Queen of My Immortal Heart

Chapter 2: Luke

“Dad, what in the bloody hell are we doing here?” Luke asked as they stepped out of the woods overlooking Dragon Castle, home to the King and Queen of the Romanian Vampires and headquarters for IAKM (Immortals Against Killing Mortals); an order of all Immortals who drank synthetic blood and refused to kill humans. Those Immortals who didn’t and believed in being true to mythology by killing mortals for food and pleasure were Cast Outs. IAKM had been created by his father and King Valtar to fight and stop the Cast Outs. Unfortunately, success came in strides. “We are here for the ceremony. Nicoleta is being crowned Queen tonight and I wish to see it and pay my respects to Valtar and Ara,” Ulrik Sangre said as he began to descend the hill toward the main courtyard. Nicole was being crowned Queen today? Had it been that long already? The last time he’d seen his beloved Nicole, she was a skinny "teen" but beautiful. He had had to leave her quickly the night he was about to ask her to marry him and had never returned. He could still remember her response to his last words to her, though. “I love you, my dear Luke. Werewolf beast of my Immortal heart. Come back to me and I’ll be with you forever.” She had put a gold chain around his neck, which he still wore to this night, and like his memories and love for her, it had never tarnished or faded. That had been over two centuries ago. Surely she had met and married someone else by now. Some handsome young Vampire to rule by her side. He made a face. What did a Vampire have that he didn’t? Luke's father had finally returned to Romania from the US early last year and he himself had returned late last year. After that night, when their headquarters were attacked, leaders from western packs had flooded his father with several messages and telegraphs reporting more attacks and requesting aid. Hard to believe it had taken nearly two centuries to track down the rogue Cast Outs responsible and kill them. Then another six years to rebuild all the lost headquarters and recruit more werewolves for added protection to each pack. When they had returned, they had had to rebuild their own headquarters and recruit. His father had returned to the castle late last year to inquire of his friend, Valtar, and announce his return to duty as guardian of the forest. He had been celebrated and welcomed back with open arms. Luke had been away in Peru with his cousins tracking down some werewolf Cast Outs, but had found a gorgeous diamond barrette fit for a queen, His Queen. He had sent it to his father to take to her as a birthday gift with strict instructions NOT to put his name on it. Thankfully, his Father had respected his wishes, but had told him she had been overjoyed to have it. Luke’s heart swelled with joy. He had made his Queen happy. If only she knew it was him. “Come Luke,” Ulrik ordered as he reached the front steps. “We can’t be late for this ceremony. It’s very important for all members of IAKM and the kingdom to attend.” Luke jumped over a low bush and jogged up next to his father. His thick black hair was tied back with a black ponytail holder, but now a stray lock fell over his forehead into his eyes. He threw his head back to push the hair back, but it just kept falling back over his forehead. “You have thick, stubborn hair like your mother,” Ulrik said as he pushed the hair back and smoothed it down with one lick of his wide tongue. “Yuck! Father, come on. I’m three hundred and twenty eight years old! A little old for Fatherly wolf grooming!” Luke said, taking out the elastic and smoothing his hair back into a ponytail again. Ulrik chuckled as he straightened his tie and stepped up the three long stone stairs to the huge double front doors of the castle, which were open to allow in the guests for the ceremony, but guarded heavily by eight guards. “Good evening, Gandmir,” Ulrik said as they stepped inside and stopped before Valtar’s head guard. “You remember my son, Luke, right?” “Evening Ulrik. So glad you could make it,” Gandmir beamed and shook his hand firmly. “Luke.” he said sternly and nodded. “Gandmir.” Luke said just as sternly. He didn’t even bother to nod back. Gandmir wasn’t worth the waste of energy. Gandmir hated Luke. He had loved Nicole and tried desperately many times to woo her, but she’d always turned him down. She loved Luke. Or, at least, she had loved him. Whether she still did or not, he wasn't sure. He still loved her with all his heart and only prayed she still felt the same. “I apologize for my son, Gandmir,” Ulrik said, whacking Luke upside the back of his head. “He’s been away for quite sometime and has obviously forgotten how to act at court.” “It’s