CHAPTER 11

The moment I walked into the the throne room the first thing I said was, "Man... This place is sooo dreary. Add some color. Seriously."

"What a unusual thing to say, for the end of your life..." said Blake, raising an eyebrow.

I agreed. It was unusual. "I know. But it's seriously true."

"Is everything ready Rochelle?" asked Blake, ignoring Ciara.

"I believe so, Your Highness." answered Rochelle, bowing.

"Good. Take the little wolf to a comfortable room and watch her, until my father gets back."

"Little wolf? That's insulting... What if I called you a little bat, 'Your Highness'?" sneered Ciara.

Rochelle hissed, but Blake held her back.

"Make all the rude comments, and jokes you want... It won't change a thing." smiled Blake, cruelly.

Ciara knew he was right. She could escape. She could run, back to her mother's home. But what then? She would never be able to leave. She would be living in emotional pain and fear for the rest of her life. And what about Damian and her friends and family? She couldn't just leave them.

She was defeated.

"So much for talking." mumbled Hekate.

Selene's blast destroyed what was left of their room.

Hekate fought back with all she could. She used incapacitating spells, and defensive spells. What she needed was for her sister to calm down. And a calming spell wasn't going to help a bit.

"Selene! Please! I can figure something out, with your help." yelled Hekate, behind a fallen column.

"What is there to do?! I can't fix the way vampires are! They need blood! That's just a side affect!" yelled back Selene.

A blast hit the fallen column to smithereens, and Hekate jumped into a shadow for safety.

Through the shadows Hekate spoke. "When my daughter traveled with me to my home world, we devised a spell that would only give the gift of the wolf to those who are worthy, and accept it. We can do the same with your vampires. And blood is not a problem. You can have a donation company for blood, or they can drink the blood of animals."

Selene blasted fireballs at the shadows, even though she knew it would do nothing. And when she was out of energy, Hekate stepped out of the shadows, hugged her sister, and comforted her.

Being "purified" is just a fancy way of saying going to a spa. Literally. She had attendants to help her bathe, brush her hair, and put on a black silk dress with thin straps.

Ciara sat on vanity chair and waited. Rochelle watched her every second, and would not take her eyes off her.

"So... What's it like? Being a vamp?" asked Ciara, with a smile.

"Fine." answered Rochelle.

"Come on! Humor me. It's my last day alive after all." joked Ciara.

Rochelle sighed. "I dunno. It's fine. The only downside is the constant thirst for blood, and the sun."

"Do you like... Turn to ashes if you're in the sun to long?"

"No. We just don't like it. It doesn't exactly hurt, but it bothers us if we don't cover up enough."

"What about blood? Do you need to drink it?"

"Our throats burn and it's like going without food for centuries. Basically, yeah, we need it."

"How long can a vampire live?"

"Forever, really."

"Can you ever die?"

"Yes. With holy spells or water. If we're decapitated or our hearts are ripped out. That's kinda the only ways."

"Interesting... Why do you think it's safe to tell me this?"

"Because I know that you know that you're not going to run away or try to escape."

"How?"

"You have to much to lose if you do. Your friends, family, and your mate."

"Hmm... Your observant. If we weren't enemies I'd think we'd be friends."

Rochelle cocked her head and frowned. "Why?"

"I just think we would be. Even if your a sweet-smelling vamp."

Rochelle snorted and smiled. "Yeah. Right back at you, little wolf."

Callista only needed to wait there for them to wake up... Then her plan would be underway.

She couldn't believe she was really going to do this... This goes against everything she believed.

Selene wiped her face from tears. "How much time left?"

"About an hour at most. I brought what we need." answered Hekate.

"Let's get started."

Hekate put a hand on her sister's shoulder. "I truly am sorry."

"It does not matter anymore."

"It does matter."

"We have work to do."

"It's time." said a guard to Rochelle.

Rochelle sighed deeply. "Let's go."

Ciara got up and exited the room.

"For what it's worth... I'm sorry." said Rochelle.

As they walked the place got drearier and drearier. They went through tunnels and corridors and through so many doors that Ciara lost count.

When they arrived at a big blood red door with black metal thorns curled around the edges Ciara's heart sped up.

In the room was a large stone table with cuffs attached to the it. Probably to hold her down, from the pain she would have to endure. Torches lit all around the room, making it look terribly depressing and lifeless.

In his finest clothes at the end of the room was Blake and an older man, probably his father, Ambrogio Dreher. And around them was a group of other vampires, smiling.

"You were right, Blake. She is most beautiful! A shame we can't keep her..." said Ambrogio.

"Who says you can't?" asked Ciara, glaring.

"Such spirit!" exclaimed Ambrogio.

Ciara folded her arms in front of her and sighed. "Let's get this over with."

"Right down to the point. I like that." smiled Ambrogio.

Ambrogio walked towards Ciara, and circled her like an evaluation, from the dyed black of her hair to her thin body. Then he offered his hand to her, but she didn't take it.

"Fiery, spirited, and beautiful. It really is a shame..."

"Father. I suggest we do get on with the ceremony." said Blake.

"My dear son... Always in a hurry. Where is Callista?"

"I do not know. I couldn't find her, but I sent a small group to track her down."

"Hmm... How unfortunate."

"Yes... It is." whispered Blake.

"My dear, do you realize why you are here?" asked Ambrogio.

"No. I don't." answered Ciara.

"Your blood is very powerful and will make us vampires strong and unstoppable."

"I don't think I have enough for all you vamps."

"It's only for the royal family. And it will be passed down when our lineage continues on, with this ceremony."

"Joy." mumbled Ciara.

Ambrogio chuckled. "For this ceremony to succeed, we must kill you by drinking your blood... That is why we cannot keep you alive."

Two guards grabbed Ciara by the arms and put her on the table and latched the cuffs to her arms, legs, and waist, making impossible to move.

After that, Ambrogio began. Speaking in latin and holding a dagger bejeweled in rubies and made from gold in the air.

It was time.