by T. S. Ryder
"I'm going and that's final. If you try to make me stay behind, I'll just follow after you and probably trip up security or something, so there's no point in arguing with me."
Henry couldn’t help but smile. If nothing else, Leila never gave up when she knew what she wanted to do. He nodded. "Then I will bring you with me. But you do as I say when I say, and if it looks bad, you get out. Understood? Your safety and life come first."
"Obviously," Leila said with a shrug, but Henry knew that he might as well be talking to a brick wall–she wasn't going to give up even if she ended up faced with a dozen armed guards. He just hoped that her magic was going to be enough to protect her.
"I'll watch after her," he promised Rachel, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
"More like I'll watch after him," Leila said with a grin. "And you take care of my niece, got it?"
Rachel shot her an annoyed glance. "Leila, I'm older than you. It should be me protecting you, not the other way around."
"And when I eventually have a kid, you'll have your chance. Because it's not going to be Princey's kid and he'll have to deal with the fact that I'm not his bride."
Henry frowned. "I would never hurt—"
Rachel cut him off. "Of course you wouldn't." Her eyes shone with fear, but she managed to smile at him. "Don't get yourself strangled to death."
Henry kissed her again. He couldn’t speak past the lump in his throat, so kissed little Cheri's head and nodded to Becky before he turned on his heel and left the room. Leila was soon beside him. They headed out together, not speaking.
***
After the brightness of the world above ground, the tunnel that led them back down to the vampire city felt sinister. Being encased by darkness once more had shivers running down Henry's spine. Or maybe that was because the familiar sights of his home were now enemy territory. As expected, there were no guards preventing their entry to the tunnels that led to the city, but the deeper they got, the tenser Henry became.
"Look, we need to talk before it's too late," Leila said suddenly.
Henry almost pointed out that now wasn't the time for idle chitchat, either, but swallowed it back. There was a chance–a good chance, however much he wanted to believe otherwise–that Leila, if not both of them, were not going to come out of this alive. If they didn't speak now, they might never have the chance again.
"I know that you wouldn't hurt me," Leila continued stiffly. "I went into this whole thing expecting… well, expecting you to be different. As soon as Rachel started having her visions about vampires, I looked you guys up and I wasn't keen on what I learned. I tried my best to convince Rachel to turn away from what she was seeing, but once she sets her mind to something, you can't convince her to change it."
"Yes," Henry smiled. "You two are very similar that way."
Leila stopped. She grabbed Henry's arm and turned him towards her. "But I was wrong. I thought she was just seeing bits and pieces and was falling in love with something–someone–who wasn't real. But she saw the relevant stuff, I guess. Because you are exactly how she used to describe you. And you love her."
Henry nodded seriously. "I do."
"Good. Because she loves you. She's loved you since before the two of you ever met."
Henry knew it, and that knowledge weighed heavily on him. Over the months, he had started to become more and more aware of just how well Rachel had known him even before he knew she existed. How much she loved him. If he was honest with himself, it frightened him at times. How could he repay the love that she gave him?
"If you had been what I was expecting, rather than what you are, I'd have killed you by now." Leila shrugged at him and continued down the tunnel. "But you love her, too."
"I do. I would die for her."
From behind them, a deep, ominous voice rumbled. "You will have to."
Chapter Nine
Images of Leila and Henry huddled in a dark room kept coming to Rachel. Her head pounded and her stomach churned. In her arms, Cheri whimpered. Rachel wondered if her daughter had inherited her ability to see the future. She didn't remember much from her childhood, other than the terrifying visions that had been written off as nightmares until she was ten years old. How young did it start?
His father's hands around his neck.
Rachel flinched. The visions were coming more often, unbidden, when she was awake. Every time they left her feeling sick. In the two days since Henry and Leila had left, Rachel had healed herself and made a backup plan.
"Are you going to be okay?" Becky slipped on the backpack that contained everything she would need to take care of the baby, including infant formula and a bottle. Her brow wrinkled in worry. "Wouldn't it be better if I went after them, and you stayed with the baby?"
Rachel shook her head. "I'm a witch. Together, my magic and Leila's is quite powerful, even though we were not given a lot of formal training. I have a better chance to help Henry, and you have a better chance at hiding Cheri from the vampire king, should he continue looking for her."
Becky sighed and gently took Cheri from Rachel's arms. The witch felt her eyes fill with tears. It took all of her determination not to take her baby back. This decision had been very difficult to make, but she couldn’t abandon Henry to whatever fate the future had for him. She had the sense that Cheri would be safe and grow up happy no matter what, but she didn't know what would happen to Henry and Leila.
And so it was decided. She would return to the vampire city while Becky took Cheri and disappeared.
"Once things are safe—"
"I know," Becky said. "I have the burner cell. You'll call."
Rachel managed a smile and kissed her daughter. "I love you, Cheri."
"Be safe." Becky kissed her cheek.
"I will." Rachel tried to sound confident. "I'll talk to you soon."
***
Rachel hoped that all that she needed to do to return to the vampire city was return to the place where she and Leila had been captured and wait. So she did just that, standing on the bridge as the darkness stole the light around her. This time, when the starry, pin-prick eyes appeared, she wrapped her arms around herself. What if they just killed her?
