Morgana entered the Seasonal Throne Room from a side door as the Announcer continued his work, announcing the second round of Lords and Ladies of the Court and any representatives sent to the castle. Her eyes roamed over the room.

  High Queen Kalliope sat with a calm, but welcome expression as each lord and lady approached the raised platform and bowed, stating their condolences for her lost. She nodded her thanks each time.

  The Former Prince Arthur sat in the high back chair of the crowned prince, watching the procession of the court. He didn’t say a word. His expression was hard to read as he listened to the court expression their condolences.

  Lord Jack, the Head of the former King’s Guards, stood a few feet behind Kalliope. He watched the Court with a critical eye. Despite the fact he had asked to relieved of his position as the Head of the King’s guard, he was still a guard and Morgana knew he would do his duty until otherwise told he was relieved and his position had been filled by another.

  Morgana spotted Merlin standing on the left side of the room, watching with a questioning eye at the members of the court. He wore a dark blue tunic that was open to mid chest and black pants today. She blinked. He looked dashing for once in a long time. She didn’t remember the last time he had looked as dashing as he did then. She tore her eyes away from him before her heart could give her away.

  Arthur shifted into a standing position. The room fell silent. He waved his hand for the Announcer to continue with his job. The prince walked to the side of the room and stopped next to Merlin. Morgana noticed he was staring at her and gestured for her to come over. She nodded and she walked along the wall, heading to the two men.

  “Afternoon, my prince,” Morgana greeted Arthur with a small bow before she turned to her former master, “Merlin.” Her breath caught in her throat as she heard her voice. The tone was a borderline purr. She fought from the blood raising in her cheeks. The look Merlin gave her informed her that he had heard the purr.

  “Lady Morgana,” Arthur said with a bow of his head, “Have you been to see how the progression of the preservation of my father’s body is coming along?”

  “Not yet,” Morgana said, “But I will be soon.”

  Arthur nodded, saying, “Are you familiar with the progress?”

  “Yes and No,” the Black Mage responded. Arthur let out a soft groan and closed his eyes in annoyance which Merlin to laugh under his breath. Morgana smirked as she went on, “I know of the process, but I haven’t been able to witness it for myself.”

  “When are you going down to the Undertaker Room?” the former crowned prince asked, curiosity lacing his voice.

  “Soon,” she replied, “Would you like to accompany me?”

  Arthur frowned, a thoughtful expression coloring his face. Merlin straightened, from his relaxed position against the stone wall. Morgana felt the tiny hairs at the nape of her neck raise as a response as Merlin’s magic flared. She turned to the Battle Mage. His shoulders were back. His eyes hardened, staring over Morgana’s shoulder. His usually carefree expression transformed into stone, unreadable to Morgana.

  She opened her mouth to ask what was wrong when she felt the spark of static electricity drifting through the air. Her back snapped straight. Her heart sped up. What little magic she had rose in her veins as a response. She closed her eyes and took a deep, calming breath. She let it out and opened her eyes. She slowly turned to face the doorway as the Announcer called out, “Lord Salazar of House Dracula of the Crescent Island.”

  Lord Salazar of House Dracula strolled into the room as Morgana watched him closely. His midnight black hair was slick back over his head, not hair out of place. His golden flecked crimson eyes roamed around the Seasonal Throne Room, pausing on the Magi long enough to realize they were there. He sent them a smile, revealing long canines. His eyes drifted over the room, again.

  Several of the court ladies gasped in shock and something else. It had been years since Morgana had last lay on eyes on the current Lord of the Dracula House. He had grown up over the years. His face was pale as freshly fallen snow, revealing no kiss of the sun. His high cheek bones revealed that he was a member of a long gone and forgotten royal family. His family crest stood out in the shade of blood against the black of Salazar’s clothing.

  The members of the court standing on the edge of the long, wide red carpet tried to scout back, away from the Crescent Lord. They all knew what he was. They didn’t understand how he was able to walking in the sunlight nor how he could be so bold to walk into the Castle of Camelot when there were laws in place for the non-humans to be captured and executed. Lord Salazar was being bold for a day-walker Vampire.

  He approached the raised platform. He went down on one knee, his head bowed as he spoke loudly, “High Queen Kalliope of Camelot, I am truly sorry for your lost. I didn’t interact with King Uther, your late husband, very often, but when I did, he was a man of great strength and excellent of character.” His words were heavily laced with the strange accent of the Crescent Islanders. It was hard to make out what he said, but Kalliope managed to understand what he said.

