Ara'Manth land of the Vampires
Meredith was sitting like a lifeless doll. Her food untouched in front of her on the table. There came a flicker of life in her eyes when she heard the door being unlocked, but when she saw who it was she inwardly steel herself from what's to come.
"Good morning dear cousin." Elena said happy with a bright smile.
There came no response from Meredith.
Elena narrowed her eyes. "My servants are telling me that you refuse to eat. Look at you. Do you think starving yourself to death will bring your little witch friend back?"
And still there came no response from Meredith.
"I see." Elena said sinisterly and she smiled coldly at Meredith. "Maybe you want to drink blood ... for eternity. You see cousin I will personally turn you into one of us. I think its about time you join me by my side. What do you think?" Elena asked with cold eyes.
So what if she turns me into one of them. I can stake myself and end it all. Meredith thought bitterly. No. I have to stay alive for Bonnie. I'm their witness. I'm going to honour Elizabeth's memory. She offered her young life for me and that of her kind.
Meredith swallowed the bile down that threatened to come out, and picked up a piece of bread and bite into it. With a dry mouth she chew on the hard bread.
Elena smiled softly and said. "We will make you pretty and dress you in the most beautiful ball gown. I'm going to introduce my cousin formally to my council."
Meredith wanted to role her eyes, but stopped just in time.
"I'm thinking blue or what about white? I have so many gowns you can pick anyone you want. Or even better we can make you one." Elena said excitedly.
Meredith put the piece of bread down and looked at Elena. "Does your people know that the empress have witch blood." Meredith asked with a cold smile.
Elena slapped Meredith so hard that she flew off her stool and slide over the cold floor. Blood spurting from her nose. Elena then vamp speed to where Meredith was laying helplessly. She picked Meredith up by her throat and held her against the wall. Slamming the poor girls head hard against the wall.
"Do not test me. You are alive because of me, and don't you ever forget that. You no use daughter of a whore." Elena said coldly.
Meredith struggled in vain against the choke hold Elena had her in.
"Do tell who your real father is little Mer? You don't even know who your real father is." Elena said mockingly.
Meredith glared at Elena.
"Of course you would not know. Your mother was well known at the taverns and very generous with her ... you know what little Mer ... Anyone of those drunks and low lives could be your father." Elena sigh. "Looks like daddy issues runs in our family, but at least I knew the monster who created me." Elena dropped Meredith to the floor and stepped away from her. She looked at the crying girl and said. "Stop with the tears. Your not a little girl anymore."
Meredith glared up at Elena and said. "Your not worth my tears."
Elena looked long and hard at Meredith. "Of course I'm not Mer. No one should be worth your tears. You are stronger then this. We are family after all. We have the same blood running through our veins." Elena said softly.
Elena bend down and she softly stroke Meredith's hair. "Tonight's feast will be in your honour. For once I'm truly feeling happy, and I want my last remaining family to be happy with me. I do need you by my side Mer. We used to get along so well when we were little girls."
Meredith looked at Elena and scoffed. "Stop with the drama Elena. Your not a little girl anymore."
Elena throw her head back and laughed. She stood up and smiled down at Meredith. "I'm sending my servants to take care of you. My personal tailor will be with you later. Who knows, you might meet your prince tonight Mer." Elena walked out leaving a fuming Meredith behind.
-X-
Near the borders of Alfheim land of the Elves
Bonnie and the guys find themselves in a beautiful thick dench mystic forest. Utter silence surrounded them. There was no wind, but yet the green leaves of the trees moved slowly as if a calm breeze was blowing. Water droplets floated from the forest floor and from the leaves up to the sky. The top of the trees grew so thick and close together that there hardly shine any light through.
"Keep close and do not let your guards down. I do not trust the silence." Amarog said and when he took another step he tripped over a tree root and almost fell on his face.
"Well I never thought I would live the day to say this to you. You are not in your realm anymore." Bonnie said with a smile and help Amarog up to his feet.