fine, Ulrik, because he’s your son. If he weren’t, he'd be ripped in half.” “Oh, scary coming from a vampire p***y,” Luke said with a laugh, earning him a elbow to the ribs from his father. “Watch it wolf! I’ll have your hide for dinner!” Gandmir said angrily. “Oh, not good for you, Gandmir. My fur is thick and my blood is infected from all the fleas, and worse, you’d be kicked out of IAKM for killing one of your own.” Luke said in a smart tone with a wicked gleam in his eye. “How dare you! I’ll bet my bullocks I could kill you before you could say Wolf!” Gandmir shouted. “That would be a bad bet for me, Gandmir, considering you have no bullocks to speak of according to your mother.” Luke said calmly, polishing his knuckles on his suit jacket. “Why I oughta,” Gandmir raised his fist and aimed a punch for Luke's nose. “ENOUGH!” came a loud booming voice from behind Gandmir. “Gandmir, how dare you raise a hand to my dear friend and his son.” Valtar said as he stepped around Gandmir to embrace Ulrik. “The little runt pup started it, my King,” Gandmir said under his breath, but quickly lowered his fist. “I don’t care, you never raise a hand to either of them. Go be sure the guests are all being seated. The ceremony will be starting soon.” “Yes, my King,” Gandmir said, bowing before Valtar. “We’ll settle this later Wolf. You win, I’ll eat my own waste like you do.” “Aw, gross, Gandmir. That was a total over share! You eat your own waste?” Luke said twisting his face in disgust then laughed as Gandmir flushed beat red when everyone turned to look at him. “Luke Jaymes Sangre! That is enough!” Ulrik said sternly. “Show your King some respect!” “Forgive me, my King. I have let my mouth run away with me and I beg you forgiveness.” Luke said sincerely, bowing at the waist. Valtar looked Luke up and down, then smiled. “No need to apologize, lad. Someone needs to teach Gandmir a lesson every once in a while and my poor Nicoleta has been too busy to torment him lately,” Valtar said with a laugh and hugged Luke. “So, now that you are finally home and settled, when should I expect you to marry my lovely girl?” Valtar asked as he released Luke. Luke swallowed audibly. He had not expected that. He had thought the King would be angry at him for leaving Nicole all those years ago and never returning to her. He wanted nothing more then to have Nicole as his wife, but he had not seen her in two centuries! “It’ll take time, my friend. The two love birds will need to get reacquainted and such first. It would have already been done had we not had to go protect our brothers to the west.” Ulrik said, a small wink at his son. “Of course. Let us not think of that now. Tonight, my beloved daughter becomes Queen!” Valtar said, his arm around Ulrik’s shoulders as he led them to the Throne room. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Luke followed his father and Valtar until they reached their seats at the head of the right row, aisle side. “I must go see my daughter before the ceremony. We will catch up after at the reception. You two will be next to me at my table.” Valtar said before walking through the side doors to the private hall leading to the Royal Family’s private quarters. “Isn’t that great, Luke? We’ll be sitting at the King’s table. You’ll have time to catch up with Nicoleta,” Ulrik said, playfully punching Luke in the arm and winking at him as they sat down. If she even wants to catch up with me. Luke thought to himself but he smiled for his father. They sat and talked as more and more Immortals filed into the huge Throne Room. His father greeted old friends and allies from all the Immortal factions. Dameon Fresher, the leader of the Romanian Demons and his general, Cameron Cullen; Halgar McCrae, King of the Scottish vampires and his son, Kalgan; Vanessa Snowlin, Queen of the Fairies and her slut of a daughter, Chelsea. Chelsea had always been jealous of Luke’s love for Nicole and had tried many times as a “teen” to lure him into her bed, but he had pointedly refused. She licked her purple lips and pushed up her tiny bosom when she saw him. He just looked away in disgust. The King and Queen's former body guard, Nicholai Hayes, was talking to his father, his pregnant wife, Sheila, at his side. Then there was Randora Graves, head of the Romanian Witches coven. Nice enough witch when she wasn’t using her magic to cause havoc. Father Herbert Loragen stood up on the dais talking quietly with a young choir boy. The little boy looked nervous as he held a red pillow trimmed in gold across his little arms. A delicate gold crown and tiny ring lay on top of it. Finally, the trumpets sounded the Royal march and everyone quieted and stood as the King and Queen entered the room.