  “Thank you, Lord Salazar for your condolences,” Kalliope replied, “And Welcome to Camelot. It has been a long time since we have host one of your…” she paused, searching for the word, “People.” She finally said.

  Morgana frowned. The High Queen was being kinder then Morgana would have. Fae and Vampires had been known not to get along. Whenever a Vampire managed to feast on a Fae, it created an Unsealie. There had been a few Unsealie, roaming the world. Merlin had been dispatched once to destroy a group of them, nearly a hundred or so years ago when they started to take babies from their cribs during the night. That was a bad day for Merlin. From some of the conversations that drifted to what happened that day, Merlin still mentally recovering from that experience because he couldn’t save some of the babies and were forced to take care of them.

  “Yes, it has,” Salazar agreed, “Camelot has only grown in beauty since I last saw her and her High Queen shares that beauty.”

  Morgana watched with amusement as Kalliope blinked while her cheek reddened from the compliment. The Black Mage hoped Kalliope was smart enough to know when she was being seduced or not.

  “Thank you, Lord Salazar,” Kalliope said. Her tone held an appreciative note.

  “You’re welcome,” Salazar bowed his head and turned on his heel, heading toward the Magi and the former prince. The announcer went on, performing his job. The Dracula Lord stepped beside Morgana, placing his back against the wall. “It has been a long time, Lady Morgana.” He greeted her, “You are still beautiful as I remember.”

  “I’m sure,” Morgana replied, unimpressed. She had seen his ability to seduce women - no matter what race they belong to. “What are you doing here?”

  “Like I said to the young Queen,” the vampire didn’t blink as he went on, meeting Morgana’s eyes, “I am here for the Funeral Ceremony. Her King Uther was a great man. I meet him once during a chance encounter on the Sea, near the shoreline of the Crescent Island. He gave my people a chance when no one else would in this world or the outside world.”

  At that Morgana and Merlin both blinked. He had been to the Outside World? Thousand of questions popped into Morgana’s mind as she wondered what had changed in the Outside World. What did Salazar mean when Uther gave them a chance? The former King was against the vampires from the start as well as any other of the non-human population.

  “Outside World,” Arthur questioned with uncertainty. The three long-lived beings glanced at the former prince. Morgana had forgotten he was there, watching their exchange.

  “Long story,” Merlin answered, “It is a top secret thing that very, very few people know or aware of.”

  “So, not even the Ruling Family knows of this secret?” Arthur narrowed his eyes.

  “The Royal Families in the other Kingdoms are not aware of this secret,” Merlin explained, “including the Current Ruling Family of Camelot.” He glanced around the room, searching for any members of the court trying to listen in before he lend closer to Arthur, “Think of it this way - This secret is a need-to-know secret because how dangerous it will be if it got out. And right now, you don’t need to know.”

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  Arthur outright glared at Merlin. Morgana rolled her eyes before she turned her attention back to the vampire lord. Merlin spoke, “If you unleashed your power here in Camelot, we will destroy you.”

  The Black Mage stared at Salazar as Merlin went on, “If you try anything with the High Queen, we will destroy you.”

  Salazar bowed his head in acknowledgment of what Merlin was saying then he smirked as he commented in a saucy tone, “Step one toe out of line, I will be destroyed.”

  Merlin narrowed his eyes as Morgana fought a chuckle that rose in her chest. The Battle Mage simply said, “Yes, you will.”

  “I have a few members of my guard here, hidden,” Salazar stated, “If you lay a hand unprovoked on me or the others I have claimed as mine and found through trial to be guilty, you will be held responsible for Camelot becoming a blood bath, her streets run red with the blood of her people.”

  The Announcer standing at the door, announced another Lord and Lady or a House Representative before they strolled down the red carpet toward the High Queen.

  Morgana felt something leaden landed in her stomach as she saw the steely look in his golden flecked red eyes. Merlin stiffened beside her. Arthur took a step back, fully understanding the threat, paling.

  Morgana knew the Vampire meant what he said. She had heard he had done it before to another Kingdom who had hurt a member of Salazar’s personal guard. They held a trail and through enough evidence, Salazar was found to be justified to get revenge.

