CHAPTER 9

Analise's POV

I kept tossing around in my bed for the next few hours until I picked up some noises coming from outside. Through my werewolf hearing, I heard screaming from downstairs followed by sounds of crashing. I immediately sat up straight in my bed, heart hammering in my chest.

'Crescent? You might want to wake up.' I said as I got out of bed, walking cautiously towards my door. I heard a low growl from Crescent and I knew she was up and would be ready to back me up at any time. Pressing my ear on the door, I listened for the next few seconds.

The commotion from the other side of the castle. I did hear footsteps near me but all were going in the opposite direction. They were most probably guards going to see whatever was happening. To be able to move around without being detected easily, I covered mine and Crescent's scent with a spell I learnt at school. Sighing, I opened the door a little just enough to get a peek at the hallway.

Deserted.

Everybody was gone. Closing the door behind me, I stepped into the hallway. Since I was still confused about where the hallways lead, I let my hearing guide me, keeping my eyes peeled for any signs of danger.

Soon I found myself standing in the foyer. Everything was a wreck. Crimson color stained the walls and the strong smell of metallic blood reached my nose. The vases that once stood on the table were reduced to pieces on the floor and the furniture was nothing but pieces of wood. On the floor lay countless bodies in pools of blood. I recognised the black uniforms of some but others, I did not. They were most probably the ones who attacked us.

I heard more noise coming from the hallway to my right. Avoiding the bodies and blood, I walked in the direction of the noise. Only a few steps later I caught the familiar scent of my father. I decided to follow. Walking down the hallway, there was no sound except for my breathing and the occasional screams coming from the other side of the walls. I did not where I was going at all. I halted in my steps as I found myself at a dead end. Inhaling in a deep breath, I still caught my father's scent and it was stronger this time. I looked around but saw nobody. Just then, a light breeze caressed my hair and I looked at the open window on the wall in front of me. A piece of clothing hung, moving back and forth with the wind.

Jumping, I caught it in my hand. This is what led me here- my father's clothing.

'A trap!' Crescent said, alarmed. At the same time, I felt something behind me. I quickly turned around only to find nothing. Another blur passed on my side. Judging by his scent I could tell he was not a werewolf. Slowly, I backed into the wall, keeping my eyes on his movements. Just as my back touched the wall, he stopped but I could not see him because of the dark shadow. As he stepped out from it, I instantly recognised him by his red eyes- a vampire.

"What is a simple human like you doing alone in this castle full of predators?" He said, smelling the air, an evil smile etched on his pale face. Since he could not get any scent he mistook me for a human. The last time I saw a vampire was the night I met Malcom and I managed to kill him without using any magic.

This time not only did I have magic but also training. The school trained us to control our power and also learn how to fight without magic though we never used it in real situations. I guess this would be a great place to finally put it into practice.

"Should I be scared right now?" I rolled my eyes, feeling confident in myself. After all, the talk with Crescent did help.

He looked at me in confusion. "You are about to die, girl." He said, eyes turning red with his fangs extending.

"I would like to see you try." I stood my ground, a daring look in my eyes.

Just as I expected, he lunged at me using his speed but I was faster. As he stood confused in front of the wall, I was already behind him. He sensed my presence but was too late. I took the piece of clothing that was still in my hand and wrapped it around his neck, tightening it with my force. Before he could tear the clothes around his neck, I heard his bones cracking from the force I exerted and his body went limp. I let go and he fell to the ground.

Turning around, I used all my senses to inspect the surrounding. As a result, I felt the presence of other vampires in the corners. "Come out of your hiding place. I know you are here." I said in a sing-song voice. Just as I expected, more vampires stepped out from all sides, all ready to attack. The one in front of me smirked as he realised they had me cornered.

"A little early to be happy, don't you think?" I raised an eyebrow at him.

Instead of replying, he came straight at me. Despite his fast moves, I grabbed him by the neck, only seconds away from biting me. He looked at me in shock but it was short-lived as I threw him against a wall and sounds of bones cracking reached my ears.

All the other vampires had formed a semi-circle around me as they advanced together, snarling. Using my speed, I bolted to my left side where I snapped one of the vampire's necks, causing him to drop dead on the floor. I moved to the next one, delivering a punch to his face as he stumbled backward. I kicked the next one in the stomach before colliding his face with my knee and throwing him against the wall. I moved to the next two at once, grabbing both by the neck and colliding their heads together before throwing them where their friends were. Not stopping, I moved to the last one, punching him in the stomach followed by a roundhouse kick before regaining my position near the wall.

