Ruby paced up and down again worrying going through any possible explanation for my new changed mark. I was the only one sitting not really terrified as the two standing, Jake was just a feet away looking down at me. He had been quiet ever seen the revelation of my supreme status, I wasn't really looking into his eyes but I can feel his confusion and shock, like he doesn't even know me anymore. Ruby on the other hand kept making mumbling noises probably looking for a way out.
"You don't need to worry like this" I said getting on my feet, it was getting too tense to handle and I really don't need her elderly concern now and presently Jake's found out she's just making it harder for the both of us. I didn't know which was more irritating but the look in Jake's face wasn't setting well with me and I haven't even got the chance to explain myself properly
"You don't understand," Ruby stated full of bafflement coming to stand in front of me again. Out of the corner of my eyes I saw a figure at the kitchen threshold, I turned myself towards it and it was Cassuis standing looking towards us. I guess both Jake and Ruby saw him too
Cassuis reached for his shoulder which a 20×2 inch stake was still embedded in it and pulled it out in any agonizing manner to watch. The stake being pulled out accompanied with a sound of a ripe fruit being stepped on, his low groans coming out of his shut lips enduring the pain quiet professionally. After pulling it out he threw it to the floor and straightened his shoulders patting down the edge of his suit jacket before putting working button on it.
"I will assume you've considered our agreement" he stated like we have been long friends that have just reunited. Unchecked rage have been bubbling through me for the past days, the stake I gave ruby have been resting on the coffee table in front of me. I grabbed it in a blurry fast movement and reached him so putting a hand on his shoulder while I let the pointy part of the stake touch over his chest I didn't use enough force to pierce through him but just enough to make him think the next second I would be driving it into him
"You will not speak to me or anyone else here because you're my hostage"
lucky enough for me Jake wasn't trying to get to him through me, he was really very quiet almost too quiet which made me marvel what's going on inside his head. Cassuis didn't look away from my gaze; he was looking at me rather amazed than disgusted or angry.
"It will take a lot more than that to end me," he stated
"We both know you don't dare to think of staking my heart" his hand trailed down the length of my arm leaving a sensation where ever he's touched to my fist that is holding the stake against him and forced it out of my hand or I let him take it out of my fist because I was oddly baffled by his attitude not that he's not always been this way but after he knows what I was capable of, he should naturally fear me.
He simply walked around me letting me stand for a second thinking about what he just said; 'can't I really take his beating heart out of his body?' I quickly turned towards them not letting anyone catch on my self-doubt
"What do you mean?" I said towards him whose back was turned on, right hand in a pocket while his left bent out in his fist holding the stake looking down at it as his head indicated, he stood exactly in-between Jake and ruby
"Don't tell me you don't have the slightest conundrum as to how I was under the sun? Or how this" he paused turning towards me and staking his own heart with only the slightest groan I have heard from him while he crouched forward a little his color fading to a grayish tone and then dramatically sucking in air through his mouth and exhaling like he's had a wonderful, intoxicating time in the beach before starting to regain his initial tone then finally pulling out the stake again
"...doesn't affect me?" I can tell for all of us that we were beyond shocked from the silence that followed after his display; his face was quickly featuring satisfaction. Indefinitely my mind attracted me to the night he took all the possible risk to acquire my blood. The blood of a Rayleigh has no limitations…..giving new powers
"The blood you took from me" my tone slowly hitting the ditch towards the end
"He took your blood?" Ruby asked traumatized
"Yes just like you took the thing I most valued"
"The night you escaped,"
~~~~FLASHBACK~~~~
I knew Damien couldn't let her go, he's as much into it as I was. I didn't feel the need to move from my spot knowing Damien had her and would pull her back even if she was screaming her vocals off. Watching in a brief moment everything changed rapidly almost as fast as I couldn't see; in a blur, she had a steak going through Damien. His scream snaked through the forest while he let loose his grip around her. My eyes turning red and fangs instantly extending when I heard his scream, I sped forward as she glance behind her locking eyes with me before she jumped off. I had Damien in my arms before he fell to the floor; he was groaning with pain as blood was already wetting his shirt, the look in his eyes was so intense with pain that I couldn't stand it. Luckily the stake didn't go through his heart, in a hurry she missed his heart and plunge almost all of stake's length in his stomach. I grabbed hold of the rest sticking out of him and pulled out with a sound like that of an overly ripe pear, with a blood cuddling scream Damien fell limp in my arms.
