Chapter 12

I was escorted to see the seer and the first thing I did was to punch her in the face. She didn't expect that because I am considered unpredictable. The others chuckled as I screamed at her for her stupidity. How I almost became one of those James was hunting. I was planning to marry James not be killed by him. She apologized and I asked the council to bring the seers to the Fenris wolves. There are a few traitors in the mix. They asked me how and I said the seer and mermaid combo showed me before I was made to forget. This caused an uproar and they were summoned immediately. The Fenris wolves marched in and they started sniffing everyone. They apologized to those that were spared. The rest were forced to tell who they worked for and ripped to pieces. I was ordered to watch since they examine me lastly. They came towards me and sat down by my feet. One even licked my face before he rubbed his furry back all over me as he sat down. The council waved me off and I was allowed to go and enjoy dinner which consisted of a blood bag and the choice was between a book by a sixteenth century criminologist and some old police interrogation videos.

William was munching on a lamb rack while reading about astronomy. James was reading a book on neurosurgery. I sat with a book on rare plants of the Amazing Amazon and felt childish. They didn't display their displeasure for my choice although the librarian did tut before she gave me the book. I massaged my forehead and walked out to the veranda where a large eagle swooped down and took me away. When the bird landed the rider was beheaded and dragged to the lion pen. I was dragged to the woods. There was a procession and they parted to show an eerie woman. I shivered with fear as I introduced to the witch queen. She was wearing necklaces one longer than the other till the last one reached her navel. They were made of rubies, emeralds, sapphires and opals. Her headdress was an elaborate piece that looked like a miss universe crown except it was bigger and felt more intricately designed like a woven spider's web. You could say it look like veins and arteries. It was blood red. She wore pants that looked like the kind Hindu pundits wear except it was black. She gave me a cold smile and asked me to join her for dinner. I politely explained that I ate. She waved it off and walked towards her palace in the woods. I on the other hand was dragged kicking and screaming. It was a hollowed-out tree that was surrounded by row of black rose bushes and it also had an underground labyrinth of tunnels. I had a feeling if I lose my way I will be walking these paths forever. She smiled, "Yes you will be wandering here forever. You see my dear all who come here enter of their own free will. They can only leave by my permission". She asked me to cross the threshold of the rose bush and I kicked the witch holding me bolted. I ran as fast as my legs would take me.

I reached an old gnarly tree and I focused on Dracula. He pushed me out of his head immediately. I had to focus and called James and told him where I thought I was. He told me to stay away from everywhere. In that forest everything kills so don't do anything without thinking it through. Willing participants can be manipulated in many horrific ways. Just run or fly till I see a city. So I turned into bats and flew till I saw a flock of bats swarming around. I felt this was a safe place. It looked like it hosted people like me so I casually walked in. I bumped into Dracula and he smiled as though his birthday had come early. I on the other hand smacked him on the head as hard as I could. I screamed at how I flit into his mind asking for help and how he kicked me out and I had to ask James for help. This got mixed reactions from him. First, he was ashamed then he was angry then he was happy. He glowed, "Did you ask James for help after you failed to talk to me?" I screamed, "Is that all you heard?" He raised his hands to calm me down. He escorted me to the lobby and asked me what happened. When I was done he looked like he was about to spontaneously combust. He flicked his wrist and I was dragged to the King suite. I tried to get out but the window frames were nailed down. The doors were barricaded like nothing remotely mentioned on human history. I tried to knock on the door but no one responded. Finally I threatened to set myself on fire. The door opened and I was allowed to go to the restaurant. It was a neutral zone so both sides were friendly here. It looked like a cross between a Mardi gras, circus and masquerade ball. I sat down and the waitress asked me what I would like. She was a grotesque version of a wood nymph you see in movies. I told her I wanted the blood of a serial killer and she chuckled. The server was a troll wearing half a tux. He gave me my order and grunted before he left to empty another table. He ended up trying to clear a table whose guests were still enjoying their meal. He received angry comments and he let out a sound resembling an apology. On my left were people staring at me like I was their new toy. But the host was kind enough to tell them which room I was staying and they disappeared like they were a figment of my imagination.

After dinner I was asked if I needed anything else. I simply asked if they had a library. They escorted me to a room that was filled with first editions of the rarest books in existence. I finally settled by the fireplace with an anatomy book. I didn't know how long I was there. Until a hand slowly closed the book on cartography I was reading. I look up to see it was Dracula. He asked me if I was comfortable. I nod my head. He smelled like lavender and freesia. He was wearing a plain cotton shirt and denim jeans. He extended his hands and asked me if I would join him for a dance. I asked him if he had dinner because he looked like he want to sink his teeth into someone. He brushed me off and I slipped my shoulder strap and offered him mine. He jumped up to the near balcony and roared in fear. I adjusted my dress and he came down when he collected himself. He told me that if he did it he won't be able to stop. He had unlearned how to control himself. He looked like he was in so much pain that I couldn't help but hug him. He seems to calm down but I can feel him shiver. I pat him and tried to calm him down. He allowed me into his mind. He smiled as I tried to convince him but like I said I couldn't convince him to stop being scared any more than I was able to make him forget that I am a vampire. He promised not to block me. I walked out of his head and asked him what his problem was with James. He promised me that it was a story for another time. I insisted and he told me that James was the reason his wife and son died. They had a choice but they chose to direct the giants to Walachia. The witch queen showed him how his wife and son died and ever since then he has had an intense hatred for him. He tried to punish James but he couldn't the main reason being he is a vampire because of James. He knew he couldn't be with them as long as James was part of them. He will always see his dead wife and son whenever he sees them so he chose the other side. I told Dracula he can choose the right side again and I promise to speak on his behalf. He smiled and promised to think about. His butler walked in and asked for a moment of his time. So I placed an order as I switched on the radio.

I sat down with a blood bag of a kidnapper and contemplated on how to go home to grandpa. I was listening to the radio about an event horizon. I was surprised too when it switched off. It was the redhead that turned it off. She seemed surprised but I casually asked her if she is here to take me back. She gave me a nod and waved a bloody hand. I asked what happened and she said that she entered voluntarily the ebony woodlands and tried to leave so the forest punished her. She promise it would heal. Behind me a man shook his head, "Lass! Like Excalibur, this is a wound that won't heal. Your days are numbered so make peace with everything and get ready to die"

I walked out and was met with a host of people who screamed how the rules were being broken. I told them that I asked to go home. This made them move away without further drama. I was about to sit in the car when someone swooped down and carried me away. It took me a moment to realize Dracula had decided for me like everyone else how things should be. I asked him to let me go back to my family. I am concerned about my stepmother and my grandpa is not seeing better days either. He carried me till he reach a private jet. The sun rose and he ran in. I walked in to see that he had blisters and charred in places. I cut my hand and fed him my blood. He was drinking till he saw who was feeding him. He pulled out his teeth and tried to run but I held him in place. He drank till he showed the first sign of heal. I pushed him away and sat down as my wound healed. He spoke in some strange language and sat next to me. I opened the window when he had healed. He tried to jump but I held him there. I watched as he adjusted to the warmth. He looked at me with delight. I blushed and asked if I could get some rest. He waved his hand towards the end. I passed out the moment I laid down.

I was woken by someone gently nudging me. I looked up to see a young woman with a basket of wild mushrooms. She walked to a small cottage covered in ivy and beckoned me to come to warm myself. I took two steps and a strong arm pulled me back. It was Dracula, "Baba Yaga I warned you to stay from what is mine." I turned to see an old slightly disfigured woman holding a cane and the cottage was made of human skulls. I fainted on the spot.