Chapter 73

Daphne made it back to her chambers and sat on the couch, hoping she wouldn't ever end up alone with John again. She shuddered at the covetous look in his eyes. How could he think that he was charming when telling her she reminded him of her mother?

A knock sounded on the door that connected her suite to Mamie's. She leaped from the couch and opened the door. Mamie looked at her and hummed.

"Pink is a rather nice color on you."

Daphne laughed, "Thanks..."

Mamie sat with her, "So what happened?"

"They're not like Tom and the alphas at all," she frowned. "They don't want a queen because they can't agree to get along... They want a queen for some sort of connection to the moon goddess."

Mamie frowned, "But... they're vampires. I've always been told that werewolves were the moon goddess' creations."

Daphne shook her head thinking about the tapestry in the library.

"There was a tapestry in the library back at the castle. I'm not sure what's real, but they aren't looking for the same things that Tom and the others are looking to get out of Arthur. They seem to be rebuilding just fine..."

Mamie shook her head, "So what do they want? Why attack us?"

She sighed, "I don't know. We didn't get to that part... But I'm betting there's something else going on."

Mamie nodded, "You think there's some other information in the library maybe?"

"What do you think? Have they been treating you well?"

Mamie shrugged, "Fine. No sneering comments or hissing. I hardly notice them when they're bringing me stuff. Breakfast was great."

Daphne sighed, "I don't think if the situation was reversed that the werewolves would act the same."

Mamie hummed and sighed, "Well, werewolves have grown up with stories about the war and after the war, the rebellion, and the fracturing of the werewolf kingdom. It's probably not fair, but a lot of people probably blame the vampires for all of it."

Daphne looked at her, "Did you lose your family in the war?"

Mamie shook her head, "My Dad fought in the war, but he came home after it was over. He didn't speak about it at all. He never tried to teach us what he'd learn as part of the army either. It always just seemed like he wanted to forget about it all and that it had been decided."

Daphne sighed, "I was imagining a lot fewer vampires, but the streets were packed."

And they had humans within their territories willingly. If vampires drank blood, humans were their natural food source. How could they be living within their boundaries peacefully? The village near the cabin hated and feared anything that was even remotely supernatural.

Maybe their prejudice was specific to their villages.

"I get the sense that the library would give me some answers, but it would be easier to ask Nicole."

"You think you can trust her?"

Daphne sighed, "She hasn't... lied to me yet, I don't think. Besides, what other choice do I have?"

Mamie hummed, "Well... Do you think we could head back soon?"

She smiled, "Worried about Blade and your son."

"He's a great father, but..." Mamie chuckled. "Maybe he's a little helpless."

Daphne shook her head, "I didn't want you to come."

"There was no way I could stomach the thought of sending you into vampire territory with no one you could trust."

Daphne sighed, "Thank you, Mamie... Really."

Mamie nodded, "I wish it wasn't so quiet though."

Daphne nodded, "It's really quiet. It's a little unnerving."

"It doesn't seem like it's because the stone is thick, or anything, I think vampires are just eerily quiet somehow... Did you see everyone wearing pants? You're like the only woman I've seen wearing a gown… It's weird."

Daphne chuckled, "Maybe it's because it's cold."

Mamie shrugged, "I guess."

A knock sounded on her door.

"Come in."

Nicole entered and closed the door behind her, "Your Majesty. I just wanted to check on you. I know meeting them all can be... a bit much, but I think you handled it well."

Daphne smiled, "Thanks... It was... a bit much, but I'm okay."

Nicole nodded, "After dinner, I'd like to take you somewhere if you're agreeable. I'll be leaving the castle to make arrangements in town, but I will be back for dinner."

"I'll be leaving my second in command, Kayley, if you need anything."

Kayley smiled and waved at her. Daphne waved back.

"Okay, be safe."

"I will." Kayley chuckled as Nicole left the room.

"Kayley," Daphne said before she closed the door.

"Yes, Your Majesty?"

"Does the castle have a library?"

She smiled, "Of course. There are several. Would you like me to give you a tour?"

Daphne looked at Mamie, "Can Mamie come with me?"

"Of course, Your Majesty."

Daphne nodded and stood, "Then yes, I would."

Kayley nodded. Mamie stood and followed them out of the room and down another set of stairs.

"There are three libraries. The queen's library is attached to her office. I will warn you that your friend won't be able to enter your office."

"Why not?"

"Magic stones," Kayley said, "Only members of the August line can enter."

She opened the door to the library. She realized that there was no dust in the room. Kayley took her to the noble's library next that was attached to the wing where the nobles and generals stayed.

"Do they live in the castle?"

"Many of them do," Kayley said, "Is that strange?"

"A bit..." Daphne said.

"Well, I understand that the werewolves don't have a noble structure. They rely on alphas who preside over packs, right?'

Mamie stiffened. Kayley chuckled and looked at them over her shoulder.

"Don't be so shocked that we know quite a bit about werewolves. There were more of you at one point, but a vampire's lifespan is several times a werewolf when not faced with war." Kayley grinned, "For instance, I am over a hundred years old."

Daphne's jaw dropped open and she looked at Mamie who looked just as struck. Kayley chuckled, "And I am younger than General Steward."

Daphne shook her head, "That's... incredible... What... How...? Will I live that long?"

"Probably not," Kayley said, "Thought being of the August line might give you a lifespan closer to a werewolf's."

She smiled gratefully. At least that meant that she and Arthur could grow old together.

The last library was the main library in the castle where general books were held for the servants and visitors to use. It was the largest, but Daphne had the feeling that it wasn't where they would find their answers.

Kayley escorted them back to the queen's library before leaving them alone.

They searched the library for information for the rest of the day, taking a short break for lunch. They found a lot about the vampire's history and the way the lands were organized, but nothing about the temple the nobles mentioned or how the conflict started.

There were a few books on magic that had been used in the war by members of the August line, but nothing more useful than that.

Around dinner, they decided to return to Daphne's chambers and eat dinner in their shared parlor. Daphne invited the other two women but they refused.

As they were finishing dinner, a knock sounded on the door. Nicole entered with a smile, wearing different clothes than she had been earlier.

"Hello, Your Majesty, are you ready?"

Daphne frowned then remembered Nicole's request from earlier. She nodded.

"Yes," Daphne said, standing and following her out of the room. They walked in silence for a while before turning down a secluded corridor. They passed a few sconces before Nicole reached up and pulled on from the wall. The wall trembled and opened as the sconce returned to place. Her heart lurched as the torches within the corridor began to light.

"How are they doing that?"

Nicole wiggled her eyebrows, "Magic. Come."

Daphne followed her into the dark corridor. When they crossed the threshold, the wall trembled and slid back into place. The staircase was well lit. Daphne looked up and saw some sort of opening from above that let in the moonlight.

"The staircase is beneath the west tower. There is no way to get down here except through the door we just opened."

They reached the bottom of the staircase and walked through the catacombs. Rather than feeling cold, they felt oddly warm.

As they entered the large room, the floor lit up with the crest of the August family on the floor beneath a large platform. Nicole gestured ahead of her.

"They've... waited a long time to meet you."

Daphne frowned, looking at her before crossing the glowing stone. She looked through the glass and gasped at the faces there.

"Queen Lily and Princess Rose, may I present Heir Regent Daphne."

Tears streamed down Rose's face. Her eyes shifted beneath her eyes, but she didn't move. Lily didn't seem to move at all.