42__Little love and her pet dragon

Viktor stalked out of Diana’s castle, satisfaction filling his chest.
The coachman hopped up behind the horses as he and Damon got into the carriage.
“Well,” said Damon, pulling his door shut as the carriage took off. “They won’t be trying that again.”
Viktor smirked. “I should hope not. For their sakes.”
Damon leaned forward. “They sure as hell won’t, Viktor, you put the fear of *hell* in her!”
Viktor smiled in satisfaction. “If Diana fails to control her minions and I find one more sorceress in my Kingdom, if I get attacked by just one more of her Vamps… I’m going to set Cassius on fire. If this is where Rogan gets his reinforcements from, it’ll do nothing but leave him powerless.”
“And easy to deal with,” completed Damon.
Viktor nodded. “Exactly. I’ll deal with Rogan anyway, but getting rid of Cassius would make it *so* much more fun.”

Damon studied Viktor’s gleeful smile and shook his head. Only a Vampire King could be so overjoyed at the thought of wiping out an entire Kingdom, women, babies and puppies included.
They were riding out of the castle gates when Viktor turned to Damon. “And Damon, just why were you so eager to get me out of there when Diana’s aunt appeared?”
Damon blinked. He smiled innocently at Viktor. “Pardon? Uhm, well… that’s because… last time she said a whole lot of confusing things and I didn’t want my King to be further upset.”
Viktor nodded and smiled. “Absolute *bull-shit*.”
Damon’s smile withered. “Huh? No, I mean—”
“You,” interrupted Viktor, staring intensely at Damon. “…were trying to avoid a conversation with the woman because you know she can give me insight on whatever’s happening in my head.”
Damon’s mouth parted in surprise. “What? How do… what do you mean?”
Viktor scoffed and crossed his arms. “Drop the act, Damon. I know there’s something you and Kamilla are keeping from me. I know far more about it than you know. I have for years.”
Damon’s mouth dropped wide open before he closed it and gulped. Viktor looked away and Damon inched forward. “Uhm, you see Viktor, the thing is… we were just worried that it would be harder to resolve it if you were aware of it. I’ve just been trying to lessen your troubles, you know. First there were all those dark years when I came to live with you in London then when things finally started going well, your father suddenly died and we had to come back here… it’s been rough. I was trying to help. Hm? Viktor?”

Viktor wasn’t listening. He was squinting out of the window into the jolly Cassius night.
Suddenly, he raised his fist and slammed it twice against the roof of the carriage. It immediately slowed and came to a stop.

Damon glanced at him in confusion. “Okay, what’s going on? Are you gonna make me walk back to Onyx?”

Viktor silently swung open his door, signalling for Damon to follow him. Eyes narrowed, Viktor walked over to what was a peculiar sight. A pair of dark-haired Cassius Vamps were currently shuffling about in the shadows, attempting to cut loose a horse which they would, with no doubt, steal.

“Use this knife! It’s sharper!” hissed one of them.
The other was hunched over, ineffectively swiping at the rope with his knife. “Damn! That wench sure used some good rope!”

Viktor couldn’t believe his eyes. Nowhere in all four Vampire Kingdoms, not even in Cassius that was full of magic and sorcery, could be found a stallion that looked this identical to Viktor’s personal horse. *Nowhere!*
Damon tilted his head at the horse. “Is that… is that Hunter?”
Viktor’s eyes narrowed as he focused his gaze on the busy pair. “You there!” he called.
The thieves simultaneously jumped in fright before turning to Viktor.
“What do ye want?” asked one of them in irritation.

Viktor approached and laughed in disbelief. It was his damn horse! He slowly pointed at it. “Who’s riding this horse?”
The two thieves shrunk back, covered by his shadow as Viktor loomed over them.
Their eyes filled with realization as they stared fearfully up at Viktor and very carefully, they let go off the reins and the rope they were trying to cut.
“I asked you a question!” Viktor yelled in frustration.

“Please!” squealed one of the thieves as they threw their arms around each other, shivering like two chipmunks in the snow. “Spare us, King!”
Viktor closed his eyes and clenched his jaw as he breathed in deeply. These idiots.

“It came with the little lady,” said a stranger’s voice.

Viktor opened his eyes and looked to his left where there stood a neon green-haired Vamp.
He turned to face him. “What little lady?”

Sniper blinked when he recognized the King of Onyx and shrunk to half his original height, staring with wide green eyes. “Uhm… the uh… the woman.”
Viktor’s jaw clenched as he stared silently at the kid. Was everybody in Cassius an idiot?!

Damon sensed his irritation and put a calming hand on Viktor’s shoulder before stepping forward.
“What did this woman look like?” he asked the wide-eyed kid.

