44
Guys, please read this chapter right THROUGH. I know the information will be a lot but it's for the best 3
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Athena and I entered this huge vacant room, no furnitures were present, only windows, a lot of them. There was a huge chandelier above our heads and I could only guess that this is a ballroom. It had to be.
Athena tapped the mic, the feedback going through the room as the vampires settled down. They stared at the two of us with curious looks. I recognized a few faces amongst the crowd and I took note that her staff was also here.
Athena greeted the vampires. They greeted her back.
"Now, I know you're all wondering why I called a meeting.
" Her smooth voice rang throughout the room and she squeezed my hand softly.
"As many of you have already known, or guessed, you have another queen, my mate.
" She motioned to me. "I'm here to officially introduce my mate to everyone.
She's one of the humans who once... worked for me for four months. " She glanced at me.
Fucka yuh. Shane fi kill yuh.
"Now that's just mean."
"It's not one of my proudest moments, having her work for me while I knew she was my mate but before it was too late, I chose the right path. Without further ado, meet your future queen and my mate, Lauren Holness."
The vampires and the staff members clapped and roared loudly.
My heart warmed with pride as they accepted me. Everyone bowed in unison with their left hand across their chest. My eyes got teary slightly.
Athena raised her hand as they all rose.
"Traditionally, I should've done what is done throughout the years but with her being human, we are unable to perform the ritual.
" Athena paused as she looked amongst the crowd.
"She bears my mark, the mark of a royal blood vampire.
As my ancestor, Anastasia Bianchi, did, form a blood bond, I will repeat the actions done. "
Solana walked to her with a cushion that held a beautiful silver dagger. Athena held the dagger in her hand and she turned to me.
"Don't be scared."
Athena placed the tip of the dagger on my wrist and she pulled it from the left to the right. I bit my bottom lip as my eyes watered at the burning sensation.
She wasn't just breaking the first layer of skin but she went vein deep so it wasn't just a small burn.
Athena rested the dagger on the podium and she extended her fangs as she bit her wrist. Athena placed her wound against mine and our bloods mixed. I hissed and the vampires cheered loudly.
Her eyes met mine and she gave me a small smile. She removed her wrist from mine and pulled me into her, placing her lips against mine for a short period. I smiled into the kiss and Athena and I looked at her- our nation.
"All Hail the Queens!" They chanted over and over again.
I giggled and rested my head on Athena's chest.
~
I thanked the vampire as they came to wish me a successful reign. I received a lot of these today and I honestly felt overwhelmed. I was grateful for everything that the people told me. They were all positive and they were supporting. I even received a bouquet.
"I can't believe I don't have a chance with you." I laughed as Channer came up to me dramatically.
Athena growled at him warningly and he held his hands up in surrender.
His friend that I've met before came beside him and smiled at me.
"Congratulations." The friend said and I chuckled.
"Congratulations on what?"
He nodded towards Athena and it made me laugh.
If he did that while Athena was looking, he would've probably shit himself.
I hugged them, which caught them both by surprise but they hugged me back.
They left and I thought they were the last people who wanted to see me until a familiar blonde sped in front of me.
I stumbled back as I stared at Diana.
She bowed and I furrowed my eyebrows.
"I'm sorry." Her apology caught me off guard.
"I'm sorry for the way how I treated you and how I acted.
I'm not just apologizing because you're now the queen - partially - but I'm apologizing because I realize how wrong I was.
I attacked you out of pure jealousy. Even if your highness and I was in something, I should've trusted her and not just attack off of instinct.
I'm here to pledge my loyalty to the queen, to my queens. "
I stared at her wide eyed.
"You're not obliged to forgiving me. I just wanted to let you know how I feel." Diana said and bowed one last time before walking off.
Before she could get far, I called out to her.
"Let bygones be bygones."
~
I took the cargo pants off and walked to place it in the drawers and put my blouse in the laundry basket. Athena looked at me from where she laid on the bed.
"Don't be shy. Take the bra off, too."
"You're too fucking horny." I laughed and she chuckled.
"Says the one who always initiates the sex."
"You've initiated it before." I got in bed beside her and she hummed.
Athena placed her arm underneath my head as I laid down in her arms. Her strawberry scent invaded my nose and I snuggled closer into her, wanting to have her scent all over me.
"What is grim magic? I remember you speaking about it earlier in the meeting. "I also have two bones to pick with you."
This is the time you choose to remind me?
Useless.
"What are those two bones about?" Athena asked.
"I only remember one currently."
"Didn't you just bring it up?"
"I just remembered that I was supposed to start an argument about it." I corrected. Athena hummed. "Have you ever fucked a virgin before?"
