RUN

Freda’s POV
My mind whirled from the odd mix of blood and strength, which permeated the air. Under the blood-red moon, the vampires all around me danced with a beautiful but creepy beat while some were sucking blood from the humans and some drank from the cups that were been passed around.

As Damien guided me across the great hall introducing me to one elder to another, I attempted to keep my breath constant. The looks gave after each introduction seem to be colder than the last. I felt like I was on a show, a treasure Damien was displaying before the whole realm.
 
"Freda, this is Elder Valerius," Damien introduced me to another Elder, another one who was happy about me being queen. Among the oldest vampires I had seen, Valerius seemed to pierce me with his eyes, a terrible shade of blue.
 
Valerius whispered, his voice full of contempt, "So this is the human girl who has caught the king's heart." Tell me, Lady Freda, do you know the meaning of this night?
 
I swallowed hard, my throat dry right away. "I…… I'm learning."
 
The lips of Valerius curved into a smile. "You're learning." Indeed, let us hope you pick things up fast. The vampire world and this clan do not pardon stupidity.
 
Damien's palm tightened around mine, a mute reaction to keep my cool and he’s. I managed a grin and nodded gently, and then Damien walked me off. My heart thumped in my chest, I was the only odd one in the crowd.

I am certain that every elderly person appeared to sense my anxiety, feeding off it like vultures surrounding a dead animal. This world was far more hazardous than I had ever dreamed.

I spotted Kieran in the corner deep in conversation with another elder as we made our way through the assembly. Their body language drew me in; Kieran seemed to be uncomfortable, his eyes darting about as though he was scared of being overheard. The older he was talking to came in closer and murmured something that darkened Kieran's face.
 
"Damien," I said, pulling at his arm. "I need some air. Can we go outside?
 
Damien cast a worried glance at me. “ Sure, Let’s go to the garden  just across here it should be empty”
 
He walked me to the garden, where the air was cooler and the sounds from the festival were low. Roses and night-blooming jasmine filled the garden with their delicious scent. It was amazing. It ought to have been soothing, but it wasn't working in any way, I still felt so uncomfortable and not wanted.
 
"I'm sorry if tonight has been overwhelming," Damien murmured gently, then turned to face me. Unlike the hardness of the elders' eyes, his eyes were tender, even vulnerable. "My world may be... intense.”
 
Not sure what to say, I nodded. From the way the elders looked at me like I was something to be dissected and examined, my head was still whirling from what I had seen. But I felt a pull in my chest as I stared at Damien.
 
"You've been nice to me, Damien," I said, my voice shaking just a little. Nevertheless... I'm not sure whether I am prepared for all of this. It is too much, it’s happening really fast.
 
Damien moved forward, his hand lightly brushing my cheek. "Freda, I apologize; I know I have put you in a tough spot but you should be by my side, Not just only my queen but also as much more. Only you can help me to quiet the darkness inside.
His comments made me shudder down my back. Before I could reply, though, the garden's gates sprang open and Veresstina rushed in, her face contorted with rage.
 
"Damien, what are you doing??" She growled, staring narrow-eyed at me. "You are embarrassing yourself and all of us. She does not belong here, this human-wolf girl!
 
"Veresstina," Damien cautioned, his voice cold. "It is not the time for this."
 
"Oh, but is this!" she shot back, her voice shaking with fury. "You want us to accept her and you think you can parade her about? The elders are already planning against you, Damien. They cannot allow this to stand. And you... " She looked at me, venomous eyes shining. "You just serve as a pawn in his game."
 
My blood went cold. "Let me  have a break, Veresstina"
 
Veresstina scoffed and moved in front. Didn't you know? That you are used by Damien. To unite the factions and confirm his control, he needs a human queen. But do you honestly think he will keep you around once he has what he wants?
 
That's enough! Damien's voice exploded from him in waves of strength. His grip was strong enough to cause Veresstina to wince but his grip became stronger as he spoke. "You will not speak to her that way."

Veresstina, though, only laughed a frigid, sour noise. Do you believe you can save her? Her fate has already been determined by the elders. There is nothing you can do to stop them; they will pull her apart, little by little.
Furious eyes burned in Damien, but before he could react, Kieran emerged at the entrance, his face pale and tight.
 
Damien, we have to talk. right now.
 
Turning to Kieran, Damien released Veresstina, pushing her aside. "What is it?"
 
Kieran hesitated, staring at me then he spoke. "It's about the council. They have moved in a different direction.”
 
"What do you mean?" Stepping forward despite the terror chewing at my insides, I asked.
 
Kieran turned to face Damien and then back towards me. "They intend to remove Freda, Damien. Enough support has been obtained to call it a referendum and with that, she will surely not be your queen.
 
His comments seemed to make the garden colder. Damien's grasp on my fingers tightened, he was getting angry and this made me more scared, I had to remove his grip on my fingers. But the expression in Kieran's eyes gave a look of fear that reflected my own and made me more scared.
 
"Freda," Kieran whispered softly, his voice laden with warning. "You have to be cautious. Things are about to get really hazardous.
 
I wanted to give a reply, but before I could say anything, a bloodcurdling scream sliced across the garden and our heads turned to the sound. As the truth of our circumstances sank into my chest, my heart hammered.
 
"Who is that?" I murmured, terror, tumbling through my voice.
 
Still, no response. Rather, Damien's hold on my hand tightened and he drew me close, his eyes peering across the shadow that appeared to be crawling towards us. Why such a dramatic entrance?
 
Then the scream ceased and then a deafening silence in the garden, exactly as abruptly as it had arrived. The sound of footsteps, heavy, approaching us from behind the garden made us all look at each other.
 
Kieran fronted me, his eyes shining with resolve. "Get ready," he said in whispers. "This might be something that will attack"

But my breath seized in my throat as the man came out from behind the high flowers. It was someone I never expected to run across again, it wasn't an enemy.

“Freda,” the familiar voice called out. “You have to run. NOW.”