S I X T Y-N I N E

Amilea's door creaked very quietly when it inched open. The floorboard just inside the room croaked even more when pressure was added onto it.

Amilea took her eyes off filing her nails and darted them towards the mirror in front of her. She narrowed her eyes as she stared at the figure closing her door.

"You have some nerve coming in here, Arlo." She continued to watch him from the mirror as he walked inside, letting his eyes wander around.

"Do I now?"

"How did you even manage to get past the guards?"

"That doesn't matter."

"Hmph." Amilea put down her nail filer and stood up. She continued to stand by her desk, arms behind her back, while Arlo helped himself around. She watched him stop near a dresser that had a small plate filled with necklaces. He picked one up.

"I never understood why, after a few years, you stopped sleeping in our room and instead huddled in this one."

Amilea crossed her arms. "I need my privacy. You say that as if you really cared."

"I did care." Arlo put the necklace down. "I do care."

"You certainly don't act like it."

"You just don't care. And if you don't care, you don't realize how much others around you actually do. You're blind, Lea, so very blind."

"On the contrary." Amilea pushed away from the desk. "I'm not anymore. I can see things clearly now! I know what I want, it's finally vivid to me now."

"And what do you want? Destruction? Power? More authority? You could've gotten all that without having thousands die. Without damaging your Kingdom or hurting your reputation."

Amilea scoffed. "First of all, I want control. And due to the fall of this Kingdom, I'll be able to rebuild it the way I want, while I'm in charge. And my reputation, I'm very aware of it. The maker of affairs, I laugh at the titles they've given me. But everything I've done has been so worth it."

"You've broken everything, Lea. Not only were you uncooperative in the beginning but you teamed with those...those freaks."

"They are not freaks. They are beings who want change, beings who understand that through chaos, you'll achieve what you want. Achieve those changes. We are on mutual terms."

"You've been meeting with them. How long?"

Amilea sighed and cocked her head to the side whole gazing up. "Let me think...I believe it started with the third general I met when we were dealing with the new drafting for our guards. Lovely man."

Arlo just stared at her.

"He promised me power, and I got addicted to gaining it. Every general had their own little secrets, had certain people they were tied to that would help me in the backgrounds. I only met these vampires a few months ago through a general. We met, we discussed life goals, and came to an agreement."

Amilea lifted her hands and played with a ring on her middle finger. "I've learned so much from them. Advancements. You could learn, too."

Arlo's hard and blank stare finally faulted at her encouragement. He narrowed his eyes while furrowing his eyebrows.

"You're betraying your Kingdom, your people, you really want me to do the same?"

"You're not necessarily going against the Kingdom, but those who help protect it. Let's be real, Arlo, vampires are strong, yes, but they don't win every fight. They're beasts, mutts, we need more, those vampires out there are more."

"They're independent, Lea. They won't take orders from anyone."

"I'm not saying I want to control them. I want to control alongside them."

"Are you listening to yourself?" Arlo advanced further into the room. "You say you despise the vampires and yet you want to work alongside them?"

"These are not vampires. They are better. They understand power and control, if they were anything like those other mutts they wouldn't have agreed to work with me."

"You're being used."

Amilea scoffed. "Please, you don't–"

"They only wanted you because you had a relation to this Kingdom and had knowledge and a similar perspective as them. If they win and the rule, do you really think they're going to rule with a human? Hm? The one being they changed themselves to defeat? This is why you're blind, Lea."

"If you shun my actions so much, why are you telling me all this? Because you care?"

"Because I've been blind, too. And as a result, I've not only hurt myself but my son. I came to put a stop to it."

Amilea glanced away, a smile on her lips. She didn't care what Arlo was saying, it was clear in her expression that her attention wasn't fully committed to him. She chuckled suddenly and looked back.

"Your son knows about his mother. His real mother."

Arlo's head flinched back like she had teased him with a slap.

