Valentine

Chapter Eight - Orion

Little was said between us as we rode off into the night. Small talk followed but no notable conversation. It was understandable. Elizabeth couldn’t have known what was going to come when she met mother. Comprehending the situation was not an easy task for many, though the stories of how mother became queen made me think it would be easier to convince Elizabeth into taking the crown.

Riding up to the mountains was easy. Elizabeth got the hang of Bella’s habits fairly quickly and going from trotting to galloping hadn’t proven difficult. It still took longer than I believed it would, and the sun peaked over sun already began breaking in the horizon.

“This isn’t terrifying at all,” Elizabeth said, while we moved up the mountain path that had been formed from all the traffic that went over it.

“What do you mean?” I asked. Our horses were back to walking now, and we’d soon be at the camp, where a few hypnotized humans took care of the horses, livestock and crops. We needed to make it seem like there was a community out here and that they survived on their own. There had to be reason for movement in and around the mountain as not to cause alarm to any who may have been spying.

“You’re bringing me out to the mountains where no one can hear my screams.” By the wink and light tap to the arm, I could only assume that this was another one of her jokes. I couldn’t get a sense of her humour, so chuckling at the comment was all that seemed logical.

“You’re going to be fine, Elizabeth. I just need you to trust me for a little while longer.” We came over a hilltop, and down below the fires of the campsite shone bright. They’d be put out soon, while the humans woke to take on their daily tasks.

“Is that a cave?” Elizabeth inquired.

“Yes.” She was making mention to the hollow space that was lit a short distance away from the campsite, “That’s where my coven live.”

After my reply it went silent again. Elizabeth must have thought this was more smoke and mirrors to continue my illusion. Soon she would know that there was truth in every one of my words and actions. Deception was for the weak of mind, not for those I would someday make queen.

“When we enter, you’re going to see a world that has been untainted by humans, apart from those who are under us, in hundreds of years. I would suggest you stay close to me. Those within will be soon moving into their daily hibernations and many grow hungry before the sleep.” I warned.

“Right. Sounds good. Don’t leave the side of the man who literally brought me here and has been teasing the idea of vampires being alive.” Elizabeth added.

Verging on the entrance to the cave, Elizabeth seemed weary. Especially the last joke she made hinted that everything was setting in and the idea of vampires may not have been as ludicrous as she first considered.

Fear may have been a part of her anxiousness and nervous joking her only way to cope with the situation. We were standing outside a cave, after all, days after an incident that may have potentially cost Elizabeth her virtue and the continual thought of it happening again, only this time with no one to save her, could have been weighing heavily on her mind.

I led and she followed, entering the well-lit entrance of the cave. Our shadows cascading against walls and long down the tunnel from the various light sources, only enhancing the eeriness of the situation. Elizabeth did as told, staying close to me, her arm wrapped around mine as we moved ever closer to the city in the mountain.

"Halt." A vampire called at the door, "Who goes there?" Had Elizabeth not been masking my scent, he would have known I was coming, but a human's scent often outweighed that of even the most powerful vampires.

"Knight Orion Valentine." There was a shuffling of noise, feet clamoring and weapons striking the ground as Elizabeth and I moved along the final stretch of the narrow cave. Stepping through a final opening, we came into the entryway. Not much could be seen here, for Elizabeth that was, apart from the three guards who stood in line, long spears at their sides, eyes forward to their commanding officer. As Prince Orion I was nothing more than a commoner like them, as a knight, I outranked them to the fullest and they would show due respect.

"Templar Valentine." The trio said in unison, bringing their left arms up, balling fists over their chests. With the spears, the three men weren't able to do the ceremonial bow, but with nothing in my hands – apart from Elizabeth's arm – I had no reason not to. I brought my arms to my chest, bowing down at them.

"At ease, soldiers," I added, taking Elizabeth's arm back in mine. She was in awe of the spectacle that were our traditions.

“Why aren’t they saying anything?” She asked.

"Because they know that they have no right interfering with my business and will not stand out of line to do so." I turned out, facing the doorway that led into the tremendous cave that was my home, "Shall we?"

“Lead the way, Templar Valentine.” Elizabeth teased.

We stepped out into the open cave. From where we stood, lights were visible over a sheer drop, but nothing could be seen until moving closer. The network the gold mine created down here ended up being stable and strong enough to support the near eight thousand vampires that dwelled within plus whatever traffic moved in and out. We came upon a staircase leading down the side of a cliff face. The Railing was lit with beautifully ornate torches and ran down the length of it providing just enough light to make out each step. I held Elizabeth's arm making sure not to let her get to close to the railing as it was very old and unstable in places, and would not hold her should she lean against it. The staircase widen slightly as it wrapped around the side of the cliff ending in front of a large wrought iron gate decorated with the ancient symbols of my coven. The gate guarded the entrance to an enormous multilevel platform lit with hundreds of candles. From this platform my entire city could be seen. All along the staircase and platform there were guard posts and stations with various combatants in place. Most of them were ceremonial and carried spears and swords, each one standing on attention, giving a bow and waiting until we were out of sight before they got back to doing whatever they did.

It was on the second platform that Elizabeth found everything I said to be true. Her eyes grew wider at the sight of a city beneath the ground, all surrounded and constructed beneath an enormous staircase that led up to the palace. Elizabeth’s eyes sparkled with glee and delight, finding a world she would have never knew existed had I not met her.

“I don’t understand.” She said, staring in amazement at the beautiful city that lay before her.

“What don’t you understand?”

“How is this here? Why doesn’t anyone know about it?” She shook her head.

"Because we are secretive in nature," I looked down, over the railing, at the city life that was slowly coming to an end. The clamber and constant bustle of the night dealings were at an end with the daylight looming. Not that many of them would know daybreak was coming, but their internal clocks kicked into overdrive, "There's a lot you don't know, Elizabeth, but with time it will all come to you. If you accept my offer, you'll have hundreds of years to learn about it all."

I began walking again. Elizabeth continued the path with me, though with every step I could feel her hesitance. Assumptions led me to believe that she was starting to believe everything I’d told her and now, in the cave with the city and its dwellers below, there was nothing that could deter it from being true.

We walked in silence until we got to my mother’s chamber.