  That particular Kingdom, if she remember correctly, had a member of the Royal family visiting Camelot and the Princess of Rosefield become the only living member of that family left, the rest of them were utterly destroyed by the vampires under the Lord Salazar as well as the majority of the Kingdom. The lucky few who managed to survive the destruction only managed to do so because they were out of the Kingdom for various reasons. When they returned, they had to rebuild brick by brick. Eventually, that Princess became one of the voices outspoken against the Non-humans.

  The last time Morgana had heard anything from the Princess, she had became a fierce ruler, often killing the non-humans for the sightliest reason, and hired vampire hunters to hunt down the ones who killed her family. She never returned back to Camelot since she was a child. Morgana knew there were plans in place for a marriage contract between her and Arthur, if he was found worthy to be King. Those plans fell through when the Kingdom was destroyed.

  “We have an accord,” Merlin said, gravely. His eyes were cold as ice as he stared down the Vampire Lord.

  “That we do,” Salazar agreed. He allowed a small pleased grin to pull at his lips.

  “Lord Salazar,” Morgana spoke up, catching his attention, “We have several criminals down in the lowest part of the dungeons who are awaiting their execution.” She left out the part, suggesting if and when he needed to feed. Arthur, on the other hand, snapped his head to glare at the Black Mage in outrage. Lord Salazar nodded in understanding before he turned on his heel and started to mingle with the members of the Camelot Court.

  Merlin and Morgana’s gazes met. Things could turn bad since The Lord of Crescent Island was now staying in the Castle Walls - really bad if Belladonna managed to upset the Vampire Lord in anyway. She would evoke the laws of Camelot to kill Lord Salazar and his guard, but it wouldn’t matter. Camelot didn’t have any people strong enough to kill the vampires.

  Morgana knew Belladonna would be forced to ask herself and Merlin to do the job, but thanks to the small truce Merlin just created with Lord Salazar, they would have a right to deny the request from the former High Queen, despite the hissy fit she would throw afterwards. However, if Belladonna would to challenge Salazar to a fight, she would lose. A human could never face a vampire and live to tell the tale.

  Genesis entered the Knights’ tower. His eyes roamed over the room. Sir Bors stood with his back to him as his attention was focus to something outside the window. Genesis raised an eyebrow, waiting to be acknowledge somehow, but Bors never turned to him. The General shrugged and hurried over to the staircase, hurrying up them, heading to the floor where he knew Tristan’s quarters were at.

  Once he reached Tristan’s floor, he marched along it until he reached the door painted in Tristan’s house colors and brought up his fist before he pounded on the door. He waited. Tristan appeared a few moments later, cracking up the door with a questioning look.

  Genesis pushed his way into the room, simply saying, “Where is she?”

  “Where is who, General?” Tristan replied with a question. He turned to face the General and crossed his arms over his chest. His eyes narrowed in a glare.

  “Valentina,” Genesis growled, “My sister.” He took a step toward the Knight.

  “I never meet her,” Tristan said in an even tone. Genesis’ gut screamed that the Violent Knight was lying.

  “Bullshit,” Genesis spatted. “Where is she, Tristan?”

  “I said I have never meet her,” Tristan argued, “Now, get out of my quarters, General.”

  The door burst opened. General Bartholomew and Honor stormed in. Reno was a step behind them as well as Lancelot, Gawain, and Bors. Genesis saw Reno’s eyes roamed over the room, taking the smallest details as Bartholomew and Honor approached the red head general. He knew he could count on Reno. Maybe he will be able to spot something Genesis missed.

  “Gentlemen, please, get General Genesis out of my quarters,” Tristan said coolly. Gawain and Lancelot fell into a triangle formation, standing behind the Violent Knight. Lancelot had a hand on the top of his sword as Gawain placed a hand on his hip, inches away from his hatchet.

  Honor grabbed Genesis’ upper right arm with a surprising strong grip. Genesis winced from the strength that Honor used. The other man rarely used his strength on his friends. He prefer to save it for the enemy. Honor moved closer to the Explosive General and whispered, “Let’s get out of here before this gets out of hand.”

  Genesis slowly turned his head and rested his glared on one of his best friends, explained, “He knows my sister’s whereabouts.”

  “Natalie?” Honor questioned with a raised eyebrow.

  “No,” Genesis replied, “Valentina.”

  Honor blinked before he stated, “I thought she died, years ago, during the end of the Kingless Kingdom.”