I ordered for him to be taken back into the castle. I stood over the edge looking down at the turbulence that she visually didn't think through, even a great swimmer could find it difficult to navigate through such, I didn't mean for her to die in there because the satisfaction I could get from taking her life was limitless. I used every nerve to stop myself from going after her. I clenched my fist she'd already disappear, she's made a run for it right under our noses but it wasn't for long. I promise
I didn't sleep the night but spent it going through her room, tearing it apart. I threw the blanket over, the mattress and finally breaking off the pieces making the bed only to find the dinner that she was supposed to take, the first step to the plan to taking her away. She knew about it. The not quiet anger display I had drew the attention of all to the room, I couldn't stop myself. Lenora stepped in and closed the door behind her.
"Now we're going to need a new bed for her to stay in," she said casually, a roar from me made her flinch a little
"We are going to get her back" she added with certainty
I threw across the last piece of the bed in my hand panting I spoke with aggression that I have seemed to contain all this century chasing after a specific winter snow flake but having it in my grasp broke all bounds that I had set for myself, losing it was unraveling the rest of me. I was still looking down at the dish she ditched under her bed, my mind in a storm of anger, clouded by it. I just wanted to squeeze every bit of last drop of life inside her, make her scream and plead into a sound that could sustain my thirst forever.
"She didn't eat! Why didn't she eat the meal? How did she know about it? She couldn't have known, you made sure of that" I yelled looking up to a baffled Lenora. Her mouth hand open for a moment before she spoke
"She was disabled when we got to the room. She couldn't even move unless…" I cut in
"she was pretending, acting the whole time. She tricked us all"
"...unless we underestimated her power, maybe she sensed it. That little bitch"
"What happened in the tunnel?"
"I hardly saw but just the crack in my neck, she had some help and it was only Damien and I that knew the plan apart of you"
"Damien?"
"Lucinda's treating him. He's healing painfully and slow" she said voice full of sympathy
"The stake she used, it wasn't any normal stake you get from a wood….how did she get it?"
Silence befall us all, there was no reasonable explanation. She was captivated, imprisoned in a room with zero access to the outside world, she couldn't have accessed it. Someone helped her out, someone close enough to do that. The stake was a copy to the rare 'Surpent stake', it's heard to get especially in this region. It popular for it's power to put down even the most strongest vampires and does great harm even to pure vampires. There was only a place that I know It could be found but until with great difficulties and sacrifice had to be made, She couldn't have gotten it from there. It's impossible.
'I will have to find out who that is and I shall punish them by tearing the life out of them'
"There will be a lot of trouble to come after this. Go get ready" I ordered
She exited without a word. I closed the room putting the keys in my pocket I stopped nowhere but my room. I opened my chest drawer to the top right corner and laid the stake I pulled out of Damien with anger and feelings of defeat using my vampire speed and sense of smell I ran out of the castle to the nearest human gathering I could find. There were a couple of teens having a fire camp in the middle while a boy played the guitar. I stopped in the middle picking a blonde girl swiftly by the neck plunging my fangs in her neck coarsely, I chose her because she had the closest features to her. The color of her hair and how she foolishly smiled, she screamed briefly before falling limp, I threw her to the ground roughly. They all shrieked mostly the two other ladies getting to their feet shoving away from me.
"Tracy!"
The other four frozen with fear until one with the guitar spoke angrily, it seemed I might have ended his lover.
"What the fuck are you?" he asked shivering the fear evolving from him setting in my heart, I love it when they fear.
"Why don't we get acquainted?"