I watched as they all lay on the floor, clutching their head, stomach or legs. Maybe this fight was not so bad at all. It was helping me release a lot of my pent-up emotions. It felt good to be able to defeat them, to show them what I was made of. I felt strong, powerful, confident and in control. The feeling that had engulfed my senses as I gave my graduation speech was back, only this time, it is stronger.

Crescent was right, if I did not believe in myself, then nobody would. Both of these times, I believed in myself and the feeling was exhilarating. It was at these things that I shone the most. I was good at this, maybe even great.

The vampires were now back up, having healed from my previous attack. One of them lunged at me but I sidestepped him, grabbed the back of his neck, slamming his head against the wall before snapping his neck. This time, all of them came together.

As the first one came at me, I extended my claws, ripping his chest open as he fell to the ground. My eyes had started glowing silver. Retracting my claws, I grabbed another one's arms as he tried to strangle me. Without thinking, I plunged my hand into his chest and ripped out his heart before letting go of his body. Throwing his heart next to his body, I moved to the remaining three as they both surrounded me. At the same time, I extended my hands forward, ripping their heart out in one swift motion using my magic.

Once sure they were all dead, I moved to another hallway. I rounded several corners but yet found nothing. They should really provide a map or something for this place. I reached a double door but heard nothing. Opening it, I saw one of the other dining rooms empty. Just as I turned to exit, someone kicked me in the stomach, sending me flying backward and landing near the dining table. "Not again." I groaned.

The door opened wider and more vampires entered the room. Without wasting any time, I got on my feet, took the nearest chair and slammed it against the pillar a few feet away. As it turned to pieces, I picked up a long and pointed one just in time as the vampire grabbed me by the neck and raised me above the floor. I stabbed him in the heart and he let me go. Coughing, I got back to my feet.

"Get her!" One of the vampires yelled before charging. I removed the wood from the dead vampire's body and threw it at the next one, hitting him straight in the heart. Another one came at me and I simply cracked his neck. The others stopped dead in their track and I saw the fear start to set in as they slowly backed away.

"Leaving already?" I smirked. With one flick of my wrist, the doors closed. "Want to see some magic?" The remaining five vampires looked at each other, confused. I place my left hand in front of me and the vampire standing closest to me levitated above the floor, holding his neck and gasping for air. I turned my wrist and all his pain stopped.

He died.

The others stood frozen in their spot. "Who's next?" I sounded like a psychopath to my own ears.

'Yeah, but I like this version of you a lot!' Crescent said

One of them tried to run away but in vain. Just as he took his first step, I lifted a piece of the broken chair with my magic before sending it straight in his direction. He dropped dead as the wood pierced his heart from the back.

"Tsk. Tsk. You can't get out of here alive. You have seen my powers." I said before snapping their necks with a flick of my wrist. I smirked as their bodies dropped to the floor with a thud

I left the room and finally made it to a hallway where the guards were fighting off some vampires. I also caught the scent of my father along with the others nearby. One of the guards saw me in the hallway and was approaching me when his eyes widened. "Watch out Princess." His words attracted the attention of the others. At the same time, I felt a vampire move behind me. In no time he was in front of me but he stopped, his skin turning pale, the veins around his eyes getting darker as I ripped his heart out.

'Is this your new hobby Lizzie?'

Despite their disapproval, I helped the guards fight the remaining vampires. "Are you okay Princess?" The guard who warned me earlier asked. I turned around to face him and if I am not wrong I saw him and some others gulp at my state.

I had fresh and dried blood on my face and clothes. My hair was probably a big mess. What completed my look was definitely the heart I held in my hand and the blood dripping from my palms to my wrist and forearms, covering the tattoo on my inner wrist. I simply threw it aside.

"I'm fine." I said simply, trying to wipe the blood off my hands on my shirt.

He introduced himself. "Thank you for helping us, Princess." He bowed his head a little and the others followed.

"Oh. No problem." I said awkwardly. "Where is my father by the way?"

"In the study room Princess." Another guard spoke up

"Could you show me the way, please?" I stood there just looking at them, not knowing where to go. Thankfully, they showed me the directions.

