Chapter Seventeen: The Return of Radu…
Michelle remained seated on the throne, silent and confused. She watched tense, jaw clenched as Radu glared at everyone in the room as if ignoring her and Ana who grew pale at the revelation of Radu's return. The other vampires in the room stared at Radu in disbelief. Helena and Diana Marcous panicked, they tried to get the manacles off to escape but neither could break free. Radu circled them smirking enjoying their reactions. The silence in the room became heavy, oppressive as everyone stared at each other waiting for someone to say or do something.
"Welcome back Master," Michelle said standing up and half bowing to him.
Ana froze. The other vampires in the room stared wide eyed at Michelle who smiled broadly at Radu and gestured for Radu to take the throne. Radu's smirk widened as he walked through everyone to stand in front of Michelle. She could feel him like hot rolling waves over her skin. His particular presence could not be ignored. Michelle moved to take Ana's place on his right side while Ana stepped back to stand behind Michelle. They presented a united front that confused the others in the room.
"Queen Vladislas, what are you doing? Don't give up your position for him," Alfie Jones said. Worried twisted his features into something unfamiliar.
"I am Queen Vladislas, but Radu is my master. I know my place," replied Michelle.
"To hear you sing my praises with ears made of flesh delights me fledgling," Radu said taking a seat on the throne.
"How did you come back? I thought I was going mad but now here you are," Helena sneered. Radu laughed then gestured to Michelle who nodded.
"My master was in limbo with his body encaged. Only those who've drank a lot from the bloodstone could see or converse with him. Whoever released him allowed him to come back into our world. Which one of you do I have to thank for this momentous occasion," Michelle asked with a dangerous glint in her eyes was dark, dangerous, and foreboding. There was something about having Radu physically at her side that amplified the darkness inside of her.
"Why would any of us do such a foolish thing," Bo Liu said then caught himself shutting his mouth fast. He didn't have the courage to look Radu in the eyes.
"Why indeed," Michelle said. She watched all of them closely and noticed Curtis Shaw and Manuel Gonzales slowly trying to back away. She smiled wickedly then asked, "Mr. Shaw, Mr. Gonzales did you see anything?"
Like deer's caught in headlights, they froze and smiled weakly. "No, we didn't see anything at all," stammered Curtis Shaw.
Helena glared at her husband then her eyes went wide. "You bastard! How could you bring Radu back? You know how I feel about him. You're my husband for god's sake! How could you do this to me?"
All eyes turned to Curtis Shaw; he glowered as he tried defending himself. "We're getting divorced need I remind you. You said he was the only vampire you feared so here we are. Revenge is bitter as it is sweet."
"Ah," Radu said chuckling. His smirk grew as he announced, "Curtis will be the only one spared tonight."
"I helped!" Manuel Gonzales shouted nervously. "I helped Curtis resurrect you."
Radu laughed, a wheezing echo that reminded Michelle of Circe. He looked at the group of vampires in front of him with disdain. He flexed his fingers as he said, "I have been listening to all of you from the moment you step foot in the castle. My fledgling may not have heard your words of treachery and lies but I did. There will be no deals made, no we will have a blood bath."
"This is madness, we are vampire royals you can't threaten us or hold us captive," said Alfie Jones.
"I can do anything I want. My fledgling has her army surrounding the castle. You were never going to leave. The soldiers you brought with you have already been rounded up and put in the dungeon."
Michelle was surprised by this, she turned her face away and closed her eyes, reaching out with her senses. Radu was right, the councils people were downstairs packed tight in the cells. Though there were less than before. Radu fed on his way to the throne room. He's been awake longer than she originally thought. Michelle kept her face like stone and played the part of the loyal fledgling. She had Ana to think about.
"That can't be true," said Bo Liu.
"It is true," said Michelle. "He's been awake a while. I didn't know."
"You can't take all of us!" Alfie Jones shouted as he pulled out an arm length blade from inside his coat. He brandished it at the others causing Radu to laugh and get up from the throne. Radu reached out grabbing Alfie by the throat tearing it out. Alfie Jones struggled but dropped the blade before falling to the floor dying slowly. Curtis Shaw fell to his knees holding up his hands in surrender while Bo Liu bolted out the door running out. Radu turned to Manuel Gonzales who pulled a gun at Radu, firing three times. The bullets didn't faze him as they sunk into his chest, Radu walked over to Manuel Gonzalez taking the gun from his hands before pulling him in and biting him. Manuel Gonzales screamed and fired his weapon until it was empty, it did no good. Radu drained him dry.
