Vampire - Child of Destiny (Vampire Series Book 2) (2 page)

Anger washed over me.  How could he do this to me?  I flung myself down on the bed, rage running like poison through my body, curses flowing from my lips.  I knew deep down that I should not expect him to act in any other way.  He was, after all, the man who killed the father of my child and all of his family.  He was the man who had given me the choice of living and giving my unborn son up to him and his wife, or dying and condemning my unborn child to death.  He was the man who had stolen my life, in every sense of the word, and in doing so condemned me to an eternity of depravity.  How could I be so stupid to believe that this man, this man whom I loved, and who I believed loved me, would ever let anyone or anything stand in the way of what he wanted? 

My rage subsided, but it was rapidly replaced by sorrow, as my mind relived the last few months.  The residual human part of me recoiled and grimaced with terror at the horrors I had witnessed.  The new, vampire element, accepted that everything I had seen was part of my new life, and the fact of the matter was that I needed to accept my life as it was now.

Rising from the bed, I walked to the door, and ushered in the serving girl Anne whom I had heard rushing down the corridor.  Leading her to the bed, I bade her sit down, and then taking her slim wrist into my hand I bit gently into her thin translucent skin.  The taste of her salty but sweet blood eased my mind further, and I felt myself drift into the realms of beauty, which a vampire shares with their victim.  Floating in this world of bliss I heard a soft voice ask, "But what does the Gwen part of you think?" and I heard my inner voice scream with venom, "Gwen needs revenge!" 

Chapter Three

Anne left my bedchamber looking pale and wane, and although I hated the fact that I needed to drink blood to survive, I felt sated and vibrantly alive after feeding from her.  I had decided whilst feasting on Anne that I needed to make my own way in this new world.  I wanted two things: My son, and to gain revenge, and I was not going to get either by begging Robert.

I was going to take what was mine, but not yet.  I had made a promise to myself that when Henry was old enough I would attempt to flee Vanike and Robert, taking him with me.  However, for now the time was not right, Henry was too young to survive and more importantly, I was not strong enough to protect him.

I had eighteen years to achieve this feat, for I would never accept the fact that my son would grow to manhood simply to become a vampire.  Robert had stated, when we made our bargain, that Henry would be reborn as a vampire on his eighteenth birthday, and on this day, he would become a prince amongst vampires.  I did not want my son to become a prince amongst vampires!  I wanted him to have a normal life, free from murder and evil, but wanting this for him was dangerous.  If Robert caught me even sneaking to see Henry then I would face at least banishment or even death.  For myself I did not care, but if I failed then I would fail my son, and that I could not do.  I had been searching for a way to see my child, but I had so far been unable to sneak past Matilda's women, but I had decided that I would bide my time and that I would eventually succeed.

My words may have been strong, but in truth, I bled inside.  The need to see my son grew stronger every day.  I imagined his chubby face, and his sweet smile, for I feel certain he would be smiling by now.  Henry was ripped from my slashed womb to enable him to live, and as I died, I heard his cry, and rejoiced that he lived, but not once did I see his face.  Matilda had whisked him away, certain that I was dead, but Robert had fed me his blood, and against all the odds, I had survived.  I was certain I had survived so that my son could live his life without their depravity, for as much as I loved Robert, he lived an evil existence, and I did not intend to give my son up to his will.

I decided I would no longer beg Robert for a glimpse of my son.  I would act as if I accepted his words, and that I no longer cared for the child of my heart.  I would also go out of my way to find friendship amongst the vampires.  I needed their trust to be able to move freely around the manor, and to gain their trust, I needed to show them I had fully embraced my new life.

I walked over to the chest that housed my gowns. Tonight I needed to show Robert I had accepted his command, and so I chose my most alluring gown.  Becoming a vampire had changed my appearance.  My dark hair, once straight and sometimes lifeless, now hung around my shoulders in glittering curls, vibrant and beautiful.  My eyes, which had always been my best feature, now not only shone with mischief, but with a blue brilliance to rival any sapphire.  My lips shone red like cherries, and my figure had returned to that of a maiden.  I had noticed, several times, the eyes of some of the male vampires following me lustfully, while the women’s eyes glittered with jealousy.  I had not yet taken advantage of my new beauty, and now was the time to start.

I quickly stepped into my blue dress, deciding for the first time ever that I had no need of a chemise or a corset, and I laced my bodice tightly to ensure that my breasts showed to great advantage.  I then pulled my stomacher tightly to enhance the appearance of my small waist, and I left my hair to fall down my back like a shimmering cape. 

No sooner had I started down the stairs which led to the grand hall, than several pairs of eyes followed by progress.  Stares burned into my skin, but I noticed no one, my eyes were searching for just one man.

Robert was sprawled in a large chair near the fire, his hands full of a newly transformed vampire called Emily.  Jealousy pierced my heart, but I refused to give in to my emotions, and instead looked towards a vampire called Louis who was lounging on the bottom step, lazily but hungrily watching my movements, desire stamped on his face.  Louis was, as his name suggested, French.

"Bonjour, mademoiselle," he said bowing low.

"Bonjour, Louis," I laughed, as he grasped my hand in his, lowering his mouth to kiss my hand. 

"You are very beautiful tonight, mademoiselle...maybe too beautiful, huh?”  His eyes shifted in the direction of Robert.  I followed his gaze, and almost gasped from the piercing ray of rage that radiated from Robert’s eyes.  Robert's hands were still full of Emily, who sat facing him on his lap, her legs twisted around his body, but his eyes were full of me, and he was not happy!  

