The Queen Is Here

prologue

Who would have ever thought that I would end up here? I had discovered those we thought had been lost, uncovered secrets and so much more. I cannot believe that I am now fighting an all out war. I have been fighting for respect my whole life. I never knew who my parents were until I was almost one hundred years old. Yes, I know that may sound weird. Let me enlighten you as to who I am and what I am. My name is Zapphire of the Aqua Clan. This is the newest created clan of all the vampire clans. I am the first hybrid Half-breed to be known to be allowed to live. I am also the first to be known to earn my status of head of my own clan. My mother is the Witch Amerilla and my father is Vindal of the Diamond Clan. Most beings call me an abomination, which they have a right to their own opinion. But as it stands right now, this freak of nature is the only force field standing between them and us. Some Witches agree with almost all the human species that beings that require blood from others should fry at the stake. But there are those (like my mom) whom like ,or may even love , vampires and believe that we should have a chance to live. With all that being said, why am I the one giving all my energy to stop this annihilation? For me to be able to accurately tell you the answer to that question, I am going to have to go back a few centuries. All the way back to a few decades after my first original famous statement. . . "I am Queen of the Bound". Did my statement cause a possible extinction?

here it goes again

"Zapphire!" That voice I have not heard in a couple lifetimes made me smile from flowing silver earring to the other. Gracefully, I pivoted on my heels to run to embrace Crystal's usual arrival hug. "Oh, how I have missed you dearly. You must tell me everything from your imprisonment of the horrible Ruby Clan. You know if they harmed you in any way. . ." I start crushing the boulders I had dug up and brought here, " . . . they WILL answer to me." She smiled while shaking her head. "No one harmed me without my permission," she squealed as she revealed her pregnant figure. "Congratulations! So I take it things have been a small amount different," I questioned. "Yes. Reonad has kept to the Ruby Clan ideas of not much love of humans, but he has lessened in the amount of killing. He is also wonderful to me, which surprises me since I am a Half-breed. . ." I had missed her more than I could ever put into words. I still did not like which clan King Edward had sent her to, but I can respect that he knew with her there that there would be change to some small degree. He knew that because he knew I would personally see to it for her safety. She had become a member of my clan not long after it was created. My thoughts started to drift to a foggy bog. I unfortunately had to interrupt her story. "Crys, I need to see the terminals." She knew what I meant and nodded. As I walked to the hospital department of my land, I started to realize that I had yet to thank the ones who had helped me with bringing the boulders. I was in the process of creating a garden. Mental note: send for animals and wine.

The land that had been given to me for my clan was once nothing but forest. In the time we had started, we kept most of the forest and cleared just enough for the buildings we wanted. We had the main House which is where I lived and anyone that I may eventually turn. Amerilla lived in there with me too. Then you had the Half house, go figure, is where any Half- breeds lived. The Humane is where the humans went. We also had a library , kitchen, hospital, guest and sick house. The Aqua Clan consisted of anyone who wanted to be under my protection. Your original clan did not prevail at the Trade but did not want to go to the winning one? I was the alternative. We were slowly growing with time. We were the rejects and runts.

When I was able to help this hilarious gentleman move to what may be there after passing from our world, I went back to the boulders. I was not about to ask those under my care to work while I lived a lavish lifestyle off of their sweat, tears, blood and backs. I began toning my force field ability by turning the boulders into statues, benches, fountains and posts. I then started placing them where the human architect blueprinted. The bliss of teamwork that this clan could accomplish always made me so happy. So happy that sometimes when I was working alone I would start singing. I started singing today too. Lately, I have been trying to take my mom's advice about projecting my power with my words instead of emotions. It was not working today which was no different than the previous days. I was constantly failing at each of my attempts. I knew that I would only truly be a failure if I ever fully quit. Now THAT I would never do. So I stopped attempting to project my powers and just had fun. After some time, I began hearing more voices chiming in and footwork being done. It seemed my protectees hod joined me. Now the work had become a festive evening. This proceeded until we all felt a chill from the frost stare of Janyn. Janyn was the most recently turned vampire of the Diamond Clan. Because Vindal himself turned her, she honestly believed she was the greatest ever created. We all knew that if she was "gracing us with her presence" that she did not want to come along. She absolutely despised every last member of the Aqua Clan. She was in a sislationship with Christine. Christine had an unusual ability. She could place images in minds. She enjoyed torturing others with the images. So it was always a shock to see them in the presence of the Opal Clan.

Charles came up to me, smiled and bowed. I returned the bow, only to come back up face to face with him. "Vanaura sends her regard, but she was unable to make it. She is reading into a threat from outside the Mist," was softly said in an unemotional apology. "I understand. Welcome to Aqua. It is still a work in progress." I paused to prepare others for my normalness. "You crashed our party. So either join or proceed to the Guest house and we can meet tomorrow." I finished just as Edward was step beside David. I will not deny the fact that David had grown more handsome since my Half-breed Examination. He had also grown a bit hateful. . . no not hateful. . . heartless is the better word. He had grown heartless towards me. I know when I chose the Bound over him that day we would grow apart some. But I never thought he would pair himself with a hateful dog like Janyn. Without waiting for an answer, I resumed singing to signal that it was okay to begin the enjoyment and jolliness again. Edward smiled a small grin in my direction as I did this. He had come to understand what I stood for and why. He also respected the fact (now) that I would not alter my ideas. "You know, David, she has shown more qualities of Royal in her short time as head of a clan than most show in their whole lives. You might want to try to be nicer to her," Edward advised his son. David's expression did not move from the resting hate face though.

Hours passed before our party had to come to an end. The blasted sun seemed to ruin everything. I was the last one in. I wanted to guarantee no one was to be harmed from the sun's ray and that those who decided to come work during the day had all they needed. I began walking the halls of the House only to be rudely and disrespectfully approached by Janyn, "You had your chance with David and chose others. Do not try to ruin my time." She smirked as turned in her shear house coat. She obviously had no care in the world that anyone and everyone could see her lingerie. She was an physically attractive female. No sane person could deny it. To be honest, I was happy for her to have that much confidence. She just looked like a courtesan though. What infuriated me was the way she presented her attitude towards the one that could one day be her saving grace from final death. She gave me the vibe that she would sleep her way to where she wanted to be. As a once true friend, I wanted better for David. But who was I to tell him that after I broke his heart?

While David was on my land, it almost felt like i was back in those barracks. I just tried to keep busy and avoid him. Edward had assured me that the would not be there many more nights. They were on their way to the Annual Trade. My clan never went as a whole. Individuals could go if they so chose. Those that went would be escorted by Opal to and fro. The Annual Trade now supposed to consist of volunteers instead of chosen. It became that way since one year of the "prizes" chose to come to me. I was smiling at the thought as I was entering my room only to be pinned against the back of the door. Before I could react. The passion, I had not felt since the days Charles would not stand guard over my training, sparked in my lips like embers bursting as gasoline was poured on top. "I had to see if what Vanaura told me the other day was true. I did not have the courage to risk it until I saw the look in your eyes a couple of days ago. . . " there was a pause in this whispered confession, "I am sorry I did not trust more in the direction you took that day. Please forgive me for what I have done now." With that, David was gone but not the urge that was felt. It was hurting more than the heartlessness. I had only one thought screaming in my head at that moment. GREAT! Here we go again. . .