Chapter 8
Chapter
Eight
The vampire and the werewolf steered Rhaziel through town toward the park and eventually to the huge red house he’d seen when he first wandered down the trail on his first day. He stared at it, then glanced at the vampire.
Dr. Blackstone gave him a regal nod. “My humble abode, Prince Rhaziel.”
Rhaz’s eyebrows shot up. He was surprised the vampire addressed him properly. He gave him a nod of thanks. “It is a fine home, Dr. Blackstone.” He glanced at the werewolf. “Do you have such a house?”
“I live in this one,” Jackson said, nodding toward the red structure. “It’s nothing like what you live in, I’m sure, but it will have to do. You’re not the only prince around, either, and he has no qualms about it.”
“Now, now, Wolfie,” Dr. Blackstone chided. “I’m sure the prince will be fine, and I’m also sure he’ll find Prince Caelen interesting. My guess is they’ll get along splendidly once Prince Rhaziel gets some food in his belly, that is.”
Rhaz’s stomach growled again. The donuts Louise had given him had done little to stave off his hunger. In fact, he swore he could smell Basil’s cooking. His stomach growled louder.
Anon sniffed the air. “Well, well. The little tyrant has been busy.” He glanced at Rhaz and back. “Let’s go find out what your friend Basil has whipped up, shall we?”
“Smells like my favorite stew,” Rhaz said without thinking. “I hope Basil hasn’t been too much trouble.”
Dr. Blackstone and Jackson stopped and gave him a hard stare.
“Let’s put it this way,” Jackson said. “He hasn’t exactly been a pleasant guest, but it’s also obvious he cares for you very much. I admire loyalty.”
“As do the rest of us,” Dr. Blackstone said. “We finally allowed him into the kitchen. We did it once before, but he got a little out of hand after a time, so he was sent back to his room until he could behave himself.”
“That sounds like Basil.” Rhaz shook his head. “I apologize for trouble he’s caused you.” He looked at them both. “I also apologize if I no speak properly. It’s been a long time since I spoke this language.”
“I daresay, old chap, you’re doing splendidly,” Dr. Blackstone said. “Come along now. We’ll introduce you to the others and get you fed.”
He started walking, and Rhaz and Jackson followed. They went around the side of the house, climbed a set of stairs, crossed a porch, and entered through a door with a curtained window.
They stepped into what appeared to be a kitchen.
Basil stood on a small stepladder at the stove, stirring a pot. He glanced their way, his eyes widening. Then he jumped from the ladder and ran toward Rhaz.
“My prince!” He launched himself at him.
Rhaz bent just in time to catch him. “Basil, you are well?”
Basil hugged him tightly, then squirmed in a way Rhaz recognized. He wanted down.
Rhaz set him on his feet. The gnome trotted back to the ladder, hopped onto it, and turned dramatically toward him. “Incompetent beasts! They’re intolerable, Your Highness!”
Dr. Blackstone rolled his eyes. “Here we go. Is he like this all the time?”
“Like what, bloodsucker?” Basil said indignant. “Competent? Trustworthy? Loyal? Far above your station?”
“May I remind you that you are a guest in this house,” Dr. Blackstone said.
Basil turned to Rhaz. “I’ll have you know I was a prisoner! They kept me locked in a horrible room downstairs. A dungeon!” He pointed an accusing finger at the basement door. “And the food they served? Intolerable!”
He crossed his little arms over his chest. “Incinerate them.”
Rhaz looked from the vampire to the wolf, rolled his eyes, and shrugged. “I do apologize for his behavior. Unfortunately, this is Basil. But, you taste his cooking.” He gave them a huge smile.
“Unfortunately, I won’t be doing so,” Dr. Blackstone said. “Though I might try a bite just to offer my opinion. Jackson, on the other hand, will be looking forward to it, as will the others.”
“Who are these others?” Rhaz asked.
“I’ll tell you,” Basil said, hopping excitedly on the stepladder. “Your Highness, they have a Nemthra among them! Ancient and powerful. He is not here, but nearby, I’m told.”
Rhaz’s jaw went slack. “A Nemthra? One of legend?”
“Yes, and you would do well to mind your manners around him,” Dr. Blackstone said. “He wouldn’t hurt a fly unless, of course, provoked.”
The werewolf leaned against a counter. “He’s also newly mated. Married, as the humans say.”
“We say marriage where I come from too,” Rhaz said. “I cannot believe it. A Nemthra, here.” He blinked a few times. “He is mated?”
“To a human female,” Basil said haughtily.
Rhaz’s jaw went slack. A Nemthra and a human? He shook himself. “How did a Nemthra get here?”
“The same way we all did, my good fellow,” Dr. Blackstone said. “Through a door.”
