Chapter Eight

◼Nikolas POV◼

After she passed out, I took her back to my room. I don’t know why she insisted on knowing where she was. Was she running from someone? Or was she in a hurry to go back home?

I got to admit, her way of acting and her character was a lot to take in. She looked like a queen, and that made me think about the Queen of the Solar Clan. She was fierce but admirable. She didn’t show fear at all, and she was strong.

After leaving her there, I went to my office and called Charles over. I needed to know who was the Queen of the Solar Clan. Few vampires have seen her, and they barely mention her. What I have heard is that she is ruthless, heartless, feared, and respected by everyone, and she’s a beauty.

But this woman didn’t show that, especially when she was in my arms. The way she looked at me was not of a heartless woman as I asked Charles to investigate her. So I go to meet a friend.

“Sorry to make you wait,” I said as I walked towards my living room. “How was the trip, Cullen?”

“Nikolas! Great seeing you; it was tiresome. Almost twelve hours of flight,” Cullen said as he bowed.

Cullen was the King of the Kingdom of the North. It was in the United States.

He was the only other friend I had apart from Charles. My trust in people was an enormous problem. After everything that happened with my family, I had trust issues.

“Please take a seat and tell me why you visit?” I asked as I waited for Cullen to sit first.

“Well, I heard there’s a beauty searching for the amulet. The amulet of all,” Cullen said as he leaned in his chair and smiled sheepishly.

“How did you know that?” I asked curiously.

“Well, that woman is well known around the world. They say she is a beauty, but very few truly have seen her. They say she’s strong and has great powers,” Cullen said as he drank his cup of blood. “Also, I heard a lot of clans are her allies; I came to meet her.”

“You came to meet her?” I said, sounding surprised, “Why? And how?”

“Well, it was hard to get a meeting with her. I know the Queen hates uninvited guests, she hates people who complain, and she decides if she wants to meet with you or not. She doesn’t tolerate much,” Cullen said, laughing, “After two months, I finally got an answer saying she accepted to meet me.”

“Is it that hard to meet her?” I asked, frowning.

“Yes, a lot of kings have been rejected. I’m curious to meet her and see if what they say is true. I also heard her clan is a beauty; she cares for her people even though she is heartless,” Cullen said as he raised his cup of blood.

Now that he mentioned it, we have never met, but the reason hasn’t been because she doesn’t want to. It’s been because we hate each other. Frowning, I keep listening to Cullen.

Two hours later, I excused myself. I needed to see how Rose was doing. But before I left, I asked Cullen something.

“Cullen?” I said, looking over my shoulder, “Do you know the name of the queen?”

“Hmm, now that you mentioned that… no, her name is not mentioned in the clans,” Cullen said as he rubbed his chin.

Nodding, I walk back upstairs. As I reached the bedroom, I entered quietly, the lights were off, and the room was silent. As I walked and approached the bed, I turned the light on just to see Rose gone.

As I hurried to look for her in the bathroom, I see she’s nowhere. Then, hissing, I suddenly see the balcony door open. Did she escape?

Standing outside, I looked. My balcony had a forest view. Enraged, I slam the door and go back downstairs. Yelling for Charles, I asked him if the guards noticed or saw anything. It seems no one saw her. Furious because she escaped, I ask my men to scout the area. If she left a while ago, we could find her. But, with that injury, she would not make it far.

…

The sun was rising, and no clues of where she was. It’s like she disappears in thin air. As I pace and yell orders, one guard comes rushing in. Bowing, he explains, they found some bodies on the road. It seems she had escaped. As I order men to accompany me, I take Charles with me.

We have been on the road for at least three hours. So far, only a witness told us, they saw a red hair woman heading towards the south. It pointed towards the Solar Clan. Was she a rogue?

I am trying to take the idea out of my mind. We continue our ride. It seems everything pointed towards the Solar Clan. Skeptical if to go or not, I called Cullen.

“Hey, what happened?” Cullen asked.

“I left because I had something urgent, sorry to leave you alone. But, look, I’m looking for someone and need your help,” I said.

“What is it?” Cullen asked softly.

