The Vampire Queen's Rebirth

Chapter Twenty Three

They walked down the deserted hallway which seemed completely different from the ones they'd left behind back at the main party.The light was dimmer with white cordless lamps lighting it up.The architecture seemed to change as they walked on and got deeper into the mansion.Zero glanced at Reina who had been quiet the whole time,seemingly deep in thought.The amused and playful Reina from the party was clearly gone,buried deep within this one.The same one he had met at the funeral.The Royal within her was back and something deep down told him that she wasn't coming back anytime soon which weirdly worried him.William stopped in front of a couple of Teak doors with intricate ancient designs with an 'L' in the middle that matched that at the middle of the ballroom floor,revealing a massive room that appeared to be a Throne Room.The walls had the same designs etched in it as well as the pillars whose design seemed as ancient as the Greeks.The floors were black marble that clicked ominously as they made their way to the front of the room.He looked up,amazed by the design of the vaulted ceiling that had golden drapes flowing down from the ceiling.The room was lit by candles with seemingly antique holders,the Victorian interior windows shut with the golden curtains closed.He felt as if he had suddenly landed in the medieval times as he gazed around in wonder.But what he surely did not see coming was the three thrones propped at the front of the room.

He stared at the middle one that was golden with gold leaf velvet crystals lining the handle and the back,the designs from earlier lining it.The two opposite it were Violet,the same color as Reina's beautiful eyes, and Black respectively with different intricate designs lining them.He noticed Saber perched on the golden one,a handsome hazelnut haired and blue eyed man in a dapper suit beside him, while Zorin was perched on the Black one with a medium blonde haired and hazel eyed man also in a suit stood beside him.He immediately recognized the latter as the guy Reina had tussled with at the funeral and the former as the guy who'd pulled him away.Weird seeing them again.The two middle aged men seemed to be deep in discussion but stopped at the sight of them.

''You're here.I was just about to ask Evans here to come for you.''Saber said,gesturing over at the hazelnut haired god who grinned and winked over at her.

''I'm here now.For a moment I thought we'd never get here.This place seems further than it did all those centuries ago.And nothing seems to have changed.''She said,removing her red masquerade mask before tucking a loose strand of her hair away.Saber shrugged,laughing nervously at that.

''Well,it has been five hundred years since we had to be in here.I even had to ask Alexa to help clean it out.She didn't seem very amused by it.''Reina glanced at William with a smile,earning a grin in return.They seemed to share a secret joke which Zero just stared at in wonder.

''And may I ask what the Hunter is doing here?You know very well that His Kind has never been welcome in The Great Hall of the Royals without the consent of the other Royals!''Zorin protested,glancing passively at Zero who frowned at him.

''I asked him to come and thus I gave him consent.For what reason is None of your business....Saber,who is the Head of this Household,doesn't seem to have a problem with his presence judging by the fact that he must have been able to sense him coming with me.If he did then the enchantments would have barred his entrance and Evans or Alexa would have been standing guard outside...Or am I wrong?''Reina said simply,glancing at Saber who nodded.

''Its Okay,Zorin. He means no harm and he still is Human.You should learn to trust Reina more often.Her judgement often turns out to be quite right.......Welcome to The Great Royal Hall,Mr Black.I don't believe we've met formally and I'm glad that we have had the chance to.I am Saber Leviathan,Head of the Leviathan Household....I formally offer my condolences for your father's death.He was a great man.''Saber smiled wistfully,his brown eyes a lit with a kind of sadness.

''Thank you.And please,call me Zero.''He said with a slight smile,nodding over to Evans who bowed slightly at him with a secret smile.He had a feeling the two of them would get along quite well.The other one though was going to be quite a problem as was his Master who was as pissed as he was.That would not go well.

''Stand beside me,Zero.''Reina said once she sat on the Violet colored throne he'd predicted must be hers as William stood behind it.

''Why am I here?''Zero asked finally,the questions and confusion growing within him too much to hold back.

''You wanted to find out who murdered your father,didn't you?Well,I want the same thing.Its the only reason why I'm seated on this throne right now.A man is going to walk through that door momentarily and I believe there is a link between him and what happened to Zachary.And this is also to show you what kind of world you've brought yourself into.''she replied,glancing at him before turning to Saber.

''Is everything ready according to how we discussed?''Saber nodded.

