⚠️Warning: Mentions of childhood trauma, mention of family/mass death, and mentions of war/battle. If affected, please read with caution.⚠️

~~~~~

{•Larisa•}

"Those were quite some impressive marks that you left on your mate, your majesty," Michael joked as we carefully walked through the large entrance hall.

"Don't be vulgar, Michael. The day you marry your mate, you'll understand," I scolded him.

He chuckled as we continued through the Blackwell Castles.

Vandals from the rebellion clearly made work with destroying the castle.

I sighed as I looked at everything sadly.

Forgive me, Queen Mother.... I tried to protect your beloved home.... We all did.....

"Say... If my memory serves you right...." Michael suddenly said as I was pulled from my thoughts.

I looked over at him.

"You were born in the Transylvanian realm, too.... Correct?" he asked.

I stopped in my tracks as my team surveyed the area, and then sighed quietly.

"Yes...." I said. "However, I had to flee when I was still a child.... During the Transylvanian Massacre many decades ago...."  she said.

He pursed his lips. "I remember that.... Catholic Hunters held a witch hostage and forced her to opened a portal to our own Transylvanian realm in order to capture and slaughter every vampire, lycan, and even witch in the land... Many of us were sent to different realms for sanctuary, mostly Salem or Enchantrix, and we gained control, but.... It was still a mass genocide..... Many covens, packs and circles were wiped out....."

"Mine included....." I confessed.

He looked up at me, shocked and confused.

I took a deep breath and looked down  "I came from a noble family... We aided the leaders of our coven..... Usually children born as vampires get their fangs at the age of 5, and we slowly stop aging early into adulthood, but.... I got my fangs earlier than most... Which automatically made me a prime target to the hunters, along with others, children especially...."

He frowned sadly, as if he understood, and I looked away.

"My parents had allies in the Void Realm, so they had me and a few other children of different covens transported here for sanctuary just as the walls crumbled.... Most of us didn't make it, and....." I mumbled, feeling tears. "I.... I never saw them, my family, or my coven again......."

He looked at me sadly. "I'm so sorry, your majesty.... I can't imagine what you had to endure, and at such a young age......."

I sighed, looking over. "Years passed, I'm the only remaining member of the now extinct Nightshade Coven..... All my family, friends..... They're all gone..... Slaughtered by the same kinds of monsters we fight tonight....." I said in a shakey voice as I looked at him, then at everyone else as they surveyed the area.

He looked at me sadly. "I can only imagine a portion of your pain.... Some members of the Black Sun Coven survived, but only thanks to my mother," he said, looking sad. "She sacrificed herself to hide me, my siblings, and our servants from hunters who infiltrated our castle..... My father died long before the massacre took place"

I frowned. "I'm sorry....."

He gave me a sad smile as I looked down.

I pursed my lips and looked up, holding back tears. "The Obsidian Empire was still relatively new.... Just like me... The family I stayed with was good friends with mine, so they took good care of me," I explained. "I was enrolled into the Blackwell Finishing School for Girls once I was old enough, was at top of my class....."

He looked up curiously.

"Its also where I met Sebastian...." I said, smiling bashfully.

"Oh?" he asked curiously, making me giggle.

"It was my senior year while he made an errand for his father.... He and his brothers only had some months with the Blackwells at the time...." I said, then smiled softlt. "Before I knew it, I was getting notes and flowers snuck into my dormitory... He was sneaking into my window.... And suddenly one day before graduation, I was recommended to be a member of the Royal Council... The rest is history...."

"Sebastian, you dog," Michael chuckled as he looked at me, making me scoff.

I then sighed before confessing.

"He doesn't know about this.... I never had the heart to tell him, and.... It hurts to remember it...." I said. "As far as he knows, I was just another vampire who was enrolled in the finishing school..."

He furrowed his brows.

"I knew what it meant to be with him, an eligible heir to the throne.... What was set out for me from the moment I became a duchess of the royal courts and the Council.... That's when I made a vow that I would do everything in my power to ensure no child ever suffered like I did for so many years..... Tonight, I keep that promise, even if I die trying...." I said.

