The rest of the week went by as clockwork but as soon as I woke up this morning, I felt dread. Lestat had sent Luis to invite Marylin and me to breakfast at his place. I heard the gravel of the driveway against Marylin's car pulling up and began to question if the devil wears Prada.
"Lancelot, wake up.". Marylin stood at my door with everyone behind her.
"Oh, true name. Best do as she says, Lancy." Wayne squeezes his way past Marylin.
I sit up and I see Marylin wearing a vintage pink floral dress, with buttons down. I could tell that she had curled her hair even though most of her curls had fallen. She wore socks with ruffles and tan wedge heels. She bags in her hands, most likely to be the clothes she had picked for me. She gently placed them at the foot of my bed and walked over to kiss me.
"Oh, how sweet!" Percy bounces as he looks through the bag.
"Make me coffee." I look at her and she flicks my forehead.
"You drink too much coffee; I'm making you tea." She grabs the smallest bag and pulls out tea boxes. "Earl grey or vanilla chai? They both have caffeine."
"I hate tea." I sit up from my bed and stretch. Hearing all my bones crack is the best part of my day.
"You haven't tasted mine, so zip it. Get dressed." She walks away to go make tea Tony follows her.
"Happy priestess, happy life." Wayne follows after. And I sigh heavily debating whether or not I shall face Marylin's wrath. Deciding that I should do it another time I lazily got dressed in black slacks, and a white dress shirt she had brought me.
I go to the shoe wall me and Percy made and grab my dress shoes. I finished getting ready and walked downstairs to see that Marylin had brought one of her tea sets.
"You like bees?" Percy looked at the tea set. The cups of themselves were black and yellow with white tea plates underneath, the teapot was also Black and yellow with ceramic bees in different places.
"I like what they do, and bees themselves remind me of myself." She smiled gently. "Lestat had beautiful tea sets that sat on this shelf and I wasn't allowed to touch it so after I moved out I've sorta been addicted to buying tea sets. Bees sense royalty, and I've never been stung." She giggled once she saw the face I was making.
"I thought we were having tea with Lestat?" I point at the tea set in question.
"We are! I'm only showing Percy how to set and make it properly before he gets creative with it, and it's a gift!" She clapped her hands.
"Really? Thank you!" Percy hugged Marylin and laughed with her.
"As sweet as always, Mary." Tony said from the couch. Percy slides a cup to me and both he and Marylin watch in anticipation.
"No." I looked Marylin dead in the eye, and she didn't break eye contact. "...fine." I reluctantly pick up the cup and sip. "...holy shit. I-this…I like, but could be sweeter." I put the cup down
"Then you wouldn't taste the tea." She puts her hand on her hip.
"Exactly." I smile.
"We're going to be late, what time should I have him home Tony?" She reaches down for her bag and hugs Percy goodbye all the while pushing me out the door.
"11 ish, is fine." Tony waved.
"Can I go? I know I wasn't inv-..." Percy pulled on Marylin's dress with the sweetest puppy eyes.
"Of course! But you can't be a part of the meeting, but I'm sure Louis will have something for you to do." Marylin winked and Percy's face was bright red.
I was quickly shoved into Marylin's vintage red Ferrari and we drove off blasting Queen through her speakers. Within two hours we pulled up to the gates.
"Home sweet home, I guess" she pulled her sunglasses off her face and her eyes glazed over.
"You grew up here?" Percy poked his head out from the back seat.
She head Snapped at him as if she was released from a trance. "Yup, right there…" she pointed to a swing seat as we pulled up to the house "that's where I gave myself a concussion from jumping off the swing." She laughed at herself.
"My parents worked closely with Lestat so I came here a lot. After they died, Giaus asked Lestat to take care of me." She put the car in park and looked at me with a weak smile.
"How did your parents die?" Percy moved closer and I quickly reached back to punch him in the arm. A black vintage Ferrari pulled up behind us and Marylin stepped out of the car.
"I've brought an extra guest." Marylin walks up to the person and embraces them. I looked through the mirror to see that she was hugging Louis.
"It's good to see you, Marylin." Louis smiled, and it was different from the way he smiled at school. His smile looked real, like a father looking at his daughter. Percy and I step out of the car and walk up behind Marylin. They broke apart and Louis reaches his hand out to us.
