"Do you suspect they used this plant to locate Lauren?" Damon questioned, seeking further clarification.
Venessa dismissed the notion. "That is highly improbable. The Benneth coven, along with the other covens under the jurisdiction of the witches' council, strictly forbid the practice of dark magic. To engage in such forbidden practices warrants excommunication from the witches' community, stripping the individual of their powers, effectively rendering them mundane," she imparted, shedding light on the witches' code of conduct.
Derek connected the dots, remarking, "Now it becomes clear why they resorted to sending a message to the vampire council. It seems they are desperate to take action without resorting to the very means that could potentially save Lauren."
"Acting against all reason, indeed," Damien scoffed, his frustration palpable. "Get ready, we will be leaving for the Benneth estate," he declared, surprising those present in the room.
Serafina offered her insight with a matter-of-fact demeanor. "Veronica Benneth would prefer death over vampires setting foot on her estate. Now, with vampires being the culprits behind the disappearance of her beloved niece, her disdain will know no bounds," she stated.
"We shall see about that," Damien asserted resolutely, confidently striding out of the room.
_______________
In the extravagantly decorated mansion of Veronica Benneth, the butler walked the grand corridor with purposeful strides, his countenance betraying a palpable unease as he approached the door to her secluded study.
With a series of polite knocks, he gained entrance into the chamber. "Madame Veronica, there is an urgent matter at the gate," he conveyed, his voice quivering slightly as he surveyed the curious faces that adorned the room.
The Benneth siblings exchanged perplexed glances, their curiosity piqued by the butler's evident anxiety. Veronica, reclining behind her mahogany desk, inquired with a graceful lilt, "Pray tell, who is at the gate?"
"The...the vampires, madam," the butler stammered, revealing his apprehension.
Veronica, her mind working swiftly, contemplated the nature of this unexpected visitor.
"I presume they are emissaries from the vampire council, no?" she proposed, casting a scrutinizing gaze upon Marcel, who promptly rose from his seat.
Marcel, his brow furrowed in contemplation, responded, "I cannot ascertain with certainty. Their previous interactions did not indicate the council's inclination to dispatch envoys to the Benneth estate,"
"Hmm, I wouldn't think any vampire would dare to step a foot inside the Benneth property if they weren't sent from the council, so lets go and meet them" Veronica said, rising from her chair.
"Madame, awaiting your presence at the gate is none other than the vampire prince himself, Prince Damien Voltorie, accompanied by a group of five and their formidable vampire bodyguards," the butler revealed with a tone laden with astonishment.
The room fell into stunned silence, the astonishing news shattering their expectations. None could have fathomed that the vampire prince, particularly one hailing from the voltorie lineage, would ever tread upon the hallowed grounds of the Benneth coven.
"He must have a death wish," Marcel scoffed, his words dripping with disdain. Ariana cast a knowing glance at Alanna, a soft chuckle escaping her lips. To be frank, she had long suspected that Damien harbored an infatuation for her cousin, hence his lack of surprise at the audacity he displayed.
"Let us proceed," Veronica declared, her voice resolute as she exited the room, trailed by her daughters, Marcel, his mother, and the other witches in their midst.
Meanwhile, at the gates...
The biting chill of winter permeated the air, delicate snowflakes descending from the heavens, signaling the advent of the Christmas season. But for the vampires, such frigid conditions held no significance, their inherently low body temperatures rendering them unfazed.
"The Benneths have undeniably thrived throughout the passing years. What a magnificent estate," Damon remarked, his admiration plain to see. Vanessa, lost in her thoughts, directed a question to the group at large. "Do you reckon she'll grant to our requests?"
"No, but if we present compelling arguments, she might even grant us entry into her home. I leave the task of persuasion to Damien," Serafina replied, her voice assured.
"They approach," Derek intoned, his words preceding the arrival of the Benneths. The vampires emerged from their vehicle, positioning themselves before the imposing gate, patiently awaiting the Benneths' approach.
As expected, Veronica and her entourage stood within the confines of the estate, their gazes fixed upon the imposing figures of the vampires before them. Veronica's voice dripped with venom as she addressed the intruders, making her stance abundantly clear.
"No vampire sets foot on this hallowed soil only to depart with their life intact. If not for the arduous task of explaining to my beloved niece why I exterminated her acquaintances, I would not grant you the luxury of leaving alive. Now, swiftly declare the purpose of your presence here," Veronica Benneth hissed, her words laced with malice.
Damien locked eyes with her, an odd mix of emotions stirring within him. Surprisingly, he could not harbor animosity towards her, for he recognized the pain and anxiety etched upon her features.
"I've been made to believing that Lauren was abducted by members of our kind. We have come to offer our assistance," Damien stated with a calm that unsettled the witches present. None had anticipated such a composed reaction from him after hearing Veronica's venomous words.
Inhaling deeply, striving to regain composure, Veronica shot back, "We never asked for your help, now if that's your only reason of being here, then leave immediately."
"But you can't find her, correct?" Damien challenged. "You are just as clueless as we are, yet a little bit of dark magic could guide your path to finding her."
"There is nothing 'little' about the practices of dark magic. This coven abstains from such sorcery, though I do not expect your ilk to comprehend," Veronica retorted dismissively.
"Is that an excuse for letting your own flesh and blood perish at the hands of her captors?" Damien retorted between gritted teeth, his patience waning.
"How dare you?" Veronica roared in defiance.
"How dare I not?" Damien shot back, the irises of his eyes transforming into a vibrant golden hue, a spectacle that left the witches gasping in astonishment.
Veronica Benneth found herself thoroughly taken aback as she gazed into Damien's eyes. She couldn't help but recollect fragments of knowledge she had gathered, stirring within her mind. "What manner of being is he?" she pondered silently.
"You possess within you the very essence that could potentially save your niece. Yet, here you stand, firmly entrenched in a moral code and principles devised by witches who betrayed your lineage millennia ago," Damien bellowed, his anger resonating through his words.
Veronica, bewildered, swiftly sought clarification. "What did you just insinuate?" she demanded, her voice laced with curiosity.
"I could go through this gates and procure that very plant, and no force in this realm could stand in my way," Damien threatened, his resolve unyielding.
Marcel, stepping forward, interjected with defiance, "I would like to see you try"
intensifying the tension that hung in the air. Neither side showed any inclination to back down.