Chapter 8 The underground
I stirred in my sleep, the road suddenly rougher than what I was used to as I slid to the side and slid into one of the seats. Still half asleep, my mind refused to comprehend where I was, or what was happening.
I just wanted to sleep, I didn’t care about anything else.
I turned onto my side, curling up into a tight ball as I took a deep breath, attempting to drift back off into the safe arms of dreams. Dreams can’t hurt me, reality can.
My reality was about to get a whole lot worse.
I shivered, the thin blanket doing nothing to keep the cold air at bay.
I was too nervous to open my eyes, too afraid to take a look at my knew world, voices shouted in the distance as the destination got closer.
Maybe if I just keep my eyes closed I could avoid what was coming, maybe I didn’t have to face my end bravely, I would happily die as a coward if it meant I didn’t have to see the last blow be struck.
I didn’t want to remember the night before, I didn’t want to remember Prince Silas Bancroft coming to my home and killing my mother and taking me into his care, for reasons I didn’t yet know.
A witch should never trust a vampire, especially one that could command an entire army to hunt you down should you decide to run.
I would never be free, not now that he owned me.
I pealed open my eyes, the blacked-out windows preventing me from seeing exactly where we were, or even where we might be.
I don’t know if it is a good thing to not see the world I am going to be grown into or not, maybe it would be better to pretend to be stupid.
I should keep my mouth shut, I shouldn’t ask questions , and yet a thousand slid through my mind, begging to cross my lips.
I blinked against dim light of the limo, my heart beginning to race as my eyes found the Prince, his fire-coloured eyes watching me as though I was the most interesting person in the world.
It was like I was a show on tv that he couldn’t keep his eyes off.
I didn’t like it, I didn’t like his eyes on me.
I curl the blanket further around my shoulders, trying not to shake under his sharp gaze, the look in his eyes could send even the bravest of rebels into a fit of panic.
He was terrifying, and he knew it.
He owned it like he owned me.
“Finally awake I see, Fraulein.” He smiled softly, catching me off-guard.
Why would he smile at me?
It betrayed the hateful look in his eyes.
“Who is Fraulein?” I ask sleepily, rubbing my eyes.
There I go again, letting my mouth run wild.
He laughed, a deep and throaty sound. “Is that not obvious?”
I stared up at him, was he calling me that?
I am sure he knows what my name is, he said it when we were back at the house, so why was he calling me something different?
I study him as he studies me. It was a battle, see who looks away first, which of course is me, I don’t want to challenge him. I’d never win.
“It’s a pet name. I wouldn’t read too much into it, girl. It has no hidden meaning.” he shrugged, such a simple gesture yet it screamed dominance.
Wasn’t my name good enough to use?
I am Luna Marshall. That is and always will be my name.
I frown, trying not to shout at him. “Why do I need a pet name?”
“We are here.” Silas says, distracting me from my question as the car came to a slow stop, the door opening from the outside.
I lean forward, stretching my neck to see who was at the other side, though it was too dark, the only light coming from a line of torches that blinded my vision.
I rub my eyes, trying to adjust them to the new light, I blink several times and look again, but by the time I reopen my eyes Silas is already climbing out of the vehicle and holding his hand out for me, silently commanding that I follow him.
For a moment I want to reject his help, for a moment I want to slap his hand away and call him a murderer.
I do neither.
I breathe deeply and reluctantly take his hand, allowing him to guide me out of the metal death trap, his eyes glowing brightly against the light of the torches.
I stumble slightly as I got out, Silas catching me before I hit the floor.
I don’t thank him.
I don’t want to even acknowledge his help.
The stone beneath my feet was like ice and my entire body began to shiver, I wish I would have had time to put some shoes on.
Vampires can’t die from the cold, but I can.
A crowd of vampires, warlocks and witches gathered around the limo, watching as Silas guides me forward, panic sweeping through me like metal bending against fire.
I wished that I was somewhere else, somewhere they couldn’t see me.
Somewhere they couldn’t hurt me.
I look at the prince who still held my hand in his, he was making sure I didn’t run away in front of everyone, and I would have given the chance. I hate crowds.
They make me panic.
I can deal with death, I can’t deal with this.
There were so many of them, so many creatures that could kill me with a flick of their wrist.
“Breathe girl, if you collapse, I am not going to help you back up.” Prince Bancroft says, he finds my fear tedious.
I am already a problem to him.
“Yes sir.” I stutter, attempting to control my racing heart the best I could, but I had never been around so many people. Not in my entire life.
I tried to look anywhere else, somewhere there weren't as many people, but that seemed impossible as they surrounded us on all sides, their eyes glowing against the torches that they held.
How can so many people be so close together and not flinch?
I can feel my power stir, but I force it back down, now is not the time to fight.
I’d be dead before the first spark of fire leaves my flesh.