Ana touched Michelle's arm; she had forgotten Ana was even there. That's when Michelle remembered Adi. She quickly reached out with her senses, but she didn't feel him. She tried a second time then realized she couldn't sense him. Michelle was instantly overwhelmed with the need to search for Adi. She turned to Ana and said, "I'll be right back."
Before Ana could even open her mouth Michelle turned to shadow and left the room. As quickly as she could she moved through the castle to Adi's room. She was angered not to find the guard posted then went inside and found Adi's decapitated body. Stunned, devastated, and confused Michelle stood there for a moment staring at the head laying a pace away from the rest of him. Michelle wasn't sure who killed Adi. In the back of Michelle's mind anger mixed with her confusion before both were swallowed up by dread. Michelle cursed then rushed back.
She was too late.
Back in the throne room Michelle found Curtis Shaw dead on the floor with his head twisted backward and Diana's Marcous head crushed into pulp while Helena cowered back as far as she could. Radu was in the middle of the room drinking from Ana forcefully, draining her. Michelle noticed the blood on Ana's mouth. Michelle screamed rushing to break them apart. Radu let Ana go and Michelle pulled her away.
"You're too late fledgling. I have turned her. She will be one of us now."
"No! Not like this! Not like this! I had it all planned. No!" Michelle screamed.
"This was inevitable. Ana chose this path," said Radu.
"No, she didn't, we had a plan! She wasn't supposed to be turned like this," argued Michelle.
"Pretty one…" Radu said with a pitying look toward Michelle. He raised his hands palm up in surrender as he explained. "You sound like the pathetic human you used to be. What happened to the vampire I have been training for years? Where is Queen Vladislas? Your pet has seized her opportunity with both hands."
"You lie Radu. You lie."
"Do I pretty one? Do I?" Radu asked rolling his head back in forth. He said, "She slaughtered your weak scholar, took his head clean off. So focused she was on the deed, she did not notice me watching. I was impressed."
"So impressed you had to steal her away from me. If I have lost her, I will spend eternity making you pay," growled Michelle still clutching Ana.
"We shall see won't we pretty one. After all I got you what you desired and with less effort," said Radu.
"I wanted to keep some of them alive, allies are a good thing Radu. Bo Liu won't come near us again," said Michelle.
"They needed to be taught a lesson," replied Radu.
"Then why keep her. Why keep Helena alive?" Michelle demanded.
"Oh, she's not going anywhere. I have so many ideas on how to get reacquainted with her," Radu said smirking. Helena was furious yet kept her mouth shut. He turned to Michelle and held out his hand. "Now that I am home, where is my bloodstone?"
"You get nothing Radu, nothing until I am certain Ana is okay. You crossed the line with me tonight. Everything we have built, you have destroyed in an instant," said Michelle.
Glaring at Radu, Michelle picked Ana up cradling her in her arms then walked out carrying Ana back to her bedroom. For the full transformation to take place, Michelle put Ana in her personal coffin in her bedroom. She didn't use it often but at least Ana would wake up in a familiar place. Michelle shut the lid then retreated to her bed, to watch and to wait.
A few hours later Radu entered Michelle's bedroom with a pleased look on his face. He said, "The sun is approaching. Come it's time to sleep."
"I'm staying here Radu. I'm not leaving Ana's side."
"You will obey me."
"No, I don't. Or have you forgotten the serum? I don't have to sleep unless I want to. And if you piss me off any more Radu. I will drag your sleeping body into the sun."
"You will bow to me Michelle," said Radu glaring at her.
"I do bow to you Radu, but I won't give up all that I have. Not Ana, not the people or the castle. I have done wonders with your estate. I'm sure we can come to an agreement on where you would like to be. Pick anywhere Radu, but not at the castle. Not in this village. You have to go someplace else."
"You have done well these last few years. Wealth and power look good on you pretty one. You will deny me?"
"No. No more running, no more fights between us Radu. I will honor you as my master as long as you let me keep my freedom."
Radu thought about it then nodded before asking, "Prove it pretty one."
Michelle got off her bed, crossed the room to Radu then pulled back her hair exposing her neck to him. Radu's eyes lit up with glee, he grinned as he leaned in then bit her. Michelle moaned and he pulled harder, drinking deeper. A moment later he let go then exposed his neck to Michelle. She stared at it, then leaned in, biting him, and drinking deeply.
Radu was in ecstasy.