Queen of Swords (The Vampire Swords Book 3)

by Arabella Kingsley

‘Do not allow him to taunt you. He will have power over you if you allow him to,’ he told me calmly.

  I would never get used to Cadell’s calmness and irritating wisdom in such situations when anger and action were required to complete the task at hand.

  ‘I see you have the Angels on your side, Knight of Swords,’ Galen told me with mock contempt. ‘Please come to me we have much to discuss.’

  As Galen finished speaking the fog parted and allowed us to travel through a tube of clear air. After a short while the stricken ship, The Adeline became visible below. The sea around it was as flat as a mill pond in contrast to the choppy water outside of the fog. As we flew alongside I could see the large rip and hole in the Adeline. The ship was tilted a small amount to the left and water lapped at the hole and rip, eager to find its way inside. But only a small amount had been permitted and an invisible force was keeping the force of water at bay. It was as if the ship was stubbornly refusing to sink. Juliet.

  Her name was a whisper upon my lips.

  ‘Yes, Nathan. Juliet is the only person standing between Galen and the safety of the poor souls still alive on that ship. She alone bears the burden in keeping the ship afloat. Her bravery and power is unique that is why Galen seeks her for a mate. She challenges him as no other woman has before. The challenge is to break her stubborn power by bringing her to her knees and forcing her to see him as her master. I am afraid he will use the humans on the ship to do it.’

  ‘He must be stopped,’ I snarled, suddenly desperate to be on the ship commencing the fight.

  Cadell must have read my mind because we appeared to increase our speed of flight and within moments I found myself being set down on the bough of the ship. My knights followed suit but to my surprise the Angels were to leave us there alone. Only Cadell remained. I watched them re-enter the fog and disappear with a frown upon my face.

  ‘Do they not mean to help us?’ I asked Cadell, affront in my tone.

  ‘I am afraid this is one battle you and your knights must fight alone. That is the way it must be. I must leave you now.’

  Confused but resigned and not wishing to waste further time on the matter I drew my sword and heard my knights follow my lead.

  ‘Then so be it. We will win this battle alone,’ I told Cadell with firm resolve.

  He nodded with respect as his form began to fade and then disappear.

  We made our way across the sodden open deck of the ship through the biting wind and sleet to the doors leading down to the other decks below. The Adeline resembled the Marie Celeste. Nobody was to be seen, not even our enemy. I was eager to make Galen’s acquaintance without further delay. Body parts of varying shapes and sizes belonging mostly to men littered our path both inside and out casting a foul smell under our noses. The sight was more than enough to sicken even the hearts of hardened men. It was to fuel my temper further as I feared for Juliet’s fate.

  Running down the marble staircase that led down into the dining room my impatience was to get the better of me. With a hiss and growl I was to jump the rest of the three flights. Finally, we stood in front of the large oak doors that led into the dining room. I glanced at my men noticing with pride that their eyes were changing to black informing me of their readiness to fight for their Queen. But that was to be my own fight. A chorus of frantic human heartbeats had reverberated in all of ears since we set down on the deck. They were scattered all over the ship. Men, women, children in hiding. We could also sense Marcus’s presence along with other Lycans and to my delight two Taleian hybrid women. They were all being hunted by Galen’s Army. I wanted an explanation from Marcus as to how my Queen ended up in so much danger when he had vowed to protect her. He would answer for his neglect. I ordered my men to roam the ship and help those they could and retrieve the stricken Taleian hybrid women. Byron and Dylan wished to stay with me and it was with angry reluctance that they departed when I forbid it. My own eyes narrowed and coloured as black as the night. I gave the doors a solid kick in the middle and watched them fly open upon the devil and the hell he had created upon the stricken ship.