“The one that took me, Your Highness,” Basil said. “It spit me out into the ocean. Can you believe it? The ocean!”
“I came out in a forest.” Rhaz pointed toward the back of the property. “In those woods up there.”
“That’s where I came out,” Jackson said. He and Dr. Blackstone glanced in that direction.
“Dr. Blackstone,” Rhaz began. “You came through the same door?”
“Yes, Your Highness. And you may call me call me Anon from now on.” He turned to Basil. “Well, you’ve seen your prince, you pint-sized fiend. Now let’s have a taste of your cooking.”
“Hmph.” Basil stuck his nose in the air. “You don’t deserve a taste. I’ll feed the wolf, the wizard, the Fae, and their mates, but not you, bloodsucker.”
Rhaz put two fingers to his temple and rubbed. “Basil, please be civil. As I understand it, we are in… precarious situation.”
He glanced toward the door again. “There are very few of us here.” He looked at the other men. “And the humans don’t know, do they?”
“You’re very astute, Prince Rhaziel,” Anon said. “They outnumber us by the thousands, millions in fact. The need for secrecy is paramount. We must blend in.”
“Hide in plain sight,” Jackson said. He adjusted the strap of the bag slung over one shoulder.
“I’d best get back to work.” He headed for the door and stopped.
“Anon and the others will brief you, Your Highness. I suggest you listen carefully if you want to survive here.” With that, he stepped outside.
Rhaz stared after him. “He is no ordinary wolf. I sense great power in him.”
“And you’d be right,” Anon said. “Jackson is an alpha. Myself, I’m two hundred years old and come from the future, which I’ll explain later. Caelen is a Fae prince and a knight to his own royal family, a second son. His companion and confidant is a powerful wizard.”
Rhaz stared at him as his mind raced. “And all arrived through a door? Even the Nemthra?”
“Yes.”
He looked at Basil and back. “No doubt the most powerful among us?”
“I’m sure he is, Your Highness,” Anon said. “But he was not raised in a royal court. There’s a long story behind our boy Aaron, and I’ll be more than happy to tell it to you over lunch.”
He gave Basil a pointed look, then smiled at Rhaz. “Come this way and I’ll show you to the dining room.” Anon motioned toward a door on the far side of the kitchen and headed that way.
Rhaz followed, stopping only long enough to bend toward Basil at the stove. “Behave,” he warned, and left the kitchen.
Rhaz listened as a very polite and civil two-hundred-year-old vampire told him about his experience coming through the door in what he referred to as the pine grove. Needless to say, Rhaz was fascinated.
He was also growing more tired by the minute. Now that he’d had a healthy helping of Basil’s stew, he sat slumping in his chair, barely able to keep his eyes open.
“Your Highness,” Anon said, his expression softening, “I must insist you rest now. You’ve had a horrendous three days. Surrounded by humans, no food, who knows how much water, and of course the not knowing.”
Rhaz smiled. The vampire wasn’t wrong. He was exhausted now that he’d eaten. A soft bed sounded wonderful. “I thank you for hospitality.” Rhaz blinked several times. “Pardon me. Your hospitality.”
“Think nothing of it. If necessary, our resident wizard can put a translation spell on you and you’ll understand every word we say and vice versa, but honestly, I don’t think you’ll need it. Your speech is quite good. You’re only slipping because you’re tired.”
Anon rose to his feet. “Let me show you to your room.”
Rhaz stood and followed the vampire out of the dining room, into a hallway, and toward a staircase. As they climbed, he took in the decor of the house. He’d never seen anything like it.
At the top of the stairs, he stopped and turned to Anon. “When will I meet the rest of your family?” He’d noticed Anon using the word family several times throughout lunch.
“I’m going to call everyone and invite them over to dinner to meet you. Everyone’s already met Basil, and of course I’m sure your little chef would love the opportunity to cook for all of us.”
Rhaz chuckled. “You have no idea. Basil thinks cooking is a form of artful warfare. He’s always trying to outdo every chef and cook in the kingdom.”
“I’m sure he is,” Anon said dryly. “Now this way.” He led Rhaz down a hallway and opened a door.
Inside was a clean and orderly bedroom with a good-sized bed, a desk, and a comfortable-looking chair near a window. A dresser stood against one wall with a mirror hanging above it.
The room was decorated in greens, reds, and dark blues. The upper half of the walls were covered in a plaid pattern, while the lower half was painted green with wood trim separating the two.
Rhaz walked over and touched the patterned wall. “What is this?”
“Wallpaper, of course. I’m sure you’ve noticed it throughout the house. I do love wallpaper.” Anon motioned toward the bed. “Everything you need is here, and down the hall is the bathroom. Oh, perhaps I should show it to you. You might not be familiar with modern plumbing.”
Anon took a few minutes to explain the bathroom.