Sandalio sniffed in the air and then he put his finger on his lips. Signalling for them to keep quiet. He nodded with his head up to the trees.
It was then that an arrow went passed his head at a high speed. Ulmar caught the arrow just in time before it could pierce Ruelle's skull.
The guys armed themselves and circled protectively around Bonnie. Their eye colours changing to that of their werewolf form, silver grey, gold, yellow, green, brown, olive, deep blue and orange.
"Reveal yourself or pay with your life." Amarog said in a deadly calm voice.
Another arrow came down quickly from the trees. Amarog blocked it with the blade of his knife. He smirked and said. "Brothers I see we are going to do this the hard way."
"No wait, please." Bonnie said and placed her hand on his arm to stop him from jumping from the ground to a high branch in the tree.
Amarog gritted his teeth. "Now is not the time to play nice little witch or do you want the next arrow to hit its mark?" He snapped at her.
"Must you always be so hard headed?" she snapped back.
"Can't you see their taunting us?" He said with fuming eyes. "And I'll be damned if I have to lose you or my brothers."
"Just for once let me handle this." Bonnie said softly.
Amarog sigh. "Fine, but if you don't succeed then were doing this my way."
The duo stared at each other before Bonnie stepped away from him. She looked up at the trees and said. "I am Bonnie Bennet. I seek an audience with your princess Caroline. This is of thee outmost importance."
The silence that followed was nerve wrecking.
"Please, no blood have to be shed here today." Bonnie said.
"Why?" a voice asked.
"I believe that is for the Eleve princess. We mean you no harm." Bonnie said.
The leaves rustled and a figure was visible on a tree branch. A black cloak covered the face. Only the eyes was visible. With an acrobatic movement the figure somersaulted from the branch and landed gracefully on the ground in front of Bonnie.
The guys immediately stepped in front of Bonnie.
"A witch with wolves. Now that's something you don't see everyday." The masked figure said in an amusing voice.
Ruelle snickered. "What is there for you to see anyway?, besides staring at the sky everyday with your mouths open." He said with sarcasm.
Wolfgang gave him a warning look.
"Well seeing that I'm kind off bored from staring at the sky all day with my mouth wide open." The masked figure said faking bored ness. "Why don't we do things differently today. I shall let you enter that's if the witch can beat me in combat."
Amarog smirked. "Not before you go through me." He said with anger.
The guys stepped in front of Bonnie. "And us." Rudolph said with fuming gold eyes.
The masked figure laughed and asked them. "Cant the witch speak for herself. What will happen if she finds herself alone and you are not there to protect her?"
"The witch can speak for herself and she excepts your challenge." Bonnie said as she stepped out from behind the guys.
Amarog stopped her. "Aldolpha I can take him on. You don't have to prove anything to this creature." He said with pleading eyes.
Bonnie touched his cheek softly. "He is right. What will happen if I find myself alone. I can do this Amarog. I will answer his challenge."
"I promise I won't kill your witch." The masked figure said mockingly.
"Believe me you won't get the chance to do that." Wolfgang said to the masked figure.
"Brothers as long as I get to skin him." Vilks said with a smirk.
Ulmar handed Bonnie his knife with a long blade and said. "Remember what I taught you and do not let him get too close. He is very light on his feet. You must be lighter Aldolpha."
The guys made a circle around Bonnie and the masked figure.
The masked figure had his weapon ready in hand. A short sword with a gold handle. He lightly bowed in front of Bonnie.
"You ready witch?" the masked figure asked with a laugh.
"As ready as I can be." Bonnie said and stepped forward swinging her knife, but it was blocked, and Bonnie was pushed back and landed on her behind.
The masked figure advanced on Bonnie and with its sword he strike at Bonnie's head. She blocked the blow just in time and kicked hard with her left feet into the stomach of her opponent. Bonnie got up quickly to her feet.
"That's it Aldolpha." Rudolph and Ulf said.
Bonnie and her opponent went back and forth and it was clearly that Bonnie's arms was getting tired while her opponent was still dancing around Bonnie.
