Chapter Seven
River
Isaton the stone floor of the cell and rested my forearms atop my bent knees. How had it come to this? In all my years, I had managed to stay out of holding cells until now. Maybe this was part of the curse of demons that my father had put on me. That I would never be happy. The Gods, witches, and warlocks would never allow me to lovesomeone.
At the sound of voices, I turned my head toward the steps that led up to the main floor of the castle. With her four gentlemen in tow, Queen Octavia led them down the stone steps. Liam, Michan, Ethan, and Sean remained on the steps as Octavia made her way toward me. I stood as she approached the ironbars.
“Had you come here to kill me?” sheasked.
Had I come here to killher?
I had spent much of my life searching for her. Hell, I must look as ugly as the demons that are consuming me. Octavia’s hands were perched upon her hips as she glared at me through thebars.
“No, absolutely not, Octavia,” Iswore.
“Queen. It is Queen Octavia, River,” she barked atme.
“My apologies. I had no intention of ever killing you, QueenOctavia.”
She studied me for a few moments before speakingagain.
“How is it that you were able to enter the castle? A witch put a protective spell over the castle and its surrounding grounds centuries ago,” sheinquired.
“I do not know exactly. But my theory is that I was able to gain access because I am a hybrid. I believe that I am an exception to the rule, if youwill.”
“What is a hybrid?” sheasked.
She must have believed my confirmation that I had no intention to kill her because her posture was nowrelaxed.
“I am the product of a vampire and non-vampire. Actually, my mum supposedly was a young witch. So, because I was not born with two vampire parents, I got a magical mix, I suppose you couldsay.”
“I see,” she replied. “That is how you were able to get into thecastle.”
“I believe so, yes. I believe that when the witch placed the protective spell around your castle and the grounds, she would not have known about me. I most likely had not come along yet, so she would not have known to take me into consideration,” Iexplained.
I could tell that she was carefully considering everything that I was saying. I knew that hearing what I am is probably enough for someone to take in, let alone all the details to theories about how I got into thecastle.
“How did you break free from Carpe Noctem? Were you exiled?” sheinterrogated.
“No, I wasn’t exiled from the Carpe Noctem. I was never a part of them,” Iinsisted.
“Explain,” sheprompted.
“My father was ashamed of me because my mother was not a vampire. He forbid her from having me. She agreed, but had me anyway. My father was furious and took me deep into the woods to a warlock. He tried to get the warlock to kill me, but the warlock told him of the prophecy; that I would be of use to him someday. My father spared my life but requested the warlock put the Curse of Demons on me. So, if the prophecy was wrong, I would still be destined for a life of hell as a sineater.”
“I need to get Klyn back. I have seven days to do it in,” Octaviasaid.
“Without giving the Royal Darick molds?” Iquestioned.
Octavia glared atme.
“I do not react carelessly out of fear or threats! This is my kingdom, and vampires are not in charge here, nor do they dictate what I do! The Carpe Noctem are nothing but vile thieves! They tore my family and my kingdom apart!” Octavia roared as we stared at one another intensely. “To answer your question, yes. Yes, River, we are going to get Klyn back in one piece, without giving in to thethieves.”
“Alright, I was justasking.”
“Andyouare going to help me,” sheemphasized.
Octavia turned to face her men and asked for the book that Liam held onto. She opened to a page that had appeared to be a drawing, or rendering, of Dreyle, and held it up in front of the bars for me to lookat.