Sniper turned his gaze to the other Onyx Vampire and raised his hands, vaguely gesturing as he explained. “She was shorter than me, with big green eyes and dark red hair. She had on a h-hood.” He quickly pointed to the pub a little further from that spot. “She went in there! That pub with the colourful lights.”

Viktor felt like his bones would break from how tense his body was. Slowly, he turned to look at the pub indicated.
Green eyes, red hair, hood. Viktor’s jaw clenched tightly. No way. A laugh escaped him as he shook his head. Absolutely no way. He left her in Onyx and that’s where she was. That’s where she had better be! There was *no* way in hell Kamilla had taken Viktor’s personal, prized and *treasured* stallion and had ridden all the way to Cassius, after he’d told her to stay at home, to spend the night in a wild night club!
At this point Viktor was nearly vibrating with rage.

Damon reached a hesitant hand forward. “Uhm, Vi-Viktor!”

It was too late, Viktor was already halfway to the place, his steps angry and determined.
He burst into the entrance, his furious gaze scanning the dark pub for that fair face and bright red head. The minute he found her, he would—

Viktor stopped all thought processes as his gaze landed on Kamilla. Kamilla in the arms of some delinquent Cassius Vampire! Both shit-faced drunk, both stumbling their way across the pub.
Without further consideration, Viktor marched over and spun her around to face him.

Her eyes went wide in shock as his glare bore down on her. “What the *hell*, Kamilla?!” demanded Viktor.
He was dumbfounded to see her shock slowly turn into a huge smile.
“Oh, *helllooo*, little love!” she greeted far too cheerfully.

Viktor could barely speak. She had the audacity to smile?!

Kamilla threw a glance over her shoulder at the guy who watched them with interest.
“Jaime!” she whispered loudly, pointing at Viktor. “My pet dragon!”

The young man grinned back at her and came staggering forward. He thrust his hand out at Viktor. “Ah, the infamous pet dragon! P-pleasure to make your acquaintance!”
Viktor’s eyes fell closed as he released a shuddering breath. “Damon…” he muttered through gritted teeth. “Get him… *away* from me before I…”

Damon snapped out of his trance of absolute shock at this situation and rushed forward, holding the drunk young man by the arms. “I think it would be far safer for you over there,” he explained, leading Jaime away.

Kamilla turned to Viktor and grinned up at him. “When did *you* get here? You want a dop?! Okay!” She threw her arm up to wave at someone behind him. “Maya! Pour my little love a dop ‘fore he drops dead of thirst!”
Viktor heard someone cackle loudly behind him. “One dop and he’s out!”

Kamilla threw her head back and laughed at the senseless joke. Viktor stared at her, vaguely realizing that if he clenched his jaw any tighter, his teeth would shatter. He was furious beyond belief and if he had to say a word to any of these Cassius Vamps, their bar would be in flames in the next minute.

Without a word, Viktor leaned over and threw Kamilla over his shoulder, turning to carry her out.
“What are ye doing?” Kamilla shrieked. “Look here, little love!” she yelled, pounding his back with her fist.
Immediately a table of cheerful drunks was emptied as they all ran to block his path.

One of the guys staggered forward with swinging fists. “Ay, red hair!” he called. “Want me to settle things with this fellow for you?”
“Where are you taking our friend?” demanded a dark haired girl, peering suspiciously up at Viktor.

Before Viktor could throw her and all her friends across the room, Damon was there, blocking him from doing any damage.

“Look, kids,” said Damon. “Her name is not ‘red hair’ and she’s not your friend. He pointed at Viktor behind his back. “She’s his mate and he’s—”
“The King of *Onyyyyyx*!” completed Kamilla cheerfully from over Viktor’s shoulder before clapping her hands like a cheerleader.

Maya and her friends got sober on the spot as they stared up at Viktor and Damon. Slowly, they began to inch back.
“K-ki-king of… Onyx?” said Blake, lowering his fists.
Ignoring their stupidity, Viktor stalked out of the pub and headed for his carriage. Throwing the door open, he lowered Kamilla onto the carpeted floor of the carriage.
She rolled over and groaned. “Ahnngg… wait… my horsie!”
Viktor climbed in and slammed the door closed, nudging her head back down when she tried to get up.
Damon came out of the pub just as the carriage took off.

He ran up to the street but was too late. He cupped his hands around his mouth. “Oh, don’t worry about me!!” he yelled sarcastically after the carriage. “I’ll just ride Hunter back to Onyx!!”
Viktor ignored the yells and glared down at Kamilla.
She grinned at him.

“Stop showing me your teeth!” he told her.

Kamilla pouted, but was very soon smiling up at him again. She stretched her arms up to him. “Come here, little love! Come gimme a cuddle!”

Viktor gave her a dangerous look. “Oh, don’t worry, Kamilla. You’ll get a cuddle alright. You’ll get far more cuddles than you can handle.” He smiled at her. "From the bats at Witcher's Cliff."