Blood Queen

Vita nova fortasse

>>>Echo's POV<<<

It was a long car ride. We spent most of it silent, while I stared at my feet, smashed between the king and one of his guards, with very little room, in the middle seat. He broke the silence, "Are you still in school?" He asked.

"Of course I am." I said quietly. "Or was."

"I will arrange tutors." He said matter of factly.

"My classes were very advanced."  I grumbled. All of that hard work, keeping a 4.0, extra credit, skipping two grades, collage classes at night, it was all for nothing.  

"I will have your transcripts sent over immediately so you can continue them." He plinked away on his phone as he spoke.

"Will I be able to continue training?" I asked.

He stiffened slightly, "I'll arrange for a personal trainer and access to the gym on the grounds. Anything else?" He looked down at me.

I was suddenly quiet, "Vita nova fortasse? (A new life perhaps?)" I said in Latin to myself.

"Hoc totam vitam Regis. (This is a whole new life, Princess.)" He replied with a grin. I looked up at him, "What other languages do you speak?" He asked smoothly. I hated to admit it but his deep voice stirred some things, deep things.

I felt compelled to answer, so I figured I would show off a little.  I hadn't worked my ass off for nothing. "Ma mère m'a appris le français quand j'avais quatre ans. (My mother taught me French when I was four.) Ho iniziato l'italiano a sei anni. (I started Italian at six.) Tuve un tutor de español a las nueve. (I had a Spanish tutor at nine.) EGO coepi ad Latinam decem. (I started Latin at ten.) Potom ya nachal uchit' russkiy v dvenadtsat' let. (Then I started to learn Russian at twelve.)" I switched through each language with a nearly perfect accent. 

He looked at me completely astonished. "Six?" He questioned, "Impressive." 

"I also know sign language, and I started Japanese last year. So, 7 and a quarter." I continued. I really wasn't trying to gloat at that point, but he would have to still provide me with proper instruction, so, it was necessary he knew.

He nodded, and I could see the muscles in his jaw clench as he tried not to smile. Then I realized I had looked up at him too long when his jaw tensed for another reason. Woops. 

"So, language tutors. Anything else?" He asked.

I shook my head. He would see the rest with my transcript. He carried on with his phone and I sat quietly the rest of the ride. I startled awake when the car stopped and I realized I was leaning on his shoulder. As comfortable as the feeling was, I definitely didn't like that. I looked at the time, it was four in the morning. 

We unloaded, and a beautiful Gothic style mansion was before me with sprawling gardens and intricate stone work, and I could only imagine what else I couldn't see in the dark. A large staff was all waiting by the door to greet us bowing, all women. The body guards carried all of my bags in ahead of us, and he stopped to introduce me.  

A plump older woman, with short curly gray hair and soft brown eyes stood before me. She was human, which surprised me, but she smiled warmly. "This is Mrs. Atkins. She is the housekeeper and will assist you with anything you may need."

"You're not staying?" I questioned too quickly. s**t. I'd given myself away. This place creeped me out and he somehow made me feel more comfortable. 

"Do you want me to?" He grinned his gorgeous sly grin. That probably worked on his palace hoes, but he wasn't getting the satisfaction from me.

"I assumed you lived here." I covered. 

"For now this will be your home. I intend to make you feel safe and prove that I honor our agreement." He waved his fingers between us so I would understand this had nothing to do with the treaty. "I will check in, to ensure you have everything you need and give you reports on how exactly I'm providing support for your pack. If you have any requests, they can be made through Mrs. Atkins, and you may contact your family as much as you like, but you do not leave this manor." His eyes were warning me. "There are 700 acres here, I should hope that's large enough for you, for the moment."

I set my jaw and nodded. Alone here, maybe that wouldn't be so terrible. His guards returned, and they were quickly loaded and gone. 

Mrs. Atkins quietly led me to my room. The inside of the house was just as stunning, but darkly decorated with lots of stone and dark stained woods. There was a marble grand staircase, and crystal chandeliers. Everything was ornately decorated, it was all very extravagant. She led me up the staircase and down a long corridor with only one door at the end. She unlocked the door and handed me an old heavy Skeleton key. "Here you go my dear." She said leading me in and turning the lamps on. 

I felt like I had stepped into a romance novel from the 1800's. A huge overstuffed bed was to the left, piled high with feather blankets and pillows. The black drapery hung dramatically over six windows, and the floors were black marble with black fur rugs. It was very dark and dreary. The bathroom was stunning, with a huge clawfoot tub and a separate shower with a hundred heads from all directions. A large vanity with a double sink was to the side, and a black velvet fainter was beside the tub. 

"You must be exhausted my dear." Mrs. Atkins began, "I'll let you get some rest, and tomorrow I'll give you a tour of the grounds."

I nodded, "Thank you." I managed to say before she took her leave. She left me alone in the room, my bags were left by the door. I changed into some soft pajamas and climbed into the big empty bed, feeling utterly miserable and alone. This place was giant and intimidating, and even with the maid staff and it being filled to the brim with insanely expensive antiques and collectibles, it was so empty. Maybe I should have asked him to stay.