The Realm was in a frenzy. Word of the weeklong gala has spread like wildfire. Even though the event was more than two years away, frantic calls were made to dress makers, hair and make-up artists and anyone else anyone could think of. To delay was to invite disaster for once the true professionals were taken, one had to rely on those new to the field or those who were mediocre at best.
Wilhelmina was among the first to make a phone call and she got the people that she wanted. She didn't care that they didn't like her or didn't want her as a client; she paid well for them to put up with her. Of the people that she selected, there was only one who resisted. However, he soon came around when the name of his mate was mentioned.
Wilhelmina smiled. It felt good to know that there were still those who feared her. The smile disappeared as she thought about her dwindling number of those who would have been able to help her. In the past week alone the Queen had arrested, tried and punished no less than two-hundred of those who had been loyal to her when she had been in power. Every day there were new reports about the arrests but the one that hit hardest was the arrest of her right hand woman Alicia Duchain.
Wilhelmina let out a string of profanities when she heard of the arrest. When she calmed down, she remembered hearing that the current Queen was sometimes easier on the females but that didn't mean that she would go easy on Alicia or that Alicia would be freed in time to help with any planning.
She wondered how the Queen found Alicia. She was a master at hiding and not being found unless she wanted to be. That meant only one thing, someone had betrayed Alicia and by extension her. She made a mental note to find out who it was and when she did, they would be sorry.
Thinking about Alicia filled her with longing. Alicia was the only other person that she knew of who was as ruthless as she was and who wasn't afraid to take what she wanted. It was because of Alicia that she had never made Thomas her equal. Her initial plan had been to rule forever by killing any female child that she thought of as her replacement and then to get rid of Thomas. Once that was done, she would make an unprecedented move, make Alicia her co-ruler, and openly acknowledge her as her lover.
Her impeachment ended her plans and for all of these centuries she waited and now she had only one slim chance of taking back what she had lost. The question she had was where Alicia was and was she still alive. Cold rage rose in her as she thought about what could be happening to Alicia. There had to be a way to find out about Alicia without raising suspicions.
She looked over at Thomas and didn't like what she saw. Something had changed. He looked and acted like the same timid and weak vampire that she knew him to be but something ...
"I see you've already booked Julian, Phillip and Moon." Gabra a former queen from Ethiopia said.
"What of it?" Wilhelmina snapped.
"Nothing... Just making conversation." Gabra replied unfazed. "You really must interact more with others, I find your manners... lacking."
"Then don't converse with me!" Wilhelmina replied her voice terse.
Gabra only laughed at her and walked away. Wilhelmina stared at her back and wondered what the real purpose of the brief conversation had been.
********
When he didn't get a response back from his contact, Thomas began to make other plans. He knew that there were those in the Realm that hated Wilhelmina, but the question was would they help him. BBut more important, could he trust them? He was still in a quandary about what he should do about Lottie. As long as Wilhelmina was planning, she was safe enough, but the closer the time of the gala came; the more danger her life would be in.
He wondered where his contact was and hoped that he wasn't in the queen's custody. If he was, then he hoped that the Queen would look into his soul as she was reputed to be able to do. If she did, she would see that Lorenzo Delgado was as honorable as they came and that he had been pulled into Wilhelmina's web like so many others had been.
He still had nightmares about that night. When he closed his eyes, he could still hear the screams of the humans as they awaited their fate. Up until that moment, he had no real idea of what Wilhelmina had been planning although he was aware of her feelings toward humans. Lorenzo also realized what was happening but it was almost too late. Between the two of them, they had managed to save only four of the humans. Wilhelmina wasn't aware of this only because Lorenzo had taken full responsibility, thus saving his life.
Soon afterwards, Wilhelmina had been impeached. He and Lorenzo talked one time afterwards.
"Thomas, keep an eye on her, she means trouble whether it's now or in the future. Part of my accepting full responsibility for the escaped humans is so that you can watch her."
"What do you think she'll do?" Thomas asked. "She'll spend eternity in the Realm."
"I don't know." Lorenzo said. "But I don't trust her."
"But you trust me." Thomas commented.
"Yes, but only because you tried to help the humans and I know that you've tried to reason with her about her views." Lorenzo replied. "But Thomas, watch yourself and whatever you do, don't let her find out what and who you really are. She'll either use it against you or try to get you to use it to her benefit but I suspect the latter."
"Lorenzo, do you really think that she'll try something?" Thomas asked.
"Let's hope that I'm wrong." Lorenzo said. "But if you ever need to reach me say the word treason into any portal and I will respond."
It seemed impossible that that conversation had happened centuries ago and that what Lorenzo had feared was happening.
"Lorenzo, where are you?" Thomas murmured.
He looked up when Gabra walked past him. She gave him the barest of nods and moved on. Thomas was startled and surprised. He knew that Gabra was one of the past Queens who hated Wilhelmina and wondered if she wasn't a potential ally. Time would tell he decided as he stood to go to his suite. On the way, he passed Lottie who gave him a shy smile. In that moment, he decided not to tell her. The less she knew the better and if he told her anything, it would be just enough to keep her safe.
When he got to his suite, he locked the door and set wards that he hadn't used since before he mated with Wilhelmina. The wards set; Thomas sat down in front of the mirror and said the word.
"Treason."
*********
Naila was awake and eating when the first summons came. Lorenzo ignored it deciding that he would answer it later. He knew who it was and wondered what was happening that he was hearing from Thomas after so many centuries.
Naila was looking a little better than she had the day before although her face was still swollen and bruised. She could however, open her eyes more than half way and the pain was gradually decreasing. She had gone from eating just soups to soft foods, which Lorenzo insisted on feeding her.
He continued to shower with her even though she objected. Afterwards he would apply the cream to her back, get into bed with her and hold her as she slept. The second summons came during one of those times. Lorenzo swore as he slowly eased out of bed. Naila moaned, moved into the spot where he had just been and went back to sleep.
Lorenzo went into the bathroom and shut the door.
"Open." Lorenzo said softly.
A few seconds later, he was looking at Thomas.
"Where are you? Are you well?" Thomas asked.
"I am well but my mate hasn't been. That's why I didn't respond the first time you summoned."
"Lorenzo, you were right! She is planning something but I have no proof."
"Tell me what you know." Lorenzo said as he glanced behind him making sure that he was still alone.
He listened without interrupting.
"This Gabra, do you believe her to be trustworthy?" Lorenzo asked when Thomas was through.
"I believe so but it is too soon to say." Thomas replied. "I know that there are others who hate her as much as we do but I haven't spoken to any of them yet."
"Don't" Lorenzo advised. "As you say it's too soon and we know too little. I agree that Lottie is safe for now but I will work on getting her here. As you know, only the Queen can give permission for someone to leave the Realm."
"I understand." Thomas said.
"Thomas, I know that you're worried but if we bring Lottie here too soon, Wilhelmina will know that you know something."
"Then she'll take Lottie hostage." Thomas said. "What are you going to do?"
