Chapter 12

CHAPTER TWELVE

SANCHITA

T he cold dampness seeped through my dress and into my skin. It didn't help that I remained sitting on the floor of my cell with my knees pulled into my chest. Tears streamed down my face, and I did not know how to stop them. This night was supposed to be a perfect night with fun and celebration. I might have even met my soulmate among the many vampires attending the ball. Instead, I was trapped here, and I'd endangered both mine and my sister's lives. How could one night have gone so wrong?

A shiver racked my body and I huddled in closer on myself. I hung my head and pressed my forehead to my arms. This was a disaster of epic proportions. Not since I was turned into a vampire did I feel this low. Atlas was going to kill both my sister and me in one shot. It wasn't that I enjoyed drinking blood, but I wanted to have more time to live and see the world. Just to be young and see all that this immortal life could offer. Prisha and I had plans. I wasn't ready to give them up. I sniffed and wiped my nose on the back of my hand.

"Surely there's no cause for all these tears," a deep rumbling voice came from just outside the bars.

My head snapped up and I nearly tripped over myself trying to get to my feet. I held my hands behind my back, then I thought that looked suspicious, so I moved them to fold in front of myself. "Your Highness."

I bobbed a messy curtsy and tried to straighten my dress, but it all seemed so foolish at this point. I stood there in my bare feet covered in whatever grim was on the floor of this cell. My dress was torn and even now my body shook from the shock of it all. I was terrified. I didn't want to die, and I didn't want my sister to die, yet here stood King Titus . . . and my body shook even harder. I'd never heard of him sentencing vampires so quickly, but I'd also never heard of such an attack upon the castle. So, tonight could be a first of many things.

He waved his hand and the door slid open. This close he was even taller and more imposing, with broad shoulders, a barrel of a chest, and a very direct gaze that made me feel like I was being studied. I never realized the sheer mass of King Titus, but now that he was so close, I had to lean my head back to look up at him. He looked around the cell and across the way to the body lying on the ground in the other cell. The blood had congealed into a gloppy pool.

"Well, that's quite a sight."

"It-it certainly is, Your Highness." I tried to steady my voice while not looking at that body. I knew I was a vampire, but killing people wasn't on the menu for me. I drank blood from bags that were donated. I didn't hide in alleys, hunting people down and taking random bites of them. I didn't even enjoy killing spiders that invaded my room, even though their invasion was an act of war.

"Atlas?"

I swallowed and nodded. Words were failing me at this moment. Not once had I ever pictured in my mind having a conversation with the King in a cell whilst standing across from a dead vampire. The King sighed. "I fear the tactics he uses are a bit extreme but sadly effective."

"Indeed, Your Highness."

"Piper tells me I should set you free, that you aren't a traitor to the vampires." He lowered his eyes to meet mine. "Is that true?"

Just hearing her name made me feel like I was able to breathe once more. If Piper had been seen by the King, then Prisha and I would be off the hook. Maybe I won't die today . I sucked in a deep breath and brushed the tears from my cheeks. "I would never betray you, Your Highness."

He stepped farther into the cell, seeming to take up all the space. "I would like to believe you."

"I-I would never cross The House of Shade or you, my lord." I lowered my eyes, not sure what to do or say. How could I reassure a King who'd been double-crossed only hours ago.

"And yet you were seen fleeing the castle in Marius' wake. What say you on these charges?" His eyes were intense, like looking into deep pools of honey.

I swallowed and the words just tumbled out of my mouth in a panicked pause. "Everything happened so fast. The attack came in, and I just ducked and hid because it was totally terrifying, and then . . . and then vampires were dying ALL around me. I don't do blood, I mean, I do, because I am a vampire, but not like that. This huge vampire who I have never seen a day in my life grabs me from my hiding spot and drags me out the door. Or a door . . . I'm not really sure which one. Then I'm in this dark tunnel full of spiders and other things, being dragged along. By the way, you should think about cleaning those out. They're dreadfully dirty."

I paused and pressed my lips together, then opened my mouth and closed it once more. "I'm babbling."

"Please continue." He snickered. "This is one of the most entertaining conversations I've had all night."

"My apologies." I pressed my hands over my mouth and held my breath. I shook my head. I couldn't believe I was doing this in front of a member of the royal family. But I was in it now, so I let my words fly. "Then this meaty vampire picked me up, nearly tearing my arms off, and let me tell you, that was horribly unpleasant. I lost my shoes and then Marius threatened to kill me."

The King held his hand up, stopping my words. "You saw him?"

"I did."

"And he threatened you?"

I nodded and tried to imitate his voice. "If you're not with me, then you're against me."

He raised his eyebrows at my words. "And what did you do?"

I sighed and shook my head. "I'm not proud of it, but I pretended to be stupid and said I didn't know what he meant. But really, Your Highness, I knew exactly what he meant. I just didn't want to die tonight."

"Quite the little politician, aren't we?" He chuckled.