"I demand to see the king," she called. "I am the prince's bride—"
"We know," a voice replied. "You demand to see the king? Your demands mean nothing, woman. But you are in luck. He demands to see you as well."
Rachel tried to make out the faces in the darkness, but couldn't see anything other than their glowing eyes. She nodded, and when a hand took her arm, she let it lead her along. The Seer was surprised that she wasn't knocked out this time–but then, she supposed if she was meant to die, there was no point in rendering her unconscious.
Every step felt like it took forever. Rachel was almost ready to use her magic to make these vampires go faster when she was brought into the light again. She was taken to the king and seated at a long, ebony table. The table was set with a roast chicken, but the smell, rather than making her mouth water, made Rachel think of Henry being strangled by his father. She swallowed down bile.
"I did not expect that you would turn yourself in," the king said, pouring her a glass of wine. "I had my men hunting for you the moment my son returned."
"Did he tell you that our child was born?" Rachel's voice shook, no matter how hard she tried to keep it calm. "A girl."
"He told me. I don't believe him. Or you, for that matter. You would say anything…" The king shook his head. "What is it about you that turned my son from me? You're nothing special. I always thought my son cared for me. I didn't think he wanted to kill me."
"He doesn't."
The king offered her a smile, his two pearly fangs flashing. "We'll see about that."
A shiver ran down Rachel's spine, but she raised her chin. "Have you ever considered that it could be your insistence that Henry kill me and our child that will lead to your death?"
A dark look flashed over the king's face. He didn't answer, but at that momen
t the door opened. Leila and Henry were pushed into the room. Rachel jumped to her feet, but the king grabbed her by the arm, preventing her from running to her prince and sister. Henry went rigid when he saw her, his hands curling into fists.
"Father, please. It doesn't have to—"
The king held up his hand. "I don't know what this witch did to you, Henry. Some sort of spell, no doubt. It's the only explanation for any of this. You were a loyal son until you met her."
Henry shook his head, his shoulders slumping. "No, father. I was a loyal son until you told me to kill her. I would have given up my claim as your heir, I would have left and lived on the surface for the rest of my days. You could have had another son, and none of this would have happened. But you told me to kill my bride and unborn child, and when I tried to run you wouldn’t let me be and continued to hunt us. You forced my hand."
"You truly believe what you're saying." The king shook his head. "Do you really think that just because your son wasn't born under the surface, it would spare me from my fate as his grandfather?"
"Look, asshole, the baby's a girl," Leila said, her hands curling. "And you're just talking yourself closer and closer to forcing Henry to kill you, so why don't you just let it go?"
The king released Rachel, taking a threatening step towards Leila. Rachel raised her hands, ready to call on her magic, but the vampire stopped. Shaking his head, he turned to Henry again. "I am going to give you one last chance, Henry. Kill this woman and bring the child back to be taken care of. Do it." His voice softened. "I don't want to kill my son."
Henry's shoulders slumped forward. He shook off the guard who held him and strode forward. He wrapped his arms around Rachel. She held him back, squeezing him tight. Her heart hammered as she looked at the king over her prince's shoulder. He stood tense, eyes hard, and Rachel knew he wasn't going to let this go, no matter how much Henry begged.
"I will not kill my bride," Henry whispered. "And I won't let my daughter die. If you want this woman to die, Father, you will have to kill me with her."
The king closed his eyes. He let out a deep, shuddering breath. "Very well, Henry. Say goodbye."
"Leila," Rachel blurted, yanking herself away from Henry.
Her sister knew what she meant to do and stomped on the instep of the vampire holding her. The guard winced. His grip didn't loosen, but his cry distracted the nearby vampires enough. Rachel threw her hands forward, pouring fire from her palms. The ebony table caught quickly. As the vampires shied away from the flames, Leila coated her own hands with black flame and grabbed the face of the vampire who held her. He howled and jerked away from her.
The king snarled, lunging for Rachel, but Henry was between them faster than Rachel could see. Father and son clashed, both swinging fists and dodging blows.
Rachel raced to Leila, grabbing her hand. The guard came at them, but they spun in a circle, drawing a line of dark fire between them and the vampires, who stumbled back from the heat. Leila's grip on her sister's hand tightened.
"What now?"
Rachel shook her head, at a loss.
One of the vampires leaped through the flames. Grasping hands reached for her and she screamed. She heard Henry cry her name as Leila sent a blast of energy at the attacking vampire. His clothing was already all in flames, and as he passed through the fires again he shrieked, writhed and was consumed, crumbling into ash. Rachel turned to where Henry and the king were fighting. Henry was fending off blows weakly, black cuts ripping open his chest. A silver knife flashed in the king's hand.
Even as she watched, the king kicked Henry's legs out from under him, wrapping his hands around his throat.
"Sunlight!" Rachel blurted. "Is Henry still shielded?"
Leila turned wide eyes on her. "Shielded?"
"The sunblock spell." Rachel grabbed Leila's shoulder. "Help me with the spell."
