Wow! I can't believe I'm already on Chapter 10! This would have been up sooner, but I was distracted by the Tony awards. It's really hard to type when you're singing along to musicals! Thank you for being patient and for reading! I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 10

Several days had passed and Lisbon was getting restless. There was only so much a human could do in a vampire camp especially when the only other human was an annoying consultant named Patrick Jane. The vampires were very hospitable and she had enjoyed getting to know them. The clan totaled 13 members, and she was sure Jane was ecstatic about the interaction and behaviors of his new subjects. Speaking of Jane…she looked around the clearing for the blond haired man and smiled as she saw Divinia approach.

The poor vampiress had been brutally beaten, almost died, and yet she brushed the whole situation off like it was a minor scratch. Cayt and the others had insisted she use crutches and stay off her legs as much as possible. Lisbon shook her head. Where do vampires even get crutches to begin with? With a huff, the young woman plopped down beside her.

"How are you feeling?" Lisbon asked politely. She hadn't really talked to the vampiress since they arrived at the camp. She was always surrounded by watchful eyes and stayed in her tent the majority of the time. She appeared to be healing nicely and her bruises would fade with time.

"A little smothered, but not a lot of pain," she said as she narrowed her eyes before smiling slightly. "I snuck out of my tent, so Cayt will have a fit when he wakes up."

"It's good to keep them on their toes," Lisbon said with a grin.

"Give him five minutes and he will be stomping through the woods like a herd of tanpheels… umm, really big animal. Not that smart and eats the local plant life," she added when she noticed Lisbon's confused expression. "Anyways, we have received word from the castle. We'll leave tomorrow," she finished quietly as she stared at her hands.

"It wasn't your fault, you know," Lisbon said softly. "You were grossly outnumbered. You did everything you could." The vampiress looked up and gave her a sad smile.

"It will still cost a high price," she whispered. Before Lisbon could prod her further, the blond vampire came stomping though the forest. Lisbon smiled as the young woman's eyes sparkled mischievously.

"You damn near gave me a heart attack!" He paused and studied the two of them. "Besides, you need to stay off your feet today if we're going to travel tomorrow." Lisbon grinned at his stern expression. Without giving her a chance to respond, he scooped her up in his arms. Divinia let out a shriek at the unexpected action before crossing her arms and defiantly looking at him.

"We'll see you bright and early Agent Lisbon," he said as he headed back to the tents. Lisbon shook her head as she watched the two playfully banter back and forth. She let out a gasp when Jane swung down from a nearby tree.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" she said with a glare. He gave her an innocent look.

"I'm just appreciating the fine specimen of trees that have grown here. They remind me of the magnificent redwoods in the Pacific Northwest."

"Trees, my ass," he heard her mutter under her breath. "I take it you heard the news then," she stated as she leaned on his shoulder.

"That I did. Something's wrong with those two, though. There's a slight hint of sadness," he said thoughtfully.

"Jane, you are not allowed to harass her. They have both been through a traumatic experience and you don't need to stir anything up."

"Yes, ma'am!" he said cheerfully as he stood and started to walk away.

"Where are you going?" she questioned.

"Why my dear! Are you telling me you're enjoying my company?" He smiled as he heard her growl behind him as he headed towards the camp. He loved riling her up. It was immensely satisfying.

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Even in death, her mother was beautiful. Elina was sure of it. Kalina had been 'crystallized', sealed in a crystal class that would preserve her forever, or as long as Elina wanted. She was dressed in her lavender wedding gown and her hair had been decorated with flowers.

"Don't worry, mom. I will avenge your death."

"Elina?" She glanced up as her cousin Drake slipped into the room. "It's time." She turned and nodded, walking away from her mother's still form.

"I'm sorry about what happened," Drake said as they walked towards the auditorium.

"Don't be."

"Elina, she was my aunt! You aren't the only one suffering, you know. She was a great friend, wife, sister, mother, and queen." They walked in silence the rest of the way. When they arrived, Drake took a seat beside his mother in the front row while Elina walked up to one of the chairs on stage.

"We are gathered here today to mourn the loss of our Queen," Professor Lyrenski began. "I was a close friend of Kalina's, and she is the very reason I am here at this school today. I am not here to tell you about my career, but about the noble deeds of our fallen queen. She touched all of us, saved an entire race of people, and helped build the kingdom of Heaven's Gate. She also stood proudly as we accomplished a victory against the Dream Spirits many years ago."

As Professor Lyrenski droned on, Elina looked up to see who had attended her mother's funeral. She spotted the vampires in the back of the auditorium, all thirteen of them, plus two other humans. A vampiress with purple streaked black hair on crutches was watching Elina closely. Cayt and Thread stood on either side of her. This must be the elusive Divinia.

"Divinia, do you see what has happened because of you? Because you let your guard down, my mother is dead. I hope you're proud," Elina thought as she stared at the vampiress. She was surprised when she heard a woman's voice in her head.

"I am not proud, and I am sorry for what has happened. I should have been more careful. Beware the planets." Again with the planets, Elina thought with a sigh. What did it mean and why couldn't anyone say it to her face?

"One of Kalina's favorite things was to remind us that we can not control fate and what it does to our lives. But we can control one thing. We lost a wondrous Queen, but she has left us a gift from above. Ladies and Gentlemen, I introduce you to our new queen, Elina Serit."

Elina looked up. This is why she had come? To be sworn in as queen? She wouldn't allow it. As she approached the podium a mournful applause greeted her. She cleared her throat and surveyed the crowd.

"I have one thing to say to this surprising invitation. You should all be ashamed of yourselves." Loud gasps greeted her from every area but the back of the auditorium. "How could you want to make me Queen when my father is still out there? I know he could be dead, but he isn't. I can feel it! As long as he lives, he rules over this country and its people. Until I am sure of his death, I will be no more than a princess," she said coldly as she turned and started to exit.

"What are you doing," her aunt hissed as she tried to stop her from leaving. "Get up there and accept your fate. Your mother would be ashamed of you!"

"My mother would be proud. I am not being selfish. I am going to find my father so he may continue his rule over this land," she spat. With those words, Elina left her aunt standing in the aisle and went to her room to pack. Meanwhile in the back, Divinia had heard it all.

"Good choice, Elina," she thought.

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"Nothing like a good family argument to lighten up a funeral," Jane said as he pressed his hands together. He managed to scoot away in time for Lisbon to only land a glancing blow. Jack smiled as he walked up to the two of them.

"You two look fine and dandy," he stated as he exchanged a look with Carter.

"Unlike the two of you," Jane quickly retorted.

"We got an intimate tour of the prison system for the first two days. It doesn't look to good if you're a stranger hauling back a dead queen."

"Sir," Sam said with a warning tone. The man could be quite tactless at the worst times. Sam turned to the vampiress.

"It's good to see you looking better," she said with a smile as she appraised the vampires' condition. It still looked like someone had beat the shit out of them, but at least they had survived.

"What's the plan, Colonel?" Lisbon asked as she studied the man and woman in front of her. Jack frowned.

"Well, I'm not one to leave a man behind. Even if we did just meet him," he trailed off when he noticed Lisbon's accepting gaze. Divinia nodded.

"We'll be following closely, but I'd appreciate it if you don't alert the princess to our presence. She's none to pleased with me right now," Divinia said with a grimace as Cayt stepped closer to her.

"Let's get this party started," Jane said with a grin as Lisbon rolled her eyes. This was turning into quite the adventure.