The Hidden Princess

Guards are Up

As the fairy guard in charge of the hand off walked back to his station the vampire guard turned and began to head toward the palace where he ran into Thomas just returning from his cave on the north mountain.

“What do you have in your hand?” Thomas asked in his deep dark voice, he could smell Fairy dust all over the guard.   

“Just some instructions from the captain to King Vlad.” The guard lied and continued to walk away suddenly sensing uneasiness from Thomas who never really made anyone comfortable.

Thomas watched him walk away and knew he was lying to him.  He thought to himself ‘He will be the first to die at my hand’ and he changed into the shadows around him and followed the guard into the palace.

The guard handed the note to King Vlad and whispered to him “I was told to tell you to read it to yourself and then burn it.” The guard bowed and walked out of the room.

King Vlad stood there holding the note sealed with King Idean’s seal and decided to open it all alone in the room, or so he thought.  He stood there reading the words and read them a few times.  He tossed the parchment into the fire and watched it burn.  He knew it, maybe he had always known it. His brother was possibly plotting against him.  He never thought he would act on it though.  Vlad thought he had enough respect for the position that their father had to ever try and change it.  He stood there in the slightly dark room watching the note turn to ashes and his stomach turned with anxiety. 

“You look in deep thought brother.” Thomas was standing on the other side of the room.

“Yes, I was in deep thought.  I just got news from my Captain that the border on the north side has been repeatedly broken through by animals they think.  I will have to go check it out later today.” Vlad knew that Thomas was suspicious of something as he walked by him and out of the room.  He had to figure out what he was doing in the north mountains. But how? Vlad could not fly.  This would take some thinking and decided to talk with Julia about it. He decided that she needed to get out of the palace as soon as possible.

Vlad walked into the room where Julia was, and she smiled so bright at him upon his entrance.  He loved having her as a mate.  She as so beautiful and fun to be around.  He had always enjoyed her as a marriage partner, but this was a million times better.  “I think it’s a good idea if you go and help Delilah get ready for the baby, My love.”  He walked up and hugged her when she stood. 

She saw something of worry in his eyes and it was something that told her not question him out loud and she played along with it.  “Are you reading my thoughts?  I was just going to talk with you about that.”  She pulled away from his embrace and reached up to kiss him on the lips.  “I don’t have to pack much because I can come back at night.” Giving him a smile just for him with one raised eyebrow and her blue eyes begging him to touch her. 

“King Idean will be here shortly as we have a meeting, but I think I will take it outside in the garden.  Easier to speak freely there. Besides we need to show him the good side, right?  We are not all baby eating creatures of the night.” Vlad held her close and kissed her on the lips making sure not to let it distract him.  “I think you should return with King Idean back to the Fairy Palace, this would be the safest travels for my love.”  He was not worried about their previous feelings for each other, she was HIS mate now and if she has proven anything over the years it’s her loyalty to that bond. “Before you go, I would like to take a walk in the garden with you.” He put her arm in his arm and walked with her out of the room toward the garden.

Thomas stepped out of the shadows fuming mad.  He knew that he could not watch them where there was no place for him to hide.  This would give him time to plan something although Thomas felt Vlad did not really know what to expect.  He had built up a ‘relationship’ with the Werewolves and they have sworn allegiances to him.  He would control them as well when this is all done.  They had no idea what they were getting into with him.  He had promised them the world, more territory, more magic…more power.  Everyone fell for that, but he knew that all the power was his.  It was getting to be time to make his move. Sticking with the shadows he moved through the palace unseen making his way out of the palace and into the woods to make his way back to his cave in the north mountains.

Vlad and Julia walked arm and arm in the garden and when Vlad felt the time was right and they were safe he started to tell Julia about the note from King Idean and how he thought that Thomas was planning to overthrow them all. 

“How do you think he could get enough power to do that, My Love?” Julia asked genuinely concerned.

“That, I don’t know.  I have not had anyone tell me about any rumors of our guardsmen turning on us. I just don’t know where he would get the manpower.” Vlad and Julia kept walking.

