Chapter 1 - The Prophecy
Chapter 1 - The Prophecy
Selene POV
It was the eve of Derek Cinder’s rise to the position of Alpha. I had been informed by Andre that his people had reported no issues and that the transition was peaceful in the pack. A phone call followed later from my brother Max, stating he had witnessed the transition of power and that all was well. I heaved a sigh of relief and pushed myself back from my desk. I had been pouring over financials for hours, trying to remember exactly which accounts I was required to check today. I checked them all to make sure I hadn’t missed anything.
I looked at the clock. It was well after dinner time. One of the Omega’s had dutifully brought me a plate after I said I wouldn’t make it to dinner. I had scarfed down my plate of food and continued to pour over my work. Andre had stopped by, given me an update, and kissed my head before rushing off to handle an issue he was supposed to take care of. This being queen business was no joke. I rubbed my eyes, feeling fully ready to leave this day behind.
“I’m surprised you are still here working, my queen,” a husky voice spoke from the shadows. My head snapped to the corner where he spoke from.
“How the hell did you get in here?” I asked.
“Oh, I have my ways. First of all, I’m fast. It would be so easy to kill your guards, you know.” He stepped from the shadows to reveal himself to me. There he stood, his bright eyes and slicked back hair making him look like a young James Dean. He wore expensive black slacks that hugged his body and a white button-up shirt, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows.
“Lazarus,” I spat. “What are you doing here?”
“Well, my queen, I have come to inquire if you would care to take me up on my offer?” he raised an eyebrow as he strode forward, stopping when he reached the wing-back chair that was in front of my desk.
“I told you already, I am mated and would never consider your offer. I suggest you leave Lazarus, before I kill you,” I wanted to be sure he knew exactly where I stood on the matter. I felt a tickle in my brain and pushed it away.
Lazarus looked surprised. “Oh, I see you have a strong mind.” He stood staring at me a moment longer before he spoke again. “I could kill you. You know that, I’m sure.”
“But you won’t,” I told him assuredly. “I’m too valuable and you know it.”
“Indeed,” he tilted his head, his eyes assessing me. I watched as his nostrils flared. “Oh, I see.”
I didn’t reply, just stood waiting for the opportunity when I might need to attack. He sniffed the air some more and then smiled. “With pup, are you? This changes things, I suppose. Although I had hoped that you and I could sire a child. They would be the most powerful being to ever exist. But you aren’t after power, are you?” he asked.
“No, I’m not.”
“You didn’t even want to be queen. I can see that. I can feel that. It’s strange how I’m so drawn to you, a warm-blooded creature as you are.” He tapped his hand on the back of the chair. “I want you Selene, like I’ve never wanted anything. I want us to rule the world together. We could you know.”
I squinted my eyes at him, my anger growing by the second. I was sure Andre could feel how angry I was and would be tearing around the corner any moment. I couldn’t let this vampire near my husband. I was sure he would try to kill him. “You need to leave,” I said. “I WILL kill you Lazarus, make no mistake.”
The vampire king looked at me and gave me a smile. “Is that what your prophecy tells you my dear?”
“I don’t know what you are talking about.”
“Don’t you though? I’m very old Selene. I have been around for a very long time. I have read the books that your previous king locked away from prying eyes. I know all about who and what you are. I know about the supposed war to come. You know what else I know?”
I stared at him, not wanting to be drawn into his games.
“I know where Alpha Damien is. Would you like to know as well?”
“I would like to know why you bit Luna Amara and filled her head with nonsense,” I spat at him. “As far as Alpha Damien goes, he can rot in hell for all I care.”
“Why on earth would I bite that woman?” he asked this with a very sincere snarl. “I have zero use for her.”
“What? Of course you bit her, she was found in the cabin in the woods, acting out of her mind. She had been bitten.”
“Interesting,” he looked like he was deep in thought for a brief moment and then waved his hand in the air. “It’s of no consequence. It was not me, but I am fairly certain I know who it was. Do you want your Alpha back or not?” he asked quickly.
“I do not.” I informed him of this with complete conviction.
“Well then, that’s settled at least. In the meantime, I will leave you be. While you are breeding with that dog, I will wait for your pup to be born and then we will have our moment Selene. I do not believe in harming the innocent, but I will have no hesitation about getting what I want from you. Very soon. You will see.”
He was gone, in the blink of an eye. My hand rested on my abdomen, as my heart fluttered with sudden fury and fear all at once. I could hardly stand, setting myself into my seat, I laid my head on my forearm a top the desk.
“My love, what has happened?” Andre’s voice carried to me from the doorway as he walked in. “I came as quickly as I could, but was on the other side of the training grounds. Is everything alright?”
