Throne of Blood and Moonlight

Weston… For a century we had been at odds with the Vampires. Aunt Lucy had seen nothing but the death of the Lycan pack when she had looked at what would happen if we were to go to war, so Father had not. It had been rare for the Vampires to cross into our territory, only once in my lifetime in fact. That once had been enough for me though. That once had cost me my father. Stacy had looked and saw nothing but the destruction of the pack, just as her mother had, but then she’d looked at how to obtain peace, and that’s what led me here. I watched as mist rose from the hills around me. The moon was casting shadows through the trees; shadows I could easily hide in. In but an hour my prey would be moving about the night, looking for its own kill. I wasn’t going to kill what I captured, but I was hunting in the same stealthy manner. I would avenge my father and mother and tonight would mark the beginning of it all. The castle loomed in front of me in the nearly constantly shaded valley. Torches were lit along one side as the sun had just gone down. The great doors would open and spill the castle's inhabitants out in a few moments. I could feel my body fill with anticipation. Stella… I slipped through the halls on silent feet, using the shadows to my advantage. Even though Vampires could see in the dark, they wouldn’t be looking in the shadows of their own castle. I slipped down another hall and came to a heavy wooden door. I held my breath and listened intently, hearing nothing, I gently pulled open the door, silently thanking it for not squeaking. Pulling the door shut behind me, I embraced the darkness. There was just enough moonlight coming through the cave entrance below for my weak Vampire abilities to pick up. I quickly fled down the steps. I wished I didn’t have to sneak out at night, desperately wished I could go out with the rest of the Vampires who lived here, but my father was too worried about me. Just because I was half-mortal didn’t mean anything. I still had all of the same abilities as the rest of the Vampires. I was fast, and strong, could see in the dark with the tiniest amount of light, and could hear almost anything when I concentrated. My abilities were just not as strong as a normal Vampire. By my 24th birthday, I should be fully set into immortality like the rest of them. Once I was at the entrance of the cave connecting to the underground tunnel, I pulled up the hood of my cloak. Looking around, I decided the best thing I could do was dash into the woods before anyone could see me. I took a deep breath and made a run for it. The trees surrounded me in seconds and I came to a stop, not even breathing heavily. The excitement had my heart pounding in my ears as I turned to glance back at the castle through the trees. I would be back before my father even knew I was gone. Just as I was about to turn back around I heard a soft laugh. I put my back to a tree and surveyed the surroundings. A very tall, very large male walked out from behind a tree. “Good evening. You really make it too easy for me.” I drew myself up to my full height. “Excuse me?” “You came into the woods all by yourself, and ran right past me, I didn’t even have to chase you down.” He began edging closer. “Just who do you think you are and what do you want?” “Let’s start with one question at a time, shall we? I am Weston, and you would be?” He countered, still moving closer. “I believe I asked what you were doing here,” I repeated. “It was more along the lines of what do I want? I am here to kidnap you.” He rushed forward to catch me, but I ducked and swerved to the side. He pushed off the tree with one hand and grabbed ahold of me. “Now female, let’s not make a ruckus.” He put a hand over my mouth. I bucked in his hold, causing him to move his hand from my mouth to hold onto me. “Let go of me!” I seethed. “Are you going to scream?” He asked. “No, I am going to kill you.” “Now female, do not threaten what you cannot do.” Was his reply. “Let me go.” I thrashed again and slipped from his hold only to have him pin me to a tree. “You should never threaten a Lycan, female, it's not a good idea.” “And you should never threaten a princess, it’s a sure way to get killed.” He gave a small laugh, “You are the princess? Out all by yourself?” “Yes, you don’t think I can take care of myself?” I went to bash my forehead into his face only to have his massive hand stop me. “You should be afraid, female.” He breathed in my ear, “Yout I do nay smell fear on you.” “I am not afraid of you, mutt.” I hissed and tried to shove him off of me. “I’m thinking I should tell you exactly who I am, and you should tell me exactly who you are. I am Weston Nord, King of the Lycans, and you are princess…?” “Stella Keller, the Vampire who is going to kill a king.” I tried to bite him but only succeeded in scraping my fangs across the skin of his hand. “What a pretty little set of teeth, want to see mine?” He gave me a full grin, showing me he had fangs just the same as mine. “I thought Lycan's only got fangs when they changed.” I was oddly fascinated as I relaxed myself against the tree. I would trick him into thinking I was distracted then once he let up his hold I would slip away. His smile grew, “That is where I am special, female; I am only half Lycan. I have these pretty little fangs all the time, you see, my mother is a Vampire.” Now I was surprised. I tilted my head to the side and leaned forward a fraction, getting close to his face. “Part Vampire? That is interesting indeed. You are like me in being only part. I’m half human.” I arched my body forward into his. “I wouldn’t try any Vampire tricks on me, your charm will not work.” “What tricks?” I purred and glanced at his mouth. My body was screaming at me, telling me to back away, telling me it was all too strange. “Your attempt at seduction, it’s not working.” I slammed back against the tree. “Let me go, Weston, you have no reason to torment me.” “That is where you are wrong. You are the king’s daughter, and if you are not, you are dressed well enough to get the king's attention when you go missing.” He told me. “So, you are going to use me against my dad?” “Yes, I want peace between our kinds. I also want him to hand over the b@stard that attacked my mother and my father.” “He will never agree to that,” I said flatly. “Yes, I think he will. I am getting tired of this, it’s time to go before we are discovered.” He pulled a length of rope out and tied my wrist at lightning speed. Next thing I knew, he had thrown me over his shoulder and we were rushing through the trees so fast I couldn’t have screamed if I’d wanted to. He stopped just before dawn, “There is a cave up ahead, it should block you from the sun.” He grabbed a hold of my arm and began to lead me through the trees. I decided I wasn’t going to hide from the sun and dropped to the ground. “What on earth is wrong with you?” He pulled me up. “Do you want to burn to death?” “I won’t. Have you noticed I have darker skin? I’m a half Vampire.” He stopped and looked at me. Then he pushed my hood back. “You are not trying to kill yourself are you?” I rolled my eyes. “Can you handle the sun?” “Yes, but I am part Lycan.” “As long as we are in the trees, I will be fine. I can only handle direct sunlight for a few minutes, but I can handle it.” I informed him. “There is a field we will need to cross; will you be able to handle that?” “I should, I’ll tell you if I can’t. I want to be alive to kill you when the opportunity arises.” “That’s comforting.” He took hold of my arm and began leading me through the trees again. He stopped at the edge of the field and looked at me. “Are you sure you will be able to handle this much sunlight?” I looked at the field and up at the sun and smiled. “My dad doesn’t let me outside that often. The sun is so beautiful and warm.” I began walking into the field. Half-way across I began getting tired and glanced at the sun. “Are you ok?” He glanced at me and picked up the pace. “I am getting tired. That’s what happens; I can walk the rest of the field without a problem.” “You’re not going to even try to run, are you?” He asked, realizing that I hadn’t fought him at all. I shook my head. “I don’t know where I am, and I am enjoying the small freedoms of being kidnapped.” He gave a small laugh. “Small freedoms? And just what is that?” “I am outside, and you are not telling me to put my hood up or get out of the sun.”