Rise of the Vampire Queen
Chapter Eleven
Thunder roared as Nadine and Zeus streaked through the sky. A loud boom erupted each time their punches connected. Lightning strike when their sword clashed.
It was hard for both demigods and immortals to keep up with the fight. Lydia didn't bother. She sat on the steps with Elizabeth joining her.
"I thought you would be watching the fight, with Natalia being your mother," Lydia said.
"How do you know that?" Elizabeth asked.
Lydia pointed to her ears. "Hyper sensitive, good for hearing long distances and fights."
"Hence why you're not watching the fight," Elizabeth said.
"That and also I don't want the eyestrain."
Elizabeth smiled a little, followed by a chuckle.
"Ah, a smile and laugh that's what I like to see," Lydia said, looking deep into Elizabeth's eyes. "Yet your eyes hold so much sadness.
"It was my fault all this happened," Elizabeth said. "If I haven't don't what I did…."
Lydia laid her hand on Elizabeth's shoulder.
"All of this was meant to happen, even the parts I didn't see coming."
"But I did such a horrible thing,"
"I understand, but I know deep down you can overcome this if not now some day."
Elizabeth sighed. "I don't know. I don't think I can."
Natalia and Zeus zoomed by clashing swords. A jolt of lightning zapped Dionysus, knocking him off his feet. Shaking his head, Dionysus winced as a tingling sensation ran up and down his body.
Celeste was by his side in a heartbeat as the electrical charge dance around his body. Celeste reached out to him, but Chiron pulled her hand back.
"I don't think that's wise."
Chiron and Celeste watched as Dionysus continued shaking his head. It didn't take long for his while body to follow suit.
Shaking violent Dionysus' red skin disappeared. His long nails return to normal as the curled horns on his head disappeared. Even his fangs were done. After a few more moments, Dionysus was back to his old self.
The electrical sparks parted as Dionysus looked down at his hands. His eyes widen the redness was gone. Touching his face and his head, he no longer felt the horns or its scales. He checked his teeth they were normal as well.
Looking at Chiron and Celeste with overwhelming joy within in his eyes.
"I am me again,"
Celeste smiled as she helped Dionysus to his feet.
"You were already you, just in another form,"
"Well, I'm glad to be fully me again."
Celeste and Dionysus chuckled as Chiron smiled. It surprised him when they hugged him, which he gladly returned.
"I am glad to have you both back to your senses," Chiron said.
The three of them smiled. They were one again. Chiron looked at Elizabeth, who was sitting with Lydia. The moment she looked at Chiron, she looked away. But not before seeing nothing but sadness and guilt within her eyes.
"Child…I understand how you feel and I hope one day you can find peace."
Percy, Annabeth, and Grover ducked as Natalia and Zeus zip over their heads, shattering the windows of the tavern. Lydia stood up, huffing.
Percy, Annabeth, and Grover smiled. Percy looked at his friends. Je was glad to see them again, along with Chiron. Dionysus and Celeste. Thanks to his father, his mind was his own again. He didn't forget his time in the mansion. The vampires would always push him around while Natalia made him drink that blood.
But it was Elizabeth who kept the vampires off him most of the time. After drinking the blood, Elizabeth would have his favorite drink: blue cherry coke waiting for him. They would even explore the mansion when Natalia and Jeffery were out. While playing games in the halls and staircase.
Percy always knew something bothered Elizabeth, for while she had a smile on her lips, her eyes were always sad. Now he knew the burden Elizabeth carried and while he should be angry, he couldn't be. For she was the light in the darkness that surrounded. She helped him survive and returned him to where he belonged.
"Elizabeth… thank you."
Looking from the forest at Zeus and Natalia zip through the sky. Elizabeth sighed. Were all Apdroph's were like her mother, bound on nothing but consuming the world?
