DRIVEN

Chapter 1

KRIPGIN KINGDOM

(VAMPIRE KINGDOM)

"your highness" bellows commander lucian as he walks into the throne room and kneels in front of the king my father.

"commander you may rise, what is the status report of our troops?," the king asks even though he already know what is to come. The commander's grim look says It all.

"your highness it isn't pleasant at the front lines, those beasts continue to ravage our men and women, the loss is unbearable your highness. our numbers are dwindling, we are loosing ground day by day and we can't do a thing about it" The commander replies.

"And there is nothing that can be done anymore?". the king asks

I'm afraid not your highness, all our strategies are exhausted, it seems like we are fighting a loosing war" the commander replies my father.

My Father pauses and thinks for a while.

I know how he feels as a leader to not be able to do anything more for his people, my father might be one of the most powerful vampires alive but that doesn't mean that he doesn't feel for his people, this war has ravaged our lands for too long and has no end in sight.

As the king he shares a bond with each and every member of our clan, when a life is lost he feels it, it's like a part of him is broken, I know he tries to act tough but he can't continue to act like all is well and it doesn't affect him.

And I know the forbidden valleys is our birthright, passed down from lucious the great our fore father, no matter what happens we can't ever let those rabid dogs take over the land. No that won't be possible, we will fight till the end.

I snap out of my thoughts when I see my father stands.

Every other person in the mighty hall stands along with him, He comes down from his throne and stands in the middle of the hall, faces the high members of the vampire council and addresses them.

" For so long our people have had no peace. sons, daughters, husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, have died in the course of protecting our birthright, our most prized possession which those filthy beasts want to take from us. If we stop this fight now that means we bring shame unto the memory of lucious the great, who sacrificed his eternal life just to ensure that we get what is rightfully ours". he pauses for a minute and walks back to his throne.

standing in front of his throne he continues, "that is why I king Alexander hereby announce that I will be leading our people henceforth on the battlefield in order to defend what is ours".

hearing this the hall becomes quiet, so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. No one is brave enough to say anything.

I however can't keep quiet and allow my father get slaughtered my those beasts out there, I have to do some thing to change my father's decision.

"commander" the king calls.

"yes my Lord" the commander answers.

prepare the men we ride in a week". he says and moves out of the hall in a great speed.

I don't wait for the whispers from the nobles in the hall, I rush out to catch up with my father and see him just in time going into mother's room

I walk up to the door and push it open, I can see my father at his usual spot beside my sick mother.

My mother has been sick for a while now and the cure to her ailment is a flower from the blood tree which can only be found in the forbidden valleys. The irony of the situation is the lycans occupy the part of the valley where the tree is. No matter how much we try or how many attempts we make to get even just a flower, it's never successful.

Seeing my mother in the situation is hard, she looks pale and like a bag of bones, if I feel bad enough Everytime I see her, I can only imagine how my father, her mate must feel, I know he hasn't been sleeping since she became sick. As a vampire you can skip sleep for months but then with age it begins to take a toll on you and I'm already seeing the effects on my dad. he is very antsy and gets angry more than usual, he is always on edge and sees everything as a threat this days, he won't even let anyone come close to this room, he can only bear my scent around this room because I'm his daughter.

" Father". I call out to him

He turns and looks at me." yes lucilda"

This is my chance to talk to him about changing his mind to go into battle. "Dad how is she doing". I breach on a lighter note.

I already know the answer he will give"

She isn't getting better lucilda, she's withering day by day and I can't do anything to help her, your mom is going to die and I'm powerless. Hearing her heartbeat depreciate day by day, warning me of the day I'll loose my true love breaks me in more ways than one" He sobs into my arms.

it hurts me to see him like this, my father the mighty king of the vampires being broken like this, he has been a good king to his people, a wonderful husband to my mother the Queen and the best father to me. most would expect the vampire king to be a heartless son of a b***h but that's not the case, My father understood the meaning of having responsibilities and taking care of them. He was just and loyal to his people.

"Father, everything will be fine, don't think too much about things, I'll go down to the water caves and speak to the witches over there.....

"lucilda noo!!!!, I forbid you from ever going there". he stood up to his full height angrily.

But that's the only I see that could help us, father you spoke of going to the war front, you're not fit, I know you want to be a good king but your people need you here by their side not in the battlefield, those beasts are unforgiving father, they won't hesitate to kill you if they capture you, what will I do then?, what will mother do if she finally wakes up? , what will become of your kingdom then?.

I asked admidst tears.

"everything will be fine my dear, I have faith that this war won't last long, but no matter what I must be there for them licilda, that is what I want". he said and walked out.

I stare at his retreating form and make up my mind to do something about this" I'm sorry father but you know I can't let any harm come to you, I'm going to have to protect you one way or another, even if it means me risking my life.