Amarog looked on with concern. This masked man is taunting the little witch. Amarog thought to himself, and that same thought was running through Wolfgang's mind.
"Stop fighting with anger little witch." The masked figure said to Bonnie and blocked one of Bonnie's many blows. "Fighting with anger will make you blind to what your enemies next move will be. Like this." Bonnie's feet was kick out from under her and this time she fell on her back. Bonnie glared up at the masked figure.
The masked figure reached out his hand to Bonnie and asked. "Need a helping hand?"
Bonnie stood up ignoring the masked figure's hand and said with a smirk. "Stop holding back. Give me your all."
"As you wish witch." The masked figure said and advanced on Bonnie, but this time she was ready. Bonnie did a flip back. Her legs kicking her opponent under the chin. The masked figure landed on his back. Bonnie advance quickly and jumped on the masked figure. Disarming him and hitting him hard on the jaw with her tiny fist.
There was stunned silence. Bonnie looked up at the guys in disbelieve. "I won." She said with a smile, and as soon as she said that Bonnie was flipped over and landed on her back with the masked figures blade at her throat.
The guys came rushing to her aid, but Bonnie stopped them.
"Never let your guard down Bonnie." The masked figure said and removed the black cloak.
The guys gasps including Bonnie who looked up at the beautiful young woman. Her hair was the colour of the sun. She had beautiful piercing blue eyes and pointy elven ears. She was truly a beauty, and for the first time they noticed the golden light around her.
The young woman helped Bonnie to her feet with a soft smile.
Bonnie looked back at the guys and they were all kneeling on one knee with their heads bowed in respect, and then it clicked. She is standing in the presence of the Elven Princess Caroline. Bonnie quickly dropped to her knees, but Caroline stopped her with a laugh.
"You don't ever have to kneel or bow in front of me Bonnie."
"But you are the princess of Alfheim." Bonnie said to Caroline.
"And you are a Queen. Come I believe there is someone who would love to meet you after all these years." Caroline said excitedly.
"Not without my brothers." Bonnie said quickly before Caroline can whisk her away.
"But of course. You are all welcome to enter Alfheim." Caroline said with a cheery smile.
Ara' Manth land of the Vampires
Meredith looked around at the many faces at the long dinning room table who was fitted with a feast fit for kings and queens. The empress was entertaining her generals and council with childhood stories of Meredith.
All lies. Meredith thought as she looked at Elena. Elena had the ability to change her moods and appearances like a chameleon when it best suits her, and what Meredith have heard so far from the servants when they talked in front of her thinking that she Meredith was not all right in her mind, is that some of the generals don't like the young Empress. Some even accuse her of taking the thrown herself, but they did not dare to say this in front of her. The soldiers are loyal to their generals. Elena needs the good graces of the generals and with her bloodhound Lucian not here whose to say they can't retaliate against her. Meredith thought to herself.
Damon was sitting like a king by Elena's side. Whispering or nibbling on her ear. The sight made Meredith sick to her stomach. Damon is now in command of his own legion of soldiers. Elena made him a high ranking general. What's next? The title of Emperor of Ara'Manth. If so, he will have more power than Elena. Meredith thought bitterly.
"Why the long face. This feast is in your honour fair lady." Said a young general with dark brown hair and green eyes who was seated next to her.
"I'm sitting with a table full of vampires. All devouring food like they actually needed it, while I know what they really crave for. Power. Blood." Meredith scoffed. "So feast all you want, while you still can."
The young general put the piece of chicken down that he was going to bite into and turned his head side ways to Meredith and said. "If I must confessed myself I'm also tired of this circus and it looks like the ring master and her clown is just starting." He said and nodded in Elena and Damon's direction.
Meredith could not stop the laugh that came over her. Elena looked up at her and gave her a smile of approval.
Meredith ignored Elena. She turned to the general and asked in a sweet voice. "What is your name general?"
The young general who clearly admires Meredith gave her an adoring smile and said. "General Brander."
