Lyris was beyond bored of being paraded around by her mother. Every person they talked to only talked of politics and who would become the prince's new bride. While Lyris was curious at who the prince was and how the marriage would change things, she wasn't too invested in it like everyone. All the witches were distrustful of the alliance and believed it was a ruse, and the vampires didn't think a marriage was necessary to unite their people. Everyone seemed on eggshells.
They were now seated with her mother's wealthy friends, the Winchesters, when a rather large woman in stature approached them. She was olive colored, with icy blue eyes that looked serious, and short white hair that brushed her shoulders. She was muscular, like an athlete, and oozed confidence and intimidation.
"Are you Morgan Bishop," she asked, her hands folding in front of herself.
"I am...who asks," Morgan asked, lifting a brow.
"The prince has requested that you and your daughter join his convoy while he awaits the Queen's arrival," she replied in an even tone. Morgan looked from the white haired woman, then to Lyris, who looked slightly surprised. Sure, her mother was wanted by all of the elites, she was a descendant from Salem. Morgan's bloodline held power and nobility. The same could not be said for Lyris herself, so why was she wanted?
"I suppose we shouldn't keep him waiting, right," Morgan said standing and looking at Lyris who followed. The white haired woman stared at Lyris a moment longer, before motioning for them to follow her. Lyris kept her thoughts to herself about how bizarre it was to be invited to join the prince and his inner circle. Was there something going on with her mother that she hadn't revealed to her? She knew that her mother lusted to have a higher standing within the Council...and Coven. Perhaps this was her ploy, getting close to the prince, make herself a viable option. If no heir was found for the Dark Coven throne, then the Queen would decide who an appropriate heir would be… and that could be anyone.
The white haired woman led them up stairs and to a smoke room. As soon as they entered it, a cloud of smoke hit Lyris's face, causing her to quickly wave her hand. The smell was sweet and pungent, something exotic that she had yet to smell before. Her eyes immediately adjusted to the dark room, finding it seated with regal looking men and women. All of them were vampires.
"Ah… she is as lovely as the rumors are," one man with a jagged scar along his jaw commented, not directing at either Lyris or Morgan. Morgan, on the other hand, took this as a comment for herself and visibly shifted her walk. Lyris internally rolled her eyes at her mother's behavior and watched the people. Their eyes seemed to be on her, but surely they were on her mother. After all… she was no one.
"This way please," the white haired woman instructed, pulling back a red velvet curtain to reveal a private room. Morgan smiled politely at the white haired woman and entered, followed by Lyris.
The room was decorated in red and gold. A crescent shaped sofa sat in one corner, with an ornate wood and glass coffee table in front of it. Off to the side was a bar, minus the bartender. The white haired woman stood guard at the curtain as if waiting. Morgan looked slightly excited and had a cunning smile on her lips.
"Isn't this exciting? A prince," Morgan started. "He had to have heard of my work. There can't be an heir to the throne… that family has been all but wiped out."
Lyris half listened to her mother, wishing she weren't stuck with her, harping about a "golden" opportunity. Their relationship was...complicated to say the least. When Lyris was a child, she made it very clear that she was adopted and that her ability to adopt Lyris as a whole was a miracle. She told her that her parents participated in "The Cleanse", conspired against the Council, and were killed. Lyris was abandoned and Morgan thought it was a great opportunity to show how "compassionate" she could be by adopting the poor child of supposed criminals. It was fodder for Morgan's grand scheme and Lyris had always known this. Morgan treated her more of a friend than anything. Morgan wasn't a mother to her.
"I wonder if he is as intriguing as everyone is making him out to be," Morgan lamented like a fawning school girl.
"He would like to think so," a voice came from the velvet curtain, a voice that made Lyris stiffen instantly. The two women turned as the same man Lyris had briefly met with during the dance entered. He turned to the white haired woman and gave her a gentle smile. "Thank you Sabra."
Sabra nodded to him as he crossed the room. Morgan stood up like a snake, offering her hand to the man.
"Morgan. Morgan Bishop," Morgan introduced herself. Lyris stood as well, just less sexy-like. The man grasped Morgan's hand and kissed the top of it, making Morgan smile with glee.
