UNEDITED

Erin POV:

I study the group of men still sitting on the damp ground. Eyes watched me, some narrowed and wary.

* "Pathetic." My vamp was still very much in control. She saw the group of vampires as pitiful creatures that should count themselves lucky we saved their lives. They didn't even make a move to escape. After everything I had done. Bodies of the vampire hunters lay mutilated, scattered around the clearing.

I bow at the waist, waving my hand with a flourish.

"You're very welcome."

Nothing. Tough crowd.

I glance at each face, taking in their features one by one. One of them moves. Ever so slightly but I see it. He blocked someone out of my view. I then notice the way they sit huddled in the group. All facing outwards, protecting something. Or someone.

Interesting.

I cock my head to the side.

"Why aren't you moving?"

One of the men leans forward to show his tied hands behind his back.

"The chains...they laced them with something. It burns and leaves us drained."

My eyebrows hit my hairline. I'm next to him in a second. He jolts back at my quick movement, yet he remains sluggish. Lifting his pant leg, I inspect his ankles where there were more chains. His skin was raw and irritated.

It reminds me of what the mad man gave me. He had said he had laced his claws with something that immobilised me. Could it be something similar?

Curiosity gets the best of me and I reach to touch it.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you."

I turn to pierce him with a glare. He gulps. I knew my eyes were flashing red.

"Don't tell me what to do." I bite out each word.

I put my hands on the chains. Nothing happens. Huh. Could he be lying?

He looks as surprised as me.

"How-" The sound of chains shattering cuts him off. He was boring me anyway. Standing up I contemplate what to do.

I had no doubt that Lukas had sent some of his coven cronies to come searching for me and would be here soon if I didn't keep moving.

Eh. I released one. It's enough.

I begin walking away to the treeline when a voice cuts through the clearing.

"Who are you?"

I turn intrigued at the soft timbre of the voice that had spoken. It was strong and quite powerful. My beasts didn't like it.

I fail to pinpoint who had spoken, none of the men I could see showing any interest in what was happening.

"Who are you?" I call back. This time I had my eyes on the group trying to see who I was speaking to.

"I asked you first."

Rolling my eyes, I turn back around. Time to go. I'm dealing with a child.

"Would you not at least help us?"

"Have I not done enough?"

"Oh you mean, when you slaughtered those men?"

His words bring me to a halt right at the edge of the clearing. Why did his words affect me?

Because you're human.

But I'm not. I'm a monster. I knew it. They knew it.

"At least unchain us?"

"One is enough."

He doesn't reply.

There was movement and soft murmuring behind me. Stupid curiosity. I turn to see what was happening.

Some men remained in the same spot but a few had been released and were leaning over a form slumped on the cold ground. Tilting my head, I watch them curiously. They whisper amongst themselves, hands gesturing and waving around frantically. From what I could gather, the man who I believe I was talking to had fallen unconscious and the others were, for a better word, freaking out.

"Oh hush, all of you. What is going on? What happened to him?" They turn at my voice obviously forgetting I was even there.

"We don't need your help." One of the men sneers.

My hand is around his neck in an instant.

"I wouldn't be so sure."

"How could you help?" He barely manages to get the words out, his hands lightly grasping my arm in a failed attempt to stop me.

I pretend to think for a second. With a smirk, I slowly pull him closer until my mouth is near his neck. I softly whisper in his ear.

"I could give him a swift death."

Their reactions were pitiful. They couldn't even react properly as the poison was still affecting them. I toss the man away to the side, hearing him grunt as he hits the ground a few metres away.

I pout playfully at the circle they tried to form around their unconscious friend. They were unsteady on their feet but made a protective barrier between me and their friend.

Why was he so important?

"You shall not harm him."

"Says who?" I was only taunting them. I wasn't going to hurt them. At least I didn't think so. My beasts had other ideas.

