Blood Queen

(Iris pov)

Damp stone floors are cold against my bare feet. I’m standing in some sort of dimly lit stone tunnel. Something is wrong. I can’t put my finger on it but I feel like something important is missing. At first, I can’t see five feet in front of me, but soon the darkness is replaced by stark, white lightning and I wish I had stayed blind because at the end of the tunnel, there is small, dirty room with a smoke stained couch and threadbare carpets. My living room, and standing in the center is my counterfeit father. Behind him, perched upon the arms of the couch, sit the thugs who tried to kill me in that dark, cold alleyway.

My first instinct is to escape. To run away and hide in the closet like I always did as a little girl. Of course that would be a best-case scenario kind of thing, and the universe never sends those my way. I’m trying to back up slowly, perhaps to conceal myself in the shadowy darkness when my father’s head whips up from its bowed position and he fixes his eyes on mine. A slow smile spreads across his face.

“Look who finally came home after all. And just in time for dinner too.” He laughs coldly, joined by the criminals who all share the same hungry eyes as the vampire who almost killed me in the alley.

“Your baby-sitter isn’t here to save you this time” Snickers the blond assassin who has now stood up next to my father, throwing his huge shadow across the floor. Then it hits me. I know what is missing. For as long as I can remember I’ve always felt a kind of presence around me. When I was a very little girl I believed the presence was an invisible friend, as a teenager I dismissed it as a figment of my imagination. Now I know that it was probably Andy, watching over me. The problem is that I need him right now, and for the first time in my life, I feel nothing but terror.

“He’s coming.” I say, endeavoring to sound firm rather than terrified. It’s no use, I can’t even convince myself.

“Do you really believe that?” Taunts one of the vampires who hadn’t spoken yet. Apparently my expression gives me away because he smirks down at me in the most condescending way possible.
“That’s what I thought.”

“Let’s stop playing with our food, I’m getting old over here.” Jeers my distorted father. My eyes focus upon his features, leering down at me.

“Are you going to accept that you’re about to die or are you going to try to run?” His voice is casual but his demeanor is like a starving wild animal. I know the hungry look in his eyes, he’s a vampire too... Of course, I run, I have to try right? But I know it’s no use, especially if they’re anywhere near as fast as Andy.

They turn out to be nowhere near as fast, but they are still far swifter than any human. I cry out in fear and pain as one of them reaches out and yanks my long black hair back by the roots. His rough hands shift from my hair to grip my arms tightly. My father speeds in front of me and slaps me hard in the face. I bite my tongue to keep silent.

“Did you really expect that to work? You were always so weak and stupid.” He leans close to my ear and growls. “You can’t escape us, and no one is coming to save you.” Ironically, that’s the exact moment I’m pulled from his grasp. Thank god, Andy came to my rescue after all. He moves at an incredible pace, far faster than any of the other vampires. It is both exhilarating and terrifying to move so quickly, it really should be terribly painful for a mortal, but all I can feel is the sensation of flying and the air buffeting my face and body. Soon we are so far away that they cannot hope to find us and he sets me down on my feet in the chilly darkness.

“Oh my god, I’m so sorry. Did they hurt you, my love?” The words tumble out of his mouth very quickly and his hands skim my arms, my face. Every bit of his frantic energy devoted to making sure that I am safe, that I am okay. I catch hold of his wrists to calm him down a bit.

“No, Andy. I-I’m fine.” I stutter, surprised by his genuine concern for me. I can barely see his sculpted features in the darkness, but my eyes manage to register him closing his and leaning forwards slightly. We are only about seven inches apart now.

“Oh thank god.” He breathes. “I couldn’t live with myself if I let them hurt you again.”

“Why?” I ask abruptly, surprising myself. I don’t remember deciding to say anything.

“You don’t get it do you?” I can hear the smile in his voice. “I love you Iris.” He whispers. “I always have.” My heart beats fast, trying to process what he just admitted. I used to have a huge crush on him, but that was a fangirl crush. Since I met him, since he saved me, it has grown into something more. As soon as I open my mouth to tell him he falls to his knees, then he collapses sideways to the ground. And I see it. A sharp wooden stake protruding from his back. I vaguely hear someone screaming in the back of my mind, then I realize that it is me. Screaming his name. A high, cruel, voice rings out of the darkness, somehow overpowering my screams without being any louder.