  The noise of more anxious human heartbeats reached my ears since. They belonged to women. They were in several states of undress, some of them were fully unclothed, one of Galen’s half naked men between the thighs of each. His large black wings beating out a rhythm as pushed himself inside the woman forcefully taking his pleasure as she lay there passively. My dead heart sickened as I watched the sight before me. All of the women Galen’s army had brought to this room were of beauty and in some kind of stupor. Their eyes were glazed over as though opium flooded their veins. Soft meek whimpers of pain escaped their lips mingling with the grunts of ecstasy from the monsters as the great winged beasts of men brutally took advantage of them. Yet their protests had been silenced, not even fear registered on their blank faces. Only tears in their eyes betrayed their true feelings. Galen was a heartless monster. What had he done with my Juliet? If he had . . .

  ‘Ah there you are, Lord Valancourt. It’s about time. You have kept me waiting.,’ a eloquent amused voice demanded my attention.

  I turned to the source of the voice in the centre of the large dining room. My black eyes narrowed as they came to rest on Galen. He was sitting on a high backed gilt edged red velvet chair. All of the tables and chairs had been swept to the sides leaving him surrounded by the heaving mass of his men engaged in coupling. He was slouched to one side, one of his legs perched over the opposite arm of the chair. His coat, vest and tie hung over the back of the chair in a confusingly neat manner. His white shirt was open to the waist and loosened from his trousers. I glanced down at the naked attractive women surrounding and leaning against his chair, all of them in the passive glazed stupor I had witnessed on the others. Judging by the Devil’s state of undress, his tousled hair and the gleam of satisfaction in his eyes he had only recently finished taking his fill of the five women lying helplessly around him. For a devil he was a handsome man. I had expected a grotesque horn like appearance ravaged by the fires of hell itself but then he appeared in many forms.

  ‘Where is she?’ I hissed loudly.

  ‘She is safe,’ he put his hand where his heart should he have possessed such goodness. ‘You have my word as a gentleman.’

  I watched him remove a blue sphere from his pocket that appeared to be of a crystalline nature. He began to toy with it, idly tossing the vivid blue object into the air only to catch it again and again. I made my way between the sea of seething bodies to stand before his chair undeterred.

  ‘I want to see her now. Release her to me. Juliet is not yours to possess. I will not rest until she is freed,’ I ferociously insisted finding my attention annoyingly diverted to the crystal blue sphere.

  ‘Oh but I beg to differ. Juliet is fair game to any challenger.’

  ‘You are not of our race. There can be no challenge,’ I told him firmly.

  I tilted my head to one side fascinated by the blue crystal. Was this one of the devil’s tricks to lead me to my demise?

  I diverted my attention quickly to Galen’s eyes yet the Crystal kept pulling my mind towards it. A magic dwelt within the sphere. It was calling to me imploring my help. The Devil snatched it into his closed hand.

  ‘It is no matter that I am not of your race. I can simply take Juliet for my own any time I desire,’ he sighed mockingly. ‘But alas, I am a true romantic at heart I want all of her love to be mine. I want Juliet to see me remove your head and know that there is no hope for you ever being reunited again. I sense a dogged practicality in her that I can exploit and make her accept me as her mate but that can only be achieved with your death in the ways of her people. I apologise for the charade we must go through. We could dispense with formalities now by me pulling your head from shoulders but you know what women are like. We must indulge them in their little fantasies.’

  ‘You do not frighten me . . .’ I snapped raising my sword to strike him down and commence the fight. He raised his hand and caugh
t the blade.

  Our strength appeared equal in measure as he battled to keep the sword from his person and I pressed down.

  ‘Perhaps not but I do know what does make you frightened much more than you can even admit to yourself.,’ he smiled. ‘It’s a gift I have. I know everyone’s worst fears. I can manipulate them, bring them to the fore of the human mind and torment the person until they are locked in their own private hell. Fear destroys reason and the very fabric of the human mind until chaos and illusion reign uppermost in their darkest forms. Humans are such fragile creatures, lock them in a prison in their mind and it produces the most entertaining panic and anger that can result in such delicious tragedy and death. Wars, murder, rape, oppression are bred with it and in turn it feeds me and my army.’

  Galen turned his head to the side of the room and to the top of a table.

  ‘Cleytus, do I not look well on this food?’ he laughed.

