The Rise Of The Queen

Chapter 8.

Fredricks POV

* * * * * * * * * * * I’m sitting outside on the grass under a cherry blossom tree. The tree was placed here for her as a gift when she was born. Ever since she passed, the tree stopped producing cherries, it did however bloom with beautiful pink petals every year. 

I was soaking in the sun, my eyes closed and my mind reminiscing. Raven is so much like her. I shouldn't have hurt her, but she needs to respect me or no one will respect her. 

The princess will surely be a handful, but that I'm used to. I only hope that everything goes well. 

I felt someone sitting down next to me and leaning back against the tree. 

I opened one eye and saw Alexander sitting there, with his eyes closed and his arms crossed over his chest. He wasn't deep in thought, he just didn't want to disturb me by opening his big mouth. 

”You know, there are ways to go about this. You don't need to hurt her in order to gain her respect. She's not stupid Fredrick, she’s just defiant.” Alexander said. I looked up towards the clouds. 

When I was a child I would come out here and lay on the grass, look up at the clouds and see what different shapes I could make out. For some reason, I always saw vampires. 

”I know,” I said. 

”But she needs to respect me,” I added. She did, she needed to respect me and what other way do I make her do that? 

”I know she does.” 

”How do you suggest I get her to do that then? Seeing as nearly killing her didn't work,” Alexander scoffed at my words. 

”Nearly killing someone has never worked Fredrick. You haven't gained their respect, you've gained their fear.” He said and looked me in the eyes. He was serious. 

”Fear, respect, two different words with the same ultimate meaning.” I answered him. 

”That's where you're wrong brother. Fear and respect are two very different things. One gives you followers and people to do your bidding for as long as you feed their fear. The other gives you loyalty that will last a lifetime, and longer.” He said. His words cut through me and I knew that they were true. However, when you've done one thing for so long, it becomes your truth. 

”Tell her Fredrick. Tell her why she needs to show you respect. Tell her the truth and I promise you, you will get it.” 

”How can you be so sure?” Alexander chuckled before straightening his back and combing his hand through his hair. 

”Because it worked on her,” He said and laid a hand on the tree. 

”Nobody and nothing could scare her. The only thing she feared was fear itself. The only way to win her over was with the truth. Something tells me that our princess has the same principle.” Alexander said as he dragged his hand on the tree-bark. I nodded my head and stood up, extending my hand for him to grab. 

”She’s a copy of her isn't she?” I asked him. Wanting to make sure that I wasn't the only one that noticed. 

”She really is. And so, the torture continues,” He said with a smirk making me laugh. Something I didn't do very often. 

Raven POV

* * * * * * * * * * I was walking through a grand room that had massive paintings hanging on the walls. The paintings were of houses, lakes, people, and towns. They were framed in gold frames and looked glistening as the sun rays hit them. Someone really kept this place neat. I’m guessing it’s not the brothers.

Fredrick had walked out after he attempted to kill me or get me to submit. Regardless he lost many points there. Alexander came over to make sure I was okay before telling me to go on a tour while he goes and talks to his brother. And so here I am. Walking around in a massive castle. I walked straight from the kitchen and in here and it feels like I've been walking four hours. 

Wherever I looked I was met with gold, silver, and platinum-colored decor. Even the curtains. They were thick and had gold flakes in-beaded on them on a beige background.

It was beautiful, all of it. It looked as though royalty truly lived here. I decided to circle back to the hall and look at the portraits. Something about them had really caught my attention and I wanted to get a better look. But before I could turn around, I saw what looked like a small patio at the end of the room. 

I walked down to two big double doors that reached the ceiling. They were wide open and outside, there was a wooden deck with a hammock on top. I carefully placed one foot out on the deck and preceded with the next one. 

I took my time until I realized that the sun truly wouldn't hurt me. Joy filled me from top to bottom and I jumped around like a crazy person on the deck. I stretched out my arms and looked up towards the sun, letting it heat me. 

I walked over to the hammock and sat down on the cushions. It was white and big, the cushions had tassels on them and it was facing the sun. As I sat there, soaking in the sun and relaxing my mind, all problems seemed to disappear for a moment.

I heard footsteps nearing me but didn't bother to look at whom it was. I was enjoying myself too much.

The hammock lowered, indicating that someone sat down beside me. It swung back and forth a bit before settling. 

”I’m sorry, princess. About earlier.” It was Fredrick. I appreciate his apology but I didn't bother to acknowledge his presence. He put his hands on me. It’s not that I'm surprised, I've heard the rumors, I just want to know why he wants me to submit. Both he and Alexander had been raging about my

father harming me. I realize that I have no connection to either of the brothers, but I didn't expect him to hurt me. 

”I can explain if you're willing to listen.” Once again he spoke and I stayed silent. Thinking about the next move I want to make. Do I want to hear him out? 

Perhaps I should.

”Continue,” I said. Fredrick sighed before beginning to explain himself. 

”There’s a hierarchy here. It is not like your usual clan. You see, if you don't respect me, it won't make the others believe that they can disrespect me as well. It won't make anyone fight for power. If you don't respect me, nobody here will respect you. That is what I want to prevent,” 

”By killing me?” I asked. 

”If I wanted to kill you, you'd be dead.” He stated and I opened my eyes to look at him. His stare was boring into mine and we stayed silent for a moment. 

”I simply wanted you to submit. I wanted-”

”Me to be afraid of you.” I finished for him, knowing what it was he hoped to gain. 