With that I feast on every last of them until no drop of blood remained. I added to the borne fire their bodies getting ablaze high in the air before leaving the bloody scene. The cracking and bursting of their body filling in with their scream when I squeezed them out, was the ultimate retribution I earned that night. After cleaning myself up, the sun was already risen. I made it to Damien's chamber slowly opening the door he was laying in his bed covered in blanket from the waist down. I walked inside leaving the door ajar, I didn't want to wake him, and he's finally had some peaceful sleep after his fever. I towered over him, hands crossed behind my back as I leaned in, head tilted examining him. His pain filled face to sweaty pale body, his torso bare exposing his ever slow healing wound. It was quiet a hole in him dark red slowly creeping off his side. I was only filled with more rage, pain and desire to make it even more painful and slower for her. Damien was like family, like a brother, a son I never had. The door moved, and without looking I knew Lucinda came in. with a little bit of hesitance, after all she wasn't expecting anyone in the room she proceeded. Keeping a bowl down on the bedside and a towel in her hand, she didn't speak dipping the towel in the water squeezing it out with her fingers she crossed her hand over his body slowly to the wounded area, cleaning the blood around it. His face twitched painfully
"How is he?" I asked
"He's sedated. It will take a while to heal, he will recover"
"I know he will under your care"
She simply continued to clean out his wound quietly. With a knock Lenora peeked in, her expression was everything but pleased
"Master Cassuis, your attention is needed promptly" I quickly exited with her behind me, reaching the bottom floor he was standing in the middle of the room hands on his puny waist
"I should have known your days were gone" Marcos said not even turning around to face me but simply observing the building expressionlessly.
"You failed to deliver the girl as ordered, where is she?" Of all the people in the council, they choose to send Marcos. One of the ugliest vampires not by features but from the inside, a man of no principles, acts by his head and nothing more. I wandered how he ever made it to the council.
"Marcos, welcome to my home"
"Spare me the pleasantries, fetch the girl" he ordered
I snarled under my breath he had always been out to get me, gain pleasure in my failure, which was a long time ago. He turned around, his eyes empty of emotions; I sued to forget how he looked. It's been twenty years but he was still looking the same in a black tux, dangerous. One hand in the pants pocket he stood examining me just as I was.
"I am assigned for it, I shall deliver the girl mysel" I said not at all trying to sound offended by his attitude
"Cassuis you will hand the girl over to me!" Him ordering me around just inside my territory amidst my members made my blood boil.
"I don't answer to you; you can't come into my home…"
''We let you have a coterie, I did! I can take it away anytime I wish" his calm nature and cool voice wasn't anymore after his statement
He was getting agitated and I was on a train wreck I wouldn't want it salvaging everyone for losing the girl. If I could find her the first time after centuries of searching while no one could…I could find her again. I sighted heavily, lowering my defenses. He eased too regaining back his calmness, he spoke in his usual cold tone.
"Now the girl!" he said
"We will need some more time for her transportation, she's not ready". In one swift motion he had snapped one of my kindred's' neck then had his hand penetrating Lenora's chest whom was standing behind me. That is how fast he was, being much older and experienced than I am I marely only saw the disturbance in the air before I heard Lenora grunt. He had her kept against the wall with the other hand giving him control and could easily, non-hesitantly kill her. One false move is all he needed from me and would be resulting in many hearts painting the marbled floor red, his glare was daring me to save Lenora before he pulls her heart out and take a bite out of it. She gurgled blood with a breath intending to take in air as her lips parted while he breaks through her rib bones and tissues to get to her heart, pushing his hand further inside I could feel her heart beating wildly and in her eyes I could see one of her fears coming true, the fear of death again. She was the oldest I have heard and I weren't losing her to him of all monsters. He kept a gaze at me, consistent with self-victory and taunting my own pride, he would love it for me to come at him; try to save her or at least get a good fight like the aged days but also keeping me reminded of what's at stake, I almost move towards him on impulse when he pushed harder inside of her, I stopped. It made my blood boil, I felt the rage, and I wanted to take the pleasure of seeing his fallen pride. We have eternity to wait for that, I will be seeing to it.
"Fetch her!" he ordered his voice firm, full, loud and venomous making the walls ring back in vibrations. I knew one thing was he never jokes about anything; he would nonchalantly walk over all our corpses to get to her. He doesn't hesitate to kill anyone even of his own kindred
I had to present myself clean, admit my incapability like he wanted to hear for so long but bowing my head to him was something he would never get not even at the cost of my own. Here or not the news of losing her will have to reach the council and they sent him. "I'm afraid I can't do that, she'd escaped. Last night during the transportation" I said in composure. At the sound of my voice he pulled his hand out dropping Lenora to the floor. I followed her body back to the floor, it had only barely touched it before she was swiftly on her feet staring angrily at Marcos while the hole in her chest was already healed, unfortunately leaving a hole in her white top. Lenora can be temperamental but I was sure she got that from me this isn't the time to act.
