Hey Guys! I am so sorry it has been such a long time! But I was working hard on this chapter, it was suppose to be short and I decided I'm going to put two chapters in one, just because I'm so behind! Anyways, this is a long chapter, so I suggest you grab something comfy to wear, sit in your favorite chair and relax, get wild with your imaginative juices!
Saya stumbled into a large, marbled room; it was the only room in the entire castle that was decorated. The walls were grey-white and had lilies, red as blood with a soft pink centre, that danced around the walls, a teal green string going in and out of all of them. It was a grand sight to see and Saya prided herself for it. She walked over to the king-sized bed and peeled open the white veil surrounding it.
Asleep like a cat was Train.
She smiled to herself before gently tugging him awake.
"Princess? W-what's wrong?" Train sat up, wiping the sleep away from his eye, and then a thought hit him, "why have you come back here?"
Saya had been missing for about a week, with no alarm of her disappearance, Train could only discover it was one thing; "you were with Andrew, weren't you?"
She sighed, "Why can't you just understand? I want to be able to show humans and us can be together."
"You don't even care for him, why would you play with him as if he was your prey?" Train defended, raising an eye brow.
Saya broke away from his stare, "I do care for him."
"Then you have disgraced our kind. Married to me and in love with him? My father would have your head," Train said warningly and Saya smiled.
"I would kill him."
Something clicked in Train. He jumped up, grabbing his wife gently by the shoulders and bringing her towards him.
"Saya, this is not you. What has changed?"
She pushed him away, "How do you know this is not who I really am?"
Her push was hard; she was stronger than him because she was older than him.
"The Saya I know would never do this; she's not like this."
He tried to reach for her again, but she stepped back and lifted her eyes; they were a dark colour he has only seen on one kind of vampire and one kind alone. A fern vampire.
"Train, I am a vampire. I can be whoever I want to be." She giggled and then I woke up.
"W-what?" I said, lying in my big fluffy bed, staring up at the white ceiling.
I felt something warm at my cheek before I heard somebody whisper into my ear, "you need to learn to protect your mind while you are sleeping. Supernatural entities can get in there and mess with your thoughts, your dreams," the voice cooed and I realized who it was.
Immediately I sprang up and dug under my pillow, feeling for the cold, smooth metal I kept there…
"This?" Train held up my golden dagger in his hand. He was lying on my bed, and slowly propped himself up on his elbow.
"Get out of here Train. I do not want to see you." I spat, hoping it sounded acidly.
"Rins,"
"No, Train. You lied to me, led me on, betrayed me and stabbed me in the back. How could you not tell me about something like that?"
"Rinslet, please. I understand that you are upset, but I need you to trust me again. It was in the best interest not to tell you. It only opens up holes in our plan to kill Creed. Holes that he could figure out and use against us." His voice was sweet but firm.
I thought about it for a moment. What he was trying to tell me and in a way I did understand. If I knew then I could be a liability and cost all of us our lives. But what if it had more benefits then cons to us? I just had to think of something that could work as an alternative. Something Creed or Train wouldn't expect.
"How long have you known Train?," I crossed my arms. I needed more information, and I knew Train would give it to me. Or so I hoped.
Train was silent for a moment, "we are hoping that the only people that know are Sven, Sephiria and Creed. But then Jenos mentioned it, so we have to assume most of the night world knows."
"What are you going to do about him?" I asked and then added, "Is he a vampire?"
"He is in the Dun gun; we are hoping to get some answers"
A quick thought hit my mind, I needed to get down into the Dun gun's first and talk to him, and I had a funny feeling he wouldn't tell Train or Sven about anything. I took a deep breath in, "get out Train. I do not want to see you right now, so please, if you cared about me, respect what I say," I had to look away.
"Rins, you need to understand. I am here to protect you, I'm sorry I kept that a secret from you, but it was in our best interest. Rins, I care for you," in the corner of my eye I saw him move fast, and before I knew it he was in front of me, his hand cupping the side of my face, his gold eyes on mine.
"Train," I tried, but he put a finger to my lips, his touch silencing me. He leaned down so close I could feel his cool breath on my face, "Rins, please, the last thing I want is for you to be upset, I want to make it right and I will do anything," he begged. My breath caught in my throat.
"I just need some time," I looked away finally, catching my breath, then I looked back up at him, lifted my hand to his cheek. His skin was so soft, it was almost unbelievable. "You haven't lost me Train." I whispered, and his bright eyes peered at me and a small smile lightened his face.
There was that moment between us again that somehow left me wondering if he ever felt it too.
"Why did you show me that dream?"
"I thought you wanted to know my past," he was quick to reply.
I gathered my thoughts; there were so many emotions ready to attack. "I didn't need to know. What happened to you, I'm sorry." I whispered.
Train leaned down, his chin on the curve of my sensitive neck, "it wasn't your fault. It wasn't even Andrews; for years I blamed him, but it was only Saya. In a way she became obsessed as well, after breaking taboo and making Andrew an Upry, a part of her was different and that was the part that she let take control of herself."
"Train."
Ba-thump, ba-thump, ba-thump.
Slow, smooth pounds echoed in my head. They rung in a soothing tone, one after the other, slow and calming. I bit down on my lip and glanced over to see Trains head craned down, his neck bear.
"What is that?"
"Rins?" I silenced him with my hand, he tried to stand up straight but I pulled down with my other hand behind his head, tilting it back and letting his brown locks fall to the side revealing that soft, smooth path of flesh.
