12 CHAPTER TWELVE

I peered at the girls from behind a tree bark, just behind their tiny cabin. Just watching as both of them spoke to one another. Marcus and Blake had gone elsewhere, probably to gather blood for all of them to last for a little while longer. So this is the new addition to the small group? I asked myself. She was beautiful along with her flame colored hair and delicate features. She had a nice figure to her. With decent hips and a nice rump. My ears perked as a sound came from behind me. My head turned toward the noise and I saw Gabriel. My heart dropped and I wanted to flee. What was he doing here? No doubt stalking me and making sure that I didn't cause any trouble. I hated him for being so nosey and it made me want to punch him in the groin. "What are you doing out here by yourself?" His voice was like nails on a chalkboard. It made you want to cover your ears until the sound was gone. I stood up straight so that I wasn't in view of the girls. Nora and the other one that was beautiful. I took a quick look only to see that they had gone inside. 

"Checking up on them," I said, standing my ground so that my second in command knew who was in charge. "Don't concern yourself with me if your not going to properly be my second." 

Gabriel's hand rose and it came hard on my cheek. The sound echoed throughout the forest and even though I cupped my cheek with my own I, I quickly did a three-sixty to see if anyone had heard. Of course they would, we were vampires, which meant that our hearing was ten times more advanced than any human on this planet. "Don't you dare intimidate me." Gabriel warned. "You may be our leader but I still have no choice but to make sure that your safe and that means not going out alone. It is too dangerous." 

"You will not have the throne," I said as I stood up straight again. "In case you haven't noticed, I've already appointed the next one to take my place." The statement was loud enough for him to hear. In this case, I'd tell him who it was but my best guess would be that he'd try to kill them and that was a risk that I couldn't afford right now. I knew that deep down, Gabriel wanted me dead, and that his main goal was to take over and create a different order than me or my uncle has ever did. Even to protect our own identities from the universe. I feared that and Gabriel knew. I needed to intrust someone that would guide our clan in the right direction in the future.

"There are many ways for me to gain your status my majesty." Gabriel said as he came over slowly like an animal stalking its prey and backed me up against the tree. He stroked my red cheek and then rubbed strands of my ebony hair between his fingers. "Unless you want to wake up the following night with chaos and turmoil, I'd suggest that you'd stay in line."

At this point, I wanted to rip his throat out and leave him to the animals to finish him off but once I returned to the castle, the others would question where your second in command is, where in a way I'd be telling a half truth, he was with me then I pack of rogues and werewolves attacked me. Luckily, I had gotten away unscathed but Gabriel, on the other hand, did not. Instead I said angrily, "I'm not afraid of your pathetic threats," I turned to face the cabin but still stayed hidden. "Unless you want your status to be revoked, I would suggest that you stay in line. I have higher authority than you and the more you threaten me," I laughed because I knew it would piss Gabriel off, "The more tempted I am to go to the Elders about your obnoxious behavior." I eyed him from over my shoulder and saw that he had a look that said it all. He was terrified. I knew it in my bones and by the silence that I received from him. "You see Gabriel," I purred. "I have more power than you make it out to be. No matter what you do or how you approach this situation, it will not change the outcome of your fate." The courage that I felt while Gabriel was in my presence, the more I needed to say to him. To tell him that he was on thin ice. That he had gone too far and abused his power as second in command but I stayed silent. I wanted to wait before getting enough evidence to revoke him. 

"I doubt that you would follow through with that promise," Gabriel stated, keeping his tone in check, "I know you wouldn't." At that I turned my head back toward him and bared my fangs, my own glowing in the process.

"I wouldn't think twice about turning you into the Elders." I growled the words to make my point when all I wanted to say was Watch me. And do it without thinking a second about turning back. 

"We shall see when that time arises." He mocked and dashed off into the darkness, leaving me alone in the forest, where the cabin was mere three feet away. I couldn't wait until I had my chance to turn him in to the Elders that way I could properly appoint my next Second in Command. My fear, however, was Gabriel, finding out about this and killing the next in line. I pressed down my paranoia and headed back to the Castle of Shadows. My home. My people.