"You lost the girl" he mused in a tuneful voice couldn't even contain his happiness his lips slowly creeping higher in a corner. Stalking towards me in graceful steps filled with superiority and self-content he pulled out a napkin from his pocket and cleaned his blood coated hand in an orderly clockwise motion evenly in a slow like motion. He got most of the blood out before dropping it to the floor after stepping over the body of the male he dropped earlier.
"We under estimated her abilities'"
He placed a hand on my shoulder letting the wrist linger off my back while he pushed the other in his pants pocket. I followed his hand motion; his white crisp shirt sleeve was laced in blood. I looked back to his face which was inches away from mine.
"She was your responsibility, you underestimated her''
"Tomorrow you will show up at the council meeting. We'll decide what's next for you but for the mean time, I want my shirt clean and bleached"
The whole castle rang in distress. The whole castle rang in distress I spent half the day by Damien's unconscious body shivering from fever that seems to wash over him in intervals. He was panting rapidly as more blood seeps out of his slow healing wound. Damien would have handled this whole lot better than I, I shouldn't have reacted the way I did and now I will be faced by the whole royal council next night.
"I know you had a history with Marcos but he's a prick" I looked up slowly tearing my gaze from him to Lucinda's face whom has been there the whole time
"He will be fine. You should go get ready for tomorrow" she added. I didn't have to pack again instead I took the bag I originally packed for the transport. Lenora offered to accompany me, mostly to keep me checked. I was to leave by dawn and reach mid-day. So it did, after the long journey I didn't have any time to rest. The meeting was to be held immediately. I had my suitcase taken into the guest chamber. Lenora and I stood at the door of the grand hall.
I walked inside with her beside me; I stood at the middle of the twenty square feet room facing the overbearing panel of the high table, covering width wise with high chairs with pointy heads extending way out of use for the person in it further adorned with stairs by both top corners of the room accessed by the panel alone. You could never be able to tell if they really exist or the panel just appears through the arch but the ascending pattern showed there was some secret place that no one had been but them.
Behind me were two separated rows of chairs with solid wood barriers making a path way in the middle that I walked through, also put high above the ground, one level higher than the other. Lenora took a seat behind me to my right, so I could be able to see her through my peripheral vision with a few more other high vampire society individuals spread in the room since the meeting was to be covert just like when I was assigned with the honors to bring the last breathing deity to face them.
It took two minutes for the panel to start joining, the room was dead silent but their glares spoke louder, from the right arch corner with subtle footsteps appeared Master Marcos his face straight and expressionless wearing same fashion and color as always but different suit from his closet. It seemed to match up his inner feels and cutting edge grace after him came in Silas Cordon another member of the panel; a little darker, tighter skin than Marcos's but Silas's eyes were lighter and hooded, every other feature of both men were spot on the same yet again but Silas was always given the teal for handsome in-between them because his overall mood was always cheerful.
Followed forward by Athan, taller and fairer than anyone in the group with the slenderest form and barely speaks unless utterly necessary and when he does it usually made the last word that made him the head's right man. Lazarus, Drusilla and Katherine followed after sitting in the order they came in. Lazarus has one of the biggest coteries in Europe and they are getting much bigger that they are leaking into the human world. Stories of strange creature sightings were reported by freaked locals but it would just always stay like that. Every strong coterie had a regent witch in their council with a signed agreement for their protection from the human world. His manners were subtle and never result to violence until necessary.
Drusilla was the council's witch although witches weren't given much place of importance in our part of the world; they were out casted and treated more like slaves. They panned out through the human world blending in perfectly. She had her hazel hair in a rough bun holding it in place with Chinese hair pins dangling at the end of them some voodoo ornament that she wore around her neck and wrist. She wore colorful top and a velvet brown sleeveless jacket, below her mid-section I couldn't see but I had known her for quite a while she would be wearing one of those over flowing skirt or just reaching her shins, with shin boots. She had quite a mass figure with a bit short of height, her features were sharp on her chubby face.
Katherine was the second to Marcos, they had the closest relationship, and rumors were they still had an affair for years that had been on and off. Since, they both lost their mate, the first decade they went rouge and they had to be put down for the better of all. He chased blood and sex for the better half of the decade before he met with Katherine along the way and their paths met for the next half. After being down for another decade their relationship of sexual role and blood pools died with it sending them apart to either pole. But the spark they felt with each other made them longed to meet up once in a while to make themselves feel the youth again but now Marcos that have joined the council for more than five centuries, it was unacceptable for their status. Others went rouge after such a lost while others redirect it into determination.