“Did you say the North Mountain? Isn’t that close to the Werewolf realm?  Maybe he built allegiances with them?”  Julia was smart and able to think outside the box, she always had been able to see the bigger picture. “I also think there is a clan of witches and warlocks that live up there somewhere.”

Vlad thought she had some very valid points and decided to send his best spies to go check it out.  Most of his spies could shape shift so they could travel faster when they used their bird shapes.  It was announced that King Idean had entered the realm and Vlad sent guards to protect him. 

King Idean was surprised by the beauty in the vampire realm.  He had only seen it from afar and what he learned in books. He appreciated the guards escorting him on his way through the Vampire Realm.  Once he got to the front gait he looked around and was greeted by King Vlad coming out the front door. They shook hands and he invited him in his palace.

Idean was taken back by the darkness that was everywhere but it was beautiful with lots of blacks and greys.  It was much different from his white and gold palace.  The fires danced in the fireplaces, but it still felt cold to him. 

“I would like to take you to the garden where we can speak freely.  It is this way.” Vlad indicated the hallway slightly to the left and Idean followed him with his guards in tow.  Once they stepped out into the garden the sunlight was bright and the garden was magnificent to Idean.  Big beautiful rose buses of all different colors, large oak trees and a creek flowing through it all.

“Beautiful place.” Idean finally spoke.

“Yes, Julia tends to the garden and she has done a wonderful job all these years. It seemed to be her sanctuary.” Vlad said walking next to Idean.

“I received your letter, and it was very distressing.  Thomas has always been, shall we say, the white sheep of the family.  Although I would not think he would try to overthrow me.  He could have done that years ago.  He is an immensely powerful Vampire with many magic skills.” Vlad stopped in the most open area of the garden. “I do feel something different coming from him since Delilah’s announcement about her and Adden.”  Vlad continued “Julia felt that maybe he had has aligned himself with the Werewolves on the northern border and there are some witch and warlock clans on the north mountain range as well. I think she maybe on to something, so I sent some shape shifting spies to go check out the northern border.” Vlad paused and looked at Idean.  Vlad felt that they maybe could have been great friends if not for Julia between them.  She was HIS now but that did not erase their time together.

“I think we should take down the alarms along our borders to better allow information to be passed between us.  At least at set times? I could also send spies.  I could send my pixies who can be so small you can’t even hardly see them.  They could maybe get closer and get information for us.  Where did you send your spies to?  I will send mine to a different area.”  Idean hesitated for a moment.  “I went and saw the White Witch of the South about saving Delilah.  Adden and I both went.  She told us that there is a plan laid out by the Moon Goddess, but she cannot save Delilah from her fate.” Idean watched Vlad closely and went on “She said we would have to stay behind and defend Delilah when she flees, and we are to ask the midnight black unicorn to help her escape.  He is the only one in existence and we have not been able to find him yet. Marta, the White Witch of the South, is going to help the child escape but was unwilling to tell us where she will hide her.  My son will have to live long enough to help train his daughter to fight but I do not know how that will happen.  This bond they have is so strong their hearts beat in unison; I fear that he will die when she dies.” Idean was quiet and let Vlad take in everything he had just told him.

Vlad was silent for a long time, standing there focused on a blue rose.  It suddenly reminded him of when Delilah was a child and her big blue eyes that saw everything with wonder.  His heart suddenly ached for simpler times as thoughts of her danced through his memory.  He took a long deep breath and looked at Idean with sad eyes. “I guess we have a plan thus far then.  I will send you a guard to relay our findings and you do the same. In the meanwhile, I think we should build up our forces.  I would like to send my best men with you to help guard Delilah.  I would also like it if you could escort Julia to your palace so she can be with Delilah these last few days.”

“Your Queen is always welcome at our palace and will be treated with the utmost respect.  I also welcome your guards and will keep them fed and healthy for the fight ahead.  I have a bad feeling about this Vlad.  I think things are changing and it will get much worse before it gets better.” Idean was relieved that Vlad would trust him with his Queen and best guards.  He thought they could have been great friends and maybe still could be if, in fact, the mate bond is truly gone between himself and Julia.