  I glanced at the table to witness the gruesome sight of Cleytus’s severed head. It was indeed fresh and alive as though it had been removed only seconds ago. Cleytus’s heavy tear swollen gray eyes rolled towards Galen’s face and his black bearded lips parted to speak.

  ‘Yes, my lord,’ he replied dully as though his voice was not his own but operated by some mechanical apparatus.

  ‘Cleytus is such a miserable creature. Sometimes I don’t know why I keep him. Try to speak with more feeling and passion I want to know that you appreciate me,’ Galen snapped at the head. ‘Perhaps a little more pain will rouse your enthusiasm.’

  Cleytus’s eyes shut tight and scrunched with pain. The pain was so severe tears rolled from under his lids and a high pitched screaming wail burst forth from his lips.

  Horrified at the devil’s cruelty and my increasing overwhelming fear for Juliet I pressed the blade down further sensing a sudden weakness in the devil’s concentration. He grimaced, blood now seeping from his hand to run down the silver blade to the floor. but he was to continue holding it.

  ‘You have a strong temper, Knight of Swords. I did not expect you to be so young and hot headed. This is something I can work with to defeat you.’

  Galen’s smile disappeared.

  ‘I think it is time I showed you your worst fear. I am dying to see your reaction. This is one battle you shall not win, Knight of Swords. Juliet will see you die.’

  With his free hand Galen reached in to his pocket and pulled out the blue sphere once more. He lifted it up to his face and shouted at the small ball.

  ‘Deva, I command you to come. Do not keep me waiting.’

  A small blue light emerged from the sphere and began to whirl around me increasing its speed. I opened my mouth to issue a protest but found my body suddenly whirling inside the blue light interwoven with crystal white. I could see nothing else the next moment I was falling through the air. I landed with a thud onto a damp sandy surface. My face in the sand. My sword clattered to the ground next to me. I turned over onto my back and sat up wiping the sand from my face. I was on a beach and I was not alone. Juliet was with me.

  Chapter 6

  My Queen sat in a large ancient stone throne deposited at the water’s edge. Her back was to me. The waves did not yet reach her feet but were close and the waves out to sea were turbulent despite the vivid blue sky all around us. I called out to her but she did not seem to hear me. Grabbing my sword I rushed to my feet and ran towards her, calling her name.

  Juliet ‘s voice was a mere whimper when I reached her side. I found her sitting in an upright manner two swords placed crossways dangerously close to her throat. She appeared to be straining with all of her physical and mental power to prevent the swords from slicing into her throat. I could see her arms shaking with the effort. Immediately I reached to assist her and began to attempt to pull the swords from her with all of my might.

  ‘Nathan, is that really you?’

  Tears dispersed on to her delicate pale cheeks as I pulled at the swords.

  I looked up at her bemused and stared at her brilliant emerald eyes. To my horror they appeared vacant and moved without any purpose or direction. I cupped the side of her face.

  ‘Juliet, I am here. Can you see me?’ I asked with an expectant tone moving my hand up and down in front of her. I already knew the answer.

  ‘No, I can’t see anything but I can feel you. He blinded me, Nathan.’

  I wiped gently at the tears on her cheek.

  ‘We will put this right, Juliet,’ I vowed with firmness. ‘Let us get you away from here, first.’

  ‘No. It is not as easy as you believe,’ she instructed. ‘I must keep the ship afloat.’ An explosive anger began to flow through her words. ‘He mocks our race and myself as Queen. I may have my throne, my crown but I am helpless. I cannot rule. Galen believes I cannot face who I am nor respect and easily wield the power that has been bestowed upon me. He means to teach me a lesson about power and trick me into letting the boat sink.’

  ‘It must frustrate him no end that your power is so strong he cannot defeat it,’ I tried to wrestle with the swords and her pinned arms. ‘We will win this battle . . .’

  ‘No, Nathan please understand there is no way to win this battle. A sacrifice must be made. Oh, Nathan I do not wish to hurt anyone.’

  I pulled harder on her arms.

  ‘You will not hurt anyone.’