"Lancelot, Percival. Good to see you both again." As I shook his hand I realized he was in a blue three-piece suit, his hair was slicked back and his gold cufflinks almost blinded me. I noticed a fancy-looking L engraved into the cufflinks, I let out a huff of relief. She must have called Luis instead of Lestat that night.
"Just call me Percy, I don't do fancy titles." Percy gave a shy handshake. As I breathed in I smelt something sweet, not Marylin sweet but sweet that seemed familiar. I look at Percy wondering if he could smell it too but the way he shuffled on his feet I knew it was from him. I burst into laughter and Percy grew redder by the second.
"Lance?" Marylin moved to my side in a concerned way.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry, give me a sec!" I attempted to shake Louis's hand while still laughing. "Ju-just call me Lance" I try to hold back my laughter. Luis smiles and walks towards the front door. This place was huge, it was almost like a modern-day Castle.
"What the hell Lance?" Marilyn crossed her arms.
"I'll tell you later" I Pat on Percy's shoulder, he was still red and giving me a flustered glare.
"Anyway, Lestat is waiting for us." She begins to climb the steps to the door where Louis was waiting for us. As soon as Louis open the door I saw wall-to-wall marble and dark stained wooden furniture, everything looked expensive. there were two open staircases on either side of the door that led up to the upstairs.
"Lestat is most likely in his study, I'll assume you know where that is unless you've been away home for far too long." Louis pats on Marilyn's head and proceeds to walk in the opposite direction.
Marilyn makes a motion to follow her up the stairs we turned multiple corners and I saw into multiple rooms. We stopped at red-stained doubles doors and Marylin took a deep breath before opening the door.
"Hello, Lestat." She steps inside and pauses and looks behind Lestat, "Gaius, Good morning, I wasn't expecting you to be here.". She bows her head.
"Mary darling! You've been away for far too long!" Lestat pulls Marylin Into an embrace and I feel tense up as possessive Energy washes over me. Percy elbows me to snap me out of it.
"You see me at school every day." Marylin doesn't wrap her arms around him, just stares blankly past his face.
"It's not the same, this is your home." He smiles at her and my skin crawled underneath. Lestat looks past Marylin at me and I could see his eyes twitch in annoyance. "I see you've brought a friend...or two." He keeps a hand on Marylin's lower back and strides to us.
"Lancelot. Pleasure. And you must be Percy." He holds his hand out to Percy who takes it without hesitation.
"Lestat. Hello." Percy shakes his hand firmly and I could see Marylin shuffling on her feet. All emotions looked as if it was sucked out of her, she looked dead-eyed and zombie-ish.
"Will he be here for the meeting? You should have told us prior Ms. Heights." Gaius makes his way to us glaring at Marilyn.
"No sir. He's just a guest for Louis." Marylin straightened her back as she spoke to Giaus. Her face looked like it did the first time we spoke to each other as her whole being had changed into someone different and older.
"Louis? Why on earth would he want a guest? Has he gotten bored of me?" Lestat laughed at himself.
"I have." I chuckled almost in annoyance. I knew I was being honest with him but Giaus and Marylin laughed at Lestat's shocked face.
"My lord. Master Louis sent me to tell you that tea is ready." We all turned to a little blonde boy in a Butler's outfit. The longer I stared the more I began to see. He had to be about 12, his blonde hair sat in curlers on his forehead and tucked behind his ear.
His gem blue eyes looked back into mine and he smiled. I looked at the hand that was holding the door nob and saw bite marks around the thumb and wrist. I turn my head to Lestat in horror.
"Charlie! It is so good to see you, my boy!" Lestat walks past me to the little boy and Pats him on the head. "You remember Big Sister Mary don't you?" He moves behind the boy and practically shoves him to Marylin who gracefully catches him.
"Do you-" before I could get my question out Marylin starts to walk out.
"We don't want the tea to get cold, do we, Charlie?" She lets the boy lead her as Lestat and Giaus follow after.
"Did you-" I turned to Percy as we stayed behind.
"He's feeding off of him." Percy looks at me in horror. "Isn't that illegal or something?"