I licked my lips and swallowed hard, my heart picking up speed. My lips found themselves to Trains neck with ease and they lingered there for a moment until I swept down and gave his soft skin a quick kiss.
I heard a soft cry escape his lips, and smiled to myself, before teasingly nibbling. When my teeth grabbed a small chunk of flesh, my body went rigid, and my mouth watered. I could feel the blood flowing through his veins; I could practically taste it.
"Vampires have blood?" I questioned quietly, lifting my mouth slenderly away from his skin.
"Only the blood that we drink. It's not ours."
I licked my lips again, my mouth closing down on his skin again, "too bad."
I bit down hard and I heard him yelp, all I needed to do was break the skin and then..
"Rinslet?" I heard the door fly open and I threw myself as far as I could from Train, wiping my mouth and breathing hard.
"Are you okay, what's wrong?" Sven ran over to me right away.
"N-nothing's wrong," I looked away quickly and wiped my mouth one last time just in case.
"Princess," he leaned towards me.
"There's nothing wrong, see? I'm fine," I looked towards Train; he was still standing there, his hand on his neck. He was looking at me with those perfect eyes; those astonished eyes.
Sven looked behind him and then back towards me his eye brow raised, I looked away again, touching my necklace.
"Sven, we have business to attend to, your highness, if you would beg our pardon," Train was proper; he bowed silently and then turned swiftly exiting the room.
I shuffled my feet from under me while waiting for Sven to also follow Train out of the room.
We will talk later, meet me in the court yard at 12 tonight, was Trains only message through the bond before it snapped off.
I sunk into my bed.
"What the hell is happening to me?" I asked aloud.
I touched my pendant again, "is this your doing Eldan?"
It was quiet around me for a moment. I shuffled around in my bed, moving back towards the pillow, and putting my face into it...
"Why Princess, it's nice to see you," I heard a sinister voice, and I got up and jumped. off the bed immediately, unaware I had fallen asleep, "so sad and so alone."
"Who's there?" I yelled out, looking around. "I'm not afraid of you."
"You should be."
"You'd be surprised," I responded, cussing in my head, I didn't know where Train had put my dagger.
"Creed wishes to see you."
I touched the door, "Yeah? Well tell him to be a man and show his face," The door opened with ease, once I was out in the hall I knew the passages to the Dun gun, I turned, ready to run when a pair of hands grabbed me, spun me around and hugged me close to their body, muffling my mouth. It was all so fast I could barely react.
"I already have," he led me back inside and closed the door. The man threw me to the ground and the blade of a sword was at my shoulder. My heart beat quickened, I had to think fast.
I did a quick scan around my room; there was nothing to help me in here, crap.
"Who are you?" I whimpered. I felt the cold metal touch my shoulder, I wore a fitted white tank top which offered no protection from the sharp blade slowly slicing into my shoulder.
"I wanted to see my precious sacrifice in person. Don't worry sweet heart you are not on my hit list today, Rinslet," the raspy but now familiar voice said.
I glanced up at the man standing above me. He was tall, slim and pale. He was wearing a long coloured duster, with fur on the shoulders. I couldn't make out his face, it was covered with shadows, but his hair was light, extremely light and long about to his neck or collar bone.
"How is the new Chancellor now a days? I hear he is to die for," Creed rambled, "but he just doesn't seem to measure up to one man."
I gulped, Train, please, help me, I'm up stairs, Creed is here. Open the bond back up, TRAIN!
Creed leaned down, grabbing my neck and pulling me to my feet, lifting me off the ground. I grabbed at his hands, trying to take away the pressure from my vital external body part.
"Give Train a message for me, Creed is ready to fight, and I'm ready to negotiate. Oh, and one last parting gift, Princess," he had a twisted smile, his eyes were sinister.
"If you dare try and run, I will kill every last person you have ever cared about. Don't make me mad."
I gasped for air, my lungs screaming. His hold tightened so hard that my eyes began to twitch violently, until they began to roll into the back of my head; everything began to fade black, but I hadn't passed out just yet. The last little bit of oxygen I had travelled through my body, and I felt one last blow of pain shudder through my body; the pain of my neck snapping back too far for the spine to keep up.
I almost flew out of my bed, gasping in air as if I had a bag secured around my head and finally took my first breath.
"Train?" I jumped out of bed and glanced around the room, then ran out of the door. Something felt dark; cold. I could feel the manifestation of a soul. I had to find Train.
I replayed the warning Sven had given me when we had gotten back to the castle more then a month ago; ghost can manifest themselves, but they have to use energy that's around us. So if they manifest it leaves you feeling tired and drained, they will even pull some energy from things like nature, electricity - like your lights. But Rinslet, you cannot let them manifest themselves to you, it only opens up the Night world up to you even more - it opens Creed up to find you. Never let a spirit, especially a dark spirit manifest itself to you using your energy.
"Train!" I yelled down one of the long corridors before making my way to the grand stairwell which I flung myself down.
TRAIN!
I could feel the pull of the manifestation getting stronger, my body grew colder and heavier. I had to get to the dungeon, at least Jenos would be down there and hopefully Train and Sven.
To get down there, I needed the keys, and Train had kind of taken over the castle, so getting them would be impossible, thankfully, I had learned of ways to get down there from the old war days. Dad had secret walls that led straight through to the part of the dungeon that I was hoping they had kept Jenos, the same place they kept Kyoko.
I had to move fast.
Half way to the secret corridor I was huffing and puffing, my breath visible, the time was close and I refused to let it use anymore of my energy.
