Serpentine

"Take Helena away from here, do not tell me where you are going. There's a vial of blood in my room, Drink it. You'll be able to go out in the sun. Move fast" I reach out to Arlo mentally. He replies to my mind with an image of a thumbs up emoji.

I launch myself on top of my maker. In an attempt to halt him. The longer I'm in his presence, the more obedient my mark grows and betrays me. I'm trying to hit, bite and even scratch him. The mark is spreading over him shielding my attacks. He continues walking with me on his back.

We stop in front of Arlo and Helena trying to make their escape. Arlo steps in front of her but Thorne grabs his throat and throws him away. I pry myself from his back and step in front of Him. His eyes are red and snake like.

"ENOUGH! You will step aside. You will obey me" Shit. I follow his instructions. As I'm trying to break the sire bonded command. He focuses his gaze on a shocked Helena

"You are my progeny, and the rightful Queen and you will come willingly" He takes his position behind her. He bites down on his wrist before sinking his teeth into Helena. Upon the insertion of his fangs. Helena's eyes turn black. I've never seen anything like it. He holds his wrist to her mouth. Both of her hands clasp his arm and she feeds with desperation. I stand there powerless, unable to move and unable to stop it.

The moment he removes himself from her. I fall to the ground in unimaginable pain. I feel like my skin is being flayed off of me. Helena stands in the same spot eyes black as night. Arlo comes to and rushes in front of her. "Hels come back to me, come on"

Arlo turns to me petrified "DO SOMETHING!" He reaches out to touch her. An invisible force blocks him and sends him backwards. He is on the floor next to me "What is happening Queenie? Why can't you move?"

I wish to talk to him, to console him. I can't talk. The pain strengthens. I convulse. My mark is moving off of me. Crawling along the floor. It swirls around Helena. wrapping around her like a snake. It strikes and shoots into her bite wound. Black snakes swirl and twist on her skin. Her hair turns white.

Helena's eyes open and like pulling the lever on a slot machine. They change multiple times, to multiple different colours. The snake like pupil remains in place.

She's radiating pure power. Arlo goes to her "Helly are you ok? What's going on?" She puts her hand on his chest and moves him to the side with ease. "Move" the coldness of her tone, visibley breakinghis heart.

The devious other half of mine steps over me and holds his hand out to her. "Come, it's time to take your rightful place" She looks at his hand with disgust and makes her own way past. He follows behind her. As she walks away her hand glides over the walls. Under her touch my insignia, my flowers and vines are replaced in the stone by snakes.

I'm no longer in pain but I feel weary. Arlo helps me onto his back and we follow the white haired pair. They enter the throne room. The courtiers and council members residing in the Palace follow too.

She glides and takes her place on my throne. The grinning devil on her right. "I give you the rightful Queen. My descendant. The era of the serpentine is once again upon us. Given to us under the alignment. All hail her Majesty, long may she reign"

The crowd bows their heads, acknowledging her aura. She turns to Thorne and waves her hand. He is thrown over to us. Shock registered on his expression. She turns her gaze to the crowd. "Kill them, kill all who show allegiance to the usurper"

Thorne steps forward "Your highness, I am your family. I wish to help your reign be as magnificent as you are" She snaps her gaze to him and laughs "You are a mistake, I will not be your puppet. You have no place here. You've never had a place here. You are no kin to me" Ha! that wiped the smug grin off of your face. I laugh to myself.

Guards close in on us, as strong as Thorne may be, he cannot take on this scale of a force on his own. Out of nowhere, Janice slides in front of us. Slicing the palm of her hand with a dagger. She draws a symbol on the ground and drives her bloodied palm down on to it. A flash of light falls over us and we land in The Crossroads.

Arlo places me down on the grass. "Janice why save him, What about Dante and Alarich?" She walks up to him "Shh it's okay Arlo. They already made their escape and will meet us shortly. As for him, it's simple. I am loyal to our lady. If he dies, she does" She gestures to Throne standing pinching his thumb and forefinger to the bridge of his nose.

Janice kneels beside me "Majesty..." I place my hand in hers "I'm no longer Queen. I guess I'm in exile" Why does this feel like deja vu? She strokes the hair out of my face. "You'll always be my lady and mistress"

Arlo comes over sitting down beside us. Glaring at the white haired menace. "That wasn't Helly. I couldn't sense her at all. I couldn't feel her. It's like she's gone and she's been possessed" I cup his cheek "I'm so sorry my sweet boy. I tried to stop it, I tried to stop him but the sire bond is too strong."

"I hate to intrude on this heartwarming moment but, we should keep moving" I put my hand out, but nothing happens. I try a different motion. Again, nothing happens. "Ha! silly girl. Without the queen's mark, you have no powers".

If looks could kill. I assure you he'd explode under my gaze. "Silly girl? Have you not learned by now? Every attempt you make to get your own way backfires. Congratulations your idiocy has prevailed" I mockingly clap my hands. His eyes change red at my gesture.