"We...don't know if there's a lack of consent." I stare at the floor
"But he's a kid. That's...that's not right." Percy's body began to puff up as he got angrier.
"Vampire laws are different from Werewolves." Louis's voice cut through the air. "But the boys here are orphans. It's a part of Marylin's givings. Lestat lets her use the house for the boys while she finds homes for them, all the boys Lestat does want to stay here until they are 18. Underline the words "let her". He could shut it down whenever but the boys keep rolling in and he never goes unfed." Louis leans against the door frame.
"Does Marylin know he's keeping the boys?" Percy's shoulder slumped down.
"I think deep down she does but she won't say anything if he'll do something to hurt her cause." Louis looked down the hall before looking at us again. "Teas getting cold." He began to walk with his hands in his pocket and we slowly followed after.
We make it to an outdoor dining area and before Percy can step outside Louis stops him.
"I'm afraid you'll be stuck with me until the meeting is over, my deepest apologies Percy." He does a bow and holds his hand out for Percy to take.
"I'm not complaining." Percy smiled and took his hand.
"I'll try to keep you entertained, Mon Cher." He kissed his hand and they began to walk away. Percy looked back at me and I mouthed 'go get 'em' and winked.
"Lancy boy, are you coming?" I can hear Lestat's mocking tone and dragged my feet as I stepped outside.
The dining table was round and the glass Marylin's back was to me and Lestat insisted I sit across from her. As I sat down I felt the need to grab her and keep her safe and away from Lestat, but I held myself back.
She had her teacup pressed to her lips, she didn't even bother to look at me. She seemed different and unlike herself.
"Lancelot, are you going to keep staring at me all day?" Marylin still didn't look at me as she put her cup down.
"I-" before I could respond to Lestat laughed.
"Oh Emmy, be nice to our Acting King of the wolf clan." Lestat Pat's my back and I shrugged him off, I saw a twitch of anger on his face which quickly was replaced with a smile.
"Don't call me 'Emmy' Lestat." Marylin almost slammed her teacup down. I saw her foot tapping aggressively through the glass.
"Emmy?" I look at Gaius.
"Emrys is Marylin's real name." Giaus brings his cup to his lips.
"I didn't know witches had true names." I look at Marylin's angry expression.
"They don't. Just me." The grip on Marylin's cup tightens. Giaus reaches over to pet her hands. Her brow pinched in anger slowly lost its tension.
"Head Priestess Heights, please do the honor of starting the meeting" Giaus
"Yes sir, I now officially commence the first meeting of the three pillars" Marilyn projected across the table in a military like fashion.
"First I'd like to congratulate the acting leader , Lancelot Du Lac, of the werewolf faction as the new official king of his said faction." I could see her straight face go from a disciplined statue like to a quick smile as she winked at me before going back to her statue-like expression.
"Thank you Madam Priestess, with that being said, as my first order of business as king i'd like to officially report my predecessor king author as missing and to be assumed as captured or otherwise deceased given the vague details of his disappearance but i can't say more seeing as how it's an active investigation."
I cleared my throat after I finished to not seem to be overbearing or abrasive with this new given title.
"Pardon me Sir Lancelot, but it appears that...less than welcomed whispers of the one called sir Elliot have made its way to the covens of the witches as well as the vampires of my faction. Normally I detest gossip unless it could be used for the better but they're saying that he...violated one of those miscreants whom you call your brothers. Since no one else has the stomach nor the temperament to ask such a nasty and touchy question I suppose I will, can you tell me in all honesty your highness that these whispers we've been hearing ring true?".
My heart skipped a beat as I did my best to birth my next thought and ironically enough, I couldn't look him in the eyes for too long without the feeling that he was in my head and thriving off of the distress of this topic was causing me without breaking his unnerving small Cheshire cat grin.
I took a deep breath then sighed. "Yes...it's true". It looks like what Elliot had done to Percy had finally made its appearance as the new talk of the town at the school without us knowing and I have no idea how it could have gotten out or this will make Percy feel. The rest of the table fell silent in shock whilst Lestat went on a fit that couldn't be determined as disgust, interest or humor, perhaps all three.