"STOP! Leave me alone!" I screamed, moving slow, heart beating fast. I had to calm myself down.
The wall had a small but sure lever, I just had to find it, push it and then shove the wall. I needed to put as little effort in as possible.
My head started to feel as if someone was pushing down on either side of it, I grabbed both sides of it
"Stop, you cannot use my energy," I said, shivering in discomfort, "go away."
I repeated this over and over again, until I felt the pressure lift. I opened my eyes and pulled the lever then moved the wall, it was as if it hadn't even happened.
I decided not to close the door, just in case. There was a long, lit hallway, that I would have to cross and then I would be in the North dungeon.
"Rinslet," I heard my name coming from the ahead of me, I peered down, the shadows were all long and I couldn't see who it was.
"Train?" I slowly proceeded down, for some reason keeping caution about me. My hair was standing on end.
"Rinslet, come here," I saw a figure of a man, I couldn't make out the voice. It could have honestly been either of the men I knew and I wouldn't be able to point it out.
"Who is it?"
"Please, Rins."
I inched closer and closer, the man was signaling with his hand, beckoning me to keep going. My gut kept churning and I knew I had to stop. But when I did, it dropped its arm and stepped closer to me.
I could swear on my life, the moment he stepped it felt like a tidal wave had just blown through me, I nearly fell over, and had to gasp for a quick breath. I looked up and Andrew stood in front of me. His usually jade eyes were now ringed red, his skin pale and just about see through.
I was going to scream but them something tight gripped my throat. It was his hands.
"Ughh, S-…Stop,"
I gripped his hands, attempting to pry them away just as I had before in my dream, my blood boiled and my heart raced.
"Creed sends me with orders that I cannot fail upon," his voice was dark, raspy. It didn't even sound like Andrew, it sounded like a dying old man trying to catch his last words. Or even worst, it sounded like a demon.
He squeezed harder and I opened my mouth to scream, only losing more breath quicker, I felt my feet lift off the ground and I held onto his arm, to support myself and keep some of the pressure off my neck.
"The survivor of death must die."
He squeezed harder and harder, I felt my hands go numb, then my legs.
"Creed must be in power."
I felt my mind go blank and then my arms fell from attempting to stop him.
"You will give yourself up to Creed. You will join me, sister. In death. And in hell."
My hearing slipped out after that. My vision became blurry and I could still see his lips moving, but I couldn't hear him anymore. I only remember thinking; thinking of Train, before my eyes closed shut. With the last of my power, I thought one last message before dying.
"Train, it's over."
Surprisingly I had never knew what death was like; even though I experienced it once before, I couldn't remember what it had looked like, or how it had felt.
The feeling of death was like this dark weight on your shoulders. It reeked of loneliness and abandonment. I felt something dark in the back of my mind that wanted to hate everyone in the castle for not running to my aid. But I knew I had to push it back, a part of me understood this feeling, probably the part that remembered dying. If I gave into that dark little voice then I would be giving up my humanity. It's what a ghost or a demon does when it has died cruelly. Instead of moving on like they should have they give in to the pressure and taunts of that voice.
"Ah, my sister," I heard Andrews voice - but this time it was actually his voice. It was a dark plane we stood on and you couldn't really make anything out, but strangely enough I could make out Andrews etched figure perfectly, even his hair color and his skin. That was just one of the strange things about death, I think.
"Andrew, why am I here, what have you done, Brother?" I spat his name out with enough venom he flinched.
"Rinslet, you did this,"
"No, it was you who did this. You, ever since I was young, wanted nothing but this, well you got it, are you happy? You took yourself to hell, and dragged along your baby sister. I hope your fucking happy," I never actually told Andrew how I felt towards him. He scared me, but I knew I shouldn't be scared of my brother. That would be wrong.
But what he did was more wrong.
Then he was standing in front of me, stroking the side of my jaw line the way he did when he was alive.
"My baby sister. I have done you a favor. Your soul can live in peace now, the living world is something beyond both of our reach now," I almost detected a smile in his voice.
How could this be Andrew? Death changed him in so many ways. A cold, empty shiver ran up my spine; would it change me like it had Andrew?
I pulled my face away from his reach, "how can you say what you have done to me is a 'favor'? I could have stopped Creed, killed him and protected the Nightworld and our innocent people, I could have saved them all."
"Creed is not the enemy, Rinslet,"
"He is, he wants to take over the human and Nightworld, kilingl everyone who is innocent of crimes. I could have stopped him. I could have -" my voice broke on me, I thought of Train and Sven, of Eve and Sephiria. All of their hard work put to waste.
It was silent on that plane of nothingness, until I heard a female voice - small and tiny at first but then it got louder.
"Rinslet?" Her voice was high pitch, she must have been surprised. She looked back and forth, from me to Andrew and then back.
"What's going on here?" she finally asked.
"What do you mean -?"
"You shouldn't be here."
I felt my body freeze.
"Andrew what have you done?"
Something trickled through me. It felt warm at first but then turned cold.
"Did you not see? How could you miss it! How could you bring her here!"
Saya was screaming now, she looked so pale and scared. As if she had just seen, well, a ghost. Somehow, I felt like I was physically sitting down, I saw and felt my hand move, slowly wriggling around my fingers, and then the other arm raising high above my head, stretching into the air.
Only, it wasn't me moving.
"Now, which one of you should I get rid of first?" it was Eldans voice that sounded out of my lips.
"How? How could you fool us?" Andrew asked, furiously.