"Prince Dai Ozu, charmed of course," he began, gently releasing Morgan's hand and turning to a slightly reddened Lyris.
She was dancing with the prince. The moment replayed over and over in her mind. How couldn't she have known? Then again, she never met or saw who he was. She was just standing there, frozen in slight awe. Morgan's hands were suddenly on her shoulders, her fingernails slightly biting into her skin. She gave Lyris a shake and smiled at the prince politely.
"You'll have to forgive my daughter, she seems to be a little enamored with this all," she apologized. Prince Dai didn't pay any attention to Morgan, instead offering his hand to Lyris. Lyris looked at it, then him, and took it, the cool temperature re-familiarizing itself with her skin.
"Lyris Bishop," she let out.
"Lyris," Dai repeated, as if he wouldn't forget her name. "Please, ladies, do sit." Morgan returned to her seat, making sure she was the closest to Dai. Lyris was too shocked to even be bothered by her mother's actions.
"I have to admit, your highness, I am rather confused why you called me up here. I do hope it isn't to talk business," Morgan started, feigning disappointment.
"I would hate to spoil the festivities with business. I simply had to meet the great Consulate of the South that I've heard so much about. Your status is hard to look past and even more impressive, your knack for having a skillful tongue when it comes to, well, just about everything," Dai answered, smirking at his blatant innuendo. Lyris bit back a scoff and averted her eyes, missing Dai looking right at her.
"A silver tongued witch is a powerful weapon they say," Morgan oozed, grinning at the prince.
"But what I did not know was that you have a daughter," he continued, this time causing Lyris to turn towards the conversation once more. Morgan blanched, but looked at Lyris with a warm smile.
"She's a bit of a home body while she does some extra training," she explained. Dai nodded slowly at her, still looking at Lyris.
"Surely she isn't of your womb?"
"Oh...no. I am unable to bear children. Curse of the Bishops. I adopted her as a baby. She was an unfortunate product of The Cleanse."
"Who were her parents?"
"Uh...well...plain dark witches. Alexander and Rosemarie, if I do recall. I did not know them personally."
"So her lineage is…?"
"I'm sorry I'm not following along your highness?"
Dai paused, looking down at himself, as if he were trying to conceal his emotion on his face. Morgan sat still, back straight as she awaited his answer, Lyris looking on quizzically. He finally looked up, his eyes calm and serene, a slight smile on his face. He sat back on the couch, relaxing more.
"I would like to court your daughter, Consulate."
Morgan made a loud choking noise, while Lyris's mouth fell slightly open. What...did he say? The room grew quiet as the two women tried to process what had came out of the prince's mouth. He wanted to court Lyris? But why? The questions were there, yet unspoken. The prince leaned forward as Morgan seemed to regain her composure. She started to giggle, which developed into a fully bellied laugh. Dai's face changed to that of stony bemusement.
"I apologize for laughing, your highness, I just… you must be joking, right?"
"I have yet to laugh."
Morgan paused at this, her amusement dropping.
"Very well… but you are only to be married to royalty or whomever the Queen picks as an heir. I can tell you now that neither of those are my daughter. She is not of royal blood, nor is she in any position of power for the Queen to choose her. What you are asking is...well, simply complicated, impossible even."
Dai paused, thinking on this, then looked directly at Lyris, who looked back at him, soft brown eyes wide.
"And what about you," he asked. Lyris gave him a look, and he leaned closer, gold eyes searching her face. "Would you like me to court you?"
"I-," Lyris began to speak, but Sabra cleared her throat as she moved the curtain aside.
"Your Highness, Queen Cassandra," Sabra announced as the queen entered. She was silver haired, with soft green eyes, and had a youthful gaze despite appearing older. Behind her trailed a man and woman, who Lyris recognized as her personal guards. Dai, Morgan, and Lyris all got to their feet, bowing their heads in respect.
"Your Majesty," Dai breathed, moving to greet her. The Queen smiled and allowed Dai to kiss her hand.
