L I S A

We walked into the giant foyer that radiated an amount of energy that was hard to have a handle on or explicate. It was as if I was the Mercury getting attracted towards the sun without a gravitational force. There was energy but not a good kind. It was as if the demon himself was resting across the room and maybe he was and currently possessing someone else but his aura remained intact, untouched by the throng in the foyer.

Hundreds of illuminations, candle lights, twining lights, and lights hung on the marvelous chandeliers-not even the slightest corner was lost in the darkness. The people or things were swinging in the rhythm of a music I couldn't recall, the dance floor was all taken by many couples and the rest bachelors roam about back and forth suiting themselves with a drink. I could've sworn if it hadn't been for Mason's arm around me, I'd have fainted from the luxury I was witnessing.

When the imposter's eyes pierced into our direction he motioned for us to come forward. Walking through the crowd I realized that I was the only one wearing a red gown, every other female was either in black or golden or white but the colors suited them just fine. Not just me but the imposter was the only male in the room to wear a red robe with golden freckles used for the beautiful flower embroidery. His hair was shining and slicked back-something Edward never had. He was such a simple guy and this man; he was out of ordinary in every freaking way!

He was a royalty to cry out loud!

As we walked all eyes fell on me from whatever works they're engaged in. They looked at me as if my presence somehow had ignited some sort of life in them. Awe and amazement were clear in their gaze and I felt myself cowering a little under their gaze. Something about them was off-putting but not as much as the petite dresses of the waitresses. They had worn a sky blue short skirt and blouse with white shoes. Waiters had the same color shirts and pants and shoes veiling their bodies.

But really the vibes I'd been getting from the crowd was making me go nuts. Something was just different about this place and I couldn't get my hands on what it was.

When I reached the peak across the foyer he was standing on, Mason let go of my arm and the imposter swiftly took my hand in his as if he was impatient. He made me stand right beside him as everyone else was staring at us, the perfect couple! A moment later they all went hectic with what they're doing before and his arm wrapped around me, brought me forcibly beside him on the chaise lounge. He was acting possessive for nothing.

"Just so you know, you look fabulous tonight." He whispered leaning down into my ear. I shivered at the slight contact we made momentarily and he noticed that for he let out a small chuckle.

"You're already scared of me, what will you do when you see my real face?" He laughed like a maniac. His arm was still around me, causing my thoughts to go crazy and in a rather worse way. I couldn't keep a straight posture with him mingling with my personal space.

But his words, I couldn't understand what they were. Was there a threat or a genuine curiosity or was just a nauseating game? I was confused, why would he want me to fear him if he wanted me for . . .

"Why do you want me again?" I asked raising my brows as true vehemence beamed in my eyes. He seemed to notice it too and whispered once more, sending the same chills down my spine. "I want you to-"

"Your majesty." He was a tall man who dared to interrupt the imposter who held his hand around me but his face sold nothing to the man who had come to greet him. He waited for the man to proceed.

"I, Lord Manhattan and Lord Reyes have come to greet you along with the wishes of everyone else who thrive on your realm and power. It's been an honor to finally welcome you back." A small smile magically appeared on his face for a fraction of second at the man's genuine openhandedness and I was able to capture it too even though he never bothered to look in my eyes.

It was a droning savoir faire as more lords came and greeted him but he never stood up from his seat. That made me realize he was probably a king or something like that but my thoughts were cut short when Mason made his appearance in front of us. "Your majesty, Lord Reyes and I have planned a scrumptious entertainment in your honor just like the old times, if you allow us." He gave them a curt nod and as soon as Mason clapped his two hands all the waiters and waitresses left the room from the giant gate we'd entered.

It was silent after that until a screeching noise followed and soon enough a queue of hundreds of people were led into the room, all wearing the same stunned expression that I'd shared with this place the moment I lay my eyes on it.

I was curious to find out what was going to happen next but a hand wrapped around my own and before I could comprehend I was being dragged out of the room by Mason. More and more people were joining in the foyer, the queue was dressed in ordinary clothes but everyone else was wearing luxury.

As soon as we reach the threshold Mason let go of my arm and "I hope you can find your way back home." And then the door shut. The music had stopped and a stressing hush filled the air before a whirlwind of screams broke out. It came so sudden and as a surprise I was quickly overwhelmed by it and my heart was aching in my chest.