"Well bloody hell, I had always thought that the lot of you dogs were nothing but scoundrels and flea pedaling savages but this definitely takes the cake." He said laughingly.
"Anyways, with what you said taken into confirmation, once these intriguing whispers caught wind to Gaius, the three of us voted that he be remanded to the supernatural wing of St. Alastor's penitentiary also known as 'The Underground'. And given how your little coward confessed to his alleged crime so it's safe to say he'll be doing at least five to 10 years depending on how the system dictates it but not without your lovely approval? of course, he is yours, your highness."
Lestat leaned further into his seat to see my reaction to his near villainous query to see how and if I decide to sentence a 15-year-old boy to a prison given what he did without thinking it's taking away the majority of the good years of his life but then again others who've done the same that he's done have also taken a lot more than just time from their victims...their innocence.
"I'll see to it on my honor as a knight that Elliot be stripped of all titles and gained power but his own and be remanded by the end of the day".
I had a straight face the entire time decreed Elliot's sentence but underneath I was doing my best not to overthink. I'm not even sure if Lestat could hear my heart skipping beats and beating like a drum.
It's weird and surreal how I've strived for number one so badly that I always wanted to make people's lives change for the better but i never thought that I'd be deciding what they would be for the rest of their lives.
"But Elliot is a freshman, he's just a boy." Marylin's face was in slight shock as she leaned toward me.
"A boy who committed an Adult crime and confessed." Lestat gently grabs Marylin's chin and brings her face closer to his. "A crime is a crime. Fate and justice will prevail."
"Fate is a very weighty word to be throwing around during tea Lestat." She pushes his hand away. "If Giaus agrees then you'll have my vote as well your highness."
The three of us turn our heads to Guias. The old bastard took a long slow drag of the tea and gently placed it down.
"No bad deed goes unpunished. You have my vote." Giaus patted my back. I turn my head to Marylin who nods.
" Well! Since that's over with, let's discuss your birthday!" Lestat practically jumps in his seat. "Thank you Giaus for coming." Lestat waved as Giaus got up from the table.
"Of course, you kids keep me young." Giaus laughs at himself and walks away. Marylin's whole body falls and she looks away from Lestat and me.
"Must we talk about this?" I could see her face pouting and she rested her head in her hand.
"Are you okay? You don't like your birthday?" I slowly followed Marylin's example and started relaxing in my seat.
I fiddled with my ring as I looked at her.
" I don't like people making a big deal out of it." She Huffs. " LOUIS!" she turns her head back to the door
"Why must you shout?" Louis appears through the door and flicks Marylin's ear. Percy behind him smiling.
"I wanted to have you join us." She reaches up to hug Louis.
"Your house is beautiful, Lestat." Percy makes his way behind me.
"Thank you, there is history in these walls." Lestat grins at Percy. I could feel Percy tense up behind me. It feels like Lestat was planning something, I felt unsafe but Marylin seemed to be relaxed.
"So! Clothing. Emmy, Louis and I have already gotten our outfits so that leaves you. Though I know your wardrobe is less expensive than mine, so I've taken it upon myself to get you a gift." He reaches under his chair and pulls a case out.
" No need to say thank you." He smiles and slides it to me.
I opened the case and I was shocked. I definitely couldn't afford a suit like this, it looked like something you'd see in Prince Henry's closest. " I'm…. Speechless." I held my breath.
"And this is a gift I really put some thought into." He pulls a small box out of his pocket. The small box slid its way to me. "I hope you like it, it reminded me of you." He winked and cradled his head in his hands.
Percy moved closer behind me to look over my shoulder. I opened the box and felt my face heat up. A gold dog whistle sat in the box. I stared down at it, lost in my mind until I heard sniffling behind me.
"I don't understand. Why would you do this?" Percy covered his mouth with his hand and ran into the house.
"Percy!" Marylin and Louis both called after him but Louis was the one to run after.
Marylin snatched the box from my hands and looked inside.
"You think this is funny?" Marylin's face grew red and she looked at Lestat as she threw it to the floor.
"I think it's hilarious." Lestat sat back in his chair and smiled at Marilyn. She didn't say anything as she turned to run after Percy. I got up from my chair and picked the box up and slowly Walked towards the door.
