Killed

After checking five times if there was any kind of magic or trap in the room or the clothes, Chris took a relaxing luxurious bath and decided to put on the silky robes given by the vampire queen. No need to upset the vampires when they were actually being helpful.

"Well, at least it's lightweight. I can move in it," Chris muttered to her reflection in the mirror after wearing the multicoloured flowing dress. Rolling her eyes, she combed her hair a little bit, which was coming back to its original dark brown colour, now that the hair colour potion was wearing off.

Chris made sure that she was looking presentable before going out to check on Zil. As she started to look for the way out, she noticed the place was very deserted for a Royal Castle, there were a couple of guards here and there but that's it. Finally, she found the door and walked out to the blinding sunlight but there was no sign of Zil. Chris felt a little panicked as she looked around for her Thestral. She wandered all around the courtyard but she found no one. Not a single vampire, not even the guards. Feeling betrayed, Chris hurried back inside to look for Gweneth. However, after running in two empty corridors Chris almost collided with a tall figure. She looked up to find the handsome guy from earlier, who was standing by the queen in the throne room, was now staring down at her. His gorgeous face looked full concentrated and his stare was piercing, like, there was something he wanted to figure out about her but couldn't, his face enigmatic. Chris met his gaze confidently. In the last few months, if Chris had understood something, it was the more she looked confident the more people found her a powerful and respectful witch and didn't question her that much. Also, right now she was irritated because Zil was missing, but her face remained perfectly expressionless. A full minute passed and the guy just stared at her. Realising he wasn't going to say anything, Chris spoke, "Where is Gweneth?"

The guy just raised his one eyebrow.

"I asked you a question," Chris said crossing her arms.

"I know. I simply didn't answer, because I don't have one. I don't know where she is," his voice was smooth and he sounded very sophisticated.

"Oh, so you do speak," Chris muttered rolling her eyes. "Anyway, if you don't know where Gweneth is then, do you know where my Thestral is? If you don't then just step aside I need to look for someone who does know about her."

"Your Thestral is in the far gazebo. I ordered its move," the guy replied casually.

"Why? I told specifically not to move her," Chris said calmly, even though this slow conversation was pissing her off.

"Yes, I had to. Unfortunately, I couldn't let my guards get burned down in the sun just to keep our guest's animal safe," he said without breaking his stoic expression.

At first, Chris felt furious at the guy's attitude then she realized why there wasn't anyone around. It was daytime. She was in a castle full of vampires. Of course, they won't stay out in the glaring sunlight. They all are probably resting or something.

"I . . . right. Sorry, I forgot. Just tell me where the gazebo is and I will not bother anyone," Chris said.

"You are full of questions, aren't you? First, you asked what is in our forest, then you are asking where is your Thestral," the guy mused looking thoughtful.

"Well, I AM here for answers, ain't I?" Chris said in a matter-of-fact tone. "And don't worry, I have many more questions for the Queen this evening."

"Ah, yes, my mother invited you for tea," he nodded.

"Your mother? You mean you are --?"

"The Prince? Yes, I thought it was obvious. But I guess I overestimated you. Prince Oziyat. Nice to meet you, Lady Christina Norton," he extended his hand with a small tiny smirk.

Without missing a beat Chris firmly shook his hand, which was colder than normal human body temperature.

"Now, where is this gazebo?"

"Take the left corridor then turn right two times then a left and a right and you will see the gazabo," Prince Oziyat answered in his extra silky voice.

"Thank you," Chris nodded stiffly and started walking.

"I will see you at the evening tea, that is if you are not lost with my clear directions," Prince Oziyat said before Chris turned the corner.

For some time Chris thought that Prince Oziyat had intentionally told her the wrong way and she should ask the guards, but then she really found the gazebo and heaved a sigh of relief. Zil was sitting inside a cool enclosed gazabo.

"How is your leg, girl?" Chris patted Zil affectionately and she enjoyed it.

For some time Chris just sat there, looking out of the black glass window. Every window here was coated black to prevent the sunlight to come in. The structure of the castle looked very gothic with black window glasses, heavy and thick curtains, old painting and the overuse of red colour.

"We really are in a vampire castle, huh Zil?" Chris mumbled. "But do you think we can trust them? They know about Malgino but will they tell us the truth?"

Zil gave her usual silent response.

"Yeah, you are right. We should not trust anybody this quickly. We will keep our guard up." Chris told herself.

*****

"Salvio hexia ... Protego totalum ... Repello Muggletum ... Muffliato ..." Raising her wand, Luna began to walk in a wide circle, murmuring incantations as she went. There was a little disturbance in the surrounding air: it was as if Luna had cast a heat haze upon the

clearing.

"Are we clear?" Colin whispered panting.

"Yes, we can talk freely now," Luna said hurrying over to Colin.

In a forest with large trees and under minimum sunlight, Colin and Luna both were battered and wounded, and between them was a very pale Ginny, whose eyes were half-closed, strips of white eyeball all that was visible between her lids, she was twitching in pain and her right side was drenched in blood. Tearing the right side of his clothes, Colin poured a few drops of a liquid on her shoulder and right arm, which was completely burned and damaged.

"I hope it works," Colin said breathing heavily. As soon as the words left his mouth, greenish smoke billowed upwards. Then the bleeding stopped and the wound looked several days old; new skin stretched over what had just been open and burned flesh but it wasn't healed completely. Luna bent over Ginny's wounds and muttered some incantation and slowly the wound closed up thoroughly and the burn marks faded.

"She will be okay," Luna mumbled. "Now, let me look at your leg."

"No, I'm fine," Colin protested but Luna shook her head firmly and with a sigh, Colin rolled up her pants and hissed in pain.

Luna quickly helped him and slowly revealed back of his left leg, where a great chunk of flesh was missing, scooped cleanly away as though by a knife. Luna gasped but with a trembling hand pointed her wand at Colin's wound. Colin groaned as the flesh started to stitch up itself and after a moment there was just a scar of the wound.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Luna leaned back. For the next few moments, the only sound around them was birds' chirping then Ginny moaned and opened her eyes.

"How are you feeling?" Luna asked with a thick voice.

"Like rubbish," Ginny was still looking pale and weak. "What about you two?"

"Better," Colin replied though the blood loss was taking a toll on him.

"But we should rest here for a while," Luna said in an authoritative tone. "I have put some protection around, so don't worry."

"Good," Ginny closed her eyes again.

Looking exhausted Colin also lay down on the twig and dry leaves filled forest floor and after a moment Luna lay beside him.

"So, are we sure, they are thinking that we are dead?" Colin asked after a moment.

"Positive," Ginny muttered. "No one could survive a blast like that, let alone three underage wizard and witches. Malgino's minions think they killed us."

"So is my dad and Ginny's mum and dad," Luna whispered.

Colin wrapped his arm around her and she rested her head on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry, Luna," Colin mumbled.

"No, it's for the good," said Luna. "If they think they killed us then they won't go after our parents, right?"

"Yes," Ginny opened her eyes. "But we should be more careful from now on. We cannot be seen at any cost."

"Let's put up the tent and take a look at our injuries, C'mon," Colin said getting up. "We need to be prepared. We can't stay here long."

Nodding Ginny and Luna got up.

_____________ _____________

To be continued. . .