Catalyst Page 0,23

The scent of the wild girl's blood filled her nose like rich perfume. It made her feel lightheaded. Sophia smoothed her blue silk gown and stood, waiting. When Kahli could not be located, Sophia requested her roommates.

When the servant returned with only one girl, the Queen's expression was frigid. Her gaze narrowed on Cassie, on her pale face and tiny hands. "Where are the others?"

"Gone, your Majesty. We could not find them." The servant bowed low to the ground, her face nearly touching the blood-stained carpet.

"And my husband?" Sophia asked, before indicating the servant could rise.

"We have not found him, yet. There are multiple guards missing as well and a dead vampire in the garage." The servant's voice shook as she spoke.

"In addition to the King's guard?" Sophia inquired.

"Yes, your Majesty."

Sophia pinched the bridge of her nose with her delicate fingers. Cassie's frightened heartbeat was distracting her. She could hear it pounding inside the girl like a terrified mouse. If her roommates hadn't just been slaughtered, the Queen would have drained her then and there, but there were too many humans missing. They made up nearly a quarter of her blood supply.

"Sit," Sophia commanded, directing her attention back to Cassie.

Cassie had been brought to the King's chambers. It was a mess. Cassie scanned the room looking for a chair that wasn't stained with blood or broken. Promptly, she sat on the floor at the Queen's feet since there was no place else to sit.

Sophia sighed and snapped her fingers at one of her guards. "Get her a chair." The vamp disappeared and came back quickly with a small bench in his hands. He set it down next to Cassie.

Cassie repositioned herself on the bench and tried to look anywhere but at the Queen. Her attempt was pointless. They knew her real name. The vamps named her, so of course they knew it. That made compulsion easy for even the weakest vampire, and the Queen was not weak. Compulsion had been used on Cassie many times over the years, and she hated it more and more each time. It felt like her mind was stripped away and nothing was safe. It was like sitting outside in the snow and ice, naked, and hoping not to freeze to death. Harm came to people who were compelled too much. Their minds snapped like brittle twigs frozen in the ice for too many lifetimes. But, there was no way out of this.

Cassie folded her hands in her lap and tried to remain calm. The amount of blood in the room, the smears of dark red across the tile at the back of the room, made her feel sick. Was that Kahli's blood? Was her friend dead?

The Queen snapped her fingers next to Cassie's ear. The sound startled her, bringing her back to the present. The Queen repeated herself, "Where are your roommates?"

"I don't know, Your Majesty. They didn't return last night. The King beckoned each of them. They were dressed and left."

Sophia arched a dark brow. After a moment, she asked, "Kahli included?"

"Yes, she was the last to leave."

Sophia's delicate fingers tapped her chin as she thought. She turned her back on Cassie and paced the room, her gaze taking in the broken items, as well as the stains. The Queen's blue gown billowed around her ankles as she walked, fluttering out slightly when she turned, showing off perfect shoes on her tiny feet. Without facing Cassie, Sophia asked. "Did you see the King last night?"

Cassie hesitated. Sophia rounded on her swiftly, pressing her nose to Cassie's. "Yes," Cassie's voice quivered. She couldn't remember what they'd spoken about, but Cole had filled her in. Cassie wanted to protect Cole, so she didn't mention he was there. As long as Sophia didn't ask, she wouldn't know.

"Tell me what happened. Leave out one detail and I'll cleave you in half."

Cassie blanched. The Queen's breath came out in a rush, as Cassie started to retell what happened according to Cole. Sophia listened, pacing in circles with her hand under her chin, her gaze on the floor.

When she finished, Sophia asked, "And what do you think? Is your friend dead? Look around this room and tell me what your gut is telling you. Did she survive whatever happened here?"

Cassie glanced around, her eyes unable to rest in a single spot. There was a fight, that much she was sure of. The smears in the back of the room looked like someone was dragged, but the broken table and