Elizabeth's eyes widen and as a beam of light crashed in front of her. Looking down, it was Natalia, bruised and broken from head to toe. Natalia raised her hand, reaching out to Elizabeth, her eyes longing to touch her child, but Elizabeth stepped back just enough out of her reach.
"Child…" Natalia strained, still reaching out to Elizabeth.
Another Apdroph?" Zeus said, looking at the young woman Natalia was reaching out to.
"Inhaling deeply, his electric blue eyes flickered.
"You're the one that held Dionysus' scent," Zeus said, leaning closer to Elizabeth, taking in another whiff.
Elizabeth stepped back again, bowing her head to the king of the gods.
"Yes, my name is Elizabeth King. I have recently found out I am an Apdroph, and that she is my mother." Elizabeth said, looking at Zeus.
Seeing her respect, Zeus backed up, but he was curious about her so he kept his eyes on her.
"She wants you to help her, will you?"
Elizabeth looked down at her Natalia, whose eyes continued pleading with her. Her mind and heart were struggling to answer. They were in a constant flux. While she told Natalia she wouldn't join her side, her heart didn't agree. She had just found her mother, be it she is a crazy immortal snake woman, bound on ruling the world. She was her mother, none of the less.
Even though she treated her with kindness and ever harmed a hair on her head and never raised her voice to her, she couldn't forgive her for the things she made her do. If Camp Half Blood taught her anything, it's that everyone must face justice.
Elizabeth pulled her eyes away from Natalia. Looking at Zeus she bowed to him and opened her mouth.
"No, I will not" I apologize for my part in her twisted plan and I will forever seek to repent for what I have done." Elizabeth said as she stepped aside, ignoring Natalia's gaze.
"Interesting and independent, Apdroph," Zeus said, glaring down at Natalia.
Natalia looked at Zeus. She tried to push herself off the ground, but fell back down. Zeus laughed, but his eyes were dead serious as electrical bounced within them.
"You no longer have your master's blood within you, nor Dionysus. You're just a normal Apdroph."
Natalia swallowed hard as fear flashed in her eyes. She looked at Elizabeth, whose eyes looked straight ahead. Looking down, Natalia took a deep breath before glaring back at Zeus.
"Do you worse!" For when I return, you will be the one who has fallen!" Natalia shouted.
"A threat huh," Zeus said, followed by a smirk as a loud boom of thunder bellowed above them. "Very well, goodbye."
Snapping his fingers, a lightning bolt struck Natalia, vaporizing her.
Zeus looked at Elizabeth.
"Are you sure you hold not ill will toward me for what I have done?" Zeus asked.
"No, I do not, for justice has been served." Elizabeth said.
Zeus smiled. "You truly are an interesting one Ms. King I expected to see great things from you in the future."
"I won't let you down,"
Nodding, Zeus disappeared.
Elizabeth remained in the forest as she looked at everyone by the tavern. Taking a deep breath since all this happened, she could finally relax.
Zeus appeared before Percy long with everyone else. He looked at Percy with a firm nod. Percy looked back at Zeus and nodded back. Zeus made his way over to Dionysus, Chiron, and Celeste.
Chiron and Celeste bowed as Zeus looked at Dionysus.
"Back to your old self," Zeus said, followed by a smile.
"Yes, thank you, father," Dionysus said.
Zeus smiled, looking at Celeste and Chiron. He laughed.
"The Trinity is back, but no more of these wild promises," Zeus warned, waving his finger at them.
"Yes sir," Dionysus and Celeste said.
Smiling, Zeus moved on to Lydia, who had her arms crossed looking at him. Glancing around at all the shattered glass on the ground, he nodded. With An electrical flicker in his eyes and whirling motion of his hands all the shattered glass returned to the window as if never being broken.
Lydia smiled, bowing to Zeus. "Thank you."
"You are most welcome," Zeus said, followed by a smile.
"Due to you generosity I will give you some words of advice." Lydia said leaning closer to Zeus, "Remember Natalia's words for what she said is the truth."