"Ghost are easy to trick. Creed knew that all too well," Eldan said, gripping the cool metal pendant around her, or my, neck and swinging it around as if she was gloating.
"Creed?" Sayas voice chimed in, "you, your working with Creed?" she looked at Andrew.
"It was the only way to save us. I wasn't ready to die," Andrews voice grew cold.
"Andrew," Saya sounded far away, but she was only a couple feet away.
Before Andrew could get anything in, Eldan broke out into laughter, "Stupid boy! Do you even know who sent to have you killed? I feel sorry for you ghosts, you live in such a repetitive manner that you start to forget about the past."
"Think. Boy. Who killed you?" she asked, I could feel the amusement in her rise.
Please don't hurt him, I pleaded.
He'll kill us, was her only reply before she moved towards him with lightning speed, she pulled on a long glove, that had three of the five fingers covered. Then she reached towards Andrew, a light purple aura bursting from her fist, and Andrew screamed. Her hand went through him and she pulled him close enough so she could whisper in his ear.
"Think of the ones you love," she said.
"Please, please, protect my sister!" was Andrews last plea before Eldan ripped her hand out of his chest and he fell to the ground.
His body lay there for a moment before it turned a sliver color and began to scatter as if it was ash scattering in the wind.
I was left breathless. You..You killed him?
He was already dead. Don't forget that.
Yeah, but-
"Now you," Eldan turned to look at Saya who was now on the floor, I hadn't heard her throughout the entire thing. She was on her hands and knees sobbing.
"What should I do with you?" Eldan stepped closer to her and Saya looked up, tears streaming down her face, "I didn't want any of this to happen. I don't know how we got pulled back here. Please, just take me back." her head fell back down.
Eldan knelt down, lifted her gloved hand and shoved it into Sayas chest, the purple aura firing, and then she pulled. Saya fell to the ground and disappeared the same way Andrew had moments ago.
I could hear myself sobbing inside the now quietness of my mind.
Train is here, we need to get you back, Eldan said.
What did you do to them? I was breathing hard, my chest had began to hurt.
I sent them back to death. Creed pulled them out to use them to get to you; to do his dirty work.
Before I knew it, something snapped and I gasped opening my eyes. I was lying in the dimly lit hallway, someones arms were around me, but I hadn't cared who's. I was too caught up in what had happened.
"Creed had warned me. He would kill them all. I didn't think he would put them through all of this," I said, my voice sounding unstable I grabbed at my holders clothes.
"It's going to be okay Rins, we can get through this," Train's voice cooed.
"It's all my fault. Train, it's all my fault Andrew was in such pain. Saya too," I couldn't suppress the sadness. It was all too cruel, the dead had already had their punishment but to put them through it all over again? It was just all too cruel.
I felt Train grunt as he heaved me up, turned and began heading back to the corridor, I could see where he was taking me through the bond.
"I don't want to go back to my room," I had to try and calm down. I could feel my cheeks getting hot.
"Where would you like to go princess?" Train asked softly.
I let the tears fall but I didn't make a sound, "the courtyard, where we were suppose to meet."
Train chuckled.
You're just too much, he said along with a mix of emotions that fell over me. Love just one of them. I automatically felt myself become lifted in a better mood.
"Eldan turned me, for a moment, but she did," I explained, "and Creed showed up in my dream. He said he is ready to negotiate."
Train moved fast, we were already walking through the large courtyard, the cool breeze just hitting me now.
"Eldan has been changing you this whole time, or so, that is what I think." Trains voice cut through the air.
"Is that why-" I stopped myself, I couldn't say it, something about it felt like a taboo. Instead I touched Trains already healed neck. I felt him nod.
"I want Creed dead Train," I said, my body suddenly feeling empty.
"So do we, Rins," he replied, we came up to one of my mothers favorite benches, it was made of the same stone as the castle front walls, but it was carved so delicately, you could see each etched line, there was a slight design on it, of a rose, just on the one side. Train knelt down and placed me on that cool slab of stone, and sat down, turning his body towards me. He kept my hands tucked in his own, they were considerably bigger then mine, and they felt warm.
"How did Andrew kill me? And then not kill me?" I asked, slightly confused at the chain of events. I knew how Creed did it; through my nightmare, in my head, but Andrews felt so real, everything about it felt so real. I couldn't figure it out.
"It was just a hallucination. You need to protect your thoughts Rins. Eldan can help, the change will keep things in, but it won't stop the supernatural from getting information from you," he explained.
"How do I protect my thoughts? How can I control that type of thing?" I asked, then quickly added, "How do you do it?"
Train thought for a moment, "I guess, it just happens naturally. A sort of vampire thing I guess," he shrugged.
I shook my head, then how can I do it?
Train smiled at me, "you're a smart girl Rins, you'll figure it out, sooner or later,"
I found myself smiling back at him. I glanced down at the bench, when memories started to pour through me; memories of my mother and I. It was when we first got the bench, her favorite spot in the entire castle, she would sit and sing to me and Andrew as children, we were very young. It was the day Father had sent us away. We were too young to understand at the time.
I frowned, "I hated this spot, I hated my Father. He ruined everything. While she was crying for him not to take us away just yet, he was throwing her down, ordering the guards to take us and then walking away. She is so smart, I don't understand how she could have ever, well, changed. She's just, not the same. She lets him think for her..She use to be smart,"
"You hate how she would stay with your father," he observed.
"Is it that obvious?"
"You barley know her."
"How could I? He took us away from her when we needed a mother at the most vital times in our lives. She let him take us away She abandoned me."