  Genesis shook his head, “Valentina and Natalie’s twin went with my mother somewhere and never came back. We heard from mom sometimes, but not often enough.”

  “Come on,” Bartholomew said, grabbing Genesis’ other arm. Bartholomew and Honor drug Genesis out of the room. Reno followed them. Genesis let out a deep throated growl. He knew Tristan knew where Valentina was at or at least had an idea, but he wasn’t sharing for some damn reason. The other two Generals forced Genesis out of the Knights’ tower. Reno was on their heels.

  Genesis jerked his arms out of his friends’ gasps and stormed away from them. He couldn’t believe that the Knight would go as far as lie to another member of the fighting force about a loved one being in Camelot. He didn’t think the rivalry between the Knights and the Members of the Military would go that deep.

  He heard footsteps behind him, but he ignored them. He wanted to be alone. He needed to think. His sister could be in Camelot. That chance blew his mind. He wasn’t lying when he told the others that his mother had traveled to far away place and didn’t come back, taking both Valentina and Natasha with her. A memory drifted up from his memory.

  The door slammed shut. Genesis looked up as his mother stormed by, dragging Valentina behind her. Valentina had tears running down her cheeks as she cried out, “Mom, I’m sorry. I didn’t know I couldn’t do that. Mom! Please, let go! You are hurting me!”

  Mom didn’t heed Valentina’s words as she continued to head to the master bedroom. Once she crossed the doorway, the door slammed shut. Genesis glanced at his brothers and his twin sisters. They looked just as puzzled as he felt. He climbed to his feet, saying to his siblings, “Stay here.”

  He crept forward until he reached the door. He pressed his ear up against the door and tried to listen to the conversation. He heard Valentina still crying, but he didn’t hear his parents voice. Valentina suddenly said, “He told me to try.” A paused, “He says he was Arthur.” Another pause and the soft voice of their mother asked something he couldn’t hear. “No. He didn’t say anything else.”

  After that, Genesis didn’t hear anything else. Once he heard the shuffling sounds of people walking over the rug, he hurried back over to his siblings and laid back down, acting like he was still playing with them. The door opened and Valentina walked out with her head bent down. Their parents walked out behind her.

  Genesis paused, thinking about the memory. He had forgotten about it. He remembered that his mother, Valentina, and Natasha left not long afterwards. One of the comments stood out - “He says he was Arthur.” He frowned. There had been a handful of Arthur over the years. There was only one that he knew and it was the Former Crowned Prince.

  He shook his head. There was no way the Crowned Prince - former or otherwise - would have interacted with Valentina. His younger siblings were stuck with their nursemaid most of the time while he was stuck in a tutoring session with Master of Knowledge, Professor Andrew, despite the fact Valentina always found a way to get away from their nursemaid and get into trouble. He sighed, walking on as he tried to figure out where Valentina would be.

  “Genesis,” Reno’s voice rang. The red head general paused and looked behind him as his second caught up. “She was there.”

  Genesis half turned to him, asking, “How do you know that?”

  “She had a jacket tied around her waist when I saw her and escort her to the Knight’s tower,” the second in command started, “It was laying on the couch.”

  The explosive general chewed on his lower lip as Reno went on, “She might have escaped through the balcony.” Genesis rose his eyes at the suggestion. “It was opened. I doubt she jumped, considering Tristan lives on the 17th floor, so, there could have been a possibility of your sister standing just several feet away.”

  Genesis turned on his heel, walked around the tower to the backside, and peered up at the 17th floor balcony belonging to Tristan. He blinked as he saw the balcony doors open, but he didn’t see anyone standing on the balcony. He hummed, thinking. He noticed a large window on the bottom floor. His mind flashed back to when he entered the Knights’ tower.

  Sir Bors stood with his back to him as his attention was focus to something outside the window. Genesis raised an eyebrow, waiting to be acknowledge somehow, but Bors never turned to him.

  He turned back to Reno and the other two generals before he commented, “She left the tower through the balcony doors and possible jumped from there.” He glanced at the other three. They looked shocked he even suggested something like that. “Sir Bors spotted something that stunned him, possible, so much he didn’t react when I entered the Tower. I think my sister had jumped from the 17th floor to the ground.”

  “Where did she go?” Honor asked, looking amazed.

  “I don’t know,” Genesis admitted, “But I need to look through the letters parents shared with each other. There might be a clue I could use to start searching for her.”

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