Chapter 8

Contessa’s POV:

          I walk down the stairs into a huge ballroom, where a big wooden table has been placed in the middle with several place settings and there at the head of the table sat none other than Durstan.  Many vampires were seated at the table talking and drinking their blood. They quieted once Durstan began to speak, “My, my, my. Don’t we clean up nicely? I am Lord Durstan, master of this beautiful castle.” He waved his hands around himself. “Tis a pleasure, Lord Durstan. My name is Rose.” He was in front of me kissing my hand in an instant. “Tis more a pleasure for me milady. You shall sit next to me tonight.” He led me over to a chair and pulled it out allowing me to sit down.

          As I sat there drinking the blood in a crystal wine glass, I noticed a movement. I heard Durstan stand, “Ahh, here is my most important guest. Please excuse me, Rose.” He smiled and walked over to the doorway. I was praying it was Sevana.

Sevana’s POV:

          As I descended the stairs, I couldn’t breathe and I just wanted to die. I was about to do the most horrid thing in this world, but I had no other choice. As I got closer to the room where Durstan and his guests were waiting I can smell the blood that is being poured into those crystal wine glasses. Before I entered the room I was greeted by Durstan himself. “Beautiful.” He grabbed my hand and turned me slowly to look at my body; I wanted to spit in his face.

          “My love, why don’t we show off your gorgeous figure to our guests…along with our good news.” His evil smile crept onto his flawless face once again. As I entered the room on his arm all I could smell were vampires. The room grew silent as we walked to the head of the table. That’s when I looked up and saw none other than Contessa sitting there by Durstan; I had to contain myself to not give away in my expression that I knew her. “My love, this is Rose. She has just arrived.” I swallowed hard, “Tis a pleasure to meet you…Rose.” She nodded and then gave me a quick wink just for me to catch. I slowly started to breathe normally again but of course that didn’t last for long.

          Durstan clinked his wine glass to get everyone’s attention; I was still at his side. He smiled, “Thank you all for gracing me with your presence tonight. As you all know I have been looking for a queen these past several decades since my wife, may she rest in peace, died many centuries ago. Now, tonight I have the wonderful news of letting you all know that I have found one that will reign at my side.” He wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me into his closer. “To my new wife and queen Sevana.” He raised his glass and the other vampires repeated, “To Queen Sevana.” They sipped from their glasses and then continued with their conversations.

          Durstan then led me to my seat, across the way from Contessa (Rose) and gestured for a servant to fill my glass with blood. As I sipped from it, trying to make sure I didn’t give anything away, Contessa spoke to Durstan, “My Lord, would you mind if your new fiancé gave me a tour of your beautiful home?” She smiled at me as she said this. Durstan swished the blood in his glass as he stroked his chin with the other hand, and then answered. “I do not see any problem with that. My dear Sevana knows her way around here by now.” He then grabbed my hand and said something only I could hear, “You ask for any help from her, you will die.” He whispered angrily. I nodded and excused myself from the table.

          Contessa was right behind me as we left and room and eagerly got to the upstairs hallway where I was hoping I could talk to Contessa without Durstan knowing. I started the so called “tour”, “As you can see Durstan likes the Victorian décor….” I continued till I could hear louder conversations so I could take Contessa into my bedroom to talk to her.

          I shut the door quietly, and then motioned for her to sit down. I kept my voice down, “Why are you here?” “Very long story…short version to get you the hell out of here.” “Alright, how?” She stood up and walked over to the window and pointed to a man standing there, staring. “Whose he?” I asked confused. “His name is Jacy, he is a werewolf and your protector.” I backed away from the window as she continued to talk, “he is going to help us get out of here, but you also need to help distract Durstan.” “How?” “I have no idea, I just came up with the plan to get into this castle of his.”

          Suddenly I had a vision, a powerful one. It was of Durstan killing Jacy and Contessa and I was next. Then I came too. “What? What is it?” “I just had a vision of Durstan killing you and Jacy, there is no way we can get out of here without one of us dying, or more.” A tear slid down my face. “I will get you out of here, no matter what. We will figure something out. I promise you that.” Suddenly there was a knock on my door, “Sevana please open this door.” It didn’t sound like Durstan…I walked over to the door and slowly opened it.

          There was Nicolas standing there in a black and white tux and he looked really worried. “May I come in?” I nodded and he rushed in quickly as I shut the door. “I will probably condemn myself for saying this, but you must know. Durstan does plan on marrying you, but like his last wife he will kill you and take your powers. You must try to escape.” I stood there in shock, and then before I could speak Contessa was in front of me hissing. “Don’t listen to him, Durstan will kill you by tonight if he finds out something is wrong.” She hissed at Nicolas.

