CHAPTER 80 Hope

HRH Tabitha, Queen of the Vampires

It was just after the Autumn Equinox. Fire and Drew were in England to help my granddaughter, Crystal, settle into her new flat in the building that I had bought a few years back.

I am very proud of Crystal. She applied into Oxford University's medical sciences program and was accepted, securing funding for both her education and living expenses. She will be staying in England for the next ten years, maybe even more. Nevertheless, I have made sure security was around her twenty-four seven.

Stefan volunteered to head security for Crystal and to keep a close watch on her without her knowing it by masking his scent. Stefan and Crystal are very close. He practically acts as Crystal's second father, so I was assured he will not allow anyone to harm her. He was currently on red alert looking for rogues masquerading as students.

I kept in close communication with Stefan's actual daughter, Katherine, who, after years of undercover work, has finally infiltrated the Jade Dragon's drug empire. She recently informed me they were moving headquarters from Spain to London which is only a little over an hour away from Oxford University.

Katherine also told me that Kai Long, known to the rogues as the Shadow Master, was somewhere in Europe in an undisclosed location which only Jade knew. On numerous occasions, I had placed a tracker on Jade's car and had hacked into her system, but the GPS trackers were always detected while her tech specialist was always a step ahead of me, blocking my search for information. Katherine had discovered Jade's tech specialist graduated top of her class in MIT. Thus, I decided to employ the young prodigy named Marshall who had just recently graduated top of his class in MIT at the tender age of sixteen. Right now, Katherine has introduced a simple virus created by Marshall into Jade Long's computer system. The virus was slowly stealing information without being detected. I am awaiting its progress.

It was a beautiful fall morning in China when High Elder Amelie Heinrich called to inform me that former Viscount Dominic Modesto had broken into her building. After asking Fire to meet me in New York, the Eldest of the East Coven Stronghold and I boarded my private plane and flew to New York.

I asked the Eldest Albert to meet with Eldest Magnus of the West Coven Stronghold at his building on the Upper East Side to see what Magnus knew about the plans of the former Viscount while I made a courtesy call to the High Elder. Alone without guards of my own, I arrived at the Perfumery and found the High Elder had doubled her security.

Before I could intoduce myself, the wolf guards immediately barricaded the entrance into the building.

"Bloodsucker," the Omega wolf closest to me snarled, his eyes turning a bright yellow while his fangs elongated. "Identify yourself before I rip your head from your body." He reached for my throat, but I blocked his hand and grabbed his throat instead, slamming his head against the table near the security check. The wolves around me growled while I hissed at them, showing them my sharp teeth and placing a sharp elongated nail against the carotid artery of the wolf I had in my clutches.

"I am Her Royal Highness, Tabitha Acheron, Queen of the Vampires," I announced, my aura causing the wind to blow towards the wolves surrounding me. "The High Elder is expecting me."

A young blonde she-wolf wearing a white silk blouse and a gray pencil cut mid length skirt suddenly came running, her shiny black pumps making a clickety clack sound on the shiny marble floors of the lobby. She pushed against the huge glass doors, opening the doors wide open for me, then curtsied.

"I would like to apologize, Your Highness, for the grave mistake. My name is Olivia. If you may...The High Elder is waiting for you," she said.

I let go of the Omega wolf and lifted my dark sunglasses to show him my glowing red eyes. I saw him jump, catching the scent of fear and a whiff of something else. I sniffed him like a dog, trying to locate the object which gave off the rather peculiar scent.

"Don't touch me," cried the Omega Wolf. He pushed away, trying to evade my hands while moving towards the open doors of the Perfumery.

Suddenly, a being in black appeared and took the Omega wolf from behind, her arm around his neck.

"And where do you think you're going wolf?" Fire asked sarcastically. "My aunt isn't done with her search. Be a good little wolf and stand still."

The wolf guards around us began to growl viciously at Fire. Fire waved her free hand at them. They all quieted and sat down on the pavement floor like dogs on all fours, their tongues even sticking out.

"Good boys. Stay, " Fire said, sniffing the Omega wolf's hair deeply. "Sometimes wolves forget to spray their hair to mask their scent. I think my aunt figured out your secret. Actually, I have too. We've been looking for you for a long time, Michael."

The 'young Omega wolf' disguise suddenly faded to reveal a middle-aged Michael. There was white in his dark hair and wrinkles around his face. However, he didn't appear to have undergone any hardships, a clear sign he was in league with the rogue wolves.

His face suddenly broke into a malevolent smile. I stared at him with a panic arising from deep within.

"Maintaining the disguise was difficult, but I have both of you where I need you," Michael said. I saw him close his eyes, appearing to concentrate. When he opened his eyes, he was shocked to find his neck still locked in a chokehold.

"What's the matter, Michael?" I asked, puzzled by his expression.

"This is impossible," Michael exclaimed. "I should be somewhere else."

"Not unless I block your powers," Fire murmured in his ear while she gestured for me to take cover. "Aunt Tabby, there must be an assassin. Take cover behind us."

"He's not after your aunt, Fire," Michael croaked. "He's after someone whose death will shatter you into a million pieces."

"Drew! But Drew is headed... Oh my Goddess!" Fire exclaimed. She closed her eyes and mumbled a spell which made Michael faint and collapse on the floor. Fire quickly took out her phone to call Drew.

"Honey, I'm about to land on Alexander's territory. What's up?" Drew's voice said through speakerphone.

"Your uncle, Kai Long... I think someone is following you. We found Michael and he said he's after someone who will shatter me into a million pieces. That's you, Drew!"

Suddenly, we heard an explosion of some kind and the line immediately went dead.

"Drew! Drew! Are you still there? DREW!"

Fire collapsed on her knees right in front of Michael's unconscious body and began to scream.

I took Fire in my arms and tried to console her, but deep down I knew she was inconsolable. Violent sobs racked her body while I hugged her tightly and rubbed her back.

She suddenly stopped crying and looked up at me, her blue eyes filled with optimism as she uttered one word.

"Hope."