Episode 12

Ezra was pacing in the hallway outside the banquet hall. Esmeralda had been avoiding him and it had been a week since the vampires attempted to kidnap her. He hated having to keep secrets from her but he was much too scared of King Aaron to dare utter a word to Esmeralda. The doors to the banquet hall finally opened and Esmeralda walked out of it. He caught her gaze for a split second then she turned away from him. She was still very upset with him but he couldn't stop thinking about the intimate kiss they had shared in her bedroom. Almost losing her drove him mad with fear. He couldn't let her out of his sight even for one second and now that her father had charged him with being her bodyguard, it made it all the more difficult for him. Guarding someone who wouldn't even look him in the eye or utter a single word to him was torture. He had always been in love with Esmeralda from the time when they were little children. His heart broke when she was sent away to boarding school. For ten long years, he waited in agony for her return.

"Your grace please wait," said Ezra as he followed behind Esmeralda who walked very quickly trying to put as much space between them as she possibly could. She was still plagued with questions that her father had been deliberately avoiding. Like why was she poisoned with wolf's bane and vampire lilac? Why would the vampires need that particular combination to subdue her? Her intuition kept going off and the one person she felt she could turn to for answers was also keeping secrets from her. She was so upset with Ezra. Being in constant proximity to him wouldn't be as unbearable if she didn't harbor all these conflicting emotions. She desired him deeply but was so angry at him. She finally arrived in front of her room door, opened it, and without saying a word to him, slammed the door in his face.

"I deserve that" Ezra whispered to himself.

Even though she was very upset with him, he found solace in the fact that she was safe. And he would find the vampire that escaped and make it pay for attempting such a fool's errand.

*****

That evening after classes, Lily was spent and exhausted having to harness her Ramava proved very trying. She was excelling in her classes but had begun to miss her mother very much. As she lay on her bed to sleep, she was teleported to a hall with the same 12 vampires seated in a discussion.

"Ariton sleeps while Vestería burns, disconnected from all the rest of the world. Is there any word from Nebakan?"

"No, my Lords." Prince Antonio replied. The Vampire lords of his court were beginning to get impatient. The truth was he hadn't even spoken to Kimg Nebakan. The changing king was no friend to the vampires. Why would he be, given the terror the vampires wrought ok his realm before they were sealed away?

"And the wolf princess? Do you have her yet?" asked Lord Oris.

"No, my lords, the King of Esteria is in no hurry to help our kind and I don't blame him. We were once the scourge on his lands. Why would he risk returning his people to such a time by freeing the Vampires." said Prince Antonio as he cleared his throat.

"You are a failure, little prince. We had such high hopes that you would lead Vestería to victory instead you seat in your little castle of darkness and indulge yourself in pointless vices distracting from the very important mission bestowed upon you. Might I remind you that your father and brother remain trapped in Vestería for over ten thousand years while you turn the earth into your playground?"

"I forget nothing!" Said Antonio as his voice thundered with anger.

"Watch your tongue, my lords, I do not take kindly to insults. I cannot force King Nebakan's hands if he refuses to help us. Now, all of you get out!" Antonio was livid, the vampire lords didn't respect him and saw him as nothing more than a spoiled prince. Moments like this made him miss his sister, she was a far better ruler than he was. She always knew the right things to say and do. All the vampire lords got up and left the room.

"My prince, why do you suffer such indignities? You are our ruler, you have protected the vampires on Earth for over 10 thousand years since the great escape. Our numbers thrive and endure because of you. You are our king, you have been the King we've come to know and respect. Do not let these old hags make you feel otherwise."

Antonio took in Sean's words. Sean was right, in his father's absence he had protected his people from the wolves on Earth and the humans. For a reckless prince he had been quite the ruler and to be honest he was good at it when he wasn't indulging his vices. He cared deeply for his people and wanted them to thrive. I mean why would he, the vampires were a vile and merciless race. It was no secret that they were hated and feared in all the realms. And nobody looked forward to their return or being freed aside from the few vampires who missed the glory days when vampires rained terror on the world. On Vestería he was Antonio the spoilt and reckless prince but here on Earth, he was the protector of the 20 thousand vampires. Although their numbers were not mighty, they were more than enough for his empire to thrive. They had fended off the wolves for centuries even though the wolves had outnumbered them by far.

"Thank you, Sean, I'd like to be alone now I have a lot to think about. Sean bowed and exited the throne room.