1. The hearing

Zinnia cursed under her breath as she was being dragged by the two vampires. After lying low for a while she made a terrible mistake by telling a friend her true identity. Atleast that was what she called Vincent until now. A mistake that was going to cist her her life.

When they arrived at the Chamberon, a room which humans may refer to as a court. The wooden door was pushed to reveal a large circular room. The walls were made of dark stones, the ceiling which was as high as a catheral's own had carvings and markings written in languages Zinnia couldnt understand. The room would have been empty if not for a raised podium which had high benches.

On these high benches sat shadowy figures.

Zinnia could swear she had heard whispers when she entered, but as the heavy door swung closed behind her an ominous silence fell.

A cold male voice rang across the chamberon.

"What do we have here"

"She's a witch" said a familiar voice

"A half-blood witch" Zinnia said snapping her head to look at Vincent.

Her sudden reply made one of the men to hit her shoulder causing her to fall on her knees. Not wanting to look intimidated, she immediately looked up at the people seated above.

"Speak when spoken to" said the vampire who had spoken earlier while making a gesture to the guards. They offered a slight bow and walked up to where Vincent stood.

He looked slightly taken aback.

"What the_"

"I think they want you to leave with them" the elder told him. After a second pause, he offered a slight bow before leaving.

There was about six of them, all, as far as she could see. In the very front row sat the four elder vampires on throne-like chairs. A grim looking vampiress with a very short blonde hair sat on the elders' left. On the elders' right was another vampire but he was sittig so far on the bench that he was in shadow.

"Now if I may ask, how did you get into this place" asked one of the elder vampires. He had a bored expression and looked as if he was forced to attend the hearing.

"I came in as food supply" Zinnia said

"Our food supply are checked thoroughly before allowed access into this castle...if I am not mistaked, you're trying to say that our security is a bit..... laxy"

"I suppose" she said absent mindedly while her eyes searched or the safest and quickest route for escape.

As she looked, she found out that there were no window and only one door which was the one she came in through. The only light source was coming from the candle-chandelier that hung in the middle of the room, right above her and the two torches that stood on either sides of the door.

There was an odd statue close to the vampire in the shadow.

"Now, now Enzo she's a witch" said another elder. He sat at one end of the row with his legs crossed. Excitement dancing in his cold grey eyes. His pale face wore the expression he was enjoying every bit of this. His blonde hair was parked in a short ponytail.

"She must have magiked her way in" he finished smiling down at her.

Zinnia was about to retort she had other things to do with her powers but thought better of it.

"In here we follow rules" said Edgar, another elder who was sitting close to Enzo. He wore a calm but serious face.

"And some of those rules are.....a witch must be killed"

"I'm a half-blood" Zinnia protested. Eventhough she was aware of the consequences of talking to the elders the way she did, she didn't care.

Her life was on the line.

"A witch is a witch" growled the last elder not hiding the fact he was irked. He stared at Zinnia with distaste. Zinnia noticed he had a bad scar over his left eye.

"Enough chit chat...Igor" he called

"Sire"

The voice belonged to the person Zinnia had thought was a statue.

"Take her to the dungeons" the elder said

Igor gave a small nod before fixing Zinnia with a stern stare.

Zinnia knew they expected her to beg for mercy but she would not give them that satisfaction.

Maintaining her gaze with the elder with the scar, she stood up slowly and walked towards the door.

After Igor and Zinnia had left, the chamberon became quiet again.

"Natasha" Edgar called breaking the silence

"Perharps you would like to escort Igor"

Knowing that they wanted her out, the vampiress slowly stood up and left.

When the door closed behind her, the blonde vampire said "Is it me or has our young ripper learnt how to control his thrist" turning around to face the vampire in the shadows, his vgrey eyes replaced by red ones.