“So you met your palace guard princess? To bad I found him too, your palace is mine now anyways, so I guess you don’t need him anymore.” I can’t think of anything at all. My eyes are still fixed on Andy, expecting him to get up, to be fine. My breathing is fast and heavy as my world comes crashing down around my ears. My newest enemies’ footsteps move forward and he crouches down behind Andy’s motionless form, so as to be within my field of view. He tsks, smiling, and then steps over Andy, standing where he stood before he collapsed.

“This simply won’t do. After all the trouble I went to to track you down, I want you to see the end coming. I want you to die in fear and pain. A fitting end for the only threat to my crown, don’t you think?” He stretches his fingers in front of my eyes. Fingers that, even my numb brain realizes, are capped with inch-long sharpened nails that are reinforced with some kind of dark metal. Without blinking he digs one of the sharp points into the skin on my forehead, tearing a twin gash right where my father hit me earlier. The pain snaps me out of my shocked stupor and I shrink away from the repulsive, terrifying man.

Tears fall down my face as he produces a second long, wooden stake from beneath his cloak. Carved into it are four letters. I-R-I-S. I was his target the whole time, I wonder why. He does not have the same predatory eyes as the others, rather, his black irises are cold and clinical. He shoves me to the ground; I don’t actually see him do it, but I feel my head collide with the rock. His form looms above me and I can only hold on to two rational thoughts as he raises his stake. Andy is gone. And I’m going to die too. He brings his weapon down.

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I wake up screaming at the top of my lungs. Seconds later Andy bursts through the door with a stake in his hands. He visibly relaxes when he sees that there is no one else in the room. I hear a quiet thunk as the stake hits the carpet and he is next to me before I can even blink. His thumbs gently brush the tears from my face.

“Hey, hey, It was just a bad dream. You’re safe. You’re with me.” He says in a hushed voice. He’s so sweet. Even though I’m just another mission to him he is still so kind to me. And that’s when I realize that I truly do love him. Even though I know that he could only feel the same in a dream, and that hurts.

“My father was there, the street gang too. And… I think I saw Viktor.” He frowns slightly.

“What? That’s not feasible. You’ve never even seen him.” He listens while I describe the dream, obviously omitting the part where he told me he loved me. His electric blue eyes widen as I describe the man’s creepy sharp fingernails.

“That’s definitely Viktor. But how is that possible?” He asks, quietly shocked.

“I have no idea, Maybe it’s some kind of phantom memory from when I was a baby? Like I saw a picture or something?” I suggest. It’s the only thing I can think of.

“Maybe.” He says doubtfully. “We can’t try to figure this out tonight though. It’s late and you’ve had a long day. You should try to get back to sleep. His hands pull the sheets back over my shoulders and he leans down, kissing my forehead. “Goodnight.” He whispers to me, then starts to leave.

“Wait.” I blurt for the second time tonight. “Will you stay with me? I don’t want to be alone.” I ask, like a small child. He holds my gaze for a moment, then a small chuckle escapes his lips.

“Of course. Anything to make you feel safe.” He slides in next to me and throws an arm around my waist. “Are you comfortable?” he asks, his voice muffled by the pillow and exhaustion.

“Yeah. Thank you.” He smiles for a moment, but soon he is sleeping peacefully.Never had I felt so terrified in my life than I have been tonight. But then again, never have I felt so safe with anyone before.

Notes

I finally managed to get the update out! I've had the worst case of writer's block for the past ten days and I couldn't think of any usable dialogue. :( I'm so sorry that it took so long to update; The next chapter won't take nearly as long to write now that my life has settled down a bit.

Anyways, I'm super excited for this chapter because I love writing cute Andy and Iris scenes. :) So they are both in love with each other, but neither of them know huh? I wonder how long it will take before they get together. :)

If you took the time to read all this nonsense or comment/rate or anything like that then you are awesome.! I hope this story makes you as happy as your support makes me and I hope it puts a smile on your beautiful face. :)
Until next time, -BVBfangirlqueen