After many twists and turns and dead bodies, I finally found the study room. As soon as I opened the door, my hands flew in front of my face, catching an arrow only centimeters from my face. Irritated, I threw the arrow to the side, glaring at the person who shot it. He quickly kept his bow to the side.

Looking around, I found my father and brother along with a few guards standing behind the big mahogany table in the middle of the room, their hair disheveled and clothes stained with splotches of blood. Other than that, they looked alright. In the corner of my room, I saw my mother, Rayna, Ivory and grandmother standing with guards surrounding them, arms drawn out in a protective stance. Before I could speak, someone knocked at the door and a guard entered

"The vampires are dead but some escaped." He lowered his head in shame.

My dad let out an irritated sigh before slamming his hand on the table. "How could you let them escape!"

'He hid in this room the entire time and has the audacity to shout at the guards who protected him.' Crescent commented.

"Leave" He ordered and the guard exited the room.

I felt several pairs of eyes on me and I turned towards where my mom stood and I was right. They were looking me up and down. "What?" I asked, irritated

"You look gross." Rayna commented, scrunching her nose.

"Because unlike you, I do not have guards who babysit me." I mocked her. Not waiting for her to answer, I addressed my father, "So, why am I here?" I demanded firmly. He motioned for the guards to leave the room, leaving only me and my family.

"We need your help." It looked like he was having difficulty saying the words out loud.

"Really?" I scoffed. "Why would you need the help of someone weak and useless?" I used their own words against them. He glared at me but then my grandmother proceeded to explain the situation around the vampire.

"So, you called me here just to use me?" I huff with disbelief.

Maybe I should side with vampires and kill them myself.

"Grandma said we have a better chance with you on our side." Rayan spoke up.

"What do I get out of this?" I asked curiously.

"Anything you want." My father replied.

"And remember, we are only doing this because mother said it. Don't get your hopes high and wish for things that will not happen." My mother said and I rolled my eyes.

"Fine." I said. "Firstly, once this whole war thing is over, I want everything between us to be over. You don't know me and I don't know you. You never try to contact me no matter what happens. All ties binding me to you and to the royal family should be broken and I will not be the princess. Just a normal werewolf."

"Anything else?" My father asked. He looked a bit taken aback by my demand but nevertheless stayed quiet about it.

"During my stay here, I should be able to do what I want and go as I please without any questions. You should not interfere with my life at all."

"And?"

"Since I don't know how long I will be staying here, I need money because I don't have a job."

"You will be given a fixed allowance."

"I am not 10 year old." I said. "I will spend as much money as I need. No limits." They brought this on themselves when they said I could have whatever I wanted. Besides, I don't think that my purchases would even make a dent in the amount of money they have.

"Done." He gritted out.

"I am not done yet, father." I gave him an innocent smile. "I need a car."

"Fine."

"Since you need my help, I want to be seated on your right in meetings and all." He was about to interrupt me but I continued. "Any news regarding the vampires or any other threat should be reported to me directly as soon as possible. No actions will be taken without consulting everyone, including me. That's all I think." I said in a nonchalant voice.

"You will not be seated on my right in meetings." He gritted out, glaring at me. The seat to the right of the king was that of the queen or someone with authority.

"Fine then. How about the seat on your left?" I smirked at Rayan. The seat to the left was reserved for the next ruler and here, it was Rayan.

"Mother is sitting on my right and Rayan on the left of Gabriel." My mother glared. "If you want you can sit next to mother."

I ignored her and addressed my father. "So what will it be? On your left or your right?" I did not really care where I sat but it felt good to see their egos get a little crushed.

Both seats to my father's right and left are kept for the most powerful ones in the family after my father and if I could sit there, I was pretty sure they would not be pleased. In fact, they would be pissed and that's something I looked forward to especially if I was the reason behind it.

He looked like he was at crossroads as his eyes darted between grandmother and Rayan. "We need her Gabriel." My grandmother reminded him.

"You can take Rayan's seat." He finally caved in.

"Bu-" I cut Rayan's sentence. "Great."

"You will receive all the news and will be consulted for any plan of action just like the rest of us."

I just nodded, pleased. "Since this is done, I will take your leave now." I turned on my heel and was about to leave when my mother said.

"We have a meeting tomorrow with other people who will be our allies. Dress properly and make a good impression on them."

"I will do what I want." I simply said as I exited the room.