  ‘Nathan, be careful of the pebbles around my feet and this monstrosity of a throne,’ she begged on the verge of hysteria. ‘Each represents a life on the ship. If I kick them or dare to move one out of place, a life will be lost. When I first found myself here I kicked the stones in my efforts to break free. How many people did I kill, Nathan. How many lives did I destroy?’ she sobbed.

  Galen had almost broken my Queen’s spirit. I was heartbroken for her but determined that she would not be defeated in her quest.

  ‘Shh, Juliet, my love. Do not think of such things now. We must work on a way to free you from this torment.

  ‘My task is to choose who dies. Myself...... allowing me and my power to belong to the Devil, or the lives on the ship slowly one by one including my knights and my Lycan friends. I can’t let him have my power but I won’t let him sink the ship or kill anyone else. I thought I could defeat the devil alone but I can’t . . . I am at a loss to know what to do . . . a sacrifice must be made either way, yet I do not know which one to choose for the best for the good of all of us and the humans. If Galen obtains my power he will use it to destroy our race and make slaves of the humans . . .He will kill you, Nathan . . . He forces me to make a blind choice.’

  ‘Hush, my darling. We will work on this together,’ I told her firmly hoping she would take heart from my resolve and strength. Again I pulled at her arms and she fought with all of her weakening strength to assist me.

  ‘All I can do is try to keep the ship afloat until I can work out a way to defeat him but I am tired Nathan. He has tried everything to loosen my hold all I can think of his maintaining my grip and the ship and the protection I have placed around the people. Galen’s army cannot find them. I blind them to their whereabouts and have fortified the hiding places making them repel any evil energy. I do not know how much more I can hold out against his assault of power. The water seeps slowly into the hole now. I can no longer keep it at bay. If Galen’s men penetrate my defences and find the people I will lose anyway. Nathan, what should I do? What should I do?’

  I stared at her helpless figure, lost for an answer. There was no answer. Not everyone could be saved. There was only one cause of action open to Juliet. A sacrifice did indeed have to be made.

  ‘You must let the ship sink, Juliet,’ I advised in a firm tone pulling once more at the swords pushing against her throat, now beginning to scrape her delicate pale skin.

  ‘No, no I can’t.’

  ‘You must,’ I ordered. ‘The Devil cannot have your power or you. What about our people? They have waited so long for you to come. They must be reunited . . . .’

  ‘My k
nights and friends are on the ship. No.’

  ‘Juliet , a sacrifice must be made. Our Knights, Lycans and the humans must fight for their survival. You have done all that you can. More damage will be done if you allow yourself to fall into the Devil’s hands. The human race and our people will suffer for it.’

  ‘But I can’t let all those people die,’ she panted, tears clearly audible in her voice.

  ‘More will die if you do not. Our main priority is to keep you from Galen’s clutches and win this fight.’

  ‘I will find a way to save everyone.’

  ‘No you can’t. Can’t you see how impossible a task that is. A ruler must make sacrifices. Your time is running out. The swords are ready to take your head and the battle will be lost. I will not see you die and become Galen’s slave. Juliet, you are Queen of our people whether you like it or not.’ I reprimanded her severely. ‘Now start acting like it. Hard decisions must be made. You must be brave. Lives will be lost.’

  ‘Strong words, Knight of Swords,’ I turned my head sharply hearing Galen’s mocking tone. He stood ready for our duel, sword in hand.

  ‘Juliet, we must hurry. Release the ship.’

  Galen approached. I grew restless at Juliet’s indecision.

  ‘Letting the ship go is an option, Juliet and I do crave the people’s souls, especially the children’s. They are such a delight to torture and torment. They make great sport.’

  Juliet began to whimper as Galen spoke his cruel words.

  ‘I won’t let you hurt them,’ she screamed.

  ‘Then simply give yourself to me and I give you my word I will allow them to go free,’ he said carefully.

  ‘You lie to me. The Devil has no word of honour. There must be another way to defeat you . . . I just need to think,’ Juliet trailed off her sobbing words.

  ‘Juliet, let the ship go. Marcus will protect his children,’ I commanded striking out hard at the devil with my sword. He matched my blow with quick ease. Our duel for Juliet had begun.