"Prince Dai, charming as ever. Consulate," the Queen began, her tone shifting to that of shock as she peered at Morgan and Lyris. Morgan bowed deeper to the queen, her cheeks becoming flushed. "Not to be rude, but why are you here?"
The Queen's eyes swept over to Lyris, gazing at her interestingly, before Morgan broke the silence, regaining the Queen's attention once again.
"The Prince requested my attendance," she answered shortly, causing Dai to bite his lip, clearly holding back a grin. The Queen motioned for them to sit, as Sabra brought over a comfy chair for the Queen to sit.
"I'm assuming you made her a proposition? Surely you did not call Morgan up here to ogle her. You aren't that type of man from our many meetings," the Queen went on. Dai sighed, dramatically, and ruffled his black hair with his hand. Lyris watched him, noticing a beautiful ring he wore, with a black stone perched inside.
"You know me so well, it's fascinating," he started, sitting up straight. "I did make a proposition to Morgan."
The Queen let out a slightly pleased sound, making Morgan relax.
"You asked to court my most powerful Consulate. Bold move, even for you Dai. I would've pegged you a man who cared about age gaps, but if that is your preference…," she started, looking to Morgan, offering a look, then back to Dai, "You must understand that I have to choose your heir. Morgan would be a suitable heir-"
Dai raised his hand to interrupt, causing the Queen to pause.
"With all due respect to you, your Majesty, and Consulate, I actually would like to court Lyris," Dai interjected. The Queen gave him a questioning look, her eyes shifting between him and Lyris, before she continued to stare at Lyris, as if she were picking her apart.
"Ah, I see," the Queen muttered. She turned to Dai. "From my understanding she is an orphan of no significant bloodline."
"How do you know," Dai asked. The Queen paused, her eyebrows furrowing, before she returned to Morgan.
"Her parents, they were Alexander and Rosemarie Oberman, correct," the Queen asked Morgan. Morgan simply nodded, clearly not amused by the subject at hand.
"Your Majesty, Lyris wouldn't be a good candidate for the Prince," Morgan added. Lyris bit her tongue, wanting to ask why her mother would say that, but held back. The Queen looked slightly taken aback.
"You don't think your own daughter suited for a Prince?"
"That's not what I meant… it's just… I feel that if the Prince wants to make standing choice, someone like me would be a suitable option… or even another witch with prestige if not me."
The Queen sat for a moment, thinking things over and over as Lyris felt a slow rise of panic in her chest. The Queen turned toward Lyris again, her eyes maternal and a small smile on her face.
"How old are you child?"
"I-I'm twenty two, your Majesty."
"Ah, of age. And your magic?"
"It's dark magic…"
"And how proficient are you?"
Morgan looked ready to interject, but was stopped by a look from the Queen. She shrank in her seat like a child who was scolded.
"I'm… I am doing some extra studying to try and get more proficient in a few areas."
"Ah, you are attending the Academy?"
"Well...no. I practice with my mother twice a week."
"Funny… I would think you'd be far more proficient with Morgan as a teacher."
The room grew quiet as the room seemed to absorb the conversation. Lyris felt sweaty and small in the presence of so many people of power. She didn't like the attention, and furthermore, detested how everyone was talking about her as if she were some product.
"I like her… I can sense something...deep inside of her," The Queen spoke, mostly to herself. Dai nodded in agreement, while Morgan seemed to lose any semblance of patience.
"Your Majesty, I think it would be unwise to send a low-born witch with inadequate training as a possible suitor for the Prince," Morgan gritted through her teeth.
"It's a good thing I do not need your permission then, Consulate. I think it'd be unwise if you continue to step outside of your place. Your inconsistency thus far in the facts of your child have made me question your loyalty to the Council as a whole. Now, as far as your daughter is concerned-"
Lyris stood suddenly, clearly flustered with everything that was happening.
"Your Majesty, please excuse me, but I must go, I am unwell and don't want to be apart of this discussion any longer," Lyris let out in a small voice, before turning and nearly running from the room, Dai standing and watching her go. He sighed, sitting back down in his seat in a huff.
"Gone again…"