He smiled proudly. "I know your parents would be so proud of all you have accomplished, your majesty......" he said.

I smiled as I looked at him.

"You should also tell Sebastian the truth..... I'm sure he'll understand....." he said.

I was going to say something when suddenly....

*BOOM!!*

We all jumped and froze as we turned, seeing a cloud of smoke rise in the disance from the town.

"That's coming from Eternity's Gate!" Hannah said in shock.

"Oh no.... Sebastian....." I said in shock and worry.

All of a sudden there was a bang and I felt a sharp pain in my side.

"AAAHH!!!" I screamed, collapsing as Michael caught me, keeping me from falling.

"QUEEN LARISA!!!" Philip shouted.

I groaned as I looked down and saw a silver spear going right through the right side of my abdomen.

All of a sudden we hear a yelp and look to see a spear going through one of the werewolf soldiers's heart, smoke coming out of the wound.

Another bang  and I see Ashton with a spear through his leg, shouting in pain as Hannah quickly catching him.

"GET DOWN!!!" Michael shouted as he quickly carried me and took me behind some statues or columns.

Thomas rushed over while everyone else started to fire back.

"Stay still, your majesty," Michael said as he helped me and went to grab the arrow but hissed and pulled back.

"I-Its silver... Aah!!" I groaned as I felt it burning my skin.

"Fuck, its not gonna heal then," he snapped.

"Please tell me our queen wasn't just poisoned by...." Thomas said, as if fearing the worst.

"No, it appears not," he said. "No infection or  around the wound...."

I grunted as I quickly grabbed the silver and pulled it, screaming in pain as Justin rushed over, my vision starting to go red.

"She needs blood," he said.

"Sebastian isn't here," Thomas said worriedly.

I grunted as I held the wound before Michael sighed.

"Fucking hell, the king is going to have my head for this," Michael grunted, his fangs coming out as he then bit his wrist and held it out to me.

I looked at him in shock. "Michael..."

"You already have your mate, and you're a vampire," Justin stated. "It won't change anything between you or Sebastian, but it will give you enough strength until we're united with him again."

I gulped nervously, looking at him..

"Plus, you both are from the same realm. It'll help," Justin added.

but knew I needed the strength, and took his wrist and drank some of his blood.

It wasn't too bitter, but it was still a strong taste compared to Sebastian's sweetness.

Almost immediately, I felt my body become stronger as I drank, and the pain from my would became slightly dull as Justin wrapped a bandage around it.

I then pulled away and took a deep breath.

"How do you feel?" Thomas asked.

"A bit better," I said as they helped me stand.

"Queen Larisa of Blackwell!!" a snarl suddenly erupted from where the projectiles came from.

We all turned and peered over, seeing a familiar scarred face, as he stood over Tyler's still body.

"Viscount Bates III" I snarled, taking out my chain and sickles.

"It would give me great pleasure to disembowel a queen for a change," He snickered. "Alexander wouldn't let me have Marguerite when he tore her apart for that crown on your pretty little head... At least I can get you...."

My vision went red again as I raised my sickle towards him. "You leave the Queen Mother's blessed name out of your despicable mouth, you sick animal," I snarled.

He snickered to himself.

"Surrender yourself in the name of the empire and the Obsidian crown, and I will consider you be shown mercy at your murder trials afterwards," I sneered in negotiation.

"Murder trials?? Assuming I have committed-" he scoffed before being cut off.

"For the assaults and murders of 18 Obsidian women throughout the last 40 years, 5 of which were your wives," Thomas added. "You and your father even attempted to turn the young Elvira Visigoth into your ill-fated bride just to be part of the Visigoth Militia before she managed to escape your clutches."

His evil grin turned into a sinister snarl.

"We looked into the cases, and everything points to you....." Thomas added, eyes red wirh anger.

"Your father was the Monster of Ventromia, and you took his mantel after he was executed," Michael snarled.

"Executed without trial, no thanks to that bastard husband of yours, Frederick!!!" Viscount Bates sneered.

"His job is to stop monsters like you and Lilith who threaten our home," I snapped. "Just like it is our's....."

