The picture in the frame held a lot of memories. Some good, some sad. Her tired eyes roamed over it one last time before she tossed it in the fire. It was time to start afresh.
She was born anew, no more limitations for her. she had an array of new abilities to pick from and being the Vampire Queen made her second most powerful in the land.
She didn't believe in luck, everything that had happened to her in her previous human life, was as a result of her decisions whether good or bad and that doesn't matter now, that life died with her old self. she had a new path.
she watched as the fire ate through the smiling faces in the framed picture.

"are you alright, My lady?" her lady-in-waiting, Sara asked as she walked in the Queen's room.

"Yes, of course. why do you ask?" she turned around to face her.

"forgive me my lady, but you're crying" she bowed and held a napkin forward

"ah...probably the smoke from the fireplace...I'm okay. where's my husband?" she hurriedly wiped the tears off with the napkin and smiled.

"The Great Hall with his generals...he is extremely busy, my lady" She dared to look up "My lady, if I may...permit me to make a suggestion" Sara was nervous and it was obvious

"Go ahead, Sara" her soothing voice seemed to calm her down.

"please have tea with this lowly maid" she grinned.

"what?" she was taken aback by the request.

"I'm sorry, my lady...I just...wanted to help you release stress" she was on her knees in an instant.

"it's alright, I was just surprised. the maids just seem so afraid of me...they behave frightful whenever my husband is with me... I know my husband can look so fearful but he's really calm and sweet..."

"you've got this all wrong, My Lady. they aren't scared of the King... I don't know how to say this and not sound offended...but they're scared of you..."
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