The Vampire Queen's Rebirth

Chapter Thirty One

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''Why would the Strays align themselves with the Witch who was controlling Leila Liverdon?I mean,all the dark spells she did.....''Amelia muttered,seeming deep in thought.

''I'm not sure..I guess if there was a way they benefit from it in some way or just for the sheer fun of killing.But I doubt its serving......That was the main reason they became Strays ,because they hated the thought of Royals being above them in any way.I think they've been promised something and if that's the case then we're in deep s**t because they will be relentless until their promise is fulfilled.Especially if Isaac is now a part of them..''Reina muttered,her sentence straying off.

''Indeed.....''Amelia replied,seeming deep in thought too.

''We need to get popping if we're going to stop this war from happening....We'll split up so as to cover more ground....Amelia and Luke,William will drive back to the mansion where you can get working on the Blackwood Grimwar and find out what they're planning exactly.Zero and I will go and pay a visit to someone who might offer great assistance if worst comes to worst.Is that okay with everyone?''Reina asked,turning to each.They all nod,Luke winking at Reina with an ear to ear grin.The latter only nodded,seeming mildly amused too.

''Good.We'll head out as soon as I can get a change of clothes.They're more desperate now that we were able to kill their witch meaning they may speed up their plans.''She said,getting up.

''Good idea....I just hope all this isn't what I think it is.''Amelia said,suddenly going very pale.Reina nodded gravely before proceeding into the house while Amelia walked down the lawn,standing a few ft away from the two men who were silently mending their friendship.William scampered off once he realization of the situation hit him.

''Dude...You're like the ultimate super model now..You look more like them,its very creepy...I'm sure Bobby and the others will have a field day with you when we get back home.''Luke said,approaching him with a slight apologetic smile.

''Oh,I'm sure they will.....I could always threaten to take their bonuses away..Just like the time that purity ring scandal with Serena went viral....It worked perfectly then.''Zero joked,chuckling lowly with Luke who seemed sincerely amused.

''Yeah....Hey,look,I'm sorry about my reaction earlier...Its just...So much has happened since we got here and when I heard that there was a possibility that you might not make it.....I just..''Luke strayed off just as Zero pulled him into a tight manly hug.

''I know,man.I know.....I am not going anytime soon.You can count on that.Bro's?''He asked,outstretching his hand for a handshake.Luke grinned,firmly shaking his hand.

''Nothing could ever possibly break that bond.Not even your whole David Beckham look....Oh and don't think I've forgotten about what we walked in on earlier....You are explaining that later.''Luke said with a wink,asserting his return to his best friend.They were okay.He laughed silently just as he gestured over to Amelia.

''As are you.''he replied,earning a wink from Luke.

''Pardon me but Lady Gremory is waiting for you at the front.''William's smooth and calm voice alerted them,prompting them to all turn to him.With a single nod,he led them through the house where the helps didn't even glance at them as they passed.

''I'm glad that is settled.You two need each other more than you'll ever know.''Amelia muttered over Zero who nodded his acknowledgement.It was true.Luke was a very big part of his life.One he didn't intend to let go of so easily.They stopped at the entrance where Reina was waiting,William whispering something in her ear.She had changed,now clad in black jeans,a matching tank top,a black leather jacket and black high heeled ankle boots.Her hair was in a messy ponytail,with black aviator sunglasses covering her beautiful eyes.

''I see the outfits haven't changed.''Amelia said with an amused grin,gesturing at her whole get up.

''Not yet....Not until we're sure s**t is real.I'm glad you've embraced the modern culture of this age judging by the outfit.''Reina replied,gesturing at her blue jeans,white top and a matching blue sweater,her white low heeled boots not as over the top as Reina. Her look was more retro than most but she was still beautiful,her curly hair loose and hanging wonderfully on her shoulders.Amelia shrugged with a smile.

''Its all thanks to William for giving me a ride to go pick my stuff earlier.''she replied.Luke's loud laughter brought their attention back to the two best friends where Zero was struggling to keep him from falling.

''Tell Gail to get Lucas some coffee.''Reina muttered over to William who smiled and nodded,making his way into the house just as Amelia chuckled.

''I have some questions for you if you don't mind.''Luke said,leaning on the car as Zero frowned at his vibrating phone,answering it from some distance away.

''Sure Lucas.Fire away.''Reina replied with a smile though her concentration was trained partly on Zero who seemed upset by his conversation.

''Are you affected by garlic?''Luke asked,seeming quite eager for an answer.

''No,Luke.We aren't affected by Garlic....I actually quite like it in my stew....''Reina said with a smile,her hearing heightened over to Zero.Something about a company and a man named Bobby......interesting.

''Can you see your reflection in the mirror?I mean,I would expect you to stare the whole day ...you're gorgeous...breathtaking...ethereal..''Luke stared at her as if she was from Mars.

