It was nighttime again when I next awoke. I slowly opened my eyes to glance at the room around me and stretched languidly into the softness that enveloped me. Clutching at the duvet below me, I realized I was lying in my large, four-poster bed. The room was lit with candles along the walls, the soft glow illuminating the many bookshelves and mahogany surfaces. Renaissance paintings lined the walls. The fireplace roared on the North side of the room. Slowly, I moved to sit up.
A heavy object fell from my lap and thudded onto the duvet cover. I looked down and gasped, realizing it was Alec's hand that had been resting on my own before I moved. He was asleep, his head resting face down on the blanket, sitting in a chair pulled up next to the bed. Hissing as I moved, I felt stiff, as if a truck had hit me. I noticed a blood bag next to the bed and sighed gratefully. Grabbing it and tearing it open with my teeth as I drained the contents. Immediately, my headache subsided. I could feel strength returning to my limbs.
I examined the bandages on my arms and chest. Realizing the silver burns had faded enough to remove them, I began unwrapping myself. I pulled myself out of the bed and shuffled to the bathroom. I ran the scalding water of a bubble bath and sighed in relief as I soaked myself in it. The grime, dirt, and blood washed off of me into the water. It soothed my sore muscles.
Wrapping myself in a towel, I emerged from the bathroom to find Alec standing, pacing he faced away from the bathroom. At the sound of me emerging, he spun around, opening his mouth. Then he snapped it shut. He glanced away from me. I rolled my eyes and strolled into my large closet. I dressed myself and emerged to face him. He stood with his arms crossed.
"Okay, I know I'm in for it — "I started He threw his hands into the air.
"Do you realize what could have happened that night? You had fallen into their clutches. When we found you, you were hours away from starvation, blood lust. You were almost dead- " his voice broke off. His body was shaking. I placed my hand on his arm. I know it was a lot of risk to him if something happened to me. He would endure the blame.
"It's okay, I'll speak to my father." I answered him, trying to reassure him. He shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"This isn't about your father. This is about you being a reckless child!" He shouted. I flinched. A child was how many of the elite warriors viewed me. Spawn of Ares, being groomed for a position she hadn't earned. Tonight, in my folly, I had proved them right. Because of my inexperience, someone had died. I clenched my fists.
"I am not a child. I will speak to my father." Muttering through gritted teeth, I stood at my bedroom door and placed my hand on the knob.
"If you're not a child, then stop dodging your guard and acting like one." He spat. I yanked the door open and slammed it behind me as I stormed down the hallway.
The Ares was sitting on his throne in the gathering hall, holding court for the various vampires in the clan that had issues that needed his attention, the multitude of servants surrounded him, waiting on his every need. His head snapped up as I entered the room. A grim expression lined his face.
"Elysia, you're up! Give us the room please." He announced, and everyone began moving to clear the room. After much bustling and commotion, it was just him and me in the room, with guards stationed at the doors.
"Father, I apologize." I bowed my head in respect and fell to one knee. He scoffed and waved for me to get up. I rose.
"A foolish operation, daughter. Executed without forethought and without informing the security team of this family." He began. I flinched. He raised a hand to show he had not finished. "With that being said, you will not give your guard the slip again. You will attend all festivities upcoming for the awakening, and you will do your duty as commanded. Is that understood?"
"Perfectly, father." I nodded my head. I had expected no less than to be admonished.
"I will compensate the family of Kallista for their loss. We will take pains to ensure the loss does not happen again." He finished. Biting my lip, I bowed again. I wasn't sure what he meant by making sure it doesn't happen again, but it doesn't bode well for my leadership.
"We found the enemy manor. They filled the place with antimystical weaponry, bombs, stakes, wolfsbane, silver in all forms. They are preparing an artillery. Their soldiers are elite trained, as well. They are gathering their resources." I filled my father in on what we had discovered during the attack and what I had learned from the guards during my captivity. Strangely, I left out the deal I had made with the young hunter.
"They are preparing for the awakening, I'm sure of it." Ares said, clenching his fist on the arm of his throne. He looked to the side and gazed out the window at the vast forested landscape that surrounded our manor grounds. The rain fell in hypnotizing drops cascading from a dark sky.
"Tomorrow you will appear before the families and register for the awakening." My father finally chimed. His tone carried finality, and I knew better than to argue. I nodded my head. He waved his hand in a dismissing motion, and I knew he was done with our conversation. I bowed my head and backed out of the room, returning immediately to my quarters. Alec left, supposedly back to his own room.
Striding to my mahogany desk and gripping my daggers my daggers, I admired the specialized silver lined so we vampires could handle it. Flipping them in my palms, I tucked them into my belt. Going to my closet and pulled out a black leather jacket, I threw it over my shoulders. I laced up my combat boots and opened up the large bay window in my room. Glancing at the drop to the tree and grounds below, I noticed I was on the third floor. I threw my leg over the railing and launched myself from the window. Sorry Alec, it was time to hunt.