"Do you think you can stop me?" I allow my beasts to come forward, allowing my eyes to turn and my teeth to lengthen into fangs. I had never tried this before, but it seemed to be working by the men's reactions.

"Your- your eyes!"

My guess was that my beast's eyes had mixed as they both took control. The red of my vampires and the gold of my wolfs.

"No one can stop me." My voice sounded strange. The slight hiss from my vamp and the guttural timbre of my wolf.

I sounded powerful.

"So move." He does so hesitantly. The men glanced to each other, not knowing why they were feeling this power radiating from me, compelling them to do what I say.

"Who is he?"

They don't answer straight away which irks my beasts. They weren't taking us seriously.

"Don't make me ask again."

One of the men who had been kneeling beside the unconscious mans body, stood up facing me. He tried to look tough and that's when I realised how young he was. Even for a vampire.

"This is the vampire king, King Albert."

Ah, so that's who they were protecting.

I stared momentarily shocked at the news. I have never dealt with royalty before. Obviously. This was all new to me. It also didn't slip my mind that they had just witnessed me slaughter a bunch of people, even if they were hunters. They wouldn't punish me for that, right? I don't who I was asking, my beasts had taken a step back to assess the situation.

What do I do?

"Huh."

My vamp internally rolls her eyes and I feel both beasts laughing at me. They were finding it very amusing to watch me flounder with my mouth open wide, not knowing what to say.

The men use my shocked state to continue tending to their King.

I guess he's my King now? This was taking some getting used to. I'm still new to this.

I watch them fluttering around like little mother hens tending to an injured chick. They were really worried for him.

* "Help."

It was my vampire. She wanted me to help. I wait for her to start laughing. For her to tell me it was a joke. She wasn't finding my goading funny. She hisses pushing forward, taking back control.

"Why isn't he awake yet?"

The men look at me, noting my red eyes.

"Why? So you can kill him?" The same man from before sneers again.

I'm really starting to dislike this man. So were my beasts.

My vamp bares our pearly whites.

"Not yet."

He grunts in response turning to tend to some of the other guards. I ask for control back which she willingly hands over. She felt like she had put him in his place. Rolling my eyes inwardly at her, I take the time to get a proper look at the Vampire King. His grey, almost silver hair lay slicked back from his face. A silver beard to match covered the rest of his face. My new enhanced eyesight allowed me to make out wrinkles around his mouth and eyes telling me he was a man who laughed a lot. He was handsome, for an older man. I couldn't even fathom at guessing his age.

"He needs a doctor. Where is the nearest coven?" The young vampire directs the question at me, much to my surprise.

I almost groan aloud. Nope. They can find their own way.

* "Tell them." My vamp interrupts my ramblings.

Was she insane?

"Do it." This time it was my wolf.

Okay, they were both insane.

I refuse to help them if it means sending them to a coven who just betrayed me.

* "Lukas betrayed us. Not the coven."

Why? Just...why?

* "There's something about him."

* "I feel it too. We need to help him. Trust us."

Ughh. I can't deny I hadn't been feeling a strange protectiveness over the man. I hope I don't regret this.

"There is a coven a few hours from here." My voice cuts off all conversation in the clearing.

"Can you show us?"

Immediately my hackles raise and my vampire wants control. I push her back. I could deal with this.

"No. I will point you in the direction, that's it. You should be able to receive help when you get there."

I could feel their hesitation and mistrust. Heaving a sigh, I throw out some directions before walking towards the treeline again. Time to get moving. I had to put distance between me and Lukas' coven.

Glancing over my shoulder, I watch as the group of vampires help each other off the ground, some carrying their beloved King. Unsteady on their feet, they begin their journey to Lukas' coven.

Hopefully they will be able to distract Lukas while I get further away. Ignoring the thought of wanting to meet the vampires again, I finally break through the trees leaving the clearing and hopefully Lukas, behind me.

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I don't know...I don't know how I feel about this...

Let me know what you think I might change it depending on the feedback I get:)

Thanks for reading

Sinead xx