Her sister stumbled a little but nodded. Together they started chanting, desperate. Henry writhed under his father's grip, eyes wide as he punched the king's ribs to no effect. The energy formed around him, absorbing into his skin. Rachel clutched Leila's hand tighter and held a hand to the ceiling. She closed her eyes, thinking of the sun, remembering its warmth, the feel of the light on her skin.
She felt that light again and when she opened her eyes, she and Leila were surrounded by it. The vampires screamed and howled, drawing away from the light. The nearest ones blistered all over their bodies, skin scorching black.
There was a cry of pain from the king. He stumbled back from Henry. The silver knife was buried deep in his chest.
Rachel let her magic go and the light faded from around her and Leila. Everybody was silent as the king fell to his knees. Henry rushed forward, grabbing him, pulling him close. Tears ran down his face as his father went still. The fire ring around the two witches disappeared.
"I didn't want to kill you," Henry whispered. "I loved you. I'm sorry. I'm sorry."
Rachel moved forward slowly as Henry wept. She put a hand on his shoulder, trying to comfort him, and glanced at the remaining vampires. One by one, they got to their knees and bowed to Henry.
"What are you doing?" Leila demanded. "You're not going to try to kill us anymore?"
Henry closed his father's eyes and stood. "My father is dead. I am the king and you are my brides. They know that without me, the kingdom will fall. And if they so much as lay a finger on my queens, they will die."
His shoulders still slumped, and he stumbled as he embraced Rachel. She held him, trying to lend him her strength.
"I'll send for Becky and Cheri," she said. "The vampire kingdom must welcome their princess."
Henry nodded. "And we will bury my father with grace and dignity. But first… I need to restore my strength."
Rachel nodded, holding his hand as she led him from the room. Leila snorted at the vampires, who were still kneeling, and followed.
Chapter Ten
What used to be his father's study was now his study. His father's chambers were now his chambers. The crown that had once looked so noble on his father's brow was now his burden to bear. Henry slumped in his father's–no, his–office chair, staring at the detailed map that showed every tunnel and corridor of the kingdom he now ruled.
As a boy he used to sneak in here and sit in this chair, looking at that map, pretending he was king, deciding what supplies went where and what armies would be sent to subdue what uprising. It didn't matter that there hadn't been an uprising since this underground kingdom was founded. All he had thought about was how magnificent it would be to prove his worth in battle.
At that time he was too young to understand that his father had to die before he could be king.
Henry sighed, loosening the tie that he wore. He'd updated his wardrobe to what was current on the surface, but the suit just felt oppressive, especially after the grand funeral he had just held for his father. He doubted he would ever get over how he had received the kingship of the vampires.
If he had listened to me, he would still be here.
Or perhaps he wouldn't. Henry had a child. A daughter rather than a son, but perhaps the next monarch would be a queen rather than a king. It was a year to the day since Rachel had told him she was pregnant. Maybe his father would be dead anyway, one way or another.
In any case, he was not going to make the same mistakes his father had. He would accept his future with the grace being a king demanded, and when his heir had an heir of his or her own, he wasn't going to demand that they kill the one they love just so he could live longer.
The door opened. Henry turned, expecting to see one of his father's witch-brides. He had thought that they would cause more trouble than they had, but they understood just as well as the vampires that the kingdom would crumble without a king, and most had taken voluntary exile. Those few who had stayed had tried to convince Henry that he needed more brides as if Rachel wasn't enough for him.
It wasn't one of his father's consorts who came into the room, however. It was
Rachel herself, carrying their bright-eyed daughter. The baby had his blue eyes and Rachel's dark hair, and a little wrinkle between her eyes when she was about to cry that looked like Rachel when she sneezed.
"I thought you might like to see your daughter," Rachel said, handing the baby to her father.
Cheri waved her fists at him and smiled a toothless smile. Her fangs would be coming in soon, and they were already preparing to use a pump and bottle to allow her to continue to drink breast milk. They didn't know if witch blood would be deadly to a baby who was half-witch, but they didn't want to take the chance that Cheri would nip her mother while nursing and drink her blood.
"It was worth it, you know." He looked up at his queen and smiled sadly. "As much as it hurts to have killed my father. You and little Cheri… our family was worth it. Protecting you… I'd do it again."
Rachel kissed his forehead. "I just wish we could have made him see reason."
"My father was not one to take advice or listen to anybody else. How many times did I beg him to stop the tradition of kidnapping women from the surface? No. I loved him, but he would have never listened to me about you and little Cheri."
"At least you can get rid of that horrible tradition yourself now."
He nodded, stroking his daughter's cheek. "How is Cheri?"
His father hadn't harmed his oldest bride. She had been locked in her room but was given everything she needed. She was old, though, and her strength was failing her, although she had been thrilled and honored that he and Rachel had named the little princess after her.
"She's doing well. She has a bit of a cough, but the healers think that she still has a good five years left."
Five years sounded like no more than the blink of an eye, but Henry would take it. Deep down, he thought that Cheri might be ready to pass on. She remained cheerful and bright-minded, but she was tired, and the events of the past year had been hard on her. More than once she had mentioned that she was ready to sleep.
