He was very handsome I noticed even though my life literally went to pieces the instant we met. I blinked my eyes a few times and looked away.

 “Shall I make your bed for you?” He asked looking around for bedding. 

I led him down the hall past the kitchen and into the laundry room. The house only had my dad, sister and I living here. The rest of the fae on the main campus lived in their own cottages nestled in our little neighborhood. We liked to live close. 

There were other colonies of Fae spread across the northern American kingdom. My father would make monthly visits to ensure everyone was happy and getting along. We were a peaceful people so we rarely had any problems that couldn’t be solved. I had contacted the captains of the colonies to inform them of today’s events. They were all equally shocked and vowed to come to our aid. We will soon have hundreds of fairies on our grounds.

 Having the space for the many fairies wasn’t an issue. We specialized in enchantments that could make a tiny little teepee seem like an eighty room mansion once you stepped inside. We were adept at hiding. The problem lies with the fact that my enemy has a vital tool in his possession. Someone who know the ins and outs of this kingdom. 

 I thought warm and loving thoughts of my sister and sent them through our twin bond. We could always sense when the other was scared or upset or happy or sad. Sometimes it effected our own moods. But ever since Duncan picked me up out of the room and separated us, I haven’t been able to feel anything. I hoped and prayed that I would be still be able to feel her or at least know if something had happened to her. 

 Duncan found the closet of linens on his own. I had barely done more than point while I was lost in my head. Overwhelming thoughts of the past, present, and future were swirling so fast that I could barely break my grip on the sheets in my hand. I apparently had been holding them and even though I hadn’t heard his voice until now, Duncan had been talking to me this whole time. 

 “I’m so sorry,” I interrupted whatever he was saying. “But I haven’t heard a word you said. I’ve just been lost in my head this whole time.” 

 “It’s okay,” he smiled at me. “I’m a little nervous and I tend to ramble on when I’m nervous. I don’t even remember what I was even talking about.” 

 “It’s been a really long day,” I sighed. “We should get some sleep. Please, the offer for the spare room is still open. You don’t have to stay down here.” 

 “No ma’am,” he replied. “A warrior does not leave his Queen’s side for a bed when she is not sleeping on one herself. I will take watch for a while and then I will rest. Please Cleo, you should get some sleep.”

 “Thank you Duncan,” I said and stepped close to him. 

I wrapped my arms around him and laid my head upon his chest. He wrapped his heavy arms and around me and gently squeezed. His embrace felt warm and magnetic, like my body was sticking to his. I was incredibly grateful that we had both been able to clean up and change our clothes after we arrived. He smelled wonderfully of honeysuckle. 

 “My pleasure, my queen,” his voice rumbled out of his chest. 

I pressed my ear close to the sound and listened to his heartbeat. I pulled away, but he took my hand in his and led me over to the couch. He had made it up to look as much like a bed as possible. He fluffed the pillows dramatically and opened the covers for me. 

“Sweetest dreams, Cleovanna.” 

 I laid down and he covered me up. He dimmed the lights down so I could sleep but he could still keep an eye out. I closed my eyes and opened my mind. I searched for Chloe in my head. I called her name and banged on the black wall that was blocking our connection. I’d feel it if she were dead wouldn’t I? She could be still alive. Victor did offer let us live if we surrendered.