Train began stroking my hands, his thumb going around in gentle but firm circles.
"You say that, but what else could she have done? Do you think it would have been any different then her own situation? She was, after all a princess."
I didn't like having reasonable arguments thrown at me, "are you saying I'm a hypocrite?"
"I'm just saying, you shouldn't be too hard on her, it happens to all royals, including herself."
"She could have interacted with me a bit more when I had returned to the castle, I mean, she acted as if I wasn't even her flesh and blood. Even now, I barley see her, but I guess it could be worst. I could have not been able to come back and see her, or she could have been killed."
Train looked up at me, "I was raised by the castle gardener. My mother committed suicide, my father killed shortly after by a hunter. It's not as bad as you think, being raised on your own."
"Oh," I suddenly felt stupid, "I didn't-"
"It's alright," his attention turned back to my hand.
"If you were raised by your gardener, how are you so polite and proper?" I asked, curiously.
"He was a worker of the family for years, when he raised me, he was very old, but he wanted me to grow up to be a noble royal. He taught me other things too, while we lived at my homeland. How to drive, how to treat people and so on."
"I-I'm sorry, you don't have to-"
"I don't mind," he glanced up at me, then away.
It was silent between us, but not an awkward silence. It was nice, his company was soothing. I was looking away from him, glancing up at the stars glittering away in the sky, but I had to look at him from the corner of my eye.
I knew right away, a part of me loved him, without the bond speaking, he was so handsome, strong, kind and strangely enough so different. He still had my hands in his.
Suddenly, I wanted to know if he had ever had this feeling with Saya? I wanted to know if he had loved her, because this morning, in the dream he made me see, it seemed like he really did love her. And I wanted to know about him and Andrew; why he was so against him getting so close to the night world. Was he protecting Saya? Or was he protecting himself?
The questions circled.
"You're right. I had fallen in love with Saya." Train broke the sudden silence, I flinched forgetting the bond had been open.
"For so many years, I tried to deny the fact that I loved her. After what she started becoming I couldn't admit it. But I know that I did."
"Oh," I didn't know how to respond.
"But, this moment, the moments that happen between us, being bonded to you, it's all such a new feeling. Something I had never experienced before."
I felt my body get hot, breathing slowly, not wanting to break the magic hapeneing between us. I looked up at him, his beautiful, memorizing golden eyes melting into mine. I wanted to sink into those eyes, just like the moment we had first lay eyes on each other – he left me breathless.
"I was protecting Andrew; I didn't want him to get involved. But, as you know, he refused."
"Train-"
"And I was protecting you. When you were small and living alone, I visited you a lot actually. You may not remember, but Andrew was gone a lot of the day, so I watched you. Watched you grow into this beautiful, smart, stunning woman. A woman who knows what she wants and who is stubborn." I heard a little bit of a chuckle escape his lips.
"That night you died, we had gotten notice before hand, Sephiria made the preparations. The first thing she asked was if I was willing to give my life up for you. And at the moment, I knew that it was what I would have done in a heartbeat." Trains hands slowly moved, climbing up to my cheek, pushing the loose hair around my face behind my ears.
"There was a time I would do anything for you," he mused, Train was close to me now, I could feel his cool breath on my sensitive skin, "and that clock is still ticking."
He slowly moved closer to me, his lips lightly brushing over mine.
I swallowed, my skin boiling and my heart beating so fast I was scared he would hear it.
Train didn't kiss me like that, though. Instead he turned his head slightly, looking up at the bright moon and the dazzling stars.
Still memorized by him, I couldn't tear my gaze away from him. He was so handsome; his high, strong jawline casting shadows along the hallows of his cheeks. Trains skin was light, and it looked, even felt, like cream. He surprisingly had longer eye lashes, but they created a dark, smoldering shadow over his eyes; it made him look mysterious, hot. God-like.
I couldn't help myself. Reaching out my hand, I touched his soft skin, my hand sliding up his cheek. He leaned into my hand, facing me again; his eyes were shining, those golden eyes drawing me in.
Impulsively, I ran my hand through his soft, spiky hair.
And then I kissed him.
We had only known each other a couple of months, but it had felt like years. Train kissed me back, it was chaste, and soft, his lips moving slowly with mine. I felt his hands cup both sides of my face and the kiss grew; in passion and intensity. He pulled me close, I was almost sitting on his lap, his body felt warm and hard against mine.
It felt perfect.
We just sat there, kissing each other, not touching or trying to rip each others clothes off. We were just a couple, sitting under the most extraordinary gift anyone could have ever given. Most boys gave the girl they liked flowers, chocolates even a ring. But not Train. He gave me the moon, the stars. He gave me the endless sky.
Train gave me infinity.
He had ended it, pulling away slowly, but stayed close. I could feel him rest his forehead on my own, our noses touching.
"This isn't some silly crush that I had the moment we met in the bar," Train whispered, but we were so close I could hear him clearly.
"That little girl, the one who could charm everyone around her with a single look. She was stubborn, refused to listen, but she always had good intentions. As you were a child, I knew that I wanted to protect you. It will always be you." Train laced his hand with mine. He hesitated for a moment and looked up from my hands. Those warm golden eyes surveyed me and something tightened in my chest.
"I watched that little girl grow into this beautiful, amazing woman, capable of doing anything she sets her mind to. She is still a little stubborn," Train chuckled a husky velvety tone, "but I will always protect you. I will always choose you, Rinslet." He slowly reached over, placing his large hand on my face and gently stroking the sides of my jaw.