Everyone prepared their weapons as he and his men did the same.

"We'll see about that," he smirked evilly.

"ATTACK!!!" I ordered, as we all charged at the rebels.

***

{•Lynette•}

I stayed ducked behind the statue as debris fell over us, Remington shielding me as he held me close, when another explosion shook the ground.

"Where the hell have you been!?" I snapped in my head.

"Watching you for a long time..."

I furrowed my brows at his response.

All of a sudden...

"AAHHHH!!" Sebastian shouted, holding his side and his upper chest.

"Were you hit!?" Alister asked.

"N-No.... he said, his eyes going red. "Larisa.... She's in trouble!!!" he said, as if realizing something.

I looked at him in shock before suddenly hearing something and I turned to my left.

Something coming right towards.......

"BRANDON, TO YOUR LEFT, LOOK OUT!!" I screamed out to him just as I heard a bang.

Brandon quickly turned and swung his shield up, blocking a spear that came at him, Dylan ducking with him.

He looked at the projectile in shock before turning to me.

"Lynette, how the hell did you hear that
before any of us!?" Sebastian asked as we hid behind the platform.

"I-I don't know!!" I said, making me look back to see soldiers with different kinds of weapons, from guns to crossbows to swords, laying on the ground injured or dead.

"Its the stone!! Its altered your senses once you held it!!!!" TJ shouted over the gunfire.

My eyes widen as Remington and I looked at the stone in my hand with shock.

"CEASE FIRE!!!" I hear a familiar voice shout from the distance.

I quickly put the stone in the inner pocket of my jacket as the noise started to die down, then reaching into my quiver for an arrow and loading my bow.

We then slowly looked over to see Lilith stand amongst hooded rebels and guards.

Its like that rainy night...

I let out a shaky breath and shook off the feeling as I aimed my bow, Lilith noticing me.

She smirked and laughed, her cold eyes rimmed in black.

"Well, well...... Now this is truly a treat.... The infamous Calypso, here in the flesh...." Lilith snapped, staring at me, eyes smudged in black. "I can see you've taken your mother's mantle... Dream...."

I pulled and aimed my arrow up at her. "Better than taking your dirty one," I spat back at Lilith.

She scoffed and then turned to Remington. "And you.... You damned bastard.... I drove a stake through your cursed heart!! Yet here you stand!!"

"See, contrary to popular belief," Aldous said, growing his claws out. "Its extremely hard to take down a Blackwell.... Especially a vengeful one...."

She scoffed as she glared at us.

"You have something of mine, witch!!" Remington snarled.

"Oh.... You mean this?" Lilith asked eith an evil smirk, holding up her necklace with Remington's fangs inside a pendant.

Sebastian and Remington growled in anger at her, along with Victoria and other vampires with us.

TJ raised his hands as a strange firey blue glow emitted from his hands, and Brandon and Dylan stood by me and Remington, weapons raised.

"You have some nerve, Lilith," Alister snapped, unsheathing his sword as everyone prepared to fight. "Return the fangs to the Blackwell boy! Now!!!"

"Come and get them," she challenged.

"Gladly," I snapped, and pointed up at the first target we had set and shot an arrow, causing an explosion and sending debris over some of the Visigoth soldiers.

Lilith dodged some debris, but scoffed.

"Impressive... You've become an expert archer," she said to me.

"Jealous that I'm better?" I said.

"Please, you insolent girl," she spat. "I don't need to show you my own talents to have you know I'm better than you."

I glared at her as I kept my arrow pointed at her.

"Besides.....I have my own little secret, better than any arrow or bullet," she said with a smirk.

"There's no secret to your revival potion, you crazy bitch!" Brandon shouted, rifle in hand and aimed at the army. "You should have known better than to use it against our princess, the true Obsidian heir!!"

"BITE YOUR DAMN TONGUE!!!" Lilith screeched.

"Ohhhh, looks to me like the Wicked Witch took offense to that, big brother," Dylan snickered out loud, making Brandon laugh as they kept their weapons raised.

Are these two really trying to provoke her for laughs right now?

"Lucky for you, however, Lilith..... We also bought a secret weapon of our own," Sebastian said.

I furrowed my brows and looked at him as then Chris, and two other members of Salem that came with us, Tristian and Max, stepped up closer.

They looked up at the full moon as their eyes suddenly....