''Thank you for the compliment....''she said with a smile,''oh and I can certainly see my reflection only I overgrew the ogling phase.''she added,gesturing at the SUV's mirror's reflection.Luke chuckled.

''Clearly...Oh and what about...''he was adding when Zero came back as well as William with his coffee.He took a sip,staring blankly at Amelia who seemed disturbed by something.

''Thank you....you completely read my mind.....Unless...''Luke said,turning his attention to William who stared back,a small creepy smile forming on his lips. Reina chuckled,turning to Zero who stared at them,confused and disoriented most probably from the call.

''What's up with them?''he asked,standing beside her just as Amelia came over too.

''Well,Luke seems to think William is a psychic.Thing is,William is indulging him in the thought and its driving Luke crazy!''Amelia laughed out loud,a first in a while as Zero chuckled too.

''Jeez,he's drunker than I thought...Do you think tequila was a good idea?''He asked,turning to her.

Trust me,it was the perfect way to help him deal. I've seen way worse reactions than this.....He'll live...well after he finishes the coffee and the Advil William put in it.....Is everything okay back in New York?.....''she asked,earning a raised brow from him.

''What?I can't help it if I can feel your anxiety...which is most likely a result of work.The company in New York.Zachary mentioned something like that at some point.''Zero rolled his eyes at that,though he seemed to have bought it.

''Everything's fine.Nothing they can't handle.''She nodded,entering the front seat of the SUV once William opened the door for her as well as the rest.

''We don't have much time.Let's get moving.''she said,nodding over to William to drive.Silence engulfed them for a few moments after they left until Luke spoke up.

''Wait...so Dracula..''Reina sighed,running a hand through her hair as Amelia laughed,Zero rolling his eyes as William stifled a chuckle.

''....Was a party freak.We met in Rome in 1922.We danced on bar tops and drank a lot of Bloody Mary's...Well,at least the then version of it.''she replied,turning back to Luke who looked ready to explode from excitement.He was seated in between Amelia and Zero,the latter directly behind her while former right behind William.

''Really?....Like seriously?Can I meet him?''he asked,glowing like the sky on the Fourth of July.

''Come on dude.I think the Vampires we've met so far are enough.''Zero muttered,earning a frown from Luke.He clearly did not agree with that notion.

''You mean her?I guess you could meet Lina....I mean,I haven't seen her since then and we did not....end things well...''she said,letting the sentence stray as the two men stared at her,dumbfounded.

''Wait,Lina?.....Her?...Dracula is a girl?''he asked incredulously,his eyes so wide they seemed ready to pop out. Reina glanced back at him,confused when William cleared his throat.

''I think he means the norm that they were fooled into believing about Vampires......The Vampire man with fake fangs,ghost like skin that has undoubtedly been powdered and can turn into a bat.....''he explained,adding the last part when she still seemed oblivious to what he was talking about.

''Oh....Wait,that buffoon?!Dear God,no!That was just a myth invented by mortals to give them a fall sense of security.Make them believe that they understand what kind of beings we are but in real sense,we are way worse than they could ever imagine........Its a wonder their depiction of us survived the bronze age!And no less,made money at the theaters!Makes you realize how simple minded Duines can be....''Reina explained,earning an exasperated look from William.She rolled her eyes at him,staring back out at the blur of trees.

''Ummmm,then who were you talking about?''Luke stammered out,the alcohol seeming to be fading from his system.

''I meant Draculina. She's a good Vampire friend of whom I met in Rome and who made my twenties worth living.I know its ironic that her name is Draculina but I guess whoever turned her had a sick sense of humor....''Reina replied with a sardonic smile as Luke frowned.

''Why?What happened?''he asked,clearly seeming to be regaining more and more of himself.

''Its a long story that I doubt you'd wanna listen to......Besides,she doesn't like for it to be shared....She kills whoever does happen to talk about it....I've seen it happen.Not a good sight.Trust me.''The two men stared at her,completely perplexed.Luke glanced over at Amelia on instinct once she placed her hand on his.She'd clearly felt his tension and fear at someone so vicious existing.Her expression was blank as she stared out the window.She had heard the rumor about this Lina,one of Reina's closest friend, but she never believed it until now.

''How come you're here and you know about it?And how could she possibly know when someone talks about it?''Zero spoke up.

''Well,some of us would do anything for our good friends.Especially if it means protecting them from going through the worst moments of their lives over and over again......''She replied with a simple shrug,her eyes as dark as he'd ever seen them,no doubt harboring her past pain and darkness.William glanced at her passively though his whole demeanor betrayed him.For some reason,he seemed....scared.

He shivered involuntarily at that moment....a cold feeling spreading across his body.A malevolent feeling that he had never again felt before which could only mean....

He stared at her reflection on the window.He didn't know why but a darkness shrouded him then.He didn't know why but her words now had more meaning than they did only a few seconds before when she'd said them......There was an unquenchable darkness in her...One he knew he was yet to see......

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