Sleeping Beauty (41 page)

The noise in the crowed swelled as they discussed what Lucette had told them. She looked down to Tristan, who smiled. If these people weren't yet convinced, she'd just have to keep trying. At least every moment she held them back was another moment they weren't crossing the border to stake sleeping vampires.

Finally, the man she'd been talking to stepped up onto the back of a cart. He raised his hands and the crowd quieted. “What the princess has told us makes sense. I propose we give her the chance to stop the vampires from attacking. But if they come across the border tonight, we will retaliate at dawn. Stay safe tonight. Board up your houses. Put roses on your doors.”

One side down. Hopefully, Alex would have equal luck over the border.

When darkness fell, Lucette and Tristan let Alex out of the coffin. Tristan returned to the palace to tell King Stefan what they'd accomplished. All this would be for nothing if the Xandran army suddenly arrived at the border crossing with orders to invade.

Alex and Lucette entered Sanguinia and, as expected, they immediately found a group of vampires discussing how and when they'd enter Xandra to exact revenge for the massacre.

At first, the villagers didn't believe Alex, but Lucette spoke to them, too, and explained how she'd been cursed. It turned out that most of the people weren't even aware that the Xandrans had been unable to wake at night for the past two and a half months. When Lucette told them how all these troubles had begun because of the vampire queen's jealousy, the villagers started calling for their queen's death.

Alex and Lucette stood together, trying to figure out what to do next. They'd stopped the ordinary citizens of both kingdoms from attacking, but still had to deal with the armies. If the Sanguinian army now believed they were justified in invading because of the massacre, the vampire queen would get want she wanted.

A low rumbling sound rose in the distance, and Lucette strained to make it out.

Alex tensed beside her. “The vampire army. It's coming.” He ran into the village road and took up a place in its center. Lucette remained at the edge of the road, in the shadows. Moving faster than a team of horses, the marching vampire army progressed toward Alex. Lucette worried he'd be trampled to death.

But Alex raised his hands, and they stopped.

“Prince Alexander, what are you doing here?” A vampire dressed in a uniform of red and black with bars of gleaming silver on his chest approached Alex.“I know you've never supported your mother's stance on Xandra, but after that massacre last night, the public demands we invade.”

Alex lowered his voice as he continued to talk to the vampire, who must be a general. He was so tall and broad that he looked as if he could knock Alex off his feet with the flick of a wrist.

Suddenly, Lucette felt a whoosh of air and spun to see the vampire queen had landed beside her.

“Lucette,” Queen Natasha said, smiling. “So nice to see you on Sanguinian soil. Welcome.”

Lucette fought the urge to run. “Do you always bring your army to greet visitors?”

The vampire queen bent toward her ear. “We can stop this, you and I.”

Lucette pulled her head away, but she decided to stand her ground. What was the point of running? Any vampire could outrun her, and her aunt, it seemed, could practically fly.

She braced herself and stood up to the vampire queen. “Alex and I are doing just fine stopping this ourselves,” Lucette told her. “And don't pretend that you want to end it. You're trying to provoke it. This is all your fault.”

The queen shook her mane of red hair. “No, darling. It's your fault.”

A shiver traced through Lucette, but she stayed strong. “It is
not
my fault.”

“Oh, but it is. If you'd never been born, if you hadn't pricked your finger, if you'd been more obedient, none of this would have happened.”

This was exactly what Lucette thought, but hearing the words coming from the evil queen's mouth, she realized the line of reasoning was ridiculous. She couldn't control other people's actions, even if their battles involved her.

“Lucette,” the vampire queen hissed, “I admire your courage and strength.” She ran a hand down the girl's arm. “You're like the daughter I never had, and together we can put a stop to all this. My son is weak, but with you at his side, he'll turn into a strong king someday.”

She raised her hand to the stone hanging around her neck. “If you convert, as I did, you'll have unimaginable power and this can be yours someday.” She tapped the Stone of Supremacy. “In fact, if you convert, I'll share my power with you.”

Lucette wanted to scream “No!” but she kept quiet. Seeing an opportunity, she pretended to consider the queen's offer. “How does the stone work?” she asked.

“Infused by magic, its holder has great powers,” the queen answered, still fingering the stone. “And as a vampire, my powers are already superior to those I had as a human.”

Lucette nodded, trying to infuse her eyes with awe. “It must feel wonderful.”

“You have no idea.” The queen's lips drew into a wide smile, baring her sharp white fangs.

Hiding her fear, Lucette instead did her best to convey adoration. “You're very beautiful.” Lucette hoped she sounded sincere. Lying had never been her strong suit. “Your skin is so smooth and pale and your very presence exudes power.” She reached forward, but dropped her arm before touching her aunt's bare forearm. She wanted the queen to think she was curious, but also shy and respectful.

“Why, thank you, dear.” The queen traced her long-nailed fingers down Lucette's cheek, leaving an icy trail in their wake. She gripped Lucette's chin between her fingers. “You're quite beautiful, too. You're very lucky to take after your father, but you'll be even more ravishing after you convert.” She released her and stepped back. “Your skin will become luminescent, your hair will shine more brightly, and your teeth . . .” She smiled, again flashing her fangs to emphasize her point.