Meredith gave the general her most prettiest smile. Well general you can come in handy as an ally. Meredith thought to herself and picked up the piece of chicken from the generals plate and hand it to him. "Eat for we have to keep up appearances in this circus." She said sinisterly.
At The Border of The Dark Woods Of Armagh Land of the Werewolves.
It was night time with a full moon. Seven men in dark cloaks on horses were discussing Bonnie's whereabouts with the she wolf Sandstorm. One of these men was Lucian.
"She bewitched our leader and his pack to follow her." Sandstorm said venomously.
"You should see the destruction she caused in Ara'Manth. She must be stopped." Lucian lied to the alpha she wolf.
"And I know where she is heading. She is going to Alfheim. If you hurry you will catch her there, but leave Amarog and his pack unharmed. They are all under her wicked spell, and when you find her make her death slowly and painfully." Sandstorm said in a cold voice that will send shivers down your spine.
Sandstorm left the vampires with a light heart. She knows her life will mean nothing if she gets caught, but if the vampires find this witch then her Amarog will come back to her once the witch is death. That is the only way to break her curse over him and his pack. It was a bitter pill to swallow for her as a pride alpha she wolf who was born to be Amarog's mate and rule Armagh by his side to be kicked aside for some dirty little witch. The humiliation was and is still unbearable. She begged Amarog in tears on her knees to stay in Armagh and let the witch fight her own battle, but he turned his back on her. I will forgive him for his foolishness, but not before he, Amarog begs me for my forgiveness. Sandstorm thought foolishly to herself.
"What now master Lucian?" One of the vampires asked.
"We must return back to Ara'Manth at once. We must consult with our Empress." Lucian said to them.
Alfheim land of the Elves.
The fog was thick around them as they floated on a giant big leave on a river through Alfheim. They could not see the water below them and to Bonnie it felt like they were the only ones left in the world flying in the sky. Beautifully heavenly voices hymning in harmony could be heard through the fog. It sounded so beautiful to Bonnie that tears formed in her eyes. She thought back to that time where she and Meredith was at Ara'Manth's festival. They were so excited to finally see elves at the festival, only to find out that it was not real elves, but humans with fake pointy ears pretending to be elves. Bonnie was so disappointed, but Meredith promised her that elves do exist and that one day they will see them together.
"They do exist Mer and they have real pointy ears." Bonnie said softly to herself. She felt Amarog's strong hand taking hers in his.
"Now I also know they do exist." He said to her and smiled.
The leave boat stopped and Princess Caroline turned around to them with a beautiful smile. "The Castle of the Elves you may follow me." She said to them.
The fog cleared away and in front of them stood a majestic enchanting tree castle. They walked behind Caroline in awe of the shape and structure of this magical tree castle.
Elves came out perfectly in line and devided in two straight lines along the steps. Two more elves came out and rolled out a long white carpet that stopped at the end of the steps.
"Seriously" Caroline said annoyed and rolled her eyes.
A man with angelic soft features and the greenest of eyes came out and stood at the top of the stairs. He looked directly at Bonnie. This man was Prince Eroan. Caroline's older brother.
Bonnie felt the mans eyes on her and became uncomfortable. They were almost at the top of the stairs when Prince Eroan came down in a daze. He reached out both hands to Bonnie and said. "You look just like your mother little one."
Bonnie swallowed hard and said. "Your ... highness knew my mother?"
The man smiled softly and touched Bonnie's curls in wonder. One tear drop rolled over his cheek. "She was the love of my life. The mother of my only heir."
"The ... the .. what?" Bonnie stumbled out.
"She never told you?" The Prince asked astonished. He looked at her with soft eyes and said. "Your my daughter Anvardiya."
Bonnie felt the world spinning around her. Everyone's faces blended in with each other. The heavenly singing voices of the elves sounded too loud in her ears. Amarog asked her if she was fine, but his voice sounded so far and her tongue felt suddenly too thick to answer him. She looked at their concerned faces, before she closed her eyes and let the welcoming darkness swallow her.