I then watched in horror as a crying howl ripped from their mouths, now filled with rows of sharp teeth, and their bones began to bend and crack inside them, large talon like claws coming out of their fingers as hair started to rapidly cover them.

I gulped at the sight, and it was only a few seconds before they were fully transformed wolf humanoids, bigger than our horses, howling and growling at the enemy as they stood in front of us.

"My god... A-Are they.... Werewolves?" I said, looking at Remington in shock as we watched.

"The Blood Moon Pack...." he said. "They made a treaty with the Salem witches after fleeing a massacre in the Transylvanian realm half a century ago, and now rule the realm equally... Though most packs returned to Transylvania afterwards to regain their lives, they chose to remain in Salem."

"Good to know.... Any more surprises?" I asked him with a raised brow, raising my bow and arrow again as the other archers did the same.

"No. Believe me, though, this pack is on our side, and have plenty of reason to fight this war," he said.

"Come now, do you really believe a pack of mongrels will scare us into submission?!" Lilith laughed with a snarl.

We glared as then she motioned for one of her guards.

"Besides.... I do not speak of that poison," she said.

We then watch as two guards dragged someone who was cuffed in chains and a sack over their head, wearing a torn white prisoner's gown, similar to what I wore when I was prisoner.

We were confused by this as then Lilith walked over and ripped the sack off their head.

That's when I saw who it was and my heart dropped to my stomach, and I almost dropped my weapon.

"No.... No, oh god.... TANIA!!!" I screamed in shock, running over before Remington and Alister held me back.

"Lynette!? LYNETTE!! HELP ME!!!" she screamed as she struggled, Lilith gripping the back of her hair eith a yank and making her cry out.

What is she even doing here?!!?

"LET HER GO, YOU FUCKING BITCH!!!" I screamed, loading my bow and arrow again.

"YOUR CROWN OR HER HEAD, PRINCESS!!!" Lilith snarled, grabbing Tania by her hair and yanking it, making her yelp.

"Dream, wait!" Alister snapped. "She's just provoking you!!"

I grunt in anger as Remington held me close.

"We'll plan something with one of the wolves to get your Earth friend," Dylan said to me. "You know your target, princess..."

I looked back at Lilith, keeping an eye on the necklace.

I pulled on my mask before loading my bow again.

"Give it your best shot, Bastards!!!" Lilith shouted.

"For the Void!!!" Sebastian shouted to us.

"FOR THE VOID!!!" we all shouted back in response.

"ATTACK!!!!" Sebastian shouted, and we charged forward, my sight locked on Lilith.

***

{•Emerson•}

We continued looking through the halls.

The hissing kept getting louder and louder as we went.

"I do not like the feeling I'm getting from this place right now," Samuel mumbled quietly.

"Join the club.... I feel like I'm being watched from every damn corner...." Ronnie said, his eyes yellow and claws out.

We looked around the common room as we passed some statues.

So far nothing strange came up, aside from the Academy facing its typical vandalism from Rebels, from grafitti to broken windows and furniture thrown around.

"You know, maybe its just me, but..... I don't recall this Academy having so many statues last time I took lessons here as a kid...." Frankie said, sword at the ready as we looked around cautiously.

I furrowed my brows as I realized she was right, but then froze.

I was there when the academy officially closed almost 3 years ago.... This common room never had any statues.... Not even head busts.......

I gulped and looked up, realizing something was horribly wrong.

"T-These aren't statues....." I said, and everyone stopped.

We looked around as then the realization hit us.

"Oh my god..... Is... Is that the constable!?" Colson asked.

"Lady Moon.... She was one of our informant spies... I thought she was in Wismont...." Samuel said in shock as he stood before the statue if a familiar looking woman, a look of fear on her stoney face.

"And these three..... T-They were hostages back the Visigoth Manor with me," Genevieve said in horror.

All of a sudden.....

"Lilith made it clear to set an example with the remaining prisoners, and anyone else getting in our way....." a voice said, making us all turn towards where it came from, weapons drawn.

There at the top of an elevated platform, stood a strange looking woman with her hair wrapped in a gold fabric head scarf, wearing a sleek green gown made of golden scales that was very provocative and revealing on her thin body, and her eyes covered with round black designer sunglasses framed in gold as well.

