Make Your Move Katherine

Blood

Kat couldn’t sleep that night for his words, “Oh I’m not going to kill you,” sounded sinister to her, reminding her of a movie with the joker from the batman saga saying, in a similar term- “I’m not gonna kill yah, I’m just gonna hurt... you really bad,” and the character did indeed hurt the woman. But this wasn’t a movie and Oscar wasn’t the joker who was in love with Doctor Harley- in the sick abusively twisted way.

And the joker didn’t have the corneas of his eyes turning black. Nor did he joke about being a vampire. The Joker was indeed insane and Oscar was not. Kat felt like all the pieces were there, she just had to place them together. She sipped on the now cold tea one of the maidens had brought to her as she tried to gather her thoughts.

She bit her thumbnail on her left hand and flinched as her thumb lanced a bit. She made a little sound and stared at the almost unnoticeable split of her flesh there. She remembered the slight burning she had felt when she had showered earlier and stared at it. When had that happened?

‘What is happening with me? Why can’t I bring my thoughts together? I’m a reporter- my mind is always on the alert.’

She stared at the one blank wall of Oscar’s bed-chamber from the couch she lay on and felt the warm tears trickling down her cheeks. The glam of the room did not impress her at all. In fact, everything about the room was gloomy except the blank wall. The paintings were the worst. His King-sized bed lay made up except for the little turnover of the covers- just as the maids had left it. Untouched by her for Oscar said to not touch his bed and she dared not disobey his orders.

If she was in his chambers- just, where was he and his woman? It was 2:30 am. Should she go ask Oscar for her phone now? She needed to call her father to see if he was okay. Kat was worried about him and she was sure he was losing his mind right now because she hadn’t called him. Her stepmother, Miriam would also be worrying and that wasn’t good in her pregnant state- poor woman… her husband had cancer and her stepdaughter was missing!

What kind of strain was that having on her pregnancy?

Kat placed the delicate flowered patterned China cup back down on the tray on the coffee table and massaged her temples with her index and middle fingers, trying to calm her mind.

Was he done with ‘the love of his life’? Where could he- they possibly be? Where would she even begin to search for Oscar? Should she call for Anthony? Oscar did say for her to call for Anthony if it was a task her handmaids couldn’t handle. And since the maids gossiped…she should call for him- shouldn’t she? Kat couldn’t help but remember the embarrassing situation she had found herself in when the Royal Guard had taken her to Oscar’s room the last time when she had insisted, he took her to her fiancé.

She grimaced. Wait- blood…she recalled seeing blood on the woman’s neck…

Kat scratched her head as she tried to think. Oscar’s eyes glowed, turned black, he could disappear and appear cutting the air with a sword- ooh…his body was on fire too she added mentally to her list. And not forgetting Anthony’s words about the flame with the feathers back at her place -oh, also Oscar had a condo- was it in the same building as hers? She figured that it had to be foe he had vanished that first night…she knew the cops were stupid in not searching the apartments. And the country…she’d never heard of it before- of course, it was granted that she could not remember every single country…but still, something was off, for she understood the native language. And that weird priest…the vampire jokes. Blood.

Blood on the woman’s neck.

Why wasn’t she terrified out of her mind with all this?

Just why couldn’t Oscar get married to the woman he loved?

The newly married woman fanned her face with her hands as the room felt heated suddenly. Eyes rolling back, she got off the bed and walked shakily to the door but her legs threatened gave out beneath her. Holding her loose long hair away from her neck she felt a little better and tried to take another step forward.

‘Why can’t I move?’

Kat screamed inside her mind hoping it was a dream. But no- she was awake and her father was dying. His wife is pregnant. Kat’s mother is still missing and she was married to a demon thing- she just remembered he hadn’t answered her about that either.

Blood.

Kat blinked as her mind swirled. The room was spinning in front of her very eyes. Was that the sleep aid Oni usually gave her taking effect now? Wait- she didn’t remember taking any tonight for she was already exhausted.

“Dad,” Kat called out sobbing. He had always been her rock and now she needed him. Just as he needed to know she was safe. Just what kind of day was ahead for him without her?

Kat grabbed her throat, releasing her hair as she collapsed on the cold floor gasping for breath. Water- she needed water. Her throat was beyond dry as she swallowed.

Today is her father’s birthday and she won’t be visiting him and she normally always does. She was certain he would drop by her apartment and Kat had no idea what that stupid receptionist would say to him. She would probably make him sicker with her stupid ramblings.

Blood on her neck, trickling down her milk-white skin. Vampire. Blood. Oscar’s skin in embers…

Kat slept away, jolting awake hours later, to go in search of Oscar’s bathroom. As Queen, shouldn’t someone be checking in on her she was thinking as she settled back under the thick blanket for the room was chilly. As if on cue, a knock was heard just then and she called out, “Come in.”