“It's so tempting.” Lucette looked the queen directly in the eyes. “And after I convert, you'll let me share your power?”

The queen's excitement was obvious, it showed in her eyes and she answered, “Yes, I promise.”

Lucette didn't trust her evil aunt's promise at all, but hoped the vampire was falling for her act. “Can I”—she broke off purposefully and smiled—“can I hold the stone? Just for a second? I want to feel the power for myself before I decide.”

The queen looked over her shoulder to where Alex was still talking to the general.

“Alex doesn't understand,” Lucette said.“He doesn't see how lucky he is to be a vampire, to be your son. And he certainly doesn't understand that it's natural for vampires to rule over lesser creatures, like humans.” She laid the lies on thick, and her aunt turned back, smiling.

“You're so right.” She reached behind her head to unclasp the chain that held the stone, and Lucette nearly burst with anticipation, every muscle in her body ready to battle the queen. Once that stone was removed, the queen would still be strong, but just a vampire, and Lucette had taken on her share of vampires.

To hide how eager she was to snatch the stone, Lucette clasped her hands behind her back, and said, “Since your visit to my bedroom,
converting is all I can think of.” She pretended to shiver with excitement. “I'm sorry if I was rude that night. It was a shock to see you, but I realized later how what you said made sense.”

“You're really willing to convert?” Her aunt asked.

Lucette nodded eagerly. “My mom will be upset once it's done, but I'm sixteen and old enough to make my own decisions. Plus, I don't care what my mom thinks. It's her fault we had a rift in our family in the first place, and I never had the chance to know you until now.”

A huge smile spread on the vampire queen's face, and she lifted the Stone of Supremacy off her neck and held it forward. “Here, my lovely niece. I choose you, instead of my deceitful son, to be my heir. Touch the stone to see what awaits you.”

Lucette carefully took the stone from her aunt's hands, and an instant later, she spun and delivered a twisting kick straight to her aunt's stomach. Then, while Natasha was distracted, Lucette slipped the stone into her pocket, sensing its power was too dangerous to harness.

“You horrid little girl.” Her aunt sprang forward, mouth open and fangs bared, but Lucette dodged her and planted a side-kick into the evil vampire's ribs.

Her aunt stumbled and then roared with anger. “You tricked me! No one tricks me!”

Lucette pulled out a stake and thrust it toward her aunt, but the vampire was too quick and leaped away.

“Give me my stone!” the queen screamed. “I killed to get that stone once, and I'll do it again! Hand it over now, before I change my mind. Join with me and we'll rule the entire world.”

Lucette realized that her aunt's screams had attracted the attention of the soldiers on the road.

“Never,” Lucette said. “You're petty and jealous and vengeful. You murdered your husband, ordered your son's murder. You're despicable, and I will never join forces with you.”

The queen's face filled with rage, and Lucette braced herself, fearing that the words she'd just uttered were her last.

Her aunt charged forward, but Lucette was ready. She ducked under the attack, then quickly turned and jabbed the sharp stake into the vampire queen's back, purposefully missing her heart.
Better she stand trial for her crimes
, thought Lucette.

Suddenly, the entire vampire army moved toward them as one force. Alex rushed over, scooped Lucette into his arms, and ran, moving more quickly than the wind.

When they were far enough away, he set her down and they looked back. The army had easily overpowered the vampire queen, now that she lacked her magic stone. They bound her and then raised her above them. She struggled, but was unable to get away.

The general broke out of the pack and ran toward them. He bowed in front of Alex.“Prince Alexander, your mother has been removed from the throne and will be tried for her crimes. You are her rightful heir.”

Lucette's heart pounded and she felt so happy, but also nervous, for her cousin. Imagine being a king when he was barely seventeen.

“Alex,” she said as she pulled the Stone of Supremacy from her pocket, “as the future king of Sanguinia, this is rightfully yours.”

Alex stared at the Stone of Supremacy. “No. That thing should be locked away in the royal treasury, or given back to the fairies. No single vampire, no single creature of any kind, should ever hold all the control and power it allows.” He took the stone, but instead of putting it on, he wrapped it in a handkerchief and handed it over to the general.

The general smiled, patted Alex on the back, and said, “So wise, even at your young age. I will be proud to serve under you, King Alexander.”

Alex balked. “I'm not king yet.”

The general clapped Alex on the shoulder. “Merely a technicality.”

Lucette hugged her cousin. “Congratulations, Alex! This is so great, really, but is it okay if I don't stick around to celebrate? I've got to get home.” She couldn't wait to tell everyone the good news.

Lucette and Tristan stepped out of the Sanguinian palace into the fresh night air, and he draped his arm around her shoulders.

“He'll make a good king,” Tristan said. “And now that his mother is locked up in prison, and drinking human blood is illegal again, lasting peace between all the kingdoms seems assured.”

Lucette's heart swelled with so much love and pride. “Alex is so young to be ruling, I can't imagine . . .”