"I find when dealing with ignorance it is always best to play the role of the uneducated person so they feel they have something to teach you, then of course do what I think best anyways." I shrugged. I found myself getting more comfortable around him with each passing second, which I found to be odd considering he was the King and I was, for lack of a better word, a commoner.

"I can appreciate the genius behind that." He waved me on.

"Thank you. Well, once he was undecided where my allegiance lies, your soldiers showed up and scared them off, so they just left me there in the tunnel. That's when Jester took me and brought me here, where Atlas scared the hell out of me. I mean really, Your Majesty, he is an excellent choice to be your trusted enforcer."

"I like to think so."

"He's scarier than anything I've ever seen. I really thought myself and my sister were going to die for being in the wrong place at the wrong time." I sucked in a deep breath and my eyes widened. "Whoops, what I mean to say is?—"

"— you were very clear." He strolled around the cell, looking at the bars and ceiling as though trying to see it through my perspective. He kicked at the damp ground and ran his finger over the slimy wall. "It's quite effective, putting traitors down here."

"I would think so." I sounded more enthusiastic than I meant to be.

"Places like this are necessary, unfortunately, to keep us all safe, even you." He nodded in my direction.

"Please don't mistake me, Your Highness, I completely agree. There should always be a punishment in place for those who would hurt us. Evermore is a violent place to live, and I've always liked the comforts provided by the crown. And that crown should be protected."

He nodded and the silence fell heavy between us for long moments. I didn't know if I said something wrong or if I said something right. But something in my gut told me I shouldn't speak at this moment. I needed to wait until he was ready.

"That settles that then." He turned and left the cell and started walking down the hallway. The door was wide open and I hesitated for a fraction of a second before rushing out to follow in his wake.

"I'm sorry, settles what?"

I nearly collided with his back at his abrupt stop. He turned on his heel and towered over me. "You will become the new Night Spawn Ambassador."

My jaw dropped, then I forced it shut only to let it drop again. "I'm sorry, what?"

"You will become the new Night Spawn Ambassador and we will work together to branch this new divide." He said it so simply, like this sort of job just fell into one's lap and I would know what to do overnight.

"How do you know I'm qualified for something like that?"

"Are you questioning my judgment?" he snapped back.

I shook my head back and forth so fast I nearly made myself dizzy. "No, of course not. But I hardly know?—"

"—Then you will figure it out."

This night was more than I bargained for. I started the night by going to a fun party with my friends, and now I was standing in a dungeon being offered a major role in our society. I'd gone from standing at death's door to getting out of the hangman's noose, somehow, and now to getting a wild, life-changing offer from the King himself. "I'm flattered, Your Highness. But I?—"

"—Are you turning me down?" His words seethed with power and a touch of shock.

"I wouldn't dream of it." I paused, choosing my next words wisely. "But I will need help with something this immense."

He put his hands on his hips and gazed down at me. "What kind of help do you require?"

There were only two people I could trust with a task this important. "Our numbers are divided, and we do not know who to trust."

He pressed his lips into a thin line and then crossed his arms over his chest. "I quite agree."

"So, it's only in good confidence that I think the job of Night Spawn Ambassador should be put on three of us, co-ambassadors if you will."

He nodded. "And who do you propose as the other two Night Spawn vampires I should trust in such a time of need?"

"My sister, Prisha, and of course Martin, whom you know to be extremely loyal to The House of Shade." I held my breath hoping he'd go for it. I didn't think I could do this without their help. It would be too much.

"Deal." He spun on his heels and began walking once more.

I froze. What the hell did I just do ? I hurried to catch up to him once more. "But, Your Majesty, you hardly know anything about me."

He whipped around so fast it was a blur of movement. His blood magic wrapped round me like a thick blanket. It nearly smothered me. My body held there, unable to move even if I commanded it to. My blood slowed. I could hear my every heartbeat in my own ears, and everything was out of focus . . . everything but him. He held up his hand and his power drifted around his fingers. "It's an interesting sensation, is it not? To have lost control of your own will?"

When I said nothing, he waved his hand, giving me the ability to speak again. My insides flooded with nervousness. "It is."

"Can I trust you then, Sanchita?" He studied me like a bug under a microscope. "Do not lie to me."

His power rushed through my body, and I couldn't lie to him even if I wanted to. "You can trust me, Your Highness."

"Will you do your best to help your fellow vampires?"

"I will." My mouth snapped shut again because of his powers.

"Excellent. I believe you." He waved his hand and suddenly I was completely free. The blood magic surrounding me disappeared as quickly as it came. The only evidence of it would be the memory I had of losing all control to someone else. It was a good reminder of what the King was capable of.

We stood there staring at each other. "What now?"

"Now we send for your sister and Martin." He turned and started walking again.

"Just like that?"

"Though we've had a tough night, I do still have ways of getting what I want." He walked with his shoulders back and chin held high.

This time I fell into step beside him. I didn't know what to say so the first thing that came to mind was the first thing that came out. "Your power is very impressive, Your Highness."

He chuckled. "Thank you."

"Marius would do well to remember exactly that."

The King paused and all humor dropped from his face. "Indeed, he would."