"I told him. I don't think he believed me but that seed was definitely planted in his head. If both of you were alive when this is all over, guess you'll have to come clean."

Arlo's expression turned blank once more. He walked closer to Amilea and she put her hands behind her back again.

"I don't wish for you to perish, Arlo," Amilea said when he stopped right in front of her. She reached one hand up and cupped his cheek. "But you know if you try and stop me, that will be your fate. Don't waste your breath, Arlo."

"And I don't wish for you to break yourself like this."

Arlo took Amilea's hand away and suddenly leaned forward. He was slow as he wrapped his arms around her waist and pushed her body against his. She tensed up and didn't try to relax.

"You say you don't want me to die and yet you ordered all your guards to kill me on the spot."

Amilea scoffed quietly.

"Amilea, I have been very blind. I fell in love with you, causing me to overlook all the wrong you have done, all the damage you've caused. I can no longer do that, not anymore."

He paused, the silence prolonging as Amilea kept quiet. Arlo hugged her tighter.

"My Kingdom is suffering because of your alliance with those vampires, and my son has been affected as well. I love you, shamefully, but as a King...as a father..."

Amilea quickly reached behind her but her hand froze when something sharp stabbed her in the back. She gasped loudly and clutched Arlo's shirt, dropping something heavy in the process.

Her body trembled and she groaned. Blood dripped down her jaw and she balled Alro's shirt into her fists.

"Y....you.." she gasped. Even in her dying breaths did she managed to sound furious.

"I'm sorry."

"A–Ar....lo.." Amilea's breath came out sharp before her ragged breathing came to a halt.

Then...silence.

Her body went slack against his. Her grip weakened and if his arms weren't around her she would've fallen to the side.

The King closed his eyes while he preyed Amilea's hands away. He wrapped one arm around her waist and held the back of her head with the other. He lowered her to the floor and sighed.

Tears were avoided surprisingly easily. Arlo still felt something, something for Amilea. He was married to her to connect their kingdoms, but he ended up falling in love. Back then, Amilea did love Arlo back, and very much so, but greed caught up to her. The lust for power, control, and he had to watch her transform into a monster.

However, it wasn't true love.

What he felt for Amilea, call in a knock–off version of what he felt for Ivetta. Iris's real mother.

Arlo took a deep breath as he stepped away from Amilea's body. He glanced at the bedroom door before searching the room.

He wasn't as obvious as everyone thought he was. Everyone meaning Iris and Kai. And Zoe. He was excellent at picking up hints, but accepting them...not so much.

Arlo had a hunch that Amilea was hiding something special, something potent to use in war, especially against the Vamps.

He opened every drawer on the dressers, searched under her bed, pillows, scouted her closet, looked through every one of her jewelry boxes, but nothing. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

It had to be in there somewhere...

When he walked back to the Amilea's desk, he caught sight of the knife laying on the floor. He bent down and picked it up.

She said she didn't wish for him to perish and yet she was prepared to kill him. Arlo scoffed.

The knife was smaller than a normal dagger but bigger than a butter knife. He touched the blade of the knife and it pricked his finger just by applying a little pressure. It might've been small but it was sharp alright.

Arlo looked down at the desk. It was more of a makeup station. He stared at a purple box resting near the mirror. He lowered the knife and reached for the box.

It was squared and the objects inside slide around when he picked the box up.

Arlo took the lid off and placed it under the box. He took out the first object inside and studied it.

It was a dark-colored sphere when linear designs on it. It appeared that it was broken off something because at the bottom it was chipped and slanted. Which leads to the second item.

This one was longer, rectangular. It was also dark-colored and had odd designs on it. Arlo couldn't quite make out what they were because the items both looked tarnished, work out.

When Arlo put connected the two he recognized the shape and form.

It was the handle of a dagger.

Arlo put the items back into the box and picked up the knife again. He glanced at Amilea's right hand where she wore a ring on her middle finger.

I've learned so much from them....advancements.