"Did your parents not teach you manners mut?" Lestat says from his chair. I heard an overbearing growl ringing in my ears. I took a second before I turned to him.
"Thank you." I stared into his eyes.
"You're just a phase, you know that. Right? Marylin can't have a future with you. Her parents gave her to me." Lestat stands and makes his way to me, standing chest to chest. " You and your little gang of fleas mean nothing to her. Her future is with me."
I took hold of his shirt and pushed him into the closest seat.
"You can make fun of me, disrespect me but you will NOT bring my family into this." I held him there before reaching for the case and walking inside.
"Thank you for the hospitality but from one king to another…as old as you may be, please don't make the mistake of taking my patience and mistaking it for weakness because it may just be your last."
I could feel myself shifting for a split second of anger showing my true face then my only thought was I needed to find Percy. I walk through the hallways of the house following the sound of Marylin's voice.
"...I cannot believe that, rude, pompous, arrogant-" Marilyn was pacing in this living room type room. Louis cradled Percy in his arms on this red Chesterfield 19th century couch.
"Marilyn. Remember who pays for all your stuff." Louis pets Percy's hair, his face was puffy from crying.
"Yeah whatever." She plops herself down and hunched over.
"Not the worst situation I've been in." I walk to Marylin and grab her face in my hands softly. "Can I have a smile?"
"No." Marilyn puffs out her bottom lip.
"Smile." I began to poke her face until she slowly started to smile and giggle.
"Amazing." Louis looks at us.
"What is?" Marylin leans against my shoulder.
"The similarities between you and Claudia." Louis traces a finger around Percy's face, never making eye contact with us.
"...you just gonna…. you just gonna let him do that?" I look at Percy. "No questions asked?"
"Let me have MY MOMENT!" Percy rubs his face in Louis's chest. "You and Marilyn do it all the time!"
"ANYWAYS! Claudia." Marilyn pinched my arm.
"Excuse me, Mon Cher." Louis moves to get up and Percy whines in protest. I felt my body cringe, and tried not to make a face. "Follow me to my room"
"Aye yo! The fuck! don't say that in front of me. He's like my brother. If y'all going to do it, do "it" but don't announce it to me." I fidget in a place feeling extremely uncomfortable.
" Lancelot, I assure you that's not what Intended to do." Louis began to walk down the hall as we followed. "Not yet at least."
I physically had to pause before slowly moving again. We make it to his room and he opens the door to the world's most expensive looking rooms.
"Dear God, I feel like Prince Henry." I look at his white walls and giant open windows, the modern furniture in his room. "You have a couch in your room... what's the living room for then?"
"Wine and dining. Not many people are allowed to be in my room. Lestat gets jealous." Louis pulls on a curtain and it falls.
We stared at the painting that was hiding behind the curtain. The Young girl was dressed in 19th century clothing with a glorious Ruby's draped around her neck.
She was pale and slender; her face was smirking but had a hint of danger to it.
"That's…me." Marilyn moved closer to painting. "But I've never posed for a painting like this...." Marilyn said, looking more surprised than anyone in the room.
"Actually, quite on the contrary, this painting was made centuries before you were born my dear and you're right...this is Claudia de Lioncourt, the former lady of the house, so to speak" Louis said nonchalantly.
"W-why did I not know about this Louis" Marilyn went on in a calm to confused and furious tone.
"It was the Current Count's decree, I'm afraid but I suppose it was high time you knew" Louis sounded almost sad when he said that...almost as if there was something Solem to it that he didn't want to say.
"I swear so help me louis. I'm gonna put a stake in that vile, manipulative bastard and make sure he doesn't come back from it."
She turned around slowly pacing and started muttering some words that I couldn't make out and they didn't sound like any language that I would understand but it made my instincts go haywire cause I could hear what sounded like a murder of crows cawing violently outside and I could feel some type of force in the room making it difficult to tell if I was sensing her emotions or her magic...maybe both?
"Marilyn" I shouted, thankfully it snapped her out of that state.
"I-I'm sorry...Lance, if it's not too much to ask, could I maybe stay with you for a while? , I don't feel safe here" She asked softly and for the first time, I saw actual fear and terror on her face edged in my mind making it hard to forget if I tried.