I turned back to Louis and said, "Please excuse me, Louis, I wish to move closer to the fire."

Louis chuckled, "Of course, ma petite...I also have no wish to die tonight, huh?  He bowed lower over my hand, and whispered, "Lord Robert...is um, a little put out...do not make him too angry, mademoiselle."  I smiled towards Louis, but my eyes never once left Robert’s.  Mesmerized by his angry stare, and bound by the fierceness in his eyes, I moved closer towards him, but it was more than that, I felt transfixed by him, by his desire for me.

I stopped in the middle of the great hall and continued to watch him.  He smiled, but it was twisted and angry, and I knew that he was going to do something to punish me.  A chill ran up and down my spine, and I knew that I had been stupid to test Robert’s love for me.  I had angered him, and someone was going to suffer.

I watched, stunned, as his fangs grew and his head flung back, then snapped forward and then proceeded to rip Emily's throat out.  Shrieks of excitement circled the great hall as Robert held her limp body high above him with outstretched hands, his mouth and front smeared and swamped with dripping blood.

A sigh of relief escaped my throat in a soft hiss as he threw her body on the huge table; I thought he intended to let her heal, how wrong I was!  Like a flash of lightening, he threw one of the long but thin logs that were stacked beside the fire.  His aim was straight and true, piercing Emily's heart with a sickening thud, and so ended her newly transformed vampire life.

I did not vomit and I did not move, I just stood quietly, waiting for him to reach my side.  I drowned out the sound of the evil nest of vipers surrounding me, their cheers at the death of one of their own sickening and cruel. 

He reached my side in a flash, his presence consumed me, and his whisper caused me to shake.

"You see how easily I can take away all that I have given you, my love."  Grabbing my waist, he swung me around in a circle, his laughter and the laughter of the other vampires around him echoed around my head without gaiety, and I knew in that moment that he would most definitely kill me if I ever abused his trust.

Chapter Four

Rober
t’
s eyes shifted rapidly around the crowd of vampires, his eyes shone with excitement and malice.  He looked down at me, a cruel and spiteful smile playing around his soft and gorgeous lips.

Letting go of my hand, he jumped gracefully onto the huge table, which still housed the dead body of Emily.  He walked over to her body, and casually, with no emotion or regret, kicked her body from the table.  The crowd of vampires once more laughed and shrieked, and I felt disgust for their depravity overwhelm me.

Robert lifted his hand to hush the crowd.

"My friends...shh, my friends..." he waited patiently for the crowd to quiet, and when he had their attention, he continued, "My friends, I have a treat for you."  He smiled down at them, and if I had any doubt before, his presence, and their reaction to him, confirmed that he was their king, and the leader of them all.

"Tonight we will have a live dinner.” I gasped in horror, but the other vampires cheered and heckled in glee.  I was not sure what he meant by 'a live dinner' and I was sure that I really did not want to know.

"We also have a treat for our newly transformed vampire, Gwen.” Robert’s face shone evilly, his laughter, spite, and anger, radiating towards me in waves.  He had, I knew, decided to punish me for my earlier outburst in the bedchamber.

"Gwen will have the honor of making her first kill.” His red eyes shone into mine, and I know that he saw the horror I felt at his words.  Clapping his hands in what resembled childish glee, he shouted over the crowd of crazed animals, "
BRING IN THE FEAST!
"

All heads, including mine, turned towards the curtain that hid the entrance to the kitchens at the far end of the great hall.  Four naked people walked from the entrance, I could see from the glazed and faraway expressions on their face that they had been bewitched.

I did not recognise three of them, but the fourth I did, it was my maid, Anne, and I knew without being told, that she was the one that Robert had decided I would feed from until she was starved of blood and her heart stopped beating. 

I watched the four of them make their way to the table.  The excitement of the other vampires faded from my mind, because all I could see and hear were the four innocent people climbing onto the table.  The sight of the four of them, artfully arranging themselves in preparation for their own deaths, was truly hideous and revolting!

Robert jumped from the table, landing beside me.  I could tell from the sardonic quirk of his mouth that he could tell that I felt disgusted by what I was witnessing.  My compassion, the one thing he had always told me he loved best about me, was the one emotion that he was now using against me.  For the first time I was seeing the man who slaughtered Tom's family so heartlessly, and it was a man that I hated!

I wanted to run away and definitely did not want to take Anne's life.  Feeding from a human was one thing, but stealing life from the innocent was not my idea of fun. I thought it barbaric and cruel.  However, I knew that if I refused to do as Robert commanded then he would become angrier, and whilst he was in a rage like this, I was not sure that if I disobeyed him, I would or would not be lying on the floor in a heap like Emily.

I felt his gaze searing into my flesh as he waited to see how I would react.  I also felt the crowd’s eyes on me; they were all waiting to see how I would take this command.  It was a test.  A test I really did not want to partake in, but I knew that I would need to perform it, before I gained their trust.

I am certain that Robert saw the emotions play across my face, he knew how I was feeling, but he would not give in, it was my turn to submit.

"Come, my love," he whispered, "Our feast awaits..."

A solitary tear made its way down my cheek as I looked up at him.  He lifted his hand and gently wiped the tear away with his thumb, and then whilst his eyes burnt into mine, his tongue darted out, licking the salty proof of my compassion.  Leading me closer to the table, he said, “Your tears are mine, your life is mine, you are mine...never forget that!"

Shaking my hand from his grip, I walked towards Anne.  I wanted to get this finished as quickly as possible.  I knew the others would play with their victims for hours, teasing, and torturing them, but I just could not do that.