A soft knock was heard coming from my door, pulling me out of my heavy, nightmare filled dreams. I sat up as I pulled the sheet closer to my body. I didn't know I had come in back to my room in the castle, nor did I know what time it was. I groaned as my body ached. My cheeks were puffy and red, my lips slightly swollen.
I looked outside and the sun had barely risen. I was assuming it was early morning and I looked to the door.
"May I come in, miss?"
"Absolutely, Clara."
"I didn't wanna disturb your sleep," Clara said with a gentle smile spread on her lips, "I am going to fill your bath tub for you now. Your breakfast will be done once you are done with your bath."
Clara was an old lady who had been with my father way before I was ever born. She was an old, sweet lady who had never married or bore any children. But it didn't stop her from spreading love and happiness to everyone around her.
When my mother died, Clara had been the one to help raise me. But since she was human, I could never truly relate to her. But it never stopped Clara from taking care of me, not even now, when I was reaching my 17th year in a few short months.
I quickly slipped into the warm water as soon as my bath was done. Clara left a long, cream coloured gown on my bed for me to wear. I quickly did my thing, not wanting to stay longer in the tub than absolutely necessary.
I held my breathe as I stepped out of the castle. There were 5 horses with each an assigned carriage. That'd be enough for at least 5 families. But we were more than that.
"The families with kids go in the carriages. The enforcers carry as much of the luggage as possible, the rest goes in the carriages."
I looked around, many wives clinging to their husbands side for safety, a new born baby in a small fabric hanging from one shoulder down across their chests.
After a long hike ride, we had finally arrived at our stop-destination for the night. The guards were putting up the tents, while the ones who had been carrying the food and all the other supplies necessary were making up a fire and bringing out the fish that had been caught in the nearby river.
"So what's your next stop, princess?" I heard my father ask me from behind.
"Find out who the monster was that brought slaughter upon our home, and bring our people back home, to safety."
He nodded, looking me straight into my eyes before moving along onto his tent.
I smiled lightly as I looked around to the people around us.
We may have lost many people, but there was still those who chose to trust in us. Those that remained truthful to us, and remained hopeful. Those that chose to believe that instead of grieving the loved ones, we'd get our vengeance and made sure whomever had brought us this would suffer.
The sun was slowly starting to come down behind the mountain tops, as people ran with their small children into the river. They sat on slippery rocks splashing their feet into the water as the stream ran passed them, the enforcers and protectors of our coven making sure they were okay and in the mean time, catching our dinner.
After dinner and when everyone was settled into each ones tent, I tiredly slouched over onto mine.
The night was quiet as the only noises heard was nightly animals, and the water running right outside our tent. It was nice, it was different.
Back home, the only noises were heard were the chatters of our protectors, the people coming to visit us and brings us gifts. Baked bread, fabrics from another village, travellers wanting to stop by and say hi.
Not that I minded those things, but it was nice with a change of scenery. Something more nature like, something where you felt free.
The tent opened up, and I flew out of my comfy, neatly stocked piles of sheets.
"Just relax," I heard a familiar voice, "It's just me."
I grinned as I saw Drake's face pop through as he slipped into the tent. A breathe of relief came out of me as I looked at him. The pit that was burning making his skin glow like never before.
It was easy when things got fired up that you forget the simplest of things in life, the beauty of how things should be.
"You know, my father would absolutely kill you if he saw this," I grinned as Drake came closer to me.
"You know, I don't care," He said back with a smile as he grabbed me softly and kissed me, "I missed you."
"I missed you too," I said with a smile. His hands fell down my waist, tugging at the fabric of the long dress I was wearing. His lips found their way onto mine again, as we fell against each other.
The next morning, a loud scream awoke the two of us. Drake was out of the tent quicker than I was.
When I came out, a woman was crying over a bloodied way. The way was leading to a huge brick wall, and it looked like a house had once stood on that spot. But it had been burnt down ages ago.
On the wall, there was a saying, and it was all written in blood.
We will find her.
I sent a look to my father, and he looked away. I raised my eyebrows questioningly, but he didn't seem interested in looking my way. Something was kept from me, he was withholding a vital part of something.
When we reached our next destination, which was just below the mountains, we decided to stay for the night. All the kids had grown tired and their butts had gone numb.
"You okay?" I heard Drake's voice from behind.
"Yeah, I'm just, a little overwhelmed."
He grabbed my arm and pulled me in closer to him, burying my face in his neck was the nicest thing I had done in hours. We hugged for a while, people walking past us but not really caring that we had stopped. My dad had started shooting orders a while ago, meaning that he had started to control the situation.
"We will get this problem figured out soon, and we will be okay."
"I know," I said, looking him straight in the eyes. He kissed my forehead softly.
The next day, we finally reached the destination we were going for in the beginning.
The story went that the original owners of this castle had been an old married couple in their 50's. The woman had been shunned by her family for being a witch, and she had become one with the vampire community. However, now a single King lived and strived there. He was in his mid 30's, and an immortal wolf. The people he was followed by followed him only from fear, as rumors went that he was ruthless when he lied eyes upon anything that he wished for.
When we reached the ports of the castle, their king, Devon, came out to greet us.
"Ah, welcome to our kingdom, princess," He said as he bowed. Bowing back to him, a bad feeling crept into me. My gut warning me of danger, my wolf in my head raising her shackles.
"Thank you for allowing us to stay at your kingdom until ours is back to safety, king," I said as he moved aside, letting us and our people into his kingdom.
The castle was huge, and it was surrounded by guards at each of the rooms. The castle, like ours, was built by a grey tone of stones and bricks, building up 3 levels. However, in width, this castle was bigger. The courtyard was bigger, as well.
Their enforcers stood heavily guarded, almost knight looking. Swords were attached to their uniforms, seeming heavy on their hips.
I inhaled deeply as I looked around nervously.
