An older man with stooped shoulders, along with a woman who appeared to be in her mid-to-late twenties with jet black hair were standing in one of the many prison cells quietly giving instruction to the two new recruits. She could tell them from the others because they were still dressed as prisoners. “You didn’t bother to get them any less conspicuous clothing?” Asteria asked Hines.
He looked a bit sheepish. “It didn’t cross my mind until we were at the airport. By then, it didn’t matter. I’ll send Jim out to get them something.”
She assumed Jim was one of his cronies. Shaking her head, she moved into the cell, and immediately, the two newbies turned and looked at her, their fangs bared. “Oh, I see the babies want a chance to play with the adults. Isn’t that cute?” Asteria placed her hands on her hips. “Why don’t the two of you settle down so you don’t get yourselves hurt?”
“Your Majesty,” Nelo began, bowing, “it is lovely to see you again.”
“Yes, we were so pleased to learn of your return,” Venette added.
Asteria smiled at them but didn’t take her eyes off of Hines’s new pets. They were both snarling at her, and she realized turning two former Hunters into Vampires truly wasn’t the best idea. She never should’ve let him do it in the first place.
Blood dripped down the old man’s chin, and the blonde, who looked much older than her reported age, snarled at her. “The two of you had better learn quickly that I shall not put up with any sort of disrespect. I can end you with the flick of my wrist.”
As if to try her, the woman came flying at her, fangs protruding. Asteria grabbed her around the throat and began to press gently on her esophagus. Immediately, she started to sputter as flecks of blood came flying from her mouth. Her eyes rolled back in her head, and Asteria contemplated getting rid of one small problem right away.
“Laura!” the old man yelled, grasping for his friend’s leg. “Please, Holland, don’t end her. She just hasn’t learned yet.”
Rage filled her face as the queen squeezed harder. “That’s Asteria, old man. I should say you haven’t learned either.”
He dropped to his knees. “I apologize, Your Majesty. We will learn, just don’t destroy her. Please. Not yet. We could be useful to you.”
Asteria looked down at him, sniffling on the floor. Behind her, she heard Hines asking her to please put his new toy down. With a sigh, she dropped the woman, who fell to the ground, grasping at her throat. “Lock them up,” she ordered, and Nelo and Venette immediately took hold of the two and dragged them out of the cell where they were standing to a previously empty one down the row.
In front of her, Asteria saw two villagers lying on the ground, their arms chained to the wall. They looked well-fed, well cared for, unlike some of the other reserva de sange she’d experienced before. “Which one tastes the best?” she asked as Nelo returned, Venette behind him.
“The woman with the auburn hair,” he answered, gesturing with his foot. “She is fresh and should keep for many days.”
“Good,” Asteria replied with a nod. “I shall drink her upstairs. Bring her to me. And as for many days… we shall not be here that long.”
“Your Majesty,” Venette said, her head bowed, as Nelo went about unchaining the woman, “you must understand, the one you seek, he is not always so quick to oblige. You do know, it may take some time to locate him, and even then….”
“I understand!” she said dismissively over her shoulder as she headed for the stairs. Hines was over at the other cell, checking on his newbies, and Asteria tried not to roll her eyes at him. “We are here to see if he has any wisdom to impart. If he doesn’t, so be it.”
“Even if he does,” Venette continued, following her up the stairs as Nelo carried the woman over his shoulder, “you must prove you’re willing to listen, which means….”
Asteria turned and narrowed her steel gray eyes at the woman. “Do not attempt to school me in the ways of Daunator. I am almost as old as he is and every bit as wise. I know the secrets he holds.”
Venette nodded, but there was an uneasiness in her eyes, a look Asteria did not care for. If she didn’t need her assistance in locating the ancient Vampire, she might end her right now as well. Of course, this had all been Hines’s idea. In all likelihood, once they found Daunator, he’d be of little use. But if there was one Vampire on earth more knowledgeable than her, it had to be the cave-dweller. Hopefully, he would show himself quickly, and they’d be able to get on their way. She had a lot of vengeance to carry out.
At least her plan to keep LIGHTS busy chasing its own tail was working. It should buy her enough time to come up with a true strategy. Otherwise, she’d have to fall back on Hines’s plan of turning all of the Guardians back into humans so that they could be destroyed, and she didn’t have the patience for that, not if there was another way to defeat them. If Daunator couldn’t help her find a way, maybe she would destroy him as well.
