Diedrek

Making my way down to the cabin deep in the forest, I take a steady breath. Going to talk with the witches is never my favorite thing to do. They are old, ugly inside and out, and cruel like no other. The only reason they do not use their evil powers on myself, and my family is we saved them from violent death fifty years ago.

They aren't stupid in the least. Knowing that if they tried, we would kill them far worse than the villagers wanted to. Us vampires have better imaginations when it comes to torture. I lick my lips, and my canines elongate just thinking about it.

Shaking my head, I chastise myself. Focus, we are here for a reason. I make my way through the brush and see the outskirts of their rundown house. We offered them a place in the castle, but they wanted their own space here in the forest. I felt that was better for everyone anyway.

Making my way onto the porch I crack my neck and prepare for one hell of a visit. Knocking on the door, it opens on its own. I hear someone whisper to come in. Once I'm all the way inside the door slams shut.

Perusing the room, I see they haven't done much with the place since the last time I was here. It's still old rundown furniture, with holes, cobwebs everywhere, and so much dust all around you can barely make out anything.

I'm not sure which is worse. The smell of what's left of this house, or the three old bags standing in the center of the room. Cici, the eldest of the three, opens her eyes and turns her head to look at me. She has long black hair with gray streaks. It's never properly brushed. She has eyes as black as midnight.

She smiles at me, and there isn't much to look at, the poor woman is missing most of her teeth. "Well, well if it isn't the eldest royal son." She spouts in disgust.

"What pray tell brings you all the way out here, and away from your luxurious castle?" The youngest of the witches, Bunny asks.

Moving my eyes to her, I see her smiling. At least she has all her teeth. She has long blonde hair, and a crooked nose. As though it's been broken a time or two. She has grey colored eyes. You can always see a certain sadness in them.

"I have some questions about a young human girl who has recently come into my care." I tell them directly.

Sophie cackles like a mad woman. That's because she is. The thought enters my mind. She's not the cruelest of them all, no that's Cici, but she is the craziest for sure. She has chocolate brown hair, and brown eyes. When do you study them closely it's as though you're staring into an abyss. It's as though she's empty inside.

"Is that how you are going to play this game? Saying she's just a young girl recently in your care?" At the sound of her voice, I look back at the oldest of the three. She has a look of disdain while looking at me. "Please!" Cici spats.

I knew coming here would be difficult, especially if Cici was in the room. She's never cared for anyone but her two sisters. She has so much hatred for this world, that she takes it out on everyone in her presence.

I'm not entirely sure of her story, but Bunny tells me there is a reason she is this way. All I know about the situation that made her into the hard, cruel person that she is today, is that it was bad. Although, I feel for her, truly I do, I will not allow anyone, no matter what they have been through, to disrespect me in this way.

Many of our kind wonder why these three don't just use their powers against us, but none of them can. They are bound to us by magic. Meaning if they try to harm us, they wind up harming themselves in the process. That doesn't mean I cannot correct their rude behavior though.

I storm over, grab Cici by her throat, and lift her straight into the air. I slam her body against the nearest wall. Squeezing her throat, I bring my face close to her so I can look her dead in the eyes.

"You will not talk to me in that way again. Do I make myself clear?" I loosen my grip so she can move her head a little. She nods in answer.

Her hands are on my arms, trying to pull me away. Her effort is futile, my strength is too much for her. "I understand you have had a rough life, but you cannot treat everyone poorly. Especially anyone within the royal family." I state clearly.

I can see understanding in her eyes. I loosen my hold, and she falls to the ground. Holding her neck, she's coughing profusely. "It will not happen again my lord." She sputters between coughs.

"Good." I fix the sleeves of my shirt, as I turn around and walk further into the room. "Now there are things I need to know. As soon as possible. Preferably before my father, brothers, and their men return from their expedition that they left for yesterday."

"What do you need to know?" Bunny looks up at me with inquisitive eyes.

"The human woman's name is Kyla. She has these gifts. Things she can do that no human should be able to."

All three of the witches look up at me, giving me their full attention. "Such as what?" Cici asks now that she has her voice back.

"She can run fast, as fast as us vampires. She opened our gate to the village on her own, when it takes a couple of vampires that have been turned to do it themselves." I look towards the three women, and I see their mouths are hung open.

"That's amazing," Bunny whispers. "What else can she do?" Her eyes are wide open with excitement.

"Honestly, I'm not entirely sure. We haven't gotten that far, but I do know one more thing."

They look up at me in awe. Waiting for the big news. They know there is something about this human if I am keeping her in the East Wing with me. The question is, could they know why?

"Well, what is it?" Bunny asks with trepidation.

"Kyla happens to be my mate. The one woman in the world I share a blood bond with." The women gasp in shock, before they grow quiet.

"That is impossible. The only way she can be that to you is if she were a vampire." Cici exclaims.

"Yes, that is true. Which is why I need you to work your magic and find out everything you can about her missing bloodline."

"Missing bloodline?" Bunny asks.

"Yes, she has no idea who her father is. What he is, or how she came to be." I tell them as I walk to the door.

"How can she not know any of that?" They ask in unison.

"Her mother died when she was young. Her uncle has told her nothing. I need you three to find out the answers, and report back to me immediately." I reach for the knob.

Turning my head, I look back at them. "You will be discreet about this; do we understand each other? No one else is allowed to know anything about iy." They nod in understanding.

With those final words I open the door and walk out. As I walk through the forest, I think of all these problems that have risen in these last couple of days. How I need to get as much information before father returns home. So that way I know what I'm working with, and how to make it so he cannot try to take her away from me in any way.

This will be a challenging task, but I will think of something. I may not know a lot, but the one thing I do know is Kyla is mine now. She belongs to me. She's mine to cherish, to protect, and most important mine to love. I'll be damned if I let a soul touch her. There is no one in this world, human nor vampire alike, touches what belongs to me!