“I’m heading to Solar Clan. Do you think she would accept to see me?” I asked through gritted teeth.

I didn’t wish to go. I hated that bitch, and that’s why I had never set foot in there. Hesitant, I wait for Cullen to say something.

“Good luck,” Cullen said and hung up.

Did he just hang up? Massaging my temple, I feel Charles staring at me.

“What?” I snap angrily.

“Do you need to find her?” Charles asked softly.

Hissing, I eyed him dangerously. What was that question? She’s my mate, my Queen. Scowling, I ignore him and order my men to head towards the Solar Clan. I don’t know if this was a bad idea, but I needed to find this woman, my Rose.

…

It’s been five hours, and we were still away from the clan. I took a nap to relax and calm my monster, but it wasn’t helping. After a few more hours, we finally arrived.

The entrance to the Solar Clan was a beauty to behold. It amazed me how magnificent it was. As we report ourselves, I see security was tight. The men looked hesitant. Smirking, I laugh loudly. This fucking rogues never expected to see me here, but something else told me the reason they were hesitant wasn’t for me.

As the gates open, we enter. Trees and forest surrounded the road. I could see some rivers from afar.

It was a magnificent place, got to admit. Never did I expect to be like this.

Our ride from the entrance to the clan was half an hour. That was a long entrance. As we reached the main house. We get down.

Looking around, I frown. This place poured richness.

Every home was grand, luxurious. I saw a couple of rogues staring but ignoring me.

The place was a beauty; I had to admire the architecture of every house and building. Even though it’s hidden in the mountains, I’m surprised by how all this got built here. Then, as Charles calls me, I turn around. A woman with a stoic expression awaited us with a couple of men.

Was she the Queen everyone talked about? She wasn’t that much of a beauty. As I approached the group. They bow and pay respects. I’m amazed at how respectful they were. Not an ounce of dislike.

Standing tall, I greet them. I eyed everyone.

As I frowned, I saw that none of them cringe at my presence. That was a first for me.

“Your Highness, welcome. My name is Renata, and I’m the Queen’s right hand,” the woman whose name was Renata said.

“Thank you, and sorry to come unnoticed, but this is an urgent matter,” I said as I looked at the mansion right in front of me.

This place was gloomy and eerie. Compared to the rest of the area, this was unique and different from the other ones.

“What might that be?” Renata asked as she frowned.

“I’m looking for someone… so I would like to request a meeting with your queen,” I said, staring at her eyes.

She never flinches or backs away.

“Your Highness. Our Queen doesn’t receive uninvited guests, so I don’t think she will meet with you,” Renata said as she turned serious. “So I would kindly ask you to turn back around and leave.”

Did she just ask me to leave? Showing my fangs, I hiss at her softly. How dare she? Did she know what the consequences of throwing me out were?

Raising her hand, Renata stops me.

“King Nikolas, let me remind you that this is not your territory. We record everything here, and if you come to make problems, you will lose your respect as a king,” Renata said, smirking.

Was this fucking bitch serious? Scowling, I looked at her and asked for an audience with her Queen once again. Suddenly a man approached us.

“King Nikolas, please calm down,” the stranger said as he stood right in front of me.

He looked different from any vampire here. He had a beauty to him I’ve never seen before.

“What can I do for you?” the stranger asked.

“I want to meet your queen for an urgent matter,” I said, hissing.

It pissed me. I wanted to hit that bitch, but she was right. It wasn’t my territory, and causing a fight would make me lose face.

“Well, I imagine Renata already explained that our queen doesn’t take uninvited guests,” the stranger said.

Breathing deeply, I fist my hands. They got to be kidding me. Cullen was right; it was hard to meet her. Suddenly a hand on my shoulder makes me snap my head and hiss. Charles looked at the stranger and kindly asked him if he could ask the Queen to meet us.

The stranger smirked and, finally agreeing, told us to follow him. Charles’s grip on me was more potent than usual. He knew I was about to snap at them at any moment. As the doors opened and we walked in, I looked at the place in utter shock.