''Now we wait....which seemingly wont be as long as we thought it would be.''he muttered,turning at the sound of the double doors opening once more.A cold chill traveled up Zero's spine at that moment,a sudden anxiety filling him to the brink of alarm.He glanced down at Reina who only stared ahead,not seemingly fazed at all.He couldn't help but wonder how they couldn't feel it.Feel the danger that surrounded the man that was walking calmly towards them.He couldn't see him clearly due to the shadows but he froze once he reached before them.

''What the....''he muttered,staring at the 'thing' before him.With dark rims lining his white soulless eyes and pale skin almost to the point of translucence,He truly was an appalling sight.Black veins spread right through his body,right through to his face with a seemingly scarred face that looked more of a beast's than that of a man.His once pure diamond hair was now long,thinning and flopping onto his forehead in pure disarray.

''Well isn't this a sight to behold...The Three Great Royals back together yet again,sitting their perfect little selves on their perfect little thrones...How touching!''His voice was low with a carnal edge to it.He could see his fangs from where he was as he grinned at them all.

''That's a lot of 'little's'.Explains your low self esteem issues.....But then again,it quite frankly is clear from the sight of you......''Zorin replied with a mocking smirk.Isaac smirked.

''Well played,Demonaire. I must say I surprisingly missed that irritating mouth of yours.Its good to see familiar faces.....Heaven knows staying in the Elivon does have its....effects.....It certainly isn't as pleasant as Your Households as you must remember.......which brings me to the only person in this whole room that I happen to peculiarly not completely recognize....''Isaac muttered,his soulless eyes landing squarely on Zero who was momentarily taken aback by the sudden shift of atmosphere.For some reason,he couldn't shift his gaze away from the man's eyes.He felt as if someone was trying to claw out his insides.To reach into his deepest depths of his being.

''And it shall stay that way,Isaac!He doesn't concern you!....Now,shall we get this over and done with?''Reina spoke up suddenly,her authoritative and yet a tad bit carnal voice breaking the stare on and the awful feeling.A sinister smile spread across his lips as he looked away,a chuckle escaping too.

''Fine.Have it your way,Reina....You always did hate to share your Duines. Especially the special ones like him.'' Reina scowled at him,looking away from him.Zero remembered that word from Sub Zero.The one he'd used to convince the big bouncer to let them in.He wondered what it meant..What his comment had meant..And more importantly, why his comment had made Reina so uncomfortable that her fists were clenched to the point of bleeding.

She didn't seem to notice though,only doing so when William proffered a his white linen cambric for her,which was futile as she watched it heal disinterestedly.

''Enough Isaac!You are in My Household so I suggest you Behave!You know the consequences of insubordination!''Saber spoke up,holding his gaze.Zero watched in awe as a tussle for control stretched out between the two.He hadn't pegged Saber as the tough type,judging by his cool and calm exterior but seeing him in action had him erasing that conclusion.

One of the doors at the far end of the room opened,revealing Dameon and Jude,the latter dragging a sluggish figure whose head was covered with a black bag and unceremoniously let go at the foot of the steps,a few ft away from Isaac.

''Sorry we're late.....Kinda got lost...Is it me or does this place seem further than back then.....Wait,did we miss something?''Dameon said,shifting his gaze from Saber to Isaac to Reina of whose hand he glanced at,smelling her blood, before looking up into her eyes.A secret understanding was forged there,much to Zero's dis relish,which prompted Dameon to look away with a shrug.

''I'm going to take the silence as a sign to ignore and proceed......Good to see you,Ugly.I have to say,I never thought you had the balls to actually attack my club but you proved me wrong....Though if you wanted my attention,you could have just,you know,come to see me face to face like a normal person.There is no way I could have ignored..that.''Dameon said,gesturing at his face and whole body.

''I know...I know,pretty boy.Low even for me.I tried telling them it was a stupid move judging by the fact that the Prodigal son and his minion were back...But we had to get your attention somehow.....I mean,You were taking So Damn Long to piece what we wanted you to piece together!I mean,jeez!Has it really been that long since anything interesting has happened in your godawful lives that you've become that slow to catch up to it.''Isaac replied,his tone full of pure mockery.

''If he calls me minion again,I will rip his tongue out and shove it up his repugnant ass.''Jude muttered,his tone dark and brooding as he coldly stared at Isaac.

