I followed my mother's servant as he led me out of the castle keep and into a maze of hedges. Rose bushes climbed along the hedges, vines wound up and around, branching overhead unnaturally, creating a thorny and ominous view overhead.
I took it all in, my face impassive. My mother had certainly grown more interesting in all that was gaudy in this realm that she ruled over. I thought back to the family estate with its refined, but much more subdued décor and tones. The chaotic splashes of color throughout black and white that met the eye here, were becoming a pain to my better senses.
My mother awaited me, sipping tea in what I could feel to be a magically protected alcove of the garden. It vibrated with her power. I gritted my teeth, dark memories stirring, knowing what her magic felt like when turned against me.
She gave me a sickeningly sweet smile.
"Regina, my dear, come, sit." It was not a request.
I held her gaze, but I did not hesitate. I would not play her games.
She passed a cup of tea to me. I raised an eyebrow with disinterest.
"What is it that you want, Mother?" I made sure to bare my pointed teeth, a reminder that I wasn't interested in tea for a reason.
She ignored my attempt to intimidate her, pouring herself another cup of tea.
"I was merely interested in your answer, dear." She turned her cold gaze on me. We held hard stares for a time. Minutes ticked by. I realized there was a clock somewhere in the garden, my enhanced senses catching the ticks as they tocked our locked gaze away.
It was a hair-raising roar that broke our staring contest.
"What is going on?" My mother gestured for one of her guards who stood watch nearby. He hurried toward her.
"Find the source of the commotion. Take care of it." She ordered.
I watched him hurry to do as he was told. The roaring grew louder. I listened, until it seemed to be moving away, I could hear other voices, a shout, and then silence.
Whatever, or whoever it was, it was over with.
"Perhaps a few more days to decide, mother?" I was making a risky decision, I knew, but I couldn't take her home with me. I needed to figure out how to leave her, free her people, and perhaps upend her rule.
I noticed the twitch in her jaw as she turned toward me.
"Why do you hesitate, Regina?" I felt the anger radiating from her, it had to be strong to be felt in her heartless state.
"I offer you an army, one that could protect that child from all that is to come." Her voice was hard, cold as she spoke.
I stood from my seat.
"Surely mother, you don't want me to just take what you offer without at least some kind of demonstration?" I had to play this correctly, or she would see through the manipulation. She watched me with interest. There was that hint of underlying curiosity somewhere.
"What kind of ruler to my house would I be, if I were to just take what you offer, without knowing exactly what it is you offer?" I placed a hand on the table, holding her gaze steadily. I had to play the Mistress of a vampire house in this moment. I had to make her believe I was serious.
My mother seemed to really contemplate my words. To take in what I said. Her pragmatism was going over my request. Her greed battled with it, trying to decide which was more important, her lust for power, or her understanding of how to gain that power.
"Fine." She raised a hand. "One week."
"One week and you must have your decision."
I smiled. One week is all I would need.