Arlo let out a sign and clutched the knife in his hand. He ripped open the desk drawer, making the whole thing fall out. There were a loud crash and a few clinking noises.

Arlo eyed three silver knives identical to the one he was holding. He picked them up and rushed to the door, sparing one last glance in Amilea's direction, before leaving.

"Hey!"

Arlo looked to his right when a loud voice called out to him. He saw two Vamps standing at the end of the corridor, baring their fangs.

He gripped the knives and made a run for it.

***

"Good news, over half of the guards are ready to act on my command."

Iris looked at Kai when he stood in front of him. He swallowed his piece of bread before standing up from the crate he was sitting on.

"And the bad news?"

Kai pursed his lips and stepped closer to Iris. "Bad news is we have to send someone to find Zoe and Sage. But most of these vampires are Zoe's. We could send one of our guards, a Vamp has Zoe's scent locked in, so.."

"And you don't trust the Vamps," Iris stated more than questioned. Kai lightly shrugged one of his shoulders and Iris sighed. "Kai, we've been over this."

"I know I know, but what if one of them is actually under Annesa's control? They didn't have collars so they all look the same. If word gets out to Annesa or even Amilea that were gathering it's not going to end well, Iris."

Iris furrowed his eyebrows. He looked passed Kai to watch the other vampires and Vamps.

It was true, those under Zoe's and Annesa's command all looked about the same. Neither had bruises left from the collars or had distinctive clothing. If one of Annesa's were here they were doing a good job at keeping themselves composed to fit right in.

"We should just go to the shed and wait for them there. Maybe then Zoe might be able to catch the imposter," Kai suggested. Iris hadn't said anything yet, he only stared at the others. "Iris?"

"Hey, you!"

Kai watched Iris stepped around him and walk towards the Vamp he called out to.

The male Vamp raised his eyebrows, briefly glancing around, before facing Iris.

"Me?"

"I'm pointing at you, aren't I?"

The Vamp pursed his lips, most likely stopping a frown, and uncrossed his arms.

He sighed shortly. "Yes?"

Iris stopped in front of him. They were nearly the same height, Iris just two inches or so taller.

"What's your name?"

"Kris." The Vamp had an accent that almost made the r sound like an l.

"Kris. You came with Zoe, didn't you?"

"I did."

"How long have you served her?"

"Two years. I believe I have served her the shortest of those who came, but I'd like to consider myself one of her best."

Iris heard Kai grunt behind him but he ignored it.

"Well, Kris, I want you to go out there and find Zoe. Tell her what group you are apart of and that once you return we're heading towards her preferred location. Can you do that for me?"

Kris stared at Iris, processing his words, before nodding. "Yes, I can do that. I will return shortly."

"Thank you."

Iris stayed in his spot while he watched Kris turn and disappear with his speed. He stared in the direction he assumed he ran off before looking back at Kai.

He was standing with his arms crossed and his hip out. He stood like a disappointed parent.

"What?" Iris asked, raising his hands.

"I just told you there's a risk that one of Annesa's Vamps were here and you go ahead and pick the first one you find!"

"He wasn't the first. He just...caught my eyes."

Kai narrowed his eyes and Iris rolled his.

"Not like that. I just looked at him and thought...he looks trustworthy. I can trust him."

"No one can simply look at someone and think that."

"Which is why I asked a few questions."

"Useless questions. He even said he served Zoe the least, certainly no red flags there, Iris."

Iris sighed and diverted his gaze, attention skipping over the villagers and vampires chatting on the side of the road.

"I'm not going to explain myself to you, Kai, not only because you don't understand, but because I hardly do either." Iris sighed again. "I did the same thing with Zoe, don't you remember? And I even did it with you."

"Did what?"

"Trust you with one glance. Or felt that I could, anyway. I don't know why, but I...I can just tell when a vampire, or even a Vamp, is trustworthy. And it confuses me just as much as it confuses you; because that....feeling only works with vampires.."