Rhaz marveled at how small it was, but he understood everything well enough.
When they returned to the bedroom, Anon pointed out the towels Rhaz would need, then wished him a pleasant afternoon and left.
Rhaz set the towels on the dresser and stared longingly at the bed. He removed his jacket. Then his shoes. He considered undressing completely but wasn’t entirely convinced someone wouldn’t walk in on him.
Instead, he lay down fully clothed, rested his hands on his stomach, and closed his eyes.
He was asleep within minutes
Rhaz stood near the throne room in the royal palace. A soft sound reached his ears. He turned.
The dark-haired beauty from the firehouse stood there. Only she wasn’t dressed in the clothing of Moon Creek Falls.
She wore flowing silks and glittering jewels from his homeland. A diaphanous veil covered the lower half of her face. She was more than beautiful. In fact, he couldn’t find words to describe her. She was beauty itself.
He took a step toward her. Then another. Slowly, he held out his hand.
To his delight, she walked toward him and took it. “My prince,” she said softly.
His heart stumbled in his chest at the sound. “Princess,” he replied just as quietly. “How do you like the palace?”
She looked around, smiled behind the veil, and met his gaze. “It is lovely. I have never seen anything like it.”
His chest swelled. “Wonderful. Are you hungry? I can have food brought.” He gestured toward a nearby antechamber and led her inside.
The room was small and intimate, with a fountain bubbling in the center. Cushions surrounded a low table in one corner. “Sit,” he offered.
She did and waited for him.
Rhaz clapped his hands. A servant appeared. Food was ordered and the servant hurried off.
Two goblets already sat on the table. Rhaz reached for a bottle of wine and poured one for her and one for himself. “I hope you like it here. I’ve wanted you to see the palace and its gardens. Is everything adequate?”
She gave him a shy look. “More than adequate, my prince.”
Smiling, he handed her the goblet. “Here. Try this. It comes from the Verdanth Court. They make excellent wine there.”
She took a sip, smiled, and gazed at him. “Why have you brought me here?”
Rhaz frowned. “Why? Because you are my princess.” He smiled again and brushed a hand lightly across the veil covering her face. “Because I will take care of you. Protect you. Make you happy.”
“But you have taken me from my home...”
He opened his mouth to answer, when an alarm bell rang. His head snapped toward the sound. Rhaz jumped to his feet. “Come with me. It’s not safe here.”
She stood quickly. “What is it? What’s happening?”
Before he could answer, a servant rushed into the room. “Your Highness! It’s King Iskareth’s dragons! They’ve come for the princess. You must hide her. Hurry!”
“Who is King Iskareth?” she asked, confused. She gripped his arm and moved closer. “What’s happening?”
“It is the dragons of the Argenth Court. They wish to steal you from me.” He wrapped his arms around her. “But I won’t let them. Do you hear me? I will keep you safe. I promise.”
“Your Highness!” The familiar squeaky voice cut through the dream.
Rhaz’s eyes fluttered open. “What?” he breathed. “Princess!”
“Princess?” Basil said. “Oh, you mean Princess Beyza. Well, Your Highness, I’m afraid she’s not here. You’ll simply have to wait and be patient.” He gave Rhaz an exaggerated wink.
Rhaz sat up abruptly. “Princess Beyza?” He returned to Basil a horrified look. “By flame and scale, what are you doing in here? Where am I?”
“You are in the house of the bloodsucker, don’t you remember?” Basil asked. “I came to fetch you. Dinner is almost ready, and the others have started to arrive. Well, except the Nemthra.”
Rhaz ran his hands over his face. “Do I have time to change into fresh clothes?” He glanced around the room. As far as he knew, he had nothing to change into. “I’ll be down in a moment.”
“The bloodsucker says you have time to take a shower if you wish, but a fast one, seeing as the guest of honor hasn’t arrived yet.” Basil straightened proudly. “I do hope he likes my soufflé.” The gnome hurried from the room, his little feet pitter-pattering down the hallway.
Rhaz blinked the last of the sleep from his eyes and climbed out of bed. The towels were still on the dresser. Beside them sat a fresh shirt, pants, and several other items. Anon must have put them there.
Smiling, Rhaz gathered everything he needed and headed down the hall toward the bathroom.
He paused before undressing and studied himself in the mirror. He’d been dreaming about the woman from the firehouse. The woman who washed fire trucks and fought fires.
In the dream she’d looked terrified when she learned the white dragons were coming to take her from him.
Rhaz stared at his reflection. He bordered on angry.
She is ours, his dragon said. Ours!
Rhaz continued staring into the mirror. “How can she be?” he asked softly. “She is not of our realm, and we are not of hers.”
Besides, his fate was already sealed. Turning away, Rhaz started the shower.