Two handmaids were curtseying and with shy smiles along with Oni, Miss Moon and Julie. Oni’s cheeks turned red as Kat caught her eyes. Kat decided she liked Oni. Should she trust her? She needed to confide in someone for she felt she was going mad.

“Good day my Queen. The King is expecting you for breakfast,” Oni said as she pulled the covers back and helped Kat out.

“Expecting- how?” Kat stuttered looking at the girl who indicated with her eyes, at the other two female staff. Oni knew Oscar wasn’t here last night and she thinned her lips. But how?

Julie grabbed Oni’s hand and pulled her in the direction of Oscar’s bath.

“His Majesty said to leave you to rest a bit as you might be tired after last night’s activities,” Miss Moon went on saying and the two young females blushed with their heads still downcast.

“Ah yes- I am a bit sore,” Kat lied and did a fake groan as she made a footstep forward as in pain and the older woman hid her smile. The other girls, who looked to be around Oni’s age bent their heads but couldn’t contain their blushes or their giggles as they covered their mouths.

Kat rolled her eyes mentally.

“Yes, your Majesty. The King was up earlier but requested you rest a little longer? I will get your bath ready,” Oni stated and one of the girls walked into Oscar’s bathroom to fill the tub. The other went into his massive wardrobe and got out a towel.

Julie placed a white basin on the table and Oni wiped her face with a warm damp cloth before dipping it in again and wringing it back out.

“Uh- I should go back to my room- uh chambers. I will be more comfortable there,” Kat added when one of the new girls returned holding out a yellow-colored towel and she furrowed her forehead.

But Oni- very professionally bowed to her and replied, “Yes, Your Majesty that is best. I will arrange with Julie for later then,” and with a nod from her the other girls walked to the bed and started to tidy it.

Oni waited on her while she slipped on her slippers and held a robe out for her to wrap herself in then gestured with her hand for Kat to walk ahead as she held open the door for her. She saw both Miss Moon and Julie looking at their exit with hands clasped in front of them doting smiles.

Outside the door, two guards bowed as she walked out and Kat smiled at them tightly for her mind was thinking. Just how did she reach on the bed? Didn't she fall asleep on the couch?

“Father this is my Queen, Katherine Sky,” Oscar said an hour later as Kat joined them in the breakfast room. He placed his hand on the small of Katherine’s back as he guided her to the former King. Kat’s eyes open in surprise as she saw the older, frail-looking man at the head of the breakfast table.

“Ah, Miss Katherine. What a ray of sunshine you are,” the older Julian muttered as he tried to get up from his chair, coughing.

“Father!” Oscar rushed to the man’s side and pushed his shoulder back down gently. “Don’t get up. Stay rested.”

“Please to meet you- Sir- King,” Kat managed to get out, bowing slightly- for anyone could sense he was a King. Former or not, his entire aura reeked of power.

“King Father,” Oscar corrected her.

The man heeded his son’s words and leaned back on the chair closing his eyes. Oscar guided Kat to a chair opposite him, next to the head of the table near so his father would be better at conversing. “Call me Drago,” Oscar’s father replied and Kat nodded.

The table was already set and Kat took a second to admire the food in front of her. Scrambled eggs, toasted bread and butter on the side, a quinoa fruit salad, sliced avocado and blueberries. No coffee but a sweet-smelling tea. Good, she hated the smell of coffee.

She saw that Drago was having porridge and Oscar had a sandwich in front of him.

“He is the only other person you bow to Katherine, besides myself,” Oscar explained to her. “Father wanted to attend the wedding but after the whole collapsing just the day before the engagement…”

“Are you okay now?” Kat was concerned about the former King’s health. He looked very different in attitude when it came down to being the former King, Kat felt. He had a warmness around him- something the new King lacked.

“Ah- yes. Don’t mind me. I just wanted to meet my daughter-in-law. My daughter,” Drago smiled at her and his eyes misted.

“Father-”

“My daughter died- when she was just ten years old and her mother-”

“Father!” Oscar thundered and dropped his fork that he had been poking the avocado slices with.

“It’s okay,” Kat started saying but Drago whimpered and bent his head. Kat frowned, wondering why Oscar was so harsh towards the man.

“Come on. You always do this. You promised- don’t do this again, you’ll be bedridden and you made it this far.”

Ah- she understood now. The old man had cried himself sick because he missed his family- his dead ones anyway. Oscar was trying to prevent him from crying himself sick again. She took the older man’s hand and patted it, “Tell you what, after breakfast let’s go for a walk?”

“Really?” the old man raised his head up and looked at her and she nodded. “Thank you, my daughter used to walk with me in the garden.”