”It’s the only way I know how to do it.” He stated. I looked back at the sun. Squinting. I never knew how badly the sun hurts your eyes when you stared into it for too long. 

”My father has everyone in our clan wrapped around his finger. They will do anything for him. Not because they respect him, but because they fear him. And you see if one day, my father falls ill and becomes weak, the majority of my clan won't hesitate to put a stake through his heart. To kill him. Because fear doesn't build respect or loyalty, It builds false security for as long you-”

”Feed the fear?” My head turned to Fredrick when he finished my sentence. I lifted my head and looked at him.

”Exactly.” I said. 

”I appreciate you telling me this. Next time, however, start with telling me the truth before trying to break me into submission. Because that will never work.” I said. Keeping a straight face and my face void of emotion. 

Fredrick nodded his head and kept eye contact.

”I will,” He said. I drew in a deep breath of fresh air and didn't remove my eyes from his. 

”Why do they need to respect me?” I asked him. Mainly out of curiosity. 

”Because if they don't respect you, they won't hesitate to kill you. Anyone here who sees disrespect towards their leader, aka me, will see it as a threat and want to eliminate it.” I scoffed. Not because of what he said, but because he had it all wrong. 

”What?” He asked me unamused. His brows arched and his eyes were squinting. 

”That type of loyalty doesn't come from fear Fredrick,” I said, smiling. 

”It comes from genuine respect and love.” I said. My face softening and the smile growing on my face. 

Fredrick however looked confused and not quite believing what I had told him.

He truly believes that his clan fears him to the core. That it is because of fear that they stay loyal to him. He couldn't be more wrong. Many clans would when their leader is weak, turn on them and fight each other for power. If Fredrick however would go weak, unable to fight, his clan would come together and fight for him. That is how a real clan should be.

How a leader should lead. He has done everything right. I wonder where the notion of fear comes from, what lays as the foundation to the rumors, and the identity he himself believes he bears. 

”You guys ready?” Alexander asked, stepping out on the deck. 

”Ready for what?” I asked him. Fredrick got up and walked towards his brother. 

”Yeah, we’re ready.” He said. His voice sounding cold and his words calculated. 

”For what!?” I shrieked. I didn't like walking into something blindly. Especially not at a new place with new people. The two brothers however simply walked away and I was left to follow them so as not to get lost in this place. The fact that there were humans here freaked me out. 

They walked through the big room and out to the grand hall. I followed after and we passed several people, all of them eyeing me weirdly. As we reached the grand hall the portraits were on full display and instead of continuing after Alexander and Fredrick, I was drawn to one of the portraits. It was a man, the second pairing from the right. Which means it’s old. 

I recognized something about him. He seemed so familiar in some way yet I had no idea where I might have seen him. It was the eyes. The eyes were uncanny. Where had I seen them before?

”Princess, you coming?” Alexander asked me. I looked towards the doors and saw them standing outside. There were masses of people walking in and out of the castle. They were walking with books and seemed as though they had assigned destinations to get to. 

I reluctantly turned away from the painting and walked outside. It was so bright and beautiful. To see everything during daylight was so different. All the colors were bright and the sky was blue with the white puffy clouds. The only other time I had seen the sky was when I was in the devils' den. Only then I was too busy being torched alive to notice the beauty of it. 

”So, are one of you going to explain where we’re going?” I asked them as we walked around the castle. I was twisting and turning, wanting to see everything we passed. 

I could smell the humans but as I watched everyone, if you weren't a vampire, you couldn't see the difference. 

”Don’t worry princess, they don't bite.” Fredrick said with a smug look on his face. Alexander chuckled at the comment and I, forgetting what Fredrick had said, rolled my eyes. 

I quickly realized what I had done and so did Fredrick. He extended his fangs and before I could think, he was behind me. With one arm around my waist and the other in my hair. He tilted my head to the side and dug his fangs into my neck, drawing blood. 

Alexander looked at me with a stern face and slowly shook his head. Making me stand completely still and not make too much of a noise at the stinging sensation. I hissed at the pain as Fredrick injected some of his venoms into my veins. Nobody around noticed, and even if they did they didn't react. It was as if it was normal.

After a while, Fredrick lifted his head, restricting his fangs. And I released a breath I didn't know I was holding. He took his time removing his head completely, holding me still in my place. 

”You really need to stop doing that.” He whispered in my ear. I stammered with my words, feeling groggy and lightheaded as his venom made its way through my veins. 

”I-I’m sorry.” I said, trying not to fall. Alexander came up to me. He bit his wrist and held it up to my mouth. Fredrick still had a hold of my head, making it so that I couldn't turn away. 

”What are you-” I started to ask but was cut off by his wrist being pushed against my lips and his blood entering my mouth. It was strange, the sensation I felt when his blood hit my tongue and my senses were flooded. 

Alexander then removed his wrist and looked around to see so no one noticed. I blinked a few times and noticed that everything I felt before was gone. I wasn't lightheaded or groggy anymore. 

I didn't stammer and I could stand straight without feeling as though I would fall. 

I looked at him in shock and felt Fredrick's hand being removed from my head. He came around and stood next to his brother, they both looked at me. 

”What the hell was that?” I asked them in shock. They didn't look much more shocked than I was. 

”Let's go." Fredrick said and we continued walking. They were going to have to give me an answer on what the hell just happened. A vampire doesn’t feed another vampire their blood.