Chapter 42

Vampire Love

by : Nate Evans

They say I'm not alive

I'm just an "undead monster"

But even so

I love her with my cold heart

She doesn't care about what I am

Or that I drink the crimson of man

I have found true love

Even in life after death

At night I lurk around

Drinking from humans

Fearing everyday for my second death

A fate taking me away from her

With a stake through my heart.

"Shift!" Katherine ordered each and everyone to transform into their vampire state. Everyone look at each other hesitating to do what Katherine have asked. "Everyone, shift!" Drake shouted and in instant, Katherine is surrounded by vampires. "Hunter, shift now!" Katherine said looking at her wolf. Hunter stepped back not wanting to shift because he don't want to hurt his master. "Shift now or you'll regret disobeying me!" Katherine said with her angry tone. Hunter whimper and looked at Drake. "Come on buddy, you don't want to anger her, right?" Drake said stroking the wolf's fur. Hunter shifted and almost occupied a large space of the arena.

"Are you sure we're going to do this?" Athan asked. "We need to prepare her for Luther." Drake answered. "It's between the two, either we're going to be hurt or we're going to die today." Alaric said making the rest laughed. "Don't worry, she's not going to shift." Drake said. "How can you be sure of that?" Blade asked. "Hhhmmm... 10%?" Drake said. "What!?" Kieran said with his loud tone. "We're vampires so even if she hurt us badly, it will just take 2-3 days for our recovery." Amber said. "Don't worry boys, we knew that because we've experienced it. Remember when she broke our bones?" Dawn said smiling. "Well, her punches and kicks hurt like hell but your bodies will become numb soon." The boys wanted to back out but just like Gregory, they wanted to help Katherine too. "Just try to dodge her attacks and you'll be fine." Thana said. "Yeah, she's strong but we're strong too." Amdis said. "Get ready!" Everyone redied themselves when they heard Gregory's voice looking around because Katherine is nowhere to be found. "Focus, guys! If you need to hurt her then do so." Drake said. "Easy for you to say." Athan said. "Here she comes!" Drake shouted and Katherine is already infront of him but before she could attack her mate, her hands were held tightly by none other than the strongest Elder they knew.

"Paps!" Everyone shouted when they saw who's stopping Katherine. "We should be joining the fun too." Serafino said. Suddenly, Katherine avoided an attack coming from behind. "Yeah, nursing an old man is too boring." Vladamir said smirking. They were all surprised seeing the rest of clan's leaders and their assistants were also inside the arena. "We're here to help so Katherine, prepare yourself." Lazarus said. Katherine smiled then, vanished infront of their eyes. "Ooohhh, that brat!" Serafino said when Katherine escaped his grip. "I told you not to let her go." Vladamir said. "How will I get the hold of her if she can vanished that easy?" Serafino said. "You're really too old for this." Vladamir said but he furrowed his forehead when all their attentions were on him. He felt goosebumps all over his body.

"I told you that Paps should be resting and not allowed to go outside of his room but why is he here?" Katherine said. "Cassius, combination attack!" Instead of answering Katherine's query, he called his friend to give simultaneous strikes on her. Vladamir hugged Katherine from behind so that Cassius can give a jab on her. Drake closed his fist tightly. "Remember, we're helping her." Athan said smiling on Drake's jealousy.

"So, are we only here to watch them?" Serafino asked looking at Lazarus, Orpheus, and Raul. "Of course not, it will be our pleasure to have a duel with our future queen." Orpheus said. "After you." Raul said talking to Serafino. "Let's get it on." Lazarus said making the rest laughed.

"Are you ready, dear?" Serafino asked looking at his granddaughter. "As always but I will not hesitate to hurt you because your really a hard headed old man." Katherine said. "Try your best, dear. Let see who will win." Serafino said then nodded to the three men with him. Katherine was surprised when the four of them disappeared quickly.

"Woah!" Amber said not removing her eyes on the fight scene they were watching. "Am I watching an action movie here?" Athan asked with admiration on his eyes. "That's the reason why they were chosen to lead the clans." Drake said. "They are really strong but combining their powers, they are undefeatable. Do you think Katherine can handle them?" Alaric asked. "I think that's the answer to your question." Dawn said and when Alaric looked backed at the center of the arena, his jaw dropped. The four leaders were on the ground and Katherine was assisting her grandfather to stand.

"I think we need to find our replacements now. I can't keep up with these young ones." Orpheus said. "I already found mine." Serafino said holding Katherine's hands. "Me too." Lazarus said looking at his son. "By the way, when are your sons coming? They better team up with Drake to teach this brat her lessons." Serafino said. Before Orpheus and Raul could answer Serafino's question, a gust of wind passed through them. "Well, talking of the devils, the devils are here." Orpheus said looking at the two men walking towards them.

Drake narrowed his eyes seeing the two men smiling widely looking at the direction where Katherine is standing. He stood up and dashed quickly. "Who are those two?" Thana asked. "You don't know them?" Blade asked and the girls shaked their heads for a NO answer. "Well, they are the two arrogant bastards of Raeb and Mzukwa clan." Kieran answered. "You knew them?" Amdis asked. "Yeah, we went to the same school and training ground." Athan said. "So they were strong just like you?" Amber asked. "Yeah." Alaric said. "Cool!" Dawn said. "Not at all. They are Drake's nemesis." Blade said. "They are cunning mutts. They will do dirty tricks on you just to win over a fight." Athan said looking at the two with narrowed eyes. "I think they would be a great help to Katherine." They all looked at Gregory with puzzled faces.

"Katherine meet my son, Morgan." Orpheus said. "He's my son, Taylor." Raul said. The two men offered a handshake to Katherine with naughty smiles on their handsome faces. Katherine knew that the two new persons infront of her is planning something against her so she redied herself. She gave her right hand to Morgan and her left hand to Taylor. Both men smiled and nodded at each other. Drake cursed seeing that Katherine was held tightly by Morgan and Taylor but before he could reach his mate, she was already tossed up by the two. Katherine somersaulted in the air and landed on both men's shoulders. Morgan and Taylor smirked then hold Katherine's feet and threw her once again but Katherine landed on the ground safely.

"That's enough!" Orpheus shouted. "Is that the right way to greet your future queen?" Raul said angrily. "It's okay, Uncle Orpheus, Uncle Raul." Katherine said. "We're sorry, Milady. We've heard so much about you and we wanted to see for ourselves." Morgan said. "It's our pleasure to meet you personally, Milady." Taylor said bowing. "Nice to meet you, Morgan, Taylor. I'm Katherine but you can call me Kath. Bowing and calling me princess or queen is prohibited." Katherine said making the men smiled but raised their brows when they saw that Drake place his hands on Katherine's waist in a possessive way.

"Drake, we've missed you." Morgan said and tried to hug Drake but stopped himself seeing that he's been looking at him with squinted eyes. One by one, the rest approached the center of the arena. "So, the rest of the guys are also here. Is this a game of follow the leader?" Taylor said with a devilish smile. Drake looked at his friends and warned them not to pay attention to Taylor's annoying words. Katherine felt the tension between the boys.

"Ehem...ehem..." Gregory got the attention he needed. "We're in the middle of her training. Would you help us in training her?" Gregory asked making Drake looked at him with narrowed eyes but Gregory didn't mind him. "If you can beat her, there will be a catch." Gregory continued. Drake felt that Gregory is planning something and he knew he wouldn't like it. Morgan and Taylor looked at each other. "What's the catch?" They spoke at once. Gregory looked at Katherine and gave her a peace sign. "A night with her." Gregory said. "What!?" Katherine and Drake spoke at once giving Gregory a warning look.