Chapter 87

Nicole shot her feet and rushed towards the door leading into Daphne's bedchamber as a wall of magic rushed out and pushed her back. She had expected Daphne to be powerful, but not this powerful. It seemed that she’d been right to think that John had tried to force a blood bond on her.

The idiot. Had he any idea what he could have done for his petty ambitions?

Half-vampires who ingested the blood of full vampires usually went through something like a turning, unlocking the potential of their vampire blood. Sometimes, they became daywalkers, vampires with all the strengths of a full vampire and capable of walking in full sunlight without weakening. The number of half-vampires who survived such a thing with all of their faculties, including their memories intact, were far and few in between.

The pain of turning a half-vampire rivaled that of turning a werewolf. The few former half-vampires she’d met couldn’t remember their names for months after.

Daphne sat up in bed, clutching her head and shrieking. Her eyes were screwed tight and her voice carried through the room. Nicole cast a spell to close the windows and activate the basic protections in the room. It would keep Daphne’s powers from damaging anything of note, but it wouldn’t stop it from being dangerous.

Lightning struck, twisted, and rebounded around the room. A fire flickered at the edge of the bed, and Nicole grew stiff as it began to grow, spreading to the floor. The gems siphoned the bulk of the heat, but the fire began to turn blue and the air in the room began to heat.

"Everyone leave. Don't enter again until I call for you."

Valon escorted Mira out as Kayley followed just behind, quickly closing the door behind them. Nicole sent a wave of magic around the room, containing the wild power Daphne was letting loose as she shrieked. She extinguished the flame first and redirected Daphne’s wild energy into repairing the damage down to her bed set and furniture as Daphne’s screaming stopped. She shuddered and panted, curling into herself.

Nicole could only imagine that she was slipping into a panic attack of some sort. It was common when newly turned vampires first began to feel the change in their bodies and the increase in power.

Nicole approached the bed slowly, “Daphne? Can you hear me, Daphne?”

Slowly, Daphne turned and opened her eyes. The usual gold orbs seemed to glow in the shadows of her hair and face. She looked frightened and unsure.

“I need to calm down before you hurt yourself,” Nicole said. “Just take deep breaths and focus.”

Daphne didn't recognize the woman speaking to her. She didn't know where she was. She didn't know much of anything besides her name. The fact that the woman knew her name was promising, at least. She was likely somewhere safe and the woman didn’t seem interested in hurting her.

Slowly, Daphne slowed her breathing and focused on the woman approaching her bed. The woman sat quietly as the wild rushing feeling in her chest subsided and the air started to shimmer with flickers of light.

“What is that?”

“Magic,” she said. “Your magic to be specific. How are you feeling?”

Daphne shook her head, “Who are you? Where am I?”

Nicole sighed, lowering her head as her eyes burned with tears. She’d kill John for this. It was the only thing keeping her calm as she tried to think of a place to start. She waved her hand over her face, dispelling the illusion over her eyes, and looked at Daphne.

She gasped, staring wide-eyed at Nicole, seemingly shocked into silence.

“My name is Nicole. I'm your mother's cousin. Your name is Daphne August Royal. You are the last living direct heir to the August line, which is the royal line of vampires. You are currently in your castle, in your quarters. Safe.”

Daphne nodded shakily, soaking in her words. Some of her words slipped and fell to nothing in her mind, some of it snagged on things in the darkness.

“What has happened to me?”

“You were found unconscious in the canyon leading back to the werewolf kingdom. All I know is that you left with your werewolf escort sometime in the night to return by morning.” Nicole swallowed, recasting the illusion over her eyes. “What do you remember?”

Her jaw trembled as she searched through the darkness of her mind. There was nothing concrete there. Everything seemed elusive and obscured in shadows. If she had no way of confirming the woman’s words, how could she trust the woman?

An image flickered in her mind of a woman’s face, one very much like hers frozen in a sleep-like death with tears streaming down her face. She bore a strong resemblance to Nicole.

They had to be related, she was sure. What about the rest of it? Her body ached, her stomach churned, and her heart clenched in agony. She pressed a hand to her stomach frowning.

“There’s… something wrong with me.”

“Yes,” Nicole nodded. “Do you remember nothing?”

She shook her head, “I… I don’t even know if I can trust you.”

Nicole smiled, “That’s good that you’re wary. Your instincts are good.”

Daphne frowned, “Should I trust you more because you’re telling me not to?”

Nicole chuckled, “No. You should trust your instincts.”

Nicole took a deep breath, “I can only promise to look into what happened to you and your retinue from the werewolf kingdom.”

“... Why would I have an escort from the werewolf kingdom?”

Nicole sighed again, “That is a very long explanation that we may not have time for, nor would be conducive to your weakened state.”

Daphne swallowed, peering at her, “You think… it might send me back into the dark.”

“The dark?”

Daphne nodded. It was the best way to describe where she'd been before the burning in her chest and body had pulled her out of it. There had been no pain, just a need and a fierce desire to get free. She didn't even know what had held her captive or why, but she shuddered as her thoughts turned to it.

"Don't tell me," Daphne said, her gut settling at the thought of remaining ignorant a little longer.

Nicole nodded, "As you wish. Would you care to meet with the court to assure them of your well-being?"

"There's... one thing."

"What is it?"

Daphne rubbed her stomach. Something curious and warm filled her. A gentle joy and elation made her smile.

"There's... Am I... pregnant?"

Nicole's eyes widened at the question, "Yes. You are."

"Do you know who the father is?"

She nodded, "Yes."

"Who?"

"Arthur Royal," Nicole said. 'King of the werewolf kingdom."

She waited to see if Daphne would react or if the knowledge would be too much, but Daphne nodded thoughtfully.

"I suppose... he would want an escort for the woman who was carrying his child and heir. What happened to the escort?"

"I am still investigating it," Nicole said and stood, "IF you remember anything at all, Your Highness, please tell me. Even the smallest clue could be enough."

"There was something that wanted to hold me in the dark," Daphne said. "I don't know what it was, but it was there and insistent...Could it have something to do with what happened?"

"Yes."

Daphne nodded, considering her options before looking at Nicole.

"What should I know before going to meet the nobles? Do they know something has happened to me?"

"They know that you went missing. I suspect a fraction of them were related to your disappearance and why you don't remember anything, but nothing has been proven yet."

Daphne nodded, lying back in bed with a sigh of relief. It felt a bit better when she wasn’t sitting up.

“Are you hungry?”

“Not yet,” Daphne said, barely holding her eyes open. “I’m tired…”

Nicole stood and pulled the blankets back over her, “Then rest, Your Highness. I’ll make sure you’re not disturbed.”

Daphne nodded as her eyes closed and she turned over, falling back to sleep. Her vitals hadn’t returned to the way they had been before, but her breathing seemed deeper and a bit of color had returned to her skin. At the least, she wasn’t falling back into Eternal Sleep.

Nicole left the room, closing it softly behind her and looking at the three people whom she’d asked to leave. Nicole shook her head.

“Her Highness is not to be disturbed. Mira, if you would keep on standby in case Her Highness wakes and needs something?”

Mira nodded, “Of course.”

“Be warned, Her Highness… remembers almost nothing. She may be wary and distrustful of you.”

Mira’s eyes watered with tears, but she nodded, “As always I will do my best to serve the August line.”

Nicole nodded and took a deep breath, “I imagine she will want to rest for the rest of the day. I will return around lunchtime to check on her. Valon, Kayley, with me.”