Twelve

‘Well you’ve certainly got yourself in a pickle haven’t you. I remember you as a young girl always causing trouble, seems like nothing changes. You were stupid to go after Thayer and you were stupid to try and take Sam from Mercy. Now let’s see if we can do something about the hate that’s in your heart, drink up while the soups still hot. That’s better, now how do you feel?’

‘Better, there is no hunger in my heart anymore. I still don’t like Mercy and I hate that I’ve been rejected twice but I feel lighter’ she replied.

‘Well the potion just got rid of the darkness surrounding your heart and the overload of emotions that were attacking. Ever ticked off a witch?’

‘Once, long ago. She was visiting with a traveling circus’.

‘Hmm. That’ll be the cause of the problem. You may not like Mercy but try to stay on her good side, for all our sakes’.

‘I get it, she’s the next Queen, I better stay on her good side or I risk the end of my life’ said Valencia with a role of the eye.

‘You shouldn’t anger her’ came a new voice.

She turned to find Federico had entered the room.

‘Not you as well’ she groaned.

He raised an eyebrow, ‘you walk on very thin ice Valencia. Need I remind you that those that stay quiet during a tough life grow into monsters. Don’t give Mercy a reason to be that monster’ he said.

‘But, but’ stuttered Valencia.

‘No buts my dear. I think it’s time you and I had a little chat’ he said seriously, dragging Valencia behind him from the room and down the hall.

While Valencia was getting her life sorted out Lorenzo was out in the gardens busy talking to Mercy about Sam.

‘You know why I am so shocked of you turning Sam?’ he asked.

‘Of course’ she replied ‘do not think It was a decision I took lightly’.

‘Why do it at all when the risk is so high?!’ he asked.

‘I needed to do it’ she replied.

‘But why?’ asked Lorenzo.

‘Because I only have two options in life, die or succeed to the throne. I was lonely and running out of time and I wanted to make sure there was someone there for me when the end came. Even if I do die I know the Kingdom would be safe in the hands of Sam. I’ve already named him my successor should I pass from this world’ she shouted.

Lorenzo paused in his shock at Mercy’s outburst, ‘so you do feel after all’ he murmured.

Mercy glared at him.

‘You do know how impossible this is though’ he stressed.

Mercy rolled her eyes as Lorenzo launched into a tale of old. Of course she knew the danger and the risk, it had been imbedded into her by her royal teachings. For only royal vampires were given this honor. Basically if you were a normal vampire you could change any human you liked via the exchange of blood. However as a royal vampire you also had a one off gift and that was changing a human not by blood but by poison.

As you could only change one human this way many royal vampires hadn’t bothered as the risk of your chosen target surviving was quite low while others had obsessed over the decision determined to find the perfect candidate to turn.

Mercy clearly remembered the story of her great-great-great uncle who chose a human who was the perfect mother figure that he craved. He successfully managed to turn her and got that which he desired most. That was until the poor woman turned a little mad, tried to control his life, and refused every marriage proposal he got but at least he was successful with the change. Each was different, and there hadn’t been a royal change in quite a long time. The fear of having your chosen person die on you was a risk some just couldn’t bear.

However Mercy had had no such worry as when she had turned Sam it was out of desperation. She’d thought it through of course but it wasn’t a conscious thought while she was doing it. She was lucky, Sam had survived and she didn’t have to continue alone.

‘You haven’t listened to a word I’ve said have you?’ said Lorenzo breaking Mercy from her thoughts.

‘Sorry?’ she asked.

Lorenzo huffed in annoyance ‘fine if you will not listen upon a matter that has already passed, perhaps I shall have more luck with a topic of great importance’.

‘Go on’ said Mercy seriously.

‘Tell me what you know of the Guardian of Six first’ he said.

She sighed, ‘the Guardian of Six is believed to be a mythical organization of six unique individuals with powers sworn to protect the crown. Even rarer are the Guardian of Six made entirely of humans turned vampire. They arise in a time of great need and will chose the side of the light to champion and protect. It is said that a court with claim to the Guardian of Six is heralded in bringing forth a new age of peace and tranquility’ she recited.

‘Correct’ replied Lorenzo ‘and you have been chosen Mercy in this great time of need. The Guardian of Six is being brought forth to aid you in the battle that comes before you’.

Mercy mumbled something that sounded suspiciously like ‘I knew it’ before turning her attention to Lorenzo, ‘you speak as if you know of the individuals already’.

Lorenzo nodded, ‘that is true but you know I like to speak in riddles. You’ve met two of the Guardians already, they now travel within your company’ he paused, ‘can you guess who they are?’

Mercy thought on it a moment, her brain whizzing through the possibilities, ‘I would guess that Billy is one, his talent with illusions and manipulation of dreams is unlike any I have ever seen before’ she said.

