King

Ava’s POV

I open my eyes to and take in my surroundings. I am sat in a comfortable chair, my hands and feet bound in rope. I’m staring out into a grand hall with elaborate tapestries and paintings on the walls. There are 3 seats in front of me, including a large ornate throne with a red velvet cushion and golden thorns decorating the arms and legs. There are 2 guards that I can see out of the corner of my eye, seeing that I am awake one leaves the room. I need to get out of here and find Ash, I look around, but there are no plants here for me to use. I start to pull at the ropes but they are too tight. My heart is racing as I rack my brain for a way to escape. The flower! I made it from scratch, maybe I could do the same with a vine and tie up the guard. I close my eyes and try to focus, but before I can the doors swing open and a man steps inside with the other guard.
The man is young, maybe in his 30s. He is well dressed in a dark blue suit. He has pale skin and black hair and altogether looks very handsome. He also looks familiar, but I can’t place it, maybe he was one of the men chasing us when I was young, but he looks too young for that. He walks up to the throne and sits down. I gasp realising that he must be the king. He smiles at me and his fangs are revealed confirming that he is a vampire and I doubt that anyone would have the gaul to sit on the throne who was not the king.
“Hello Ava” He says
“How do you know my name?” I ask confused
“I have been looking for you for some time”
So he was one of the men chasing us “You, you chased after my family and I”
“Yes, you evaded me for years, imagine my surprise when you walked so freely to my castle. This trap was not designed for you, but it seems has given me a better prize than I could have dreamed.” The king says
“Why? What do you want with me?” I ask
“I will ask the questions first. Why did you come?” He asks
“You have my friend, I want him back” I say defiantly
“Interesting, so that is where you were hiding all these years, amongst some mongrel flea-bitten dogs. Oh child, you could have had a much better life here, you should not have run”
“What do you mean?” I say
“Bring her in” He commands the guards in a harsher tone.
The guards bring in a woman, she is not bound like me, but she is being held roughly by the guards. She looks frail, her brown hair laced with grey streaks, but she is still beautiful. Her face is round and sweet. A face I never thought I’d see again.
“Mum?” I whisper, not believing the sight in front of me.
“Ava, no!” She cries, her voice full of pain as tears roll down her eyes.
“So nice to finally have the family reunited, three generations under one roof at last.” The king smiles, but there is no warmth to it.
My mother shakes free from the guard and rushes over to me, pulling me into a warm embrace. “I’m so sorry, this is not what I wanted for you.” She turns to the king and glares at him “dont hurt her, please let her go”.
“Now why would I hurt my only grandchild”
Did he say grandchild? That doesn’t make sense. I look to my mother and she nods. This is too much, I’m related to the evil man who hunted my family and tore us apart, I have these magic powers, I’m not a werewolf, I’m not just a servant, Ash isn’t just a guard, he is a prince. It’s like everything I thought I knew has been turned upside down and if it were not for my mother holding me, I think I would have fallen over. I have missed her so much that focusing on the warmth and love in her touch and her familiar smell is all that is keeping me sane.
“Now Ava, I have a proposition for you. You have 2 options. First you try to escape, my men hunt you again and you live out the rest of your life in a prison cell. Alternatively, you can accept your fate and live a life of luxury here in the castle under my rule.”
“Those are the same option. Why would I want to stay here?” My voice is faint, I’m not even sure I said it out loud until he answers.
“because if you stay, then I will let the scouts go free. I believe they have already escaped and Kato has tracked them to a meeting point, a church of some sort. Agree to stay and obey me and I will call him off, they can leave and return home. Try to escape or disobey me and I will let Kato have his fun”
My mother bursts into tears, I know that she has seen what Kato is capable of. My heart breaks, Ash did it, he set them free, but now he and Ezra are in danger again. I can’t let them suffer. If I stay they will be safe, they can lead happy lives and move on without me. I hate the man in front of me with a fiery passion, but if he is my grandfather then I should be safe here and I will have my mother at least.
“Promise not to hurt them and let them all go free and I will stay” I say stronger now.
“I promise” He smirks
“I agree” My mothers sobs only become louder as she is pulled away by a guard and my ropes are cut.
“Welcome to the family princess, the guards will show you to your room. Your duties will be explained to you shortly” He motions for me to leave and a guard grabs my arm and guides me out of the hall.