I didn't want this moment to end. The bond intensified all of our feelings. It felt like I had walked through a tsunami, everything rushed in, fast and furious. I felt the bond pounding; like a heartbeat. Through the entire moment, I had not said anything. I let my feelings and our physic bond pour my heart out.
But I knew what was going to happen. I almost felt the snap before it actually happened. It was fast and quick, all the feelings that had felt so strong became fuzzy until they just disappeared. The snap against the edge of my mind stung this time.
The bond was gone just like that. I was suddenly aware of everything around us. The gentle howling of the wind, the rustling of the leaves and the heavy footsteps on the stone ground.
"Train! It's Creed, he is on the move!" Sven breathed.
Train stood up so fast I missed it, "we need to get out of here, where is Sephiria?"
"She and Eve are heading to the sacrifice grounds."
That word 'sacrifice' still stung, but I pushed the feelings away and stood up, "then we have to go. Now."
"No, we need Creed to come to us, we can't risk chasing him. He'll just use that to his advantage. It's one of his oldest tricks," Train hissed.
"I can't run, Train." I blurted.
"Rinslet, we can't have you stay here if he has sent for you. You need to be safe so you can make the change." Sven said.
"Does Creed know I'm a vampire? And what does changing got to do with any of this?"
Train grabbed my wrist and began to lead me out of the court yard, Sven following behind.
"Train, you're not answering my question again," I pointed out, he was stronger then me; he had years of experience plus he could probably lift twelve tons. Pulling my buck o'five body around was not a problem.
We were inside the dinning hall, where he sat me down. Train knelt in front of me, his hands covering mine just like in the court yard. I took a deep breath in, then slowly glanced at Sven. His face was almost expressionless – almost. I could see a hint of sadness and anger, they mixed together.
"I will wait outside," he excused himself, but I wanted to call him back.
Train took back my attention by pulling my arms slightly.
"Rins, for the sacrifice, there is two ways it can happen. The first way is; we can get Sephiria to place a spell of resuscitation on you before the ritual. But because you are super natural, odds are, the spell won't work."
"What?-"
"But the second way, is that you can make the change, and go into the sacrifice as a vampire. Creed does not know about that secret, he does not know you are a pure bred vampire. The way he must kill you would not kill a vampire," Train moved our hands, placing one of them over my heart, "he doesn't go for your heart in the ritual."
"But, I will still be semi-dead, won't I?"
"Creed needs other creatures from the night world. He needs one vampire to sacrifice, a witch to conduct the spell and you. Once you go down, he will begin to transform, and then we can take him out. Sephiria will take out his witch, Eve will be on the boundaries taking out what ever minions he happens to have protecting the area. Sven and I will proceed to kill Creed. But he will be stronger then us, and even if Sephiria could help, there is only one person who could kill him." He paused, his eyes that I remembered from the courtyard; those liquid, smoldering eyes turned to stone, full of seriousness and depth.
"Eldan, is the only vampire who can stop him."
"That's your ace?" I recalled from the cottage.
Train nodded, then stood up, pulling me with him, "which is why we need you safe, and why we need Creed to come to us. But not here. This castle has already lost too much."
We began heading out, Train pushed past the large doors, Sven just standing outside of them and he tagged along.
"Where are we going then?"
"I remember my homeland had caste a spell on the small valley of land around the castle. It was small, but worked for our property. It was a repel spell. It could read the intention of travelers or of night world beings, and if they had bad intentions, then they couldn't go through the town. The witches placed it because the valley was wealthy with gold and they didn't want people to take advantage of it. So they caste that spell." Train explained. We were already at the front doors, Sven ran ahead of us to his car.
"Is it still in effect?"
"We can only hope."
And with that Train pushed me into the car. Sven sat on the passenger side, and Train took the wheel. It didn't take him long to start the old engine before we were speeding off.
I was scared to sleep, scared to dream. So I kept myself awake by talking.
"You had mentioned Sephiria and Eve heading to the sacrifice grounds, where is that?" I had stretched myself out on the back seat. My head propped up by one of Eves forgotten black stuffed cats.
"Sephiria had a feeling that Creed would preform the ritual outside of the town in which he was born. She just wanted to get a feel, to see if there had been any restriction spells caste They should be meeting up with us later," Sven answered.
"Oh," I replied intelligently, "did you guys just leave Jenos at the castle?"
I was answered by silence. I sat up and tried again, "did you?"
Sven reclined his seat back, taking his hat off, "he found a way to escape by the time we got down there he was gone."
"Do you think he was with Creed?"
"Probably, but we can't say for sure." I found these answers, in a way, too nonchalant for the situation, but shrugged it off.
I glanced at Train, his eyes focused on the road, I had a funny feeling he didn't need to look to see where he was going. I settled with leaning over the back of Sven's reclined chair and playing with a loose stand of his soft silky hair.
"You guys never mentioned how you know each other," I pointed out.
"The typical way. Boy meets boy, boy saves boy, boy falls in love with boy," Sven laughed.
"Sveeny baby," Train joined in with his laughter this time too, giving him a silly nick name.
"I'm serious you guys," I reached over and smacked Trains arm.
Their laughter slowly faded, and I waited patiently.
"Train saved my life; then left. Then came back and did it again. It was always close by the town of Whittleton, so I asked what he was doing. But Train is stubborn. I had to follow him for days, prove I was 'worthy' of being his friend and gain his trust before he told me what he was up to."
Whoa. That's new. Sven having to be saved? "Saved from what?"
