Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 78259 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78259 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
It was always best to remain calm and quiet around them, until they felt comfortable enough to talk.
The centaur nodded and then proceeded to trot around us, continuing to size us up.
Silver dust puffed from Zoe's head, showing his nervousness.
The centaur stopped and watched the dust fall to the ground. Then, he headed back to the group.
When the centaur turned around, he looked at me. “You have returned, princess.”
I sighed in relief. “Yes.”
Zoe stared at me in shock.
The centaur spoke again, “Now, you have a foal?”
What?
I blinked. “Oh, yes. A child. Her name is Jade.”
“She is full of great magic.” The centaur lowered his sword. “Perhaps, she can help with the vampires.”
I tensed. “What?”
“Every now and then, a clan of vampires attempt to enter the forest and get to your father's castle. We stop as many as we can. Your people fight the rest.”
“I. . .I didn't know.”
“We all thought that perhaps your vampire feasted on you until your death, found you tasty, and wanted more Yumboe to feed on.”
Jade shivered against me.
The centaur inhaled the air. “But you are not dead.”
“I'm not.”
“And you have great power too, much more than when you left.”
I nodded.
“Perhaps, you can help with the vampires also.”
“I will.”
“Then, welcome home, princess.”
All of the centaurs did a dramatic bow and then trotted away.
Once they disappeared into the darkness, Zoe got in front of me. “You are royalty?”
“One would say that.”
Zoe gestured into the darkness. “They said that.”
Jade leaned back and smiled at me. “They were nice, Mommy.”
“Thank God.” I walked off.
Zoe kept my pace. “So, this is where you grew up?”
“It is.”
“Then, this place should be safe.”
“I believe so, although I'm not happy to hear that vampires have been coming out here.”
“It makes sense.” Zoe shrugged. “Adae has been employing tons of vampires since he got Jade.”
I stopped and looked at him. “What?”
“I have been forced to work with Adae for close to five years. Never did I see a vampire in the earlier years. I know this because I am very afraid of them. I can feel them in the vicinity. One night, a vampire arrived. He was pretty scared when he burst into Adae’s castle—”
“What did he look like?”
“Tall. Long black hair. Green eyes.”
“Did he have a tattoo on the side of his neck?”
“Hmmm. Yeah. It was a crescent moon. I remember thinking that was very cool and—”
My heart boomed in my ears. “Have you seen him again?”
Zoe nodded. “Why?”
I gritted my teeth.
“Anyway. . .days later. . .Jade and you were dragged in. Never had I seen a Yumboe fairy. I thought it was the craziest week ever. Then, you began working for Adae—”
“And the vampire?”
“Oh. The vampire moved in the back of the castle, and more of his clan came.” Zoe shook his head. “I stay clear away from them. Some of the cleaning staff gets drained over there. Adae is constantly hiring new—”
“Hold on. The vampire with the crescent moon lives in Adae's castle?” I glared at Zoe. “He actually lives there?”
“Yes. Sometimes he leaves for a few days or so, but then he returns—”
“But he lives there?” Rage boiled in my veins.
“Yes.” Zoe frowned. “Who is he?”
I never talked to Jade about her father. She was so young and I was always focused on our survival. One day I would have to tell her the whole truth. On that day, I would unfortunately have to tell her that her father was dead because I definitely planned on killing him.
I stomped off.
All this time. There was no debt to Adae, and you were in the damn castle! I am going to free Azar and then kill you.
Zoe hurried after me. “What's wrong, Fatou?”
It was all a lie? Are you working for him too? Probably.
There was no coincidence that more vampires arrived in the forest to take my people. My husband knew how to get to the Invisible Forest and follow the path to my people.
Did you want more yumboe to breed with?
When our baby was born, he had seen Jade, widened his eyes, and ran away. I thought it might be from fear or disgust.
Maybe he saw the possibility of her power.
Perhaps, he went to Adae to see how it could be used.
Jade's little voice pulled me away from my anger. “Sometimes, a nice vampire would come visit me at night, mommy. In the nursery. He had a crescent moon on his neck too.”
Tension gathered in my shoulders. “Oh. He was nice?”
Jade's eyes brightened. “He played games and sung lullabies.”
“Did he?”
“And he taught me tricks.”
“What sort of tricks?”
“I don't like to show the trick. It might hurt you.”
I opened my mouth in shock. I calmed myself. “How could it hurt me, little one?”
“When I do it around him, black liquid spills from his eyes like he is crying dark tears. Sometimes, he falls to the ground and shakes.”