Gabriella Monet POV
When I heard the door to the dark cell creak, I knew they had come for me. I was dragged out of the cell room into the punishment Arena. The crowd was lesser than the last time, I was tied to the same metal chair just like the last time. I looked around searching for a certain someone and when I found him, I smiled at him.
Slade waved at me and returned the smile. Unlike the last time, Daphne was in the Arena and she gave me a thumbs up which I returned with a smile. Luciana and her father were nowhere to be found
“The second phase of the punishment will now begin. Start,” The king ordered the guards.
The guards untied me from the chair and tired my hands together. They bought their whips and in a blink of an eye, they began to hit me with the whips. I didn’t scream out because Bianca was by my side and she held my tied hands. “Stop!” The king shouted after I was whipped ten times. “Will you confess now?” He
questioned.
“How can I confess when my hand is tied together?” I retorted.
Those in the Arena gasped at my bravery towards the king. “Tie her to the chair,” He ordered the guards.
I was lifted with blood flowing down my back and tied to the chair. I squeezed my eyes in pain as my back made contact with the metal chair. “Now talk, who is your accomplice.”
“Just like last time, I don’t have an accomplice!” I shouted. The King stood up from his chair and walked towards me. “But I have something to tell you!” I told him before he could something like hitting me on the face or ordering his bulky guards to beat me up.
“Talk!” His voice sounded weak unlike how it’s used to sound powerful. I watched the king closely and noticed that his lips were trembling and his eyes were bloodshot.
“You see,” I shouted. “Lord Raylle wanted the vampire rule to end but he didn’t end the rule because he was a coward.” I laughed. The King slapped me across the face for insulting his beloved father but I wasn’t done with him. “Queen Rebecca was a werewolf!” I announced the Vampire Royal family’s greatest secret.
“What the hell are you saying you pathetic fool!” The king roared and grabbed my throat. I laughed at his foolishness as he never expected me to reveal his family secret.
“Why not wait for me to finish the story?” I grinned.
The King released his hold on my neck and slapped me hard across the face. “Queen Rebecca killed Lord Raylle because she wanted to stop the Vampire rule so bad but Lord Raylle refused. I saw it in a revelation and I saw how Queen Rebecca looks just like me. ”
Everyone gasped at my revelation. They all looked shocked but my next word made them shout like maniacs. “I saw the future too and in this future, the vampires, werewolves, and humans all lived happily ever like in the past. ”
The people in the Arena began to shout at me and they all chanted Kill her all at the same time. “Kill her! Kill her!” They all chanted.
“You fool!” The King kicked the metal chair away and I fell to the ground but I didn’t stop laughing. Even if I die at that moment, I didn’t care because I had inserted fear in the minds of the vampires. They want to keep ruling the world but my Revelations shocked them. “The king continued kicking the chair until Slade came in between us.
” father, I think that’s is enough!” Slade stood in front of me and spread his arms wide shielding me from his father. “I won’t allow you to keep hurting her father.”
“You fool!” The king slapped Slade across the face. “You want to make a mockery of the royal family. Go ahead and do that in front of everyone.” The king burst into laughter and clapped his hands together. “Go ahead!” He yelled and lunged at Slade. I closed my eyes because I couldn’t bear to watch Slade get hit but when I opened my eyes, the King was on the ground and Slade was on top of him.
Everyone in the Arena watched them in awe. They were all surprised and just like I’ve learned in the vampire world, fighting a king was a way of challenging the King. Slade had challenged his father in front of everyone.
“I already warned you not to go after my mate!” Slade’s voice was different. It was filled with power, anger, and hatred. “You go after my mate again and I’ll kill you!”
“That’s enough Slade,” Teale pulled Slade away from the King. “Don’t show your wolf in front of everyone.” He pointed out. Teale and Kyle helped the king out of the arena while Slade shouted for everyone to leave.
“This punishment is over. Disperse!” He ordered and in fear, they all left the Arena. Slade ran a hand through his hair and looked towards me. “Untie her now!” He ordered the guards who stood behind me like statues.
“Yeah… Your highness,” They trembled in fear and untied me from the chair.
“Slade!” My voice came out like a whisper. “Slade….” I called his name again.
“That’s enough Gabriella,” he scolded and picked me up from the ground in a bridal style. “Oh my Goodness,” Slade looked at me as he walked out of the Arena with me in his arms. “You are bleeding.”
“I….” I tried to touch his face but my hand dropped. “I am sorry for revealing your family secret. I…..” I coughed out blood as I struggled to speak. “I am sorry Slade.”