‘Very good’ said Lorenzo seriously, ‘and the other?’

Mercy tried to think of it seriously, ‘Illenia?’ she asked.

Lorenzo nodded, ‘exactly’ he said.

Mercy took a moment to digest this newest information. It seemed fitting that these two were part of the Guardian of Six. Both exhibited profound talent and seemed determined to face what was to come. She’d have to ask them later why they had deemed her the good light and what made her brother unfit. She was after all a curious creature.

When Mercy turned to Lorenzo again she realized he’d already gone. In his absence Mercy saw Sam walking towards her. No doubt being sent her way by Lorenzo himself.

‘Lorenzo sent you?’ she asked.

‘Yeah, something about us needing to talk. He looked rather stern actually and I didn’t really want to make him angrier by not coming’ he said.

‘He’s not angry, I think he’s just frustrated, he tried to lecture me and I didn’t listen’ said Mercy.

Sam chuckled lightly, ‘actually there was something I wanted to ask you’ he said.

‘Ask away’ replied Mercy.

‘I know I asked this before and you didn’t really give me a straight answer but why did you turn me?’ he asked.

Mercy sighed, she supposed he did deserve a small ounce of truth from her.

‘I turned you out of desperation. Originally I was just going to drain you dry but something about you fascinated me. I turned you because I didn’t want to face the future alone. I know it’s a lot to believe a monster feeling lonely but if I could have but one person standing with me through it all I wanted to’ she said.

‘Was there a chance I wouldn’t survive the change?’ he asked.

‘Of course there was always a chance but with you the chance was much higher. I didn’t change you with blood but with poison’ she said.

‘Poison?’ he questioned.

‘Only a royal vampire can change a human by poison, it’s a rite that can only be given once and it doesn’t have the best success rate’ she said.

‘Then why waste it on me?’ he asked.

‘I didn’t waste it Sam, I chose you and I believe the desperation I felt, that one moment of weakness is what saved you, is what successfully allowed you to change’ she said seriously.

Sam nodded, ‘thank you’.

A while later the two of them walked back into the house and were greeted by everyone occupying chairs in the living room, seemingly all waiting for their return.

Lorenzo briefly locked eyes with Mercy and was proud to see the display of emotion hidden in her eyes, she had told Sam the truth after all he mused.

‘I trust you are not all gathered her for social etiquette, so Lorenzo what more do you have to tell me?’ she asked seriously.

‘No’ said Lorenzo ‘you are right. I know you are anxious to be on your way, from what the others have told me you do not sit idle for long’.

‘I am not so stupid to believe my brother thinks me dead’ she replied.

‘Quite so’ said Lucia.

In a lull of silence Mercy was quick to observe the seating arrangement. Sam of course was sitting next to her with Billy on his other side and on Mercy’s right side sat Illenia. Then the rest of the company were seated in order of trust, with Valencia the furthest away, except for Lorenzo and Lucia who were sitting in front of everyone.

‘As you are no doubt aware my family and I undertook the task of law enforcers once we entered this world. The rise of bitten vampires was becoming alarming with no real way to stop it. Thus we created some simple rules and guidelines and enacted punishments when the rules were broken. You have already been told of the divide. Some are worse than others, fueled by the growing fascination of humans and their portrayal of our kind through literature and film. There are some, like those before you who wish to retreat from this work and join you and our cause. But there are others who will not be swayed, preferring instead to remain terrorizing the humans in a manner which I cannot condone’ Lorenzo finished speaking and Lucia continued where he left off.

‘However, we believe we can help you. We know of some bitten covens who will be willing to join the cause and we know where to find them’ she said.

‘There is no longer need to stay hidden. Should Thayer send more after us, we are more than capable of defeating them given out current number. I am willing to send out members of our guard to help us track down more vampires as I do not believe we have time to visit them all’ said Lorenzo.

‘No indeed, the longer we stay away the worse the Kingdom becomes’ said Olga.

‘Lorenzo’ said Michael speaking for the first time since arriving ‘I have something I’d like to discuss’.

Lorenzo nodded.

‘Last time we spoke you could not give me an answer, so I ask you again, any news on Ryder?’ he asked with an evil gleam in his eye.

Lorenzo looked at him sadly, ‘Ryder died a couple of years ago, his new subject killed him out of hunger before we could apprehend him, I’m sorry’.

Mercy watched as Michael clenched his fists till they turned white, Mercy could understand his distress, now he could not claim vengeance.

‘I seem to repeat myself in every country but where are we going next?’ asked Grifel.

All eyes were on Mercy however it was Illenia who answered.

‘Romania’ she said, ‘there is a mischievous man there who I think you should meet’.