"The first time, I was just starting out as a vampire hunter. I went after an old Fern and they made me bite the dirt. Just as it was about to make the final blow, Train came out of no where; took him out in a single blow and burned him." Sven recalled.
"And the second time?"
"He didn't save my life the second time, I just saw him, followed him and found out he was to assassinate an entire pack of were wolves that had committed some horrible crimes, when I went to question him, some of the wolves he was assigned to kill surrounded us. I helped take some of them out this time, and right after he left."
I felt the air get serious. Train hated his past being brought up. I felt it chill my bones.
Laughing I said, "so this means you guys will be getting married soon, huh?" I needed to loosen the air.
I glanced over at Train, he was looking at me through the rear-view mirror. I raised an eye brow and smiled.
"No need to be jealous princess, we signed the divorce papers," Sven laughed.
"Too bad." I smiled. We continued on the road, I wasn't sure how long it would go down, so I had decided a nap was a good idea.
–
SVEN:
I could hear the soft snores of Rinslet in the back. I could also tell how hard she was trying not to fall asleep. She was scared of what was happening, but she did put up a good fight.
I closed my eyes, forcing myself to remember the way she had toyed with my hair. Her slender fingers touching me gently. I know these feelings were wrong. I had to stop them.
"You will take care of her, right?" I reclined the chair back up and took off my white blazer.
"Of course, Sven."
I turned, not wanting him to read the emotions showing on my face. I was, apparently, a open book. I blanketed her with the white blazer, she was curled up on the back seat, wearing her hair up, a fitting pair of sweats with a fitted white tank top.
She always looked so beautiful.
"So will you Sven," Trains voice cut through the air. I looked over at him, "you will protect her too. Always be there for her. I know you care about her and because you do, you will take care of her too."
I looked away out the window, I could feel a smile creep on my face, "yeah. I guess I will."
RINSLET:
I woke up to pounding on the car.
"What the hell?" I sat up, Train had the wipers on max but I couldn't see anything.
"There looks like an inn is up ahead," Train was nearly nose to nose, or glass, to the front window. It felt like we were driving at 5mph. I glanced out the window and noticed how fast the road seemed to go by, then checked the speed on the odometer. Nope. Train kept his good old fast speed.
"Are we stopping there?" I asked.
"We might have to, it's getting dangerous to stay on this road," Train pulled in quickly, there was a little shelter for the cars to stay under. Which was nice, I don't think Svens car could take much more.
Sven jumped out and opened my door, I grabbed his blazer putting it over my head and ran for it.
It was raining so hard, the rain pretty much piled up in between where my hands were holding it that it all fell through and onto me. Dropping and forgetting about the jacket I still ran for it, the rain stinging my bare skin.
We bolted through a set of doors.
"Oh my! Do you need a room?" A male voice announced.
"Yes, we do. For three if you can, luxury, this is a princess we are dealing with." In a flash Train was in front of him, I hinted compulsion laced in his tone.
"We only have single rooms available. Would you like three?"
Train hesitated for a moment, then looked back at Sven, "what do you think?"
"I would feel better knowing she's safe with us."
"A single room for three is fine," Train ordered and the gentleman reached for a key.
"Enjoy."
The room was small. Really really small. It was..well, just a room. A small tub in the middle of the cheap carpeted floor next to the bed and a bathroom to the left of the front door.
It wouldn't have been too bad if I had a change of clothes. But this was reality, no one gets to pack on a get away from the evil undead. I would have to either, stay in my wet clothes, or dance around the room naked, waiting for them to dry. I sighed.
Train and Sven must have noticed the problem as well.
"We will go get another room for ourselves, your highness." Sven bowed and began walking out.
I turned to face Train still standing there.
I can't let you stay here alone.
Well you don't have a choice, I don't want to be stuck in wet clothes. Nor do I want you in the room while I'm naked. I crossed my arm.
I can't let you stay in here alone. He said again.
I stepped closer to him, "Train, you can be right out the door. I promise nothing will happen. With both you and Sven here, I'm safer then safe." I touched his arm, "Please Train."
He hesitated only a moment before bowing, turning and closing the door.
Don't worry. We have our bond. I'm safe. I reassured him.
I wouldn't be able to get there fast enough if something happened. I could sense how worried he was.
I walked to the bathroom, grabbing a towel and started to take off the wet clothes.
You're a vampire, Not to mention one of the vampires with the oldest and strongest royal backgrounds. I trust that you could be here in a heartbeat. I don't' know how I had suddenly grew so chummy with the Night world or with any of it's history. But ever since this ordeal I had spent more and more time in the library of the academy, researching and understanding the mysterious, yet elegant, Beau Monde.
Rinslet...I could hear him sigh.
I kicked the clothes around the floor to the far corner of the room; they had left behind this wet trail and something hit me; bending down I dug around my clothes for one of the golden stakes I grabbed from Svens pocket when he blanketed me with his blazer. I knew it was wrong, but something told me to grab it and take it with me.
Placing it under the towel I held it tightly under my arm. As I got up to leave the room, I glanced towards the mirror.
The towel I wore was a creamy color, darker then me by a couple of shades. My hair looked greasy when I took it out of the pony tail I had it in for the last few days. It had gotten somewhat longer then it was. It hit my shoulders now. I leaned over the sink, suddenly fascinated by my appearance. I hadn't noticed any really big change, but I felt different. My eyes were the same, large almond shaped. They had made me look exotic, along with my high cheek bones. There was a slight flush on my cheeks, and my lips were slightly rosier then usual. But I still hadn't really noticed anything that could make me look different. I noticed Sven looked at me different. Not just the way he use to when we were together and I was crushing on him, it was like he saw something different. A new Rinslet he didn't see before.