The inside of the mansion was a 360 turn from the outside. It’s like if I walked into another dimension. This place was neatly clean, white as the snow, and everything was modern. As the stranger guided us towards the living room, he asked us to wait a moment. Then, nodding, I see him walk away.

As I looked around the place, I saw no pictures or paintings, especially of a person. There were paintings but of landscapes and food.

After waiting for a while, the stranger walks back.

The stranger told us the Queen would not meet us but allowed us to search for the person in the clan. However, she was not responsible for what the person did, allowing us to take her back.

Agreeing with it, the stranger tells me his name is Liam, and he would join us. We had eight hours to find the person, and after that, we had to leave.

As we left the mansion, I searched for the person. Liam asked for a description. I told him that if I saw the person, I would let him know. As we walked, I felt someone observing me. Turning my head, I found no one. It was a powerful presence. Trying to ignore it, I walk with the group.

…

We have been searching for a while, and I haven’t seen her at all. As we kept walking and asking, the sun started setting. Liam told us they arranged a guest house for our stay until I completed the eight hours.

We only looked for three hours, and by the looks, this place was enormous. Eight hours wouldn’t be enough to search. Getting a break, Liam tells us he would be back in half an hour. Nodding, I dismissed him.

“Are you sure she is here?” Charles asked after a while.

“Well, everything pointed that she headed this way,” I said as I looked outside the window.

As I stand and look outside, I see some guards taking some slaves. There were at least ten slaves, and they were heading towards the mansion. The guest house we were staying in was right in front of it.

Frowning, I tried to see if anyone was coming out or if I could get a glimpse of the so-called Queen.

Half an hour later, Liam came back. We started searching. By now, it was late in the night, the sun had settled, so it would be easier because most vampires were at home. I felt disgusted seeing each of them, even though everyone we visited didn’t even flinch at my name. I still felt unhappy. I hated rogues.

Three more hours of searching and nothing. Was she hiding? As we walked, a guard rushed towards us and stopped right in front of Liam.

“General, sorry to disturb you,” the guard said as he bowed, “But we need you back in the mansion.”

I could see Liam frown and heave a sigh. As he massaged his temple, he frowned harder.

“How many?” Liam suddenly asked as I stood next to him quietly.

“Sir, we have ten slaves and,” the guard stuttered.

“And what?” Liam snapped.

“We have two g-guards and f-f-five maids,” the guard mumbled as he bowed again.

Frowning, I looked at Liam. He scowled.

“Call Renata over now!” Liam hissed.

The guard turned around and left. After five minutes, Renata came. This woman was staring at me with hate. Doing the same, I could feel her anger pouring from her skin.

“Renata, go back to the mansion and try to reason with her?” Liam said, “It seems she is losing it again.”

Snapping my head, I try to understand what he just said. Renata was frowning and as she processed what happened. She sighed, relaxing her face as she asked how many. Liam told her at least fifteen.

By now, if my guess was correct, it seems the so-called Queen was killing slaves and her people. Was she a monster and ruthless, like everyone said?

“Fine, but if she doesn’t stop. You will go; after all, she’s your responsibility, not mine,” Renata said as she waved her hand and walked away.

As we saw her leave, Liam turned around and apologized. I just stared back at the mansion. Now I was curious to know more about this Queen.

…

Once we completed our eight hours. Liam took us back to where our cars were. We didn’t find her. No one looked like her.

“Do you receive guests that just pass by for a day?” I asked.

“Yes, we do, and a lot. So maybe the person you are looking for came and left?” Liam said, frowning.

He could be right. As I give him my thanks, I see Renata calling Liam’s name from one of the windows on the second floor.

“Liam! If you finish, please come. Your sister is out of control,” Renata yelled.

Looking sternly at Liam, I see him sigh.

“Your sister? Is the Queen your sister?” I asked curiously.

Liam just scowled and nodded. After a quick farewell, he turns around and leaves. Getting in the car, I looked at the window where Renata was standing. It looked like a bedroom. Was that the queen room?

Taking a last look, I see a figure pass by the window. I couldn’t see her, just the silhouette. Now I was curious to know who this Queen was. This ruthless Queen that everyone talked about.