In Memoriam part 5

Standing with the usual team, in front of the heavily locked metal door. In which he resides behind. Janet is drawing symbols, in sacred salts and dirt from The Crossroads on the floor. Viles of various liquid are thrown in a bowl, for our trap. I can't help but think back to the last time she prepared this.

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Marcellus and I are travelling to yet another coronation feast, for a new human king. I've been to so many of these now. I will no doubt attend another in 40 years or so. The scene unfolding out the carriage window, as we pass through the human lands is grim.

Many are burning their dead. Buildings are burnt and the air is thick with the scent of blood and dirt. "Perhaps another plague" Marcellus offers. "No doubt. It seems it was an eventful day for them. I will offer assistance to the new king. Our men won't be affected by the human ailments. The act of kindness, will serve us well when the time comes for treaty talks"

Marcellus nods at the idea. We approach the castle grounds and the carriage comes to an abrupt halt. So abrupt, it has toppled over to the side. Horses scatter away. Marcellus helps me out the heap of wood and broken wheels. When I look up I see my footman dead with an arrow through his heart. Staked. "What on earth is the meaning of this?"

An army comes and surrounds the castle entrance. A bit much if you ask me. The new king comes thundering out towards us "YOU!! YOU ARE NOT WELCOME!" Marcellus and I are staring at the sight before us completely perplexed. I mean we received our invitation. Things between our kingdoms have been amicable for centuries.

I don't have the chance to enquire. "LOOSE" A man cries and a shower of fire tipped arrows come raining down upon us. The arrows deflect and bounce off of me but Marcellus is hit. His body falls to the ground and he is gone. Rage and grief fill me. I run so fast towards the king, I'm practically flying.

I grab him and return with him beside the burning corpse of Marcellus. I bare my fangs above him. My hold on him so strong he is limp under my touch. "Stand down" He calls out to his men. They lower their weapons. "What is the meaning of this. Years of peace. Why attack?" I yell in the monarchs ear.

"The vile queen speaks as if she is innocent, you know what you have done" My hold tightens on him "We cannot pass plague, we are not affected by what ails humans. Even If it were possible, It is not just cause for an attack" He has the nerve to laugh.

"Plague? The only plague to scourge our land is your kind. How they can walk in the light of day is beyond our comprehension. So enlighten me queen, A pact with witches to take over my kingdom. Is this your plan? Many innocent women and children were slaughtered at the hands of your bloodlust!" Children slaughtered? The thought brings bile to my throat. "No, I will not hear an ambitious child kings lies. It is not our way we cannot harm them. WE WILL NOT HARM THEM"

The king and I, stand before one another. The situation has settled enough to discuss the days events. The air is still thick with tension. "Queen" he spits the word with disgust "If you do not believe me see for yourself. Bring forth the witness"

A scared and dirty woman is brought forward. She is caked in dirt and blood. I stand before her and place her in my haze "This will not hurt, you will be ok and you will not remember our encounter" The woman nods under my control.

I sink my fangs in her long enough to see the disturbing images of an unhinged group of vampires burning, torturing and feeding in a flurry of carnage. I step back shocked and sickened. I heal the woman and bring her back. At least my haze has left her feeling a little less distressed.

"Your grace, I assure you I had no knowledge of this horrific act. This is heresy to my kind. I will not stand for it and I will see to it that the perpetrators pay for this" The king steps forward "I see by the disgust in your eyes, that you are truthful. I will be compensated for this and consulted when you capture them. I warn you, your majesty. My predecessors and I have never been trustful of your kind. We have always trained an elite group in the ways of the eradication of your kind. If you do not resolve this matter, or another attack takes place. It will be an act of war"

Who does this half baked king think he is threatening "I remind you, I could wipe you and your men out with a flick of my wrist. I do not take kindly to threats. However, this is not what either of our kingdoms want or need. So for now, I will make the necessary preparations but I warn you. Do not threaten me again"

.....

I make my way to the dungeon of my palace, I know exactly who is responsible for this and I need to get rid of that maker of mine, once and for all. The mystery of the dissappearing bucket of my blood is solved.

I stop at the witches cell. The smell of creature waste, blood and death burns my nose. "Janice, you will break this bind between the master and I" She drags herself over to the bars. "Majesty, I cannot break the curse. No one can. There is no way out of it. It's ancient and dark magic. It only ends with death"

Not the answer I was looking for. I scream with absolute anger. The palace shakes. "You did this to me, you will resolve this. If I cannot kill him, then you need to think of a solution. He needs stopped. Human women and children were slaughtered. A war is imminent"

My words have shaken her, she offers me a sympathetic look "I know of a trap of sorts, that may be able to hold him. Long enough to starve him" Smart witch I see why he enslaved her. "If it works, he will fall into a coma like status, under lock and key. I'm sure you can enchant his cell?" I ask.

She nods "I will need to gather ingredients. I will also need iron to hold him" I call a guard over. "Release her, send ladies to bathe and dress her. Give her a room on my floor and assist in the collection of what she needs. I want a room made of iron constructed and you well tell no one the reason why"

The guard opens the cell and breaks the chains that hold her. I grab the witch cuff and it crumbles under my touch "Janice, you may be free but you owe me your life. If you do this for me you'll always have a home here and you will be protected, but if you betray me again. I will end you" she agrees to my terms and is escorted away.

....

A month has passed. Janice and I are in the masters red furnished room. We've moved the bed and under it Janice is assembling the trap. "Is this the best location before I add the last ingredient?" I can't help but laugh at her question.

"His bed will be the first place he will return to. If others are trapped in the process, so be it. My scouts have spotted him in a near by village, I expect his return when the sun sets." Janice grabs a beautiful jeweled dagger "All we need is the blood of what he loves" I smile. Not that she believes he loves me, but the idea of him loving me is outrageous. "Power doesn't bleed"

She passes me the dagger holding the blade and the handle out to me. "You may doubt it but you have to understand. I have been around and at the mercy of the master, longer than you have. I was there when he travelled far to see the oracle. She bestowed upon him your image. Running in a meadow. Then the form you'd take once changed.

He was in awe of you. I think it was the first time, I saw the master smile with joy." I laugh again. Outrageous! "You mean that fucking grin, he only feels with his dick. Not his heart" The blade is now in my hands. "Majesty, you are his 'Anam Cara'. Just like werewolfs have their mates, Fae's have their deals and witches have their magic. Something pre-destined and bound to our beings. Like the humans say 'Soul mate' but to supernaturals it means something"

I'm laughing again, this witch is a riot. "I didn't think we had souls" She tuts "Your shadows, whatever. The point is he was in love with you, as you are with him. Before you were even a glint in your father's eyes" I look at the blade in my hands.

"Janice you do remember, I'm impervious to all but him?" Hands on her hips she glares at me "I just need your blood on the blade". I bite down on to my wrist and let the blood drip on the blade. "Let us just get this over with before the sun sets".