I stared at them in disbelief.
“You want me as a member of your court?” I managed to spit out.
“Oh yes honey, of course,” I could tell she was trying to be nice to me now, like a Grandmother or something, but she needed to work on being nice, because she was really bad at it. I saw Rajaka raise his eye brows quizzically at her before, turning to me and making subtle signs, suggesting that she is crazy. “You just beat my best gifted vampire,” she said nodding toward Oliver who, still screaming, was being dragged out of the room. “You are the protection I need against enemies. You are the answer to all my problems; I must have you sitting up here with me.” She patted the empty seat to her left in the child-like gesture that meant ‘sit here’.
“And you don’t care that I’m never going to let you have my sister,” I questioned.
She nodded, taking the blow.
“That was a set back before, but who needs your sister when we have you!”
I was still looking at her, not believing. She seemed to notice my hesitation.
“I promise, on my life, that as long as you work for me and do what I say, I will make it so that no one will even attempt to go after your sister.” At the promise that my sister will not be harmed, I didn’t care if I had to shovel muck out of sewers for eternity. “Will you accept my offer, Keeva?” I stared up into her eyes and didn’t shy away from their power. She was the first to look elsewhere and I smiled in my accomplishment.
“I accept.”
The weariness I felt from taking over Oliver’s mind finally hit me, and I stumbled back. I was able to catch myself but Rajaka jumped up out of his seat and grabbed me by the arm, steadying me. I looked at his face and I once again noticed how much he looked like Hiram.
“I will take her to her room…she must be exhausted from her performance,” he told the others in the area. He led me through another series of cold, dark, and evil looking walls; they made me feel slightly claustrophobic. He walked side-by-side with me, and was suddenly concentrating on something. A feeling of absolute ease filled my whole body and I wasn’t sure why. I stopped walking, surprised at my sudden mood swing. He put his hand on the small of my back to keep me moving. I was much too relaxed to protest his sudden advance on me. It reminded me of how Hiram had placed his hand there once too. I sighed, thinking of Hiram. Rajaka noticed my sigh, but took it the wrong way, thinking it was for him. He smiled and pushed open a door.
It was beautiful. There was a king-sized bed covered in the finest pink silk and fluffy pillows covering almost every inch it. There were two cherry wood chairs in the front surrounding a small, white table that had a bottle of fine wine on it and two crystal glasses. Above the bed was a painting of a field of flowers, apparently made by a master himself. The window in the corner was a sheet of very thin glass, allowing lots of light to enter. The curtains that covered it were finer than anything I have ever owned. There was a couch directly under the window, giving you the choice of sitting and watching the sun rise or set. Off to the left was another door that was slightly cracked open, and inside I saw a tub filled with hot, bubbly water. I sighed for a second time. Rajaka looked at me curiously.
“A bath,” I explained. He laughed and I found that I liked the sound.
“I’ll leave you to it then. The maid should be here when you’re through, and if you should need anything, just pull that rope.” I looked around and found a tassel hanging from the ceiling next to the bed. He lowered his voice and motioned toward a door that had escaped my notice before, because it was behind a cleverly placed curtain.
“Keeva, if you should ever need company that is my room through that door.” I nodded, grateful to him for being so kind to me, and started off towards the door that I had seen the tub in. He turned around without another word and left the room.
As I lowered myself into the bath water, all the feelings of ease left my body. All of the emotions that had been encased before came spilling out.
I was nervous at having to prove myself worthy of a position of high power. I was mad that Rajaka had made such an advance on me and I hadn’t noticed it before. I was relieved that my sister would no longer be in harm’s way. And I was concerned for Hiram, for I had no idea what he was doing or how he was.
The sudden burst of emotion scared me, and I wondered why they were all surfacing now. The warm water calmed me and I washed myself thoroughly. I got out finding nightclothes laid out for me on the massive bed. I pulled them over my head and looked around for my maid. She appeared out of seemingly nowhere. She wore a long black dress that covered every part of her body and was very unflattering. Over the dress she wore a lacy, white apron. Her hair was dirty blonde and pinned back in a tight bun.
“Hello,” she seamed to sing, “I am Maida. I am here to serve you at all times.”
“Thank you,” I nodded, “I will be going to sleep now.”
“I will notify the mistress,” she informed me. She seemed to float away from me, and I wondered if she was half fairy or something.
I approached the bed, not sure if I should mess it up. It looked like someone had spent a long time making it ready for me, and I didn’t want to dishonor it. Making the decision that I was too tired to resist its lovely comfort, I gently pulled back the covers and slid in.


Gentle humming pulled me from my dreaming world to the real one. Maida was going though the huge wardrobe and pulling out something for me to wear. I yawned and stretched. She turned quickly.
“I’m so sorry,” she hurriedly apologized, “I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“Don’t worry about it,” I assured her, “it was a lovely way to wake up.”
My head still slightly hurt, but I found the pain was bearable. I saw light coming through my thin window, and I glimpsed the sun rising. I hurriedly put the clothes on, brushed my hair, and glanced in the mirror.
My face was gleaming from the soothing bath I had last night. My lips were redder than ever and were so full they could have appeared to be swollen. Piercing green eyes were reflected back at me, as I looked at my blood red hair. It has become wavy in the night since I slept with semi-wet hair. It fell just above my waist and was without a tangle. The dress picked out for me had a tightly fitted dark blue material that perfectly complimented my hair and lips. It had long sleeves to cover my scars, and ended just above my knees. I wore white stockings to make sure the markings and brandings on my legs didn’t show. Scanning my body with the usual critical eye that females have over their own body, I couldn’t find a single reason to complain. This was one of the few good outcomes to becoming a vampire.
I heard a knock on the door, and I opened it without hesitation.
It was Rajaka. He was looking quite lovely in casual shorts and a tight t-shirt. He playfully gawked at me in my lovely attire. I, being immediately pulled into his happy spirit, did a twirl to show off all sides of myself. He caught me mid-turn, and pulled me close into him. There were no thoughts about how wrong this was since I had just met him, or how I couldn’t do this because I was in love with another. He just pulled me close and gave me a hug. I rested my head on his on his shoulders, and I breathed in deeply. The smell reminded me of Hiram and I was pulled back into my right mind.
I pushed him off me with all my strength. He was tossed backwards, but he quickly righted himself, looking confused. I mouthed Hiram’s name to remind myself who I was really in love with.
“I’m sorry,” I amended, “I really can’t be doing that though.” His expression took on another form…determination was what it was, I realized after a while. Then he laughed.
“Ok then…no hugs,” he said holding his arms up in defeat, “but I am supposed to escort you the throne room,” he said holding his hand for me to take.
I realized how silly I was being. I can’t even hug a cute guy anymore. And it’s all because of a guy that I wasn’t even sure loved me anymore. I took Rajaka’s waiting hand, and we walked off together.