The youngest only royal to have joined the council in the history of vampire rulers was Lord Orpheus, with a thousand years of counting. Normally at such an age a royal prince would still be considered immature and inexperienced for such a burden of role but circumstances put him in place. He came through the left arch, all risen while he sat in the middle in the royal heirloom also the highest chair in the row. His dark hair shun in the light, pushed back and set not even a single hair stuck out, his strawberry lips always drawn downward. The night blue suite perfectly threaded to his body, his eyes were medium gold color resulting from never tasting human blood, gentle and dangerous at the same time.
"Master Cassuis of the Westlake coterie, we are here on the basis of your failed assignment or better put carelessness. We will decide what happens next on the basis of your ability to evidently defend yourself" Marcos's voice rang in the almost empty room. I stood firm hands locked behind me together behind me, one wrist in a fist. Lord Orpheus cleared his voice before starting on the course for reason of the gathering. His voice was ten times cooler than Marcos's, low pitched and frequency but somehow it came out strong and intimidating more than his features.
"I believe you understand the urgency of this mission and critical it was"
"Yes" I answered simply
"And you promised efficiency which you failed to provide all the way through," Marcos jumped in right to attack like he's just let off his leash I wasn't looking directly at him but I could see his intent to crack me in front of everyone, the content written on his face. I had control and I wasn't going to let him, further I had Lenora in the corner of my eyes most of the time reminding me why I shouldn't just have his heart in front of the council.
"I had the girl in my grasp your highness and I can-I will get her back here again whatever it take. I did the first time and I will do it again" I said towards Lord Orpheus
"That is quiet a promise Master Cassuis" Katherine said putting both her hands forward
"I am highly doubtful" Marcos commented again
"Excuse me?" I had my voice a bit harsh and the spark in his eyes grew as I looked in them
"Now that she has knowledge about everything, she will be on high alert. Explain how"
"She was highly cloaked but I captured her whilst everyone couldn't. I have my ways, this should serve as proof"
"You kept to yourself every step to the night she escaped; murmurs were someone from your coterie had a hand. Someone capable" Katherine said, i knew that was directed at me with such a strike that it will snatch the floor I had been working for beneath my feet.
"It happened I had to, trust is not to be given to anyone that steps through my door for information about the girl" I said the veins in my neck popping out
"I sent my most trusted for such a matter, what do you wish to say by that?" Marcos's calm nature was slipping out his tone rose with anger
"Your highness, after I was assigned matters was discussed strictly between both of us which were not to be shared. Through that I acted upon concealing any progress regarding the girl bearing the mark"
"That doesn't-" Marcos was cut off by Silas whom had higher rank at the table
"This is not a debate house Marcos. We are here to decide on how to put down a threat to us all"
"I believe you reported back that she wasn't fully capable and was clueless" Drusilla asked
"Yes it appeared to be wrong"
"So, there was negligence from the person you trusted with her"I felt a sting behind my throat, I forced it to control before answering
"Yes but I'm fully responsible"
"I think the one she's in care of has to face the council" Master Marcos proposed. I knew what that was supposed to mean, the person in charged would not be spare.
"Lack of competence is greatly unappreciated by the council" He added
"My kindred had nothing to do with this. I had the final say and it was my decision that result to this" I defended
"Master Cassuis. You have quite a reputation of taking orders from no one but the council gave you a chance to greatness-tour whole coterie to greatness" Lord Orpheus paused making strong eye contact with me I knew what it was already
"You are free of this obligation, new administration will be put in place for this"
"My lord!" my voice came out full, lord Orpheus put a hand stopping from speaking any further. This was my chance to prove myself to him but it was slipping out of my hands
"The decision has been taken" they all rose after him leaving the room with a murmur that I could hear inside my head or they will for me to hear.
"His arrogant manner got to him to failure. I offered my services but he rejected straight away" Master Lazarus stated. I stormed out of the double doors with Lenora catching up behind me; she quickly came at front making me halt. She looked at me carefully
"What are you thinking Cassuis? You cannot do anything about this, it's over. I fear the look on your face" I went around her continuing to walk down the hall and she closely followed
"We are going to get her back" __________________