Chapter 11
1506 Words
Chapter 11
Father!" Xander called, stepping into the lounge.
Peter pushed me in after him, shutting the door behind us.
My gaze swept across the room.
A gigantic fireplace that held a blazing fire was against the furthest wall, and around it were a few rouge, Victorian styled chairs. On either side of the fireplace was a tall, wide window-pained window. Paintings of very handsome men and beautiful women lined the other walls, and an immense bookshelf took up half of the wall to my right. But there was something missing...
The King .
As if on some kind of cue, as soon as I thought those words a pair of hands grasped onto my shoulders.
Without warning, I was spun around, and pressed against the wall. Piercing emerald eyes- exactly like Arnaldo's- gazed into my own, amusement flickering in them.
The man pinning me against the wall grinned, revealing sharp, snowy canines.
My breath caught in my throat and my heart stopped, standing immobile in the grasp of this vampire.
"Is this bring-your-father-dinner day?" he inquired, bringing his head closer to me.
"How marvelous."
"S-stop it!" I cried, finally finding my voice.
"Let me go!"
Xander's gaze met mine and I sent him a pleading look.
He rolled his eyes, looking extremely annoyed.
"Father, cut it out."
Father?
The vampire pinning me to the wall abruptly pulled away, his dark hair falling into his face.
I stared at him in disbelief.
This man was the King?
He barely looked ten years older than me!
"Xander, you really like to ruin my fun, don't you?" he complained, turning to face his son.
Xander scowled at him.
"Don't call me Xander."
"Your mom does."
"She's different."
The King placed a hand on his heart.
"Ouch... Sophia, dear, you can move away from the wall now."
Once again I found myself looking into emerald eyes.
The King grinned at me, showing his fangs to me once again.
I pressed myself harder to the wall, my heart rate spiking again.
That swept the grin right off his face.
He turned to Xander, crossing his arms.
"What did you do, Xander?"
Xander clenched his fists.
"Why do you always think I did something?"
"Well you are the trouble child..."
"Actually, Sophia is afraid of vampires, Your Majesty," Peter interjected, sending me a cheeky smile.
"Apparently since she was a child."
The King turned back to me, looking interested.
"Really now? That's going to be a hassle. But you know what they say, right?"
I slowly shook my head, not sure whether he was talking to me or not.
"The only way to get over your fears is to face them head on. So when you're out of here, you won't be scared anymore!"
"Out of here?" I echoed.
"Isn't there a chance I might not be able to go home?"
The King smiled widely.
"And so she speaks! What a pleasant voice! Like doves cooing!"
Xander snorted, rolling his eyes while I flushed in embarrassment.
From Peter's earlier words and Xander's actions, I assumed the King was going to be an unpleasant person.
It was relaxing to know he didn't seem that bad... But he did seem kind of un-king like.
"I'm King Mason Solomon, like the late King Solomon of Israel. Except this is America... But I do have the wise part down," he told me with a wink.
"You can't be King without knowing anything. Right, Xander?"
Xander glared at his father.
"I wouldn't know, father. I'm not going to be King."
Solomon frowned.
"Even if you're not the heir, you still need to know how to rule."
"I don't want to be King either, so I'm fine," Xander snapped.
"Arnaldo has it handled."
I peered at Xander from around the King curiously.
It didn't occur to me that Xander or Arnaldo could be the heir to the... kingdom, or whatever vampires had.
Wasn't Xander at least the tiniest bit upset he wouldn't become King?
A grimace crossed my face.
What was I thinking?
I didn't care how Xander felt.
What I cared about was whether or not I was going home.
Peter coughed, breaking the silence.
"Your Majesty, if you would be so kind as to excuse me. The human has to eat at some point."
My head snapped to Peter.
Food?
When was the last time I'd eaten?
For the first time, I was aware of just how hungry I felt.
The empty feeling in my stomach felt uncomfortable now.
"You may go," Solomon responded, shooing Peter with his hands.
"Pull out some dried fruit for our anemic friend as well."
Finally allowing myself to push away from the wall, I tried to relax my stance.
Solomon didn't seem like the person who would hurt me.
"Er, Your Majesty..." The words felt awkward coming off my tongue.
"Call me Solomon," he responded with a polite smile.
"I am not your King."
I suddenly felt extremely shy.
"A-about me going home... Is there any possible way that I can go home sooner?"
His expression fell quickly.
"Sophia..."
"I know you have a court system and all, but while that's all fine and dandy my parents are probably worried sick!" I babbled, giving him a desperate look.
"I can't wait a week! I need to go home now!"
Solomon pinched the bridge of his nose.
"I'm sorry, but we can't allow you to go home-"
"But-"
"However," he continued forcefully, cutting me off,
"there is something we can do about your parents. You'll have to consent to it though first."
Ignoring the anger that was beginning to boil in me, I gave him a questioning look.
"What do you mean?"
"Memory altercation."
The words hung heavy in the air.
Xander drifted off towards the fireplace, looking extremely bored. I stared at Solomon blankly.
Memory altercation?
"What does that mean?" I finally inquired.
"Arnaldo can go to your house and alter your parents minds so that they think you're at your Aunt's house for the week."
My eyebrows furrowed together.
"My aunts live in California..."
"It stops them from worrying, doesn't it? I hate to make you choose something, but it's either that or having them worry about you for a week straight. They could think you were kidn*pped, or murdered. And then when you come back there will be questions and police investigations and-"
I held up my hand.
"No, I get it..."
Solomon frowned.
"I'm sorry you were pulled into this mess... Xander.."
"It's not my fault," xander growled at the same time I said, "It's not his fault."
He glanced at me in surprise, his eyes widening the fraction of an inch.
I stared back at him for a moment before abruptly looking away, turning back to the King.
His eyes searched mine for a moment while I stayed silent.
I knew I didn't have a choice. If I had to stay here, I had to stay here.
There was no point in making my parents worry unnecessarily. But if they could alter their minds so that they think I'm with my aunt, couldn't they also change them so they didn't know they had a daughter?
What if the courts decided it was best just to kill me?
Or force me to become one of... I shuddered at the thought.
"I can't trust vampires," I stated boldly, causing the King to look at me in alarm.
"I've been terrified of them since I was little. So..." My voice cracked and I had to pause for a moment, waiting until I had it under control.
"Please, if there's a chance that I won't be able to go home, tell me. I want to know now."
Xander unexpectedly appeared at my side.
I jumped violently, taking a step away from him.
He followed, giving me an impatient look.
"Look, stupid. You're going home in a week. We aren't keeping you here for any longer than you are supposed to. To hell if we do because you're still my responsibility and I don't want you here as much as you don't want to be here!"
My eyes were unable to pull themselves away from xander's grim face.
He narrowed his eyes, backing away from me.
I relaxed my stance, trying to calm my heart.
If I was going to stay here, I needed to get used to these vampires as soon as possible.
"Do you want Arnaldo to go to your parents?" Solomon asked in a quiet voice.
"Yes."
He let out a sigh of relief.
"Good choice, Sophia. I promise that while you are here no one will hurt you. Xander will do his all to keep you safe."
Xander gave his father a sour look.
"Of course."
"I'll have someone set up a guest room for you... And as for clothing, I'll tell Arnaldo to bring along some of your things. After all, you did go on vacation for a week," Solomon prattled, furrowing his eyebrows together.
"If you want anything else, you should tell him..."
Tbc
- Writer