          “Contessa, it’s alright. We can trust Nicolas, he will help us get out of here.” I stood between him and Contessa as I faced her. Her fangs retracted and she stood up straight again. “You better be sure about this.” she said. I turned and walked towards Nicolas, “We can trust you right?”

          “Yes, you can trust me. But there is something….” “That is all I need to hear. Now we need to come up with a plan to distract Durstan.” Contessa was sitting on the edge of the bed her head in her hands thinking to herself, then she sat up suddenly, “I got it…your visions Sevana.” “My visions? How will that distract Durstan?” “You could possibly pretend to have a vision in front of him, and make something up. Something that he will want in order to make him leave the castle so we can get out of here.”

          “I could try, but I don’t know if Durstan will believe that I had a real vision or not,” I started to pace back and forth, “and it has to be something Durstan wants more than me.” Nicolas then spoke up, “Your powers…Durstan seeks vampires who have unnatural strong powers that he can use for his own bidding. That is why you are here.” “But what could Durstan want more than my powers of visions?” I asked pacing back and forth in the room.

            Before any of us could answer, we heard a loud shattering sound coming from the dinning hall and then a scream. Me and Contessa rushed downstairs to find a vampire locked in Durstan’s grasp. It was gurgling on its own blood. “You traitor! How dare you threaten me in my own home! You will die for what you have done here tonight!” Durstan’s voice was nothing I had ever heard before. “Wait!” I yelled at him, he turned to face me. “Do you know of what this traitor has done, my love? Do you?!” “No, but I….” I stopped mid sentence and pretended to have a vision.

          I dropped to the floor after it was over and Durstan threw the vampire he had in his grasp to the floor and came to my side. “Did you just have a vision my love? If so what was it of?” I acted like I was weak from the vision, lifting my eye lids just enough so I could see the worry on his face. “Its….another….vampire.” This got his attention, “Does he kill you? What happens!” He commanded me. I tried not to smile and thought, Now I have him right where I want him. “A powerful vampire….in the forest just outside.” I said in my weak voice.

          That a girl. Contessa said to me telepathically. “Powerful? How powerful?” “More powerful…then me.” He then helped me stand and turned toward his guards, “Take that unworthy creature to the dungeon.” He then addressed his guests, “Please excuse me while I deal with a serious matter.” The guests nodded and continued to their conversations like nothing had eve taken place. Disgusting. I thought to myself.

          “Now my love. Did you see where this vampire was?” I nodded, “The forest right outside these castle walls.” “Very good. I will send my men…” “No!” Durstan turned to look at me. I then suddenly corrected myself, “I saw you go out to the vampire, no harm came to you.” “Very well, I will go out to it myself. You will stay here with Nicolas and Rose.” He then smiled and walked to another room where me and Contessa stood amazed that the plan worked.

Durstan’s POV:

          “I need you to watch over Rose and Sevana while I take a look at this so called powerful vampire she has seen. If this is true, I will be bringing it back to see what use I can take from it.” He was talking to Nicolas as he sat in his chair…concentrating into the forest, but sensing nothing.

          “It must be hiding itself from me, very powerful indeed. I will go take a look myself.” He then left the room leaving Nicolas to carry out his plans for Sevana and Contessa’s escape.

Sevana’s POV:

          “Are you sure Durstan won’t sense us leaving?” I asked Nicolas as we made our way to a hallway. “No, he is too focused on that vampire you said was out there. That is all he is thinking about. You and Contessa will be safe.” He led us through the dark hallway to a wooden door, which he opened slowly and then motioned for us to walk through. There at the door stood a man, he was tall and muscular and his arms were crossed. “Michael.” The man turned and that’s when I saw a wheel connected to the door, the man turned the wheel till I heard the big steel door unlock and we walked inside.

          “Now,” said Nicolas, “I can go with you two no farther before Durstan suspects anything. Just follow this corridor to another wooden door and it will lead you to the forest and Durstan does not know if this secret corridor, so he will never know of your escape till he finds you missing.” I stared at Nicolas’ dark eyes, “But what will happen to you?” “I’m not sure, but whatever does happen it will be an honor to have protected you and your friend.” I nodded and then started to follow Contessa when I looked over my shoulder and whispered, “Thank you.”

Reviews

[Donovan "Grey Wolf" Go..]

Wow he helped them escape.
I love all of story so far cant wait to read more.
Another awsome chapter!!