The Queen Of Nightmares

I decided to try to travel back to the library. It's the only place in this ghastly, colossal palace that I think I will be left alone and actually able to enjoy myself. However as I sit here, eating breakfast with the Queen my nerves start to get the best of me.

Artemis discreetly watched the girl absentmindedly munch on her toast as she thought. Soleil seemed to be more trustworthy of her this morning. Allowing her to watch her without receiving death glares- which she stopped watching so she didn't make Soleil feel as though she was still dreaming up a punishment for her-and also helping her reach the platers further away. Soleil had even asked for Artemis to grab a waffle of a platter that was out of her reach. Which astounded the Vampire, but she complied with a smile.

An idea came to Artemis's mind. When Soleil had been caught they had confiscated her belongings, most of them were now in Artemis's possession as her 'owner', but she had noticed a lot of things had gone missing from the girls school bag. Soleil thought she was at least attempting to be sneaky with the Vampire Queen when she would read and hide the book she had somehow managed to keep with her. Artemis knew that Soleil probably thought she might get half punished for having a book in her room, something that she bought with her herself. Although both thought why would the Queen take away a book of all things?

"I have something to show you and I think you will love it." For the first time the Queen of Nightmares was nervous but it did not show in her voice.

Soleil watched as the Queen stood from her seat with grace and looked at her in the eyes with a soft expression before gesturing for Soleil to follow. The girl was curious. What could the Queen have to show her? Was it another garden within a house practically made out of glass? If so she was definitely using this one to escape from the guards and Her Majesty when she could within the Palace. The Queen continued to walk down the halls of the Palace at a fast pace but slow enough so Soleil could still walk beside her. To Soleil the Queen seemed to be leading her on a wild goose chase before she suddenly used her incredible speed and caught her before dragging her off to some prison cell with chains and or a room where she could drink from her.

However, the Queen made sure to keep her distance as much as she could while leading the human through navigating the Palace corridors so she didn't stress Soleil out. She already knew that Soleil was timid and cautious around her because of what she had been taught and how intimidating she looked to the human. For Lilith's sake, that's why the Humans gave her the name: Queen of Nightmares. But she would never let Soleil see that side of her. If Artemis was ever to come clean about her secret which involved both of them, she would rather Soleil not seeing the side of her she thought of herself as a monster. Dressed in her amour, adorned with thick and sticky red blood and her sun sword grasped in her hands...Artemis did not want the girl- her mate to see her as some monster than enjoyed killing and drinking blood.

Soleil almost crashed into the Queen when she stopped abruptly. Luckily, she caught herself before she plowed into the Queen and before Queen Artemis turned to face her.

"I know you have only had a peak of this through the doors. And I hope you will be able to find your way back through the maze of corridors...." Artemis paused her speech so she could open the double doors to the library, "But I hope you can enjoy what it has to offer, I heard that you liked to read."

My eyes struggle to take in the monstrosity that lays before me. Rows upon rows of shelves stretch on into oblivion, there's at least five levels to the bookshelves on the ground level and the ones on the second level connected by multiple staircases must reach the ceiling. Well, that's what I guess because I can barely see from the golden rays of sunlight streaming in from the glass ceiling. A gasp left my mouth as I tried to wake up out of this dream.

"Why are you being so nice to me all of a sudden?" Soleil asked, hoping her tone wasn't filled with awe.

"Because, I have been nothing but a bitch to you." Artemis sighed as she held the doors open to the Library.

"To busy being The Queen of Nightmares?" Soleil blurts before she can stop herself.

The Queen strides closer to wards her.

The Queen turns abruptly. "I earned that title and its reputation by how I fought on the battlefield. In no way am I like that in person- unless you dare to cross blades against me."

Everything about that sentence sent chills through Soleil's body. But they weren't cold. When Artemis notices that Soleil isn't going to say another word she heads for the doors. With that she stalks away, taking long strides with renewed vigor and determination as if she is a Goddess.  The Queen of Nightmares eyes were pools of stormy slimmer moons that would scare you to death, except her steely stare captivated Soleil. 

The bookshelves are stacked with books tat could be centuries old and twice as tall as me. Soleil always had a favourite genre but she couldn't seem to find books that fulfill her interest half the time, and when she does, it takes a long time to finds books that fulfill that gap again. Within an hour Soleil has found what she thinks is her favourite genre's section.

Soleil plucks a familiar looking book off a shelf. Her grin turns into surprise than wonder. Did the Queen have the whole set? Did she even read books with human authors?

"Are you going to read that book or are you just going to stare at it, pet." A melodic voice echoes beside me.

Before Soleil can fathom, the book shed dropped from initial shock now rests in perfectly manicured hands. She gapes at the floor where it should be.

It's the Queen.

Two finger gently make their way to my chin and tilt my head upwards, sideways to the Queen. Her hand gently but firmly holds Soleils face in place as her molten silver orbs observe her.

"Careful, these books may break from too much force, pet. There are some that are older than me." she whispers.

"H-how old are you." I stutter.

"Many years, pet." she places the book back on the shelf, "Some think I was born even before the war."

"Really?" I gasp.

"Vampire's live long lives; Royals live even longer." she shrugs.

Why is she telling me this. This is vital information and she's just telling me. If she is really as old as he hints then she would know almost all of our attacks and plans. We seriously underestimated her. I seriously underestimated the Queen. She's not like anything I was told or expected.

"This is valuable information your telling me." I state.

"Oh, pet. I know your not going to tell anyone. And I know you love it." She smiles, tips of her fangs showing.

"How did she know that? I didn't even say anything. Can she read my mind...."

"No, I can't read your mind." Artemis loves how the girl can't figure out how she knows.

Waves of confusion spill onto her. Artemis couldn't help but tell her, she wanted Soleil to know everything about her as much as she wanted to know everything about Soleil herself. This was the mate bond. And Artemis was tired of fighting it. Soleil wanted to know more about the elusive, cold Queen but she couldn't bring herself to pry further into her life. Something was stopping her, and it wasn't her heart- those strange feelings she felt towards the not- so- cold Queen. Whatever it was, she did not want to be in the library when the Queen returned if she actually dropped and broken another book. 

"I came to check on you but it seems that you're quite occupied in the books." Artemis' lips twitched into a grin.

"Have you read all of them? The books, I mean." Soleil asks.

"You forget I'm almost nine hundred years old. I've read a few. But certainly not all." Artemis stated.

HAAPPY NEW YEARS!

Proud to say that this story is going to be updated regularly now ;)