“Why do you keep begging me Gabby. I should be the one apologizing to you. I’ll sort this soon. ” he kissed my forehead and continued walking without saying anything else. I tried to keep my eyes open but I slowly drifted into unconsciousness. I was weak and tired of fighting to survive.
When I opened my eyes again, I was in the dark cell but I felt no pain in my back. There was a dim light in the room meaning Bianca was in the room with me. ” you are awake!” I heard her say.
“How long was I out?”
“A day,” she answered simultaneously.
“What?” I shouted. I was asleep for a whole day. “How could I have slept for that long? The last thing I remembered was….”
“Fainting in Slade’s arm,” Bianca chuckled. “Everyone in the castle is talking about how Slade challenged his father because of you. ” Bianca informed me but I don’t like the information. “He healed you after you almost bled to death.”
“Where is he?” I asked after Slade. Bianca yawned and chuckled. “Why are you yawning? I thought ghosts don’t yawn?”
“I need my Ghost beauty sleep,” Bianca joked. “Slade left a couple of minutes ago but he should be back soon. He cared about you, Gabriella.” She pointed out.
I nodded my head and played with the hem of my clothes. “I know that Already”
“Hmmmmmmmm,” Bianca yawned again and looked outside the cell. “Someone is coming.”
“It could be Slade,” I rushed towards the cell door feeling over-excited to see him.
“Gabriella!” It’s wasn’t Slade instead it was my betrayer. “Listen to me Gabriella,” Anabella shouted. “I know you hate by now but I am here to tell you that I am sorry for what I did to you.”
I didn’t respond and let her continue ranting.” I saw Mother.”
That’s caught my attention. “What did you just say?” I asked her. “Where did you see mother? How is she doing?”
“She… Is fine. Thank goodness you answered me. For a moment, I thought something had happened.” Anabella chuckled.
“How is mother?” I sounded harsh but she deserved it. She deserved my anger for putting through pains and bruises.
” Luciana is holding her as a hostage.”
“That’s bitch,” Bianca cursed angrily. “How dare that fool!” Bianca rushed towards the cell door and kneeled beside me. “Just say the word and I’ll do it for you.”
“No one is killing anybody yet.”
“What?” Anabella sounded from outside the Cell door. “Is someone in there with you?”
I looked at Bianca and muttered under my breath. “Stop talking,” I said through gritted teeth.
” yeah,” Bianca responded sarcastically.
“Gabriella!” Anabella sounded scared. “Are you alright in there?” She inquired.
“I… Am fine.” I answered.
“Thank goodness,” she heaved a sigh of relief. “I am going to get you out of here Gabriella. I am sorry I betrayed you. I love you so much,” She cried as she confessed
I sobbed silently and placed my hand on my mouth as I wept in silence. “Ever since I told mother about what I have done to you, she had stopped talking to me Gabby. I am going to make everything right even if I lose my life. ”
“Don’t talk about your life so carelessly Anabella.” I cried out. “You have a baby on the way so don’t you talk about your life carelessly. ”
“Gabby,” Anabella sniffled. “I am going to get you out I promise. I am so sorry.” She begged yet again.
Bianca hold me close in her arms as I wept silently. I couldn’t hate my sister for so long because she just had her reasons for betraying me.
~~~~~~~~
Luciana POV
“The king is growing weaker. It’s unheard for a king to be defeated like the king was today.” My father admitted.
I smiled as our plans were working but yet I was sad that Slade was going to be caught up in the situation. “Where is Lady Aneka?” I pointed to the empty chair beside Xavier.
Xavier looked from me to the empty chair. “She has some issue with the baby.” He answered.
He lied. I knew he was lying probably to save his dear beloved and baby. He shouldn’t have lied to me.
“Hmmmmmm,” I smiled at him and stood up from my chair “The king needs to die!” I declared.
“How do we kill the king? He is always protected by his guards.” Candice was right. The King had guards to protect him but all it takes was a stake in the heart and the might King would fall.
“Killing the king is not the problem. It’s how and when?” Xavier hit the table with his fingers. ” we need to find the right time to get rid of him. Once the king is dead, the kingdom is ours.” Xavier laughed.
I wished I could wipe his laughter away. He sounded so confident that he didn’t know that he was going to fall alongside the king. “What do you think Luciana?” My father asked.
I didn’t say anything and stared at my dear father. He wanted to rule so bad that he didn’t know that he was nearing his downfall. I wasn’t going to let him become king because I walked hard for it. “Father, I have something I am already working on,” I smiled at him. “The king is going to die on the blood moon. ” I announced and they all listened with rapt attention.
