The Vampire Gift 2: Kingdom of(48)
I nearly gape. Mother never admits her flaws. Not to anyone.
Not ever.
“But,” she continues on. “That does not excuse any of you from shirking your duties. Perhaps the prosperity I’ve given you, thanks to the wards, has made you complacent. Perhaps it’s made you lazy. Fine. I accept that. I was too gracious. Many of you have lost the requisite discipline needed to serve me well. But not to worry—you will each have a chance to make it up to me. Starting now.”
A tension shifts through the air.
“How?” one of the vampires ventures.
“The first is a strengthening of our defenses. In case you haven’t heard, the humans nearly began a little uprising earlier.” She looks around. “Good thing I arrived in time to stop it.”
“An uprising?” A female voice rings out. “Please. As if mere humans could be a threat.”
I turn my head toward the speaker. It’s Deanna, the very last of vampires to be given a position in the Royal Court.
“There are nearly four hundred vampires living in The Haven,” she continues. “And what? Three, four thousand humans? A little more? I say, let them rise.” She looks at her nails. “A single vampire is easily the equal of ten men. It’s time to remind them why we rule.”
The Queen looks around. “Does anybody else feel that way?”
Silence greets her. There are a few soft coughs. The tension is thick.
“Just as I thought,” Mother says. She sounds perturbed.
“How do you intend to strengthen our defenses?” a vampire ventures.
“Oh. That.” The Queen smiles. “I will seal the wards around The Haven. Until we discover how James escaped, not a single vampire, not a single being, not a single soul will be allowed in or out of the sanctuary. You will inform the coven vampires of my decision.” She looks around the Court. “You may go.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
PHILLIP
A chorus of voices rings out at my Mother’s announcement.
“No!”
“You can’t do that!”
“How will we get fresh blood?”
“The Royal Court will not stand for this!”
“SILENCE!” Mother screams. Her shout is accentuated by a loud clap of thunder—doubtlessly another of her spells.
It takes a few more moments for the commotion to die down. When it does, a heavy darkness hangs in the air.
“You’ve trapped us,” Bradley murmurs. “When word spreads of what you’ve done… well.” His voice goes an octave lower. “Humans revolting will no longer be your biggest concern.”
“You wouldn’t be suggesting I should trouble myself with worries about my most loyal vampire subjects protesting, would you?” the Queen asks sweetly.
“That is exactly what—”
He doesn’t get to finish.
Mother’s hand lashes out. A blast of blue light bursts from her fingertips. It hits Bradley square in the chest. He flies back and crashes into the wall, where he goes down hard. Smoke rises from his limp body.
Silence of the worst kind descends upon us. When the smoke clears, there is a gaping hole right where the blue light struck.
Right where his heart used to be.
“A shame,” Mother sighs. “To waste someone so young. Does anybody else want to offer their most sage council?”
Disgust and revulsion build in my throat. But I keep my thoughts to myself.
Nobody speaks. The Queen nods. “I thought so.”
I rise from my seat and immediately start out of the room. I cannot take being here in her presence.
“Phillip?” Mother calls out. “Do you have something you want to add?”
“I need some fresh air,” I grumble, and leave before I can witness any more atrocities.
On the other side of the door, I find Eleira anxiously waiting.
“What’s going on in there?” she asks. “I heard a crash.”
“Mother just murdered one of the members of her Royal Court,” I inform her flatly.
She gasps. “Raul,” she begins. “Is he all right?”
“My brother’s fine,” I say. The doors fly open and the remaining vampires storm out. None are happy with how events played out. In fact, most look furious. But if they didn’t know better than to go against my Mother before—they do now.
They cast menacing glares at Eleira as they pass. I step beside her to show them she has my support. It might not mean much, not from the strength-hierarchy perspective, but at least it lets them know she’s not alone.
I wouldn’t be surprised if they attempted to take out some of their anger on her, to get back at the Queen.
When all have passed, the doors to the meeting chambers remain open. Eleira and I walk inside.