I could now guess what was going on, his idea of entertainment was death, death of innocent humans. All those people in the crowd were vampires and they're their . . . I felt bile rising up in my throat, moments away from coming out. I didn't wait near the door further and tried to find my way into the hallway.

The stench of blood was too strong. Even though living with vampires I still wasn't used to it. I needed to escape it somehow but it was following me wherever I ran. It'd been mixed with the air in this castle and the wind was already contaminated. The cold I was feeling, little by little subsided but my insides were still shaking tremendously at this fear.

God help me! I prayed as I ran away from the foyer but the screams were still just as loud and clear. How could they even bear this? I was crying. Before I could've put any restraints on myself, I was breaking down. But I felt a good relief wash over me at the realization that no vampire was here, not even a guard.

I ran and ran and was now at the loss of direction. It wasn't much later that I inadvertently ended up near a black hallway. It was dirty and not well taken care of. It was old and rusty. Noise of clicking of shackles was replacing the screams from the foyer here.

When I reached half way, I doubted if I should go on and continue. There was no guarantee of what I might found on the other side of this deathly aisle. What if my worst nightmares were coming true? What was I going to find at the end of this cul-de-sac? Whoever it might be, it would be the opposite of my little knight.

My feet carried me to a direction, to a blind alley and I let them. What could be worse than witnessing hundreds of humans get butchered for someone's own selfish needs? So I didn't worry much about the danger and concentrated to look through the darkness. My vision was not as strong as a vampire's but it was of some use.

I got deeper and deeper and the hallway went absolutely silent. There was no sound apart from my heavy breathing and my own pounding heart in fear. Soon enough I even began shivering at the rough coldness of the place. The floor beneath my feet weren't paved, this place was far from royalty but I was still in the castle.

Disappointed I decided to turn back around and leave. There was no point in searching for something that didn't exist. I'd just bring myself more trouble if I got caught snooping around, besides Merida must be vexed if I didn't reach the room before midnight.

"Elizabeth?" I froze on my tracks. That voice, I didn't expect to hear it in here. Was I hearing right? Or the cold had made my ears go numb? Wasn't I hearing or thinking nonsense? What kind of mirage this is?

"Malcolm?" I asked. Hoping to find a direction.

"Right here." He called in a husky tone.

I turned to my right and met a pair of red eyes glowing in the dark behind the bars. He looked bruised and beaten and exhausted. Just when I thought it was only him, the coughs from the neighboring cells bought my attention. In the next cell to him was Rory. And there were twenty or more cells down here, all locked up.

"Malcolm, how did you get in here?" I was shocked to say the least. I thought the vampires had won so how come they all ended up here and what about the other villagers?

"After the fight with hunters, Joseph and other vampires burnt down our entire village and took us all as prisoners." Malcolm could hardly talk, gasping for air now and then and coughing once in a while. His voice was low and done in. I had to perk up my ears and pay him my undivided attention before I grasped even the slightest word.

As if my previous guilt wasn't enough, now I caused the destruction of their whole peaceful village!

I looked around all the vampires and the compulsion on their faces broke my heart. Why is it that always the innocent and weakest ones have to pay the price? Why can't the world be a better place for once?-those were the questions for tomorrow, I could trouble myself with them the next morning but right now, they're the ones in pain.

I had to get these vampires out under any condition.

I searched in my memories for a way, a plan, a scheme. The Kismet was a long way from here and they looked too tired to run. Besides in this state, they could be easily caught and put to confinement again. There was no permanent solution to this but I had to try.

And then the scenario from this morning knocked in my head. The sea and the boats and ships, they're docked near the shore without any extra protection. This could be a way, a way out of here. We could all escape freely since the vampires were going to be busy with their meal for a long time.

But how would I carry these twenty vampires to the shore without getting caught?

"How weak are you?" I asked. Malcolm eyed me suspiciously, having no clue whatsoever about my plan. A small deceitful smile made its way onto my face as I stared at him, giving him time to observe and think.

"If I free you now, how far will you be able to get them in the next twenty minutes?" I asked and he looked surely like he'd been punched in the face. Soon enough he returned my smile with an equivalent guile.

What happened next? The rest was all history.