Read Online Shadow of the Vampire by Meagan Hatfield - Free Book Online
Authors: Meagan Hatfield
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scaled replica of Davna Vremena, a land far beyond the mists of the Fatum, deep in the olden lands of their foremothers.
Although she could not see the model, she remembered vague images of it from childhood. Her grandmother used to bring her here, used to raise the small city from the bottom of the pond and tell her stories of a peaceful world where every creature of light and dark lived in harmony. Alexia suddenly yearned to see the monument again, if only to prove that such a place had once existed.
Taking one last look at the fountain, Alexia continued down the path. A frown tugged her brow at the sound of voices lingering over the constant trickle of streaming water.
"I do not think she's ready," a male voice said.
"She has not yet ascended." Her mother's voice answered, weak but confident.
"Even then, I don't believe she will be ready for the throne."
"Lotharus, though you are an olden, you have not personally borne witness to a princess becoming a Queen. The power she'll gain when she ascends will rival the Goddess herself. Combined with the training you've given her, my daughter will have ten times the strength of any one of those soldiers you hold in such high esteem."
"It's not her strength I'm worried about," he said. "It is her will. Her ability to rule to the standard of our ancestors...."
Alexia stepped out from behind the foliage. "My ability should be none of your concern." Lotharus turned to face her. As usual, he wore tailored black clothes. Their starkness stood in striking contrast to his sallow skin tone, and noticeably different from her mother's Mediterranean complexion, pure white gown and raven-black hair.
Light and dark. Good and evil.
"Ah, Alexia dear, you're here." Catija stepped forward to greet her, but her footing faltered and she wobbled.
"Mother." Alexia hurried to her side. "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine," Catija dismissed with a wave. "Just a little dizzy."
Lotharus wound his arm around the Queen's waist, tucking her against him and pivoting her away from Alexia. "You need to feed, dear heart," Lotharus said, tightening his hold around her middle. "Come." He pivoted, walking them toward the council quarters.
Alexia trailed a few paces behind. Her gaze fixed on her mother's black hair, plaited down her back. The tip of her long mane brushed the spotless, shimmering floors like a broom, swaying side to side with each dip of her hips. She had such a youthful, vibrant body. No one could see that a silent yet threatening illness was plaguing her mind.
"The wedding and ascension are two days away, Alexia, and you have yet to select a gown," the Queen said over her shoulder.
Alexia opened her mouth, but promptly closed it. It was pointless to remind her mother they had selected the gown just last night. "I shall see to choosing a gown straight away," she replied instead.
"Good." Her mother smiled. "Lotharus tells me the community is eager to attend your ceremony. We wouldn't want them to be disappointed."
Alexia nodded, wondering exactly how her mother thought she should react. A group of strangers were excited to have an excused day off from work or labor. To them, the occasion of such fortune mattered little if at all. They came for the free food and spirits the festivities offered, not to wish her or her mother well. After all, she knew none of them, so it stood to reason none of them knew her.
Keeping her opinions to herself, Alexia followed the two of them into the conference room. The circular seating area reminded her of those Jacuzzis she'd seen humans use. However, this one was ten times the size and empty. Instead of
Although she could not see the model, she remembered vague images of it from childhood. Her grandmother used to bring her here, used to raise the small city from the bottom of the pond and tell her stories of a peaceful world where every creature of light and dark lived in harmony. Alexia suddenly yearned to see the monument again, if only to prove that such a place had once existed.
Taking one last look at the fountain, Alexia continued down the path. A frown tugged her brow at the sound of voices lingering over the constant trickle of streaming water.
"I do not think she's ready," a male voice said.
"She has not yet ascended." Her mother's voice answered, weak but confident.
"Even then, I don't believe she will be ready for the throne."
"Lotharus, though you are an olden, you have not personally borne witness to a princess becoming a Queen. The power she'll gain when she ascends will rival the Goddess herself. Combined with the training you've given her, my daughter will have ten times the strength of any one of those soldiers you hold in such high esteem."
"It's not her strength I'm worried about," he said. "It is her will. Her ability to rule to the standard of our ancestors...."
Alexia stepped out from behind the foliage. "My ability should be none of your concern." Lotharus turned to face her. As usual, he wore tailored black clothes. Their starkness stood in striking contrast to his sallow skin tone, and noticeably different from her mother's Mediterranean complexion, pure white gown and raven-black hair.
Light and dark. Good and evil.
"Ah, Alexia dear, you're here." Catija stepped forward to greet her, but her footing faltered and she wobbled.
"Mother." Alexia hurried to her side. "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine," Catija dismissed with a wave. "Just a little dizzy."
Lotharus wound his arm around the Queen's waist, tucking her against him and pivoting her away from Alexia. "You need to feed, dear heart," Lotharus said, tightening his hold around her middle. "Come." He pivoted, walking them toward the council quarters.
Alexia trailed a few paces behind. Her gaze fixed on her mother's black hair, plaited down her back. The tip of her long mane brushed the spotless, shimmering floors like a broom, swaying side to side with each dip of her hips. She had such a youthful, vibrant body. No one could see that a silent yet threatening illness was plaguing her mind.
"The wedding and ascension are two days away, Alexia, and you have yet to select a gown," the Queen said over her shoulder.
Alexia opened her mouth, but promptly closed it. It was pointless to remind her mother they had selected the gown just last night. "I shall see to choosing a gown straight away," she replied instead.
"Good." Her mother smiled. "Lotharus tells me the community is eager to attend your ceremony. We wouldn't want them to be disappointed."
Alexia nodded, wondering exactly how her mother thought she should react. A group of strangers were excited to have an excused day off from work or labor. To them, the occasion of such fortune mattered little if at all. They came for the free food and spirits the festivities offered, not to wish her or her mother well. After all, she knew none of them, so it stood to reason none of them knew her.
Keeping her opinions to herself, Alexia followed the two of them into the conference room. The circular seating area reminded her of those Jacuzzis she'd seen humans use. However, this one was ten times the size and empty. Instead of
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