Chapter 36

Clara

I soon realized that the guards were not there to protect the healers. They were there to take me into custody.

I soon found myself back in the dungeons. Once again I was left without so much as a thin blanket to rest on. At least Nora’s lounge dress was warm. I tucked the skirt tightly around my legs and huddled against the wall.

They let me keep the slate and chalk, which would be a greater kindness if there was anyone to “talk” to. I could hear guards moving around, but none of them approached my cell. I had seen other prisoners as I was brought in, but I could not see any of them from the angle of my cell, and so they wouldn’t be able to read my slate.

I wondered what the other prisoners were accused of. I had not been taken so deep into the dungeons the last two times I was imprisoned, and so I hadn’t seen anyone.

I heard a few soft mutters further down the hall. I couldn’t tell whether it was the other prisoners talking to one another, or the guards passing the time by chatting. I wished I could hear more clearly, just so I’d have something to think about besides my own situation.

But the other prisoners could offer me no distractions now.

It had to be a mistake! It had to be. How could I possibly be half vampire? Before today, I had never even seen a vampire!

I knew, abstractly, that we were at war with the vampires. But the vampires didn’t fight our warriors directly, for the most part. They sent their servants and hired Rogue mercenaries to do their fighting instead.

And even if they did fight directly, I had never been near a battlefield. I was a maid! Except for that one ill-conceived attempt to run away, I had never even been outside the royal compound.

Well, I supposed I might have been outside the compound as a baby. My adoptive mother said I was left in her care. I always assumed she just found me wherever my parents abandoned me. She never talked about them, so I assumed they were strangers to her.

Were they strangers, though? Or did she know them? Were they her friends?

No, that was impossible. She would never have been friends with a vampire, or with someone willing to have a baby with a vampire. And I’m sure she would have told me, warned me, if she knew I was so very different from everyone else.

Who were my parents, anyway? Obviously one of them was a werewolf. And apparently one was a vampire.

Were they fated mates, like Nora and Kyle? Had they tried to make the best of things when they found each other? Had they fallen in love, tried to build a family?

What had happened to them? Were they dead and gone, as my adoptive mother implied? Or had they abandoned me? Was I evidence of their unnatural bond?

My racing thoughts were interrupted by the appearance of a half dozen guards. I looked up from the floor.

“Come with us,” one guard ordered.

They sent six armed fighters to escort one former maid? That seemed like a bit much to me. It wasn’t like I was going to resist them. What would be the point?

If I tried to fight, they would put me down easily. If I ran, they would catch me. And if they didn’t, where could I go? I had seen the world outside the wall. I would find myself prey to a Rogue inside of a day, once again.

My hope was that I would be given a chance to speak in my own defense. I was not a criminal. I had not stolen anything or hurt anyone. I could not help who my parents had been. Surely I would not be imprisoned forever for the crime of being born!

The guards escorted me out of the dungeon. Instead of the courtyard, where public trials were held, they led me into the throne room. There was an older man on the throne, who could only be the king. I had never seen him in person.

I was surprised how much he looked like Prince Marcus. For some reason I had imagined he would resemble his oldest son. Maybe Prince Gideon took after their mother.

Both princes flanked the throne. Prince Marcus stared at me intently. I couldn’t read his expression but I imagined he must be furious. If a mute fated mate was an embarrassment, what was a half-vampire?

Prince Gideon turned his head away the moment I was led into the room. He stared fixedly at a point on the wall. I couldn’t guess what he might be feeling.

The guards stopped at the foot of the throne. One of them shoved me to kneel at the king’s feet. I locked my eyes on the rich, red carpet and waited.

“This is the terrifying vampire hybrid?” the king scoffed.

I shook my head. I might be half vampire, but I wasn’t sure. I certainly would not call myself terrifying!

“She claims she did not know, your majesty.”

I didn’t know the man who spoke. He was dressed in fine robes so I was fairly sure he was a noble.

“Is this true?” the king spoke to me.

I nodded, and held up my slate.

“Yes, I realize you are mute. We will keep our questions to yes or no answers.”

I bowed low, so that my nose almost brushed the carpet. When I returned to my kneeling posture, I saw that the king was studying me.

“The healers have been questioned already,” the king declared. “They claim they are certain, and that there can be no mistake. You are a half vampire.”

I shook my head in silent denial.

“I understand you were adopted?” the king said.

I nodded.

“And your adoptive mother never told you anything about your parentage?” the king continued.

I shook my head, no.

“Well. This is most unfortunate,” the king said. “We cannot allow one of the enemy to continue to live among us. Already we have been attacked by one spy. There is no way to guarantee that you are not another.”

I shook my head frantically. I wasn’t a spy! I didn’t even know!

“Father,” Prince Marcus spoke up. “Perhaps she could be useful.”

I blinked and stared at him. I was certain he would be calling for my blood. Instead, it almost seemed like he was trying to help me.

“In what way?” the king asked. “It is not like she can offer us any information about her kindred. She has lived among us all her life and admits she knows nothing.”

Prince Marcus shrugged. “Perhaps the healers can study her. There may be some weakness in them that she can reveal.”

I flinched. No, he wasn’t helping me at all. I didn’t want to be experimented on!

“Hm. Well, there may be something we can learn, but the risk is too great,” the king declared. “The healers may study her corpse. I am certain that will be informative enough.”

My corpse?

“Father, she has committed no crime,” Prince Gideon spoke up.

I looked at him hopefully, but his gaze was locked on the king’s.

“I realize that. However, it is my duty to protect our people from the existential threat posed by the vampires,” the king said. “It is unfortunate, yes, but it must be done. The hybrid will be executed tomorrow, at noon, when vampires are at their weakest.”

I would have screamed or cried if I could. As it was, I could only stare up at him in horror.

“Because you are innocent as far as I have been able to discern,” the king added, speaking to me, “Your sentence will be carried out in privacy, and with as little pain as is possible.”

Was I supposed to be grateful?

My hand clenched on the chalk they’d let me keep, but I could not think of a single thing to write.

The guards pulled me to my feet and I followed them back to my cell. I stumbled along after them. My entire body was numb. Even if I had a voice, I wouldn’t have been able to make a sound.

I curled into a ball in the corner of my cell, and prayed to the moon that this whole day was some terrible dream.