He grabs my arms and lifts me to my feet. His grip is so tight. It hurts. It hurts me? Usually I can withstand a lot of pain that it doesn't really affect me, but this is new. My cry of pain seems to excite him. "If you had just compiled with me, none of this would of happened. You always defy me. This my love, is all your doing"

He turns his gaze to Janice and Arlo. "Let's move". Arlo walks towards a tree stump and rebelliously sits on it "No way Jośe, I'm waiting for my brother. I don't know you dude. Not my cap-ay-tan." His large fingers dig deeper in my skin as his anger grows. Another cry of pain leaves my lips.

A smug smirk returns and he brings me closer to him. His lips teasingly graze up my neck "If only you were like this from the beginning, imagine what we could have been" he takes a large inhale of my scent. His movements and voice send a flurry of sensations through me, I want him.

No, snap out of it. He just betrayed me again. His hands slide down my sides and grip my hips. Come on, I can do this. Just have to focus. His grip tightens and he breaks the contact. I suddenly feel cold. He looks me over, shock evident in his expression "Your scent, you smell... It's faint but it's definitely there. You smell human"

The statement is enough to break me out of my longing. Janice approaches "What do you mean? She isn't human, I definitely sense vampire from her." Arlo is beside me sniffing me. I slap him away but he just move to the other side sniffing away "Yeah, the witcher is right. You smell nice but slightly human. Faint but I have to agree, it's there" Great, more unanswered questions.

Thorne takes my hand and starts to stride away pulling me with him "No, I'm not leaving with you. I'm waiting for Dante and Alarich" He turns to face me and I cower under the burning stare of his red serpent eyes. I cower? I'm scared ? This new weakness I display, just pleases him.

His eyes return to their haunting black shade and he grins. Yes, that fucking grin. "Hmmm what to do with you?" He fakes a contemplative look whilst swirling a strand of my hair around his finger "I like this new side of you, without the queen's mark."

My mark, I feel naked without it. It's always been there. His hand pushes my top to the side uncovering my makers mark. The vines are gone, replaced by two snakes. They emerge out of the puncture scars. Their bodies connect and intertwine upwards, like the coiling of a spring. Between their open mouths, baring their long sharp teeth as if to strike it's prey. Is the head of rose. "Beautiful" He comments smiling at me.

"We may be here a while, Dante and Alarich can't make it under the protective vale of The Crossroads whilst the sun is still high" Janice, my wonderful Janice. She always speaks at the right time. I move away from his gorgeous body.

"Get your witch to glamour us or hide us in some way" His eyes snap to her wrist "You let a witch roam free without a cuff?" Janice scoffs "You can say we grew close by having the same goal, Trapping you. Loyalty is gained with mutual respect not enslavement. I hate to admit it but he is right. Janice can you do something?"

The red haired witch starts placing sticks in a circle around us and chants under her breath. "It's done, no one leave the circle, or you'll be seen".

Hours have passed, Arlo is sitting, his head in his hands. I've never seen him so low. Janice and I sit beside each other. Thorne is laying down with his eyes closed, hands behind his head without a care in the world.

Dante finally shows up Alarich-less? Janice breaks the circle, lifting the spell. "There he is, sup bro? Wheres Alarich?" Dante looks down at his boots. "He's switched sides. Pledged his allegiance to the new Queen"

His words twist my heart. "Can you blame him?" Dante asks glaring at the carefree and relaxed Thorne. In all this commotion I forgot about poor gentle Mara. She was only among us 50 years. I gifted her and Alarich and army on their union.

Alarich, the thought of his pain makes my blood run cold. "Let us take our leave, now we are all here" Thorne says walking down the road to the witch kingdom territory. "We don't follow you" Dante replied.

"My lady what do you suggest?" Janice asks. The three of them look at me awaiting instruction. "The oracle is this way, she will have the answers" Thorne adds pointing down the road he is on. "We can't just go to the witch kingdom without invitation" I remind him. He shakes his head.

"Yes, we can. I have on many occasions. We just need a witch and what do you know, we have one" If it didn't kill me in the process I'd happily end this smug prick. "I'm not welcome there, among my people. To them, I have been tainted by the influence of vampires. It wasn't really my choice to leave my home and serve you, if you remember" Janice addresses him hands on her hips.

"You'll still be able to pass the gate by your birthright. Not one of you has a better idea. I will take the witch and go with or without you" He sighs and looks over, only to me "I know you, my love. You need answers. Let me provide them for you and just come with me to see the oracle"

I hate it when he is right. "Fine, we will go to the oracle for answers" That fucking grin is back. "That's my beautiful rose" I roll my eyes "Just know that if it wasn't for the fact, that If you die I would too. I'd happily let you go off alone, without me but we have no other options right now."  We all start to make our way to the witch kingdom.