Sophia called the entire guard to her side. Her brother was approaching from the front, but that wasn't what unnerved her. The Captain of her guard disappeared hours ago. No one had seen her since. The woman was either dead or a traitor. Either way, Sophia wasn't taking chances. All remaining vampires were armed and called to the throne room where Sophia sat on her dais in the center of the room. Vampires surrounded her on all sides, ready to fight.

Certainty washed over the Queen, as she counted her loyal vampires again and again. Let them come, she thought. Then this entire charade could end. It gave Sophia a chance to demonstrate her power. No one would doubt her after this. No one would challenge her for centuries. With the human blood running through her veins, she was stronger than anyone who would dare challenge her, the King included.

A Regent vampire stood to her left. It was a position of power, a place of respect. The vampire was pale and thin with tousled dark hair and a scattering of scruff along his jaw. Sophia thought James looked unkempt, but it's not like she could instruct him to dress properly, not right then. Many of the Regents were dragged from their rooms, from their homes, and ordered to protect the Queen. Those who refused were executed. Sophia didn't earn her throne by being patient.

James didn't look at the Queen. He stared straight ahead, his hands wrapped around a shotgun. At one time vampires couldn't be killed by such silly weapons, but now they were weak. A knife to the throat or a shot to the head stopped them swiftly, and to make sure that they didn't awaken again, Sophia burned their bodies until only ashes remained.

Sophia's eyes were locked on James, "Do you remember the first Deliverance Day?"

James looked over his shoulder at her and bowed his head slightly before answering, "Yes, my Queen. I was there, fighting for you."

Sophia straightened in her throne, a pleased smile snaked across her ruby lips. "I thought so. That day ended well. The humans were saved and things finally shifted into our favor. I intend to keep things that way." Sophia wanted a mirror, but her reflection faded more and more each day. She wondered if she looked regal enough to be sitting there, commanding all the vampires surrounding her. A pang of irritation shot through her. While it was safer to wait here, Sophia hated waiting. "This is not how we won Deliverance Day," she said smoothly.

James nodded in agreement, "That is correct. You were bold on that day."

"I was bold that day and things ended in my favor, and today, I sit here like a bird on a perch waiting for the King to find me." She shook her head. It made her brown curls bob around her face. Sophia felt their smoothness brush against her cheek. She breathed hard, a habit left over from her human years. Sophia hardly ever felt fear, but when she did, her mannerisms mimicked the scared girl she was before she was changed. Sophia's hand lifted to her heart. Although it didn't beat, the memory of it slamming into her ribs filled her body. It made her think the fear was real and not a memory. Dread flooded her body, making her feet twitch in her satin slippers.

Sophia stood slowly and looked over the room of vampires. Her forces were well over two hundred. As she rose, dark heads turned slowly toward her. Their eyes watched her silky red gown, as the fabric fell into long sweeping folds at her feet and accentuated the narrowness of her waist. A belt studded with rubies was just under her bust, making her hips look non-existent, just the way she liked it. At one time, Sophia's name was enough to strike down her enemies. Over the years she'd grown tame. Staging the fights with her brother kept most of her challengers at bay. It worked, too, on all but one.

Every set of eyes was on her. Sophia held her head high, making her slender, pale neck look longer - more aristocratic. Her beauty was the envy of women, and the desire of men. Sophia's dark eyes narrowed as they swept over the room. "We will not wait here like scared dogs, cowering."

"Your Majesty," one her guards spoke out. "It is easier to protect you here. We can predict with certainty that this location, guarding you in this position, is to your advantage."

Sophia stepped off the dais and swiftly crossed the room toward the guard. She looked like she was floating. The vampire surrounding her gasped. Sophia caught whispers of shock, "She moves like the vampires of old." Before the flood, Sophia was swift. Her ancient body was powerful enough to fly, to move without being seen. She was ruthless and attacked without provocation. The others feared her, and seeing this display of power reminded them of the former glory of their Queen, and left them in awe.

Stopping in front of the guard, Sophia looked him in the eye. "You think we should hide like scared children? Do you not know your Queen is more powerful than those who threaten us?"

The guard's lips parted to reply, but Sophia didn't give him the chance. Her hand swept across his throat, severing it from his body. It thumped to the floor as his headless body teetered and fell. Sophia didn't even watch. Instead she turned to her loyal subjects, smiling like a saint.

"Under my reign the old ways will return. The power we once held as vampires is within our reach again. Those who follow me will share in it, and those who question me, will be silenced." Her dark gaze fell back to the dead vampire on the white marble floor. A pool of blackened blood oozed from his body. It was impossible for the vampires in the room to ignore him, but many of them refused to look. They feared their Queen, Sophia could see it in their eyes. The corners of her reddened lips pulled up, revealing her teeth. They were glittering white. The vampire's in the room had various reactions, but most had wide eyes, watching their Queen as she smiled. Some even leaned forward to see how sharp and beautiful her eye teeth had become. Content that they all saw her newly forming fangs, Sophia said, "After tonight, we return to the old ways."

The vampires roared with approval, their voices cheering their Queen. Without another word, Sophia turned toward the door, her crimson gown billowing around her ankles. While she could float, Sophia didn't want to expend the power, not with Kahli still missing. While she had a few extra drops of Kahli's blood on hand, it was not enough. Her supply would be diminished in days. Sophia knew that if she failed to get the girl back, everything she gained would be lost. There was one thing Sophia couldn't stand, and that was losing.

The vampires cheered behind her. They lifted their voices, and their weapons, following their Queen out of the ballroom and through the front doors of the palace. Sophia grinned widely. She would not lose this battle.

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