And Train too..He looked at me differently.
"You're an idiot, right?" I heard a cold familiar voice coo.
I saw her standing in front of me, she appeared through the mirror, through my reflection. The pose was the same, everything the same except for what she wore. And of course, her neck.
She had something prerogative on as usual. A black one suit, it had a halter style band, the fabric fell loosely on her, it must have been silk. The middle fell all the way down to her stomach; showing off the sides of her breast and her flat waist.
"How so?" I heard a bitter laugh escape my mouth.
"It's nothing about how you look."At this point, she, or I, leaned in and I was no longer sure who had control over the movements between us, "it's what you've become." she whispered, "they like woman who know what they want, not impulsive little girls."
I blushed, "shut up."
"Why so bitter towards me?" She cocked her head to the side, a grin on her face.
I gave her a fierce look, shook my head and turned away from my reflection.
"I need you to change me."
"I need you to be stronger."
"You say you want to help, but how can you be helping if you refuse to change me? You're a vampire, you can kill him. It has nothing to do with me," I hated how my voice turned bitter towards the end. I spun back around to gaze at her. She was giving me a knowing look, her eyes deep with secrets.
"I need you to be stronger."
"I need you." I pressed myself up against the counter, placing my hand on the mirror; she reflected my movement, "I need you to help save the people I love."
"You have no idea what will happen."
I thought about her words for a moment. And something came over me; I thought of Eve, Sephiria, Sven and Train. They were all about to risk their lives, right from the beginning. Plus, they had probably lived a long time too. I didn't want to have this guilt that I felt now build up on me if something were to happen; I would be the ghost haunting the next red bonded individual. Call it a change of heart, but the consequences, I no longer cared about.
"I don't care about what will happen, I just want your help."
I remember seeing one last knowing look from those piercing eyes before she disappeared, my reflection melting back into the mirror.
It was just me and the bond again.
"Well, that's help," I sighed, walking out of the room. Eldan just came and went as she pleased. It was starting to make me mad.
Cold air touched my skin, making me shiver. I had remembered it being so warm. Snuggling more into the towel, I walked over to the bath and sat down near the facet, the water poured out of it fast and it was only going to be a couple of moments before I could be in peace.
You're going to have to teach me to turn off the bond for some peace, I joked.
I got up and walked around the room, waiting for my bath to fill. Tucking the towel in between my arm I walked towards the bed and sat on it. It wasn't as soft and fluffy as mine, but it was pretty measurable.
Something cold touched my skin and my spine shivered violently. I jumped up, turning around, pulling out the stake from the towel.
I had a sudden realization that it was too quiet; the bond was shut off.
"Who's here?" I had the stake out in front of me. Glancing around I realized how it got so cold; the delicate window curtains were blowing gently in the cool breeze, the window unlocked and completely open.
"Rinslet," I heard a male voice behind me. It was husky, and had a flirtatious tone. I knew it could only be one person. Jenos.
I turned around, but Jenos had me pinned to the ground before I could get close to him.
"Train!" I yelled before he muffled my mouth. I felt his mouth close to my ear, "I'm sorry about this Princess."
He let go of me for a moment before placing a clothed bag over my head. I kicked around, trying to free myself, but almost instantly he wrapped something around my wrists, restraining me.
Train! Jenos!
I knew the bond was closed, I had only wished that it wasn't. I felt something sharp go into my thigh, and almost instantly my body went numb.
"Up we go," Jenoes mused, lifting my body off the ground.
"Tra-" I tried yelling again but my voice failed me. I heard the sound of rain pattering on the ground, then I heard the sound of a car door open. Jenos lay me down on the seat. The door shut and another one opened and instantly we were off.
"Just give it a moment princess, the medicine will kick in."
It did. Right after he said that my eyelids fell. I let the darkness around me consume me. Even though I was sitting in the back seat of a car, being treated like a criminal, I remembered what Jenoes had said.
I'm sorry about this Princess.
The last thought I had was that I knew I could trust him.
AUTHORS NOTES:
You're all done? Still alive? I know it was really long this time, the next one won't be so long . anyways, just some notes;
The series is coming to an end! (OMG) I have all the rough drafts done it's just a matter of typing them up and editing! So probably another two or three chapters left and it's the end!
Another thing to note is that I had added a quick charcter change in the middle, it's from Svens prespective, and it's just to give you a taste of the final bit of the triangle.
Rinslet has to go through so much in a day, I would be exshausted 0 Anyways, this chapter really goes over some of the missing links that I needed and wanted to patch up, next chapter look forwar to;
Can Rinslet really put her faith in Jenos? After being sedated what happens after? Will Sven risk loosing his friendship with Train and his loyalty to Rinslet if he does not push his feelings aside? Creed is on the move, but will Rinslet have enough time to prove to her vampire that she is stong enough to make the change? And of she is, what is the consequence of Eldans help?
All of this and more in the next chapter!
Thank-you once more guys, you are truest of true readers, and you have no freakin' idea how much I love love love you guys for keeping up with tardiness! So just keep up with me, we have a little bit more of a ride to go and it's all over! I want to apologize to you guys also, my ideas are always all over the place and my rough drafts are the same, so information is randomly thrown all over the place, but thank god, university has changed that, somewhat! Just thank you for keeping up with me, I really really appreciate it!
Cassie 3