Frowning, Zeus merely nodded. He looked back at Percy, running over to Elizabeth.
"I see great things from her. Pity her heart is filled with so much guilt," Zeus said.
"As can I, but don't worry, she'll be in good hands," Lydia said.
Zeus nodded, disappearing in a flash of lightning.
In the forest, Elizabeth backed up further into the forest as Percy approached her. He stopped a few inches away from her.
The two stared at each other for a few moments before a sigh left Percy's lips
"Its funny. I should be mad at you, but I am not." Percy paused. "I see you as a friend, Elizabeth.
"I don't deserve your friendship, nor do I deserve to walk in the light anymore," Elizabeth said, backing up even more.
"Elizabeth, it was Natalia who did all of this," Percy said.
"No, Percy. I choose to follow her blindly. Elizabeth said, followed with a heavy sigh. "Now I need to find where I belong."
"Good luck," Percy said, extending out his hand.
Elizabeth shook her head, dipping further into the shadows.
Aphrodite appeared beside Percy just as Elizabeth disappeared.
"I didn't have time to apologize to her," Aphrodite said. "I said such horrible things to her."
Percy sighed. "Even if you did, I don't think she would be ready to accept it."
Aphrodite looked at Percy said.
"When she's finally settled and has found her place in this world, maybe then you can apologize and she will accept me as her friend."
Nodding, Aphrodite disappeared as Percy walked back to the others.
Two months later, roaming under the night sky, Elizabeth roamed from town and town. If she spotted anything unusual causing a threat, she would take care of it. Yet no matter how many problems she fixed, her heart remained the same cold and full of guilt and regret.
Until one night after clearing out a pack of goblins in an alleyway behind a restaurant. Elizabeth was wiped off her sword when her ears twitched. Dipping back into the shadows, her eyes remained fixed on a woman with brown hair wearing a woman wearing a black shirt and matching pants with a gold yellow blazer.
Elizabeth's eyes narrowed as the woman pulled out a folder. Clearing her throat, she opened it up.
"Elizabeth king, age 20, species Apdroph." The woman said.
Elizabeth emerged from the shadows. The moment the alley way light turned back, she made sure the keep out of their range.
"You know me, But I don't know you?" Elizabeth said.
The woman smiled. "My name is Helen Williams, head librarian of the GSL." Helen said.
"GSL?" Elizabeth asked, raising an eyebrow.
"The Golden Sun Library, we've been monitoring you for a while, Ms. King," Helen said. "We would like you to join us."
Elizabeth turned away. "Sorry I am no librarian."
"Oh, we do more than just book work," Helen said, followed by a smirk.
With her back to Helen, Elizabeth looked over her shoulder.
"Why are you looking for me, anyway?"
"Do you remember Lydia, the owner of the hawk moon tavern?" Helen said.
"Yeah…" Elizabeth said
"Well, she called me and said you would be a perfect candidate for our cause," Helen said. "She also said you want to repent for what you have done. If you join us, you'll be able to do that and more."
Elizabeth turned around, looking at the ground and sighed. Could this be what she was looking for?
Turning around, she looked at Helen, who extend her hand out to her. Elizabeth was thinking about taking it when a loud roar interrupted them, followed by screams.
"Hm seems another threat has moved in," Helen said.
"Seems so care to join me in a hunt, Ms. Williams?" Elizabeth asked.
"I'd love you,"
Elizabeth and Helen walked to the end of the alley. Elizabeth pulled out her sword as Helen pulled off her blazer and wrapped it around her waist, revealing a quiver across her back as she pulled out her bow.
"A bow user interesting. Shall we go?"
"Lets oh and Ms. King?"
Elizabeth looked at Helen.
"Welcome to The Golden Sun,"
A smile tugged at the corner of Elizabeth's lips as Helen charged out of the alley with Helen by her side. While she wasn't sure if she made the right choice, she had a feeling she wouldn't regret it.
Percy Jackson and his friends will return in The Snake God