When Victoria got back to Crest Manor, it was swarming with Saints patrolling the premises, carriages parked out front and more horses in Phillipe’s stable. She sighed as she saw there was no room for her precious companion. She hopped down from Phillipe and walked him to the back of the manor next to the kitchen door so she could keep close eye on him. She stroked his mane before heading in. As soon as she was inside, she practically ran up the stairs, well jogged in that silver armour of hers. 

As soon as she slammed her bedroom door shut, she broke into tears. She peeled her gauntlets off and threw them across the room, they smashed into the dressing table. She then kicked off her metal boots and unlatched her leg guards. Then shimmied out of the breast plate. Every piece, she threw on the floor making a hell of a racket. That’s when her mother came in. “Victoria what in the blazes is going on?!” She demanded, she looked around the room to see her armour flung everywhere. Then she stopped yelling as soon as she saw her daughter crying into her hands. “Darling…what’s wrong?” She hadn’t seen her this upset since she learned of the death of her father.

“I saw Vail with another woman. Another vampire.” Victoria explained as she walked into her mother’s open arms and buried her head into her shoulder. “He lied to me, mommy.” She sobbed into Diana’s shoulder. Then Gerald walked in having seen the open door. “What’s wrong?” He asked Diana as she held Victoria in her arms. She sighed at him. “Boy trouble.” She frowned at him as Victoria lifted her head slowly to look at Gerald and he could see she had reddened eyes from her tears. 

“I take it this is about that vampire?” He asked and she nodded. 

“You were right Gerald. He was just using me for my blood…he’s probably going to marry her. She’s prettier than me, and better suited to Vail. Just like his father wanted.” Victoria growled. 

Gerald sighed. “I know I’m not your father…but he isn’t here, and in his absence, it falls to me to look after his little girl when it comes to boys who break her heart. I’m going to rip his heart out for this.” Gerald sneered, he held no love for any vampire, lesser for ones who hurt his god daughter. He was about to leave the room, when Victoria stopped him. “No, I need you here to protect me from the Wynters. We have planning and training to do.” Victoria had buried the hatched with Gerald when he had explained he didn’t mean to kill Alex, that a fight broke out between them and Alex was accidentally killed when he fell down some steps and broke his neck. Gerald didn’t shoot or stab him like she’d assumed. She forgave him in light of the bigger picture.

Gerald nodded. “You’re right. The Hygraces are not worth our time or manpower.” He agreed with her as she held his hands in his pockets. “Well, get some rest, we’ll be up at dawn putting our plan into effect.” He instructed as she nodded to him before he left the room. Diana stroked a strand of hair out from Victoria’s face. “Listen darling. You’ll find your true prince charming one day. I promise. It happened to me before I met your father. A dashing vampire stole my heart and used me to get one thing – my body. When he was done with me, he cast me aside like I was yesterday’s news. However, his presence brought Alexander Crest to my doorstep in search of his prey. And then the rest, you know.” She stroked her daughter’s hair softly and Victoria nodded with a weak smile. 

“I knew it was too good to be true.” She didn’t want to get her hopes up that Vail may have been truthful and did care for her, in case he didn’t, and he really was using her for her blood. 

“Goodnight darling.” Diana kissed her forehead and left Victoria alone to remove her shirt and trousers of her makeshift Saints uniform made from her father’s old clothes but fashioned to fit her womanly physique. She let her clothes fall to the oak floorboards and climbed into her bed with just her undergarments. She was so exhausted that she fell asleep within minutes.