“He was here Andre,” I raised my head. “Lazarus. He knows about the baby and he most definitely has Alpha Damien. I’m not sure what we do now. I don’t know how he got in here. Our security has to be better.”
Andre rushed to my side and dropped to his knees in front of me. He took my hands in his and kissed them. “We will figure this out. What did he say?”
“He said he would leave me alone until the baby was born, because he doesn’t hurt the innocent. He will be back though, I’m sure of it. He wants us to rule the world together, that’s what he said.” I shivered and Andre pulled me into his arms.
“It won’t happen. We will hunt him down. My father says he knows someone who can help with this problem. The key is drawing Lazarus out and figure out what his plan is, so we can kill him.”
“Isn’t it hard to kill a vampire?” I asked.
“Yes, but there is a way, and we will make sure that we do exactly what is needed. You will fulfill the prophecy, and you will be the greatest queen to ever live.” Andre sounded so sure of it, and I wanted to believe him.
“How can you be so sure? What if he kills me? What if he kills you?”
“He won’t. The Moon Goddess has said as much. Now what did he say about Damien?”
“He asked if I wanted to know where he was. I told him that basically he could rot in hell.”
My cell phone vibrated on my desk. I reached over and picked it up. It was Jaydon. I quickly answered.
“Is he dead?” Jaydon’s voice was rapid and hushed. “Do you know if Alpha Damien is dead?”
“I...I don’t. Why?”
“Luna Amara said he is, she feels that their bond has shattered. She’s literally on the floor in the infirmary screaming that he is dead.”
“Oh.”
“Selene? Do you know something?” Jaydon asked.
“Well,” I sighed. “Perhaps Lazarus killed him.”
“The vampire king?”
“Yes, one and the same. He was here and asked if I wanted to know where Alpha Damien was. I said no, he can rot in hell. He apparently decided that was exactly where he should be as well.”
“Oh, my goddess,” Andre said. He could clearly hear the other half of the conversation since he was so close. Just then there was a knock on my door. I hadn’t even realized that Andre had closed the door, that’s how distracted I had been.
Andre called for them to enter and two guards walked in, looking extremely pale. “Your Majesty’s, there’s a situation in the courtyard you should see.”
“What is it?” Andre asked.
I still had Jaydon on the line and asked him to wait a moment. I turned to look at the guards, giving them a nod to continue. “There is a dead man,” one of them began. “He’s hanging upside down from the light pole in the circle drive.”
“It’s not just a dead man, the other said. I believe it’s that Alpha from the states that you were all looking for, it sure looks like him.” He swallowed hard, “there is more though.”
“What is it?” I snapped, getting impatient with these two. They are part of the Royal Guard; they should not be faint of heart.
“He’s drained of all his blood; his neck is slit from one side to the other and his blood was drained into a bucket beneath him.”
“Oh my god,” I sat down again, feeling lightheaded. “Lazarus did this.” I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
“We will be right there,” Andre told the men. “Make sure no one leaves the area and have the camera room locked down tight in case we need to look at footage.”
“Your majesty,” they bowed quickly and ran back down the hallway, leaving us alone.
“This could be my fault,” I told Andre. “I told him I didn’t care. Truthfully, I don’t but what about Amara? What if her wolf gives up?”
“Seriously, from what I’ve heard, her wolf will be elated to be free of him,” Andre said. “Is your brother still on the phone?” he asked, noticing that I still had my cell clutched in my hand.
“Oh,” I put it back to my ear. “Jaydon?”
“I heard everything,” Jaydon said in my ear. “Don’t worry about Amara, we will handle her. She will be fine. Honestly, he’s one last loose end we don’t need to worry about. You take care of yourself and get that security up to speed there.”
“Of course, Jaydon,” I murmured. We said our goodbyes and hung up.
“This is it Andre, just as the prophecy stated. A man will be sacrificed in the name of the Nosferatu. It reads that two hundred days later, the great war would begin,” I stared at Andre, waiting for him to acknowledge.
“I know Selene, I read it as well.”
“This means we must prepare for war,” I told him.
“So, it would seem my queen,” he kissed my cheek and stood. “We have to attend to the body, and then tomorrow we begin our preparations for war. We make sure that there is a safe place for you and the baby, and we train our troops for battle. After the birth of our son, you will bring down the Nosferatu and the war will be over.”
I stared at Andre, as I tried to recall exactly what was in the script. My mate had an excellent memory, one which had only improved with our mating and my power transferring into him.
“You are right. We prepare for war, and we win.” I stood from my chair and took my mate's hand. We walked from my office and began the first step prophesied for the beginning, so that ultimately the day would come for me to end Lazarus. If the books were right, Lazarus would soon see his final true death.