“Don’t you think you are making a mistake in letting the king live until the night of blood moon?” Xavier stood up and paced around. “We need to find another way.”
“I didn’t say we’ll kill him on the night of the blood moon. He’ll die in the morning once he orders Gabriella to be killed.” I informed him.
Xavier heaved a sigh and went back to his seat. “That’s better,” he commented.
“Yes. Father, have you gathered enough vampires from your side?”
“Yes. Most of the vampires at already on our side.”
I folded my arms and smiled wickedly. “That’s good news. What about you Lord Xavier?”
“Most of the vampires are already on my side. Once the king falls, they’ll tear the castle down.”
I looked at Candice and couldn’t help but imagined how useless she was. Once I become queen, I was going to make her my slave because she seemed like a royal dog. “Is there anything I can help with?” Candice questioned.
“Hmmmmm,” I shook my head in response. “You’ll be by my side,” I told her and she squealed.
Good riddance to bad rubbish. She is so naive and foolish. She would make a good slave. “What about us?” Rhoda pointed to herself and Gideon, the king’s most trusted guard.
“Gideon,” I called the guard’s name and he bowed. He showed signs of loyalty and I loved that. “You have a big role to play in killing the king because you will be killing him. Will you be my loyal servant?”
“Yes, my lady,” he kneeled with his head bowed to the ground.
“Very well then,” I sighed. “The blood moon is only days away. Father, convince the king to carry Gabriella’s execution on the blood moon and I’ll find a way to keep Slade busy. No one is to know about the execution except us and the king. Do you all understand?”
“Yes!” They all responded at once.
Good, My plans were going well and I felt on top of the world. In a few days was going to be Queen. I wished Slade could rule by my side but since he betrayed me, I’ll probably make him my lap dog. The thought of being Queen made me laugh out loud and everyone all turned their heads towards me. Soon, my father joined in the laugh and the rest joined. They had no idea why I laughed but it’s was fun seeing them laugh at their foolishness. It’s was fun to watch.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Slade Donovan POV
“How could you treat father like that in front of all the guests” Kyle attacked me in my room. The first thing he did when entered was land a punch on my face. “Now everyone thinks he is a weak king. ”
“He was punishing the wrong person!” I retorted.
Kyle blinked in confusion. “Why are you taking her side? If this is about her wolf then you need to come to your senses. She killed mother and she deserved to die!”
I pinned Kyle on the wall and raised my fist to punch him but instead, I punched the wall. “She didn’t kill mother! She was framed and I know you won’t believe me but it’s the truth. Gabriella was framed. She didn’t kill mother.”
“Why should I believe you when you might be telling lies.”
I grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled him closer to me. “Are you crazy? Mother died! How could you think like that? If it’s was Gabriella, I would have killed her myself but it wasn’t her. Gabriella didn’t kill mother.”
Kyle scoffed and pushed me on the chest. “If she didn’t then who did.”
“Luciana,” Teale spoke from the entrance.
Sometimes I wondered how he appeared in difficult situations but he knows when to appear. “You guys should stop acting like kids,” he came in between us and separated us. “Slade is telling the truth. Gabriella had been framed. ”
“Oh goodness,” Kyle exclaimed and placed a hand on his head. “That’s bitch killed mother? Why?” He shouted.
“To frame Gabriella,” Teale answered.
“I am going to kill that bitch!” He yelled and rushed out of my room but he was dragged back by Teale. “What are you doing? That’s bitch is having fun while mother is dead! I need to kill her.”
“That’s not going to solve the problem,” I sat on my bed.
Kyle looked at him like I’ve grown three heads. “How do you mean?”
I scratched the back of my neck and heaved a sigh. ” look, Teale and I had found out days ago.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Kyle shouted.
Teale covered his ears and pushed kyle towards the bed. He sat him on the bed beside him and told him everything about the revolt Luciana and Zepeda were planning.
“This isn’t good.” Kyle stood up and paced around. “It means all the guest fathers invited into the castle are probably on their side now.”
“They are all here to celebrate the blood moon. Once the blood moon is over, we will send them all away. ” I assured him and he replied with a silent nod. “We just have to find a way to stop father from killing Gabriella. After what I did today, he’ll look for a way to kill her.”
” What about telling father all you’ve told me.”
Teale facepalmed at Kyle’s foolishness while I frowned at him. “Don’t be stupid Kyle. Father won’t listen to anything we say. We just have to find a way to save Gabriella and the castle.”
“You are right,” Kyle agreed. “Now what do we do?”
That’s the thing, I had no idea.