A Shade of Vampire 40: A Throne of Fire(7)

“Wait a moment.” Queen Memenion looked confused. “I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about…what’s GASP?”

Ruby and I filled the queen in on the nature of the inhabitants of The Shade. Her eyes widened as we detailed the supernatural creatures we had as friends, family and allies. She eyed Ruby and me more closely, stunned that we were the offspring of creatures she evidently hadn’t thought existed. While she studied us, I felt her energy sort of ‘brush up’ against my own. Instantly a wave of hunger washed over me. I sat back further in my chair, catching Tejus’s eye.

I need to feed, I spoke through our mental connection, hoping he would hear me.

He nodded, then turned his attention to Ash.

“I suggest Ragnhild and I go—maybe some other guards too.”

Ash shook his head. “Tejus, you’re too valuable. Send Ragnhild and some guards—the fewer the better. If it’s just a reconnaissance mission, then they don’t need you.”

Tejus looked like he wanted to argue, but his eyes flickered over toward me, as if sensing the desperate need of my hunger.

“Fine,” he snapped curtly. “The plan is set.”

He stood up from his chair, the legs squeaking back across the marble floor.

“Hazel and I are going to visit my brother,” he announced. Ash nodded in understanding, and the two of us left the room.

“This way.” Tejus directed me swiftly along a corridor, and then off into a small, badly lit room. In the surface of the stone floor was a wooden hatch, a large barrel drawn over it.

“Where are the guards?” I asked. If this was Jenus’s cell, then the place should have been flooded with heavily armed sentries.

“Down below—we’re not taking any chances.”

I nodded in relief as he removed the barrel and lifted up the hatch. A small stone staircase led into the gloom beneath. Maybe this castle was more medieval than I’d originally thought.

As I descended the steps after Tejus, guards started muttering to one another after they greeted him. When I reached the bottom, six of them surrounded a steel-barred cage in the center of the basement. Inside was the sniveling figure of Jenus. The guards bowed their heads in my direction – some of them even dropping forward on one knee. I looked at Tejus in confusion. He smiled, but didn’t say anything.

Was this something to do with Queen Trina?

I frowned. It seemed strange, and kind of repulsive, that I would be respected for ending someone’s life.

“I see you’ve brought the queen-killer to my door…is she hungry?” Jenus’s voice cut across the gloom of the windowless space. “Not that I mind, of course,” he continued in a wheedling voice. “I am more than happy to feed your monster, Tejus, if it means I am graced with this castle’s protection.”

“Silence,” Tejus snapped. “Say another word and I’ll have you meet the same fate as the rest of your mindless cult.”

Jenus grimaced. “I don’t know what you’re talking about! I had nothing to do with them – nothing!”

“Go on.” Tejus brushed my arm softly. “Take what you need.”

I looked over at the guards. It made me uncomfortable to have them watching. Tejus picked up on my awkwardness, and turned to one of them.

“Can you give us a moment?” he asked. “If you would just wait above.”

“Of course, Commander,” the guard replied. He bowed his head again in my direction, his eyes meeting mine for a brief moment. They were clear and unwavering—and I couldn’t avoid seeing the respect and awe in his glance. I smiled tentatively back, not knowing what else to do.

The guards left swiftly, leaving us alone with the captive.

“They love you, you know,” Jenus cooed, breaking his silence. “Whoever would have thought that a mere scrap like you could bring down the mighty Queen Trina Seraq?”

Tejus kicked the bar with his foot.

“What the hell did I just say?” he hissed at his brother. “I am not making false threats, Jenus—your life is just about worthless right now, so don’t tempt me.”

I looked at Jenus in disgust. I almost loathed him more than I had Queen Trina—she might have been pure evil, but at least she had a spine. Then I remembered that he was providing dinner, so instead I smiled at him, and began to feed.

The energy flooded through me—it was dark and potent, so unlike the energy of Tejus or Ruby. It left a bitter taste in my mouth, and I immediately felt like I wanted a hot shower, but it was still energy, and I needed it. I drained Jenus till he was writhing around on the floor in pain. His agony should have made me pause, like it had done the day we’d rescued him from the forest prison, just before Tejus told me to stop, but this time I couldn’t help myself. He deserved everything he got. The more I drank, the more the darkness of his energy became as tempting as it was repulsive.