"Jules," Genevieve snarled, hands glowing in power.

She only smirked. "Gen, my dear.... Its been so long....."

"Madame Czar, I assume," I snapped, pulling out my other sword.

"Lord Alan Blackwell," she smirked, her lips painted in gold as she paced a bit. "Quite an honor, really, to be in the presence of such a powerful knight and gifted oracle of your family's court.... the Chronicle's portraits and illustrations of you do you no justice..."

"I only wish I could say the same..... However, I detest your flattery, and I expected you to be better dressed, and not in whatever animal you skinned for that grotesque number you chose to grace us with," I snapped as felt my vision go red, raising my sword at her.

Her twisted smile full of lines turned into a twisted snarl at my comment, revealing strange fanged teeth.

She can't be a vampire.... There is something very wrong with this woman and her aura....

"Clearly Marguerite and Buckminster failed to teach you most of all on how to properly speak to a young woman," she snapped.

"Young? Yeah right, lady, look in the mirror," Frankie scoffed.

Madame Czar hissed her teeth at her as I held my sword up, my vision growing more red as we all raised our weapons more.

"I will only ask you once, Madame Czar, to not only surrender yourself peacefully, but to also keep my mother's and father's name from your tongue," I snarled.

"Oh, tongue? Do..... Do you mean like this one?" Madame Czar amirked as suddenly a thin, forked tounge slipped through her fanged teeth, and that's when I realized what was going on, and froze, Genevieve also noticing.

Oh no.... I should have realized it once we saw the statues....

"There are benefits to abandoning the convent when High Priestess Maria did not see my potential..... That's when I discovered in Athena's Temple in the Olympus realm....." she said, pacing the room.

"What is this crazy bitch going on about?" Ronnie snapped quietly to me.

"A special residual power from the walls that witnessed an injustice..... Just enough of fuel my vengance and carry on a powerful legacy...."

"Oh god.... What have you done, Jules?" Genevieve said in horror.

Madame Czar smirked before reaching behind her head, to where her hair scarf was tied.

"Why don't I show you all?" she smirked.

"DON'T LOOK, CLOSE YOUR EYES!!" Genevieve screamed making us close our eyes and turn away just as Jules quickly ripped her hair scarf as a nest of squirming serpents fell down her shoulders as hair, and suddenly.....

I kept my eyes shut as we suddenly hear a gasp among us and then a soft crackling noise. I slowly turned, keeping my gaze shielded, and gasped in shock at the sight before me.

"C-Colson....?" I mumbled in shock as a grey stone statue of him stood before me, back facing me, and frozen just like the others.

No.... He wasn't fast enough....

Madame Czar's demented cackle echoed the room.

"Pity...." Madame Czar laughed, her footsteps pacing a bit towards us as I shut my eyes. "He seemed so skilled and handsome..... At least he'll make a lovely addition to my collection."

"YOU BITCH!!!" Samuel snarled, keeping his gaze down. "YOU'LL PAY FOR THAT!!"

"We'll see about that!" Madame Czar cackled.

"SOLDIERS!!! TAKE THE GORGON!!!" I ordered, keeping my eyes shut. "BUT KEEP YOUR EYES CLOSED!!"

"EASIER SAID THAN DONE!!" Frankie shouted, and we all charged ahead.

⚔For the Void!!⚔

~~~~~

Picture: Most of the other soldiers/members of the Royale Council in this story. 🗝♥️

Note: Some of these characters I added since they are friends/associated with Palaye Royale, including the artists XOBillie and Spooki_Jay (who I wasn't able to find photographs of, but they are included in this story, and who you can follow on Instagram to see their awesome Palaye artwork). Others are also former Palaye members, like Samuel and Philip, or are just my own personal choice. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Of course, there will be a few more surprise characters in future chapters, and maybe already predicted a few. Can you guess which ones already? 😏🤫

Anyways, YAY! I finally updated here! 🥳

So sorry for the delay, I had some serious writers block, and work and personal life was keeping me really occupied. 💀💀

Thankfully, I am (slowly but surely) getting back into it now, and should have another chapter up really soon, so fingers crossed that I manage to do so! 🤞🏻

Thank you all again for reading, and stay tuned for the next chapter! 🌻

🎶 Currently in Sapph's playlist:

Visions of Atlantis
"Melancholy Angel"

♡~ sapphire.