''Better teach your Lackey some manners,Dameon or I shall be forced to personally silence his impertinent mouth!...''Jude stepped forward,his eyes flashing a dark inferno Orange that Zero was sure he'd imagined when Dameon held him back,his demeanor going instantly salacious.

''Let's see you try,Itusiak! Ya ub 'yu tebya Faviti!''Jude sneered,stepping back as Saber stood,his pure unchallenged authority reverberating through the whole room with Evans stepping forward ready to act as Zorin laughed mirthlessly,his eyes hard with an unnamed emotion though.Clearly he was amused but still as attune as ever to the argument.Zero stared at the happenings,completely confused,especially by the language Jude had just spoken.It was all a mystery he hoped would be explained soon,preferably when his head wasn't reeling with confusion.

Isaac rolled his eyes,looking away with somewhat of a grin spreading across his lips.He didn't seem fazed at all.On the contrary,he seemed somewhat amused.Diverted.An expression he'd seen countless times on the faces of taut business men as they tried to negotiate a deal.A thought suddenly engulfed him that very moment.He abruptly turned to face William who seemed slightly taken aback by his sudden movement.Clearly he was also on edge as everyone else was.

''He's stalling......I know it sounds insane but he's been making incessant conversation with us,throwing insults he could have avoided and remarks he could have abstained from if his real motive was to get down to business....He's also been secretly glancing at the man sprawled on the floor,though discreetly.Its as if he's.....''

''Waiting for something...''Finishing his sentence as the cold realization hit her too,Reina glanced up at him,impressed by his observation skills.Clearly the Turn was nearer than she'd anticipated.She turned back to the tense scene before them,a stare on in the works.

''We have brought forth your stooge.Now we wish for something in return.''Reina said,getting up from her throne and walking over to the edge of the steps.They all turned to her,seeming stunned by her sudden interruption.She wasn't known to argue easily or interfere in anything Unless it was personal.

Isaac slowly turned to her,a malefic grin lining his lips as he stepped forward towards her.Zero could feel William's sudden unease at the sight.

''That was not part of the sine qua non last night at dinner.''Reina shrugged,stepping down onto the first step.A sudden anxiety spiked within Zero,instantaneously feeling as William did, wondering what the hell she was doing.

''It is now.You have two options:Answer our questions and get your foul creature or get out of our sight with the promise that I will find you and rip you out of my friend after which I will crush you like the decrepit bug you are.....Be fast with your decision.We have a party to get back to.''Reina replied with a low threatening icy voice that stunned Zero to the core.The realization hit him hard there and then.All this time,he'd been focused on her beauty and the fact that she could help him find his father's killer but it was now that it dawned squarely on him that she was a Vampire.She was part of a kind that....no.....she was the Princess of a horde of emotionless individuals with no sense of right or wrong as well as a Darkness that could not be extinguished.Well,at least the movies and the sci fy movies he'd watched had described them to be so.But he weirdly felt a sudden uncertainty to that theory.Something within told him that it was way worse than what he thought and believed and he would soon find out how bad it was.

He raked a hand through his black-silver highlighted hair with a sigh.He really had f****d up and gotten himself into the worst possible situation.His mind was full of countless thoughts,the most dominant being that Nothing could be worse than what he was going through.And was the universe about to prove him infinitely wrong.

Isaac chuckled lowly,his gaze settling on her,his soulless eyes giving nothing away.With a shrug,he smirked before speaking up.

''I suppose I could spare sometime but only if you ask the right question.....Though I would have loved the thrill of being hunted by the most beautiful and ferocious Vampire that was ever reborn.It would actually be an honor...Ah hell.....I guess your question will have to work for now.'' Reina descended one more step,bringing her even closer to him.

''Oh I have a lot of questions......some have already been answered by your somewhat carelessness....and the others,as much as it burns me to say this,are not presently as urgent.All I need from you,for now of course,is the number of Strays you brought along and the person you've been stalling for this whole time.''she finished,not pulling her gaze from him at any instant,no matter how unnerving it seemed.

''Hmmmm....Observant little lass,aren't you?You certainly live up to your legacy.....Unfortunately,that's not the right question.I'll be leaving with my 'foul creature' now as earlier agreed.''He said,looking away from her and moving to get the bundle on the floor.With an indistinct nod from Saber,Evans disappeared with the blink of an eye and was already holding the man,pushing Isaac away a little further off the room.Zero stared,trying to replay it within his mind to no avail.

