Prince Darrius

Part 2 Chapter 27

"I don't know how she came here, or why she is alive, I'm just glad she is," the King continues, "She is obviously sick and unwell from whatever happened to her but I am going to make sure she gets the best of care and bring her back to full health!"

This was really a heart-warming welcoming reunion. Up until the point I realise something about the queen that looked so familiar.

She looked just like Abbey.

The same condition.

Both supposed to be dead, but having the power to be walking and moving despite this.

"She is the love of my life," The King goes on, and the more he does the more tense Xavier seems to get behind me, "I'm so glad she is back. I also want to announce that there will be no one leaving or entering this palace until we secure ourselves again. Many of us are now human, there are more mortals in here than vampires at the moment and we won't be opening our doors until we are strong once again. The next 24 hrs I'm putting this place into lockdown. In the mean time I will be speaking with my council of close friends and not my son's, about the future of this palace. Let me just say, Xavier... Darrius..." the King looks down at us directly, his tone dropping, "I'm disgusted by your behaviour recently and rebellious son's will be treated as such - with no respect until you find a way to redeem yourselves. Johnathan, you may join me in a discussion after this. You are the only son I trust at the moment." Everyone goes silent and there is a tense moment as Darrius and Xavier both glare up at the King.

They just lost a whole lot of influence in this palace by being spoken down to in that way by their father in front of everyone like that.

"We saved this palace from ruin," Darrius snarls, interrupting the King's speech as he continued.

"Silence," the King snaps back, "You will refrain from speaking back to me, understand? I am in charge here. Everyone thank you for coming to see the return of my wife. Please feel free to stay and welcome her back."

He shuts down Darrius quickly and efficiently and there wasn't anything Darrius could counter that with as the king changes the topic back to the return of queen Xeria.

Everyone starts to mingle and I quickly turn to look up at Xavier to see him looking shut down emotionally, thinking deeply inside. I see Darrius, Jennifer and the other's turning to talk to each other but I decide to take Xavier away so I can speak to him in private. To help give him some space from everyone. He looked like he needed it.

I grab his hand and I tug him gently away into the crowd towards a wall on the other side of the throne room where I can speak to him. He follows me and stops with me by the wall, a look of vulnerability shining through in his eyes.

"I don't think there is a way to help my mother," he admits, speaking first.

"For one, do not take what your father says so personally," I reply, feeling more confident that I can lift Xavier's mood, "Secondly, I can help your mother. I know how to save Abbey and the Queen..." I lean up to whisper in his ear the next part, "And if you are so damn worried about not being King, you can use my knowledge as a way to bargain your way to the top, am I right?" I lean back when I am done suggesting my plan.

It wasn't much of a plan, I admit, but I hope Xavier will find the humour in what I am saying and lighten up a tad.

"You think I am frustrated my father is once again ruling?" Xavier asks rhetorically, "The old, arrogant, impulsive, controlling idiot?"

"Sounds like someone I know, maybe you inherited more of his genes then you realise -"

"I am nothing like him, he hurt my mother," he growls, and I just give him a raised eyebrow.