She glanced down at me as she turned the television on.
"Why are you asking?"
"Because you seemed to know how to deal with them well." I mumbled and she laughed.
"Are you talking about the first time I fingered you?" I hummed. "It's common sense."
True, true.
Reasonable.
Argument avoided.
"You never answered my question."
"Yes."
"Yes you have or yes you answered my question?"
"I have."
"What's your body count?"
"Don't ask questions you don't want to know the answer to."
"Whore."
"You like it."
"For the experience. The day your flings decide to come together and beat me is the day I burn this place down."
"People love their life too much to try something like that."
"What if I want to die? Can I pick a fight with myself so that you can kill me?"
"Stop asking me stupid questions."
"Calling me annoying?"
"No."
"Then what are you implying."
"You talk too much."
"Fuck you."
"You've done it numerous times before. Want to go again?"
"No. You have STDs."
"Consider them transferred."
"Why are you talking so much?"
"I'm just answering your questions."
"By talking a lot."
"Are you saying I shouldn't answer?"
"What is grim magic?"
"Dark magic."
"Explain."
"Grim magic is dark magic. It's used to take power and abilities from those who have, which causes the carrier to be human. It can also be used to take away your soul."
"What's the story behind it? Throughout the meeting, everyone kept talking about twenty-one years ago. What happened twenty-one years ago?" I was interested. This seemed like something that would keep me up at night just to hear the full story.
Athena cleared her throat.
"A few years back - twenty one years ago -, the dark mage Ophelia was sent to Eternia for the use of grim magic against all four nations.
Ophelia was a mere human who was destined to the high mage, Malique Starks.
Malique taught Ophelia magic and as time started to pass, the use of magic started to cloud Ophelia's vision.
She'd let it control her lover for Malique as she would constantly beg him to teach her magic.
One day when Malique was out on a mission, Ophelia searched his office and discovered grim magic.
The practice of grim magic was partially legalized at the time but the previous council was fighting to get it off the charts and gone for good. "
"Did they succeed?"
"Shh."
I zipped my lips and threw away the key.
"A few months passed and Ophelia was practicing grim magic behind Malique's back.
The council then had dropped the case of grim magic because no one was using it and all the files concerning grim magic was put up - or so they thought.
Malique thought that she was done asking about the magic because she'd hardly ask but little did he know she was doing it on her own behind his back.
A year passed and Ophelia was getting better and better at grim magic just by practicing and reading grimoires.
Ophelia told Malique that she was pregnant and the two were ecstatic about the news.
They've been trying to have a baby for a few months but Ophelia couldn't get pregnant.
They found out she couldn't have kids so this was a surprise to Malique. "
By now, I was seated upwards, my interest peaking further in the story.
"Ho-" her glare shut me up instantly.
"So, the baby was made by grim magic. She had the help of a witch.
It was said that she stored grim magic inside of the child for future use.
As time passed, her magic got stronger and stronger.
When the child was of age four, she was caught doing grim magic.
She was in the middle of making a stuffed bunny living.
Due to her getting caught red-handed, she tried to use that moment to take over the world.
She managed to corrupt and convince a handful of witches to join her reign.
My papa and the previous council members managed to banish her to Eternia.
Malique stood trail and he had used his magic to pull memory from the earth.
From these memories that he pulled, it showed from the moment of discovery to her moment of banishment.
He was going to be banished to Eternia, too, but he didn't want to face Ophelia so he suicided. "
"When a species enters Eternia, they are stripped of their magic and that makes them completely human.
Due to Ophelia already being a human, there wasn't much to strip from her.
The grim magic was removed though and she had her memory wiped of her practices and anything that contains grim magic.
We believe that what we are seeing on the Faerie Land is grim magic.
We were all alive at the time of the war and we saw what it looks like and how the environment reacts to it.
The green plants turned black and die, the humans get sick and the animal get sick, too.
Amoya and I have put a containment spell on the hole in hopes that it doesn't spread any further until we find a way to get rid of the magic.
We don't know how long it'll hold for but we are holding on to whatever faith we have. "
"So where's the child now?"
Athena shrugged.
"They never found them. It was said that all they found were clothes and not the body.
It is said that someone took the child, but who?
All Ophelia's relatives as we know are dead, her parents, aunties, uncles, everyone.
Malique's people wouldn't have wanted anything to do with the abomination so they were out of the question.
They were still searched, yes, but the council came back empty handed. "
"Do you think the child is alive now?"
"I don't know, baby. I don't know."
I laid down in her arms once more and she placed a lingering kiss on my forehead.
"I love you."
"I love you too."