''Wrong answer too.''Reina replied heading back up the steps and settling once more into her throne.Isaac looked up,sneering at them.

''That was not part of the agreement!''

''I agree...it was not.Our Agreement was that we should bring the stray to the ball and return what isn't ours.....But we never said anything about giving him over....Wait,what word am I looking for here..''Saber muttered with a thoughtful look.

''Alive.''Reina finished for him,her tone unrelenting with pure conviction.Zero hurriedly turned to her,searching for any hint of a bluff.He couldn't believe......Could she really?....Saber grinned with a nod at her interjection.

''You wouldn't dare!''Isaac leered,stepping forward which prompted Dameon to reflexively do so too.He was clearly taking no chances.

''And that's where I come in...Not that I don't believe that they couldn't do it....Oh,I know they can...But never as efficiently..''Zorin said,suddenly appearing behind the man and without even the blink of an eye,he snapped his neck,the sick c***k reverberating through the whole Hall,''As me.''Zorin finished with a simple smile.Zero stepped back,suddenly feeling sick as he watched the body crumble to the floor.

Isaac growled lowly,taking another step forward which had him face to face with Dameon,Jude right behind him.

''Try that again and I'll break your legs.''Dameon said simply,pointing at his left foot that was forward,ready to advance further toward Zorin. Isaac stared coldly at them all in turn just as the double doors burst open,revealing a dark haired lady dressed in a dark brown dress who was followed in by about twenty strays,all sneering and leering at them.They were horrid looking,only their black veins were more pronounced around their eyes rather than the rest of their bodies as Isaac's were.

''Well,lookie here....Seems they didn't give him to you after all......Oh well,I shall save the I told you so's for when we get back to the others.''she said,earning a scowl from Isaac.

''And who the Hell is she?!''Zorin spoke up,exasperation lining his voice.Saber shrugged,clueless as to who the newcomer was as did the other Vampires.

''Of course you have no idea.I expect that of such horrid creatures!I shouldn't tell you but then it makes no difference if I do,now does it?..I am Leila Liverdon of the Liverdon Coven.My ancestor was the direct lady of our Great Queen Amanda Walker.Feel free to acknowledge my power and beg for your lives at my stead.''she declared,earning a confused stare from the vampires as they undoubtedly tried to place her.

''Well,that last part certainly isn't going to happen,Leila.Look,I have no idea who you are and I doubt they do so why don't you just take your creatures and run...I assure you we'll give you a head start if you start now.''Dameon said,earning a nod and shrug from Saber and Zorin.

''You have no idea the kind of power you're messing with,boy!''Isaac spoke up,suddenly appearing next to the lady of who's eyes had suddenly gone full black,a nefarious power filling the room as two figures were brought forth by the strays.Zero stepped forward that very moment on seeing Luke and the mystery green eyed lady from earlier.

''Don't.You can't help him in the condition you're in.''Reina said,holding him back.

''He's my best friend!I'm not going to stand back and watch them get killed,no matter the 'condition' I'm in!''he said,trying to free his hand to no avail.She didn't even budge.

''We decided to take some souvenirs just in case you did something stupid like,I don't know,kill the Stray.You're welcome to try getting them from us if you want....Otherwise they will suffer the same fate as our dead friend there.''Leila said with an evil sneer.

''No!Luke!''Zero shouted,struggling to get out of Reina's grip as his best friend looked up at him with a lazy smile,seemingly in a daze.

''Let go of me!''He turned to Reina who only shook her head.

''I am barely holding you back,Zero.You're too weak!...Listen,remember what I asked you?I asked you if you trusted me and you said yes.Now,keep to your word and Let me get your friend back....I promise you I'll return him safely.But only if you let me!''Her eyes were so beautiful,glimmering in the light as she searched his for approval.He sighed and nodded,stepping back to William's side.

''The Humans are not a part of our world!They are not a part of our War!If you do this then you will have broken the Accords....''Saber said,earning a snort from Leila.

''All we've done so far has been evidence that we care Not for the Accords!.....Finish them off.''Leila ordered,the Strays advancing towards them. Reina turned to Dameon,Jude,Adam and Evans.

''No Survivors.''Dameon and Jude nodded while Adam and Evans turned to their rightful masters for a confirmation of the orders.

***